I had similar thoughts, especially since the main game has been out for a while. I've played the main game multiple times, 100% it, helped others play it, and I've even done speedruns in various difficulties just to see how long the "core" story would take.

Does that mean the DLC will scale for me due to my 100%-ing? Will it be based on my various difficulty settings? Will it be my most recent playthrough? We shall see. In the end, it'll be interesting to see what they do with the story; the main game's story was a little odd for me in one particular case since Indiana Jones

spoiler

encountered Noah's Ark

in the novels at an earlier stage of his life.

The mugato was an excellent choice!

That's great! My original en-edited reply congratulated you, but then I thought, "This is the internet. Burrito Trucks can't carve pumpkins...." LOL

My favorite is the Mugato.

Fair point and well done (to the artists)!!

Hahaha. I'm now thinking of my question in that context and it makes this whole thing so much funnier.

Thank you!

Agreed. I'd say that Nemesis theme with Blue Skies is a close second. "A New Ending"

Now I have the ahhh ahhh in my head again. I like the OG opening, but hate the choral part.

So very true. Such a great episode!

I like that idea. It measures the depth/breadth of the world-building that way too.

.... Even then, I believe [TOS] would have a pretty low “pass” rate compared to all the '90s series.

Agreed. I note elsewhere in this thread that I think TOS would struggle with this little "test" and it was THE Star Trek show when it all started.

(Incidentally, since Burnham wasn’t Captain until season 4, Discovery passes on a technicality for most of its run).

Indeed it would pass and I think the captains/crew of those seasons were well portrayed and balanced Burnham's presence as a character as well.

I’ve seen this complaint a lot with some of the newer shows, but it doesn’t really resonate with me. A good central character ought to be able to carry a show, and I don’t hold Trek as being inherently different in that regard.

As you say. And to be clear, I'm not taking this too seriously, nor is it meant to be a complaint. Just a measure I noticed in my own mind. I am still watching all the Star Trek made, whether it "passes" this measure or not.

I agree with and second many of your statements in here. Well said! A couple specific points I want to highlight:

Paul and Hugh

I really enjoyed those plots, especially about loss.

There was also no single overarching plot, so Picard could play a flute and live the life of an alien for a whole episode without derailing any story plans. The “monster of the week” approach also helped inspire some real good moral and philosophical debate that would otherwise never would’ve been written into a single story, but also some of the most cringeworthy TV I’ve seen.

I think this is the core of the issue for what I enjoy and don't enjoy with many Star Trek shows. Surprisingly to me, Expanse does this fine whereas Trek/Who/SG-1 would trip over it and have.

In general, great reply with excellent points. Thank you!