NerdyRomulanCyberman Reviews

Star Trek: Discovery: Whistlespeak (2024) Season 5, Episode 6

Whistlespeak

[5/10 · 3 May 2024]

This episode deals with finding the next clue, located on a planet known as Halem'no. I have relatively enjoyed this season so far, but this episode tanked in the level of writing and acting. This is not what I was hoping for.

I still will start out with what I liked. I enjoyed the scene with Culber's abuela until his discovery of finding some physical problem with himself. That's literally what he went to Starfleet Academy for. Tilly still manages to be a good character, and she provides some of the only great scenes. Her line that refers to Newton's first law was amazing and provided an essential comic and sanity relief.

I dislike how they have added new characters. Replacing Detmer and Owosekun, we have two new officers. I feel like this was a bad choice. We already didn't know the previous characters that well, and these are changing a dynamic in its final season (I know that it was not planned that way).

This episode has an amazing premise, but the opening scene and many others ruin this episode. This episode places very low out of even the Season 4 ones. Adira is again incompetent, showing that they should not be working on the bridge or in Starfleet.

I do enjoy the connection to the Denobulans, but I doubt this will lead anywhere.

After this episode, I fear for what might be to come. This episode, described by Michelle Paradise, is a classic TOS adventure. Yes, it is. It is one of the bad ones. We are treated to an episode of inner terror and terrible writing. I had hope, but this episode is easily the worst of the season. Let's hope that next week's Breen episode will put things back on track. Let's hope.

Star Trek: Discovery: Mirrors (2024) Season 5, Episode 5

Mirrors

[8/10 · 26 April 2024]

This week, we dive into interdimensional space to discover the backstory and motivations of our antagonists. We are on a journey of remembrance in this season, connecting together the previous seasons. We see how the characters have grown, and how they have survived, and we learn about how the antagonists became the enemy.

First of all, we finally canonically know what the Breen look like! I had suspicions that L'ak was Breen, but this episode proves it. The Breen redesign was also very well done, keeping the core tenets of their old uniforms, while moving away from Leia's helmet rip off and showing evolution within this state that has changed from confederacy to imperium, most likely by the attempted dominance of factions that had been working in a confederation during DS9. L'ak is Breen royalty during this imperial time, which helps to build the character. We also learn about Erigahs (Breen blood bonds), why they are on the run, and why the Breen might win the galaxy. This episode goes to amazing and mostly successful lengths to make the Breen into a fearsome opponent.

This episode is not perfect, but it continues upon the success of last week's episode. This episode does reuse the SNW Enterprise set, but this doesn't bother me. TV shows are expensive, and they were still able to create a good story. Even though the action in the present is not the main focus, we are building the bonds between Moll and Book that could lead in Discovery's favor later on. At points, the dialogue becomes cringey, and I am disappointed that Rhys was not allowed to lead the away mission, even though they made a massive deal about him loving the Constitution-class design.

This week, we saw these characters look at themselves in the mirror, gazing into time to see what was before them, realizing who they are and why they have become these characters. We are treated with an intriguing and philosophical episode that has deep meaning in our lives. Who are we? What has made us into who we are?

So, next week will lead us further into the bounds of the 32nd century. And, as Captain Burnham thought wrong, hit it.

Star Trek: Discovery: Jinaal (2024) Season 5, Episode 3

Jinaal

[8/10 · 18 April 2024]

In this episode, we are faced with finding the second clue to discover what created all humanoid life in the galaxy, a technology descending from long ago, created by a species now only known as The Progenitors. We are faced with a problem. As told by the fifth and final verse of the Romulan poem, they are meant to go to Trill. They must find someone who had a specific pattern of spots, which they discover was Jinaal Bix. He is dead.

This episode takes a slower pace than the previous two, yet still fast in comparison to the last season. This episode delves deep into understanding the meaning behind understanding what created us. Burnham and Book beam down to the planet, alongside Adira, who will confront her emotions for Gray. While they do that, Burnham and Book go on a mission with Jinaal, the man they were meant to find, through the process of zhian tara, which moved his consciousness from the symbiont to Dr. Culber.

I enjoyed the acting by Wilson Cruz as he portrays this character, freed from the shackles of a symbiont to now getting to walk in a body he says really works out. The delivery of lines was very well done and the clear differences between him and Culber are intriguing.

I was worried, based upon the clip shown in The Ready Room, that this episode would be much worse. We have seen terrible writing surrounding the experiences of Gray and Adira. This wasn't as bad, but it still wasn't great. When they discussed ending their relationship, I found Gray's attempts to twist their ending into a new relationship very manipulative, especially since only a few lines before he seemed to understand why Adira wanted to separate from him. He seemed to force a confession out of her. This is the ending of a relationship, not a Cardassian interrogation.

The scenes between Rayner and the rest of the crew were amazing and the prime reason why I give this episode a higher rating. Callum Keith Rennie and Mary Wiseman have phenomenal chemistry as actors, and their lines bounce off each other quite well. Tilly continues to be amazing, as usual, and this episode had some of her best scenes of this season so far.

Even though I continue to be disappointed with Ian Alexander's acting (especially his very fake smirk), I still enjoyed this episode. I feared the worst, and it rose above my expectations. I'm still excited for what is to come. Let's keep flying.

Star Trek: Discovery: Under the Twin Moons (2024) Season 5, Episode 2

Under the Twin Moons

[8/10 · 18 April 2024]

This episode continues the success presented in this season's opener. Now, we see the last mission Saru will have as the first officer of Discovery, where him and Burnham head to the planet Lyrek. We are confronted with the growth of these character's relationship, from rivalry to fear, and now to the deepest friendship. We are heading into a season of memories.

First if all, the delivery of comedy in this episode was amazing! I really enjoy how they have infused comedy into this season to confront the dark and deeply philosophical themes they are exploring. The season provides a fast-paced adventure to cover these deep meanings, which allows the mind to dig deep into understanding these episodes.

We learn the nickname "Action Saru" in this episode, which is a carrying example of Saru's attitude in this episode. He explores the fear he once felt universally. He explores the risks he must take in order to survive the necropolis with Burnham.

As we try to find the progenitor's technology, we are again pressed with great references to TNG. We dive deeper into Romulan culture and tradition. While we look for the answer, we see what has been made because of the action. We see what the universe has become because of the Progenitor's actions.

This episode does a great job of developing the story of this season, connecting and reflecting upon Saru and Burnham, and keeping the pace and tempo at least allegro. Let's see if our hope is not in vain.

Star Trek: Discovery: Red Directive (2024) Season 5, Episode 1

Red Directive

[8/10 · 18 April 2024]

This episode begins the final season of the divisive Star Trek: Discovery. While I have had mixed opinions for the third and fourth seasons, this episode brought back a lot of hope! I'm wonderfully excited for where this could go!

I start with my dislikes in this episode. The beginning of the episode has very similar writing to the worst scenes of the past two seasons. The moments with Adira and her problem with the drinks are a little weird and make her seem very oblivious.

However, the episode recovers, and from then on, it is amazing! Tilly returns with new elements, yet the same character can be seen. A possible love interest shows themselves early on. Moll and L'ak provide interesting new additions to the fandom as antagonists. The references to Soong-type androids and other TNG elements are great.

Captain Rayner is an amazing new character, and I am very excited for his possible effects on this final season. He is a very different person to Burnham, shedding away emotional connection in favor of control through unyielding authority.

The return of the Progenitors is another amazing callback to TNG. It provides amazing possible stories that could be told about how we came to be and what the purpose of our existence is. I expect many philosophical questions, even through this Indian Jones-esque season.

Overall, I am very excited for this final season, and I can't wait to see where it will take us. Let's fly!

Star Trek: Discovery: Face the Strange (2024) Season 5, Episode 4

Face the Strange

[10/10 · 18 April 2024]

This episode was phenomenal! I was not a big fan of seasons 3 and 4, but season 5 has improved drastically. While not quite the levels of the first two seasons, this was the best episode of this season yet!

This episode deals with the legacy of Discovery and its effect upon the Star Trek universe. Whether you have loved or hated this show, this ship and this crew have ventured into crazy scenarios that have changed the timeline of this galaxy forever. We venture to pinnacle moments in Discovery's history, such as the events of Such Sweet Sorrow. We see the extent that Michael Burnham has evolved as a character.

This episode is amazing at having us reflect upon what has happened, but it also succeeds in advancing this season's plot. It develops what might occur in the future and helps bring clues to what defeat would mean for the universe, raising the stakes in much better ways than the past two seasons.

The moments with all characters showing how they evolved and how they remember themselves now are chilling. I had goosebumps all throughout this episode. The scenes with Airiam were so well done and an amazing message to the character to sacrificed their life so that this crew may continue to fly.

Now, this episode does not make up for the bad writing of the past two seasons, but it's a start. I so glad that we might still end up as friends, Discovery. But, that hope rests with you.

Star Trek: Discovery: Kobayashi Maru (2021) Season 4, Episode 1

4.01 Kobayashi Maru (Rewatch)

[5/10 · 23 March 2024]

This episode had a lot of weaknesses, but ultimately isn't "terrible." The episode has moments of terrible dialogue and terrible situations. The situation at the beginning of the episode with the emperor was very weird, but could have worked much better if the episode was centered around it (and possibly the season).

Its strength is from a couple of characters and situations, including Tilly and the new Federation president, Laira Rillak. A couple of interesting premises are put on display, but few quickly grabbed my attention, instead turning me away with cheesy and uncomfortable dialogue.

The new Archer Spacedock provides the only amazing scene in this episode, with a few others scattered around. Those others come from the World Root Scene and the Voyager Captaincy scene.

I'll see if this season is better than I remember, but by watching this, I certainly have doubts.

Doctor Who: The Timeless Children (2020) Season 12, Episode 10

I Really Want to Hate This Episode...

[7/10 · 27 December 2023]

"The Timeless Children" has completely changed the lord of Doctor Who. Most of the Timeless Child arc is really interesting, and I think it could work really well. I don't mind the Doctor having a previous set of regenerations. I'm don't mind Tecteun and the Gallifreyans having been non-regenerative beings.

However, the Timeless Child shouldn't have been the Doctor. I think the Doctor Who universe would really have a better chance to expand if it had been the Master. Directly from this episode, the pain would have been swapped, with the Doctor having an identity crisis, now knowing that the Master is the progenitor. We could still have a conclusion such as the speech Jodie gives about her past making her stronger. She could still have had a past set of regenerations, and her friendship with the Master caused the Time Lords to wipe the Doctor's brain, having them begin life again.

And with the concept of bi-generation, it seems pretty likely that the Master could have bi-generated, with one dying off with Missy, and the other continuing on. Maybe the Time Lords took the Master again at an age after the First Doctor and experimented with the biology of the Time Lords, giving the ability to bi-generate. This could have been given to the Doctor at the end of "The War Games", with part of the Doctor's time before arriving on Earth as Jon Pertwee's 3rd Doctor being them receiving the ability to bi-generate.

But, the Timeless Child looks to be the Doctor. I really want to hate this decision, but I just can't muster up that hate. Yes, this ruins what we knew of the Doctor being a person who had failed and achieved nothing at home rising to help people in times of need, but we are seeing a new perspective. Give it time to set in, and I think this will be looked upon somewhat more highly.

Doctor Who: The Church on Ruby Road (2023) Season 1, Episode 0

Time and the Sundays

[9/10 · 25 December 2023]

"The Church on Ruby Road" is a great Christmas Special and is a well-built first full episode for the new Doctor. This episode had a lot less going on than what we have seen in previous specials such as "Resolution", but it maintains a Doctor Who feel and keeps your eyes glued to the screen.

Ncuti Gatwa is great in this episode, developing his incarnation beautifully. The writing is pretty good, with some parts a little cringy, but still fun. Millie Gibson is the star of this episode, showing off her character's strengths and overall motives.

The incorporation of time travel is a great way to introduce a new viewer and also a new companion. With Ruby still trying to understand what is going on at the end of the episode, we can see room for growth in her character. The Goblins being the enemy of this story is a fun idea to connect it to higher fantasy while keeping a very sci-fi tone.

Overall, this episode is a great opener to this new Doctor/Companion setup, providing a more easily understandable episode that should ease in new viewers of this era while keeping true to the lore and fan base of Doctor Who.

And who is Mrs. Flood? I can't wait to figure out!

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds: Lost in Translation (2023) Season 2, Episode 6

Xenobiology, Communication, and Fan Service all in one!

[10/10 · 21 July 2023]

In this week's episode, Uhura finds herself hearing disturbing noises and is seeing visions. With the help of Lt. James T. Kirk, they discover they are a form of communication for an alien species. They live near stellar nursery in a large area of deuterium. When the ship opens its Bussard collectors, these aliens experience tragedy, with many of their species in pain. These communications to Uhura are an act of desperation. They show her scenes that she soon associates with words. Once she connects these pieces, she discovers that the species is being killed. This resurfaces a lot of memories of her past, now released in the moment.

Una and Pelia resurface old memories and argue with each other over certain items. Eventually, Pelia discovers hints of sabotage on the station they are helping become operational. When they arrive at the area, they find Ramon, an officer experiencing the same discomfort as Uhura.

To save the species in the deuterium, Ramon blasts open the port nacelle to help them end their pain. Uhura, who tried to convince Ramon to stop, is nearly killed, being transported away by Kirk.

Calling back to the third episode, "Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow", Kirk and La'an meet for the first time in this universe. This is also the first time Paul Wesley portrays Kirk in this timeline, with his appearances in the aforementioned episode and "A Quality of Mercy" being in other timelines.

To save the day, the Enterprise empties its deuterium stockpile and evacuates the station before destroying it. The haunting vision of Hemmer, being used to communicate the feelings of the species to Uhura, becomes the Hemmer she knew again. He vanished, going back to his life in peace.

The final scene in the bar of the Enterprise provides every Original Series Fan with joy. Kirk and Spock meet for the first time, and they shake hands! Uhura, Spock, and Kirk sit around a table together, not knowing that one day, on that very ship, in that very room, they would again sit as crew mates, as senior officers.

If you are an Original Series fan, this episode will warm your heart. If you love the idea of communicating with aliens, this episode will be one of your favorites of the season. If you love xenobiology, this episode is amazing at the pursuit of science and fact. Though they aren't charting unknown territories and battling aliens, this is one of the best episodes of this season. It opens our eyes to the possible and lets us dream of this future. It helps us see that trauma and pain are aspects of life. This is an episode that does explore the final frontier, not just in space, but in the heart.