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Star Trek: Discovery: All Is Possible (2021)
A Perfect Episode of Trek
I have to say, I'm a bit flabbergasted by the other review here. This is a great episode of Star Trek. The politics of the episode harkened back to the TOS/TNG era in a strong way. The mission to train cadets in the qualities of teamwork while tackling a botched away mission was spot-on. Even seeing Culber officially take on the counselor role seemed to work really well. I'm stunned by people hating this episode, but to each his own. In my opinion, this is a perfect episode.
Star Trek: Prodigy: Lost & Found, Part 1 (2021)
Star Trek Finally Gets Its Clone Wars
While Star Trek: Prodigy is made for the younger audience, it also caters to ANY Star Trek fan. Not only do we get a well-established quest for this newly-formed rag-tag crew of the USS Protostar, but we also elegantly establish a cast of characters that are sure to make the show very interesting and fun. While the premiere episode, Lost & Found, may have in some ways felt more like Star Wars than Star Trek, it doesn't bother me at all that they are taking the time to establish a strong base for these characters to build on -- no matter how foreign to Trek some of it may initially feel. Kudos to the production team, having established a visual aesthetic that is top tier -- one that makes the possibilities endless for the realization of how where-no-man-has-gone-before can look and feel for a new generation and beyond. Dal and his friends have set out on their collective hero's journey, and I'm here for it.
Star Trek: Lower Decks: Wej Duj (2021)
Kathryn Lyn Delivers an Excellent Script
This episode is a shining example of what Lower Decks could be when it forgoes the juvenile low-hanging fruit and attempts to deliver an authentic first-class Star Trek experience.
Star Trek: Lower Decks: I, Excretus (2021)
Great Episode, This Is (Mostly) What I Come For
This episode may be among the best of the season. With a valid reason for a slew of heart-warming callbacks to treks-past, the episode delivers on that touch of nostalgia it desperately yearns to provide with each episode. What may be more important is that the episode contains a solid narrative. 'I, Excretus' not only plays on the core premise of Lower Decks and the undervalued crew of the Cerritos, but it also crafts a story that feels original, providing a fair amount of much-needed growth for both the lower deckers and the senior officers. Aside from the overuse of a bit of juvenile humor, well done.
Star Trek: Lower Decks: Veritas (2020)
Subversion of Expectations
On the whole, these episodes keep getting better and better. What I loved about this episode in particular is the subversion of expectations. If we were to go by any of the Trek trial scenes of times past, this would definitely fit the bill, and in that aspect, it played on our thoughts and expectations in the perfect way. This is the second episode in a row where we've effectively been "tricked", and I'm here for it. I wouldn't want this type of episode all the time, but it definitely is something they can pull out of the playbook from time to time.
Also, most of the Trek references worked well. Where there too many about intricate details that Boimler shouldn't know about, yes. But when done right, they are quite beautifully nostalgic.
The continued character development has been great to see as well. In many ways the mystery of Rutherford was the most interesting thing of the episode. Is he Starfleets secret weapon? Tendi is adorable as usual, while Mariner is becoming less nonchalant and beginning to move toward what I expect from a Starfleet crew member. Well, and Boimler is, Boimler.
Lastly, it's almost like the guy presiding over the "party" was the surrogate to the audience that has been watching the show. Even he can't believe some of the antics that these officers have been involved with. He even comments about how that's not what Starfleet is all about or the principles they adhere to. In the end, it seems the episode can be interpreted as maybe you the viewer have been holding Starfleet as a concept in too high of a regard. The difference between the Enterprise and the Cerritos is real; now it's up to us to realize that.
Star Trek: Discovery: Point of Light (2019)
Star Trek Discovery: "New Eden" Recap and Review (Season 2 Episode 2)
New Eden, the second episode of Star Trek Discovery season two, not only continues the journey to uncover the mystery of the of the elusive red bursts, but delivers a solid tale that manages to hit a classic tone that should feel familiar to trek faithfuls.
The aforementioned classic tone strongly lies in the how the prime directive drives every facet of this episode. General Order 1 states that, "No starship may interfere with the normal development of any alien life or society."
No starship may interfere with the normal development of any alien life or society.
The clever story spin on the prime directive in this episode is the realization that the people of New Eden are actually a group of humans that were taken away from earth by an unknown entity. This raises the stakes. Pike and crew struggle with the fact that these people are their long lost brothers and sisters, and how to deal with that, while maintaining the prime directive.
As the story goes, this group of people were hidden away in a church two-hundred years earlier during World War III, when an "angel" saved them from certain death, some-how moving the church and its occupants over fifty-thousand light years away.
I couldn't help but to think of Q making his case to Picard about our troubled past and the human race being put on trial, or Archer and crew doing their best to combat the xenophobic deeds of Paxton and Terra Prime.
So what can be done to help the group of humans or enlighten them that earth actually survived the war? Absolutely nothing. As Captain Christopher Pike states, since the society is pre-warp we have to assume general order one still applies.
The rest of time on New Eden is about Pike, Burnham, and Owosekun uncovering the mystery of this almost Amish-like civilization and how they relate to the red bursts, while maintaining cover under the prime directive. Also, this episode may have even seen the first away mission with two black females officers.
There is also the symbolism of all of these people of various religious backgrounds, coming together after such a life-changing event. The stained-glass windows show the residents of New Eden have bound their religious beliefs into one, in an attempt to make sense of it all. Captain Christopher Pike employs an understanding and gracefulness around the topics, to which he may have learned from his father, who taught comparative religion when Pike was growing up.
Any sufficiently advanced extraterrestrial intelligence is indistinguishable from God.
Meanwhile back on Discovery, things are just as complicated. Discovery finds that an extinction level radiation event is headed toward the planet, unbeknownst to the people on the surface, with no means of rescuing Captain and crew. But Ensign Tilly and her new found friend, are on the case!
Tilly comes up with her third brilliant feat of the episode, by suggesting they use the asteroid that is currently hovering in the cargo bay to redirect the radiation wave away from the planet. Her other feats include being able to harvest a bit of the previously mentioned asteroid, and coming up with the idea to alter the deflector dish to pinpoint the second red burst location. Yes, Tilly kicks some serious butt in this episode.
In addition of Owosekun getting a very substantial role on the away mission, other crew members continue to fill in the gaps as well. Voices are starting to become distinct, and faces more recognizable. We learn that Detmer has had her pilot's license since the age of twelve, moments before she is given the go ahead from Saru to execute a donut-maneuver with the Discovery.
Yes, the donut-maneuver!
Other notables from the episodes are the use of the spore drive, which cuts down the otherwise 150 year journey just a hair. The jump sees Stamets one again enter the spore chamber, where he hopes he might be able to reconnect with Cuber.
Finally the theory of this season being "the search for Spock" are quickly dispelled as Pike reveals to Burnham that he knows exactly where Mr. Spock is located, in a mental ward on Starbase 5.
If the think a bit more about what these initial red-burst encounters have meant for the USS Discovery and crew, it's starting to feel like a series of tests. Can you save the USS Hiawatha and its survivors from being consumed by a nearby pulsar? Can you save the residents of New Eden before this planet is irradiated? So far Pike and crew have passed with flying colors. The idea of more tests in this vein certainly feels like something that is going to very enjoyable to watch, while also seeing the truth unfold as to how Spock has received these visions.
All in all this was a very "Star Trekkie" episode. Maybe even more than anything that we've seen in Discovery so far. What's beautiful is that it is able to present this updated cinematic take, while staying true to the feel good stories we have grown accustomed to over the years. This episode was directed by Jonathan Frakes, which may contribute to the feel and flawless execution of an updated TNG-era feel. Let's hope the season continues in the trajectory.
Star Trek: Discovery: Point of Light (2019)
Star Trek Discovery: "New Eden" Recap and Review (Season 2 Episode 2)
New Eden, the second episode of Star Trek Discovery season two, not only continues the journey to uncover the mystery of the of the elusive red bursts, but delivers a solid tale that manages to hit a classic tone that should feel familiar to trek faithfuls.
The aforementioned classic tone strongly lies in the how the prime directive drives every facet of this episode. General Order 1 states that, "No starship may interfere with the normal development of any alien life or society."
No starship may interfere with the normal development of any alien life or society.
The clever story spin on the prime directive in this episode is the realization that the people of New Eden are actually a group of humans that were taken away from earth by an unknown entity. This raises the stakes. Pike and crew struggle with the fact that these people are their long lost brothers and sisters, and how to deal with that, while maintaining the prime directive.
As the story goes, this group of people were hidden away in a church two-hundred years earlier during World War III, when an "angel" saved them from certain death, some-how moving the church and its occupants over fifty-thousand light years away.
I couldn't help but to think of Q making his case to Picard about our troubled past and the human race being put on trial, or Archer and crew doing their best to combat the xenophobic deeds of Paxton and Terra Prime.
So what can be done to help the group of humans or enlighten them that earth actually survived the war? Absolutely nothing. As Captain Christopher Pike states, since the society is pre-warp we have to assume general order one still applies.
The rest of time on New Eden is about Pike, Burnham, and Owosekun uncovering the mystery of this almost Amish-like civilization and how they relate to the red bursts, while maintaining cover under the prime directive. Also, this episode may have even seen the first away mission with two black females officers.
There is also the symbolism of all of these people of various religious backgrounds, coming together after such a life-changing event. The stained-glass windows show the residents of New Eden have bound their religious beliefs into one, in an attempt to make sense of it all. Captain Christopher Pike employs an understanding and gracefulness around the topics, to which he may have learned from his father, who taught comparative religion when Pike was growing up.
Any sufficiently advanced extraterrestrial intelligence is indistinguishable from God.
Meanwhile back on Discovery, things are just as complicated. Discovery finds that an extinction level radiation event is headed toward the planet, unbeknownst to the people on the surface, with no means of rescuing Captain and crew. But Ensign Tilly and her new found friend, are on the case!
Tilly comes up with her third brilliant feat of the episode, by suggesting they use the asteroid that is currently hovering in the cargo bay to redirect the radiation wave away from the planet. Her other feats include being able to harvest a bit of the previously mentioned asteroid, and coming up with the idea to alter the deflector dish to pinpoint the second red burst location. Yes, Tilly kicks some serious butt in this episode.
In addition of Owosekun getting a very substantial role on the away mission, other crew members continue to fill in the gaps as well. Voices are starting to become distinct, and faces more recognizable. We learn that Detmer has had her pilot's license since the age of twelve, moments before she is given the go ahead from Saru to execute a donut-maneuver with the Discovery.
Yes, the donut-maneuver!
Other notables from the episodes are the use of the spore drive, which cuts down the otherwise 150 year journey just a hair. The jump sees Stamets one again enter the spore chamber, where he hopes he might be able to reconnect with Cuber.
Finally the theory of this season being "the search for Spock" are quickly dispelled as Pike reveals to Burnham that he knows exactly where Mr. Spock is located, in a mental ward on Starbase 5.
If the think a bit more about what these initial red-burst encounters have meant for the USS Discovery and crew, it's starting to feel like a series of tests. Can you save the USS Hiawatha and its survivors from being consumed by a nearby pulsar? Can you save the residents of New Eden before this planet is irradiated? So far Pike and crew have passed with flying colors. The idea of more tests in this vein certainly feels like something that is going to very enjoyable to watch, while also seeing the truth unfold as to how Spock has received these visions.
All in all this was a very "Star Trekkie" episode. Maybe even more than anything that we've seen in Discovery so far. What's beautiful is that it is able to present this updated cinematic take, while staying true to the feel good stories we have grown accustomed to over the years. This episode was directed by Jonathan Frakes, which may contribute to the feel and flawless execution of an updated TNG-era feel. Let's hope the season continues in the trajectory.
Star Trek: Discovery: Brother (2019)
Not every cage is a prison, not every lost eternal.
Season two of Star Trek Discovery is back and in spectacular form, weaving the fine thread of incorporating the old and beloved with the new flashy cinematic take on the property that has been around for over fifty years.
But wasn't that what season one was all about? Well, kinda. The huge difference here is that season two is taking it a step further in that direction, introducing our beloved ship the Enterprise, as well as a beloved captain in Captain Christopher Pike.
So much has happened since the airing of the first season finale of Star Trek Discovery. Canon was promised to be rectified, "Short Treks" have come and gone, and more spin-offs than you can shake a stick at have been added to the docket, including a new series from the honorable Sir Patrick Stewart. Huge things have been a flutter.
After the outright denial of even the appearance of Mr. Spock ever in the Discovery series, Spock, along with a few of the friends from the first Star Trek pilot, "The Cage", have not only been introduced into Star Trek Discovery season two, but look to be a very big part of the season. Enter the title of premiere season two episode, "Brother".
The episode opens with a Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) voice-over and flashback. Leading off with the famous words "space the final frontier", then transitioning into Burnham'
introduction to the Sarek family-including her introduction to Spock, which begins what appears to be a very tumultuous relationship.
After the flashback ends, we see the Discovery hailed and rendezvous with the USS Enterprise. Captain Pike and team beams aboard, though a very special step-brother is absent from the boarding party. Captain Christopher Pike wastes no time invoking regulation 19 section 3, allowing him to take command of the USS Discovery under Starfleet orders.
Did anyone see that visor guy in the transporter room?
Anson Mount feels born for the role. He echos many of the same sensibilities - and looks for that matter - that Jeffrey Hunter did in the originally commissioned Star Trek pilot, "The Cage" back in 1965.
Seeing the character brought back to the small screen in a big way was a huge joy in viewing the episode, filling in some of the gaps that faithful fans may have been wondering about for over fifty years. What was the Enterprise and crew up to before Kirk and crew began their five year mission? Discovery season two is awarding us a peek into that time period, though I know some books have covered this in the extended universe.
Pike's first few moments commanding the Discovery was about the assurance that he was not Lorca, and Pike being able to truly trust the crew. And the message from the fortune cookie found under Lorca's old desk was not lost on me, "Not every cage is a prison, not every lost eternal." An obvious tribute to Jeffrey Hunter.
Not every cage is a prison, not every lost eternal.
There is certainly a "brother-in-arms "mentality echoed throughout this episode. Most notably when Pike doesn't want to leave any survivors of the USS Hiawatha behind, even though they may be trapped in a rather impossible situation aboard an asteroid hurtling toward a pulsar. Also we see Pike returning to save Michael Burnham on the asteroid surface, once again echoing the oft used brother-in-arms motto nemo resideo, "leave no one behind."
What looks to be the big mystery this season is introduced early on in the episode when Pike takes command of the ship from Saru. Seven red bursts scattered roughly thirty light years apart throughout the galaxy have presented a new mystery in which Chris Pike - and now the crew of the Discovery - have been ordered to investigate. And while we didn't get any real resolution as to where or whom these burst came from, we do know that a vision received by Burnham may be the first piece of the puzzle in unlocking the source of the phenomenon.
The other big mystery lies in Spock. Burnham learns that Spock has taken a leave of absence from the Enterprise, but for what reason Captain Pike does not even really know. A trip to Spock's quarters aboard the Enterprise reveals that Spock may have known about the bursts all along.
Most of the crew we know and love are back from season one, with the absence of Lieutenant Ash Tyler and Hugh Culber for obvious reasons. Burnham is her usual intelligent self, always three steps ahead of potential problems, while Saru commands the ships with the carefully crafted logic we has grown accustomed to.
Detmer, pump the brakes.
A point is made by Pike to get a sound-off from each of the bridge crew members. Re-introducing each of the crew members that may have gotten little to no fan-fair in season one. I'd have to say Airiam was my favorite, which could be slightly colored by what I know of her role in the mirror-universe comics. Oh, and Airiam is the Cyborg-lady.
And we can't forget about the additional of Tig Notaro and the overall more lighthearted nature of this first episode. While Tilly may have been the comedy relief in the first season, seems that are making a concerted effort to add more comedic moments into the episode. The fact that we are not in a time of wars allows the crew to be a bit goofier, providing the occasional laugh that lightens up the show.
Meanwhile Stamets voices that he leaving Discovery for a teaching post at the Vulcan Science Academy, due to the fact he cannot stand to remain aboard the Discovery in wake of Hugh Culber's death.
The aesthetic of the show continues to scream high-budget cinematic production, in every way. You can't help to continue to love how they have managed to somehow balance the old with the new in a way that still seems somewhat true to the original. What the production team continues to put together is something to be applauded. A high-budget space serial for "television" done to this magnitude is not something you see everyday.
"Brother" proves to be a great start for season two, setting up the season to be a fun ride with plenty of mysteries in tow. This new found threat that has become the focal point post Klingon-war aims to take the Discovery all throughout the galaxy, giving us a reason to go to new and exciting places, exploring new worlds. Then there's the addition of Anson Mount. Captain Pike has injected fresh new life to the show, bringing a bit of the fun and hopeful energy as the crew sets out to figure out what's behind this new found threat.