Samuel-Shovel Reviews

Star Trek: Discovery: The Wolf Inside (2018) Season 1, Episode 11

The Truth Comes Out

[5/10 · 19 August 2020]

In "The Wolf Inside", now aboard the Shenzhou, Burnham must figure a way to send her collected data back to the Discovery. After being tasked with destroying a rebel compound, she also must find a way to avoid killing the rebels and their Klingon leader, Voq. Seeing Voq causes Tyler to go into a rage and lose it, admitting he killed Dr. Culber. After he attempts to kill Michael, Tyler is jettisoned into space where the Discovery rescues him and imprisons him just before he dies.

The pacing of this show is starting to strike me as odd. It feels like it is too jam-packed. So many disparate threads are occuring that we have no time to sit and develop anything. Event after event after event seems to be happening to our characters with no time to allow said characters to develop or make their own decisions. It's very odd...

Star Trek: Discovery: Despite Yourself (2018) Season 1, Episode 10

Delving Into the Mirror Universe

[5/10 · 19 August 2020]

In "Despite Yourself" the Discovery finds itself in the Mirror Universe. The crew quickly adapts to the new status quo, blending in with this Universe's empire and making Tilly the captain. Burnham resumes her role as captain of the Shenzhou, taking Lorca as prisoner (as is the timeline in this universe). Their goal is to figure out everything they can about this universe. Tyler asks Dr. Culber for help with the PTSD and flashbacks he keeps getting from his time with the Klingons. When Culber discovers he's been under some odd surgery, Tyler snaps and kills him.

The thing that was always fun about the mirror universe in previous iterations was seeing our favorite characters and the antithesis of them. But since we don't really have established characters on this show, it doesn't really matter... I don't know what the opposite of Burnham looks like because she's not a fully developed character in this universe, let alone another one. Jumping between worlds this early feels completely unnecessary. They literally killed off one of the only two developed characters. Sure, they can bring the actor back as his mirror self but if we're killing characters just to bring them back, what's the point?

Star Trek: Discovery: Into the Forest I Go (2017) Season 1, Episode 9

A Mid-Season Cliffhanger

[7/10 · 18 August 2020]

In "Into the Forest I Go" the Discovery uses their spore technology to drop a sonar beacon in a Klingon ship that will allow them to learn how to detect cloaked Klingon ships. This takes hundreds of mini-jumps, which takes quite the toll on Stamets. While hiding the beacon on the Klingon ship, Tyler and Michael happen upon the Admiral, rescuing her and taking a Klingon refugee in the process.

Pretty fun cliffhanger actually. It looks like we're in a parallel universe at the end. The show's slowly starting to make some strides after a lackluster start. They'll need to deliver in the second half of the season though. I'm skeptical whether they'll be able to do so...

Star Trek: Discovery: Si Vis Pacem, Para Bellum (2017) Season 1, Episode 8

The First Away Mission, Finally!

[5/10 · 18 August 2020]

In "Si Vis Pacem, Para Bellum" the Discovery is tasked with trying to connect to a planet's natural satellite dish in order to detect the Klingons' invisibility cloaks. While on the planet's surface, Suru experiences complete happiness and comfort and wants to stay forever, holding Michael and Tyler there with him.

This is sort of the show's first away mission on a planet's surface but what exactly happened and what their objective is was beyond me. It's a very convoluted plot. I thought Suru got taken over by the planet's mystic beings but apparently it was him the whole time? Weird stuff...

Star Trek: Discovery: Magic to Make the Sanest Man Go Mad (2017) Season 1, Episode 7

A Retread, But a Welcome One

[6/10 · 18 August 2020]

In "Magic to Make the Sanest Man Go Mad" the Discovery gets stuck in a time loop when Harry Mudd uses a special gem to try to steal the ship and its secrets by giving himself innumerable chances to try over and over again. Only Stamets' odd new relationship with time and space keeps him aware of what is happening as he tries his best to stop Mudd with the help of Michael.

Sure, it's a blatant ripoff of the TNG episode "Cause and Effect" with a TOS character but at least I had some fun watching this episode. They actually.ade a good standalone episode that doesn't need to worry so much about the season long story arc. They should try to do more things like that. Hopefully they have some original ideas though and don't just rehash old classics...

Star Trek: Discovery: Lethe (2017) Season 1, Episode 6

Revealing Burnham's History

[5/10 · 18 August 2020]

In "Lethe" Burnham senses Sarek is in trouble and asks the Discovery to help locate and rescue him. Through his katra, Michael learns the truth to why she didn't get into the Vulcan Expeditionary Group. Lorca has a meeting with his boss who reprimands him for his cowboy antics. The admiral heads to a neutral site for a meeting with the Klingons only to get kidnapped.

What was that Matrix fight in Sarek's mind all about? That was pretty dumb and unnecessary. I was also blown away by the change in the crew's relationships. All of the sudden the roommates seem like BFFs, the engineer and the captain are chummy, the tension that was present in the first few episodes has all of the sudden evaporated. Very bizarre...

Star Trek: Discovery: Choose Your Pain (2017) Season 1, Episode 5

An Old "Friend" Comes on the Show

[4/10 · 13 August 2020]

In "Choose Your Pain", after leaving the Discovery for a meeting with Star Fleet, Captain Lorca is kidnapped by the Klingons on his return ship. While stuck in the brig, Lorca encounters one Harry Mudd. Burnham learns more about how the "jumps" the Discovery is doing is potentially killing the creature aboard. With Lorca gone though and Saru in charge, Michael's pleas fall on death ears.

The plotting and pacing of this show is a real headscratcher to me. Lorca is captured for all of 3 minutes aboard the Klingon vessel before escaping. And for that matter, how did he get kidnapped? Why did he need a transport to get back to the Discovery? Was he THAT far away? And if so, couldn't they have just jumped to meet him somewhere instead of making him take the bus to get back? I was very confused...

The creature they introduced is already gone. I thought it would be a throughpoint on the season and the ethical dilemma surrounding its use but I guess not. I have a feeling the Klingons are going to find it and try to use it but who knows? Still waiting for an uptick in quality for the show. And please, I'm begging you, leave Mudd out of this! He was awful on TOS and I don't need more of the guy...

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: Progress (1993) Season 1, Episode 15

One of the Better Episodes of Season 1

[6/10 · 13 August 2020]

In "Progress" Kira must head to a Bajoran moon and convince an old farmer to evacuate so the Bajoran government can start tapping the satellite for energy. Meanwhile back on DS9, Nog and Jake find themselves in possession of some Cardassian sauce and keep bartering other goods in the hope of eventually getting their hands on some gold-pressed latinum.

This has been one of the better episodes of Season 1 and gives me hope for the series as a whole. We get some really good character development with Kira here. Brian Keith is one of the best guest actors the show's had so far and the two play off of each other nicely. The ambiguity of the ending is what really sells this episode for me. Will they remain friends? Will he survive? We don't know; we just get a sense of melancholy as we await the beam up...

Star Trek: Discovery: The Butcher's Knife Cares Not for the Lamb's Cry (2017) Season 1, Episode 4

So Many Plotholes...

[4/10 · 13 August 2020]

In "The Butcher's Knife Cares Not for the Lamb's Cry" we learn more about the mysterious creature that was found aboard the Glenn and how it relates to this new spore-driven technology. A mining colony under attack from the Klingons needs the Discovery's help.

I don't understand a lot of things in this episode. Why is the Klingon ship that United the clans just left abandoned after the battle for 6 whole months? Why didn't the Glenn tell its sister ship about their breakthrough in technology involving this beast? Why did Star Fleet recover this telescope from the Shenzhou but left a functioning warp drive?

I'm hoping we get some answers but I'm not holding my breath...

Star Trek: Discovery: Context Is for Kings (2017) Season 1, Episode 3

Sort of the Real Pilot

[5/10 · 13 August 2020]

In "Context is for Kings", six months after the previous episode's events, Michael Burnham is on a prison transport when she is transferred to the USS Discovery as prison labor. The ship's captain, Lorca, has brought her hear because of her brilliant mind and knowledge of the Klingons. She learns the ship's purpose is to experiment on a new propulsion system using spores that could change the war. The ship's sister ship, the USS Glenn, suffers a terrible accident while experimenting, killing everyone aboard.

So after a sort of prequel to the show's story we're now getting into the real plot here in Episode 3. Burnham is still a prisoner but is given an assignment that may lead to her freedom again if she plays her cards right. We meet a few new characters (most of whom I find annoying) and reunite with a few old ones. Hard to judge this on a standalone basis but I'm still a bit off-put by this new version of Star Trek. Maybe I will grow fond of it as we move forward...

Star Trek: The Next Generation: Suspicions (1993) Season 6, Episode 22

Crusher Has a Murder Mystery

[4/10 · 13 August 2020]

In "Suspicions" Dr. Crusher risks her career to investigate the mysterious death of a Ferengi scientist whose technology purportedly allowed ships to travel closer to the sun's corona.

Not really Gates McFadden's fault here but this mystery episode is pretty bad. For one, why is it Dr. Crusher that's involved in this science experiment? She's into medicine not this. It seems tailormade for Geordi or Data. Make the story medical-based if you want a Crusher mystery.

And just everything else about the episode feels lazy to me. The solution, the plot, everything. Why not send an unmanned prone to test the new technology first before potentially sacrificing a guinea pig. Nothing about this episode makes sense.

Star Trek: Discovery: Battle at the Binary Stars (2017) Season 1, Episode 2

A Slight Improvement

[5/10 · 10 August 2020]

In "Battle at the Binary Stars" after being locked up in the brig for attempting to fire on the Klingons in the previous episode, Burnham must escape from the brig after the ship begins to blow up in battle. More Klingon and Federation ships arrive and soon start in an all out battle. Burnham and Georgiou beam aboard an enemy ship in an attempt to capture the ringleader, only to have the captain be killed. Burnham is sentenced to life in prison as the episode ends...

More of the same... Lot of pew pew lasers, serious action and acting, yada yada yada. At least we got some backstory on Burnham which was an improvement. Her Vulcan background makes her interesting but all we've seen from her is rash decision-making. Doesn't sound very Vulcan-y to me...

Star Trek: Discovery: The Vulcan Hello (2017) Season 1, Episode 1

Welcome Back, Star Trek!

[3/10 · 10 August 2020]

In "The Vulcan Hello" we meet a new cast of Star Fleet characters out on patrol when they run across a broken relay and a cloaked Klingon ship.

In the age of prestige television, I was a little bit worried about the atmosphere and vibe of a new Star Trek series. Through one episode, my qualms seem validated. This thing is so self-serious I couldn't believe it. Don't get me wrong. I love a seriously acted sci-fi show as much as anyone else, but Star Trek has always incorporated a sense of campiness and comedy in its shows. Not here though. This has all the high-strungness of a WWII miniseries. Hopefully this show course-corrects as it goes along...

Star Trek: The Next Generation: Frame of Mind (1993) Season 6, Episode 21

Frakes' Tour de Force

[8/10 · 10 August 2020]

In "Frame of Mind" Riker must identify what truly is reality when he is constantly thrown different lives: one where he's acting in a play aboard the Enterprise and one where he's in an alien insane asylum. Is he actually a Star Fleet Commander or is this all part of some insane fantasy?

Really fun Twilight Zone-esque episode here. I've seen this sort of "what is reality" sci-fi high concept idea many times before but it's fun to see it with TNG characters we know and love. Frakes is really solid for the majority but f the episode. It rides on his shoulders and he delivers.

Not super original and the effects can be a bit silly at times (like the shattered glass transition) but STL a highlight of Season 6.

Star Trek: The Next Generation: The Chase (1993) Season 6, Episode 20

Really Good In-Universe World Building

[7/10 · 5 August 2020]

In "The Chase" the findings of Picard's old archaeology mentor lead the Enterprise (as well as a few other alien empires) on a race to find the secret behind a string of connected DNA clues that might explain why humanoid life forms are so prevalent throughout the galaxy.

I'd never seen this episode before and was sort of surprised how nicely the entire story arc wraps in a nice little bow. The in-universe explanation of why everyone sort of looks the same besides a few facial differences is pretty ingenious and fun. I love a good world-building episode and this episode has huge implications for inter-planetary diplomacy. A concept such as this really could have been a movie!

At the very least, I think I would have preferred this to be a two-parter. Everything happens so fast, I wish we had more time to explore this concept. Maybe we can prolong the chase sequences a bit, go to a few more planets, pick up a few more clues... Anyways, love the concept, but I think the episode doesn't quite live up to it in execution.

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: The Storyteller (1993) Season 1, Episode 14

What a Slog...

[1/10 · 3 August 2020]

In "The Storyteller" a pair of Bajoran sects clash over disputed land with Sisko acting as the mediator of the conflict. Meanwhile O'Brien and Bashir head to Bajor to apply medical attention to another Bajoran tribe's spiritual leader. When the man passes away and names O'Brien as the tribe's successor, the two DS9 crewman must figure out how to defeat a dangerous monster and transfer ruling power to another Bajoran.

This has to be my least favorite episode of DS9 thus far (even more than "Move Along Home"). Both storylines focus on expanding the lore of the Bajorans but really miss the mark on supplying us with anything concrete. We're already getting down to the nitty-gritty details of Bajor as we encounter three new tribes. Why are we doing this so soon? We haven't even fully developed Dax yet as a character. She's invisible in this episode!

The climax with the big monster and having it feed off the crowd like a rock star is just awful, awful, awful... I have nothing really positive to say about this episode beyond the fact that we get to see Odo's bucket.

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: Battle Lines (1993) Season 1, Episode 13

The Kai's Destiny

[7/10 · 3 August 2020]

In "Battle Lines" after crash-landing on a prison planet where the warring inhabitants can't die, Sisko, Bashir, Kira, and the Bajoran Kai must wait to be rescued by Dax and O'Brien. In the meantime, the group tries to resolve the two enemy parties' dispute. The Kai decided to eventually stay on the planet as foretold in her prophecy.

This was actually my favorite episode so far of the first season. I think we get some great character development from Kira and I love the idea of this hellish planet where the two sides are destined to annoy each other from here until eternity. The episode definitely has its problems but I think DS9 is on the right track with episodes such as this.

The Twilight Zone: The Hunt (1962) Season 3, Episode 19

A Man and His Dog

[6/10 · 25 July 2020]

In "The Hunt" when an old man and his dog drown in a hunting accident, the duo must traverse to the afterlife and avoid the tricks of the devil.

I never want to see a dog death on screen but this is about as wholesome an outcome as there could be, all things considering... For the subject matter at hand, the ending is pretty light-hearted and fun. As far as substance goes it's pretty nonexistent though...

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: Vortex (1993) Season 1, Episode 12

Odo Delves into His Origin

[5/10 · 25 July 2020]

In "Vortex" a man from the Gamma quadrant is charged with murder aboard DS9. Him and Odo form an unlikely bond after Croden tells him he knows where to find other changelings.

I sort of liked this episode despite its flaws. I still have zero understanding of why Croden murders that twin? Maybe I missed something but why was he involved in all that? Why didn't he just request assistance from Odo to get his daughter back right than this elaborate scheme? That's my main headscratcher that's holding me back from rating this anything higher than a 5.

Star Trek: The Next Generation: Lessons (1993) Season 6, Episode 19

Another Flawed Attempt at Romance for TNG

[5/10 · 24 July 2020]

In "Lessons" Picard's romantic relationship with a new crew member becomes a conflict of interest when he's forced to put her on a dangerous mission that might get her killed.

I think I enjoy the romance episodes of TNG less than your normal Trekkie. I much prefer watching the captain and Vash off on some adventure over seeing Picard blow away on his flute in a jam sesh. The ending seems a bit rushed and expected.

There's nothing awful here but there's nothing to sink your teeth into either.

Star Trek: The Next Generation: Starship Mine (1993) Season 6, Episode 18

Die Picard

[9/10 · 22 July 2020]

In "Starship Mine" the Enterprise heads to space dock to get scrubbed of all its radiation while the ship is empty. When Picard heads back at the last minute to grab his riding saddle, he discovers a terrorist plot to steal some of the Enterprise's dangerously explosive material. All alone on the ship, Picard must defend himself and the Enterprise against a crew of criminals.

This is the closest I think we ever see Picard get to going full Cpt. Kirk. This type of story feels right up Kirk's alley, less so for Picard though. But in a pinch, TNG's captain isn't afraid to duke it out when necessary. We get some fun traps and action scenes with Stewart.

I'm a bit less interested with what's going on down on the planet's surface. Data's "small-talk" B-plot is pretty mediocre and hangs on by a thread, almost ruining the episode for me. But the main story line is so overpowering that I can't help but love this episode.

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: The Nagus (1993) Season 1, Episode 11

World-Building for Ferengi

[6/10 · 21 July 2020]

In "The Nagus" the leader of the Ferengi comes to DS9 to offer Quark the role of his successor. But as assassination attempts soon befall the bar owner, Quark realizes that all might not be what it seems to be with this new deal.

Kind of an odd one but I actually enjoyed myself. Wallace Shawn is spectacular and it's nice to get some Ferengi world-building. I never thought I'd say that but Quark is such a well written character that I've actually regained interest in a people that I had all but given up hope in. DS9 is slowly rescuing the Ferengi people from the doldrums of Star Trek aliens. I hope this continues...

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: Move Along Home (1993) Season 1, Episode 10

Hopscotch?

[2/10 · 15 July 2020]

In "Move Along Home" the first delegation from a species from the Gamma visits DS9 in search of games and gambling. When they find Quark to be cheating, the visitors subject Quark to a high stakes game with the station's officers as the game pieces. Life and death are on the line.

What are we doing here guys? It's not the most offensively bad Star Trek show I've ever seen but it is pretty much complete garbage. The set looks cheap, the guest actors are pretty bad, and watching the crew hopscotch through a puzzle might be the cringiest Star Trek moment I've seen in a while. This episode is hard to watch!

Star Trek: The Next Generation: Birthright, Part II (1993) Season 6, Episode 17

Worf, Your Discrimination is Showing

[3/10 · 15 July 2020]

In "Birthright, Part II" Worf finds himself on a prison-cum-commune planet where Romulans and Klingons now live in peace. The original Klingons are old and would prefer to not return and face dishonor at being captured in battle. Their offspring, a mix of Klingons and Romulans, live off the land. Worf shows up and tries to convince them all to embrace their Klingon heritage.

This is a bad look for Worf. He comes off as a bigot and a jingoist. Here we have a planet living in peace and in total happiness. He shows up and tries to hand down some violent customs to the young'uns. He basically Shane's Gi'ral for being half-Romulan, telling her that neither race of people would ever accept her. Worf just comes off looking like a total jerk in this episode. I'm glad he doesn't blow their cover, but still... A disappointing conclusion to the two-parter.

Also we never find out Shrek's motivation for lying to Worf in the first place. I don't understand we he brought Worf there?

Star Trek: The Next Generation: Birthright, Part I (1993) Season 6, Episode 16

Data Accidentally Dreams, The Hunt for Worf's Father

[5/10 · 15 July 2020]

In "Birthright, Part I" the Enterprise visits Deep Space Nine once again, this time to help with repairs. While there, Worf meets someone claiming his father is still alive, trapped on a Romulan prison planet. Meanwhile, an experiment on a strange device from the Gamma quadrant causes Data to experience his first ever dream. He tries to interpret what all this means.

Worf's family issues just seems to be the saga that will never end. After finally clearing his dad's name, here he finds out the man may still be alive. But as soon as he arrives on the planet, an old friend tells Worf that the rumour is untrue. We cut off the episode with the "trapped" Klingons appearing to be co-conspirators with the Romulans on the planet as they take Worf hostage.

Data's plot line feels like complete filler to make it long enough to be a two-parter. That's not to say I didn't enjoy it though. We get some really fun scenes between Data and Dr. Soong with some fun wide angle shots and a sort of surreal vibe over the whole thing.

Having a crossover episode, I figured we'd see more of the DS9 cast but so far (in Part I at least) we've only encounter Dr. Bashir. That's a bit of a disappointment. Hopefully we'll see more of the DS9 regulars in Part II.