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ctdan
Reviews
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds: Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow (2023)
Excellent refresh on familiar themes
This episode is a master class in how to reinvent and remix the familiar. It stays true to the spirit of the past episodes it draws inspiration from,even when by necessity it must change some details. By staying true to the core themes of the franchise's past, it enhances these themes and brings them to a modern audience.
The episode a remixes one of, if not the most, critically acclaimed episodes of the original series, and it tinkers with the most famous villain of the Original Series. The writing, directing and acting pull off this daring feat with grace.
It is also one fun ride to watch. It has some comedy, some romance, a bit of futuristic tech, a little action and a small dose of philosophical dilemma. In short all the prerequisites for a great Star Trek Episode.
Star Trek: Discovery: Choose to Live (2021)
Ups and Downs
The Ups:
The Qowat Milat is a great add for Romulans and is advanced further in this episode. Sure the plot hole that the Qowat Milat member clearly could have avoided killing the officer is bad- but also this sect of Romulans have a hard time reading social situations and politics, so it isn't totally inconsistent just not explained in this episode. They also have trust issues.
Book reliving the explosion is consistent with PTSD therapy and the Navar leader's reaction and conversation with Book is really strong and well placed in the episode. This series is defined by its Soap Opera feel. Most of the time the soapiness gets in the way of action or feels forced. Often it is inconsistent with past character development. This scene bucked all those trends and made me care, both about Book and the Navar leader. Others point to the plot hole that Book wasn't looking at his Nephew when the nephew turned around- this is true, but Book could have seen the nephew turn through his peripherial vision, or his memory could have created the image as memories often do to fill in the blanks based on what makes sense. Our grieving brains often need to create stories consistent with what we know to process the whole trauma.
The Down:
Adira and Gray. Why does the non binary character need to have a boy friend who is at once dead and alive inside them? Having a non binary Wesley Crusher in the series is an awesome add, making them a trill with hundreds of years of life experiences that they essentially ignore or at least never acknowledge and instead focus on a lost teen love trying to get into a new synth body??? Having complex characters is good- but why is the most troubled and one of the least stable also the first non-binary since Riker fell in love with the member of the non-binary race who identified as female? Having Gray isn't bad, just don't make Gray all consuming. Also, he should be more believable as a trill host. People used to complain Ezri wasn't up to the task, this kid can't live with a mole on his hand.
Star Trek: Discovery: Anomaly (2021)
Much Improved from first Episode of Season
The writing continues to be preachy, and even though I generally agree with the messages, I'm wishing the story told the message more than the monologues.
The annomoly is beginning to feel like a Star Trek thing from past series and movies, which is good. The stakes are high, but not threatening all life as we know it and that is also a good thing. The scenes where they are confronting the phenomena are engaging, though personal struggles getting in the way could be interesting if they also weren't trying to resolve them in the moment. Making for some very unrealistic interactions. For example: Saru grounds the show- but his conversation and coaching of Burnham in the moment of crisis around her personal feelings is just out of place and unrealistic. The writers should take a page from TNG or DS9. When characters talked about their emotional development, it wasn't in a time sensitive emergency, it was during hobbies that normal people can relate to. This both kept the flow of action sequences going and made the characters more believable and relatable to the audience. I can't name a hobby or like of any character on this show besides Saru taking care of plants.
There are massive plot holes throughout this episode, but if we tune them out the episode can be entertaining, though tuning out obvious flaws takes some effort. Why is Book the only pilot flying into the phenomena? Detmer, who is really competent and not a bag of crazy at the moment, seems like a reasonable backup. Book would learn his lesson way better if Burnham couldn't pull him back from his grief and instead he had to trust Detmer.
Incidentally- I want more of the blond officer on the right hand side of the bridge. She seems calm and capable in a crisis, as does the male officer to Micheal's left. Having Micheal, Book, Tilly, Adira and Stammets as superstars that also swing and miss wildly from time to time would pack a far stronger punch if they were balanced with and supported by more Detmer like characters. People who rarely rise to super star status, but often provide the little boosts necessary for the heroes to rise, or conversely, not totally blow up.
As a side note, the relationship between Stammets and Booker is awkward in the moment and its development rushed, but the concept is good. They are two very different people. Stammets is not at all the person he was in season one, and is very much figuring this new empathetic version of himself out. Booker is likely to change a lot given what he has gone through. The collaboration and friendship between the two could be interesting if developed slowly and creatively. Especially if they never really like each other, but grow to respect each other and even care for each other. This respect and caring would be best if never fully spelled out for the audience but made obvious simply by their actions.
Star Trek: Discovery: Kobayashi Maru (2021)
Writing Makes Zero Sense
First- Why is Booker going everywhere with Burnham? He's in top secret meetings at starfleet command and diplomatic missions. Not even Presidents have their spouses, never mind, 'it's complicated' significant others at closed door meetings.
Second- Saru remains the only grounded person in the command structure. Why does he need a pep talk from the person he is mentoring, who by the way, should be the most emotionally fractured person in the history of the universe? I disagreed with him leaving for Kevnar in the first place, but once gone, at least have him do something interesting while there. The writers probably thought his speech at that council arguing to engage in a wider space community would be enough, but it felt forced. Trek works best when the political message is subtle and the audience is taken through the journey to arrive at that political conclusion with the characters. Imagine if the movie Undiscovered Country, had started with Kirk giving his speech about not running out of history and people being afraid of change. You don't have a movie because no one learns anything from a lecture, they learn from a story of how Kirk learns. If the Kelpians needed to learn why it was important to be part of a larger community, then tell the story of how they learn.
Third- Tilly makes no sense. Tilly has lost people she's known longer and closer than a random, and pointlessly flawed, station commander. She has been flying through the most dangerous events in the history of the universe for four years. She was able to pose as her bad ass Mirror self. She started off as a lovably flawed space scientist future star. Well- four years later why isn't she awesome? Granted her first command was a disaster, so if that is holding her back- use that. You don't need to create one random guy's death to give a lesson on grief. Tilly has dealt with far more grief.
Madam President- There is some comment about politicians and the point of them and their lies. I'm not sure what it is. This could be an interesting investigation as the season progresses, but ramps up fast and at unrealistic times.
Lastly, this episode took me four tries to get through it. The characters are either static or their growth makes little sense. This show is all about exploring emotions under stress, and yet, with the questionable character development, this episode had me constantly wondering why should I care? I guess at this point, its just pride to be able to say I've seen everything Trek.
Star Trek: Lower Decks (2020)
Best Trek of This Era
When I saw the trailer, I was furious at CBS. The body humor and whole tenor of the show seemed antithetical to everything Star Trek is, great science fiction, action, and a hopeful reflection on humanity. I was wrong. The body humor is a little out of place, but honestly all trek series have some cringe worthy romance, and this series does a great job of both playing homage to what has come before and poking some friendly fun at it too, all while managing to keep that hopeful feeling good trek always seems to come around to. The episodes are superbly crafted. While contemporary Trek has at times felt bloated or stretched out with character development that takes too long to unfold and is often out of step with the action, (see scenes in Discovery where personal problems are resolved while all life in the universe is on the line) this series has none of that except when it is so obviously making fun of itself that it works. The character development is outstanding. Each episode is packed with multiple plot lines and yet nothing feels rushed. If you are a treky enjoy all the Easter eggs too. Nice work writers and CBS!
Star Trek: Discovery (2017)
Discovery- Cleaner writing please!
I've been a Trekkie for a while. This review is written with other Sci Fi in mind as well, which is why I give it an average grade. That said, I've seen every episode of every Trek series at least twice, so it is hard not to judge against earlier content.
First the good:
The show continues to be visually stunning. As a Trek fan, there are times, even in season 3, where episodes from past shows are referenced and characters or objects are reconstituted in some amazing ways that feel are authentic to the original intent of the character or franchise more broadly. Despite the serialized format of the show, there are a few times where you could look at two episodes or three almost as small movies in themselves. At these times, the show becomes as great as any trek before it. This show thrives when it includes two part or a trilogies of episodes. The writing in these shows is much tighter, and they feel more Trek like.
The show is visually stunning which is great for new audiences.
The character played by Michelle Yeoh is also well written, and Yeoh delivers her fabulously. The acting is very strong all around, as is the directing. Jonathan Frakes does a particularly good job among the directors.
The not so good...
Across all seasons, the writing contains plot holes and character development that makes little sense. In the first two seasons the main character suffers from this. In season three, she is consistent with the character we have seen from the middle of season one on, but still makes no sense with her backstory. The actress is talented though and really shines in season three particularly in season three episodes 9 and 10. I just wish the writers would make her grow more. The way the crew reacts to her also makes little sense.
In general, the writing in season one is better than in season two, and three is the best to date.
The show is largely missing the political commentary and hopeful feeling that the franchise usually includes. There are obvious attempts to capture this feeling and political commentary, but inconsistent writing and static characters get in the way.
Bottom line:
If I watch the show to be distracted from the world around me. If I think of it as an adventure show set in the future, it is okay. If I want to leave with a hopeful feeling and light intellectual stimulation that Trek usually supplies, the show largely falls flat despite a few high points.