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Strange New Worlds season 3
- Thread starter Dr Dave
- Start date
Starship Coyote
The Merchant of Menace
It's called dramatic license. Looks great.
Sorta like ships having a running fight with beam based weapons and sublight traveling torpedoes at seriously FTL speeds.
CaptainWacky
I want to smell dark matter
3.7 - The story with the space dragon was good, but I felt like telling it documentary-style often got in the way of the story rather than enhancing it. I would have liked to have seen how those scenes played out without them being shot at weird angles!
Beto's documentary starts out by asking "is Starfleet an evil imperial colonial force!?" but they don't really answer that question, they just say "Starfleet is nice and about hope!" And obviously as a Star Trek fan I'm on the side of Starfleet being good, but it didn't really add up. Then again, Beto didn't make a strong argument either other than "look how hot La'an looks firing a gun!" so fuck him. His documentary turned out kind of shit.
There were good character moments with everyone being interviewed. I didn't hate the episode but the documentary aspect wasn't convincing enough.
Only three episodes to go and Una's done literally nothing all season.
Beto's documentary starts out by asking "is Starfleet an evil imperial colonial force!?" but they don't really answer that question, they just say "Starfleet is nice and about hope!" And obviously as a Star Trek fan I'm on the side of Starfleet being good, but it didn't really add up. Then again, Beto didn't make a strong argument either other than "look how hot La'an looks firing a gun!" so fuck him. His documentary turned out kind of shit.
There were good character moments with everyone being interviewed. I didn't hate the episode but the documentary aspect wasn't convincing enough.
Only three episodes to go and Una's done literally nothing all season.
I liked the documentary angle. The redacted stuff, the colonialism reference (very topical the way TOS did sometimes, without being preachy), and I liked the interviews. At the same time, the space dragon story would have been nice to see in a normal way.
Of course the conclusion of the documentary is that Star Fleet is awesome, BECAUSE IT IS AWESOME. lol srsly
Of course the conclusion of the documentary is that Star Fleet is awesome, BECAUSE IT IS AWESOME. lol srsly
Colonel Kira's Left Tit
Bearded Belly of Bajor
I liked this one too, but I'm pretty easy to please as far as this show goes. It reminded me a lot of the Stargate and BSG documentary episodes, and that's not a bad thing. Great character work and advancement along with a very Star Trek back theme. If I had a complaint it would be I wish they would stop picking stardates out of a Bingo ping ball machine. 
Volpone
Zombie Hunter
I wonder if that's intentional and they're being too meta. Because before the movies the stardates were just random, IIRC.... If I had a complaint it would be I wish they would stop picking stardates out of a Bingo ping ball machine.
Starship Coyote
The Merchant of Menace
They were. In the TOS, the stardates were all over the place, because I don't think they had the actual mechanism behind it nailed down.
It really wasn't a problem, since each episode was Kirk's report on what happened... hence the "Captain's Log" at the beginning of each act.
Colonel Kira's Left Tit
Bearded Belly of Bajor
Yeah I don't really mind it at all, I think they are just having fun with the serious Trek nerds with the whole stardate thing. I'm sure someone somewhere has blown a gasket over it.
Starship Coyote
The Merchant of Menace
That was stupid.
No, I'm sorry, but that was fucking stupid. So stupid it was borderline offensive.
I might watch it again after I'm hyper-caffeinated, but I doubt it.
One positive note: I think Christina Chong's legs have grown hotter over time. I've seen risque pics of her from the past, and they've definitely developed.
No, I'm sorry, but that was fucking stupid. So stupid it was borderline offensive.
I might watch it again after I'm hyper-caffeinated, but I doubt it.
One positive note: I think Christina Chong's legs have grown hotter over time. I've seen risque pics of her from the past, and they've definitely developed.
Starship Coyote
The Merchant of Menace
Okay, now the caffeine-to-hemoglobin ratio in my blood stream is approaching fatal levels, I'll expand:
This episode is a perfect example of something I've suspected for some time now: the writers not only don't understand Star Trek, I suspect they're now actively making fun of life long Trekkies.
Let's get this straight... Chapel, who spent most of TOS being a fucking ditz... is actually a biochemical genius who can engineer a serum which can transform a Human into a Vulcan (btw, that's not how serums work). Not only do you become a biological Vulcan, your hair also changes into a Vulcan hair style, and you instantly become logical. Now, the path of logic was developed by Surak, and later others, to save Vulcans from themselves (as we later see with La'an who decides that the old violent, tyrannical Vulcan way is much cooler); that's a cultural characteristic, and not a biological factor. Oh and Pike decides to take a Lirpa with him on this totally contrived away mission (apparently the writers never read Anton Chekov... if a lirpa is produced early in the plot, it must be used later).
But fuck all that, huh? It's way more entertaining to do something that looks and feels like a cartoon, because the current viewer demographic is addicted to TikTok and has the attention span and cognitive functions of a meth head.
Which brings me to a meta-point I've noticed with other shows... Doctor Who, or what's left of it, for example: the episodes are laid out in such a way that relevant sections fit a TikTok vid just right. Add to that the obvious... which is the writers' grasp of Star Trek is superficial at best... that's why this season is a disaster... and people are noticing.
Cancelling this show is a mercy. Two more episodes in this season... another season and a half, and it's done.
The truly sad thing is: I'll continue watching because I like the characters... except for Spock's Gen Z acting ass. That's more than I gave Discovery's revolting plot lines and characters.
This episode is a perfect example of something I've suspected for some time now: the writers not only don't understand Star Trek, I suspect they're now actively making fun of life long Trekkies.
Let's get this straight... Chapel, who spent most of TOS being a fucking ditz... is actually a biochemical genius who can engineer a serum which can transform a Human into a Vulcan (btw, that's not how serums work). Not only do you become a biological Vulcan, your hair also changes into a Vulcan hair style, and you instantly become logical. Now, the path of logic was developed by Surak, and later others, to save Vulcans from themselves (as we later see with La'an who decides that the old violent, tyrannical Vulcan way is much cooler); that's a cultural characteristic, and not a biological factor. Oh and Pike decides to take a Lirpa with him on this totally contrived away mission (apparently the writers never read Anton Chekov... if a lirpa is produced early in the plot, it must be used later).
But fuck all that, huh? It's way more entertaining to do something that looks and feels like a cartoon, because the current viewer demographic is addicted to TikTok and has the attention span and cognitive functions of a meth head.
Which brings me to a meta-point I've noticed with other shows... Doctor Who, or what's left of it, for example: the episodes are laid out in such a way that relevant sections fit a TikTok vid just right. Add to that the obvious... which is the writers' grasp of Star Trek is superficial at best... that's why this season is a disaster... and people are noticing.
Cancelling this show is a mercy. Two more episodes in this season... another season and a half, and it's done.
The truly sad thing is: I'll continue watching because I like the characters... except for Spock's Gen Z acting ass. That's more than I gave Discovery's revolting plot lines and characters.
CaptainWacky
I want to smell dark matter
As Spock is torn between his human and Vulcan sides, I am torn between my "OH, JUST HAVE FUN" side and my "why is it so stupid" side. So I'll try to approach the episode from both angles...
"Why is it so stupid" first to get it out of the way so we can finish the post positively: Yeah, I hate how dumbed down the science is in Star Trek now. I know it's never been hard sci-fi but they don't even make an effort anymore. A character will say something scientific then someone else will say "wow, science is SOOOOOOOO sciencey!" They're supposed to be Starfleet officers! They're supposed to be smart!
Sorry, I went on a tangent and maybe that doesn't apply as much to this episode, it's just a thing that annoys me. The way they treated the Vulcan DNA is stupid as fuck, of course. Vulcans work to suppress their emotions, they aren't born as completely emotionless robots (the episode even acknowledges this by making La'an different.) Injecting "Vulcan DNA" into you wouldn't just make you turn into a perfectly logical asshole with Vulcan hair instantly. And - and I'm being too serious here I know - It's kind of problematic how La'an turns out to be a "bad" Vulcan because she's got "bad genes" from her distant ancestor Khan. There's no "dictator gene" to be passed on.
Finally I'll just say this: when previous Trek series did comedy episodes they could get pretty silly, but I don't think they ever broke the reality of the show. DS9 would do Ferengi comedy episodes (of varying quality), but the comedy was confined the the Ferengi. They wouldn't have Sisko marry Moogie and fall in love with her and eat tube grubs in a meeting with Admrial Ross or something. With SNW it feels like the comedy episodes exist in an entirely different reality to the rest of the show. I feel that's the difference!
I hate how every Spock-centric episode is a comedy. Give Ethan Peck another note to play.
In TOS, McCoy doesn't know what a mind meld is and it's treated as a secret and sacred things to the Vulcans. Here, Uhura somehow knows about it (don't tell me the knowledge is passed through DNA) and casually does one on Beto. WHATEVER. I KNOW IT'S A COMEDY, OKAY.
"OH, JUST HAVE FUN."
Patton Oswalt was funny. I found the bit with him, Spock and Una funnier than the transformeed crewmembers part. "We have two children. They have different names." or whatever the line was from Spock made me laugh out loud. The post credit scene was very funny and I liked Ethan Peck grinning at the end because it reminded me of Nimoy breaking character and laughing near the end of The Voyage Home.
I liked that Spcok's human side was what helped with getting Doug to help (though they could have made more of this in the episode.)
I liked how the Spock/La'an fight turned into a dance.
Marie finally showed a bit of personality.
Jess Bush looked great as a Vulcan.
I didn't hate it, I'm not going to quit the show, but I hope the next two episodes aren't dumb.
"Why is it so stupid" first to get it out of the way so we can finish the post positively: Yeah, I hate how dumbed down the science is in Star Trek now. I know it's never been hard sci-fi but they don't even make an effort anymore. A character will say something scientific then someone else will say "wow, science is SOOOOOOOO sciencey!" They're supposed to be Starfleet officers! They're supposed to be smart!
Sorry, I went on a tangent and maybe that doesn't apply as much to this episode, it's just a thing that annoys me. The way they treated the Vulcan DNA is stupid as fuck, of course. Vulcans work to suppress their emotions, they aren't born as completely emotionless robots (the episode even acknowledges this by making La'an different.) Injecting "Vulcan DNA" into you wouldn't just make you turn into a perfectly logical asshole with Vulcan hair instantly. And - and I'm being too serious here I know - It's kind of problematic how La'an turns out to be a "bad" Vulcan because she's got "bad genes" from her distant ancestor Khan. There's no "dictator gene" to be passed on.
Finally I'll just say this: when previous Trek series did comedy episodes they could get pretty silly, but I don't think they ever broke the reality of the show. DS9 would do Ferengi comedy episodes (of varying quality), but the comedy was confined the the Ferengi. They wouldn't have Sisko marry Moogie and fall in love with her and eat tube grubs in a meeting with Admrial Ross or something. With SNW it feels like the comedy episodes exist in an entirely different reality to the rest of the show. I feel that's the difference!
I hate how every Spock-centric episode is a comedy. Give Ethan Peck another note to play.
In TOS, McCoy doesn't know what a mind meld is and it's treated as a secret and sacred things to the Vulcans. Here, Uhura somehow knows about it (don't tell me the knowledge is passed through DNA) and casually does one on Beto. WHATEVER. I KNOW IT'S A COMEDY, OKAY.
"OH, JUST HAVE FUN."
Patton Oswalt was funny. I found the bit with him, Spock and Una funnier than the transformeed crewmembers part. "We have two children. They have different names." or whatever the line was from Spock made me laugh out loud. The post credit scene was very funny and I liked Ethan Peck grinning at the end because it reminded me of Nimoy breaking character and laughing near the end of The Voyage Home.
I liked that Spcok's human side was what helped with getting Doug to help (though they could have made more of this in the episode.)
I liked how the Spock/La'an fight turned into a dance.
Marie finally showed a bit of personality.
Jess Bush looked great as a Vulcan.
I didn't hate it, I'm not going to quit the show, but I hope the next two episodes aren't dumb.
Starship Coyote
The Merchant of Menace
This is just about the most positive post that could possibly be written about this episode. I applaud your creativity.As Spock is torn between his human and Vulcan sides, I am torn between my "OH, JUST HAVE FUN" side and my "why is it so stupid" side. So I'll try to approach the episode from both angles...
"Why is it so stupid" first to get it out of the way so we can finish the post positively: Yeah, I hate how dumbed down the science is in Star Trek now. I know it's never been hard sci-fi but they don't even make an effort anymore. A character will say something scientific then someone else will say "wow, science is SOOOOOOOO sciencey!" They're supposed to be Starfleet officers! They're supposed to be smart!
Sorry, I went on a tangent and maybe that doesn't apply as much to this episode, it's just a thing that annoys me. The way they treated the Vulcan DNA is stupid as fuck, of course. Vulcans work to suppress their emotions, they aren't born as completely emotionless robots (the episode even acknowledges this by making La'an different.) Injecting "Vulcan DNA" into you wouldn't just make you turn into a perfectly logical asshole with Vulcan hair instantly. And - and I'm being too serious here I know - It's kind of problematic how La'an turns out to be a "bad" Vulcan because she's got "bad genes" from her distant ancestor Khan. There's no "dictator gene" to be passed on.
Finally I'll just say this: when previous Trek series did comedy episodes they could get pretty silly, but I don't think they ever broke the reality of the show. DS9 would do Ferengi comedy episodes (of varying quality), but the comedy was confined the the Ferengi. They wouldn't have Sisko marry Moogie and fall in love with her and eat tube grubs in a meeting with Admrial Ross or something. With SNW it feels like the comedy episodes exist in an entirely different reality to the rest of the show. I feel that's the difference!
I hate how every Spock-centric episode is a comedy. Give Ethan Peck another note to play.
In TOS, McCoy doesn't know what a mind meld is and it's treated as a secret and sacred things to the Vulcans. Here, Uhura somehow knows about it (don't tell me the knowledge is passed through DNA) and casually does one on Beto. WHATEVER. I KNOW IT'S A COMEDY, OKAY.
"OH, JUST HAVE FUN."
Patton Oswalt was funny. I found the bit with him, Spock and Una funnier than the transformeed crewmembers part. "We have two children. They have different names." or whatever the line was from Spock made me laugh out loud. The post credit scene was very funny and I liked Ethan Peck grinning at the end because it reminded me of Nimoy breaking character and laughing near the end of The Voyage Home.
I liked that Spcok's human side was what helped with getting Doug to help (though they could have made more of this in the episode.)
I liked how the Spock/La'an fight turned into a dance.
Marie finally showed a bit of personality.
Jess Bush looked great as a Vulcan.
I didn't hate it, I'm not going to quit the show, but I hope the next two episodes aren't dumb.
As to La'an... it actually made sense to me because we've established that the Augments were so dangerous because they had tyrannical tendencies... as evidenced by them actually taking over the planet. It follows she would take a Romulan/pre-Surak attitude.
CaptainWacky
I want to smell dark matter
I miss T'Pring. She was a good Vulcan.
Starship Coyote
The Merchant of Menace
As always, GFR drives straight to the truth.