Spoilers Star Trek: Short Treks 1x04 - "The Escape Artist"
- Thread starter Commander Richard
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Having slept on it, I've decided that I like it set more or less "now" in the Discovery-era, and that Mudd was using the androids to run cons for years (similar to his time crystal), dumped them, and then was either captured by them, or was he was intentionally trying to get their help when he was on the run from the patent police and didn't just happen to find them in the vastness of space. Our Harry does seem to have a bit of a feast-or-famine thing going with his scores. One day, he's ransoming a starship, the next he's stealing a cudgel, then he's got an army of robots at his beck and call, then he's skyjacking poor Leo Walsh to courier three women (and some counterfeit drugs).
One thing of note in "I, Mudd" is that when Kirk says "I left you in custody, how come you are here?", Harry Mudd launches into an explanation that in no way explains how he could have gotten out of jail. Instead, it starts off with Mudd, at large, making those business deals that the Denebian law frowned on. He then gets arrested, breaks that jail, and ends up on Planet Mudd.
Now, every word of that might well be true. It would simply be the true story of how he found Planet Mudd, all those years before he met Kirk.
The only lie comes when Mudd reveals he can't leave but, while stating so, creates the false impression this has been true ever since he first found Planet Mudd. Which may have happened before "Magic" or after it, but certainly happened before "Women" after which Mudd would be in UFP custody thanks to Kirk - and would need the help of his android friends to get out un-brainwashed, or then would pull some other trick from his trumpet sleeves, but would in any case end up abusing Planet Mudd one time too many, right before "I, Mudd".
Since we now have an entire episode (okay, one quarter of one) devoted to the concept that androids are great for facilitating escaping acts, it would certainly be tempting to make Mudd one bit less a liar still. That is, his story of how he found Planet Mudd is his truthful (if incomplete) answer to Kirk's question of how he escaped custody after "I, Mudd".
Timo Saloniemi
Now, every word of that might well be true. It would simply be the true story of how he found Planet Mudd, all those years before he met Kirk.
The only lie comes when Mudd reveals he can't leave but, while stating so, creates the false impression this has been true ever since he first found Planet Mudd. Which may have happened before "Magic" or after it, but certainly happened before "Women" after which Mudd would be in UFP custody thanks to Kirk - and would need the help of his android friends to get out un-brainwashed, or then would pull some other trick from his trumpet sleeves, but would in any case end up abusing Planet Mudd one time too many, right before "I, Mudd".
Since we now have an entire episode (okay, one quarter of one) devoted to the concept that androids are great for facilitating escaping acts, it would certainly be tempting to make Mudd one bit less a liar still. That is, his story of how he found Planet Mudd is his truthful (if incomplete) answer to Kirk's question of how he escaped custody after "I, Mudd".
Timo Saloniemi
Kirl did leave Mudd - in the custody of those Miners on Rigel XII. Knowing Mudd, he found a way to get off that planet. Hell, the last we saw of him on ST: D he was 'in custody' of Stella and her father and effectively going to be a part of a 'shotgun wedding'; but he seems to have escaped that as well. Plus, in "Mudd's Women" it's stated he was incarcerated by Federation Authories, senteced to psychiatric treatment (effectiveness disputed).
From TOS - "Mudd's Women":
http://www.chakoteya.net/StarTrek/4.htm
And IDK but it's not like anyone in the Federation ever saw Androids prior to TOS - "I Mudd"; plus these androids weren't very sophisticated.
This takes place in around the same time frame as ST: D season 2. (Hell, I hope we see Mudd run into the Discovery under Pike this season.
).
Now THAT's what the format "Short Treks" is supposed to be!
A neat little SF story with a little twist about a minor character that could have never been done in the main series. Contrast to the one where they revealed Saru's backstory (which REALLY should have been it's own friggin' episode!), THIS is what this format should be.
On another note: I really, really likes Rainnn Wilson's portraal of Muss in this episode! Like, I REALLY liked it. He was funny. And charming. But still dangerous. Honestly, a much, much better portrayal than we ever got in season 1 of DIS! Again: My problem with Mudd in S1 wasn't that he's killing people - it was that he was running around, gunning down professional security officers personally with a gun in his hands. That was stupid. Harry Mudd dangerously scheming though? I really liked it! Probably also helped that Rainn Wilson personally was directing this short - he had a much better grasp on the character.
Some observations:
A neat little SF story with a little twist about a minor character that could have never been done in the main series. Contrast to the one where they revealed Saru's backstory (which REALLY should have been it's own friggin' episode!), THIS is what this format should be.
On another note: I really, really likes Rainnn Wilson's portraal of Muss in this episode! Like, I REALLY liked it. He was funny. And charming. But still dangerous. Honestly, a much, much better portrayal than we ever got in season 1 of DIS! Again: My problem with Mudd in S1 wasn't that he's killing people - it was that he was running around, gunning down professional security officers personally with a gun in his hands. That was stupid. Harry Mudd dangerously scheming though? I really liked it! Probably also helped that Rainn Wilson personally was directing this short - he had a much better grasp on the character.
Some observations:
- The Tellarite bridge set was a redress of the Shenzhou brig, which will also be Spock's quarter in season 2
- one count of "penetrating a space whale"
- They turned down his "20 homicides" to "20 attempted homicides". Probably a good choice
- Generally: I really, really liked the tone and the set design of this short: Very rough and realistic, but not as trie-hard grimdark as everything in season 2.
- I'm a bit disappointed by the make-up work of Discovery: The Tellarite looked okay, but his face was completely immovable he culd only move his eyes and barely is mouth. On ENT, the Tellarite were able to emote with the whole face, move their cheeks and foreheads, and were generally looking much more organic and "real"
- Remarkably great vfx, props, make-up and grand sets for a short film!
I believe the dude who wrote this mini-episode is the guy in charge of the Lower Decks animated series.
Seems like Short Treks is a good way to try out a writer interested in doing Star Trek. That Chabon guy wrote Calypso and is now a writer/producer on the Picard series.
Seems like Short Treks is a good way to try out a writer interested in doing Star Trek. That Chabon guy wrote Calypso and is now a writer/producer on the Picard series.
You would be correct.
The Star Trek novels seemed to be doing something similar with their eBook line (both incarnations of it), starting prospective Trek writers off with novellas to see if they were a good fit before commissioning full novels from them.
i liked this one, i appreciated the humor and the sci-fi twist. and obviously rainn wilson as mudd is totally delightful, but his directing was a little lacking... i thought it was a little bland and don't think it supported the script.
however, this short trek was the first one that felt like it could be its own series and i appreciated that. i want more adventures of harry mudd.
however, this short trek was the first one that felt like it could be its own series and i appreciated that. i want more adventures of harry mudd.
I agree good best short trek of the lot , and a good realignment if Harry Mudd, Wilson wrote the ep and I think he gets Harry Mudd
This episode seemed to be trolling fandom, with the whole money thing. We have Mudd and the Tellarite, two Federation citizens essentially working for money in a supposedly moneyless society. The Tellarite even expected Starfleet to pay him, despite the fact they don't pay their own personnel. It seems like a giant middle finger to everyone who believes the Federation is moneyless, and that's cool.
So, with this, Georgiou's military academy diploma, and the coming season dealing with faith vs science, looks like Disco is going for the trifecta of fandom's hot button issues.
Oh, and I totally dig the arrangement of the Disco theme used in the end credits. Much better than the actual theme used for the show. I think they should replace it.
So, with this, Georgiou's military academy diploma, and the coming season dealing with faith vs science, looks like Disco is going for the trifecta of fandom's hot button issues.
Oh, and I totally dig the arrangement of the Disco theme used in the end credits. Much better than the actual theme used for the show. I think they should replace it.
The Federation didn't become completely money-less until the TOS movies.
And even then they used some currency when dealing with foreign powers that still used it.
https://memory-alpha.wikia.com/wiki/Federation_credit
https://memory-alpha.wikia.com/wiki/Money#The_Federation_and_money
Actually, Wilson said that the episode was already written when he came on to the production.
But the Producers let him add his own notes and then offered to let him direct it.
Wilson didn't write it, he only directed it.
According to Voyager, money supposedly died out in the 22nd century.
But regardless, there's no need to drag This Argument into things. I don't believe the Federation is moneyless anymore than I believe Starfleet isn't a military. All I was saying is that those who do believe the Federation is moneyless are going to view this as a kick to the teeth. And that makes me laugh.
My bad.
Loved it!
Yup.
I've said all along this show is a rumination of Trek culture, or rather the acceptance of 'Rod's vision' as absolute. I've thought so since "Vulcan Hello." What is the universal Trekkie greeting, after all? But they made it to be something not quite kosher within the context.
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