Spoilers Star Trek: Discovery 2x02 - "New Eden"

[rocketdave]

I admit I tend to cringe when people are compelled to bring up The Orville when talking about Star Trek. However, I couldn't help noticing a vague similarity between the basic premise of this episode and the tonight's episode of that other show - ie, receiving a signal from a superstitious society that hasn't achieved spaceflight - but while I found myself thinking that Seth MacFarlane's crew is in desperate need of much more cautious measures when contacting less advanced civilizations, I ironically felt somewhat the opposite concerning Pike's strict adherence to the General Order 1. I enjoyed Tilly's story line (even if the "twist" was kind of easy to predict), but the plot on the planet is the first time that I almost felt really frustrated by Discovery.

In hindsight, I guess maybe Pike had a point... though once the All-Mother and Jacob accidentally saw the away team beam up, I found it a little strange that he doesn't seem that worried about cultural contamination then. At that point, I'm not sure how allowing the New Eden residents to potentially interpret their disappearing in a beam of light (or the electricity mysteriously being restored to their church) as some divine miracle is preferable to letting them know that there are other people living among the stars. It's sort of like "Who Watches the Watchers," only in this case, the captain doesn't care if he reinforces their religious beliefs.

I mainly just felt really bad for Jacob. I was relieved at the end when Pike allowed him to at least know the truth.

 

[Enterprise is Great]

Was Pike aware that people saw the crew beam up? He was unconscious at the time and never brought it up afterwards.

 

[thribs]

150 years to travel 51,450 lightyears means that Warp 7 (TOS scale) is their max speed, according to the Warp charts.

Watching the Netflix version now and I didn’t realise there were so many of them. I just thought it was only a couple a hundred or so.
I understand the idea of the Prime Directive (or General Order 1, which they like to call it), but they’re from Earth. Seems cruel to just ignore them. If some want to know about their planet, they should be allowed to tell them. It’s not like they have no idea of where they came from.

 

[guyute03]

- I really love Anson Mount as Pike
- "Comparative Religion"... a course in High School I took as well
- Tilly rules
- "Beta Quadrant"
- WW3 reference
- I love the mystery of this episode
- Shakespeare, Arthur C Clarke references
- Faith/Science ... a thing early LOST did very well
- Tilly is awesome
- A "church of all faiths" - possible direct LOST final episode reference
- Fascinating stuff to me. First religion stuff since DS9?
- "Jacob" - another possible LOST reference
- Pike's understanding & respect for religion
- Burnham's belief in Science versus religion
- Tilly is kinda amazing
- Tilly Saru friendship
- Saru learned 90 different Federation languages
- Love that Lt. Detmer has more screen time this season
- Away Team missions/ new Away Team clothing always welcome
- I get a clear DS9 vibe from this episode, especially from Pike
- Tilly, Algebra, Mai Tais, Espressos, Tilly's possible imaginary friend.
- Pike references the "Ten Commandments"
- Pike's new ready room
- I hope we return to "New Eden"

I gave it a 9. Exceptional. Star.Trek.

 

[Midquest]

Other note of interest: the variant of Clarke quoted here is Shermer's Last Law, as in noted science writer and skeptic Michael Shermer. Thought that was a nice reference.

 

[Commander Antagony]

Pike's quality of character was on display while keeping cover even after their technology was compromised briefly, and they were accidentally discovered disappearing in a beam of light. His furtive reappearance illustrates that.

 

[CorporalClegg]

Just watched it again. It's even better the second time.

I remember the first time I saw first Avengers. I had this one gut moment where I squeed "They're friends! They're working together!"

After Detmer does his thing and everyone cheers and the fanfare plays ... I had that same moment.

 

[Spectre Of The Fun]

It was a great episode.

As Captain Tracey would say-- "Good, direct, succint"

But I join you and Midquest in liking guyote03's breakdown of the highlights of the episode. A comprehensive and easy to read appraisal.

 

[Mechanoid1]

I thought using the spore drive was killing Stamets! Did I miss something?

 

[Awesome Possum]

I thought using the spore drive was killing Stamets! Did I miss something?

It puts a strain on his body, he seems fine if it's a jump or two with rest in between. But two much is too much for him to deal with and it can kill him.

 

[StarMan]

Gee, that actually felt like a ... Star Trek episode! Best episode yet, IMO.

 

[Philip Guyott]

NOW THIS IS STAR TREK!

Last episode was much stronger then season one, but still had a number of issues. However this episode, in my view, is the best Discovery episode so far. Going into it I was hesitant because I am a Christian and was worried how the DISCO writers were going to handle the subject matter, but I was pleasantly surprised.

My only real problem with the episode it is that I have bruised ribs at the moment after a bike crash, so when Burnham said "...I was raised on Vulcan, we don't do funny", it really hurt.

 

[Mirror Tuvix]

So, er, I wonder how many episodes of this season will be like a high school class discussion about FAITH (of the heart) vs. REASON.

The Berg/Harberts tenure only runs for a few more episodes, I wonder if the season will take a hard turn then.

John E. Price: "Before the season I was talking to someone on the show and they warned me what they were going to do to Pike. [religious nut?] This is a very heavy first step in that direction. I was hoping the guy was lying."

 

[rocketdave]

Was Pike aware that people saw the crew beam up? He was unconscious at the time and never brought it up afterwards.

I assume that's the kind of thing someone would have mentioned. He did know that Burnham upheld his orders even after he was knocked out.

Weirdly, at first, I wasn't very comfortable with Michael coming close to outright calling the New Eden residents' beliefs irrational (maybe I was just afraid of how they'd react), but then I felt more perturbed that Pike was so determined to preserve their ignorance, even going so far as to basically gaslight poor Jacob. I did ultimately like the episode, though; the colony of transplants from Earth and Prime Directive quandary felt very "Star Treky"; I just came close to having a more negative opinion of the story until the scene were Pike let Jacob know that he wasn't crazy.

 

[Spectre Of The Fun]

- Pike's understanding & respect for religion
- Burnham's belief in Science versus religion

The better any conflict between these two ideas (or any other ideas) can be examined and explored the better a show (or other art) you have. I hope to see these ideas further examined by showing respect to each viewpoint as well as making challenge to each viewpoint and in the end invite the audience to make up their own minds.

 

[cooleddie74]

150 years to travel 51,450 lightyears means that Warp 7 (TOS scale) is their max speed, according to the Warp charts.

In other words, right about where the TOS-era warp scale should be. Perfect.

 

[Lior .B.]

I think he should have powered that smarphone with the new power source
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1A5hdyKvwb2c7ZssyGEZ0BwaJy7ROjxwZ/view?usp=sharing

 

[Mirror Tuvix]

and hook it up to the Xmas ornaments.

 

[SillyTilly]

Really hope season 2 carries on with this standard of stories. That really felt like a modern take on a traditional Star Trek story. They managed a really good standalone story while at the same point, progressing the story arc.

 

[thribs]

Could have left the guy a history book.