I loved (most of) the dialogue between Spock and Una, even if it flew over my head, as was the intention. Hopefully they had a science or at least Treknology advisor on hand to make sure whatever they were saying made internal sense. But I have to agree with FSM that the song was a bit out of left field to me. Was Una trying to say she was the type to break out in song? Was she just trying to change the subject? Was she testing Spock (I think so)? Why was Gilbert & Sullivan enough to break through Spock's admittedly shaky control? It made as much sense here as it did in Insurrection. Oh God, was this an Insurrection homage? The "trapped in an elevator" trope was cliche, but that's just Star Trek for you, and it's better here than in an episode's main plot.
The episode was all about two people developing an immediate - and potentially intimate - bond. It's long been a common assumption across the fandom that Number One is probably on the spectrum. MBR certainly presented her as being isolated, finding it difficult to form emotional connections with others. She has a hard time expressing her emotions. And because of this, she probably remains closed-off to most people, unwilling to get personally attached to others. Even Pike - as implied by the story about the horses. But with Spock, she forms an immediate connection on an intellectual level, probably unlike anything she's ever experienced before. This makes her feel uniquely comfortable around her which gives her the courage to show a side of herself - her inner freak - she's probably never exposed to any of her other shipmates including Pike. Whether it's Gilbert and Sullivan specifically or musical theatre - or even just expressing herself through song - doesn't matter. The important thing is it clearly brings her joy. And the way her face lights up when Spock reciprocates is a thing beauty. "Major-General" was just topical. It's a song about an officer who excels at the [scientific] minutiae but fails at the greater aspects of the military (command). There is a sexual component here. Or I suppose a lack of one. Vulcan sexuality has never been very clear - at least outside the pon farr cycle. But they do maintain relationships. And it's not a stretch to think Una could be asexual. But there's still a need for non-sexual companionship - even romantic companionship. And if she is, then it's only that much more difficult for her to form intimate connections with others. When Spock goes to pick her up, he first grabs her around the waist in a pseudo-sexual way. And she pushes him off. Instead, they link together in a much more practical or mechanical [intellectual] way and sparks literally fly. And the episode is framed in color reflecting the theme. It opens with Spock standing alone and isolated in cold blue light and closes on the crowded bridge, the two subtly smiling at each other while the warm, Earthy light of the nebula shines through the viewscreen.
aha, Memory-Alpha renamed Number One's wiki page to Una because of this Short Trek Though personally I think they should have kept it as 'Number One', since that is her preferred name based on the dialogue. Like, the Seven of Nine article isn't called Annika Hanson.
One thing I really wish they'd quit doing is showing the internal turbolift network. It's like an entire rollercoaster inside the hull. Where is all that room and the deck connections? It's even made worse by the fact that on Discovery, they manage to have maintenance shuttlecrafts in there. It just bugs the hell out of me because it makes no logical sense whatsoever.
Watching the short for the second time. Thoughts: Ethan Peck is not Spock. Bad wig, bad ears, marginal acting. Number One just doesn't seem believable. I think they were trying for some kind of sexual tension. Unsuccessful, in my opinion. Forced. Peck's wig moved in the "boost" part. Several times. Notes: If you're doing a main character Vulcan, commit to it and cut the actor's hair. No more obviously fake wigs. Please fix the collars on the uniforms. They don't lay right and look ridiculous. I could go on, but I'll end with this ... NO MORE GILBERT AND SULLIVAN!
I'm still not totally sold on Peck as uniformed, ready-for-duty Spock. I was, however, totally sold on him playing Spock when he had the beard. Which is odd, considering that happens after this. I think it's just the fact that he does not resemble Nimoy at all. He does an excellent depiction of a Vulcan, but, I just don't believe him as Nimoy's Spock. I honestly think Zachary Quinto does a much better job.
A "maintenance shuttle" is seen in the sequence. I believed they grabbed stock footage of the turbolift sequence from Discovery, without considering the implications for the internal structure of the Enterprise. I know why they choose this way of depicting the turbolifts, because it looks cool, but I do wish they had shown more restraint. When something is cool yet not practical, it is bad. I had issues with listening to the dialogue and I was frustrated that the CC (subtitling) was not available for this episode. I know that in general an accord was reached between Spock and Una, but because of my issues with listening to the dialogue, I do not know the specifics.
According to Memory Alpha, the two are different but similarly named characters (they call the human one "J.M. Colt" and the alien one just "Colt").
I believe it's new footage. They show the turoblift from the outside running quite a distance what looks to be sideways. (even thought I believe it's was traveling up at the moment) On DISCOVERY it was always a view of it running up or down with minor side motions thrown in. I hope someday someone does a cut-away drawing showing how all that could fit in the larger DISCOVERY Enterprise.
Well that was an odd little episode. Una? Well what to think of her? She sure seemed like she was acting rather seductively around Spock. I guess his intelligence and comprehension of hers was attractive to her. I'm not sure of her motives. Very odd. And God above, get him a better wig. This one was awful. I liked the Short Trek, but as I said, it was odd. I don't see any logical reason for Una to behave as she did. At times, Spock looked downright uncomfortable around her.
Name one set-piece, prop, or effect, in the history of the franchise, in which the design favored functional logic over aesthetic.