Sometimes less is more.
Spoilers Star Trek: Strange New Worlds 1x06 - "Lift Us Where Suffering Cannot Reach"
- Thread starter Commander Richard
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Matt Decker's anguished facial expressions of fear before he dies work so much better than a vocal meltdown with William Windom screaming like a slasher film victim.
I’m reminded of the controversy of THE LAST OF US ending that will come up here as there’s essentially two kinds of people who respond to the ending of that and I suspect will have the same reflection in the fandom here.
1:] “What a fascinating moral dilemma! The needs of the many versus the needs of the few. Is it justified or not?”
2:] “These child killing sickos should be nuked from orbit."
To go with The Last of Us example, one of the things that the developers found out was the younger fandom were all about the belief Joel did something terrible and was selfish. While the older fandom generally reacted with the view Joel did nothing wrong except not telling Ellie about killing the Fireflies.
Here, it’s pretty clear that Captain Pike’s reaction is his ex-girlfriend is a serial child murderer. There’s no actual debate, he’s horrified and disgusted by her. Which I feel is an appropriate reaction but prevents any sort of Star Trek back and forth.
Weirdly, I also note this episode reminds me a lot of “When the Bough Breaks” where the people have forgotten how their technology works and are more or less okay with it since it still provides them what they need. It doesn’t take me being a scifi writer (and there’s several other here on these forums) to come up with reasons that the technology is either damaged, malfunctioning, or not designed for their species but they’ve gotten it to work “close enough” that they don’t care about its cost. After all, plenty of people in our present day primitive society ignore the needs of children suffering to benefit their own luxuries (child labor being just one example).
I also get why Pike’s girlfriend tried to show him the ceremony. She was hoping he’d accept it and stay with her. Obviously, she gravely misjudged how it would go over with him.
1:] “What a fascinating moral dilemma! The needs of the many versus the needs of the few. Is it justified or not?”
2:] “These child killing sickos should be nuked from orbit."
To go with The Last of Us example, one of the things that the developers found out was the younger fandom were all about the belief Joel did something terrible and was selfish. While the older fandom generally reacted with the view Joel did nothing wrong except not telling Ellie about killing the Fireflies.
Here, it’s pretty clear that Captain Pike’s reaction is his ex-girlfriend is a serial child murderer. There’s no actual debate, he’s horrified and disgusted by her. Which I feel is an appropriate reaction but prevents any sort of Star Trek back and forth.
Weirdly, I also note this episode reminds me a lot of “When the Bough Breaks” where the people have forgotten how their technology works and are more or less okay with it since it still provides them what they need. It doesn’t take me being a scifi writer (and there’s several other here on these forums) to come up with reasons that the technology is either damaged, malfunctioning, or not designed for their species but they’ve gotten it to work “close enough” that they don’t care about its cost. After all, plenty of people in our present day primitive society ignore the needs of children suffering to benefit their own luxuries (child labor being just one example).
I also get why Pike’s girlfriend tried to show him the ceremony. She was hoping he’d accept it and stay with her. Obviously, she gravely misjudged how it would go over with him.
I think people have dramatically misread that because Pike is stating that there is suffering among children but the Federation absolutely does not tolerate it happening when it can do something about it. Which is basically the opposite of poverty being allowed. What Pike means is probably more a reference to Doctor M'Benga. That, yes, they can't cure everything and make sure everyone is happy.
But they DON'T let others suffer so the rich can prosper off them.
I love how this is being praised as honest storytelling. I thought Trek was about optimism...
Well, that's what I was told anyway.
Well, that's what I was told anyway.
I love how this is being praised as honest storytelling. I thought Trek was about optimism...
Well, that's what I was told anyway.
Don't believe what you're told. Watch the shows.
"There is a world where good always wins in the end" is not optimism. It's a narcotic.
I was glad that Pike didn't offer Alora a self-flattering speech. Let that stuff stay in the past.
I gave it a 7. I enjoyed it, but it was fairly average. It didn't land as well with me as the previous episodes. I'm not sure why. There were nice moments and interesting things. But somehow it didn't quite gel together. Its total isn't greater than the sum of its parts.
Is this a prequel to Spock's Brain? Perhaps Sigma Draconis is a colony of Magellan and they both use brains to run their societies?
The idea is interesting, but if they have tech like quantum healing, I'm sure they'd have computers able to do better than an organic brain.
Is this a prequel to Spock's Brain? Perhaps Sigma Draconis is a colony of Magellan and they both use brains to run their societies?
The idea is interesting, but if they have tech like quantum healing, I'm sure they'd have computers able to do better than an organic brain.
Oh, I'm quite aware of what "Happily Ever After" does to people. I'm more amused at the statements around this show.
Sometimes, you let the serpent loose in paradise or live with consequences of murder.I love how this is being praised as honest storytelling. I thought Trek was about optimism...
Well, that's what I was told anyway.
Kirk would have gotten more ass this episode, too.
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I mean it's pretty clear they don't know how their stuff works.
I thought it was poignant. It solidified Pike's certainty and commitment to the sacrifice he will willingly make that ensures all those kids (whose names he knows by heart) will survive a terrible accident in the future and go on to lead fulfilling lives.
Pike did as well as Kirk ever did, this time out.
I guess so; just trying to be humourous.
Good thing Spock will eventually take him back to Talos IV. It's not all gloom and doom.
Pike's non response makes sense in a larger context. Clearly, the episode was meant to make us think about our own society. Pike responding about the Federation doesn't facilitate that introspection. If he says everything is peachy or not in the Federation, it short circuits viewer introspection. So, the writer makes it so Pike doesn't respond in hopes it'll prompt the viewer to think of their own society.
But he doesn't. This one's done.
Agreed! La'an is awesome!