Spoilers Star Trek: Strange New Worlds 1x06 - "Lift Us Where Suffering Cannot Reach"

[CorporalCaptain]

At the mention of the First Servant being chosen by lottery I immediately thought of Shirley Jackson's "The Lottery" and suspected it was headed somewhere grim.

About a third of TOS's first-year stories ended rather solemnly. I don't remember one quite as horrific and grim as this one, though the argument could be made for COTEOF.

I'd suggest "Charlie X" also. It's not this grim, but Kirk cannot save Charlie from his unpleasant fate.

 

[plynch]

I read somewhere that the happier, more familial E crew was Gene L Coon's influence. You can sure see it develop, flourish, then diminish in S3 if you have an eye for it. Esp the chuckle scenes at the end on the bridge. "My son," quips Kirk about the murderous Nomad. Etc.

As a kid I tended to prefer the post-Rand eps (NO offense to Ms Whitney, but her era really dates that first era) because they feel like normal Star Trek, and they're a bit tighter, breathe less. Things I enjoy now as an adult -- earlier eps are a bit more naturalistic.

After watching the Waltons at lunch on MeTV, my Roku lost the channel and rights. So I went from a late season to finding it streaming online and watching a S2 ep. Very different pacing (slower) and more naturalistic early on. I had forgotten. A production company gets good at making its product, I guess, and little nuances get dropped or smoothed out by efficiency? Why I for one am glad for the weirdness of TOS S3, as much of S2, though good, gets a little routine, planet-of-the-hatsy.

 

[Mudd]

Yeah, "Charlie X" is a good example. So is "Balance of Terror," which opens with a wedding and ends with reflections on the death of one of the couple. Of course, that's unnecessarily leavened by the bride's tearful acceptance of Kirk's little "There was a reason" homily.

 

[cooleddie74]

I already know the Federation is a fair sight better than current Earth. I don't need every Starfleet Captain expounding on it and how it's even cured a rainy day and fixed all childhood oopsies and bruises. I just want the ideals of a noble but flawed organization to be used in a good story.

 

[TRON JA307020]

I read somewhere that the happier, more familial E crew was Gene L Coon's influence. You can sure see it develop, flourish, then diminish in S3 if you have an eye for it. Esp the chuckle scenes at the end on the bridge. "My son," quips Kirk about the murderous Nomad. Etc.

As a kid I tended to prefer the post-Rand eps (NO offense to Ms Whitney, but her era really dates that first era) because they feel like normal Star Trek, and they're a bit tighter, breathe less. Things I enjoy now as an adult -- earlier eps are a bit more naturalistic.

After watching the Waltons at lunch on MeTV, my Roku lost the channel and rights. So I went from a late season to finding it streaming online and watching a S2 ep. Very different pacing (slower) and more naturalistic early on. I had forgotten. A production company gets good at making its product, I guess, and little nuances get dropped or smoothed out by efficiency? Why I for one am glad for the weirdness of TOS S3, as much of S2, though good, gets a little routine, planet-of-the-hatsy.

At the very least I hope we get a commander Kirk laughing on the bridge scene after whatever adventure they end on. We also have to see a redshirt killed about 38 minutes before the laugh scene.

 

[Ssosmcin]

So I guess they've settled on the "Em-Benga" pronunciation instead of "Meh-Benga."

Great episode, with a hell of a kicker ending.

 

[GNDN18]

Yeah, "Charlie X" is a good example. So is "Balance of Terror," which opens with a wedding and ends with reflections on the death of one of the couple. Of course, that's unnecessarily leavened by the bride's tearful acceptance of Kirk's little "There was a reason" homily.

I disagree that Martine accepted Kirk's condolences. If anything, I thought Barbara Baldavin projected a polite acknowledgment of his bullshit, but well-intended philosophizing and made it quite clear that he neither understood the depth of her grief nor her abilities to cope with the loss. It was her performance the strength she projected that makes Shatner's helplessness all the more poignant.

 

[Enterpriserules]

Our Saddle Up! review is live!

 

[Richard S. Ta]

Also, Pike’s hair has become a distraction.

I’m sure that’s been mentioned already in some way, but I had to say it.

It's just a hairstyle. Mount rocks it. It's a pseudo-futuristic 1960s style Jetsons hairdo. Exactly as a TOS styled captain should be coiffed.

 

[Belz...]

A scan showed that my back 2 lower teeth crossed a nerve in my jaw. If the nerve was damaged pulling the root I would lose the motor skills required for proper speech.
Many people get their back teeth pulled with no danger but some like me have risks.

I see. An important detail.

 

[jackoverfull]

Saw it quite late and forgot to vote. The concept is not bad but it was all REALLY too contrived for my tastes. Only a 7 this time.

Worst security job in the history of Star Trek…and the bar wasn’t high to begin with!

 

[Noname Given]

Saw it quite late and forgot to vote. The concept is not bad but it was all REALLY too contrived for my tastes. Only a 7 this time.

Worst security job in the history of Star Trek…and the bar wasn’t high to begin with!

Worse than:

Khan: "Hey, can I read all the technical manuals of your ship?"

Kirk: "Sure."

 

[fireproof78]

Worse than:

Khan: "Hey, can I read all the technical manuals of your ship?"

Kirk: "Sure."

What about Worf letting Lwaxana Troi touch his console and not lock out the torpedo launch controls first?

 

[jackoverfull]

A scan showed that my back 2 lower teeth crossed a nerve in my jaw. If the nerve was damaged pulling the root I would lose the motor skills required for proper speech.
Many people get their back teeth pulled with no danger but some like me have risks.

i can confirm, had a similar issue years ago.

Worse than:

Khan: "Hey, can I read all the technical manuals of your ship?"

Kirk: "Sure."

possibly!

 

[TRON JA307020]

Saw it quite late and forgot to vote. The concept is not bad but it was all REALLY too contrived for my tastes. Only a 7 this time.

Worst security job in the history of Star Trek…and the bar wasn’t high to begin with!

I gave it a 7. An ok episode but done before.

 

[XCV330]

Also, Pike’s hair has become a distraction.

I’m sure that’s been mentioned already in some way, but I had to say it.

As a man who once sat down into my hair stylist's chair with a picture of Soran from Generations and said "THIS!" and got it.. I will defend Pike's perfect hair round perdition's flames before I give up.

 

[cooleddie74]

Worse than:

Khan: "Hey, can I read all the technical manuals of your ship?"

Kirk: "Sure."

Between Lazarus being clearly disturbed and having the run of the Enterprise and how easily Khan gets to study the ship's technical schematics it's a wonder the White Rabbit from "Shore Leave(TOS)" didn't successfully hijack the vessel.

 

[Yistaan]

Between Lazarus being clearly disturbed and having the run of the Enterprise and how easily Khan gets to study the ship's technical schematics it's a wonder the White Rabbit from "Shore Leave(TOS)" didn't successfully hijack the vessel.

This would seem bad but that other star franchise still has it beat I think with literally (minor spoilers for Kenobi)

Spoiler

Kenobi waltzing into the Inquisitor fortress that already was broken into in the video game Jedi Fallen Order, and in the exact same way. One wonders why Emperor Palpatine hasn't already been assassinated with such non-existent Imperial security.

 

[Donald G]

Between Lazarus being clearly disturbed and having the run of the Enterprise and how easily Khan gets to study the ship's technical schematics it's a wonder the White Rabbit from "Shore Leave(TOS)" didn't successfully hijack the vessel.

<Kirk voice>
"What does the White Rabbit . . . NEED . . . withastarship?"
</Kirk voice>

 

[137th Gebirg]

Spoiler

Kenobi waltzing into the Inquisitor fortress that already was broken into in the video game Jedi Fallen Order, and in the exact same way. One wonders why Emperor Palpatine hasn't already been assassinated with such non-existent Imperial security.

Spoiler

Typical arrogance of a bloated and feckless regime. They think that the fear they instill in people is enough to keep them away. When desperation trumps fear, that's when things go sideways.