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Spoilers Star Trek: Strange New Worlds 2x04 - "Among the Lotus Eaters"

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I don't like that they call all the helm officers "pilots" now.
Why? They pilot the ship. They're pilots.

Also as pointed out before they're been occasionally referred to as pilots since the TNG era shows. Though usually in reference to shuttles, not the starship.
 
Another thing - the original matte painting for Rigel VII was far better at evoking a place than what was seen in SNW.
I think the original was gorgeous, but lives in my memory as part of an entire experience of my youth - the music, the woman in the beautiful dress, Pike's confusion. The current version was like a memory out of context, if that makes sense? It felt more real, more substantive, and less like a fairytale, which worked for the episode IMO.
 
I think I liked it more than the last two episodes, although I rated it the same as the others, if only because there aren't any glaring open questions left by the the story that found their way into my brain. I suppose episode 2 proved that Starfleet doesn't actually give a shit about the Prime Directive - honestly the real justification should have been Zac already breaking the law by making himself king, so it doesn't matter anymore - so even that part wasn't really a thing unlike a culture that is okay with genetic augmentations but somehow avoid eugenics (how? shrug) or the fact that Star Trek needs millions of people to die in order for it to happen because humanity sucks. lol

I don't know if this needed an hour though... and this episode definitely felt better paced than last week's episode, probably because it had a B-story with another set of characters, but I wonder if they could have had a tighter episode with the old 45-50 minute limitation. But then again, TOS episodes hit 55 minutes at times so maybe that's just me.

It's definitely the most "trifle" of the episodes, but I mean, that's what we want really. At least this wasn't 10 episodes of them trying to remember who they are before the Borg Queen or Q shows up in the final episode.
 
Unless Batel is outright killed off, sounds like this relationship will end badly.

I think that is on the cards (a) as she's clearly on the planet that the Gorn ship is landing on in the trailer for S2. Also (b) the whole break-up get together thing in 2.4 is signalling this as well.
 
I liked what others said. It feels like a mid season filler episode of Voyager, not surprising considering who the writer of this episode is. To me it felt like early TNG or DS9. I think an episode like this is fine when the seasons
are 26 episodes, but when it is 10? I am not as forgiving. This was a 5. Not terrible, but not one I am rewatching much like the Gorn episode from last year. As long as we don’t get more episodes like this, I can overlook this one.
 
This episode was fantastic! I love the inward examination of how our memories give us purpose, but our emotions, and the relationships we have to those around us, are what define us. This show is just so full of adventure, and I can't wait from week to week to see what happens next.
 
I wanted to rate this one higher, but objectively I have to give this a 6.

Conceptually, there's some good ideas here. A planet where people's memories are erased and they have to essentially forge new identities on the planet itself, no connections to their past... good sci-fi concept.

I liked the exchange between Pike, M'Benga and Luc about memories and identity. That felt like 'Thinking Man's Star Trek' again. Some intellectual discourse for the audience to think about.

The problems here was the script got pulled in too many directions. It felt like multiple writers and producers interfered with this one. It randomly becomes very Ortegas-focused in the third act, yet really doesn't do anything worthwhile with the character.

Subjectively, I would rate this higher just for Anson Mount finally playing Pike (albeit with his memories lost) as angry and aggressive. For the first time, I saw Jeffrey Hunter's Pike in Anson's portrayal, and that's good. The boyscout Pike bores me, because I've seen Anson on "Hell on Wheels" and know he's capable of playing a really compelling badass character, that's his strength.

I got Batman/Joker vibes from that scene where he kept punching the Yeoman. Though, this episode needed a stronger actor for Yeoman Zac to really make those scenes memorable (no pun intended).


Also, something tragic may happen to Batel, because this relationship can't last. It ended on a good note here, which means it's likely downhill from here. And there are some ominous shots of her looking up at a potential attack in the trailer. Hopefully we learn her first name before that.
 
Melissa Navia herself is not queer, so I'd be let down if they make her character a lesbian just because she looks the part.
Is it me, or does Melissa Navia seem to be the shortest female amongst the cast?

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