Really mixed feelings about this one. Was it well acted and, for the most part, well directed? Yes. It was a relief to get something meaty and dramatic after last week’s frivolity, and Trek has always done quite well at dealing with such topics.
Alas, like so much of SNW, it feels like a blatant reuse of old Trek storylines and tropes: this was kind of a mixture of ST VI: TUC, The Defector, Duet, The Siege of AR558 mixed with Its Only a Paper Moon, and even The Wounded…and not a fraction as good as any of them.
I really enjoyed the Klingon Ambassador and thought he was well and charmingly played. For a few seconds, I thought it was Tony Todd—he has something of Todd’s beautifully rich, silken voice. Another great guest performance in a season that has boasted a fair few of them. Fascinatingly, nuanced character.
The ending, though. It felt vague and confusing to me. I need to rewatch it, I guess. whichever way you swing it, though, it’s highly highly problematic.
M’Benga committed murder and covers it up. So does Chapel. They stand there over the body without even trying to revive him. That, to me, is unforgivable for two medics.
If M’Benga has an ounce of integrity he’d confess to what he did and offer his resignation. If he really is that deeply damaged he shouldn’t be in a position of authority or perhaps even treating patients at all. Maybe it’s still to come, but I really hope there will be further fallout from this. It would be terrible if there’s no real resolution to this.
Also agree with the criticisms of Pike. I get that his style is extremely laid back but there’s laid back and there’s inept and clueless, which is basically what he was here.
I like TV that challenges you and makes you think. But this just doesn’t sit right with me at all. We’ve had other Trek main characters who have committed murder, but this just didn’t feel warranted and the lies that are then spouted leave an even more bitter taste in the mouth.
I guess it just didn’t help that I don’t feel invested in the characters. In spite of the powerful subject matter, I was never really moved at all. Other incarnations of Trek have brought me to tears, but I didn’t feel the level of emotion they were going for. The flashback scenes were well done initially, but they quickly got overdone and felt highly repetitive and therefore redundant.
Ultimately, the whole thing, despite some lovely performances and a fascinating guest character, just left a horrible taste in my mouth. I’m just hoping there are consequences down the line. And Ortegas—she really needs to be dragged down a peg or two. No other Trek captain would accept the constant insubordination and unprofessionalism. Really struggling with this character.
Alas, like so much of SNW, it feels like a blatant reuse of old Trek storylines and tropes: this was kind of a mixture of ST VI: TUC, The Defector, Duet, The Siege of AR558 mixed with Its Only a Paper Moon, and even The Wounded…and not a fraction as good as any of them.
I really enjoyed the Klingon Ambassador and thought he was well and charmingly played. For a few seconds, I thought it was Tony Todd—he has something of Todd’s beautifully rich, silken voice. Another great guest performance in a season that has boasted a fair few of them. Fascinatingly, nuanced character.
The ending, though. It felt vague and confusing to me. I need to rewatch it, I guess. whichever way you swing it, though, it’s highly highly problematic.
M’Benga committed murder and covers it up. So does Chapel. They stand there over the body without even trying to revive him. That, to me, is unforgivable for two medics.
If M’Benga has an ounce of integrity he’d confess to what he did and offer his resignation. If he really is that deeply damaged he shouldn’t be in a position of authority or perhaps even treating patients at all. Maybe it’s still to come, but I really hope there will be further fallout from this. It would be terrible if there’s no real resolution to this.
Also agree with the criticisms of Pike. I get that his style is extremely laid back but there’s laid back and there’s inept and clueless, which is basically what he was here.
I like TV that challenges you and makes you think. But this just doesn’t sit right with me at all. We’ve had other Trek main characters who have committed murder, but this just didn’t feel warranted and the lies that are then spouted leave an even more bitter taste in the mouth.
I guess it just didn’t help that I don’t feel invested in the characters. In spite of the powerful subject matter, I was never really moved at all. Other incarnations of Trek have brought me to tears, but I didn’t feel the level of emotion they were going for. The flashback scenes were well done initially, but they quickly got overdone and felt highly repetitive and therefore redundant.
Ultimately, the whole thing, despite some lovely performances and a fascinating guest character, just left a horrible taste in my mouth. I’m just hoping there are consequences down the line. And Ortegas—she really needs to be dragged down a peg or two. No other Trek captain would accept the constant insubordination and unprofessionalism. Really struggling with this character.
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