Spoilers Star Trek: Strange New Worlds 3x03 - "Shuttle to Kenfori"

[The Wormhole]

If you can't find right is right and wrong is wrong in Star Trek, then where else in our media landscape are you going to find it?

Are you saying there's no room for nuance in Star Trek?

 

[Mudd]

The more I think about it, the more M'Benga's killing of Rah and getting away with it is problematic. This also raises questions about Chapel. Even if M'Benga had killed Rah for "real" as he claims, he STILL could have made up for it by making a good faith attempt to save him in sickbay, which they were in, and likely it could've worked given that Klingons have tons of redundant organs and for example Kurn was saved by immediate transport to sickbay.

Meaning M'Benga's admission also strongly indicates he didn't actually try to save Rah and Chapel was complicit in this and her coverup testimony of him. This is a far bigger can of worms than I think this episode's writers realize. Certainly if Spock discovered Chapel's complicity in this murder, it would go a LONG way to explaining his coldness to her in TOS.

At least when Anakin Skywalker killed the Tuskens, the movies basically sledgehammered to the audiences that this was a VERY bad thing despite Padme doing the same thing Pike's doing here. Yet we're not getting that moral message here in regards to M'Benga, in a Star Trek episode, other than a slap on the wrist for him and that's extremely disturbing.

All seemed very believably human. I liked the way it played out.

And you lost me at "At least when Anakin..."

 

[1001001]

That was really good.

9

 

[eschaton]

I do kind of concur with others that Pike comes across as a good human being and friend here, but a terrible captain. The contrast is particularly jarring because Una behaves properly within the chain of command in this episode, not letting Ortegas get off scot free when her deception had much, much smaller overall consequences.

 

[Ovation]

If you can't find right is right and wrong is wrong in Star Trek, then where else in our media landscape are you going to find it?

Moral complexity in drama is a feature, not a bug.

 

[TRON JA307020]

I think this is a worrying sign of a shift in the psyche of the USA more towards a mainstream right wing mentality (not politically but more generally).

For example, in the Star Trek movie, it was acceptable to everyone on board that Kirk should spend time and resources murdering the crew of a crippled ship instead of just arresting them (he doesn't need their permission to arrest them).

Then we have, in Section 31, a scene where a captive asks the characters to get on and torture him and everyone just accepts that as a normal state of affairs despite the existence of truth drugs, psycho-tricorders, mind sifters, telepaths, and empaths. The writers felt justfied in normalising the expectation of the use of torture by Federation agents.

Then there is the jaded, post peak Federation in Picard.

While I applaud the depictions of PTSD and the moral quandaries of the characters in SNW, it does feel like the right thing would be for M'Benga to hand himself in by the end of the series.

You look at the way the characters are relishing killing Gorn, which is reminiscent of Stiles in Blance of Terror. It's hard to see how these same characters could impress the Metrons in Arena, although I suppose it only has to be Kirk who rises above it all at the last moment. Perhaps it's about the journey towards doing the right thing and the journey isn't over.

What movie did Kirk murder the crew of a crippled ship?

 

[Tosk]

I just realized where Una got the idea for her new hairstyle from!

 

[CorporalCaptain]

I love Una's 'do, there, seriously adore it.

Turning Korby into a bridesmaid was effin' hilarious, though. I hope we learn more about the circumstances when he gets androidized. Will it involve maximal schmuckiness on his part? Methinks, perhaps, it could show him (the human him) to be deserving of such mockery and humiliation in advance!?!

 

[Farscape One]

Regarding Korby...

In "WHAT ARE LITTLE GIRLS MADE OF?", at the end, Korby told Kirk and Chapel that the real him was frozen, his legs were gone, and he was dying.

I honestly think that is enough for me, because our imaginations can likely come up with some pretty horrific scenarios to get him to that point... not sure if whatever is ever shown of that on screen will live up to it.

Sometimes less is more, and our own minds can fill in the blanks pretty well.

 

[Pauln6]

What movie did Kirk murder the crew of a crippled ship?

Star Trek but there is a lot of silly stuff in that movie. Nero's ship is crippled and about to be destroyed and Kirk asks for permission to beam the crew off. Nero refuses (speaking for the entire crew) so Kirk blows them all up. It's no longer self defence, it's a summary execution without a trial. The assumption is that Nero's crew think exactly the same as he does but also that it's right and just when, in fact, it's more akin to Nazis being told to kill surviving enemy sailors in WWII. Also note that Spock is against arresting Nero and would rather let them die but Kirk actively takes it to the next level with an active summary execution.

Compare to Kirk killing Kruge in self defence or bluffing Maltz in STIII.

The scene could have played differently if Kirk had tried to beam them off and failed. The writers made a deliberate choice to endorse summary justice.

 

[CorporalCaptain]

Regarding Korby...

In "WHAT ARE LITTLE GIRLS MADE OF?", at the end, Korby told Kirk and Chapel that the real him was frozen, his legs were gone, and he was dying.

I honestly think that is enough for me, because our imaginations can likely come up with some pretty horrific scenarios to get him to that point... not sure if whatever is ever shown of that on screen will live up to it.

Sometimes less is more, and our own minds can fill in the blanks pretty well.

I agree that less is more, sometimes.

One of the big question marks that TOS Chapel drew a big red circle around was: what about Korby's relationship with Andrea, did he cheat on Christine? My reading of "Little Girls" was that he did. Roger all but admitted he had sex with Andrea, but was that before or after either or both of them were androidized?

 

[Farscape One]

I agree that less is more, sometimes.

One of the big question marks that TOS Chapel drew a big red circle around was: what about Korby's relationship with Andrea, did he cheat on Christine? My reading of "Little Girls" was that he did. Roger all but admitted he had sex with Andrea, but was that before or after either or both of them were androidized?

Yeah, Korby seemed to be 'exploring' more than just old ruins.

 

[FederationHistorian]

- No sense of danger for Pike and M’Benga while on Kenfori. That’s why prequels suck. And why redshirts exist.

- Could have done without Bytha wanting revenge against M’Benga bit. The Klingons hunting Pike and M'Benga and then fighting the zombie horde worked fine. There would have been a much stronger story if the Pike, M’Benga and the Klingons were working together on the surface, while the Enterprise and the D7 were locked in conflict in orbit. If the writers wanted Dak’Rah to be a part of the story, then they should have shown the Klingon away team are polarized by his actions. Basically, Bytha wanting to restore her family's name should have been a slower burn and been resolved later.

- Una's hairstyle is awful. Make her look like a Deltan wearing a fancy hat.

- I can deal with Una punishing Ortegas in a bid to look out for her, since we see security officers look out for the emotional well being of their fellow crew in LD, and Ortegas is going through something this season. But, Ortegas should have called out Una’s decision to not go with her plan initially as cowardly, considering that the Klingons also sent a team to the surface and could have easily triggered another war on that basis. And the Enterprise crew are comprised of the best of the best, and Ortegas' inexperience with her own plan would - and should - have been compensated for.

- They are going to use Batel to explain how the “Arena” Gorn exist, aren’t they?

- Also, why didn’t they store Batel in the transporter buffer (like SNW established was possible in the first season), or take her to a starbase with medical specialists?

Overall, it felt more like a DIS episode than an SNW episode. Not saying that was a bad thing here; it’s a better episode than the previous two this season. It just gave that energy to me.

 

[indranee]

Finally watched it even though I'm mad at Paramount/CBS. Only 7 more eps to go and then buh-buy until Season 4.

Anyway, this one was an easy 10 for me. Mind you, I am not a zombie fan (or body horror fan) per se; however, given the right premise and treatment, I can get into it easy. This one was that. I realize that some of my favorite shows/movies are actually zombie movies but clothed in genre-busting garb. Comedy especially works for this kind of thing.

Anyway, I really am beginning to realize that SNW's Dr. M'Benga (other than Anson Mount) is being played by one of THE best of the best actors in all of Trek. He is absolutely riveting. Once this show is over, I am going to go rewatch those two measly little M'Benga appearances in TOS and thank our lucky stars that we got SNW. Because the writing and acting for this character is absolutely stellar.

Other than that, after watching this I was thinking how can I vote this one down. I just couldn't. The premise, the acting, the action, the starship porn... that sneaky little fly-by of the Enterprise looking so very fragile... that one scene had me gasping and I choked up a little. Also, that Klingon transport/shuttle -- have we ever seen that before? Stunning. I also loved that the Federation shuttle that M'Benga and Pike were in had "windows" that looked all banged up and dirty from outside... a worn and weary look. Loved it. Loved it all.

My take is that they will of course kill Batel. I mean, they might kill all the non-Prime characters at the end of the day. But that's fine. As long as we have the meat and potatoes with them now... one more thing -- I really hope Ortegas doesn't stop the insubordination there... it was fascinating to watch the dynamic between her and Una. I especially loved the little changing exposure shot that went from her laughing at Uhura's comment to Una's face in the captain's chair. I LOL'd at that one. More of that please! I am realizing they can use Ortegas in various ways that could bring in a lot of "lower decks" kind of situations, even though technically she's not LD. But hey perhaps she can sit the two weeks out in LD haha.

 

[Pauln6]

- No sense of danger for Pike and M’Benga while on Kenfori. That’s why prequels suck. And why redshirts exist.

- Could have done without Bytha wanting revenge against M’Benga bit. The Klingons hunting Pike and M'Benga and then fighting the zombie horde worked fine. There would have been a much stronger story if the Pike, M’Benga and the Klingons were working together on the surface, while the Enterprise and the D7 were locked in conflict in orbit. If the writers wanted Dak’Rah to be a part of the story, then they should have shown the Klingon away team are polarized by his actions. Basically, Bytha wanting to restore her family's name should have been a slower burn and been resolved later.

- Una's hairstyle is awful. Make her look like a Deltan wearing a fancy hat.

- I can deal with Una punishing Ortegas in a bid to look out for her, since we see security officers look out for the emotional well being of their fellow crew in LD, and Ortegas is going through something this season. But, Ortegas should have called out Una’s decision to not go with her plan initially as cowardly, considering that the Klingons also sent a team to the surface and could have easily triggered another war on that basis. And the Enterprise crew are comprised of the best of the best, and Ortegas' inexperience with her own plan would - and should - have been compensated for.

- They are going to use Batel to explain how the “Arena” Gorn exist, aren’t they?

- Also, why didn’t they store Batel in the transporter buffer (like SNW established was possible in the first season), or take her to a starbase with medical specialists?

Overall, it felt more like a DIS episode than an SNW episode. Not saying that was a bad thing here; it’s a better episode than the previous two this season. It just gave that energy to me.

I don't think any of us really thought Kirk, Spock, and McCoy were ever in danger in TOS either.

I'm not so sure that the rejection of Ortegas' plan was so wrong - they had limited evidence of Klingon presence on the planet, no idea that said Klingons were tracking M'Benga, and Pike and Chin-Riley would have had to take the fall if their presence was leaked.

Transporter stasis was a bad plot device as standard. An unstable alien device would have been better. There's a reason why ships only beam people a few at a time. Vast amounts of energy and computer memory are required and didn't relics confirm you have to have a special set up to avoid pattern degradation?

 

[The Wormhole]

No sense of danger for Pike and M’Benga while on Kenfori. That’s why prequels suck.

That has nothing to do with this being a prequel, it's because they're main cast. The main cast are rarely killed off, and when they are, it's usually known in advance that the actor is leaving the show. And in the case of shows like The Walking Dead or Game of Thrones which did regularly kill off main cast or even prominent supporting roles, those deaths were usually in the premieres or finales, mid season storylines or special event episodes that were advertised as that character's departure. There's never been a surprise exit of a character on any TV show prior to their last episode airing, especially not since the dawn of the internet.

 

[Mudd]

That has nothing to do with this being a prequel, it's because they're main cast. The main cast are rarely killed off, and when they are, it's usually known in advance that the actor is leaving the show. And in the case of shows like The Walking Dead or Game of Thrones which did regularly kill off main cast or even prominent supporting roles, those deaths were usually in the premieres or finales, mid season storylines or special event episodes that were advertised as that character's departure. There's never been a surprise exit of a character on any TV show prior to their last episode airing, especially not since the dawn of the internet.

Hell, GoT couldn't even pull off a surprise resurrection.

 

[aquova]

There's never been a surprise exit of a character on any TV show prior to their last episode airing, especially not since the dawn of the internet.

Was Hemmer's death known ahead of time?

 

[The Wormhole]

Was Hemmer's death known ahead of time?

We knew he wasn't going to be main cast for the second season.

 

[Mudd]

Yeah, Hammer leaked.