I mean, I kinda get it, but seems like the Metron is kind of a ankle weight to this episode. I didn't mind it too much.
Spoilers Star Trek: Strange New Worlds 3x09 - "Terrarium"
- Thread starter Commander Richard
- Start date
So, so close to being an all-time classic Trek episode, only to fall to dumb fanwank at the end of the third act.
I was strapped in for an Ortegas episode - finally. We've certainly gotten a bit more from Ortegas this season, but she still comes across as a rather lightweight, flat character compared to the rest of the cast, who generally have established backstories and/or traumas to draw upon. Knowing this episode was a shuttlecraft crash going in, I was thinking we were in for a Castaway riff, and we'd finally learn what was going on with her.
But the episode makes a wild veer when we learn a Gorn is also crash-landed, becoming instead the Star Trek homage to the 1985 movie Enemy Mine. Thankfully, Erica doesn't have to midwife a clutch of Gorn babies here. But the setup is pretty much identical - two castaways from races at war must learn to live together - and trust one another - despite their differences. Kudos to the writers for setting up Erica's PTSD in the first episode, and paying it off here. One could argue that perhaps this arc would've worked better if it were La'an, but as we can see, La'an would've just killed the Gorn on sight anyway.
Navia has to carry this episode, as even though she's riffing off the Gorn female, there's not much of a performance there. Thankfully, she pulls it off in spades, though since so much of the focus is on either survival or breaching the communications barrier, we still don't really learn much about Ortegas here.
My only major concern prior to the last act is I didn't get a real sense of time passing here. The passage of time is key in castaway plots. Hunger and thirst need to build, the characters need time to build things, and Erica and the female Gorn needed time to build up a real friendship. However, everything seemed weirdly compacted here. Erica crashed, and immediately worried about dying of thirst, and then went out looking for food like she was a diabetic, when she could've gone over a week without rations. Her haircut didn't seem to grow out much at all. And the shipboard b-plot focusing on Uhura's attempts to rescue her seemed to take place over a period of a few days, if not mere hours.
I'd completely overlook this, because the emotional journey that Ortegas went on - from attacking the Gorn to becoming friends - was so goddamned compelling. Furthermore, it undid a lot of the damage that SNW did to the Gorn over the last three seasons, played into the core Trekkian message that there are no monsters, just people, and set up things nicely for Arena to be in continuity with SNW. The death of the female Gorn was heartbreaking, but 100% telegraphed - there was no other way it could've ended.
And then they put the stupid scene in with the Metron.
*sigh*
There are so many fucking things which are wrong with this scene. First is that it's narratively unnecessary. Just the presence of the light provided the hint that this all might have been setup, which was enough. Erica also had her memory wiped, meaning the scene means nothing at all to her. It's just there for stupid fanwank, because the writers thought we were too stupid to enjoy an episode with any ambiguity, and needed to be clubbed over the head with the message. What the Metron says is essentially just foreshadowing/memberberrying Arena as well, and has no meaning here, since they push the reset button. It also retrospectively removes the independent agency of Erica and the Gorn, as they're both just being dangled around like marionettes on string for the amusement of superior beings. The message we're left with isn't that aliens and humans can find ways to work together (like say Darmok) but instead that advanced energy beings are a bunch of dicks. Boo!
It's a shame, because if that one scene was excised, I'd say this could've been one of the best SNW episodes - and clearly one of the most Trekkian in its ethos.
I was strapped in for an Ortegas episode - finally. We've certainly gotten a bit more from Ortegas this season, but she still comes across as a rather lightweight, flat character compared to the rest of the cast, who generally have established backstories and/or traumas to draw upon. Knowing this episode was a shuttlecraft crash going in, I was thinking we were in for a Castaway riff, and we'd finally learn what was going on with her.
But the episode makes a wild veer when we learn a Gorn is also crash-landed, becoming instead the Star Trek homage to the 1985 movie Enemy Mine. Thankfully, Erica doesn't have to midwife a clutch of Gorn babies here. But the setup is pretty much identical - two castaways from races at war must learn to live together - and trust one another - despite their differences. Kudos to the writers for setting up Erica's PTSD in the first episode, and paying it off here. One could argue that perhaps this arc would've worked better if it were La'an, but as we can see, La'an would've just killed the Gorn on sight anyway.
Navia has to carry this episode, as even though she's riffing off the Gorn female, there's not much of a performance there. Thankfully, she pulls it off in spades, though since so much of the focus is on either survival or breaching the communications barrier, we still don't really learn much about Ortegas here.
My only major concern prior to the last act is I didn't get a real sense of time passing here. The passage of time is key in castaway plots. Hunger and thirst need to build, the characters need time to build things, and Erica and the female Gorn needed time to build up a real friendship. However, everything seemed weirdly compacted here. Erica crashed, and immediately worried about dying of thirst, and then went out looking for food like she was a diabetic, when she could've gone over a week without rations. Her haircut didn't seem to grow out much at all. And the shipboard b-plot focusing on Uhura's attempts to rescue her seemed to take place over a period of a few days, if not mere hours.
I'd completely overlook this, because the emotional journey that Ortegas went on - from attacking the Gorn to becoming friends - was so goddamned compelling. Furthermore, it undid a lot of the damage that SNW did to the Gorn over the last three seasons, played into the core Trekkian message that there are no monsters, just people, and set up things nicely for Arena to be in continuity with SNW. The death of the female Gorn was heartbreaking, but 100% telegraphed - there was no other way it could've ended.
And then they put the stupid scene in with the Metron.
*sigh*
There are so many fucking things which are wrong with this scene. First is that it's narratively unnecessary. Just the presence of the light provided the hint that this all might have been setup, which was enough. Erica also had her memory wiped, meaning the scene means nothing at all to her. It's just there for stupid fanwank, because the writers thought we were too stupid to enjoy an episode with any ambiguity, and needed to be clubbed over the head with the message. What the Metron says is essentially just foreshadowing/memberberrying Arena as well, and has no meaning here, since they push the reset button. It also retrospectively removes the independent agency of Erica and the Gorn, as they're both just being dangled around like marionettes on string for the amusement of superior beings. The message we're left with isn't that aliens and humans can find ways to work together (like say Darmok) but instead that advanced energy beings are a bunch of dicks. Boo!
It's a shame, because if that one scene was excised, I'd say this could've been one of the best SNW episodes - and clearly one of the most Trekkian in its ethos.
Yeah, in TOS S1
In ENT S4 Observer Effect, we have two Organians who have observed many a corporeal life form die to a silicon based virus just to see how they another crew members react.
In TNG we have the Q, which all seem to enjoy doing things to lesser beings,; and even though gynon has stated some of the Q are even respectable, TNG had never really shown us such a Q.
TNG S3 The Survivors, also gave us yet another Godlike race that referred to itself as a Douwd, who in a fit of blind rage instantly wiped out an entire space fairing corporeal species (the Husnak) wherever they in the galaxy; and also was willing to torture and drive Deanna Troi insane lest she discover that fact from his mind; and the only comment Jean-Luc Picard ultimately had on that situation was that, ".. He should be left alone."
So yeah, now with SNW, we discover that the Metrons are yet another Godlike race who enjoy toying with and experimenting on corporeal species. The sad thing is, showing them to be like this allows TOS S1 Arena to actually make more sense, as it didn't really track that the Gorn themselves could create such a perfect illusion of a Starfleet Commodore, that not only spoke with Kirk live just before Kirk being down to Cestus III, and also managed to keep the destruction of the entire base hidden until Kirk actually beamed down.
(IE - are we supposed to believe that Kirk & Co never scanned the planet on approach, or that in setting up to beam down, the transporter officer didn't notice the burned-out buildings that probably should have shown up as he's preparing to beam them down?)
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Post Edited to correct the title of a TOS episode above. I did a strikethrough of the incorrect title. (Brain fart on my part)
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Every Trek series gets to do Enemy Mine once if they so choose. 
When the Gorn first threw Erica some slop, I chuckled at the thought that instead of it being shared meat it was merely the Gorn throwing the disgusting shitsac away only for Erica to gobble it up.
Not an amazing episode, but I did enjoy it. (In a season chock full o' duds, I'll take any good ep I can get my hands on.)
It had some high points, including the foreseeably tragic ending. I was hoping for a brief Erica/La'An scene at the end. Bummer.
When the Gorn first threw Erica some slop, I chuckled at the thought that instead of it being shared meat it was merely the Gorn throwing the disgusting shitsac away only for Erica to gobble it up.
Not an amazing episode, but I did enjoy it. (In a season chock full o' duds, I'll take any good ep I can get my hands on.)
It had some high points, including the foreseeably tragic ending. I was hoping for a brief Erica/La'An scene at the end. Bummer.
8
I really enjoyed that. Might be about as old school as Trek gets, as has been said a homage to 1985's Enemy Mine but also Hell in the Pacific in 1968.
I know people may disagree but I do love how SNW pivots between dark and gritty, high concept ridiculousness and episodes you could drop Sulu/Data/Miles/Seven/Michael into and you wouldn't notice the difference!
I was surprised at how sad I was at the Gorn's death, even though I saw that coming a mile away once La'an beamed down.
Great to see Ortegas finally get an episode, very glad that Pike knew Uhura had fudged the numbers and hell, I even thought the Metron was cool. I get what people are saying but it didn't ruin the episode for me.
I also liked that Erica seemed to have either a Spitfire or a Hurricane amongst her collection.
The Decker mention was cool as well, but how long was he in command of the Constellation for?
I also like that this riffed on the Galileo Seven.
I really enjoyed that. Might be about as old school as Trek gets, as has been said a homage to 1985's Enemy Mine but also Hell in the Pacific in 1968.
I know people may disagree but I do love how SNW pivots between dark and gritty, high concept ridiculousness and episodes you could drop Sulu/Data/Miles/Seven/Michael into and you wouldn't notice the difference!
I was surprised at how sad I was at the Gorn's death, even though I saw that coming a mile away once La'an beamed down.
Great to see Ortegas finally get an episode, very glad that Pike knew Uhura had fudged the numbers and hell, I even thought the Metron was cool. I get what people are saying but it didn't ruin the episode for me.
I also liked that Erica seemed to have either a Spitfire or a Hurricane amongst her collection.
The Decker mention was cool as well, but how long was he in command of the Constellation for?
I also like that this riffed on the Galileo Seven.
Much like them "homaging" Omelas, if you rip off good sci-fi then you'll at least do better than ripping off bad scifi.
Which is a pretty backhanded compliment but a compliment nonetheless.
6/10
Which is a pretty backhanded compliment but a compliment nonetheless.
6/10
Delectable drama in this episode, Ortegas getting a decent spotlight with some wonderful Uhura and Pike moments.
I felt so sad at the death of the Gorn pilot.
I wonder what the Metron meant when it said that they would have to change your perspective on the Gorn. Could they do something to actually change the Gorn physiologically to explain the discrepancies?
Of course then that means the Mirror Universe Gorn have an actual evolutionary difference to their Prime counterparts.
Still lots of Gorn questions to line it all up.
I felt so sad at the death of the Gorn pilot.
I wonder what the Metron meant when it said that they would have to change your perspective on the Gorn. Could they do something to actually change the Gorn physiologically to explain the discrepancies?
Of course then that means the Mirror Universe Gorn have an actual evolutionary difference to their Prime counterparts.
Still lots of Gorn questions to line it all up.
Well, it was better... but that's not saying a lot this season.
I want to start with the elephant in the room: calling it Terrarium and thus giving away the punchline from the start. What Trek could have done with naming like that before... "The Death of a Trill", "The Captain Get Assimilated", "Moriarty Tricks the Crew" etc...
It's fitting for an The Enemy remake that I think Ortegas is quite Geordi-like. They carry off that affable demeanour while with an enemy, they do the one-person-narration well... and then scrappy yet ingenious ways to sort things out.
Although the narration did cross into just pure exposition a bit too much.
It was a fine episode, but still doesn't really feel boundary pushing. I'm not sure it's progressed Ortegas nor the story with the Gorn... something that feels like they're moving the needle.
Bonus point: no fucking Chapel. Yay.
Negative point: Starfleet just firing at unarmed alien who wasn't even posing a threat. Who's the enemy here?
I want to start with the elephant in the room: calling it Terrarium and thus giving away the punchline from the start. What Trek could have done with naming like that before... "The Death of a Trill", "The Captain Get Assimilated", "Moriarty Tricks the Crew" etc...
It's fitting for an The Enemy remake that I think Ortegas is quite Geordi-like. They carry off that affable demeanour while with an enemy, they do the one-person-narration well... and then scrappy yet ingenious ways to sort things out.
Although the narration did cross into just pure exposition a bit too much.
It was a fine episode, but still doesn't really feel boundary pushing. I'm not sure it's progressed Ortegas nor the story with the Gorn... something that feels like they're moving the needle.
Bonus point: no fucking Chapel. Yay.
Negative point: Starfleet just firing at unarmed alien who wasn't even posing a threat. Who's the enemy here?
No Chapel, No M'Benga, no Scotty, no Pelia. None of the roving cast of extras. Shipboard B-plot limited to Pike, Una, Spock, Uhura, and La'an (for reasons that become clear later).
I wish SNW would do this more, TBH. The need to provide material for everyone sometimes drags down the episodes.
Well, I'm glad they finally got around to giving Ortegas her own episode. However... I think I've come to the conclusion that I don't really like Ortegas all that much. I found her and her spoken inner monologue to be terribly grating after a while. I don't mean to rag on the actress, but I think a stronger episode would've given her half as much dialogue and instead shown her and the Gorn working together more wordlessly. As it stands, I think I didn't really like this episode. It's kinda ugly to look at and we've done the premise enough times that I didn't feel terribly engaged. As others have said, the Metron reveal at the end was really unneeded. They even went so far as to erase themselves from Ortegas's mind, meaning it was solely a gimmick for the sake of the viewers.
The moment La'an beamed down next to the angriest security officer I've ever seen, I knew that Gorn wasn't making it back home.
The moment La'an beamed down next to the angriest security officer I've ever seen, I knew that Gorn wasn't making it back home.
They gave up on humanity because the only one they kept meeting was Shatner.
It was too much. This talking to yourself but secretly to the audience is not new, and I buy it as a format. But she said TOO much. Every thought was spoken, for fear the audience would get bored or lose track. It would have been nice if they trusted the viewer more.
If you think this is bad just wait until you start listening to the Khan audio coming out soon
If you think this is bad just wait until you start listening to the Khan audio coming out soon
Ah yes, the Khan Podcast. That... That will be interesting. (I'd almost be for it if done like a 1930s/40s radio show.)
Metron scene was meh.
Other than that, I think they handled the ticking clock with the vaccine wrong.
Enterprise should have temporarily given up the search for Erica and delivered the meds, giving Uhura enough time to come up with a rescue plan while Erica's struggle to survive alone and bonding with the Gorn wouldn't have felt so time compressed. The story needed a few weeks in universe to breathe properly.
Other than that, I think they handled the ticking clock with the vaccine wrong.
Enterprise should have temporarily given up the search for Erica and delivered the meds, giving Uhura enough time to come up with a rescue plan while Erica's struggle to survive alone and bonding with the Gorn wouldn't have felt so time compressed. The story needed a few weeks in universe to breathe properly.
TNG did the same thing IIRC. I don't recall if it was a vaccine, but there was a medical emergency with a time limit.
Not excusing this episode doing it, just pointing out that I believe it has happened before in Trek.
I don't think they meant physically but metaphorically, not sure if that's the right word. Foreshadowing them setting up the encounter between Kirk and his Gorn.
I think the episode could have used a scene between Ortegas and La'An at the end.
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Cy, Jerry, Scar, ... Dukat. Effective, but cliche.
But please stop with the stupid surprise endings.
But please stop with the stupid surprise endings.
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