I basically liked this episode, though not as much as the overall consensus.
That opening got me so excited for a "Peak Performance"-style story! Was I loving the vibe of all of that -- the banter, the relationship dynamics, the big smiles from Genesis and Darem on the bridge, etc. I was thinking "okay, THIS is what I want from a fun, light, school-days episode", and thinking how much better it was playing than "Vitus Reflux"s failed attempt to give us that.
So the hard turn into extreme horror was a disappointment, after the beginning had gotten me
SO amped for a totally different episode than the one that was served up.
I did love the design of the Furies, though.
The Jett/Lura rotation is bugging me. Let's get these two in the same episode again! (though Jett's absence this week wasn't as glaring as Lura's last week)
All the Tarima material really worked for me. I am so here for that actress and character, she is nailing it.
I think the Ake/Braka thing was more interesting, even though I don't like how it was basically two scenes where the characters monologued at each other. It reminded me of why I didn't like Shaw in Picard S3, because they just had him yell at Picard instead of doing or showing anything that would explain that relationship. So you get a lore dump of Ake letting her son die when faced with a "no win scenario". Like the idea is fine and turning it into an Eddington moment of the Federation being the Borg is fine too, especially if connected to the Klingon episode and Jay-Den's argument about how the Federation tries to force its culture onto the Klingons... I just wish it was presented better.
Oh my god, first of all, thank you for articulating what drove me nuts about Shaw. The fandom love for that character has baffled me like nothing else. I mean, he was sufficient, but mostly I watched him and wondered "what am I supposed to love so much about this character?"
But I agree with this criticism. Hunter and Giamatti could not have done a better job of acting what they were given, but I didn't care for the scene structure at all. Monologues almost always just feel like self-indulgent writing to me. Give me an actual exchange between characters, please.
Only managed to watch the first few minutes so far before being off to work, but I found the Caleb/Tarima sequence really beautiful and very well done. The Olivia Dean song is gorgeous and fits perfectly. The way it’s filmed and cut is nothing groundbreaking, but still I appreciate how well they capture the intimacy and intensity of their young love.
Can’t wait to check out the rest later tonight!
I have been listening to the Olivia Dean Spotify channel around the clock for the last 72 hours, and I can. not. believe. I didn't pick up that was her song.
