A very good episode that caps off one of the most refreshing seasons of Star Trek since....man, I guess since DS9 for me! The show struck a great tone all season and I appreciated the characters very much. The episodic format was a breath of fresh air, as was a Trek show actually having some fun and being optimistic instead of dour and nihilistic. Pike is emerging as a terrific captain: he embodies the best of the Trek captains we've seen in the past (I see vintage JLP the most in him, oddly enough, with some Kirk, Sisko, and even some Janeway thrown in) but is his own character. He's great to watch and root for, even knowing where things lead for him. Some random thoughts on the episode and the season:
- People really need to stop contorting themselves into coming up with in-universe explanations for updated visuals and whatnot. It's the prime universe rendered in 2022 technology/4K very well and I am glad for it. I am excited to see other ST properties maybe be re-vamped in a similar way. The E-D and DS9 could look super cool if done again!
- The alt-timeline monster maroons were bad....not because of the leather (that doesn't bother me and I don't think will go away with 4K shows; the texture would be too flat otherwise)...but because the angles were all wrong...the front flap with the black border had too steep of an angle which made them have to curve the white strap/flap thing and it made it look weird and cheap. To be fair, these uniforms haven't looked good wherever they've showed up since TUC. The collarless look they used in TNG was a crime. I guess VOY did them well, actually, so I stand corrected.
- My wife and I watched The Menagerie right after this episode and it is GREAT to do. The story flows really well from SNW into TOS and I think this in macrocosm is the point of the show. That's hard to do and I gave them credit for it.
- I missed Chapel and Una in the finale. Chapel, in particular is a breakout character in SNW for me and I would like to see more. Ortegas was also shortchanged a bit this season I think.
- Losing Hemmer last week was a bummer. He was a good character and we didn't get enough time with him.
- Speaking of engineers, the off-screen Scotsman was very funny and I appreciated it.
- The (not)holodeck episode was the weakest of the season. It just felt off in terms of pacing and plot.
- The Balance of Terror But Different was a really smart choice here, as was bringing Kirk into it.
- Kirk's casting is.....fine? I need to see more before I'll know if it works. I think there's potential there! But Shatner and Pine had a real effervescence in their portrayals that was different, but in their own ways they were/are very striking and leap off the screen. This guy is.....fine. I don't get the same "crackle" from him but I will give him a chance!
- Seeing Nimoy Spock right after Peck Spock makes me appreciate Peck Spock a lot. It's a hard job and character to play and I really like him in the role.
- It is my sincere hope that PIC S3 can recapture the hope, fun, and joy found in TNG and in SNW, but my fear is it will be more like TNG-movies and PIC S1/2. SNW (and LD, and even PRO!) effectively demonstrate that Trek can be updated and still feel like Trek on a fundamental and atmospheric level.
I've barely posted here all season so I've been saving these up haha!
