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Spoilers Star Trek: Strange New Worlds 2x02 - "Ad Astra Per Aspera"

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I was surprised (because I thought they'd just expect us to forget the divergence) that they seemingly addressed why Una is cleared in this timeline but in prison in 'A Quality of Mercy'. In the 'Quality' timeline, Pike likely did not pull his near-death stunt (because having already started the process to avoid his delta radiation accident, he knows he's not immune to death anymore) of waiting in a poisonous Illyrian atmosphere at the law firm, meaning Una got an entirely different incompetent lawyer in that timeline and she got sent to prison.

In the main timeline, Pike still knows he can't die as the delta radiation accident has yet to happen, so he has no problem nearly dying at the law firm to get the attorney to agree to the case.

Pretty brilliant script writing all in all, including how Una is ultimately cleared.
 
I agree with firehawk12; it was not earned. It felt like the writers got on a soapbox and were preaching to the choir. I feel the "anti-woke" group will use this episode as yet more evidence of how modern Star Trek has deviated from classic Trek and as more evidence of Hollywood preaching to the masses.
 
Lakenheath 72 said:
I agree with firehawk12; it was not earned. It felt like the writers got on a soapbox and were preaching to the choir. I feel the "anti-woke" group will use this episode as yet more evidence of how modern Star Trek has deviated from classic Trek and as more evidence of Hollywood preaching to the masses.
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That would be such a terrible outcome, but I can already imagine all the alt-right YouTube reviewers basically saying this.

It's like when they all hated Stacy Abrams appearing on Discovery, or the pilot episode referencing Jan 6.
 
I was wondering how they were going to clear Number One and still keep the Starfleet Ban on the genetically engineered intact. The threaded the needle very carefully and used the technicality of seeking an Asylum, as a Special Case. I didn't know it would be going with an Asylum. For the bulk of the episode, I was thinking "How are they going to get her out of this?" I liked all the personal stories as well. Hearing more about April's time as Captain of the Enterprise. Hearing about and seeing Una's childhood. This isn't a heavy-hitter like "The Measure of a Man" or "The Drumhead", but it was a good case of Legal Argument vs. Legal Argument. They were also very careful and methodical to go through all the potential pitfalls of "If we did X, then Y would happen." The story was very carefully calibrated. So I'll go with a 9.
 
KamenRiderBlade said:
Depends on which country you're referencing.

Some countries, this allegory would very much be relevant today.

We only have to look at many other parts of the world and not just look at only North America or Western Europe.
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I was joking. If anything, it's more apropos than ever.

Also, not an allegory. Heck, it so closely aligns with the thing it represents that it hardly passes for a metaphor.
 
AlanC9 said:
Something still nags at me a bit about this whole storyline. (Been bugging me since DS9, actually.)

How did humans sell the other Federation members on the dangers of genetic engineering of sapients? Did the Andorians, Tellarites, and Vulcans all have some sort of catastrophe along the lines of the Eugenics Wars?
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Some of those worlds probably had some kind of negative experience. I was thinking this when I noticed how the Vulcan prosecutor seemed...a bit rigid and dogmatic... about it, suggesting Vulcan may have had some kind of experience....I was starting to think he was secretly a Romulan.

Yistaan said:
I was surprised (because I thought they'd just expect us to forget the divergence) that they seemingly addressed why Una is cleared in this timeline but in prison in 'A Quality of Mercy'. In the 'Quality' timeline, Pike likely did not pull his near-death stunt (because having already started the process to avoid his delta radiation accident, he knows he's not immune to death anymore) of waiting in a poisonous Illyrian atmosphere at the law firm, meaning Una got an entirely different incompetent lawyer in that timeline and she got sent to prison.

In the main timeline, Pike still knows he can't die as the delta radiation accident has yet to happen, so he has no problem nearly dying at the law firm to get the attorney to agree to the case.

Pretty brilliant script writing all in all, including how Una is ultimately cleared.
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Probably because sending those letters would have set in motion a series of events.....and plot.


I really enjoyed this episode.
 
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After having thought about it for a bit (and while getting ready for bed), I've decided I have one objection to this episode.
I know it would have derailed the story the writers were telling, but I really don't believe that Admiral April and Captain Pike would put their careers ahead of trying to help one of their best Officers.

After hearing how many times April fudged the Prime Directive there's no way he would suddenly change character and say 'No' to the Star Fleet Academy question asked by the prosecution.
And Captain Pike would certainly put his captaincy on the line and testify for his First Officer.
Star Fleet would have been very hard pressed to convict all three of their top Command Officers for something that everybody realizes is unjust.

The episode hit all the right emotional tics, but I think they did the April & Pike characters a disservice with this one.
 
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AlanC9 said:
"Yes. An affinity for Gilbert and Sullivan musicals."

I don't think I've been vocal enough about how much I've liked Peck's work. And he's Gregory Peck's grandson to boot. I didn't even know that until a few days ago.
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I agree. A lot of people here prefer Quinto for some reason and don't like Peck's take on Spock though.
 
The Vulcan officer is said to be one of Sarek's old friends or coworker (not sure) yet Sarek himself thinks poorly enough of Starfleet to not want Spock to go there instead of the Vulcan Science Academy. Interesting.
 
Yistaan said:
The Vulcan officer is said to be one of Sarek's old friends or coworker (not sure) yet Sarek himself thinks poorly enough of Starfleet to not want Spock to go there instead of the Vulcan Science Academy. Interesting.
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What? When was Sarek mentioned?

And when did Sarek say he thought poorly of Starfleet? Just because he didn't want his son to join doesn't mean so.
 
Finn said:
What? When was Sarek mentioned?
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After M'Benga and Ortegas spy on Spock and the Vulcan officer in the lounge, Spock walks up to them and apologizes for his invisible "outburst", saying that of all his father's associates that Vulcan officer is the most infuriating or something like that.
 
Yistaan said:
After M'Benga and Ortegas spy on Spock and the Vulcan officer in the lounge, Spock walks up to them and apologizes for his invisible "outburst", saying that of all his father's associates that Vulcan officer is the most infuriating or something like that.
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Oh, that. That still doesn't mean anything.
 
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