Spoilers Star Trek: Strange New Worlds 2x09 - "Subspace Rhapsody"

[cultcross]

And points off the series/season for only doing 10-episode stretches so we never get to re all see the Spock/Chapel ship. They hook-up, go through some turbulence, she gets a 3-month fellowship (?!), they break-up. Huh?

It wasn't the fellowship (only) - it was laid out last week that this era's Spock just isn't ready for an emotionally mature relationship with Chapel, she has so much going on past and present and he's just not keeping up, he's like a high school student with their first girlfriend. Plus, I like the fact that they didn't do the trope where a character (usually a woman) gives up on some great life opportunity for a relationship.

Still not sold on Wesley's Kirk. He's getting "better" I still just don't see Kirk in him

Agreed, I must say he's my consistently least favorite thing about SNW. I wish they'd stop shoehorning him in.

 

[Addy_lane]

I have a bad feeling about next week. I don’t trust that ending between Pike and his girlfriend and her being called away.

Agreed. That was a little too cliche'. They postpone their vacation plans because she's called away on a Priority One mission. They likely will never get that vacation together. I don't know if in this current timeline if there's possibly a worse way to go than by the Gorn.

 

[Trekker4747]

It wasn't the fellowship (only) - it was laid out last week that this era's Spock just isn't ready for an emotionally mature relationship with Chapel, she has so much going on past and present and he's just not keeping up, he's like a high school student with their first girlfriend. Plus, I like the fact that they didn't do the trope where a character (usually a woman) gives up on some great life opportunity for a relationship.

Yeah, I get and agree with all of that, but we had the "shut up and fuck me!" moment at the end of an episode causing shipping-fans (myself included) screaming with delight amd the in the next episode the "honeymoon is over" to borrow a phrase and they're playing 3D chess filled with "this isn't working" angst.

 

[Jedi Marso]

Makes TWOK even more tragic. I mean based on what Kirk told us in Lost in Translation, his father was career oriented and never got to spend time with his kids but Kirk wasn't even given the chance to be a father to David.

He had the chance- he just chose a different road. Being a starship captain was his first, best destiny, not being a father. He admitted as much in TWOK:

Carol: "Were you there? Were you going to be?" Comments about Kirk's nomadic nature followed by: "I wanted him in mine."

Kirk: "I did what you wanted- I stayed away."

Implication: Kirk could have given up Starfleet, married Carol (according to Gary Mitchell, he almost did!), and raised David. And the universe would have died a couple of times.

 

[Jedi Marso]

Nurse Chapel beats Major Kira's for Star Trek sexy lounge songs.

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Which if I had a nickle for every one, well I'd have two nickels. Which isn't a lot but weird that it's happened twice.

You haven't heard this song until you've heard Rita Moreno do it on the Muppet Show with Animal.

 

[SCE2Aux]

Watched it. Enjoyed it. The amount that I enjoyed it actually surprised me, and I'm looking forward to catching it again over the weekend. SNW really knows how to let its hair down and just try new (for Trek) and crazy ideas. Does anyone else occasionally get a Farscape vibe from SNW? Farscape also seemed to integrate the very serious with the madcap, often within a single episode, and I'm all for more of this.

 

[Jedi Marso]

I was 100% expecting Klingon opera so that just destroyed me when it happened. Perfect choice. lol

Klingon opera would have been so much better, or a warrior's drinking song. None of this boy-band dishonor.

Also, a couple nitpicks with SNW and its relationship with the Klingons:

1. Quit treating the Klingons as semi-allies. At this stage, pre-Organia, things are unremittingly hostile. There should be a skirmish of some kind every time they are encountered- not "Spock soothed it over by drinking blood wine." GTFO with that bullshyte.

2. "Imperial Klingon Defense Force?" GTFO with that too. It's the Imperial Klingon Fleet, or the Imperial Klingon Navy. The Klingons play offense, not defense. They aren't a bunch of milk-drinking Earthers, whose ships should be hauled away as garbage!

 

[Weyoun 251]

Oh FFS! Whoops. I'm a huge Chelsea follower, so that's probably why my mind just automatically did that.

And on that note, I'm REALLY not happy that he left. I know the team needed some serious gutting this summer, but that one hurt.

To be fair, I joke about him but I did hope that we (Liverpool) could have struck a deal - especially now with Hendo going!

 

[DaveyNY]

As far as Chapel and Spock go, I think perhaps folks may have forgotten Boimler's revelations to her in the turbolift.

She's pulling back from the relationship not because she doesn't love him anymore, but because she now believes that her love for him is detrimental to his future and may do more harm than good.

Taking on the Korby Fellowship is just her way of burying her feelings for him and attempting to move on.
(which we already know doesn't work)

 

[DaveyNY]

1. Quit treating the Klingons as semi-allies. At this stage, pre-Organia, things are unremittingly hostile. There should be a skirmish of some kind every time they are encountered- not "Spock soothed it over by drinking blood wine." GTFO with that bullshyte.

The Klingon ship was coming in hot and heavy ready to fire all weapons the Federation Starship be damned, the only thing that stopped them was the rift.

And at this point the Federation and the Klingons are in a "Cold War" period, actual open hostilities won't begin again until that episode with the Organians.
(and it gets quickly clamped down by the aliens)

 

[Jedi Marso]

I am not a big musical fan. It progressed the story along. The singing was ok. I didn't pay as much attention during the songs. I rather hate that two romances pretty much died in this episode. I hate that we're not exploring Spock/Chapel for longer. Spock is too hurt. They're obviously going to be completely broken up by Season 3.

Since I find it unlikely that a fan favorite like Jess Bush is going to be written off the show, I wonder if we are going to experience a bit of a time jump between S2 and S3. A year or two in-show would see time for Chapel to leave, and then return. Since the strike means that it'll probably be close to two years before we get S3, a time jump becomes more reasonable that way as well.

Although the reasons to get Kirk on the Enterprise are getting more and more contrived.

Yes. This is one aspect of the show I'm extremely tired of.

 

[Captain Jollydark]

As a person who doesn't invest in characters' relationships (because that way lies madness) this episode broke my heart a little. Spock and Chapel, La'an and Kirk, and (because I can read the signs of upcoming tragedy) Marie and Chris.

I was nervous about this one going in because singing is not every actor's best thing and I love musicals and hate when big name stars who can't sing do the film versions (Les Miz, Sweeney Todd). But the strong singers (those with clear backgrounds in musical theater) carried the day. And the less strong still managed to pull it off without making me cringe.

Klingon boy band/K-pop is how I read that scene - not punk rock even a little bit. The Klingons WISHED they were doing punk rock.

When Kirk told La'an he wasn't in a position to pursue a relationship I didn't expect Carol to come up and then he confesses she's pregnant - lordy. It was such a meaty scene.

I whooped when Spock did the line about probably won't be bunnies. Anya, bless her.

I think it's amazing that Christine is the one who leaves and for her own career interests. But the fact that she's pushing Spock away might be for other reasons (her aversion to emotional entanglement conveniently turned into sacrifice by what Boimler said) I choose to believe this 21st century version of Spock is not the type who'd object to a partner pursuing their goals and dreams. He's not the guy who left his fiance alone for years and only came back to "marry" her because he had to. But he seems to be coming to the conclusion that all this love business is too hard and painful and the Vulcans have it right.

The Great American Songbook!

Was this mostly about emotional truths? Yeah. Did it serve to drive the plot? Sure. Will it have impact on the future of our beloveds? Guaranteed.

 

[GulBahana]

I'm not sure how I feel about this episode yet. Taking the risk is commendable though.

 

[GeorgeKirk]

There are things that should remain buried. Let the past be the past. For all our sakes.

However, if we must:

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That was great! How can you not like something with the phrase "Spock-bop-a-loo-bop-a-Spock-bam-boom" in it?

 

[cooleddie74]

Sometimes I wake up with "I Like Life" in my head. Those are nice days.

I LIKE LIFE
LIFE LIKES ME
LIFE AND I FAIRLY FULLY AGREE

WHAT HAVE YOU STARTED?!?!?

 

[Trekker4747]

Since I find it unlikely that a fan favorite like Jess Bush is going to be written off the show, I wonder if we are going to experience a bit of a time jump between S2 and S3. A year or two in-show would see time for Chapel to leave, and then return. Since the strike means that it'll probably be close to two years before we get S3, a time jump becomes more reasonable that way as well.

Yeah S3 is 2 years away. At least. But they said Chapel's fellowship was only a few months long.

Yes. This is one aspect of the show I'm extremely tired of.

Yeah. They need to stop "reling" on Kirk and give Pike more. (Though I guess while filming this season hey was using some father-leave/time.)

 

[Quantum21]

It was...ok?

A little bit too middle-of-the-road showtuney.

I wouldn't watch it twice.

 

[GeorgeKirk]

I suppose it will be better than the latest Cats.

Unlike Cats, this episode is guaranteed not to have a "butthole cut".

 

[cooleddie74]

All the more reason why Hemmer's sacrifice last season was a noble one.

 

[Amaris]

I am a musically oriented person. Music is my life. I hear harmonies in all things.

This episode was flawless.
Flawless.

Also, I just about pissed myself when the Klingons showed up on screen.

Fucking flawless.