Spoilers Star Trek: Strange New Worlds 2x10 - "Hegemony"

[Ovation]

"Another big part of my disdain for this finale is my general lack of interest in this incredibly derivative, boring, and contradictory iteration of the Gorn ... they have continued to inexplicably piss all over the original series’ 'Arena,' and done so in the service of making the Gorn spectacularly boring and turning them into an Alien/Predator knockoff. It’s especially frustrating because it’s not necessary. They could’ve created a new species, or used another established species we know very little about (my original suggestion last year was the Tzenkethi, and I stand by that, as they’d plug in perfectly here). Instead, they decided to contradict one of the quintessential Trek episodes in 'Arena,' and contravene the entire point of that episode by turning the Gorn into irredeemable monsters."
-KRAD, The Final Arbiter of Ultimate Truth

Yawn.

"As he’s placing explosives, we see Chapel waking up, surrounded by bodies, and trying to get Spock’s attention when he happens by the window she’s near to place more explosives. This was the point at which the episode totally lost me and never really got me back. Let’s start with the fact that Chapel survived. This means there are probably other survivors. The fact that nobody even considered this as a possibility is despicable. The fact that nobody (not Chapel, not Spock, not Number One, not anybody) thought to even try to find out if there were any survivors is a level of depravity wholly unworthy of the protagonists of a Star Trek show. But hey, they’re just extras who don’t have speaking parts and whose names we don’t know, right? They don’t count! The fact that the only survivor of the Cayuga being blown to smithereens is the one in the opening credits has already cut off the air supply to my disbelief. As has the fact that her ex-boyfriend happens to fly right by her window. And then they get into a fight with a Gorn who’s poking around the debris for reasons the script never bothers to provide, except to give us a Big! Action! Scene! in an episode that already had plenty of those. Oh, and the pathos of Spock finding out that Chapel is alive and him saving her and them coming back to Enterprise together all cute."
-KRAD, The Final Arbiter of Ultimate Truth

Yawning…intensifying.

She's shown more personality in two short seasons than Sulu did for the entire franchise.

Given their respective acting talents (Navia/Takei), this is certainly no surprise.

Oh and fantastic finish to a fantastic season. Expected (and received) nothing less.

 

[DaveyNY]

My gripe with it is totally different, and the finale was a classic example on display: When half your crew are characters with plot armor because they appear in a 'later' show, it removes all tension and drama. Case in point which has already been mentioned numerous times: Chapel being alive aboard the saucer. Was there ever any doubt she had somehow survived? Of course not. She's immortal as far as this show is concerned- better off than Duncan MacLeod on Highlander.

There were only three characters that had to be here: Spock, Pike, and Una. Even Una is arguable, because she's a blank slate after The Cage / The Menagerie, never seen or heard from again. They could have killed her off one episode in, had they wanted to. But as things stand, here's what we've got:

Pike: Immortal. Plot Armor.
Spock: Immortal. Plot Armor.
Uhura: Immortal. Plot Armor.
Chapel: Immortal. Plot Armor.
M'Benga: Immortal. Plot Armor.
Scotty: Immortal. Plot Armor.
Kirk: Immortal. Plot Armor.

It's not about references to the past being bad. It's about a terrible case of incestuous 'small universe' syndrome that serves to hamstring storylines, writers, and the ability to generate some genuine suspense. That's my issue with it.

One has had to pretty much leave ones logical mind out of the equation when watching Star Trek and that's been true since day one of TOS.
I've always watched the show figuratively sitting on a very large block of salt, which means I can enjoy it for what it is without taking it all too seriously and ruining my enjoyment of it.

 

[Amaris]

Me, watching a prequel series: "This better not turn out exactly how it was intended, and god help them if they introduce people we already know into this prequel universe set a small number of years before the much more well known established narrative."

 

[El Maestro]

My gripe with it is totally different, and the finale was a classic example on display: When half your crew are characters with plot armor because they appear in a 'later' show, it removes all tension and drama. Case in point which has already been mentioned numerous times: Chapel being alive aboard the saucer. Was there ever any doubt she had somehow survived? Of course not. She's immortal as far as this show is concerned- better off than Duncan MacLeod on Highlander.

There were only three characters that had to be here: Spock, Pike, and Una. Even Una is arguable, because she's a blank slate after The Cage / The Menagerie, never seen or heard from again. They could have killed her off one episode in, had they wanted to. But as things stand, here's what we've got:

Pike: Immortal. Plot Armor.
Spock: Immortal. Plot Armor.
Uhura: Immortal. Plot Armor.
Chapel: Immortal. Plot Armor.
M'Benga: Immortal. Plot Armor.
Scotty: Immortal. Plot Armor.
Kirk: Immortal. Plot Armor.

It's not about references to the past being bad. It's about a terrible case of incestuous 'small universe' syndrome that serves to hamstring storylines, writers, and the ability to generate some genuine suspense. That's my issue with it.

This is more an argument against prequels in general...everything you listed is really part/parcel of prequels as a concept.

 

[Amaris]

Me, watching a Titanic prequel series: "Oh, how convenient, Captain Smith arrives on the show. Gee, I wonder what will happen next?"

 

[Jedi Marso]

This is more an argument against prequels in general...everything you listed is really part/parcel of prequels as a concept.

Yes and no. From the prequel standpoint, we knew that the Enterprise had to survive, Spock had to survive, and Pike had to last at least until his accident. If you brought in no other characters from TOS, then those were the only story restrictions that had to be adhered to. Everyone else? Well, better watch it out there. Someone once said space is dark and dangerous, filled with things trying to kill you.

Don't get me wrong- I'm enjoying the show immensely. I just can't help but think about how much more awesome it could be.

 

[Oddish]

Me, watching a Titanic prequel series: "Oh, how convenient, Captain Smith arrives on the show. Gee, I wonder what will happen next?"

He finds those ice warning telegrams and orders the ship to slow down, of course.

 

[IMC Headquarters]

Me, watching a Titanic prequel series: "Oh, how convenient, Captain Smith arrives on the show. Gee, I wonder what will happen next?"

Time-traveling Romulan© kills him and takes his place.

 

[ED-209]

Very underwhelming finale.

The bit where they’re surprised there’s no colonists and looking all confused “the Gorn have them!” Really, holy shit who would’ve thought that?

Plus nice scene ripped directly from Alien 3, for the exact same reason.

The ship was taking a lot of fire while Pike was standing there looking dopey wondering what to do.

Disappointing end to a good season.

 

[firehawk12]

Interesting concept, but highly unlikely.

Obviously Female Gorn have yet to be shown, but I don't think the Lizard Empire will end up being matriarchal in nature.

What may end up happening is that being infected and surviving may somehow be the way to fight the young.
The adolescent young won't attack those who appear infected.

Then she becomes Gorn of Nine and wears a Gorn cat(gorn)-suit. lol

Honestly the cliche answer is that she becomes the conduit between Starfleet and the Gorn and is able to negotiate an actual peace/neutral zone that allows the Gorn to somehow hunt people for food/breeding sacks but maintain the canon that the Federation never fought with the Gorn and forgot what they looked like by Kirk's time... and having Batel as a "Gorn-hybrid" who can speak to both, and then be forced to live with the Gorn because she can't help her Gorn instincts to want to eat humans, is the big dramatic self-sacrifice moment that also allows them to make Pike single again.

I hope they don't do that, but it's the answer that's right there. lol

 

[fireproof78]

This is more an argument against prequels in general...everything you listed is really part/parcel of prequels as a concept.

You have an entire crew to explore. None of the legacy characters are additive.

Remember when it was said that "Pike was amazing in Discovery. He should get his own show!" Well, that's turned in to how can we make the universe as small as possible.

It's not against prequels. There are elements of the legacy characters that are additive. But the feel of it is going with every character we already know and expect the audience to start that screaming and clapping.

 

[El Maestro]

You have an entire crew to explore. None of the legacy characters are additive.

Remember when it was said that "Pike was amazing in Discovery. He should get his own show!" Well, that's turned in to how can we make the universe as small as possible.

It's not against prequels. There are elements of the legacy characters that are additive. But the feel of it is going with every character we already know and expect the audience to start that screaming and clapping.

The audience screams and claps because they like it

 

[fireproof78]

The audience screams and claps because they like it

It feels very forced.

Hooray.

 

[Amaris]

It feels very forced.

Hooray.

Just wait until you find out who takes over in a handful of years! Forced legacy characters everywhere.

 

[Jedi Marso]

The audience screams and claps because they like it

Or they let go with another mega-eyeroll. I can only tell you what happened with the audience in my house, not all the others.

--->

 

[Tallguy]

I remember being on the edge of my seat at the end of The Doomsday Machine. Maybe THIS would be the episode where Kirk would die.

 

[fireproof78]

Just wait until you find out who takes over in a handful of years! Forced legacy characters everywhere.

It will never fly.

 

[Amaris]

It will never fly.

Wagon Train in space? Who would even?!

 

[Captain Jollydark]

Very underwhelming finale.

The bit where they’re surprised there’s no colonists and looking all confused “the Gorn have them!” Really, holy shit who would’ve thought that?

I didn't. I must be really stupid.

 

[Relayer1]

Scotty's 'accent' is nothing compared to trying to understand my Irish uncles when they were around.

Janie!

Have you tried drinking heavily ? I swear it works !