Star Trek: Strange New Worlds 3x01 - "Hegemony, Part II"
- Thread starter Commander Richard
- Start date
Pelia scaring the shit outta Scotty to force him into correctly teching the tech was so fucking good.
A 9 from me.
Like others have mentioned, I loved the action oriented nature of the episode and the way they had the characters coming up with the solutions and the fact they really weren't 100% confident stuff would work. Maintaining this type of character and situation dynamic was NOT something they did well in the Berman TNG days - so it's nice to see these writers CAN pull that dynamic off well. The way they have Pike collaberating with his Bridge crew was nicely done.
The situation breifing scene between Pike and April was also very well done amd I loved that they were ablso to portray two people with some very different views passionately working through and making sound/earned arguments supporting their positions; and I loved how April still stuck to the letter of Fedeeration law while still giving Pike the option to try and save his people and try to better resolve the Gorn situation.
I also really love they had Pike make a really hard choice (risk losing the Gorn ship with the colonists and his crew); and the fact he quickly and decisively knows the only choice is to warn the Federation Fleet, but still agonizes a bit. One of the few times in Trek they are really able to actually convey the agony of a hard choice when yeah, it's the only real choice to make. I also like it was Uhura who came up with the way to possibly be able to find the Gorn ship when/if they get back.
I also enjoyed how they handled La'an's and the Landing Party's escape from the Gorn ship. And yeah, the way they showed the injuries (especially Ortegas and her arm) and true genuine fear and uncertainty was great and a real departure from past Trek. It really helped to maintain the sense of unease and palpable tension in the episode and was well done on all levels.
But yeah, the fact they can pretty easily find/get the needed codes to transport the colonists and steal the small Gporn Hunter ship were a bit 'handwavey'; but it was definitely done in a more classic TOS style so I didn't mind it. Plus we go another nice Ortegas "I fly the ship reference".
The interaction between Scotty and Pella were wonderful and well done too. We see at the core yeah, he's the 'Mr. Scott" we'll come to know, but he's not quite there yet. And Pella's observation was spot on. Loved the whole "But put a Phaser to your head and you come through..." bit was great.
I also liked the way they showed Chapel and Spock working through the situation of saving Captain Batel; and we have a really good use of Una's unique physiology to do it. I also enjoyed the fact that they didn't just have her pop up fully well from the bio bed in a few hours; sahe's spent 3 months recovering, and there HAVE been issues they've had to resolve and it definitely was not a sure thing she'd pull through.
The resolution of the relationship situation between Spock and Chapel was also nicely done; and didn't feel tacked on or superficial.
For me the one nitpick is the way they put the Gorn in hibernation. After stating multiple times "We'll all die if we fly too far into the system because the shields just can't handle that level of leathal radiation..." in the end, SURPRISE - the shields actually can. (That's why this episode doesn't get a 10 from me.)
In the end though, I do like the fact they portray the Gorn as truly alien with definitely non-human alien physiology that they can find a way to manipulate to the Fededration's advantage; and they didn't just make them "Humans in a rubber suit/Humans with ridges to show they're 'alien'..."
I also like that they are both concluding and moving forward with various character arcs in a satisfying way. La'an has gotten over her Gorn trauma to a very huge degree because of this, but it appears Erica Ortegas will be working through some 'earned' PTSD because of this recent Gorn encounter.
So yeah, a very good/earned conclusion to this story and the SNW Gorn arc.
Like others have mentioned, I loved the action oriented nature of the episode and the way they had the characters coming up with the solutions and the fact they really weren't 100% confident stuff would work. Maintaining this type of character and situation dynamic was NOT something they did well in the Berman TNG days - so it's nice to see these writers CAN pull that dynamic off well. The way they have Pike collaberating with his Bridge crew was nicely done.
The situation breifing scene between Pike and April was also very well done amd I loved that they were ablso to portray two people with some very different views passionately working through and making sound/earned arguments supporting their positions; and I loved how April still stuck to the letter of Fedeeration law while still giving Pike the option to try and save his people and try to better resolve the Gorn situation.
I also really love they had Pike make a really hard choice (risk losing the Gorn ship with the colonists and his crew); and the fact he quickly and decisively knows the only choice is to warn the Federation Fleet, but still agonizes a bit. One of the few times in Trek they are really able to actually convey the agony of a hard choice when yeah, it's the only real choice to make. I also like it was Uhura who came up with the way to possibly be able to find the Gorn ship when/if they get back.
I also enjoyed how they handled La'an's and the Landing Party's escape from the Gorn ship. And yeah, the way they showed the injuries (especially Ortegas and her arm) and true genuine fear and uncertainty was great and a real departure from past Trek. It really helped to maintain the sense of unease and palpable tension in the episode and was well done on all levels.
But yeah, the fact they can pretty easily find/get the needed codes to transport the colonists and steal the small Gporn Hunter ship were a bit 'handwavey'; but it was definitely done in a more classic TOS style so I didn't mind it. Plus we go another nice Ortegas "I fly the ship reference".
The interaction between Scotty and Pella were wonderful and well done too. We see at the core yeah, he's the 'Mr. Scott" we'll come to know, but he's not quite there yet. And Pella's observation was spot on. Loved the whole "But put a Phaser to your head and you come through..." bit was great.
I also liked the way they showed Chapel and Spock working through the situation of saving Captain Batel; and we have a really good use of Una's unique physiology to do it. I also enjoyed the fact that they didn't just have her pop up fully well from the bio bed in a few hours; sahe's spent 3 months recovering, and there HAVE been issues they've had to resolve and it definitely was not a sure thing she'd pull through.
The resolution of the relationship situation between Spock and Chapel was also nicely done; and didn't feel tacked on or superficial.
For me the one nitpick is the way they put the Gorn in hibernation. After stating multiple times "We'll all die if we fly too far into the system because the shields just can't handle that level of leathal radiation..." in the end, SURPRISE - the shields actually can. (That's why this episode doesn't get a 10 from me.)
In the end though, I do like the fact they portray the Gorn as truly alien with definitely non-human alien physiology that they can find a way to manipulate to the Fededration's advantage; and they didn't just make them "Humans in a rubber suit/Humans with ridges to show they're 'alien'..."
I also like that they are both concluding and moving forward with various character arcs in a satisfying way. La'an has gotten over her Gorn trauma to a very huge degree because of this, but it appears Erica Ortegas will be working through some 'earned' PTSD because of this recent Gorn encounter.
So yeah, a very good/earned conclusion to this story and the SNW Gorn arc.
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I'd describe it more as his religious upbringing. He's not actively religious, he said "OK Dad you win" before he started praying.
I find it somewhat irritating, that in the opening credit sequence there are NEW shots with the OLD Enterprise CGI model (that has a very square/angular neck).
But in the episode itself, they use the NEW Enterprise CGI model (with a very organic, almost JJprise-like neck).
But in the episode itself, they use the NEW Enterprise CGI model (with a very organic, almost JJprise-like neck).
Well, they had to reference the multiple model shots and Inconsistencies from TOS somehow 
My main criticism of the actual episode:
A SHITOAD of technobabble. Like, way more even than back in VOY times.
The action was nice, the production value fantastic, the dramatic moments serviceable.
However - all the dramatic moments really helped on some major technobabble events, not natural plot points. There just wasn't much meat to the story, at all. That's why everything felt a little empty.
So... for me very mediocre Star Trek rek. But hell... real Star Trek. Which even mediocre makes me quite happy.
(Side-note: Yes, "Alien", blabla - what this episode REALLY reminded me was the "Wraith" from Stargate: Atlantis!)
A SHITOAD of technobabble. Like, way more even than back in VOY times.
The action was nice, the production value fantastic, the dramatic moments serviceable.
However - all the dramatic moments really helped on some major technobabble events, not natural plot points. There just wasn't much meat to the story, at all. That's why everything felt a little empty.
So... for me very mediocre Star Trek rek. But hell... real Star Trek. Which even mediocre makes me quite happy.
(Side-note: Yes, "Alien", blabla - what this episode REALLY reminded me was the "Wraith" from Stargate: Atlantis!)
A very solid episode with some good character stuff (I'm already sold on Scotty), even if I'll never accept that these aliens are really the same Gorn as seen in TOS. I'm also glad that they saved the Captain, its nice to have some good endings occasionally, even though they're not very popular in modern media.
Overall, a solid 9/10
Overall, a solid 9/10
I remember commenting about the Gorn ships reminding me of the Wraith when the first trailer came out, and I was still seeing that the whole way through!
Like most have said so far, I liked this a lot, but there were some key disappointments holding it back from true greatness. Basically all in the last 10 minutes or so. The pacing before that is perfection, but then it just suddenly gets too rushed to be satisfying.
I was let down with no cutaways to Spock and Chapel actually performing the procedure on the hatchlings during the big climax. It was jarring to go from "wait! I have a brilliant new idea!" to "well, we've done all we can." I want to actually SEE them pulling it off, while the ship shakes violently and all that.
The actual moment of resolution for the Gorn has the same rushed anti-climax feel that has similarly marred BOBW, Unification, Sacrifice Of Angels, Time's Arrow, Future's End, with Trek I could go on forever, this franchise almost always fumbles the final pay-off at least a little.
This was almost Poochie-like in its abruptness. "The Gorn have returned to their home planet!" I spent most of the episode getting excited for escalating the Gorn to the next level, then suddenly we slam into "series wrap for the Gorn!" It was jarring.
I was also dying for some final scene with the rescued landing party.
All that being said, this episode has a lot more good than bad (just like all those other final-parts I referenced above). I found this episode mostly thrilling. The cast is really in a grove and all the characters felt so vivid, especially Pike, which was great to see after season 2 seemed to slightly lose it's grip on him. The dialogue was sharp. The storylines were well-balanced, and everyone got a moment to shine. Every scene was so dynamic, it took me forever to watch the episode because of how frequently I had to rewatch what I'd just seen, just to savor it more.
I am so here for this version of the Gorn, and I actually think they've done a brilliant job of making this all fit with "Arena." Those cutaways to the Gorn pilots were so cool.
Production-wise, I don't see how this could have been executed better. Just stunning on every technical & visual level.
I spent a lot of this episode thinking "this is like BOBW, if they had totally stuck the landing!" Then, hilariously, "Hegemony" also fails to totally stick the landing, via the exact same "they suddenly go to sleep" plot device thru which BOBW disappointed! But, I do still love both Part II's, despite the fact that they both have such ill placed fatal flaws.
I was let down with no cutaways to Spock and Chapel actually performing the procedure on the hatchlings during the big climax. It was jarring to go from "wait! I have a brilliant new idea!" to "well, we've done all we can." I want to actually SEE them pulling it off, while the ship shakes violently and all that.
The actual moment of resolution for the Gorn has the same rushed anti-climax feel that has similarly marred BOBW, Unification, Sacrifice Of Angels, Time's Arrow, Future's End, with Trek I could go on forever, this franchise almost always fumbles the final pay-off at least a little.
This was almost Poochie-like in its abruptness. "The Gorn have returned to their home planet!" I spent most of the episode getting excited for escalating the Gorn to the next level, then suddenly we slam into "series wrap for the Gorn!" It was jarring.
I was also dying for some final scene with the rescued landing party.
All that being said, this episode has a lot more good than bad (just like all those other final-parts I referenced above). I found this episode mostly thrilling. The cast is really in a grove and all the characters felt so vivid, especially Pike, which was great to see after season 2 seemed to slightly lose it's grip on him. The dialogue was sharp. The storylines were well-balanced, and everyone got a moment to shine. Every scene was so dynamic, it took me forever to watch the episode because of how frequently I had to rewatch what I'd just seen, just to savor it more.
I am so here for this version of the Gorn, and I actually think they've done a brilliant job of making this all fit with "Arena." Those cutaways to the Gorn pilots were so cool.
Production-wise, I don't see how this could have been executed better. Just stunning on every technical & visual level.
I spent a lot of this episode thinking "this is like BOBW, if they had totally stuck the landing!" Then, hilariously, "Hegemony" also fails to totally stick the landing, via the exact same "they suddenly go to sleep" plot device thru which BOBW disappointed! But, I do still love both Part II's, despite the fact that they both have such ill placed fatal flaws.
Completely forgot about Paramount+ dropping episodes in the middle of the night, and didn't get to watch this in the AM. As a result, I just had a pretty distracted viewing during lunch hour. I'll admit my eyes weren't on my phone the entire way through, which may have negatively impacted my viewing, so take this with a grain of salt.
The episode was...fine. Completely met expectations in an unimaginative way. Absolutely nothing unexpected happened. No one died, not even characters that don't have future plot armor, or the rando colonists. We don't get a single realization about the Gorn that helps put them in any broader context, which is a shame, as I really was hoping for something that "humanized" them a bit, setting up for discovering they weren't monsters in Arena.
The episode also, I think, had a few too many subplots, which really hurt the pacing. In total we have:
1. Pike in "captain mode" on the bridge with Una and the rando extras, and talking with Robert April. I don't think this stuff was bad by any means, and it showcased Pike's command style well (collaborative, but able to make tough decisions). That said, separating him from Batel when she was on death's door in in sick bay until the very end of the episode blunted some of the potential drama here. You did get little hints of Pike's nerves in Mount's performance, but his mask of good Starfleet captain is almost perfect until the end, when he gets a chance to break down when they're out of danger. I dunno, I'd have liked a bit more explicitness here - like a scene where Una has to talk him down a bit, or a quiet moment when he visits sick bay. I feel like it would have made his arc here more compelling.
2. Chapel and Spock trying to save Batel's life. I actually think some of my favorite character moments of the episode were in their discussion, as rather than talk about their feelings, they talked around their feelings in a way that felt much more realistic. It provided a good distraction from the contrived medical drama.
3. M'Benga, Ortegas, La'an, and Sam Kirk trying to fight their way out of the Gorn ship. This section should have been an entire episode. There was a real sense of menace and horror missing from the rest of the episode, and I would have liked a chance to understand a bit more about the Gorn as well. They did weave back in La'an's PTSD, and presented it as being in a sense a conclusion to her childhood trauma. I also liked that they tried to give Ortegas something here, with her injuries (as she's the only one on the away mission without plot armor. That said, if they make her say "I fly the ship" again, I think I'll punch my screen.
4. Scotty and Pelia trying to tech the tech to plot the plot. Much slighter overall, but it doesn't need to be a major arc. I like that this younger Scotty is less confident, and Pelia is trying to build up into the older man we know.
The biggest issue across all four subplots is nearly everything relies upon technobabble. Not even established Star Trek lore technobabble - just stuff you know the writers made up on the spot. It's hard to make your characters look smart if they're relying on stuff that you, as the viewer, hasn't even got a hint of existing within the story. Obviously, Trek has done this a ton in the past, but without setup, there cannot be payoff, which is why the solutions offered here (most notably, the disappointing BOBW-like solution to the overall Gorn "issue" are underwhelming.
So yeah, some great character work in a competent, if uninspired, Trek package. Really let down by the Gorn remaining uncomplicated, dumb monsters right through to the end. Hope we don't see them again for quite awhile, if ever.
The episode was...fine. Completely met expectations in an unimaginative way. Absolutely nothing unexpected happened. No one died, not even characters that don't have future plot armor, or the rando colonists. We don't get a single realization about the Gorn that helps put them in any broader context, which is a shame, as I really was hoping for something that "humanized" them a bit, setting up for discovering they weren't monsters in Arena.
The episode also, I think, had a few too many subplots, which really hurt the pacing. In total we have:
1. Pike in "captain mode" on the bridge with Una and the rando extras, and talking with Robert April. I don't think this stuff was bad by any means, and it showcased Pike's command style well (collaborative, but able to make tough decisions). That said, separating him from Batel when she was on death's door in in sick bay until the very end of the episode blunted some of the potential drama here. You did get little hints of Pike's nerves in Mount's performance, but his mask of good Starfleet captain is almost perfect until the end, when he gets a chance to break down when they're out of danger. I dunno, I'd have liked a bit more explicitness here - like a scene where Una has to talk him down a bit, or a quiet moment when he visits sick bay. I feel like it would have made his arc here more compelling.
2. Chapel and Spock trying to save Batel's life. I actually think some of my favorite character moments of the episode were in their discussion, as rather than talk about their feelings, they talked around their feelings in a way that felt much more realistic. It provided a good distraction from the contrived medical drama.
3. M'Benga, Ortegas, La'an, and Sam Kirk trying to fight their way out of the Gorn ship. This section should have been an entire episode. There was a real sense of menace and horror missing from the rest of the episode, and I would have liked a chance to understand a bit more about the Gorn as well. They did weave back in La'an's PTSD, and presented it as being in a sense a conclusion to her childhood trauma. I also liked that they tried to give Ortegas something here, with her injuries (as she's the only one on the away mission without plot armor. That said, if they make her say "I fly the ship" again, I think I'll punch my screen.
4. Scotty and Pelia trying to tech the tech to plot the plot. Much slighter overall, but it doesn't need to be a major arc. I like that this younger Scotty is less confident, and Pelia is trying to build up into the older man we know.
The biggest issue across all four subplots is nearly everything relies upon technobabble. Not even established Star Trek lore technobabble - just stuff you know the writers made up on the spot. It's hard to make your characters look smart if they're relying on stuff that you, as the viewer, hasn't even got a hint of existing within the story. Obviously, Trek has done this a ton in the past, but without setup, there cannot be payoff, which is why the solutions offered here (most notably, the disappointing BOBW-like solution to the overall Gorn "issue" are underwhelming.
So yeah, some great character work in a competent, if uninspired, Trek package. Really let down by the Gorn remaining uncomplicated, dumb monsters right through to the end. Hope we don't see them again for quite awhile, if ever.
The Gorn are always monsters.
Sorry, but Arena didn't make them less monstrous. The crew assumes they are in the wrong with no due diligence. Even the alien arbiters note that Kirk's mercy would not have been reciprocated.
Sorry, but Arena didn't make them less monstrous. The crew assumes they are in the wrong with no due diligence. Even the alien arbiters note that Kirk's mercy would not have been reciprocated.
You do see him pull up her vitals on his arm rest at one point.
I'm not using "monster" in the sense of just being scary, but in the sense of not being a character.
The Gorn in Arena was a person. Not a nice person, but a person. That was part of the point of the whole episode - that from the perspective of the Gorn, they were in the right.
Aside from the use of starships and beam weapons and such, there's basically nothing in what SNW has shown us regarding the Gorn which make them seem like people. In this episode, they are shown as being more like an insect swarm, or a force of nature, without a hint of rational thought.
I will disagree that it felt like a person. It felt very much like a monster. I know the goal is to build towards a more an understanding of aliens being in the right, something Trek sometimes lapses in.
But, it always felt like a force than a person. Something Kirk could not reason with.
That's my take on the episode. I'm sure others take more from it but the hints of rational thought in Arena feel very surface level, like reminders by Kirk that this is a captain of his own stripe.
A satisfying conclusion. Great action and the first headsplosion since Conspiracy, Gorn lore is currently still a little confusing with a lot of unanswered questions. Im still considering multiple subspecies as one such explanation. But I enjoy the headcanon challenge and certainly appreciate layers of complexity added to alien races.
Also it was very simple but "and now the conclusion" made me smile.
Also it was very simple but "and now the conclusion" made me smile.
It was ok. As some have already mentioned standard Star Trek cliffhanger resolution.
Some scenes of gratuitous violence seemed sped up like in those Sean Connery as James Bond movies and the computer generated scenes were too busy for me to focus on anything. (Perhaps this is a problem with me and not the episode?)
I liked the disgusting body horror bits and the monstrous Gorns.
Someone said the computer voice sounded like Majel Barrett but it sounded more like Kate Mulgrew to me. It was probably neither and my brain was interpreting the scenes heuristically due to sensory overload.
I enjoyed episode 2 more.
Some scenes of gratuitous violence seemed sped up like in those Sean Connery as James Bond movies and the computer generated scenes were too busy for me to focus on anything. (Perhaps this is a problem with me and not the episode?)
I liked the disgusting body horror bits and the monstrous Gorns.
Someone said the computer voice sounded like Majel Barrett but it sounded more like Kate Mulgrew to me. It was probably neither and my brain was interpreting the scenes heuristically due to sensory overload.
I enjoyed episode 2 more.
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