Spoilers Star Trek: Strange New Worlds 3x08 - "Four-And-A-Half Vulcans"

[cooleddie74]

Pike should, honestly, sound more like Beldar Conehead. He's not really Vulcan, and the serum only gave him a brief Vulcan genetic profile. He SHOULD sound like a complete idiot out of his element. So it works, but this definitely feels like a live-action Lower Decks episode.

 

[cooleddie74]

Patton Oswalt's Doug is just Patton Oswalt doing a Vulcan voice, but then it's Patton: the man wasn't going to get a serious Vulcan role.

 

[Sakonna]

Anyone else die laughing at Pike's Vulcan redo of the credits voiceover? I was a little unsure about this episode in the teaser, but from that hilarious VO they had me and I was so with this episode every minute after that.

I think I have the most positive reaction of anyone to post so far. I found that an utter delight, I gave it a 9 and was THIS close to a 10. What a nice recovery after last week's total face plant.

This episode was so smart about structure and pacing, and consequently could fit an enormous amount in. Almost as much as a Lower Decks episode!

This is what I wanted "Spock Amok" to be. I do like "Spock Amok", but it felt like it was missing a lot of key scenes and characters, and it never fully took off. Right when I was expecting all the comic setups to really ignite, it instead just wrapped up.

This episode took off. I loved this French farce energy of everyone's crazy subplots colliding over shore leave. Such a smartly structured script that had exceptional judgment about what to show us and what to skip over (almost... I think Spock in Chapel's Katra could have been great, but wise to jump Pike & Uhura, we don't need it).

I was glad they provided an explanation for how they had the Vulcan emotional control. One line, but it was totally Trek-plausible and that's all I needed.

One thing that bothered me was that they all continued to wear the Vulcan outfits. I guess they're trying to say Vulcans don't logically see a reason for changing clothes, and I get that their "logic" is based on your average Vulcan's faulty logic, but it was still annoying.

Batel came kind of close, but I really wish someone would occasionally point out that logic is relative to your goals.

This was a nitpick of mine as well. It just would have been the logical thing to put your Starfleet uniform back on when you return to your job as a Starfleet officer.

I also think it was dumb to have the serum provide so much hair product and styling during the transformation. It makes more sense and also is much funnier if you change the hair in the same cut that they change the outfits, and then you get the joke that a quick makeover to Vulcan up their presentation is the first thing these transformed assholes had to do.

But on the whole, such a fun episode, in a very strong season. The only out-and-out failure so far is "What Is Starfleet?", and the other seven have all been varying degrees of success.

 

[Seven of Five]

This season is particularly obsessed with light episodes that are hit and miss throughout.

That said there was some n8ce character work that made it worth watching.

7

 

[Nyotarules]

I am still watching it and it deserves a 10! Love La'An!

 

[eschaton]

Honestly, all I can think, upon finishing this episode, is "hijinks ensue." That is to say, once the initial setup before the credits happen (with Pike, La'an, Uhura, and Chapel turned into Vulcans) the episode throws any concept of plot structure out, and just becomes a bunch of random comedic subplots which do not make a thematic whole. The Uhura and Chapel plots, in particular, were pretty undercooked, taking needed time away from the potentially more interesting stuff with La'an and Pike. Plus there was the whole subplot with Spock and Una meeting up with the weirdo Vulcan played by Patton Oswalt.

I'm not sure I can say the episode is a failure, because it was just trying to be light disposable comedy. I was really hoping for a bit more here, however. I think it would have been possible to balance the romantic drama and "jokes" with a deeper exploration of Vulcan identity which didn't Flanderize them to such an absurd degree.

I'm left decidedly "meh" here. It was fine, but better luck next week.

 

[DaveyNY]

Heh ... I was going to give this one an 8 cause it's all just a bunch of goofy fun, but then I saw the after credits scenes ... it jumped to a TEN for me.

 

[Nyotarules]

And its a ten from me, loved it. I laughed till I pissed me knickers. I will watch it again, right now. The only thing I found silly was the change of hairstyle, but I forgive!

 

[Photoman15]

I also think they should just make Kirk part of the crew instead of coming up with contrivances to keep bringing him on. Literally "I'm in the neighourhood so I decided to drop by" this week. It makes the galaxy seem smaller, in the same way every Star Wars problem is just solved with a Skywalker.

Kirk was there to try to hook up with La'an. He as much says it.

Well not the best episode. Was kind of getting annoyed at Pike sounding more like a Conehead than Vulcan after a bit. Was it hinted that instead of the Vulcan side coming out in La'an, it was instead the Romulan side? She was definitely acting more like a Romulan. And the scene of La'an and Spock doing that choreographed fight transitioning into dance as they were fighting in the various rooms of the Enterprise with the spotlight on them was pretty clever, though it started to once again almost feel like a play or musical. Well anyways I'm giving it a generous 7. This season has been odd with the back and forth of drama to light comedy. I hope Season 4 does better, but I'm not that upset with 3 like others are. I'm just accepting it for what it is for now. Still far better than Discovery and Picard seasons 1 and 2.

I noted the Pike/Conehead voice. La'an doesn't have a Romulan side. Her story here came from her greater ambition for power, an augment programmed quality.

 

[DaveyNY]

I noted the Pike/Conehead voice. La'an doesn't have a Romulan side. Her story here came from her greater ambition for power, an augment programmed quality.

Pretty sure that his over exemplified hairstyle, was the huge clue that that is exactly what they were going for.

The only thing missing was Pike saying "consuming mass quantities" & "MEBS!"

 

[Jedi Marso]

It also felt very strange to end it on that beat between Kirk and Scotty when they weren’t the focus of the episode. It was like Akiva once again pandering to the audience about Year One, and it landed like a lead balloon.

Scotty is supposed to be older than Kirk, I think, or at least the same age. Wesley looked very old here. I also don't like meek, wimpy, scared beta Scotty. That's not the Montgomery Scott we know.

 

[Jedi Marso]

I found it odd that these “instant Vulcans” seemed more like they came from Planet Remulak, especially Pike.

Yes. It seemed like parody, and Pike walked around like he had a broomstick up his ass. And why did the Vulcans suddenly talk and move in slow motion?

 

[cooleddie74]

Scotty is supposed to be older than Kirk, I think, or at least the same age. Wesley looked very old here. I also don't like meek, wimpy, scared beta Scotty. That's not the Montgomery Scott we know.

11 years older. Martin Quinn is simply playing one of the youngest-looking 39-year-olds in existence.

 

[Charles Phipps]

To be fair, they're not meant to be real Vulcans as the real Vulcans are not caricatures.

 

[Jedi Marso]

It was a dumb episode and I want to say I hate it, but it would be illogical to say that when I'm still picking myself up from falling out of my chair because I was laughing so hard.

So, like sub-rosa in TNG, I'm going to say I don't hate this episode nearly as much as I should.

 

[Jedi Marso]

It looked to me like the actress playing Uhura had a hard time not losing in a spot or two, and in the post-credits scene (which was fucking hilarious), was Ethan Peck breaking character or was that Spock smiling like that?

 

[aquova]

I had very low expectations for this one, but honestly it was alright. Certainly not the standout episode of the show, but I was fairly entertained. I honestly was most excited about Una getting some major screentime, she seems like the most neglected cast member.

Some misc thoughts:

- I'm sorry, but Anson Mount's Vulcan impression was bad. The others did a fairly good job, Patton Oswald in particular had a good Vulcan cadence, but his was terrible.
- Glad to see more Number One, and we got more of her backstory. Doug was honestly the most interesting Vulcan of the bunch, and their infatuation was a fun dynamic. I thought it was very strange that they skipped over most of the katra stuff though.
- I'm not sure why they even introduced the idea of Romulans. As others have said, it's a potential plothole that La'an knows they're related to Vulcans (although I'm willing to believe alt!Kirk told her offscreen). I was expecting the twist to be that they had Romulan traits not Vulcan, but that reveal never went anywhere.
- Uhura brainwashing Beto was honestly way more sinister than this episode was willing to examine. Between that, La'an, and Pike's reveal about Romulans, I was expecting a The Game level takeover of the ship... which didn't happen. I'm also not sure why Beto is still here, either because his documentary is finished and he has no reason to stay, or that Starfleet hasn't thrown him off the ship for various security breaches.
- I like Batel, and I think giving her the JAG job is a good move, but it seems like her and Pike are constantly on the verge of breaking up. They're a very weird couple
- Both my congratulations and condolences to those who hate ChapelxKorby
- The excuses for getting Kirk on the ship are getting pretty thin at this point lol. Are we never going to see George Kirk again? I assume the actor has had other obligations, but I can't recall the last time he's gotten any screentime. I think the first episode?

 

[FredH]

Yes. It seemed like parody, and Pike walked around like he had a broomstick up his ass. And why did the Vulcans suddenly talk and move in slow motion?

Yeah, they kind of played it robotic, didn’t they? (Except Chong, of course.)

 

[Yistaan]

I had very low expectations for this one, but honestly it was alright. Certainly not the standout episode of the show, but I was fairly entertained. I honestly was most excited about Una getting some major screentime, she seems like the most neglected cast member.

Some misc thoughts:

- I'm sorry, but Anson Mount's Vulcan impression was bad. The others did a fairly good job, Patton Oswald in particular had a good Vulcan cadence, but his was terrible.
- Glad to see more Number One, and we got more of her backstory. Doug was honestly the most interesting Vulcan of the bunch, and their infatuation was a fun dynamic. I thought it was very strange that they skipped over most of the katra stuff though.
- I'm not sure why they even introduced the idea of Romulans. As others have said, it's a potential plothole that La'an knows they're related to Vulcans (although I'm willing to believe alt!Kirk told her offscreen). I was expecting the twist to be that they had Romulan traits not Vulcan, but that reveal never went anywhere.
- Uhura brainwashing Beto was honestly way more sinister than this episode was willing to examine. Between that, La'an, and Pike's reveal about Romulans, I was expecting a The Game level takeover of the ship... which didn't happen. I'm also not sure why Beto is still here, either because his documentary is finished and he has no reason to stay, or that Starfleet hasn't thrown him off the ship for various security breaches.
- I like Batel, and I think giving her the JAG job is a good move, but it seems like her and Pike are constantly on the verge of breaking up. They're a very weird couple
- Both my congratulations and condolences to those who hate ChapelxKorby
- The excuses for getting Kirk on the ship are getting pretty thin at this point lol. Are we never going to see George Kirk again? I assume the actor has had other obligations, but I can't recall the last time he's gotten any screentime. I think the first episode?

It's possible La'an's Vulcan logic suddenly caused her to realize Sera was a Romulan. Sera griped about the ears she had to change to look human. The regular Trek forehead alien would be griping about a lot more than that. Hence, La'an realized that Romulans are just pointed eared aliens, i.e. Vulcans. Or maybe alt-Kirk told her.

I was expecting Pike to "logically" reveal that he will be wheelchair bound if he returns to human, Batel finds out he's been hiding this info, and it throws a wrench into their relationship. In fact, it could even tie into him helping La'an turn the Federation into a warmongering superpower as this would also avert the evil future he saw where the Fed loses to the Romulans (after all, bad future Pike certainly wasn't a Vulcan). But none of this never comes up.

 

[V'Lias]

Are we never going to see George Kirk again? I assume the actor has had other obligations, but I can't recall the last time he's gotten any screentime. I think the first episode?

In episode 2 he was bringing Spock wine selections for the wedding, at the bachelor party, and holding dog Korby's leash during the ceremony. Then in episode 5 he was in the lab with Pelia and Scotty when Pelia kills Vezda Gamble.

I was expecting Pike to "logically" reveal that he will be wheelchair bound if he returns to human, Batel finds out he's been hiding this info, and it throws a wrench into their relationship.

I believe she already knows. I can't remember if he tells her onscreen, but in episode 2 when Batel says something about being on borrowed time, Pike responds with "You're preaching to the choir on that one."