In fairness to burnham, if i had jumped through a wormhole and travelled in time to save civilisation only to then find that civilisation in disarray I'd probably want to find out why civilisation collapsed and do something about it.
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Good point. I think I was thinking more dramaturgically. When the folks intimately involved don't really care about the mystery box, we're supposed to care through MB's caring. And unfortunately I can't stand her. I actually keep wanting her to fail at something. Same thing with Picard, a whole season about finding some chick I just didn't care if he found or not. And I'm not that callous. Been crying at Christmas music, sitting in my living room lately, it's so nice.
Many episodes and characters in the past, I have cared about. Recently it was frickin Moriarty in Frankly, Dear Data. I had NEVER seen it before. (My TNG viewing, of all the shows, is spotty, go figure.)
I keep wanting this show to be better. Nor do I hate all things. LOVE Mando, and look forward to it every week. A. It's cool; B. I care about the child and what happens to him. So it's possible to do a mystery box I like, though if Mando were episodic with the same vibe and cast, I'd dig it the same or maybe more.
Signing off -