I agree with this. The show is much improved this season but they really try to make it A VERY SERIOUS DRAMA way too hard. Please stop with the ponderous monologues. Please.
That said. I enjoyed this episode. Trek has wonky time shenanigans baked in so we were due. Other thoughts:
The Red Angel is going to be Michael herself isn’t it?
I hope the next episode(s) reveal exactly why the Federation’s one and only capital crime is going to Talos IV. Other than the fact that the aliens there are dangerous. That is true of a bunch of planets so something must have singled out Talos.
Its because “You humans would learn our powers and destroy yourselves”
Its that simple. Also its a writer ploy to up the stakes on the episode it was written for.
Now to deconstruct that…the only death penalty on the books would only draw more attention to it but the a statute only has to last as long at the Talosians and that wasnt going to be very long. All that said…YES, Im sure DISC will try and put a new spin on that Ala SOLO etc…
And im sure DISC will eff up continuity even more. How the hell is Burnham running into Talosians?? What the hell do they care about Spock in the Cage era?*
*I will grant that in the Menagerie era…its weird that Spock “Contacted the Talosians to bring Pike to them for him to live out the rest of his life in illusionary bliss” and i guess theres room to flesh that out.
As for The Red Angel…Im hoping it will be Archer/Future Guy
It’s a law the Federation wrote for itself. It wasn’t a declaration by the Talosians so it’s more than that. Something happened there. There is definitely a seed of a story there. Of course the show may not address it at all and have the law already be in place but I am hoping otherwise.
Am I naive for hoping that the 3 red dots thing we saw in Fartbot’s (née Airiam) eyes while the probe was going through the data isn’t a Fartbot OS virus that will take over her and cause some shit?
I mean, a Star Trek/Predator crossover would be super cool, but I have my doubts.
And then she thought Tilley could be dead, and then they found the doctor and then lost the doctor again. Just as an fyi, anything born from a pod needs to be disrupted. I’m surprised how many characters in Star Trek (not just this series) have been compromised by aliens and then allowed to keep their command positions.
Okay I had the timeline messed up in my head. The Cage already happened but this kind of helps set up why Spock thinks to help Pike in TOS by taking him back to Talos.
I enjoyed this episode and having clips of The Cage show in the “previously on…” package made me grin like an idiot.
So from the Talosians POV…they have to think “WTF?? You guys keep coming back”
The Cage: “You were our best chance. We have to let you go. This is a death sentence for us. Best if you never return”
Last Nights Show: “Uhhhh…didnt you guys just leave a few years ago? Yeah, I guess we can fix your brain. Weird choice though to look for us. Death penalty much??”
The Menagerie: “Okay…this is just stupid. Yeah, roll him over to the elevator. Whatever.”
Well, at least it seems SQL will still be around in 200 years…
So, how’s the Airiam situation going to play out? By the way, is there any word yet on what exactly the character is supposed to be? Augmented, alien, robot? It seems kinda strange that TNG made such a big thing of Data, when a hundred years earlier she’s basically taken in stride…
And of course, the bad blood between Michael and Spock had to be because she oh so nobly tried to push him away for his own good. Because god forbid the character have any actual flaws. Spock kinda seemed to be a dick about it, though.
The things that destroyed all the planets in Spock’s vision reminded me of Mass Effect’s Reapers. Again, scale: it’s never enough anymore to have just a threat to Earth, or even Discovery itself; no, it’s gotta be all sentient life in the galaxy, nobody’s gonna even get up for less.
First I think her name is a pun of sorts “Airiam” Air I am. Advanced Integrated Robotics I am.
Second, I noticed in a close-up she seems to be a withered thing, or some kind of very alien creature under all that. I also object to her disuse in the past cause she’s a full frigging Lieutenant Commander!
I also object to the constant use of “threat to galaxy”. Even TOS only used it once (might have been the universe!) in “Alternative Factor”…mayyyybeee That Space Ameoba ep featured a galaxy-wide threat.
I haven’t seen it, and have to wonder what kind of writers put so much weight on “feelings and harsh words”. I’m referring to the drama between Burnham and Spock.
…but from what I’ve read and some clips I’ve seen, the episode seemed good.
I’m hoping the Red Angel is Picard. To me thats the only revelation that will have any kind of impact.
I’m only 2 episodes into the season, so there may be relevant character development I haven’t seen yet… but is Tilly supposed to be Wesley Crusheresque?
At first I thought it was just trying to inject a sort of “normal”, imperfect character to contrast to all of the always perfect star trek characters, as mostly a source of comic relief.
But in episode 2, they talk about how Tilly was the youngest person ever accepted into the command track program. Why? She doesn’t seem unique or gifted or have a talent for command or anything like that. But we’re supposed to accept she’s a prodigy or otherwise special in terms of the command track program?
So you combine a character that’s just an awkward person that a lot of the awkward audience of a star trek show can relate to (just like Wesley was supposed to be a Marty Stu gifted magic kid that all of the 13 year old boys watching Star Trek could imagine themselves as) and then declare her to be a prodigy or special or otherwise worthy of special consideration or praise…
At least Wesley was a genuine prodigy, Tilly is just a super awkward person who everyone pretends is this super smart unique person who will make a great captain one day. It’s quite frankly a huge “show don’t tell” violation - we’re being told by everyone around us that she’s special but clearly from what we can actually see she is not.
I really don’t understand wtf they’re trying to accomplish with the character. If she’s just an quirky neurotic character comedy relief, then so be it, but does she have to be The Chosen One Who Will Become The Best Captain Ever Despite No Reason That Would Be too?
The Orville is doing Star Trek way better than this, especially in the second half of the second season.
