Trekathon 841: Rosetta (DIS)
March 5th, 2022I’m guessing the episode title is a reference to the stone, not the probe or my dog. But I’m going to assume it’s my dog. Spoilers.
The flashes of terror was a very interesting problem, but the solution of ‘reconfigure the programmable matter’ was really underwhelming. I enjoyed where the episode got to, with the fairly unique approach to first contact and translation. But it did feel like giving up an a more interesting (and more season 1/2 Discovery) story to head to something more ‘cerebral’.
A lot of the rest of the episode is Book and Tarka skulking around Discovery. It was very silly, as it suggests that there’s basically zero security or control on a space ship in the far future. I have to swipe a pass multiple times to reach my desk at work, a ship with an intelligent consciousness in the computer can’t spot someone hiding under a bench? And now a senior member of the crew is kidnapped?
Leaving aside pacing concerns (this episode was a fair bit better on that front), another overarching problem with this season has been stakes. The stakes are enormous – the DMA can destroy Earth and Ni’Var. But it feels like everyone forgets this until the plot needs a kick along. There’s not enough of a sense of urgency or concern. It gets mentioned from time to time (e.g. Stamets feeling hope), but it doesn’t show up in enough of the performances.
Quick hits:
Grudge! All hail the queen.
Why is everyone in mirror universe uniforms now? Very leather daddy?
Sci Fi’s biggest cliche, the slow motion walk to boarding the spaceship. Sigh. After which they just blink teleport on board the shuttle anyway…
It’s not very clear to me why Book is still running rogue – Tarka I get, but not Book.
I do like the Earth general’s cape. Very stylish.
I have questions about the science of a ‘burnt off’ gas giant. Many, many questions.
That crossword is way too easy. That sort of grid should be a cryptic, but the clue clearly isn’t.
As a subplot it’s a bit odd, but I did laugh at the translator’s desperate attempt to be positive and upbeat about Burnham’s progress.
Lurian at the bar! Morn flashback… 🙂
841 down.