Trekathon 967: Four-and-a-half Vulcans (SNW)

Well at least we know where the half Vulcan is coming from. Spoilers.

An uneven comedy episode, which while not fully delivering on its premise had enough to it that I enjoyed it over all. It made me laugh at times, which is ultimately the best measure for this. The unevenness comes from this being really a selection of vignettes/skits, which ultimately live or die based on how much there is to them.

The Pike sequence is the weakest – it’s more about Batel than Pike, and Pike is really just a terrible Vulcan stereotype. But Batel doesn’t get much time, so it’s just not sufficiently earned. Uhura is also weak, really feeling like it doesn’t leverage off her character well at all. But the parts for Chapel and La’an work far better, ultimately offsetting the weaker parts.

But it could have been a lot better with some more focus, and a bit more time for Spock’s relationship with these Vulcans to be tested and develop. Perhaps we could have skipped the funny, but ultimately pointless, bit with Number One and her old Vulcan flame.

Quick hits:

  • Uh oh, comedy music, people trying to avoid other people.

= Oh god, and a dinner. Third act farce coming?

  • Sigh, once again ‘we’re the only ship in range’ thing.

  • OK, I am going to get past it. But how does the serum also contribute to hair style and makeup changes?

  • It would appear that being Vulcan is highly correlated with ‘being a dick’.

  • OK, seriously, Pike’s hair looks like it could act as a foundation for a large building.

  • Ooh, La’an seems to have gotten some Romulan genes there…

  • 14 shift system? Innovative…

  • Getting an edge of Dr Evil from Pike here.

  • Ah, there’s the third act dinner party farce.

  • First rate eyebrow from Captain Pike as well.

  • Wow, that is a rough story edit to the Vulcan thing being over for Pike, Uhura and Chapel. And what did she do to Beto? I assumed it was the Vulcan injection for him too.

  • OK, dance/fight sequence is a nice and well-earned touch.

  • The classic ‘tell the truth in the interview’ thing. Dangerous move, but it can pay off.

964 down.


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