Every TV show loves a wedding special. Spoilers.
Comedy in Star Trek is very risky. There are some successes, but probably more losses than wins. And ultimately I thought this episode landed on the loss side of the ledger. But oddly not because the comedic stuff didn’t work, more because the structure was a bit flat and the rising action was packed all into a few minutes at the end.
The biggest problem was that we spent a lot of the episode with Chapel’s new boyfriend – someone we barely know, and are primed to resent as an interloper. There are some fun moments, like Spock knocking him out, but ultimately there just isn’t much spark in the back and forth.
The other big problem was the Q/Trelane figure. While it’s nice to have a link to the TOS episode and the Q continuum, the characterisation feels deeply at odds with the overall tone of this show, and it isn’t used for very much comedic result. It felt more like a very skilled impression than anything else.
But there were some things to like.I hate the idiot plot, so it was good that Spock was allowed to be intelligent (or even a bit boastful, in the line that got the biggest laugh from me). There were some fun other little relationship bits, such as with Pike. And the setup for a few new elements (perhaps the documentary, definitely the bar tender and whatever thing is happening to Ortegas) was done without too much distraction.
Quick hits:
-
Bit of a Spock thirst trap at the start of the episode.
-
I should probably give up on it, but these biodome style Star Bases are not consistent with the rest of Trek (other than Beyond).
-
Clingy (ex) boyfriend much Spock…
-
Nice to see the continuity with the way Scotty is operating the transporter (thanks to Doohan’s missing finger).
-
I’m not sure, but there will might be some kind of Federation Day thing coming up. It’s only been mentioned by every single character at some point in the first 5 minutes…
-
Bit rude of Chapel to not send a note to Spock about what was going on.
-
A very TOS tone to the ‘comedic music’.
-
Very ‘Q’ vibes from the bar tender. Not sure if they’re meant to be Trelane (from Squire of Gothos).
-
The references are a bit grating – they feel gratuitous rather than giving a feel of being in-universe.
-
Have TV writers not heard of a romantic poet beyond Pablo Neruda?
-
The costume designer had a lot of fun with this episode.
-
OK, so that’s John de Lancie, so it’s a Q. And I’m 99% sure that it’s meant to be Trelane.
-
Top notch ad lib from Captain Pike.
-
This might be the far future, but there is no way that Guinness would let beer be served in a Federation logo glass. But very rare instance of a current trademark in Trek.
-
A four armed flair bartender has a lot of potential.
-
Setup for a documentary episode? Not sure that Trek has ever done that ‘in universe media’ thing. If there is one I can’t find it in TVTropes.
961 down.