The 10th mainline series kicks off. I have a bad feeling about this… Spoilers.
I had my doubts going into this episode. While it’s true to never judge a book by its cover, it’s also true that people go to a lot of trouble making it so that the cover tells you about things. And the ‘cover’ for this show, the teasers and the adverts, have been screaming ‘not for you’. But I am determined to give this the fairest shot I can.
So what do we actually have? Some of the normal weaknesses of a first episode, some areas for concern, but also some areas that point to a foundation to build upon.
In terms of the standard weaknesses - I struggle to know anyone’s names by the end of this episode. There is a clear central group of students (Bad Boy, Prep Boy, Hologram Girl, Horny Girl, Pacifist Klingon). And then we have the Chancellor, her Number One, the ‘big bad’, the mother, plus miscellaneous bridge crew, some of whom even get some characterisation. That’s not surprising, and there’s a reasonable job of at least painting the stereotypes people will be starting from.
Then there’s the weak points. Mr Subtlety seems to have lost the invitation to this episode. Everything is overt, all text no subtext, with backing soundtrack and dramatic camera angles. It’s frankly a bit exhausting. I am trying very hard to look past the ‘why are cadets the only ones doing things’ bit - it’s the premise of the show, and it’s either accept it or jump ship. But they’d better turn the hormones down about four notches at the moment.
The weakest point is our central character. His situation defies logic and common sense. And he is given no opportunity to have a rounded character. Which means his decision to stay at the end of the episode makes zero sense. Again, early days, and plenty of chances for course correction.
But finally, to finish with hope. There is some quite strong writing in this episode. The performances are strong, and while Holly Hunter doesn’t have a lot to sink her teeth into yet she’s already a presence in the show. There’s a clear foundation in a lot of deep Star Trek lore. And the idea of a teaching ship provides a fantastic story engine for the show. Overall I’m more optimistic (guardedly!) after this episode.
Quick hits:
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Shiny new 60th anniversary logo, but it bugs me the ships are in series order not in-universe chronological.
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Starting with an adorable child is not a great start here. My heart is distinctly unwarmed here.
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Wow, this is a pretty disturbing look at the Federation judicial system. Judge, jury and executioner?
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Handy little exposition bot they’ve got on this prison ship.
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10 minutes to the first shuttle crash, I think that’s a new record!
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Oh god, more cute little alien kids.
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This is an insane level of commitment and risk for a boy she met for about 30 seconds. Yeah, guilt, sure. But maybe some kind of middle ground is possible? Rather than just ‘straight into Starfleet’?
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‘Imperial Security System’ - what Empire?
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Every single day? While running day care on Bajor? Given he has acquired a significant rap sheet under his own name I think she might not be good at this.
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That looks suspiciously like a spore drive design.
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If the VO mentions ‘hangar’ again I may have to rage quit this show.
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Klingon/Jem’Hadar mix, interesting.
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Not quite sure why the Cadet Master is working for me, but she is. Over the top in a kind of Drill Sergeant way, but it works.
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It is not cool to give someone a non-consensual haircut just after they refused one.
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Robert Picardo as medical officer, love it.
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How exactly does one swallow a com badge? Drop it in your sandwich?
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Oh, we’re giving all the secondary bridge crew names to start off with.
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That is a fascinating pose on the chair there.
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A Hologram (Photonic rather) student is an interesting idea.
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So just throw your encryption key into a Starfleet computer system? Very security minded…
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Well I hope she enjoyed being Chancellor, because after this there is no way she isn’t fired (well, other than this being a TV show).
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I swear those boots made the Mac startup sound…
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Less flirting, more ship saving please.
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There are controls on who can use a suit, but not on the airlocks?
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‘I require significantly less cheerfulness in my final moments’ is a good line.
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So.. the teachable moment is shoot and don’t even ask for surrender?
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Oof, very on the nose soundtrack choice at the end there.
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Is the ship landing at the Academy? That is a very odd choice.
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Wow, one of the Black/White aliens from TOS. That is a callback to a different era of special effects makeup…
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Ah, so it’s a bit more than just guilt about breaking up a mother and child. Back to the old ‘trauma dumping’ well.
970 down.