Trekathon 971: Beta Test (SFA)

Maybe they should do the beta test before the release? Spoilers.

Two episodes in I can actually say that I’m enjoying this show. It’s not for me exactly, but rather than Young Adult with a Star Trek flavour, this is Star Trek with a Young Adult flavour. It’s a small difference, but it’s important for my enjoyment.

Really this feels a lot like a story that could have fit easily into TNG - we have high-stakes negotiation, and Wesley is flirting with the daughter of the delegation lead. But it’s also an episode that is very much set in this particular show’s background. The episode advances character, as well as achieving a plot goal (and even a little movement on the season meta-plot).

It’s still very YA, and so some of the emphasis is on those old YA staples of brooding youth, fitting in (or not) at school, etc. But it’s not such a big part of it all that I’m not enjoying the overall package. It helps that the adults are uniformly great in their roles.

Quick hits:

  • ‘Fall Semester’ - really? We still have to link to Northern Hemisphere seasons in a multi-planetary polity?

  • The old ‘look after a fake baby’ with mutant goo?

  • Some good Vulcan shade there…

  • Starfleet War College - glad to see that bit of additional lore, although not loving the name.

  • Awww, Boothby reference.

  • The metaphor for the credits is a little on the nose, but it has a nice tonal feel to it. Still, I think it’s going to be getting the skip button most of the time.

  • ‘Don’t hook up for 6 months’ - end of the episode at the latest I’d say…

  • Loving the background Starfleet members so far - including a Rok-Tahk (Briar?) and one of those robot miner thingys.

  • OK, respect knowing the Dots’ names.

  • I agree with the Cadet Master, ass-kicking is required here.

  • Setting up a nice conflict with the War College head. But I’m with him about the foot issues.

  • ‘Course in accredited sulking’ - gotta love her. I wonder if this is the part that Tilly was originally going to be in?

  • It took until just now for me to get the joke in the title with the Betazed embassy.

  • ‘Literally on the fence’ - the writing in this show is kinda working for me, strange to say.

  • Grade 1 diplomatic flirting here. With terrible background music. But there is some genuine chemistry here.

  • Oh god, they have space hackysack. Very college.

  • ‘Wanna see a thing that will cheer us both up?’ I thought we said six months earlier…

  • Pregnant humpback whales? In San Francisco? In this Star Trek?

  • That is an OUTFIT.

  • Is Betazed going to get the capital? That would actually be a good idea.

  • Was not expecting the brother to go full wingman, but I guess Betazoids are like that.

  • Yeah, I wouldn’t go with ‘Caleb’s not a criminal’ - he very clearly is, including crimes just committed in the past two days.

  • Mum spent all the time studying physics? Well that’s going to come back later…

  • I do wonder where all the professional diplomats are - the ones who would normally be at a negotiation like this.

  • So, new Betazed cadet coming soon?

  • Lovely little ‘trust’ gag with the apple at the end.

  • Still want to murder the PA announcer.

971 down.

// add a comment
leave a reply