Star Trek SNW Episode 3 review. FINALLY!

[@2OldGeeksTalking]

That ''Don't have to thank me, I know I'm good at my job'' line, would alienate you from your co-workers in any job.

[@CallMeChato]

There have already been several comments that there wasn’t enough sci-fi in this episode let’s not forget that Star Trek has always been lite-fi, enjoy everyone. I did have an issue with M’Benga’s deception. That should have been a fireable offence.

[@odojang]

What? Not enough sci-fi? Devastated planet, alien culture, interstellar relations, genetic engineering, space contamination, advanced medical treatment, futuristic technical failures and solutions, alien life forms... and the entire plot centering on those and not on feelings in corridors or tragic backstories... This is the MOST sci-fi episode so far! Oh, they mean sci-fi as in ''sci-fi of TV executives of the sixties;'' monsters, zooming spaceships and zapguns. What gave us Man Trap as the first ever Trek back then, instead of Where No Man Has Gone Before and The Corbomite Maneuver, because THAT, to them, was ''proper sci-fi...'' I didn't find it great but, to be sure, it was the very first Star Trek we ever had since 2005 (excluding The Orville). A few kinks left to remove for sure... and still stopping the trademark Kurtzmantrek pilfering and ripping off without proper credit due... but it's pointing in the right direction, at last. Let's hope it's not a fluke.

[@jimberg98]

4 on the Floor: kzbin.info/www/bejne/q6bdcqOZitOAntU I have some binge watching to do this weekend.

[@andywindes4968]

It took me years to figure out that in TOS, the sci-fi was mostly a pretext, a vehicle to tell great stories with universal appeal. At it's best, all science fiction explores what it is to be human. The great thing about sci-fi is that it creates a ways to look at our humanity in ways that aren't possible in any other genre.

[@DFLaval]

please oh please tell me what TOS stands for! I know I feel stupid but I can not figure it out. Note: don't google TOS lots of acronyms in engineering. Thanks great video as usual.

[@weldonwebb2825]

I concur. Enjoyable lite fi.

[@gabrieleltz1773]

While I like this series far more than the rest of new trek, I am starting to eye roll at everyone having a tragic back story.

[@Otokichi786]

Better a Tragic Back Story than incompetent writing.

[@scifiguy26]

Yeah I guess you can't join this version of starfleet unless you had some type of tragic past wtf🤷🏾‍♂️

[@staceyfunk9689]

@@Otokichi786 Making everyone tragic is incompetent writing.

[@OpenMawProductions]

@@Otokichi786 Tragic backstories are only effective writing when they're a small, small, percentage of the characters. Especially on Star Trek, where we need fully formed, mature, human beings who are not wracked with pain, angst, guilt, depression. Professional service people who can do their jobs. On TNG, maybe two or three characters had a "tragic" backstory. Tasha, who grew up on a failed colony. Worf, who's parents were killed (But this was needed to explain his particular standing as the only Klingon in Starfleet), and Dr. Crusher and her husband - which organically tied into her relationship with Picard. Those backstories were also spread out over the first season and they came at the appropriate time.

[@nyambe]

totally

[@francismcmenamin982]

Your final analysis of this episode speaks to what I've been saying here and elsewhere about the Kurtzman/Goldsman axis and this show. When given the opportunity, or in Kurtzman's case, handed to him on a plate, both will shamelessly steal previous Star Trek subject matter and creativity of other more creative individuals like DC Fontana and add to this template of tat and pass it off as somehow of their creation without the least acknowledgement of the more genuine source material! Plagiarism is plagiarism, theft is theft! Good on you Chato!

[@Otokichi786]

Darth Vader: "I find this lack of source attribution to be disturbing." (Administers a short Dark Side Choke.)

[@ThePopcast]

THE DENIZENS DEMAND IT! Thanks for the review Chato (I need to get you on our panel soon)

[@ThePopcast]

Also that stereo trick you used when showing the clips is very appreciated, the old school TV editing ways have been lost on this platform. I try and bring that same technique to my channel.

[@CallMeChato]

I needed to up the volume. Whenever you're ready.

[@kev30631]

I agree with someone who said in the forum, that strange new worlds is the best kurtzman attempt at TV star trek (live action). The bar was already set very low with picard and discovery. So they really didn't have to jump that much over it. Two things that are saving this, is that it is episodic and the characters like each. If you don't like and episode, it can reset next week with a different tone , location and story

[@HighTechBull]

The big problem with a lot of modern TV shows is that they are serialized, what we used to call soap operas back in the day. Unless the show runner has a strong overall plot, the serialized shows rapidly become disasters.

[@supermanprime6758]

@@HighTechBull Also, the damn seasons are just too short. And they KEEP having too much to tie up at the end

[@Allangulon]

Appreciate your honest humourous appraisal of this product. I'll wait until the whole season drops the watch on a trail offer with my Prime account! Love from Australia.

[@davegreenlaw5654]

The moment I saw the establishing shot of those three pods, I almost fell off my chair laughing. I'm almost certain that if my father were still alive, and was watching it 'live' instead of taping it for later, that first commercial break he would have called me up and said "Hey buddy, did you figure out what planet they were on there?"

[@itsallfunandgames723]

Wow, Number One is so strong that when she flipped that guy up, he floated over her shoulder until she was able to stand all the way. Amazing!

[@hiigara2085]

Problem is after 13 years of pure shite they've already erroded all my good will to give this a chance

[@Azraiel213]

Seconded. After a decade of soulless, divisive, politicised nonsense, hard-earned wisdom tells me that this is probably the high watermark and to expect more garbage ahead. For crying out loud, SNW was supposed to be their attempt at making real Star Trek (at metaphorical gunpoint by their execs, no less!) and they _still_ couldn't help but to sneak extremist politics into the pilot! How hopeless and undisciplined *are* these people? 🤣

[@ericb4127]

@@Azraiel213 the original series dealt with real issues at the time, kurtzman is dealing with manufactured problems created by race hustlers and grievance pimps

[@Allan_aka_RocKITEman]

*_"Fool me_** ONCE, **_shame on_** YOU."* *_"Fool me_** TWICE, **_shame on_** ME."*

[@FlorianD30]

You shouldn't give it a chance. It doesn't stink quite as bad as STD and Picard but it's still shit.

[@SuperEndiku]

My feelings exactly. I won't give new trek a chance because they burned every bridge. They also spent years calling me every name in the book because I'm an actual fan of Star Trek and they want their new demographic and to hell with the old fans who are men.

[@joecoolmccall]

Your commentary is unique in that your reference the writers and directors by name. You praise them by name when they do well- which I think is the right thing to do. In all my years as a Trek fan, I haven't really seen someone do this....but I am really glad you did.

[@JohnS-il1dr]

I used to love apples. Ate one every day almost. One day halfway through eating my apple I saw the insides with tiny maggots. I threw up. Never ate an apple again no matter how fresh it was. It's the same with my star trek. It got infested with maggots and I never wanted to watch it again.

[@williamwilson5127]

You are right on the money! Finally, some dialog that made sense and was to the point. It wasn't full of gratuitous old Trek references in some vain attempt to trick people into thinking that it is real Trek. Instead, they did an A/B storyline letting the Pike and Spock B story act as a buffer so they could setup for the next part of the main story. On another point, TOS episode "Balance of Terror" "borrowed" its plot from the film "The Enemy Below", it even lifted lines directly from the film.

[@quigsthevicious]

Apparently there are no consequences for breaking the rules on Pike's cruiser. Maybe that's what costs him the chair later on. Now he, the whole medical staff and the ship's police chief are complicit in covering up #1's lie, but we're supposed to support Pike punishing other peoples' misdeeds in future episodes. This revelation would have been a good way to write her character off the show as a tragic hero later on or in the finale without tanking all credibility that this is a military vessel.

[@CallMeChato]

A standard trope.

[@quigsthevicious]

I guess, but can you imaging Picard (the real one, not the new one), or any other pre-Enterprise captain being cool with that? At the very least there would be some serious brow furrowing and soul searching.

[@3dartstudio007]

Janeway would allow anything if you ask three times. Good point.

[@TimurKristof]

@@quigsthevicious Yes, Picard was cool with it in "The Drumhead"

[@Fat_Thor_Ate_Loki]

Bring back Captain Lorca Please…Now there was a Bad Ass, Eat Klingons for Breakfast type Federation Captain. That you could trust to maintain rules, decorum and proper discipline, even if he did turn out to be from the Terran Imperial Empire

[@Murldon]

It’s kinda crazy how I was SHOCKED that this crew behaved so professionally, even when confronting one another. I also love that Pike is not only a respected but a beloved leader by his crew. ((Just goes to show how low my expectations were after Disco and Picard.)) Surprised and pleased you liked this episode. You should check out the Halo Series! Would love a former executives opinions on that.

[@CallMeChato]

I played the very first Halo, nothing since. I’m afraid that if I like it I’ll get pillared here.

[@HighTechBull]

@@CallMeChato I could not get past the first Halo episode. It was just terrible in my opinion.

[@KasumiKenshirou]

@@CallMeChato Apparently you're more familiar with Halo than the people who made the show, then.

[@CallMeChato]

@@KasumiKenshirou Haha

[@Abelard4567]

I've been loving this show, but how is it possible that Starfleet couldn't figure out that Una was an alien, and an augmented one at that? Are Starfleet physicals done on the honor system? Can't they read DNA? That gap in logic really annoyed me, especially given how much I want this show to work.

[@gabrieleltz1773]

I believe Una is still human. However, other star trek shows had people sneak into star fleet. For example, the part romulan in tng the drumhead. As well as dr.bashir. I assume if there is a way to hide it, a genetically engineered people could figure it out. But yeah, it's a bit hand wavy over that

[@germanher7528]

if she lied to enter SF shw might very well go all the way and find how to pass the bio exams unnoticed

[@sandyzalecki1145]

I was in the military and that part bothered me. I had the most best physical I have ever had when I was recruited. Also, I had to get a top secret security clearance, which I'm sure you would need to be on Enterprise. They wanted to know everything about you from the time you were born before you could get one of those. That part was a bit unbelievable, but the rest was good.

[@odojang]

@@gabrieleltz1773 To be honest, crewman Tarsis in TNG The Drumhead had it easy; Romulans and Vulcans are the exact same species so no gene differences; especially when fused with human genes, out of which any discrepancy could be explained away by the fusion. With Number One, her enhancements might be the result of altered gene activation which would enhance her before birth then leave no trace afterwards when they stop acting. So unless she exhibited abnormal capabilities to trigger a deeper examination of her genetic make-up (like her enhanced strenght here), she could fool standard medical check-ups. That being said, I am doing here what Kurtzmantrek fanboys do; provide the explanations and the writing for them to compensate for their lack of it...

[@francismcmenamin982]

There was even a suggestion in one of Kurtzman's short Trek debacles that Number One was a Vulcan or a Vulcan hybrid like Spock since her ears were never visible behind her mane of dark hair! Only a superior one of course!

[@donphilp7511]

If you read some of the comments you may notice a slight trend. It is the " I will wait till they get a few more episodes in the can" or the" I will wait until the season end and decide before waisting my time or enjoying ". I think this is a very interesting trend. Would be very hard for networks to create content and have the advertisers wait for the second or third season for a payoff. there is so much content out there that even I a guy in his 70s sometimes watches independent Sci fi for a half hr story that is that is way better than old network or Hollywood. And I am from the generation that was glued to every episode of original trek, or the 8 zillion people who watched the last episode of the original fugitive with their parents. Nobody has lost their taste for quality. We have all lost our patience for dreck! I think the younger generations have developed a quicker barf reaction to crap or slow development and superfluous story lines. This must be troubling to the money people. I think writing absolutely sucks these day. What the hell is going on. Sorry I ranted but I think the trend as to how people consume entertainment is worth noting. Love you vids. Like I told you before I know nothing of this biz and am learning a lot. Thank you.

[@fakshen1973]

Wait.. a marginally watchable episode and I should be excited? The bar is set so low that I need a shovel and a treasure map.

[@nslater1388]

It’s reviews like this one that assures me that I can take this man more seriously as he demonstrates fairness. How easy would it have been for him to nitpick and be far more negative, especially considering that this is Nu Trek? Well done, sir.

[@ouroborosirvington]

New. Peter Piper picked a pickled pepper ouch

[@Katya_Lastochka]

You have a fanbase that wants good Trek and has overlooked a ton of Liberal politics, and youre still upset that they find so much wrong with the shows? This is why we have so much mediocrity. Youre not gonna wow the world with such "high art" and havent in a while.

[@AQuietNight]

Patting one's own back usually sets up contention with other personalities and I would think the writers would take that into consideration with Chappell. Filler material to burn up a few seconds of screen time.

[@OpenMawProductions]

You could easily rewrite that moment so that the origin of the cure is discovered, and Chapel is given her just credit, and she's HUMBLE about it. Maybe we learn something about the way her brain works. Maybe she saw something M'Benga didn't... I don't know. But there are ways to have genius characters that also have humility and humanity. This "I know i'm the bestest ever" shit just doesn't fit in Star Trek. It rings more like a crappy version of Firefly writing. It's note ven said with any self awareness either.

[@andrewphillips8341]

Why did they have to make Number 1 'a super special person'? She was already great. It was current year thinking, everyone needs to be a special pronoun.

[@ericb4127]

Not everyone, just the people who are not white straight or male.

[@12345diehappy]

I feel like they took a character that was exactly what the fem-bots wanted, strong, confident, highly intelligent, highly capable, and then made her an alien. I don't know if it's terrible writing or if they don't want a straight white person, even a female, to be awesome.

[@ericb4127]

@@12345diehappy welcome to the feminazi genre of the entertainment industry.

[@Ricosart247]

You know, there's a fine line between warm, cold, and lukewarm. I think I'm seeing the fact that the writing lacks a level of maturity, that as adults, we could identify with. Instead of the manufactured pablum that a certain segment of society heaps upon the rest of of us daily. Hence, it's lukewarm. It's Star Trek for those who expect nothing less than lukewarm, because it's easy to consume that, which doesn't challenge you!

[@Otokichi786]

Lukewarm is the "Gold Standard" of Hollyweird writing these days. (sigh...)

[@Elerad]

D.C. Fontana just died a few years ago, too. Still fresh in a lot of hardcore Trekkies' minds. Poor form indeed. Rest in peace, Dorothy.

[@alankohn6709]

Bruce Horack is rapidly becoming my favourite character I love his attitude my favourite bit was when they were sent into lockdown and doesn't fuss an mother hen it's just snaps his fingers not a word everyone hauls ass. I forgive the number one scene because A- It gave another indication that there was more to number One than it seemed and B- There was no way she was going to be able carry him any distance so it hid the dummy she was carrying sort of if look there was something not rifgt about the way what she is carrying is bending

[@paulhelberg5269]

Chato my friend, you are an eternal optimist when it comes to ST. I have been unable to revisit the series since my violent gastrointestinal reaction to the first 10 minutes of episode one. Bully for you trooper! You're a better man than I Gungadin.

[@Inug4mi]

Maybe the “not hating a thing because it’s not all garbage” might be the ultimate takeaway from the SNW watching experience. At least so far anyway.

[@alrives]

I really appreciate your evenhanded approach to your reviews. You do a great job of acknowledging the validity of both the sides and ultimately you only want to be entertained.

[@Dantes74302]

The thing that I don't get is how the writers apparently forgot that the Big-E is loaded with (log) recorders all over. It is essentially the Big Brother house with nacelles. Even if Pike didn't report anything, those logs would eventually get reviewed by somebody, who would report all these "secrets" - M'Benga's daughter, La'an punching Una and Una lying on her application form - to the brass, who would go to town on the Enterprise. M'Benga, La'an and Una would all be facing court-martials and Pike would have to face a disciplinary board. He would never make Fleet Captain and this whole "knows his fate." plotline would be total nonsense

[@ericwood3709]

Seems like every Trek show since the original (and every movie ever) has forgotten that the Enterprise is meant to be a military -- such as it is in the 23rd century and beyond -- vessel. Then there is the lazy and rather clueless writing inherent to every Trek series produced this century, something that even this show has yet to overcome. If they ever manage it, maybe I'll give this thing a watch.

[@PhillboNorth]

Deepfake technology will be much better by SNW time. A good hack can change bad behavior in the log archive.

[@Dantes74302]

@@PhillboNorth And so will deep-fake detection technology. And what do you think Starfleet Command will do to anybody caught tampering with records ? They...get....sacked. So the end result would be the same.

[@Dantes74302]

@@PhillboNorth Also...ever heard of the Barbara Streisand Effect. Mess with the logs and you might as well put a up a giant neon sign that says "Yoehoe, Command, Nefarious stuff happening here."

[@supermanprime6758]

Maybe. But lets not forget even Kirks Enterprise was supposed to at first REALLY be out there on the frontier. Things were crazy and loose on early TOS. Selling wives, engine checklists, beauty drugs, Kirk being the lone ship near the Romulan Neutral Zone....etc... Course DISCO stuffs all that in episode one when a huge Fed fleet can respond within an hour to an incident on the Klingon border.

[@00bikeboy]

I beg to differ. I found the characters' exposition of their personal back stories in an attempt to force us to relate to them was tedious and boring. McCoy didn't drone on about his inner struggles. When Khan held a knife to his throat he said "Well either choke me or cut my throat, make up your mind." We instantly get a deep sense of who he is, THAT'S how you create three-dimensional characters. Having them drone on about their personal struggles (No.1), having them tell us about themselves (Chapel) or worst of all give them a child to protect (M'Benga) is how to write two-dimensional characters. This is lazy, uninspired, third-rate writing.🖖

[@8bitnullnvoid762]

I agree.

[@mabonman]

Yeah that kinda writing was okay in early 2000s with lost and stuff, but we should have moved faaaaaaaaar on by now ...

[@odojang]

A better episode than anything so far since 2005... but indeed they still have a loooooooong way to go. Let's hope this is the begining of a trend, not the best they will ever bring..

[@francismcmenamin982]

To call them two dimensional characters is to give Kurtzman credit he doesn't deserve since they are not his characters in the first place other than the Khan Noonian Singh effort he has parachuted in and the guy dressed as a 25% different looking Andorian!

[@00bikeboy]

@@francismcmenamin982 That's right! Even handed a set of universally beloved characters he still finds a way to erode the value of the franchise 😃🖖

[@valensinclair6750]

I honestly couldn't remember what episode 3 was about until I started watching your video and was reminded. It wasn't bad, it wasn't good. I was just there. That, in itself, speaks volumes.

[@davegoehrig7674]

Jess is a childhood friend of a friend of mine, and we were chatting at a birthday party today, why is it that the actors don't push back against these terrible lines? Your character would never say such a thing so refuse to say it. Of course you're good at your job, you wouldn't be on a Federation starship if you weren't the best of the best of trillions of people/aliens... All I can say is my friend suggested Jess slogged away in Aussie commercials for too many years, and lost the ability to think for herself because she's just too happy to have a job.

[@caomhan84]

I really appreciated how they portrayed Una (Number One) in this episode. Obvious "strong woman dummy carrying" aside, she assumed command with cool-headed authority and operated with efficiency. Such a contrast to Uhura's whining from last week. We got the Trek tradition of having another shipwide virus episode. We also finally got more of M'Benga, and I'm glad that Una and La'an appear to be friends. Could this be Sisko and Dax again? This was easily a solid 7/10.

[@dannicatzer305]

Glad I wasn't the only one to notice that, I genuinely laughed out loud at that scene I mean shit millions of dollars and they couldn't get a dummy that didn't clearly look like a dummy.. She's a big lady I'm sure the could have just slung a manlet like Kurtzman for a few seconds of screen time..

[@skyserf]

Being the executive officer she should be level headed. But making her genetically enhanced breaks continuity with the original series.

[@Pressed_For_Time]

@@skyserf exactly. People are overlooking serious plot holes to give this show a chance. And all it does is open cans of worms..

[@GOODEUSMAXIMUS]

The first episode ruined me. I have never audibly groaned or rolled my eyes at anything before. I did it through out the entirety of that first episode.

[@Mattexion]

Your rendition of the TOS theme brought me to tears...so beautiful.

[@vmpgsc]

I think I heard a tribute to the great, now gone, Vangelis...? Maybe?

[@Draconisrex1]

Episode 1 - SNW was on Amazon for free. It was abysmal as it revolved around a seriously lame plot. Of all the offenses against the history and universe of Star Trek I'd say Uhura & Nurse Chappel were the worst. And watching your review, Nurse Chappel continues to be abomination. She's a rapidly becoming Mary Sue Gyrl Genius and is supplanting Wesley as my most hated ST character of all time.

[@Fat_Thor_Ate_Loki]

Correct me if I’m wrong, but Isn’t she supposedly a Nurse and not the Enterprise’s Chief Medical Officer ?!? Talk about Retro, she is the epitome of the Star Trek 1972 Lt Mary Sue 15 year old half Vulcan/Human

[@Knightfall182]

They *really* wanted that shot of an All-Women Bridge 😄😄😄 and replacing Ortegas with another short-haired Lesbian in the same seat.

[@denvan3143]

I’ve wanted something better than TOS since the beginning of its third season back in the 60s. Regarding girl power: I’ve written a story (unpublished, for my own amusement) with three strong women: the hero has an indomitable will but can’t fight her way out of a paper bag, her female colleague is strong enough to bend steel but is a part-time alcoholic, full-time screwup and the third member of their triumvirate is a badass who has blown out her knee doing karate kicks. Because Mary Sue is boring.

[@flaviokauling1436]

Some 1984 Olympic theme singing you got there! Filled me with emotion!

[@shawnmika9275]

I felt like when number one picked up that guy, I immediately thought something was odd and I said to myself "she's augmented!" I don't know how much of it was necessarily "girl power" as much as it was "hey, I have an unusual amount of strength for a woman, I must be genetically modified" .... in a subtle way 😅

[@davidrobbins5793]

And that could lead to good plot development. Deep Space Nine HC a similar plot device with Dr Bashir.

[@BitchspotBlog]

That's really the problem that we have with the current "girl power" model. Even when it could be seen as legitimate character development and foreshadowing, people are going to leap to the conclusion that it's "women are better than men!"

[@markaurelius61]

But will they ever be able to put a woman in a disadvantaged position the way that unconscious Andorian was? It is still girl power, because it was a girl, carrying a man, with ease, which doesn't really happen in real life.

[@BitchspotBlog]

@@markaurelius61 It's sci-fi. People don't fly around in spaceships in real life either.

[@deth3021]

@@markaurelius61 no as that would be rape culture.

[@andyhines9070]

I sometimes volunteer as a creative writing coach and from the outside criticism between writers can appear to be quite harsh, especially when you're the fresh pair of eyes going over an author's work between drafts. Between authors that clinical harshness is based on wanting their final product to succeed rather than to tear the other person down. In that position you have to be frank and clinical when called for, because otherwise you're just setting the author up to fail both in their project and in growing as a writer. Rather, you see the potential and desire the author you're coaching to realize their full potential and achieve something wonderful in the eyes of their readers. Sometimes it's tough love over a dozen drafts, and it can be hard to both give and take it. But when done professionally and in good faith, it is immensely valuable and can be a life saver. Most people on the outside don't see the blood, sweat and tears in the writing process. Only the final product. So what you are doing is actually a healthy thing. Even when you have to be frank and critical, the source of that frankness is one of empathy. It's what I enjoy about you're behind-the-scenes insights and helping us in being more educated in developing our opinions.

[@CallMeChato]

Thanks

[@greenarrow219]

Your reviews are always fair and honest, this is what I like about these reviews. You just don't bag the show for the sake of it, like so many other channels. Definitely a good episode, long may it continue.

[@ultragoji3358]

I thought that was Ontario Place! Was only there once, way back in 1979. Various buildings at Man and His World appeared in Battlestar Galactica (1978), and the Robert Altman film "Quintet"(1979)

[@bomberbinz]

My first reaction was why beam down when there's a great big storm about to hit and not wait for it to pass the site then go down. Also I did laugh when there was obviouly a wire used when umber one picked Hemmer up over her shoulder... and the slow-mo LOL.

[@raymondsmith6870]

Tywin Lannister - "If you have to tell people your good at your job your not good at your job"

[@SunThief80]

Amen, I swear if I have to hear them say another officer is brilliant or a genius I am going to throw up, Ortegas a genius at the helm, Uhura genius linguist, Hemmer is a blind engineer genius, Number One best first officer in the fleet

[@rciscon]

For me, those moments of "Grrrrlll Power" ruined that episode for me...

[@00bikeboy]

Agreed.

[@TheAnimeAlliance]

What???

[@robertpearson8798]

I knew that Alien Planet location looked familiar but I just couldn’t put my finger on it. I generally agree (and so does my Wife), but I still find the Spock character to be just a bit flat compared to the Nimoy original. Odd I know for a character supposed to be bereft of emotion but maybe that’s just me.

[@geminicricket4975]

Nimoy, when trying to understand Spock's character, probably asked himself "why am I like this?" giving his character some depth. Nu-Spock, when trying to understand his character, I'm willing to bet, said to himself "because Nimoy did it this way". Nimoy took time to understand his character, Nu-Spock is probably just imitating... or so I think.

[@robertpearson8798]

@@geminicricket4975 It’s got to be an incredibly hard thing to do, stepping in and playing such an established and iconic character, trying to capture the nature and essence without coming off like an impressionist.

[@geminicricket4975]

Well, yea, to be fair to Ethan Peck, he is up against the "definitive actor". Just as Connery defined Bond, Garner defined Maverick and Shatner defined Kirk, Nimoy definitely defined Spock.

[@HerrEllsworth]

Missed this episode and it's likely that I won't be seeing it for a while but I will consider these points when and where I finally do watch it.

[@Grymyrk]

Orville is still a better star trek. At least SNW has returned to being episodic and giving all the characters a moment in the spotlight.

[@skyserf]

2:12 That really bugged me about the Doctor in the first episode. His demeanor and bearing seemed to take a back seat compared to the nurse. Compared to the doctors in TOS, TNG, DS9, VOY and ENT he didn’t really seem as memorable. Hopefully this changes.

[@davidrobbins5793]

Nice review, I like distillation of the good, the bad and the ugly. I’m reserving judgement of the series until a full season is in, and as we all know, TNG went through 2 painful years before a good temp set in.

[@Fat_Thor_Ate_Loki]

Same with Enterprise it took awhile to get up to speed.

[@ald1144]

Another Kurt-trek feature: everybody needs a tragic backstory. It's like you can't be a compelling character without one.

[@findJLF]

Another excellent review, highly entertaining and in 6 mins, saved me an hour - if were able to watch this show, which I can't because I limit my TV subscriptions to ONE and Netflix still gets my vote and cash. Bravo Chato

[@richiehayes3251]

Though the episode wasn’t bad, I thought the apparent years-long friendship between Number One and Khanette fell flat in the same way as Kirk and Spock’s friendship seems unearned in the JJ monstrosity. Rather than simply telling us they’ve been friends for years, perhaps they ought to have shown us over the course of a few more episodes through their interactions with one another. This would have pushed this episode further back in the season but in stand-alone episodic storytelling, that ought not to have been a problem. Slow-mo hero walks. Nurse Chapel’s unearned confidence. (She allowed Khanette to escape, after all. How hard is it to sedate a patient?) Long lingering shots of an all wamen bridge crew. I just wish I didn’t find myself rolling my eyes as much when watching SNW or new Trek in general. Also... Am I the only one who found the good doctor a little hard to understand?

[@chuckpoore]

I'm noticing the same things. I have no problem with well written female characters having their hero moments, as long as they're earned in the story (the same goes for men, of course). But it seems like these modern Trek producers just cannot help themselves. They have to go to great lengths to sideline the male characters so the women make all the decisions and save the day. Pike and Spock are ostensibly the stars, yet they always seem to be sidelined. And M'Benga ends up being the cause of the problem and and gets sidelined so that Chapel can actually come up with the cure. And it's one thing for her to find the cure, but she has to call herself out with that annoying bravado. That's very unprofessional, Star Fleet officers just don't do that. You don't take credit for doing your job. You can accept praise by your CO for doing it, but you don't pat yourself on the back. Not cool. I also had a hard time understanding M'Benga. At first I thought it was just his thick accent, but I don't think that's it. I work with many people who immigrated from various African countries (Nigeria, Ethiopia) and I can understand their accents if I take the time to listen. In this guy's case, it's more the gravely voice. It sounds like he's been chain-smoking Camel No-filters for the last ten years. I just couldn't follow half of his dialog.

[@psychonaut5921]

@@chuckpoore Agree 100%. Pike and Spock were conveniently left on the planet so that the wahmen could take over the episode. This seems to be the the norm here, as last week's episode had Sam Kirk knocked out so that Uhura could shine(and not have things 'mansplained' to her). I bet this is how things will happen in pretty much every episode. Like you said, they just can't help themselves. It's sad that Dr. M'Benga's first 'major' participation in the series had to be by putting the entire ship at risk. But, of course, he IS a man after all, so, helplessly flawed. When he said he had something very important to him 'frozen' in the teleportation matrix I knew at once that it was either his wife, his daughter or, perhaps, his acting skills. Seems like nobody has male children anymore in the Wokeverse. Anyway, the actor seems very limited; was clearly picked to check the 'diversity' box. I was surprised to see at least three male crewmembers in a corridor scene this time(!) Who knows, at this rate they might even let a lowly male sit at the pilot station someday, if only to be bested by the latino she-man with the silly haircut...

[@richiehayes3251]

@@psychonaut5921 They have a female driver and the ship is back in space-garage for repairs after four episodes. I’m just sayin’.

[@psychonaut5921]

@@richiehayes3251 Now that you mentioned that...absolutely right! LOL!🤣

[@uhtredlundar8394]

Thanks for this review. I have faithfully watched all things Trek up to and including the first half of season one - Discovery the journey of Space Jesus. I got so annoyed with what The Drinker calls: 'The Message', that I simply left the franchise. You gave me a bit of hope with this clip!

[@psychonaut5921]

Don't get your hopes too high: The Message is definitely present here, especially its feminist tentacle. There's no shaking that as long as Kurtzman is running the show.

[@nikolaki]

RIP Vangelis. Thank you for your music.

[@ffsireallydontcare]

3:22 LOL! Having learnt from last week I put the soup spoon down before pressing play, and thus thankfully avoided another soup+nostril moment! RIP Vangelis.

[@michaelcherry8952]

I like the fact that Bruce Horak is a Canadian actor (born in Calgary) and also legally blind. It shows a bit of thought went into the casting of his character.

[@CallMeChato]

That is amazing.

[@jorgewhittaker6105]

Nice "Charriots of Fire" cover. Vangelis would be proud. Good homage!

[@riksliks2872]

Soooo coool to see them use Ontario Place. Played the Forum a few times. Great episode. Love Ya :)

[@thatwasprettyneat]

I hope you keep doing these because I enjoy your commentary after watching the episode myself! Anyway, I did like this episode better and felt there was a "sense of urgency" as you stated. The thing where a virus travels on light waves was so stupid to me that it somewhat detracted from the immersion of the experience. Also, why did La'an being "in proximity" of Una cause her to have immunity to the virus? I feel like those things were either as stupid as they seemed or I'm missing something.

[@jefferywilson456]

My problem is that they forgot about all the hubbub about genetic engineering. They seem to throw federation rules out the window whenever it benefits them (The writers) . As I stated before I can deal with this new Kurtzman trek as long as I know that it’s basically JJ trek. This episode rates right there with Star Trek beyond. Which I enjoyed again knowing it’s a parallel universe. This has a way to go before it hits TOS Quality.

[@Fat_Thor_Ate_Loki]

The Terran Imperial Empire, if they ever went to War against this Kurtzman Federation. Would chew them up and completely annihilate them before Breakfast.

[@ivorholtskog5506]

I said it before, that is not the ship of TOS. Nobody did their homework for the props. I think these people would put Vietnam era jets into the battle for Britain.

[@davidu8283]

This gives me a spark of hope for SNW ! 😄 Hopefully they'll turn down the "girl power" thing a notch or two as it goes on. And shorten Spocks side burns! 🙄 Entertaining review as always, thank you Chato! Keep them coming!

[@phlogistonix]

Thank you for giving Bruce Horak the credit he deserves. He is a scene-stealer. Totally agree that Hemmer could be the next Data in terms of a complex, interesting, and entertaining character. It's a relief to have some decent Star Trek again!

[@khandallah4725]

enjoying that there is some oppertunity for star trek positivity. brings us together instead of tearing us apart.

[@mwdiers]

This episode, from the very beginning, felt completely different from the first two. We finally have a confident and inspiring captain who has put the naval gazing behind him. Let's hope it stays that way. Great character development. Setups for arc stories while still keeping it truly episodic. Pacing was just right. I loved it.

[@guygadbois3010]

Good to hear there's a decent episode out there and you were able to enjoy it! One thing though, at around 0:45 - really I don't see you as ranting, as you are working to be fair, your critiques are structured and rational, and you aren't getting overly emotional about things. I guess I'm saying if people are throwing the 'rant' label at your legitimate criticisms then its probably about their own issues instead of your content. Cheers and thanks for the video!

[@theunknowngamer5477]

Nice to see the theme of Lift And Carry transcends the PC infection.

[@thethx9205]

"Any man who must say 'I am the king' is no true king."

[@NestortheArgonaught]

Read this comment while an advert for an Elvis Presley movie was playing.

[@barongerhardt]

Thanks, I'm taking a note that this was a good episode, might be worth watching. It would be great at the end of the season if you did a review/list of the best episodes. If I watch 3+ good episodes it might spark enough interest to get through the worst.

[@saltysailormike]

Chato. How do you feel about the situation the doctor put his daughter in by keeping her in the transporter stream until he finds a cure for her disease instead of the writers establishing some other technology in that future that would keep her in a stasis chamber or something like an implant that is prolonging her life a little while longer until a cure is found. Maybe she would be a crew member on the ship so he can monitor her health while looking for a cure and it could be a nice little side story in the show between the Doctor and his daughter. I just feel it’s a little weird and maybe unethical for a highly trained Starfleet doctor to keep somebody imprisoned in a transporter datastream. This could be an interesting concept but maybe if the writers executed it a little bit differently to make it seem believable in that professionally trained space fairing society. What is your thoughts on that situation if you’d like to do a video breaking that down? It seems interesting enough to talk about though.

[@CallMeChato]

I think the situation was good for the story. The resolution was bad. It was a horrendous crime and he should have been tossed with a hard drive with his daughter in it.

[@saltysailormike]

@@CallMeChato Agreed! It seems like unbecoming behavior for a Starfleet officer and a medical Doctor Who would have taken the Hippocratic oath. Same thing I felt with the situation of Pike telling Number One about her situation that he’ll “deal with Starfleet myself“. She was doing the morally right thing because she believed enough in the rules of Starfleet to resign her commission because she had to out her self. But of course even that is ridiculous to believe in the ethics of Starfleet because she went ahead and joined anyways knowing full well of the rules of her species. Plus with Pike being a little too rebellious on the subject to instead of adherence to Starfleet protocols. I don’t see how they can promote all these officers to the rank of captain and give them command of the starship with hundreds of crewmembers on board if they keep on doing cowboy diplomacy during their time as junior officers. It’s one thing to have to think on your feet and make The best decision for the safety of your crew and completion of the mission when you’re operating in deep space away from the home world. But at the same time you’re representing an organization that goes around telling other species that they’re all about exploration and discovery and have to maintain that stance to other civilizations they encounter. It just seems like the writing could be a little bit tighter in these little nuances.

[@TheBrewjo]

It's been a funny thing with the fandom since SNW rolled out... There's obviously been a rift between Nu-Trek and Old-Trek fans the last few years around Discovery ( I tuned out after season 2) and Picard (watched it all, pretty sure it's actually Picard is some kind of End of Life Holo-suite Program). The Nu-Trek fans/content creators are getting outright offended Old-Trek fans aren't reacting the same way as they did to Dis-Card.

[@douggolde7582]

You pulled me back in. I had given up. Now I must push through episode 2.

[@STho205]

Don't know why this popped up so late. I agree that the dialog and stress conflict was much denser, similar to 60s Trek. The plodding style of Trek got slower and slower through the decades till suddenly we got the Fast and Trekerous movies as jarring plosion action flicks. The long carry was surprising to me in that it was intregal to revealing that she was an enhanced woman....not something that every woman in Star Trek can't do without even thinking about it. I'm sure Michael Burnham could lift and even throw Orson Welles or Raymond Burr or Lurch. You go gurl. TOS never referenced the source material inspiration. TNG only did it when it was in the club. DS9 never did it either. They all adapted famous shortstories, novels and movie tropes because that was what TV did. It adapted and seldom credited. The Cage, WNMHGB, Mudds Women, Balance of Terror, ....all the way to All our Yesterdays were from earlier movies, TV westerns, novels and short stories. That's why people liked it. Don't thank me....I know I'm good at my job.

[@fomasfaith]

Was it better than what went previous? To me, yes. Had faults? Yes but moving in the right direction. All covered in the review which I was heartily looking forward to. The one thing not mentioned was the beings in the storm. I was nearly expecting a repeat of the TNG episode "Power Play" where Troi, O' Brien and Data get taken over by entities on a moon wracked by electromagnetic storms. They didn't but was the point in having them? To save Pike and Spock? That could have been done with just finding a better spot to shelter or a least one without a window. It could have been used to explore their characters while events unfolded in orbit. If the ion storm was a regular occurence wouldn't the colony buildings be designed with that in mind? Since there is a standing mission to investigate what happened, would there not be a science outpost present suitably kitted out? Why was the library not simply moved off site? The disease/virus also had shades of TOS "The Naked Time" or TNGs "The Naked Now" just without the swash of the former and drunkeness of the latter.

[@CallMeChato]

Thanks. There are only so many stories.

[@peterfmodel]

Good to hear we have one good episode so far, lets hope for more.

[@nevillewatkins4997]

I'm glad to hear it. I never get to watch any nu Trek, but I've loved it in the past and am sort of interested for it to do well.

[@WalterWhite1911]

Yes, it was a much better episode than the first 2. Nevertheless, 1) waaaay too many women-protagonists; at times, it felt a women-only show (or should I say "birthing persons"? :) and 2) Number One's acting was amateurish at best, and 3) yes, Number One carrying a man like a bag of potatoes was just what it looked like: the usual feminist super-whaman B/S. My modest opinion, I am not a professional critic, I just love TOS and quality science fiction. Peace!

[@drawnhere]

Her stength is part of her genetic alteration, which fits completely correctly into the story, so your criticism isn't actually warranted here. The scene where she carries the crew member over her shoulder is supposed to make people surprised and create mystery as to what is going on with her in the episode.

[@WalterWhite1911]

@@drawnhere I think it is rather meant to boost female viewers' ego into thinking that they are as tough as men, probably more, while being wiser and more clever. Vulcans are stronger than humans, but I didn't see Spock carrying anybody like a bag of potatoes. I saw him being disrespected and despised by his wannabe wife, instead. As I said, the usual woke feminist B/S.

[@rrrmmmm5059]

Hi Chato :) Been looking forward to this review. It’s definitely the best episode so far. Thanks for the video 💎😊

[@lancebaylis3169]

That chariots of fire reference killed me 🤣🤣🤣

[@Aity7]

Afters seeing episode 3, I said to some friends, it's a pure Star Trek show ! Great analysis, fair and honest. Thank you ! 😊🖖

[@kimhamiltonpsychoanalytica2778]

Thanks I really enjoy your take on the show (even though I don't watch it!! stopped watching Star Trek when I was 56) and all your videos, The videos on "Hackintosh"? those I don't understand, but I did learn what a Hackintosh(?) is, I think. May I enquire how you feel about my favourite TV show? This is the only TV I look forward to and become completely engrossed with. At the close of the scenes towards the end of the show I'm hoping it's not the end I don't want it to stop. Some weeks it can be a bit slow but that's good, because it builds like a good victorian novel layer upon layer spinning a tale of complexity and depth, love It. I wonder if you would comment in one of your great videos, it would be good to hear you review it. Sorry it's "Better call Saul". Thanks

[@weirdkitty07]

Yes, Chapel had to say that, to reference a random fan film.

[@BeNice108]

It's nice that you're doing reviews, because I'd rather listen to you talk than those characters.

[@nufosmatic]

3:23 - IMDB has Rebecca Romijn at 5-11, and Anson Mount at 5-11-1/2 - write to your cast's strengths - Rebecca is believable walking a full-grown man slung over her shoulder down the hall. It would be an Amazon-esk spectacle a la Wonder Woman... remember she played Mystique in "X-Men"...

[@dgrhm08]

Glad you liked it. For me the pacing seemed painfully slow. And if I heard one more time about a certain character being an Erluerian, I was gonna puke. #1 seemed to handle all situations in a calm stoic nondramatic (boring) manner. The special effects were cool.

[@SovsBorg]

Thank you very much. However due to the path I'm going to need a series more good reviews before I attempt to watch this

[@darkelyte7788]

I'm with you on this one Chato. I think this one felt the most like an actual Star Trek episode. Hemmer is quickly becoming my favorite character and I hope to see more of him (?) The "potato sack" scene was really cringy as it looked liked she was just carrying a bunch of towels stuffed into a Starfleet uniform

[@CallMeChato]

Where'd his upper torso go?

[@supermanprime6758]

That music swell may have been TOSey.....but the composition-wise it was also very VERY TNG. Either way, love it

[@johngorno4552]

I now refuse to watch any episode of Nu Trek that hasn't been previewed and certified. (Bad reviews are usually the only means of enjoying Nu Trek in any way, and nobody else even bothers any more!) On your recommendation, I actually watched and enjoyed this episode, even being able to ignore my plot quibbles. Thank you for your service.

[@altal2993]

Not seen the show as I'm in the UK, love the reviews, I'm actually looking forward to the show now

[@globalgaucho]

i think that the potato carring scene was an introduction to the "secret" of Una

[@johnallen4030]

TOS Spock would not have been out of pocket when the ion storm barreled down on the landing party

[@monstarpaisley]

No matter if we like or hate it, it is still Kurtzman Trek and that is the crime!

[@tacotruffles]

I’m so glad to see the optimism return to Trek. It’s a huge first step to getting this property back on track.

[@ericb4127]

Back on track? Having kurtzman/ goldsman in charge of Star Trek is like putting Nazis in charge of a Jewish orphanage. As long as they are in charge or have anything to do with Star Trek it will not get back on track.

[@tacotruffles]

@@ericb4127 I don’t disagree. But don’t forget, it took awhile but the Nazis were ultimately defeated after a couple decades in power.

[@NewAgeDIY]

Yes, yes, yes! You took the word right out my mouth! Sort of, you have a much better understanding of the English language! Anyway thanks for the much needed positive review!

[@Lonelywookiee]

Appreciate your rendition of Chariots of Fire Paul 😂

[@etsequentia6765]

Time flies when you're having fava beans with some liver. I felt the need to say it for some reason.

[@Darkwintre]

So Kurtzman was unavailable when this episode was made? Can he skip the rest please?