Star Trek: Strange New Worlds S1E3 GHOSTS OF ILLYRIA Recap & Review

[@treklad]

What did you think of this latest episode? Let me know below! ⬇⬇⬇

[@thomashill6347]

Good evening TREKLAD, I liked it

[@CulturePhilter]

I loved the subplot of his daughter. Really hit me in the feels. Was curious if you think it had affected you more since you become a father. I definitely noticed getting more emotional at scenes like that after I had kids. I do grant though that maybe it did warrant its own episode.

[@treklad]

It didn't really hit me any differently to be honest. Great, now I feel soulless 😂 If it wasn't so tacked on at the end it would've been a far more potent reveal. Hopefully this is just the setup for a more substantive M'Benga episode.

[@aleta5873]

Philip Hawkins Me too...tears. I'm a Granny of a girl...who's now 25. I've watched Star Trek from my early college years. It saved my sanity. I will always love Star Trek.

[@CulturePhilter]

@@treklad 😄 I’m sure you’re not soulless. To be fair while I definitely became more affected by any parent/child dynamic where one was in danger after first child it probably hits me even harder since losing my son (Stillborn, to save anyone from wondering but feeling like they can’t ask)

[@treklad]

Very sorry to hear of your loss Philip, surely every parent's worst nightmare. We are shaped by our experiences I guess, and emotional resonance is subjective. I won't deny that most scenes featuring children hit a bit different now I'm a parent, but this scene didn't do it for me.

[@soupistasty5]

I find it absolutely baffling that the intro to this episode, with it's ever quickening pace due to the looming, destructive ion storm; was not recognized as being highly influenced by the simply fantastic introductory sequences to one of the greatest Sci-Fi video game franchises, Mass Effect! How is this possible? The cross over appeal of Star Trek n' ME couldn't be higher! Indeed, if I scroll down in the comments section to this video, I will be utterly shocked if several other comments don't reference ME3 and it's impressive Mars colony opening sequence, with the red planet's massive storm racing to complicate the mission n' add extra tension that culminates in the terrifying reveal of the cold, heartless n' violent AI, later known as EDI (though initially it is simply an patially shackled AI in the palm of the Illusive Man's hand - later, a fully flushed out character when the 'shell' becomes the literally personification of the AI that aids in the many functions of Shepherd's ship, the Normandy). The point for point plot devices from the video game to this episode were, imo, not too heavy handed. Indeed, it felt far more like homage, than any kind of vulgar plagiarism. In fact, if this new ST:SNW series borrows more from the critically acclaimed 3 part video game Action/RPG - I for one would welcome any characters or story points that serve as inspiration.

[@MichaelStrathmore]

Hello! The following are my real-time reactions as I watch Star Trek: Strange New Worlds S1E3 - Ghosts of Illyria. All and all a fair episode that falls apart a bit in the second half. Just a reminder, you may like something I don't, and I may like something you don't. These comments are meant to be tongue in cheek, so let's have a chuckle or two. Also note, I only watch each episode once, so some nonsense I'm complaining about might be answered before the credits roll. Read if you like, don't if you don't. Extra points if you watch the episode with this list - and your pause button - at the ready. Thanks in advance for your time! ***SPOILERS*** 1) Wow, the special effects are incredible on this planet. 2) When I read the title for this episode a few weeks back I took the liberty of looking up the Illyrians again. I'm really hoping we don't get a shoehorned line that tells us the fate of that Illyrian craft Archer interacted with. Part of what made that [ENT SPOILERS] decision to attack them so haunting was that we never found out if they made it back home alive. 3) Wait, the Illyrians augmented themselves? Maybe I'm misremembering the episode, but their species seemed like fairly inconsequential pushovers, no? 4) The Illyrians wanted into the Federation eh? That's cool. Guess they [ENT SPOILERS] didn't hold a grudge against humanity afterall. Or maybe that craft never survived the Expanse long enough to tell the rest of their people what humanity did to them. *gulp* 5) Not gonna lie, for a second there I thought Ensign Lance was Commander Jett Reno. I'm not proud of it, but it's true. 6) Haha they are filming at Ontario Place. As a Toronto native I find this hilarious. They really did a good job at capturing the look and feel of that dump. The "mistake by the lake", as we Torontonians like to say. 7) Anytime we get a shot of Engineering is okay in my book. This set is stunning. That shape in the background does look like the kind of thing Iron Man would wear on his chest though. 8) I could use a little less "I'm a genius" dialogue in this show. And I really could use less inappropriate questions from all crewmembers in times of crisis, but at least Hemmer snaps Kyle back to the task at hand with some urgency. 9) The storm is causing too much interference for transporters. Seems odd that the crew didn't seem to consider a shuttle for this mission. I appreciate that they are likely still repairing the one busted up after Spock's last joyride, but the Shuttle Bay should have several. 10) Number One taking charge and dolling out orders on the bridge feels like the first time this ship has succeeded in depicting the paramilitary feel that this show has lacked. That said, it's not a big deal for Una to be in command. She literally had to do it for months when Pike was onboard the Discovery. This director is over-emphasising this moment as something more grand than it should be. I'm gonna go out on a limb here and suggest this director has probably never worked on Star Trek before... 11) Not Jett Reno is getting naked in the corridor. Nice legs! 12) Number One is not getting naked in her quarters. (Boo.) She is, however, doing her best Dark Phoenix impersonation. I thought she was Mystique? 13) Oh my goodness, how could I forget that ridiculous wig on Nurse Chapel. Just kind of jumps out at ya, doesn't it? 14) Una lies to M'Benga about her symptoms. Hmm. 15) If infected crew are attracted to light, mercy are they are on the right ship! This ship is like the anti-Discovery with how bright everything is. Lorca would be stabbing his eyes out on this lightbulb of a vessel! 16) Hemmer's curmudgeonly nature almost excuses him for giving sass to the First Officer. Almost. 17) Number One chats it up with Pike, and I'm pretty sure he doesn't have access to a screen for this abbreviated conversation. 18) Number One's researching and giving out instructions to Singh like a First Officer would. I dig it. More of this please, especially if Pike is going to continue to be depicted as a passive leader. 19) La'An Noonien Singh is related to Khan? Whoa boy is that gonna irritate a lot of Star Trek fans. Oof why would they do this? This smells like Akiva Goldsman nonsense. Seems utterly inconceivable that the Enterprise came upon a Singh before, you know, coming upon a Singh. Wow. They really did make this character related to Khan didn't they? Like, for what purpose other than to feed into nostalgic memberberries? 20) Apparently Singh is an expert on Khan. If only she could have told her superior officers about him and the Botany Bay then perhaps the future captain of this very ship might have better been prepared for encountering him. Also, why wouldn't Khan ask about his descendant serving on this very ship when he learns about the time that's passed? Is the suggestion that the genius Khan didn't find records of her when he studied this Enterprise, or that it wasn't important to him? Or perhaps La'An is dead by the time he's awoken by Kirk? Just seems odd that the man who, "never forgets a face" would seemingly overlook the face of his cousin. 21) Una gives more ship-wide orders - I dig it. Though I wonder who might be sad to learn that they are "non-essential personnel" on this ship lol. 22) Hemmer runs so tight a department that all he need do is snap, and his crew fall in line. I dig it. 23) Cut to Pike and Spock. I'm of two minds about this scene. On the positive side, this is the first time when I felt that Spock actually sounded like Spock. Until now, the writers seemed to have been writing the character as though he were Data. On the less than positive side, it's disappointing to see Pike continue his streak as inconsequential or worse - downright useless. He does next to nothing as the leader of this crew. He even chastises Spock for not being fast enough without so much as lifting a finger to help himself. 24) Oh look, some golden Death Eaters are flying around. I guess it's safe to say this is what became of the colonists? 25) Uhura's roommates look like they are playing with the same ball of light that Jean-Luc was handling in season 2 of Picard. You know, Picard suffering from some crazy light disease might actually make that season more easy to understand. 26) This Sick Bay is as big as a mall, has an Emergency Medical Transporter, and now an Auxiliary Bay? Holy smokes did Bones get shafted! 27) The scene between Hemmer and M'Benga is not clear. Hemmer is confused as to why the lights have dimmed when he scans this panel? Why? And why is M'Benga subtly turning the lights back on again? 28) Golden Death Eaters nearly take Spock's neck off, and since he's half human I wonder, where exactly is his carotid artery might be located. PART TWO FOLLOWS...

[@MichaelStrathmore]

PART TWO.. 29) Not gonna lie, it's hilarious that the "lights off" version of the Enterprise is still brighter than anything on the Discovery. 30) Who the heck is "Commander Chin-Riley"? Oof fans are not gonna like that. 31) Number One clears the classified information from the screen before leaving. Nice detail. 32) Hemmer looks to be going mad. Good thing there is a phaser just lying around. Lazy writing. Less than nice detail. 33) Director chooses this ridiculous slow motion shot of Number One carrying Hemmer down the corridor. It's not cool. It's heavy-handed. Stop watching Discovery when you prepare, directors. Start watching Bernan-era Trek instead. 34) Turns out the Golden Death Eaters aren't Death Eaters at all. Their CG isn't great, but at least these creature's intentions are. What's one nearly decapitated Vulcan amongst friends amirite!? 35) Wait, what? Giving Number One a name is one thing, but giving her a new species is quite another. Whoa momma are Star Trek fans are not gonna like this. I'm so confused. So she is not human? Why doesn't she look Illyrian? How was she able to get this far into Starfleet without anyone knowing? Yikes, this is the kind of unnecessary retcon that irritates fans. And I can't say that I blame them. 36) Why is Nurse Chapel telling Number One that Doctor M'Benga has no experience with Illyrians? How would she knows this? Can he not speak for himself when it comes to his experiences? Less Chapel in general would be great. Can you imagine if Nurse Ogawa was this obnoxious? Beverly Crusher would have reassigned her almost immediately. 37) M'Benga tells Number One that she is immune, that he needed to be near her at the point of infection. I'm confused as to why Una then can't be infected again? What would happen if infected blood were injected into her system? Might not M'Benga be able to capture his novel antibodies at that time? 38) Why isn't Chapel affected? It's the bad wig protecting her isn't it? 39) What is it about the Singh family trying to overload the Enterprise warp core? 40) So, retcons with Una aside, this episode was going relatively okay until now. But I'm afraid this scene between Singh and Number One cannot be excused. And so again, this is a general note to the show as a whole, and even though they couldn't give a damn about me barking at the clouds, I nevertheless hope they heed my sentiments moving forward. Anytime you have a crisis in the show - ANYTIME - do not make it both the moment of life or death as well as the same exact time when you have an aside between your characters. Just don't do it. No expository nonsense when something is about to explode or someone is about to die. It's sloppy and lazy writing that justifies all the criticisms levied at you by fans who think you "don't know Star Trek" well enough. Take the latest example of this egregious nonsense with this Engineering scene between La'An and Una. The warp core is about to breach. That means ship goes boom boom. Don't make your smart characters do something ridiculous. La'An telling Una how she feels about augments is ridiculous, but one might argue she is infected and speaking out of turn. Fine. But the First Officer, especially if she is genetically modified, should be smart enough to know that every second spent on this chat with Singh is another second she isn't containing the warp core breach. It is utterly inconceivable that Una wouldn't use that super strength to knock Singh out, and seal the breach. Instead, she has a pow wow with her pal before knocking her out and, oh well too late, all organic matter is now being exposed to toxic levels of radiation. Even after knocking out Singh does Una fail to stop the breach. Make no mistake, even though the show cuts away from her Dark Phoenix moment, the Enterprise will be exploding with everyone onboard. Good job writers & director! And for what? So that the director can shoot a self-indulgent moment of Una getting roasted by this virus while the light beams around her? This is bad, self-indulgent directing folks. It fails to create any suspense or tension. 41) Pike seems to be the only human alive that didn't assume that the colonists became those Golden Death Eaters. Really hoping this guy finds a way to be useful and smarter than what we've seen thus far. 42) A throwaway line telling us that Una reestablishes the containment field around the warp core before ship goes boom boom. I'm sorry, this is just lazy writing making up for the cheap dramatic effect from a self-indulgent director. 43) This explanation of "chimeric antibodies" saving Singh because she... happened to be close enough to Una is absolutely ridiculous. Singh should have [WRATH OF KHAN SPOILERS] ended up looking like her ancestor Khan did at the end of Wrath of Khan. 44) Nurse Chapel doing her job tells everyone else that she is good at her job. Dude check yourself. M'Benga literally said he'd have done this first, if he could have. What is it with these characters boasting about doing the jobs they've been hired to do? Uhura's "So the time for genius!" Hemmer's "I'm a genius." And now Chapel's "I know I'm good at my job." Barf me a river. Where is that grumpy granny Admiral to remind them all of their, "Sheer f*cking hubris!" 45) Cut to the mess hall. Beautiful set. I only wish the boring, copious amounts of expository dialogue didn't tarnish the place. Singh is still butt-hurt. *yawn* Una reveals that her species has the ability to modify themselves depending on the environment they inhabit. Countless questions. How literal are we meant to take this information? She's not a shape shifter is she? Wouldn't that be hilarious for this actor again. Seriously, is that why she doesn't look Illyrian? Did she manifest her organs to seem human? Is that how she fooled Starfleet Medical all these years? What else can she do? Does she even need to breathe? Doubtless the writers will remember this very useful character trait as this show progresses... 46) Oh mercy. Strawberries? Strawberries are the "comfort food" for BOTH of you? PUH-LEEZE. Give me a Deanna Troi chocolate sundae like a real person already. Strawberries. Get that garbage outta here pffft! 47) Awwww it's almost adorable that Number One is resigning for all the rules she broke. Don't you know that NuTrek writers haven't a clue how to write actual lasting consequences for their characters? Silly Una. Tricks are for.. given. 48) Haha and almost exactly on cue we have a scene with yet another character who has broken rules and regulations yet will suffer no consequences. Welcome to the club, M'Benga! 49) And speaking of "welcome to the club"... M'Benga and Una join the ever growing ranks of characters we've barely had a minute to get to know yet we're treated to their sob stories and expected to feel something for them? Look, I understand trauma and Star Trek characters are like peanut butter and jelly, but writers do a disservice to the audience whenever most of their character's traumas come off screen, and we learn of it before we barely even know their names. It's hard to fully empathize with a character we don't know, but it's not impossible. For example, we feel awful for Benjamin Sisko. Know why? Because [DS9 SPOILERS] we watched him watch his wife die as he felt helpless to stop it. We only just met him, yet our heart breaks for him. We felt terrible for the Voyager crew. Why? Because [VOY SPOILERS] we watched them get flung 75-years from home, and seeing them experience the struggle of not knowing if they'd ever make it back home again made us better appreciate their predicament. Yes it's nice to witness Pike struggle with his future, and at least we get to see M'Benga's pain over his daughter's current condition, but it still doesn't discount the fact that, despite being only three episodes in, we are treated to a lot of off-camera trauma with most of this cast. I just think we deserve to see it, and only by seeing it will it resonate more effectively. 50) As for M'Benga's daughter, I'm sorry Doc but her pattern should have dissipated in the buffer when Pike ordered all ship systems be switched off last episode. Moreover why wasn't her pattern an issue when Nurse Chapel used the Emergency Medical Transporter two episodes ago? 51) Maybe I missed it, but I'm also not connecting the dots as to why any of this is M'Benga's fault. His transporter wasn't used at all this episode, and I'm not clear as to why then it's his fault that the virus came aboard. 52) Una's personal log. "The lights are back on, but that doesn't mean we see clearly." Oof what cheese lol. 53) Una is smart enough to delete her personal log entry. I dig it. 54) Ridiculous transition from Una to M'Benga aside, I think it's sweet that he reads to his daughter. CONCLUSION All in all not a terrible episode. But not great either. It's nice to see Una be the executive officer. It's troublesome to see Pike continue to be the least useful crewmember aboard the Enterprise. Too much trauma, and too much self congratulatory nonsense. Oh, and I'm pretty sure the ship should have blown up. SCORE 5 out of 10 SCORES 1 - Unwatchable 2 - Disaster 3 - Terrible 4 - Bad 5 - Fair 6 - Good 7 - Very Good 8 - Great 9 - Truly Special 10 - Masterpiece

[@johnbockelie3899]

As far I know the lady who is related to Khan is referring to her distant past. Her ancestor is Khan Noonian Singh. No one has any idea that Khan is still alive some where in a sleeper ship, launched back in 1996.

[@GPsarakis]

No one knows, in the TOS space seed episode it's been specifically noted by Spock that there is no records of the ship or when it left Earth or who was on it. It's a ghost ship when they find it.

[@thomashill6347]

Ok I have listened to what you have said First I got a TOS episode ALL OUR YESTERDAY library feel then, TOS episode The Naked Time. I agree that the finding of the cure was way to easy, In the TOS episode Miri and in The Omega Glory we see Dr. McCoy working with all kinds of thing searching for a cure, I didn't like the Daughter story, IT makes like sense and it took up time that could have made it better. I like your idea of making the crews effect of the virus more then it was. The DUMBY OF HEMMER over the shoulder was just BAD. I got a pepper pots feel when Una started to GLOW red/orange from IRON MAN 3. But all said and done it was a good episode not as good as the last two. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

[@markmadonia2867]

It's only been 3 episodes Trek has been around longer than you have been alive all shows have bad episodes Spock's Brain comes to mind so relax Qa'pla and "Hit it"

[@thomashill6347]

NOW if you love TOS YOU should like the Star Trek Continues series of 11 episodes I am watching these last few days GREAT STUFF actors are good LOVE seeing the ship in all it's glory

[@treklad]

I hear good things about Star Trek Continues, but I've never dipped into the world of fan productions. Maybe I'll give them a go one day.

[@thomashill6347]

@@treklad I sure you will like it for the true feeling of TOS

[@thundergodcid960]

I disagree with your take on the virus, it SHOULDN’T be an allegory to COVID lockdowns or whatever, cuz that would be too on the nose. Keeping it as a typical virus episode was a smart move on the writer’s part.

[@GPsarakis]

Yeah I think the virus itself was just a side point in the plot. The main focus was on Una and the idea of being different and being treated bad if you are etc.

[@kev30631]

I read your response treklad, to some one, where you said the doctor drama felt tacked on? I felt that exactly! I thought the number one reveal needed time by itself. Let the audience breathe....take it in. I dont like the back to back character tragedy (suffering). It's too much. It's too soon. These characters are already liked (loved) out the gate. They dont all need that kind of crutch. I have not read any strong negative anything about these "characters". The story is what they have to navigate. Thank God this show is episodic. That is and incredible strength , that it has going for it.

[@GPsarakis]

You have a point that it feels rushed but they only have 10 episodes this season and I think it's easier to view that scene as a prologue to his episode which we're bound to get later.

[@MatthewCaunsfield]

Nice to focus on Una for a change. I agree that it makes no sense why Na'an (or indeed any of her ancestors) wouldn't just change their surname to avoid prejudice

[@01talima]

best episode yet , ok no one on the writers team is big on science or trek (we still have people being bullied and being openly racist) but it was kept to silly, no face headbutting the desk stupidity this week ,no terrible retcons demonstrating fundemantal lacks of understanding, just slightly odd ones. possibly the best trek in the last 20 years (a tragically low bar) , tried to do too much didnt give anything the time it deserved, better characters with more intreresting stories. if they calm down and smarten up maybe hire someone who did highschool science and has watched TNG at least this could be good! 3/5 seems about right

[@markmadonia2867]

Trek has 700 hours plus to choose from How many bad episodes? A handful Can't get a better record than that And it's been going on 57 years so there you go "That's why we're aboard her"

[@GPsarakis]

Isn't the rule for "canon" that anything in the books/novels doesn't count unless it's used in a TV series? Does this not apply to that discovery book for some reason? The part about her looking different than the ones we saw in the Enterprise episode could be explained by Unas talk with La'an at the end where she says that Illyrians modify their bodies to fit their environment and not trying to bend nature/terraform a planet to fit their needs. So I just chalk it up to the ones in Enterprise having different mods and living in a different planet that needed them.

[@jefferywilson456]

Meh…..Anson Mount’s hair saves another episode! 😂