Star Trek: Strange New Worlds S1E6: Lift Us Where Suffering Cannot Reach Recap & Review

[@treklad]

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

[@MichaelStrathmore]

I love that you loved the episode. But if you read nothing else, #7 & #69 is why I ultimately gave it a thumbs down. Let me know your thoughts if you have time.

[@culturecanvas777]

It's like classic trek. I like this new direction. I think Akiva and Kurtzman finally got their act together.

[@JohnSmith-el6lk]

So far their hasn't been an episode that was so good that I watched it twice. That's what's missing that classic Star Trek had.

[@williamwolfe1986]

Man this is one of the best episode for this new season! Very good going to get my wife to watch it! Yes 4.5 stars

[@treklad]

@@williamwolfe1986 Snap! I sat and watched with my wife (who never watches Trek with me) - she loved it!

[@chess2bell]

Strange New Worlds has given me a great feeling: that I am finally watching Star Trek again :)

[@aquasnek5487]

This. Discovery was a mess. SNW and Picard have been excellent.

[@cjpark5748]

Capt Picard from the episode "Man of the People" - "You cannot explain away a wantonly immoral act because you think that it's connected to some higher purpose." "Do you think that makes you appear courageous? Because you're mistaken. You're a coward, Alkar. You exploit the innocent because you're unwilling to shoulder the burdens of unpleasant emotions." "That does not justify brutalising her nor any of the others you have used."

[@treklad]

Fantastic quote - very applicable here.

[@Kiyosuki]

I think one of the most messed up things about this episode is the implication that the Majalin people could, if they tried, find an alternative to the system they're relying on now. Their planet is "lava and acid lakes", with their entire civilization floating in the clouds over it. This kind of implies to me that their planet underwent some sort of terrible cataclysm which could have destroyed their civilization if it weren't for the Sacrifice, somehow uplifting or allowing parts of their land to remain suspended in the air. Still messed up, but it might have been at the time an act of desperation. Thing is though, is fast forward a long time in the future...possibly decades to even hundreds of years, and they're still relying upon the sacrifice despite the fact they obviously have access to advanced knowledge, they don't seem to have much of a space presence. They remain closed off to outsiders, including the Federation, partially out of pride and partially probably because of the fear of being judged for what they've done to survive (though the "secret" might be out when Pike reports to his superiors.)...closing themselves off to outside help. A subset of their own people fully realize how messed up the whole thing is and have severed themselves from the society, but are left to a barren planet with subpar technology and are made out to be pariahs for it...but it shows that even if their technological level may take a hit, it is possible for them to seek out a new home. There *are* alternatives. It is the harder path but there are alternatives, but they'd rather not change and not move presumably because it's easier and that's whats really messed up.

[@valueofnothing2487]

It's a terrible episode! This is madness.

[@culturecanvas777]

Ironically, they SHOULD join the Federation. The exchange of technology and resources will be great benefit to both sides.

[@kev30631]

That was a long read. I think you pretty much solved everything 👍

[@beta_cygni1950]

@@kev30631 It wasn't *that* long...

[@troylowe814]

They're doing a good job with M'Benga's story. You really feel for his dilemma.

[@victorpradha9946]

It's strange because he would be accepting medical advancements from a society that clearly achieves what they have through a very explicit form of exploitation. A child is sacrificed every so often to sustain their way of life. M'Benga would in effect be accepting the fruits of these sacrifices to save his own child. Talk about morally complex!

[@tfcabral]

Brilliant analysis! Subscribed for this!

[@robinj.9329]

Yup! I found the entire premise of this episode truly disturbing! What a horror to have to live with. Can't even imagine any "Advanced Civilization" doing anything like this!

[@robertdrash1105]

I mostly agree with your evaluation with one caveat. When Pike's ex is defending her people's practice by pointing out disparity between the haves and have nots in the federation she was wrong. The Federation is a post-scarcity civilization. They don't have poverty. It annoys me that some of the new writers forget that. The theme is compelling and I liked the episode but you have to match the storytelling to the world you set your story in.

[@Kiyosuki]

I didn't get the impression they forgot that the Federation is post scarcity. I felt she was trying to make a desperate straw man's argument towards the Federation, saying that despite its good intentions, still can't take care of every single suffering child out in the universe. There are outposts, like the one the Yars came from in TNG, and other pockets of the edges of federation space where disparity is still happening. The universe is big so outliers happen. So in other words, a desperate attempt to say "you can't judge us! What about the suffering children you're responsible for!?" Obviously though it's still a fallacy because while the Federation isn't infallable or perfect, which continues well after Pike's era as we all know, there is an active sentiment to try to find ways to improve what isn't working, whereas the Majalin people all know about the sacrifice and not only openly accept it...but actively take steps to *not* change it or find a better way. I got the impression that both Pike, and Alura know that...it's meant to be a flimsy argument because she's trying to convince herself. That's how I saw that scene anyways. It's not meant to be a matter of equivalency, but rather how far people can go into self denial because she must know how messed up it is...but she and her people refuse to change irregardless because it's more convenient.

[@wadehampton5116]

I had the exact same thought. Its like the writers just couldn't let a chance to beat us over the head with social commentary go by. Otherwise, the best episode yet. Note to writers...let the story tell the story. you didn't need the heavy handed poverty line.

[@cb-gz1vl]

I think the big distinction is the federation has bad events that are usually due to bad circumstances. In this planet's case, they are intentionally sacrificing a child.

[@rubaiyat300]

Tarsus IV was literally just more than a decade before this episode. Where a potential famine started a panic and opportunity for a madman to slaughter half the population of a colony. One known child survivor of this being Kirk. Likely his brother as well. And obviously others. The Federation of the 23rd century was absolutely not a post scarcity society though it obviously had a strong ethic of social care when possible.

[@rubaiyat300]

Cue musical sting. “You’re talking about slavery.” - Jean Luc Picard Star Trek has never been subtle and sometimes you need the anvil to make your point. Heck the little conversation where that line comes from was all about WHY your point can’t be subtle sometimes. “A comfortable, easy euphemism.”

[@jayvansickle7607]

I am constantly surprised how I forget that Una is Rebecca Romijn.

[@krisweinschenker598]

I think you are spot on with your review. This was favorite episode of SNW, as it was classic Trek. It didn't get bogged down with character development and told a thought provoking story with subtle political commentary.

[@tomk3732]

This does feel like classical ST. It would fit right in with TNG and other shows after it. Very well done. Star Trek is back!

[@Otokichi786]

This episode took me back to Poul Anderson's short story, "Kings Who Die." In that war story, people could be used to control machines. I also remember the "South American Ice Mummy Children" who were sacrificed "for the good of their people." I missed the "floating city" detail, which threw me off the "our planet is dominated by lava and acid lakes" justification for "Ascension." Oh well, The Prime Directive applies here, even if it doesn't exist yet for the Federation.

[@GPsarakis]

We're down to our final 4 episodes, the preview for next one hints at more suspense/action compared to this one. I think the key part of this episode is the fact that Pike can't save the kid in the end. And the counter points Alora brings up hit deep and you see Pike can't say anything and just beams out. As great as the Federation is it's not perfect and there's always someone suffering that falls through the cracks.

[@MsMarlena55]

Disgusting there is nothing new about sacrificing. No true inside can be gained from this and frankly two Vicks is a less controversial episode. Nevertheless it was good to see Pike and some other and give hope to the doctor about his daughter

[@LMinem]

This is a slightly sideways telling of "Those Who Walk Away from Omelas." ... not a plagiarism as there is much more context. However, knowing the Omelas story helps one see the theme of this one.

[@STho205]

That is when Star Trek is at its best. Not the pew pew buck rogers space man stuff all the time, which keeps series going and entertains the peanut gallery like westerns did, but when they choose a deep thoughtful story from a classic and adapt it to a screenplay. That's why Twilight Zone was great. That's why Ray Bradbury was great. That's why Forbidden Planet was great. That's why Babylon 5 was so deeply good.

[@markusbisma5015]

Could they at least acknowledge Ursula K. Guin in the credit? And Alex Kurtzman got sued for the movie The Island for copying The Clonus Horror.

[@LMinem]

@@markusbisma5015 Well, that might be a complicated matter. There is a enough difference that it might be not be appropriate, even insulting. I do not know the norms of these matters. I enjoyed noticing the resonance between the stories.

[@thomashill6347]

Like always I like hearing your thoughts on the episode, I will re-watch tomorrow night at 10:00pm on CTV Sci-Fi channel here in Toronto Canada thanks for sharing your opinions I have watched YOUR REVIEW ON TOS S1E1 so I am waiting for S1E2

[@treklad]

Thanks as always Thomas - Charlie X is in the works!

[@11B30Inf]

So the child was being used like a battery.....Just like "The Matrix" folks.

[@STho205]

Which was pulled from Omelas Which was pulled from Joyce Which is pulled from Iphigenia ....

[@Otokichi786]

Look for Poul Anderson's short story "Kings Who Die." In that war story, Humans could "do the command and control" thing.

[@pookiesis1465]

It reminds me of Torchwood children of earth

[@fturla]

Episode 6 of Star Trek Strange New Worlds is a variant plot story to Star Trek TOS episode 6 of season 3, where Spock is abducted and his brain is removed to function as the main computer for an entire civilization.

[@treklad]

Spock's Brain? That was the first episode of season 3. Definitely connective tissue though with the exploitation of one to benefit the many.

[@STho205]

Nah it is from: "The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas" A 1973 award winning novel...about a utopia, but not space travel. The moral is to walk away. You can't fix it. To fix it is to kill everyone in floating utopia. The formula of the founders is mathematically logical. One sacrifice for millions/billions. A sacrifice of a child is the longest possible service to the controller, thus the fewest sacrifices over time. However close up it is torture and murder...no matter how they dress it up.

[@krisweinschenker598]

I see a.lot of people elsewhere making that connection, but that episode had sooooo many plot holes, and the civilization in that STOLE brains rather than had people willingly sacrifice themselves

[@fturla]

@@treklad Thanks for the response. I do not know if the Spock's Brain episode was actually the official 1st or 6th episode for the 3rd season, I only checked the Star Trek wiki to state that others believe it was the 6th. As for remembering the order of the TOS episodes as they played in the 1970s and 1980s, I was never such an avid fan to remember the order.

[@valueofnothing2487]

Hah! It's the 6th episode in production, but the first filmed. The reason why this is sort of important is that it is good to know that they actually made some good episodes in the beginning of the third season of TOS. But, Spock's brain is superior, since Kirk saves the day, while PIke - being an inferior captain - fails miserably.

[@markusbisma5015]

They should have at least acknowledge Ursula K. Guin in the credit. This is taken from her short story. It's a still good episode tho.

[@MrARock001]

I was a little disappointed by Alora pointing out that apparently there is still child poverty and deprivation in the Federation. This goes against everything that we have been told about the Federation in all other canon. Poverty, disease and war were supposed to have been eliminated within the Federation.

[@beta_cygni1950]

That was the point, though. That wasnt trying to suddenly rewrite the post-scarcity Federation society. The point of that dialog was to show that she was setting up a false equivalency, and that she KNEW what she was doing was wrong but was trying to justify her actions. We know what her dialog was trying to imply BECAUSE we know they economics of the Federation.

[@puffnstuff12]

Loved it!

[@CulturePhilter]

I know you thought they wasted M’benga’s story as a tag on to a previous ep but now we’ve seen we’re going to be getting it build gradually spread over multiple episodes (like here) have your feelings on it changed?

[@treklad]

My feelings that it was unnecessarily tacked onto the end of E3 haven't changed. My issue wasn't with the content, but rather the delivery. The content itself has benefitted from further development, and yes, as a father I'm definitely susceptible to its emotional beats. I like M'Benga so looking forward to seeing where they go with it next.

[@CulturePhilter]

@@treklad - I do really like that we’ve got this ongoing arc for one character that can be gradually developed over the season rather than it all being dealt with in one episode.

[@geraldmiller5260]

Finally Star Trek is saved. After the dreck of Discovery and Picard.

[@culturecanvas777]

Yes

[@kev30631]

I think discovery and picard COULD have been good. The basic ideas where good , but the execution was wrong. Discovery should have tightly, tightly stuck to the visual design and look of the original star trek. The characters should have talked and looked like they perfectly matched the 1960 show. Picard should not have been retired on a farm making wine. That is the most stupidest, dumbest idea a person could have thought of for a great character like captain Picard.

[@aquasnek5487]

Great episode! LeGuin for a new generation. I would walk away. I don't care how much I suffer, I'll have no direct part in a child suffering.

[@geraldmiller5260]

Retire Pike's hair...looks like a bad bouffant from the sixties.

[@SgtMinuteman]

Thats the idea.....TOS prequel circa 1950

[@STho205]

I thought this one would not resonate with fans that do not read serious fiction. Good on them for doing it. Everything is not comic book, pew pew, or Hornblower classic illustrated.

[@DarrylsB]

Great review

[@treklad]

Thank you!

[@paulsommerhalder9049]

Captain WedgeHair got played by an alien lover....Captain Kirk preferred green women, Pike has a more normal pallette....😊

[@thomashill6347]

Good evening TREKLAD, I have watched the episode once and have listen to many reviews, I started with a score of 10/10 then it went down as low as 8.5/10 NOW as of this time it is 9/10 So lets hear your thoughts

[@kev30631]

I think they have a good star trek show. They are over that hump. This show is solid and deserves to be along side the better trek stuff. Next Gen. DS9, Voyager. And not just have the derogatory label as " Nu trek." The problem they face is feeding the content. Coming up with ideas. They need to pay homage to the creators they lift from , period. If that's your approach, and you can produce Great trek stories( like this one) great. Just graciously, humbily, acknowledge these writers or better yet, pay them to pitch story ideas. Just a thought

[@JohnSmith-el6lk]

I'm sorry, but I didn't walk away from this episode thinking it was great. Mediocre at best. The writers have a high bar to meet with "Classic Star Trek" Maybe my expectations are unrealistic that New Star Trek can be duplicated.

[@kev30631]

@@JohnSmith-el6lk it's not suppose to be duplicated. You just want something to stand beside it , with equal quality. Which is possible. Star trek the next generation, DS9, Voyager...

[@bethgarduno318]

Is this where the Borg started?

[@SgtMinuteman]

No. The machine planet Voyager 7 encountered in the ST:TMP movie. Decker and Ilea are the Adam & Eve.

[@johnedwarddanila2498]

Thank for the recap i might just listen to your channel because i can't watch star trek for it is unavailable where i am. This is kind of painful to me because majalans can't even bend thier own culture to protect the children of thier world but on the other side it kind of seems alright because they some say "The needs of one cannot weight the needs of many" which i hate sometimes. On contrast to the planet with thier technology they should have created an alternative for thier power needs rather than sacrificing a child for thier own good, which is for me is a chicken move for the people who wants to leave the life from the surface of thier planet. Anyway thank you for this because i can't quite understand the episode from just watching clips from youtube.

[@thomashill6347]

Ok here are a few NIT PICKS 1- NO other Captain NOT EVEN Archer would not try to beam over the ship they just fired on PLUS Enterprise has more then one transporter room SO THEY COULD beam both ships crew over. 2 - Pike introduces Number One as Lieutenant Commander NOT commander Una Riley BUT SHE IS WEARING FULL COMMANDER STRIPS.

[@twinwankel]

To me, M'Benga's story is one of selfishness. Because he is doctor on board a star ship, he can leverage his position to stowaway his daughter so that she can get a potential cure. He doesn't see that this is unethical. There are countless children suffering from diseases who die without hope and he can secretly hide his child and give him/her hope. It's disgusting. The writer's of this show doesn't even see the hypocrisy of this. He is siphoning and steeling resources for his own self gain. Why don't he keep other sick children on board too? Why just his own child? Because he doesn't care about anyone else's child but his own. Totally against his oath as a doctor. Bones would been applaud. Bones was all about self sacrifice. M'Benga is only willing to sacrifice the entire ship for his daughter. He is the lowest of the low.

[@SgtMinuteman]

How do you know there arent buffers full of sick children on earth or on a medical research station? I think your being too judgmental. Ultimately you will do what you have to do to care for someone you love.... see John Q movie with Denzel. His oath is not violated by trying to save his daughter. He didnt allow his transporter upgrade not knowing it could endanger the ship.

[@jefferywilson456]

A shame towards the end of the series that the episodes finally start to make sense.

[@DanielBrown-sn9op]

It's sad because when ST DSC did the same thing with relevant, serious episodes designed to make us think and feel without telling us what to think and feel, many Trekkers hated it. I'm so glad to have seen this by SNW, but the double standard by many Trekkers, stinks.

[@ktammi]

The ridiculous plot twists and one dimensional characters that were written to just mostly suffer or cry made DSC the second worst waste of my time right after Picard. The characters in DSC were so obnoxious I just waited for them to die. Especially Burnham, you cant award someone with a ship for starting a war, thats not how ST works!

[@desa415]

I think this is symbolic of child sacrifice.

[@cjpark5748]

yup and it's reality on our planet but no one wants to face it.

[@andreapinzow1630]

This episode is an excellent story. It gives tge watcher a morale dilemma. Is it your place to like this society or not like it because the.use one child to save the rest of the society. Each culture is different and it is not your place to change it .My personal feelings because I am a mother that I think itbis amoral to use children like this because these people praise the child and remember him for his sacrifice. They have done this for centuries. Pike has a human is horrorified in this and this is understandable. He know sacrifice since he knows he will sacrifice his life to save others that will put in in a wheel chair I give this episode a grade of A

[@francismcmenamin982]

The only suffering involves sitting through this Frankenstein's Monster on a surgical table of a show! For retro Star Trek at its best search for TOS and Star Trek Continues! SNW -the Show Nobody Watches continues to plumb the depths much like its Kurtzman predecessors Discovery and Picard and has been an abomination from day Number One!

[@andtheIRS-vz5pf]

It didn't end well. To many questions. Did they save the child? Did the doctor ever help his daughter with her sickness? Did the boys father ever get off the enterprise After his son was sacrificed?

[@cb-gz1vl]

This seems rather contrived. I doubt the child is "powering" anything. More than likely his brain is used as a main processor.

[@slewone4905]

My interpretation of Powering is being processor.

[@beta_cygni1950]

It doesn't matter either way. The end result is the same regardless.

[@polemeros]

Well, at least they didn't turn Pike into a Jewish-African transgender in a wheelchair yet. So there's that.

[@katrineroberts4084]

Thry must have waxed pike's chest hair. Shame. I am a straight woman and I like men's body hair very sex disappointing. That stomach hair with a line pointing downwards to interesting realms. Anson Mount has a large tattoo that was covered up too. Oh yes the beast below was similar in concept but without the link to the doctor himself, another person alone helping out those in trouble.

[@katrineroberts4084]

I loved it too.

[@JohnSmith-el6lk]

Reading comments that this was a "Great Episode" I must be missing something ? It was ok, but I'm not feeling the excitement others are with this episode/series. It's superior to the Woke-Discovery series but still missing something ?

[@Jarial7]

No child dyeing is a good show it should not be shown really its really horrible if you lost a child like I did no one in their right mind could enjoy it watch your child die to see if you could watch something like that its not about rich discussion for me

[@MichaelStrathmore]

Hello! The following are my real-time reactions as I watch Star Trek: Strange New Worlds S1E6 - Lift Us Where Suffering Cannot Reach. All and all not a great episode. Really unoriginal, wholly predictable, and a large plot hole or two. Unfortunately Pike continues to be depicted not only as prejudiced against other alien species, but also as one of the least deft captains in the history of this franchise. My hope is that this post will spark substantive discussion amongst Star Trek fans here as well as on other channels. Read if you like, don't if you don't. 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. Extra points if you rewatch the episode with this list - and your pause button - at the ready. Thanks in advance for your time! ***SPOILERS*** 1) Pike references the Majalan System, and I admit that it isn't jogging a memory. Either I have too many cobwebs clouding up my brain or this isn't a well known system. 2) 10 years ago Pike was nearly killed here on a "rescue mission". Maybe this is from Beta canon, from a novel? Trying to do quick math in my head to determine if Pike was the First Officer of the Enterprise 10 years ago. 3) A distress shuttle from a non-Federation shuttle under attack. So much for a less eventful cartography mission! 4) Ensign Shanker at Communications. Maybe the other ensign is still being punished for Enterprise Bingo? 5) Look, I understand that Uhura is on rotation with other departments, but in a real world scenario, when the Enterprise is being fired upon, it is negligent of the Security Chief not to relieve her of her duties and assume her post. 6) Exactly. *sigh* With Uhura still manning this post she misses and causes more damage to the ship than intended. She also blames the fact that the target "changed course right into our weapons" despite the fact that the visuals show the craft not remotely doing that whatsoever. Uhura is a bad shot as well as a bad liar. 7) So the shuttle that was being fired upon is asking for immediate evacuation. That's all well and good, but what about the other craft is falling towards the planet after Uhura blew them to smithereens? Is anyone remotely concerned that the Enterprise is just letting them potentially fall to their doom? With so little information as to why this conflict is taking place, might it not behoove the Enterprise to resolve this as peacefully as possible? 8) I wonder which lesson it is on Singh's list that teaches cadets the importance of accompanying Captains and First Officers to the Transporter Room when receiving unknown alien species onto the ship? 9) Alora? No idea who this is. Again, maybe from a novel? Gotta love Number One asking, "You know her captain?" Nope! These two are clearly just meeting one another for the first time, Una. Bless her knucklehead heart. 10) Oh my, quite a bit of sexual tension going on here. Aloha Alora! 11) Pike asking if the boy is this man's father seems inappropriate, but I'll allow it. Seems like a clunky way for the scene not to tell us the dynamics of these three Majalans. Family? Coworkers? Maybe we can sex stare at one another after we ascertain why they were being fired upon..? 12) M'Benga is reading with his kid again. She miraculously survived the repeated loss of Transporter systems across a few episodes. I'm still bitter that these writers couldn't have found SOME way to get this kid fly-fishing with her dad last week. Yes, I'm aware that she can't survive long outside of the pattern buffer, but it was such a missed opportunity by the doctor to not transport her to the lake for a few minutes. Just because M'Benga has his daughter's transporter on a timer - doesn't mean it should be relegated to Sick Bay. 13) Is it me? Or does Alora's eye ridges remind anyone of E.T.'s eye sockets? 14) Seems a little ridiculous that this First Servant, two days from ascending the throne, wouldn't have better security around him from the Majalans. Starting to think Alora and her people aren't too clever. Perhaps this is why she repeatedly needs rescuing. 15) Singh confirms that the ship the Enterprise shot did indeed crash. Wow. I was hoping maybe they'd just be adrift in space, but nope... Uhura done got them good! And Pike just allowed them to plummet to their deaths, despite not wanting to harm them when he ordered Uhura to return fire. Pike didn't even try to save them. Once again we see that Pike is a bad captain. 16) Singh suggesting that they send a landing party to investigate the ship for survivors. I sure do hope that someone remembers that the Enterprise is equipped with sensors that could scan the planet for life. Probably the same sensors that could have told Pike which lifeforms were on the two craft when they first arrived, but again, Pike isn't exactly good at his job. 17) Alora looks at Pike straight in the eyes and says, "I'm coming too. With or without your cooperation." Suddenly starting to get the feeling that Pike has heard her say this before. Aloha Alora! 18) Also, Alora is literally on the Enterprise and cannot go anywhere without Pike's permission, despite her brave words to the contrary lol. 19) While Nurse Chapel is handily my least favourite character thus far on this show, I have to admit seeing her summon the doctor from his private daddy-daughter time does help explain why she's often the one seen to be running things in Sick Bay. Perhaps she's been covering for M'Benga for some time now? 20) Daddy Servant Dude is a grumpy jerk, explaining that healing begins at a subatomic level for the First Servant. If only there was another child in Sick Bay that needed some subatomic level healing. Oh well! 21) M'Benga says, "This is a state of the art medical facility!" Yeah, with a transporter and an auxiliary bay and everything! 22) Wait. Only Singh and a cadet beam down to investigate a whole ship? A cadet that isn't even a security officer? This is ridiculous. 23) Lesson 3: "Let your tricorder do the investigating." Dude you didn't even scan for lifeforms from the ship so back off. 24) Singh literally has investigated a single hallway of a massive crash site yet determines the site to be "secure". Really? Did the inhabitants of this craft just vanish? Someone or something clearly "wiped the database". 25) Alora and Spock were just waiting outside then? Were these knuckleheads not concerned that assailants might also have fled outside? 26) Alora suspects one of her guards has gone turncoat. So they do have guards? And these guards didn't think to, you know, guard the First Servant two days from his throne ascension? These Majalans are not bright. 27) The Enterprise gets Alora back to her homeworld lickety spilt. I guess those studies the First Servant was looking forward to wasn't a priority for his ascension after all. Oh pretty city! 28) Spock asks for a private moment with Daddy Servant Dude, and despite this, doesn't distance himself far away enough to keep the First Servant from hearing this conversation. Oh Spock, you old knucklehead you. 29) It's a good thing there are only 5 Majalan guards to inspect. This should take two minutes. 30) Ah yes the old, "I've-been-discovered-so-I'm-gonna-run-then-shoot" instead of the old, "shoot-then-run-away" schtick. Too bad, he could have smoked Alora, considering she was standing in front of him. E.T. knucklehead. 31) Look at these Keystone Cops chasing his dude lol. 32) Exactly why doesn't this dude shoot the guy in the gold shirt that is running directly towards him? Oof was there no better way to choreograph this? Were they losing daylight or something? Haha Pike, "It's not on stun!" Would this dude even know what that threat means haha. 33) That's hilarious, it seems that this alien world also builds the same detached and semi detached style homes you'd see in Toronto from about a hundred years ago, assuming the house in the background is any indication. 34) Alora stabs the dude in the armpit, which for all I know is the groan region of this alien species. 35) Eww Uhura eats like a pig! 36) Hey look, it's old Kirky boy! Last time we saw him he was failing Security Lesson 3! 37) Based on the first six episodes of this show, I'd say that the entire crew have their Masters in Security Lesson 6. 38) Sooooo did the guard dude die? Is there some reason why we're not questioning him right now? Maybe learn the extent of this coup? 39) Pike insists that he'll put "a guard" out front of Alora's residence? Sorry what? A guard? Didn't she just tell you that such an act wouldn't be allowed? Or are we now to believe that Pike is going to give orders to the local guards? Sorry, guard. 40) Alora looks at Pike straight in the eyes and says, "You can come in with me instead." Suddenly starting to get the feeling that Pike has heard her say this before. Aloha Alora! PART TWO FOLLOWS...

[@MichaelStrathmore]

PART TWO... 41) A topless Pike reminds me that I'm so far removed from what a human body could look like lol. This guy's arms are harder than his... hair. Seriously, look at that helmet. It hasn't moved an inch! I mean the helmet on his shoulders. Get your mind out of the gutter! 42) Isn't there like a big plot to murder the First Servant or something? But sure, let's make time for whoopie and pillow talk about all the fun Pike is gonna have when he melts his face in a decade. 43) The Majalan way includes, "Science, Service, and Sacrifice." I'm not exactly sure which of these Alora would use to describe the fun time they just had, but I'm confident that there is a Pike Maneuver for each of them lol. 44) Uhura being giddy and wide-eyed again like she was in the first episode. I'm guessing these episodes were filmed or written out of broadcast order. Regardless Uhura is the most inconsistently written character on this show. At least she addresses Singh as, "Sir." I honestly wasn't sure the show would maintain this appropriate paramilitary speech. I dig it. 45) M'Benga discovers the First Servant playing alongside his daughter. If only this big ol' Sick Bay had some staff to keep an eye on the little bugger. Perhaps a nurse? Or better yet, maybe the nurse could have fetched this plate of food? 46) Daddy Servant Dude "heard some noises" might be the worst, most laughable excuse for writing a character into a scene that I ever heard. I actually laughed out loud at this. Oh writers, you knuckleheads. 47) So why exactly is this "offshoot" of Majalan society a bad thing? Because Alora never told Pike about it? Who cares? 48) Pike thinks that the non-Starfleet transport beam was Kyle transporting the First Servant and Daddy Servant Dude? Well I guess I can't entirely blame him considering the writers wrote such a ridiculous line that probably forced the VFX team to illustrate a beam that looked like a Starfleet beam. No I can. I can blame the captain for not knowing the difference. 49) It is inconceivable that this vessel would appear out of nowhere before the Enterprise would be alerted of it approaching. These writers need a lesson on sensors immediately. 50) Finally someone on this show realizes that the Enterprise has sensors capable of detecting life, and the kind of life that it is! It's a miracle! If only Spock would inform Singh of this revolutionary technology she might have assessed whether or not lifeforms were on the crash site earlier. I've lost track of how many times this show has neglected their sensors leading up to this moment. 51) Pike suddenly remembers the ship has a tractor beam. Again, a technology that has been ignored until now that could have been used in several instances of Strange New Worlds, including the ship that Uhura shot earlier! 52) The cruiser is the second consecutive vessel that the Enterprise destroys due to poor captaincy and incompetent crewmembers. Perhaps there is a reason why Mitchell hasn't been seen on the bridge since the first episode? But Pike should have had anyone other than Uhura use phasers to disable the warp engines of the fleeing vessel. 53) Pike doesn't immediately reprimand Mitchell for her incompetence or ask for a detailed explanation as to why the tractor beam failed to disengage. 54) I appreciate that the director thought having the bridge crew stand at attention looked cool, but all I see are a bunch of consoles being left unattended. For all they know, 100 more ships just arrived to target them. 55) Pike classifies the loss of the First Servant as having "symbolic significance"? Naturally this dismissive attitude leaves Alora irate. Yet another instance where we see Pike completely out of touch when it comes to the cultural differences of an alien race. Pike continues to be a bigot and bad at his job. 56) The explanation for why Daddy Servant Dude is a turncoat is absolutely ridiculous. Uhura discovery is circumstantial at best. But, you know... bad writing has to wrap crap up soon, so I'm guessing all that's left is for us to learn that Alora has been hiding something all along before the credit roll on this clunker. But oof, this expository dialogue from Singh - in front of a suspect no less - is painful. 57) Uhhhh why is Deck 17 so full of junk littering the corridor? Shouldn't this stuff be stored in the Cargo Bay, or was that set not completed before this episode was filmed? 58) So it's a good thing that the coup organizers don't, you know, have more than one guard on the surface or two vessels in their fleet otherwise they might use this opportunity to quickly transport the First Servant away again. Especially when their vessels successfully sneak up on the Enterprise as easily as they do. 59) And there we have it. The old, love interest who isn't telling you everything trope. So creative! So original! These writers are knuckleheads! 60) Wait. This is the brig? This is the worst design of a brig I've ever seen. You have to literally walk into the same room as the prisoner in order to speak with them? Who thought this was a good idea? Sure hope he doesn't, you know, stab Una in the throat! 61) Absolutely Una. Sit down next to the prisoner. Wonderful. Maybe you two can hug each other next. 62) First Servant wants Pike to be there when he ascends. I think I'm starting to get the feeling that the writers of this show have watched Foundation over on Apple TV+, a much better science fiction show by the way. Can't you just smell the lack of originality coming? Do they not know we humans also watch other television shows or do they think it's just they that do so? 63) The look on Spock's face is priceless when Number One asks, "You're saying there's no way to contact the captain exactly when I need to talk to him?" If you look closely you can almost see Ethan Peck wondering why the writing is so contrived too. Why don't you just fly the ship into the lower atmosphere like you did in episode one? Knuckleheads. 64) Is it me, or does this set look like the same one used in Discovery's season 4 finale? 65) We finally get the big reveal, and shocker... It isn't a shocker. "Long live the First Servant" seems a bit cruel though, Alora. 66) Pike tries to stop a ritual he knows nothing about and thus, continues to demonstrate his dismal aptitude as his captaincy is rife with equal parts ignorance and arrogance. 67) A guard finally knocks out Pike instead of incinerating him on the spot. I say they've earned themselves a second coin! Don't spend it all in one place you knucklehead. 68) Wow, Pike is straight up a bigot. Instead of understanding an alien culture, or at least trying to, he chastises their "whole civilization" for what he perceives to be barbarism. 69) Pike talks into his communicator, "Now Number One." Was... was she just like, sitting there for hours on end waiting for this exact phrase? Wait. For real, show? Oh my goodness. He beams up in like, a second? Meaning the distortion affecting the atmosphere has already been dissipated. Meaning the Enterprise should have been able to reach him for quite some time before this moment. Meaning Pike's unresponsiveness would absolutely resort to a response from the Enterprise - or does Singh not have a number on her list for "Rescue Captain"? Oh my what a badly written sequence this turned out to be. Not to mention, what if Una was, I dunno, in the bathroom? Or sleeping? Or signing the hull again? But nope we get, "Now Number One." Brutal. 70) Why is this prisoner walking around the Enterprise freely and without security flanking him? Oh right, because the crew on this ship is incompetent and the writers don't know what they're doing and we need this scene between him and M'Benga. *sigh* 71) The episode ends with Pike longingly staring out at the Majalan System. Ten years ago he saved a woman that looked like E.T. Today he falls for and beds this woman. So I'm guessing that 10 years from now this woman will inform a wounded Pike that their own son has been chosen as the next First Servant, but before this the boy can also use his gifts to cure Pike. Pike is indeed cured, and gets to know the son he never knew about just long enough to witness his own ascension, leaving the Pike cured physically, but forever scared emotionally. You're welcome, bad writers. CONCLUSION Not a great episode. Really unoriginal and ultimately disappointing. Plus a plot hole you could fly an Enterprise through. Nice to see Uhura as something other than an arrogant know-it-all, but then again Pike fulfilled that role this time around. Man, is he not a good captain. I think Mount is an incredible actor but mercy if these writers are squandering him as a captain. SCORE 4 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

[@beta_cygni1950]

Wow... you really are in love with your own voice, aren't you! Go create your own blog or something.

[@MichaelStrathmore]

@@beta_cygni1950 You must be new...

[@beta_cygni1950]

@@MichaelStrathmore To what? The internet? Nah... I know a bloviating ass who's way too impressed with himself when I see one. And you fit that mold perfectly.

[@MichaelStrathmore]

@@beta_cygni1950 I'm going to assume you're a teenager that hasn't learned the lessons they need to, to be healthy contributors to the world. Hopefully you'll figure it out, but it's not a great start champ.

[@rfishkin4900]

So far 1 2 and 3 stink 4 and 5 ok 6 meh

[@culturecanvas777]

Majalis SHOULD join the Federation. The exchange of technology and resources will solve many problems to both sides.

[@atlascormac6273]

Without any political nonsense like Stacy Abrams being present how can anyone watch this show?

[@70galaxie]

shill

[@bobtrambley6210]

So many things wrong in this episode. The worst this season in my opinion.

[@VTiDelSol]

Didn't love it, didn't hate it, didn't watch it.

[@valueofnothing2487]

A terrible episode where another child is tortured because the writers are hacks.

[@fppro1679]

Watch snippets of it. What a bunch of woke crap! About his non-fun as you can get on TV outside of Fox News.