Ups & Downs From Star Trek: Strange New Worlds 2.6 - Lost In Translation

Find that person that seems farthest from you. And reach for them.
EditKrisEdit/stat...
Listen to The TrekCulture Podcast - Tuesdays on;
Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/1wrqDG8...
Apple: podcasts.apple.com/ph/podcast...
Acast: play.acast.com/s/trekculture/
For more awesome content: whatculture.com/topic/star-trek
Follow TrekCulture on Twitter: / trekculture
Follow us on Instagram: / trekcultureyt
#StarTrek #StrangeNewWorlds #HeDrinksMartinisButAllRight

[@harveytherobot]

Kirk meeting Uhura for the first time in a bar and NOT hitting on her, but still ending up with a bloody nose was a nice twist on ST 2009.

[@hankamania]

The best part about Kirk meeting Spock was that they bonded over annoyance with Sam. Spock picking up Sam's glass and handing it to a waiter tied in beautifully with the "I will BREAK you" scene last week.

[@psyberian]

This should have been an up or observation.

[@grumpus5248]

That scene still makes me laugh

[@jgvillan01]

George is sloppy. Kinda makes me wonder why James T. is fast-tracking his career. LOL.

[@elphiegleason3899]

@@grumpus5248yup I’ve watched that episode 4 times now and I crack up over it

[@julesbower762]

Zactlly. Thank you for posting this.

[@brank1022]

Kirk's promotion to First Officer on the Farragut was upcoming. He was still Lieutenant Kirk in this episode and didn't need to be on the Farragut the whole time.

[@TheRealWalkingDude]

Came here to say this lol

[@jabba334]

​@TheRealWalkingDude Yep, it was mentioned in the episode but easy to miss.

[@Karthos1000]

Came down here to say the exact same thing. Take a thumbs up.

[@patricksmith9112]

I also came here to say this. Hahaha. Please remove a Down from this episode!!! ❤

[@QuintusAntonious]

These kinds of downs are always frustrating. I love watching Ups and Downs, it's a tradition for me right after the episode airs. But, I wouldn't mind waiting a day or two if it meant they had time to better consider their points and do some QC on the script to make sure these kinds of really obvious mistakes don't happen. It has become pretty apparent with all the smash edits and rough edges that they rush these out as quick as they can. And I temper that criticism by saying they do a damn good job at it too in almost every other way!

[@crookedwookie8782]

Can we talk about the fact that they had a crew member suffering from acute auditory and visual hallucinations, and they GAVE HER A GUN and threw her on the search party?? 🤷

[@v.sandrone4268]

Do you mean the crewmember that assaulted someone during a hallucination?

[@arminreuter5151]

Do you mean the crewmember who does stuff, that should be done by security, which is more or less completely absent in this episode for no apparent reason?

[@crookedwookie8782]

Yes, I mean exactly that person. 😅 The one who should Absolutely be under medical observation and not running around IN THE DARK WITH A PHASER, who thought that was a good idea? 🤣

[@jackkenefick2696]

AND let her head away back on her own still armed.

[@yodaz101]

Exactly....so she can go nuts a vaporize everyone....

[@digitaldazzler]

The last scenes of just Uhura, kirk, and Spock in the bar... classic

[@MichaelJohnson-kq7qg]

"Why don't you join us?". Perfect, and so meta.

[@Nergalsama01]

Yep. No needless drama or antipathy between Kirk and Spock, just...two people sitting down with each other to have a drink and some conversation.

[@FernandoDoom]

Did we not catch Spock's little jab about Sam's glass being left on the table? I laughed so hard.

[@angelfieseler5358]

That chess match between chapel and Spock you could feel the tension

[@bemasaberwyn55]

Greatest friendship in Trek, starts with "Your brother is a dick" 😂😂😂

[@victorpradha9946]

That was a beautiful moment. Spock carries grudges...who woudda thunk.

[@billkeithchannel]

@@victorpradha9946 Sounds like T'pring's mother.

[@aschen]

I like that Paul Wesley is clearly playing the character and not imitating Shatner, or even Pine for that matter. It's refreshing in the same way that Ethan Peck isn't imitating Nimoy or Quinto

[@georgec7782]

Did anybody else notice how she basically mirrors Nichelle Nichols when she gets a message and she touches her ear? I saw it, and automatically I thought of Nichelle. Those little details are my favorite thing about this show. She's her own Uhura, but she gives us the tiny things we love about the original Uhura.

[@xyreniaofcthrayn1195]

yeah the only thing missing is the iconic uhura weave.

[@joeslater2390]

I thought this episode was good but I wish she got a better episode to be front an center bc I think she could totally do it

[@DarrylsB]

Celia Rose Gooding blew me away with this episode. I will always love Nichelle, but this is the authentic Uhura with such brilliant acting. I really and truly wept with her. Thanks to the writers, as well, for giving us such powerful backstory and emotional depth.

[@kylecarmichael5890]

@@joeslater2390 THis was a great episode. My only tweak would be that both Uhura and Ramon spoke many languages. That would have tied them together and why they were chosen.

[@joeslater2390]

@kylecarmichael5890 that would have killed it but still think ....to much everyone (blasphemy I know)

[@RogueScholarMDC]

Man, Paul Wesley is a prime example of "give it a chance". When he was introduced, and many subsequent times, it just made me roll my eyes. I thought "This guy is NOT cut out for the role of Kirk" and it's amazing how quickly that evolved into "He's not Kirk, but he's damn good at his role" to "Okay, this guy is a great, despite different, version of Kirk". The guy has just grown on me. He's insanely talented and I went from a "cold and irritated" stance to "I love this guy!" To me that's what it means to "Wait and see"

[@kylecarmichael5890]

I've liked the hints at who he will become vs who he is now. The traits are their but have yet to fully come out. I do feel like they pushed the Uhura/Kirk friendship a bit hard because you really don't see it in any other franchise. And I would like to see more of a Spock/Uhura friendship because she does sing a couple of times with him.

[@ToyHunter-wc9dz]

He's starting to grow on me. I don't want them to do another Kirk based series, but I don't think they've mis-cast the character if it goes that direction.

[@Mcsqw]

As someone forced to watch Vampire Diaries (and the bloody spinoff...THE HORROR) I was...not hopeful. And yet I've had the same journey as you, he's a genuinely likable Kirk without being a carbon copy or a parody, and you can absolutely imagine him being someone you'd put in charge of a starship.

[@VonSC2]

Agreed 100%. I actually think he's pulling from Chris Pines interpretation a bit more than Shatner's. When I looked at it that way it clicked into place for me even more. Great job considering all the fan pressure he's been under. Respect.

[@pumpichank]

I’m honestly still not sold on Wesley’s take on James Kirk yet. I don’t want a Shatner caricature or even a Pine clone, but I feel like Pine captured the JTK essence better. I dunno, there’s maybe a kind of easy confident swagger that I feel is missing. All the other SNW portrayals of TOS characters are really good: Spock, Uhuru, Chapel, even M’Benga, Number One, and Pike. Let’s see how it goes.

[@Jayk129]

That scene with Pike and Uhura at the climax was amazing. I’ve been a business owner/manager for 20 years and I have always maintained that Star Trek is an absolute master class in effective leadership. It’s such a cliche at this point but everything I needed to know about being a good manager I learned from Star Trek. In this scene Pike trusts and empowers his subordinate but also takes responsibility for the ultimate decision. Absolutely perfect.

[@JohnDlugosz]

You should make an up-to-date poster. Base it on the classic "Eveything I need to know..." poster from the 70's.

[@fabianbottcher2452]

Well, that's how opinions differ. Having spend a lot of time in the military in leadership functions, I tend to disagree respectfully. I'm all in for mission command and empowering subordinates, but as a leader, it's me who's calling the shots... While I was in the Air Force, I cannot imagine any Navy Captain handing over the Bridge control AND the gunnery control to an ENSIGN! While I love Anson Mount's acting as Pike, I am no fan of how he's been written recently. Is he the chef of the Enterprise and a visitor to his own bridge? I can no longer see his leadership claim, which also displays in some of the "clever" replies of some of his officers like Ortegas imho...

[@MariaMartinez-researcher]

I agree with fabianbottcher for different reasons. At that point, all what Pike knew was that Uhura was hallucinating. Nobody informed him about what the Kirks had found out. Which, in turn, was not a discovery supported by any evidence, but speculation supported by the testimony of someone who had been hallucinating. Instead of Pike believing Uhura on her word only, there should have been both brothers supporting her with proofs. A similar situation was better handled in Star Trek (2009), when Kirk realized Vulcan's problems were a Romulan attack. Uhura supported him, and Spock vowed for Uhura. Only then Pike decided to take defensive measures - more proofs would have been necessary for him to *destroy a vital space station.*

[@twinwankel]

Pike and his all inclusive style of leadership is in full display again. Every important decision he makes has to be discussed with his entire crew. Now sometimes this is not bad when you don't have the background and you need expert advice like when Kirk relies on Spock for his scientific analysis but many times Pike just wants a different opinion on matters that are not technical. To me, you have to question his choice as a captain. A captain must make quick decisions and if he can't do that then he's not qualified to be captain. I just don't like how the writers are portraying this character. The Pike from the cage was never like this. Of course, he had remorse for his decisions but he always knew his responsibilities. Here, the writers of this show never make Pike pay for his slow indecisions. In fact, they want to push this inclusiveness as some kind of political agenda. That Pike should lead as some kind of CEO where he collect inputs from his board of directors. This is just insane.

[@viktoriaballa9730]

This was actually the scene where they lost me for this episode. Anyone who knows anything about military organisations knows that decisions are not made based only on an ensign's words and no proof whatsoever, as well as that no ensign is going to get the authorisation to fire any missiles, especially while the captain is standing next to them. It is just not done, and it has never been done in Star Trek either up until this point. This is so unrealistic, in a way that it just takes the viewer out of the story, and in a way that is not plausible even in a sci-fi.

[@MichaelJohnson-kq7qg]

Pelia isn't just bonding with Uhura when she talks about Hemmer - it's also a character moment for Pelia - she has lost a lot of people. She comes back to this later.

[@MrStephenLast]

I liked the call back to last week's episode when Spock finishes James' line about Sam "frustrating" as he is picking up his empty glass.

[@mowglibull]

I wonder if they'll turn Sam's always leaving a dirty plate around as a running gag.

[@PassivesAbseits]

Did Ramones get the best Red Shirt Death ever? That actually might be a fascinating list: 10 characters, that died in their only episode, but still really affected our main characters and the plot.

[@stacyp2186]

I liked how Una called Pelia a “space hippie”. Reminded me of OST meeting space hippies in an episode.

[@tlouiseallen9302]

Ditto 🖖🏼

[@RatedRKO269]

I loved this episode. Kirk pointing out Spock’s chess playing really brought a smile to my face. When La’an called Kirk ‘James’, Pike’s face was priceless. That final shot with Kirk, Uhura and Spock just made me feel all warm inside.

[@itsreallyme2706]

I find it funny how Kirk and Uhura meet in a bar in both timelines, except he actually was hitting on her in the Kelvin Timeline

[@bemasaberwyn55]

YES

[@DarrylsB]

The Kelvin Uhura was out for a night of fun... The SNW Uhura was exhausted and perplexed. Some other time, she'll be singing along to Spock's Vulcan lute!

[@glennstiller7616]

As far as the first officer of the Farragut being on the Enterprise, there was the point where Jim told Sam he wasn't first officer YET, he had to train his replacement for a few months.

[@NewRocJacob]

This

[@tobiassabot5851]

Also, even thought they didn't come out and say so with Kirk being due to be promoted he was probably assigned to be a liaison officer between the Enterprise and the Farragut for the duration of the mission. This would be good experience for a soon to be First Officer and also gets him the chance to see his Brother for a least a little while.

[@bemasaberwyn55]

@@tobiassabot5851 very logical

[@QuintusAntonious]

@@tobiassabot5851 Exactly, Pike is a Fleet Captain now, which means he'll have senior staff from the ships in his fleet nearby as liaisons. Kirk, as a soon-to-be first officer fits the bill as someone competent enough and senior enough to liaise, without being so senior that his absence compromises his ship.

[@lucashamilton4674]

I was ready to sound the alarm, you have spared me.

[@TrekMTBikeRider]

You totally missed Luna’s reference to “space hippies”.

[@23hughmann]

I was hoping that someone mentioned this- I snorted a laugh when Una said that, it also reminded me of the TOS episode which had the Space Hippies that Spock “jammed” with, which, to be honest, would make for an AWESOME full-length LP!!

[@davidanderson2357]

It seems like an odd reference coming 300 years after an era (the 1960s) in which hippies were only one offshoot of the culture of the times.

[@kmantriing]

Herbert! Herbert! Herbert!

[@faltarego]

When I think of Star Trek and discussions of death, I always immediately think of that brief exchange between Kirk and McCoy in "The Search for Spock" after the destruction of the Enterprise. Kirk says: "My God, Bones... What have I done?" and McCoy replies: "What you had to do. What you always do. Turn death into a fighting chance to live." It's just one of those lines that has always stuck with me throughout the years, and it's a perfect summation of Kirk's attitude and approach to being a captain.

[@tlouiseallen9302]

Same. 🙏🏼🖖🏼

[@DragoonMS]

Also at the end of Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, where Kirk says to (I think) Saavik that "how we deal with death...is at least as important as how we deal with life."

[@whiteknyght]

Kirk's observation to Uhura that Spock will be mated in two moves by Chapel, a clear call back to Kirk beating Spock in chess at the beginning of "Where No Man Has Gone Before", and Kirk's line from "Court Martial" that maybe Spock will be able to beat his next Captain at chess.

[@bemasaberwyn55]

To be fair we did get a bit of that in the alternate universe episode where Kirk was able to earn a significant amount of money by playing chess. So we know that Kirk in multiple timelines is a master tactician otherwise he wouldn't be good at chess

[@tubebobwil]

I love the double meaning of "Chapel will mate Spock"

[@ptsebago1]

Also a nice bit of callback to "Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow" where Kirk was the chess maven to get them some money. Nice to see more of his analytical mind coming out

[@tanudjagibson5557]

Maybe we'll see Kirk and Spock play chess in this series 🤔 ❤

[@KenKopin]

Phasers have stun settings! How are you chasing Ramone (someone who is clearly hallucinating, is successfully sabotoging the ship and has done serious harm to multiple crew members) and NOT stunning on sight? Less talking, more stunning!

[@brainfat1]

Thank you!

[@iamsuzerain3987]

Well that crewman fired a couple of shots but missed

[@ankerubinetto2359]

Yes that's what I thought too! Why doesn't Uhura stun him right away?

[@robertbeste]

@@ankerubinetto2359 Why does someone who is ALSO Hallucinating have a deadly weapon at all? 😵

[@tlhudsonart]

@@iamsuzerain3987 I don't see how he could have missed.

[@mightymulatto3000]

The conversation between Kirk and Uhura about death was probably the best part of the episode.

[@UzumakiNaruto_]

Would've been better if she wasn't so rude to Kirk earlier and especially to a superior officer with telling him to 'Shut up about the cookie'.

[@danboyle7165]

​@@UzumakiNaruto_ I'm guessing you've never had interactions with someone who was in emotional turmoil before. Take it from someone who has in his own way been in Uhura's position, she & Kirk were portrayed VERY NATURALLY in how she was rude to him but ashamed of it & trying to simply let it drop rather than continue the rudeness OR apologize for it & Kirk being friendly with her despite her rudeness because he sees that she's in emotional turmoil & just ignoring her rudeness as well because he understands that her ignoring it & not continuing with it is the only way she can currently apologize for it. It works on so many levels.

[@webbahboy]

That scene played swimmingly with Kirk's "I don't like to lose" attitude in all of trek lore...

[@UzumakiNaruto_]

@@danboyle7165 *Take it from someone who has in his own way been in Uhura's position, she & Kirk were portrayed VERY NATURALLY in how she was rude to him but ashamed of it & trying to simply let it drop rather than continue the rudeness OR apologize for it & Kirk being friendly with her despite her rudeness because he sees that she's in emotional turmoil* How is it 'natural' to be rude to someone and not even apologise afterwards especially when we're talking about doing it a superior officer in Starfleet? She could've simply said 'Sir I have something more important than the cookie' or something similar rather than slapping down her superior officer with 'Shutup about the cookie' without an immediate apology. Also on a more general level this type of crap has been the norm for Strange New Worlds episodes where nearly all the men on the show have been put down, insulted and been the butt of jokes from the female characters even though they frequently outrank the females insulting them. This is especially true with Spock who in nearly every episode has taken a hit from one or more female characters where he's being made fun of, gets knocked down and/or has to apologise for something. This and the writing is probably the biggest problems with most new Trek series in recent years where the showrunners feel the need to make it all about women and diversity and largely make the male characters be weaker, background support characters. In 2023 you could never have legendary male characters like Picard from TNG and Sisko from DS9 because strong, powerful, take charge males are no longer allowed as it seems like women can NEVER be secondary or be seen as weaker than men these days.

[@smthgsmthg1504]

​@@UzumakiNaruto_your last paragraph is so ODDD. I understand your point but Nyota was literally going INSANE. your last paragraph seems really low-key misogynistic. " Women can NEVER be secondary" because we ALWAYS are the secondary characters. Yeah we do wanna see powerful women step up but this entire thing you made it about gender when the point was about rank.

[@jessicagilbert4315]

I really liked this episode and the different dynamics between characters. I hope Kirk and La’an get that drink at some point.

[@abcdef-vg1xq]

Me too! I was so a bit sad she didn't show up at the very end and at least spent a little bit more time with Jim. He's not always gonna be around, so she should seize the day😂

[@valeriebolejack5957]

In the first episode, Pike asks Sam, "How's the family?"

[@st.anselmsfire3547]

Kirk: "I... laugh... at the great conqueror! I... conquered... your granddaughter!" Khan: "Kaaaaaaaarrrrrk!"

[@jacobbrown1690]

​@@abcdef-vg1xqn the last episode with the gorn

[@jmarquiso]

​@abcdef-vg1xq yeah, but la'an isn't someone to get close with people, and now she had to do it again.

[@Majere613]

One little up I'm surprised not to see anyone mention: At the end of the episode, when the decision is made to destroy the refinery, Uhura practically takes command and starts issuing orders to the bridge crew, in particular it's her, not Pike, who gives the command to fire torpedoes. Instead of bringing her up on it, Pike just gives a little nod to the crew to show he agrees with the order and wants it carried out, even though Uhura has no authority to issue it and the crew wouldn't do it just on her say-so, however much they might want to. There's no indication Uhura even notices. Like Spock and the glass, it's another of those tiny character moments SNW does so well.

[@capturedsoulsphotos]

"If you want to say it was the C I won't contradict you." That was impossibly sweet and I adore Pelia all the more for it.

[@steelfallageek]

Then earlier when Una calls her a space hippie. 😂 Pelia's response was awesome. I've been called a lot of things over the centuries, but Space Hippie is a new one, and I like it.

[@Mcsqw]

One of the most frustrating things with this season for me is how underused Pelia has been so far. Carol Kane is nailing every scene she gets, but I think there urgently needs to be a Pelia-focused episode.

[@buxycat]

Seán Ferrick’s love, enthusiasm and knowledge make these videos a joy to watch. Getting the right level of cheesiness isn’t easy to do, Seán is effortless at it. Live long and present Seán.

[@Dooks1]

anytime i can watch someone geek out is awesome

[@EthanKristopherHartley]

​@@Dooks1I know exactly what you mean, even if it's something that I don't personally have an interest in, just seeing someone become animated and light up is awesome.

[@HellOnWheel]

I love his "benedictions" at the end of his videos.

[@mj1s735]

One observation or up about Uhura's character that you would only notice if you know about Black hair care is the fact that she had a wave cap on in the scene where she was in her bed trying to sleep. Uhura has a short hairstyle with waves in it. You get the waves like hers from wearing a wave cap.

[@stiofanmacamhalghaidhau765]

saw that, and also that she was wearing it in the hallucination, signalling that it *was* a hallucination not a dream, which I thought was a nice subtle move

[@heathertheobald6065]

Thankyou for clarifying that! Always wondered why Black characters wear head coverings in sleep scenes.

[@mj1s735]

@@heathertheobald6065 Glad I could provide some clarification. but just to be clear, Black people will wear all types of coverings to help maintain their hairstyles, from a simple scarf to a bonnet. I was just impressed that they let her wear the wave cap in the two scenes. You might think in the future they would have some electronic gadget to make hair waves.😍I am pretty sure she wears her wave cap in her trailer and around the set when she is not filming scenes.

[@ya-boyrookus7516]

Seeing the trio together at the end was so satisfying.

[@bartcouprie4986]

Chapel should have been there too as the only other member of TOS crew, but that might have taken away from the Kirk/Spock meeting.

[@ya-boyrookus7516]

@@bartcouprie4986 Now that I think about it, you’re right. She would’ve been a nice addition to the meeting.

[@keysersoze8110]

I liked that Kirk had that conversation with Uhura about facing death AND that they didn't force a "remember this!" down our throats, but at this point it's less than fifteen years since a teenaged Kirk watched 4,000 people get murdered on Tarsus IV. So he's definitely the right person to be there for her for that sort of talk. I was also afraid that final pan out was going to reveal La'an making sad eyes at Kirk having a good time with Uhura in the bar, and I'm glad it didn't. She's better than that!

[@generalilbis]

While Kirk revealing to Uhura his part in the events of the Tarsus IV colony massacre would have been lore-breaking and a bit too heavy-handed, I know I personally would have preferred a little bit of a hint to Kirk thinking of that part of his history when he was giving Uhura a pep talk.

[@quantisedspace7047]

I expected Kirk's 'facing death' thing to be a call out to the cheating of the Kobayashi Maru Test. In this timeline, is this supposed to have happened yet ?

[@quantisedspace7047]

​@@generalilbisWhy would this be lore-breaking ? OK, I thought you meant canon-breaking. It's obviously because Uhura is unaware of Kirk's involvement with Tarsus IV in COTK. .. Just like she had to be shipped off to the Khirkans waiting room, so that she could justify asking 'who is she?' about T'Pring in Amok Time.

[@generalilbis]

@quantisedspace7047 Yeah, Kirk cheating on the KM test was like a decade earlier when Kirk was at Starfleet Academy.

[@robertdickson4475]

How could we not have gotten an 'Up' or a Cetacean Observation about Kirk commenting on Spock's chess game with Chapel!😜

[@StephenJEscobedo]

Not only that, but Sean said it was UNA playing chess with Spock, when it was actually Christine!

[@chazcampos1258]

He mentions to Uhura that Spock is in danger of losing his Queen. Who is the Queen in Spock life? Foreshadowing losing Chapel to Korby?

[@SilverFox-qr1ci]

I never noticed before, but Uhura's bright green earrings stood out to me. Nichelle wore something similar in TOS.

[@shattered_helix]

Something that I noticed that I hadn't before this episode is how much Dan Jeannotte and Paul Wesley LOOK like they could be brothers. I don't think there could be more perfect casting for those two.

[@tlouiseallen9302]

Totally agree 👊🏼🖖🏼

[@_shinga]

This great episode reminded me of Voyagers sixth episode "The Cloud" where they also want to restock their power from a nebula until they discover that the nebula is in fact a life form and they've been hurting them.

[@quantisedspace7047]

Reminder me of the opposite way round: Night Terrors, where an enigmatic being/race was trying to comm with them, but denying them REM sleep as a side effect. Oh, and the episode with the lifeforms wanting to get to Verterform Ciddy.

[@canbearbrazil]

TNG "Home Soil" - Ugly Bags of Mostly Water@@quantisedspace7047

[@paulannable3734]

Lazy scriptwriting, it felt done to death

[@JLTitus2902]

Absolutely best part was the first meeting of Kirk and Spock. Awesome job to the writers.

[@Kels1701e]

Another example of how strong this show is. Well acted, good dialog, excellent special effects & giving each of the main characters an episode. Kirk & Spock's meeting was classic.

[@Anduril74871]

So. My personal TRELLIUM DOWN...is the fact that they describe this nebula as "special" because it's a stellar nursery. ALL nebulae are stellar nurseries.

[@stiofanmacamhalghaidhau765]

it was a distraction alright. When I heard that I spent time trying to think of ways a nebula might not be a star nursery and had to go back and replay to catch the dialogue I missed as a result. Definitely a down and considering the downs were quite tepid overall, trellium down seems fair.

[@AllCoversFan2]

I think we mainly saw Kirk from the Farragut and no one else because Kirk may have asked his captain to be on the Enterprise so he could see his brother during the mission.

[@edgeof60]

Kirk and Uhura meeting in the bar seems like a callback to their meeting in a bar in the Kelvin timeline.

[@allgoodmusic86]

Yes!! I was thinking the same thing!!!! That was one of my favorite EVER scenes in any Star Trek universe! "I thought you were a dumb hick that only had s*x with farm animals." "Well...not ONLY..."

[@nivekian]

I like the shot of them assembling at the table, beginning of the OG crew for the Enterprise. They already hinted at Scotty. Should be Craig Ferguson.

[@quantisedspace7047]

​@@allgoodmusic86A dumb ... with Farm Animals ? So that's how the disease got into the transcattle !

[@quantisedspace7047]

​@@nivekianI noticed the party scene at the end, and expected someone to say 'Nice place you have here, Mr Pike", as a ref to one of the illusion sequences in The Cage?

[@Bargle5]

Really looking forward to Mariner and Boimler on the Enterprise.

[@jeffs6090]

Next week, baby!!! The preview scene on the Ready Room got me uber pumped!

[@Ducky69247]

Yes, so much! LD is the best ST series.

[@Mcsqw]

​@@Ducky69247I absolutely despise Lower Decks. I tried with it, I really did, but it's a no from me. However, given how well SNW handles hijinks, I am also looking really forward to the crossover - I can see it nailing levity and solemnity in equal measure, with the LD cast benefitting from the chance to be a bit more serious, and the SNW cast being able to have great fun with some more comedic characters, coupled with time travel shenanigans. And if it's really good, I might be convinced to give Lower Decks another go.

[@Ducky69247]

@@Mcsqw interesting take.

[@1000teresa4ever]

@@jeffs6090 I know Ready Room is on Facebook, but is it on KZbin?

[@mathewdempsey16]

See, I didn’t mind so little Hemmer in this episode. The episode wasn’t about him. It was about Uhura and her pain. He was really only in the episode because the was important to UHURA

[@QuintusAntonious]

Yeah, it's a shame to give it a down on preference alone. It made a lot of sense in how they showed him--he's dead, but he mattered to the people he worked with and they are recalling him, dealing with their grief, and applying his lessons. To me, that's an excellent way to use a dead character.

[@CRanapia]

Absolutely - and I'll always go for quality over quantity. Celia Rose Gooding and Bruce Horak just nailed it so nicely.

[@MichaelJohnson-kq7qg]

Exactly. Love Hemmer, loved having some extra Hemmer in this story. Loved zombie Hemmer. But... Yeah, more Hemmer would have killed the pace. They got this just right.

[@Nergalsama01]

I was pleased to see him again at all. :)

[@CRanapia]

@@Nergalsama01 I know what you mean!

[@darjanator]

I love that right after the cookie scene when they meet up with Sam, you can see and hear him just finishing eating something. James may be the dickish brother, but he's still a brother and probably gave him Nyota's cookie.

[@kellyoehlschlager6985]

James didn't give him the cookie. Right before Sam storms off, he takes Uhura's cookie that was on the table! I didn't catch that the first time, but Wil Wheaton mentioned it in the Ready Room and I rewatched it.

[@jackfarris654]

End of the episode when Kirk, Uhura, and Spock are together, they show a band playing and pan away as if to say we're starting to get the band together. Also, Spock's annoyance of Sam should have been an up! Lastly, this is the only episode that kicked me in the feels with alive Hemmer at the end.

[@cazcappy]

La'an's interactions with Kirk is why she's my favorite character.

[@michaeljelley7407]

When I was in the army, the rule was if you need medical attention, then yes you must write up the perpetrator even if there is no disciplinary action.

[@generalilbis]

I would find it believable that Starfleet works the same way, but Kirk knows that Uhura didn't pop him one maliciously and just decided to bend the rules because of it...give subordinates second chances when he feels they deserve one.

[@sisterseverus]

@@generalilbisbut in situations like these, the “Victim” doesn’t really get a say. It needs to be reported/documented

[@darlhiatt8136]

Maybe, but it's also very Kirk to bend the rules.

[@generalilbis]

@@sisterseverus I agree with you, especially with is shown happening to the Farragut crewman later. But Kirk is being Kirk-ish.

[@iamsuzerain3987]

​@@generalilbisagreed. We all know that ol' Kirk is never swayed by the rules when he feels it's the right thing to do

[@pastelpinkfairy]

I really loved the first meeting of Kirk and Spock. It made me think about the most important relationships in my life and how none of them started in a way that prepared me for what they would become. You never realize in the moment that you've just met the most important person in your life.

[@erikwitman]

I was pretty surprised that wasn’t the Latinum up. I was so invested in the story I didn’t think it would happen and when it did. I legitimately got chills. I wasn’t expecting that.

[@VictorReynolds]

I loved how Jim Kirk and Uhura, and later with Spock, you get the foreshadowing of The Original Series.

[@RichardDicksondlyrch68]

Kirk helping Uhura through her grief over her family is particularly resonant considering we know what happens to Sam AND we know what Kirk goes through in Wrath of Khan.

[@DarrylsB]

deep...

[@MadSpectre47]

Also Tarsus IV

[@UzumakiNaruto_]

Kirk tries to help Uhura and be nice to her and all she can do is be mean to him in return and all say 'Shut up about the cookie' to a superior officer. Nice. 🙄🙄🙄

[@generalilbis]

​@MadSpectre47 Hmmm...would have been interesting to hear Jim relate his horror from that time on Tarsus IV as a kid as how he got a VERY early taste of having to face and accept death.

[@victorpradha9946]

It's beautiful expansion of Kirk's "How we deal with death is at least as important as how we deal with life, wouldn’t you say?" moment is Wrath of Khan. Kirk is right...to shy away from the pain of grief is letting death win...by getting us to allow the most precious parts of those whom we lose to fade away or get us to NOT recall those moments simply to avoid the pain of knowing they're not around anymore. Moments like this one are what makes Star Trek exceptional among the sci-fi offerings and the standard bearer for television shows efforts at exploring the human condition.

[@LaDelaCraft]

Spock is forever cleaning up after Sam! I love this! I hope they make it an ongoing thing throughout the season.

[@GF1045Prime]

I am sure it has been mentioned before, but I really enjoy the trust Pike has with his crew when they tell him something needs to be done urgently. No questions, he reacts instantly and accepts the urgency and trust his crew’s ability

[@Qthehoodpoet]

How did you not up Kirk and Singh’s scene. It’s clear she still has those feelings!

[@JeanieD]

That look in her face for a brief moment when he walked away!

[@philturner1242]

Did anyone else get a faint echo of the two Voyager ‘Equinox’ episodes with that whole “using the aliens as fuel” thing, albeit the former was done intentionally and the latter accidentally?

[@AzraelThanatos]

I got more of shades of 'Devil in the Dark' than 'Equinox' there.

[@jackkenefick2696]

​​@@AzraelThanatosas well as about 6 tng episodes

[@SPACEBLUD]

Yeah that was what made it the weakest episode for me. Idea has been done to death

[@Blasted2Oblivion]

I think my favorite part was the fact that they didn't go into the trope of the "crazy" person having to defy orders and beat the problem in a way that reveals they were right. She said "Here is the issue" and Pike knows her well enough to know that she can be trusted. It was a lot like in Picard season 3 when he tried to warn Starfleet about the Borg threat and, in spite of the fact that he is a wanted fugitive and believed a possible traitor, he has enough of a reputation that they stop and listen. It was too late then but it's nice to see people listening to those who have proven to be reliable when it matters.

[@Jayjay-qe6um]

I really miss Hemmer, I'm happy that Bruce Horak return to play the character again, even if its briefly. And I'm very happy that Spock and Kirk finally meet, I really thought the episode will end without them meeting each other. I'll be hoping that McCoy, Sulu and Scott will be introduced one by one next season.

[@RobinJCrory]

We've already heard Scotty. My money's on Bones.

[@HereticReborn]

Isn’t McCoy dating the das symbiont about this time?

[@RobinJCrory]

@@HereticReborn Don't know!

[@QBCPerdition]

McCoy doesn't join the Enterprise until after Kirk is captain. But Sulu could appear as a botanist who's itching to get Ortegas' seat.

[@sgpch1983]

the last scene was lovely.. as spock sits with uhura and kirk i just was thinking "yes, the gang starts to get together" :) i hope we see the others soonish..

[@adamgoss3638]

Spock and CHAPEL play 3D chess, which includes an appearance of a replica of the Ganine Classic chessmen design seen in TOS season 1 (also known as the "honeydipper" chessmen). Also gotta love the camera work on the Chapel/Spock scene. Kirk and Uhura meeting is a more positive parallel to how they met in Star Trek (2009). Some of the music felt like homages to that used during TOS without being the same exact melodies.

[@DarrylsB]

great observations! You are obviously a TRUE fan! Totally agree on the director's choices of perspective and camera work. And the last scene with Spock and Kirk - and Uhura featured in the middle - followed by all three having a drink together - "chef's kiss"!

[@quantisedspace7047]

I thought the honeydipper chess pieces were a ref to the earpiece TOS Uhura used.

[@MichaelLlaneza]

There was a very quick mention that James Kirk's promotion to XO (and presumably Lt. Commander) is pending him training his replacement. He hasn't started that job yet. And he's years away from being captain of anything. This version of Jim Kirk has 6-8 years to grow into the officer we saw in S1 TOS. The Great Bird of the Galaxy willing, we'll get an SNW season for every year.

[@christaylor9929]

Kirk: "As Starfleet officers, we face Death every day. Don't let Death win." Me: "Tell me you don't believe in the no-win scenario, without telling me you don't believe in the no-win scenario. Well played, sir. Well played." 🙂

[@steelfallageek]

Kirk never has he always finds a way. It's just who Kirk is. I'm very much loving Paul Wesley's takes of Kirk all 3 of them.

[@webbahboy]

Totally agree....I thought the same thing

[@ericmalikyte885]

I actually thrust my arms into the air and cheered when they actually used the Bussard Collectors. Like, they're there, I want to see them more!! lol

[@kenwheeler3637]

One particular deep cut that could have went into Cetacean Observations is that the actual chess pieces that Chapel and Spock are using match those used in TOS episode Charlie X.

[@sparkparkful]

Season 2 has kicked so much butt. Every episode has been fantastic. Can't wait for next week!

[@deepoole820]

Love this series and hope it goes on for years.

[@pilot9004]

I found it funny that Uhura and Kirk meet at a bar in both the prime and kelvin universe. Difference being in the kelvin universe, he actually was hitting on her.

[@syd_luna]

I still can't get over the death of Hemmer. Him smiling at the end of the episode really got me, maybe a bit more than his untimely death last season. :( This episode is awesome, and we witnessed in this episode the first introduction of Kirk with Uhura and Spock together for the first time.

[@joeking1956]

I give Pelia an up for her reference to Hemmer, because Carol Kane also managed to make that moment damn funny.

[@QuintusAntonious]

This was my second favorite episode after the pilot so far. It was really good. Pike is becoming one of my favorite captains. He's an excellent leader who leads by example--firm when he needs to be, but trusts his crew implicitly. He's like the middle ground between Kirk and Picard. It's clear from SNW and Mount's portrayal why Pike goes on to be such a well loved and legendary figure, and why Spock was willing to risk throwing away his career in TOS for him. Uhura's character is also fantastically portrayed. It's clear why she goes on to be not just a support character, but a captain that also becomes something of a legend in that mysterious time between the end of TOS's movies and the beginning of TNG.

[@smthgsmthg1504]

Oh yeah he is actually really becoming one of my favorites. The way he listens to his crew is like no other I would say. He is really beating in my opinions other captains!

[@bobosullivan7129]

All those mentions of death and not knowing the future of more of our favorite SNW characters has me worried, especially for Ortegas. I hope that her "episode" this season isn't going to be one of those "shine the light on the character that's about to die" episodes.

[@midago7332]

This portrayal of Kirk grew on me this episode, The rapport between him and Uhura was cool. Fab episode.

[@tiberiusrobustus]

So, I have a thought about Kirk and Spock's first meeting. Uhura introduced him as "James" and I really really wish that Kirk replied to Spock "Call me Jim." I was half expecting to hear it! It was nearly a set up and no delivery... Great episode as they all are but that's how that meeting went in my head.

[@xandersnyder7214]

I think this episode is going to sit up there pretty high in my favorites, not just of SNW but of Star Trek as a whole. The performances this week were nothing short of stellar, Celia Rose Gooding is absolutely brilliant as Uhura, I LOVE Carol Kane as Pelia, and Paul Wesley has absolutely grown on me as Jim Kirk. The writing for this episode was extremely well done, especially how they brought Hemmer into it, I was expecting to hear him say "to fix what is broken" at some point, but every bit that we got to see him was great. I also think that the banter back and forth between Una and Pelia was great as well, especially "You're sloppy, you have crumbs on your uniform, when did you get a chance to eat?!" along with Pelia jabbing at Una about "if I had been following your orders we would have never found the sabotage." I want to come back to Paul Wesley as Kirk again in this episode, he has gone from "I don't really care for him as Kirk" in the Season 1 finale, to "Ok I think I actually like him" in "Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow'", to "I think I would enjoy a TOS reboot with him as Kirk". While he doesn't have Shatner's mannerisms he really does capture the confidence, the swagger, and the competency of Shatner's portrayal. I love that while this episode has pieces that tie into other episodes, it is a stand alone story in and of itself. I think SNW is really showcasing how to have serialized plot lines that are constant throughout the show and weaving that into self contained episodes. They are using the building blocks that Deep Space Nine and Voyager put down in that regard, while weaving in VERY TOS style stories and storytelling. I think I can say, unequivocally, that Strange New Worlds is everything I had originally hoped Discovery would be, this Enterprise and her crew feel new and familiar all at the same time. I really hope that we get more seasons of Strange New Worlds (I know that Season 3 was greenlit, but it already had a delay and now we have the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes) after a successful conclusion of the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes.

[@EmperorSteele]

I have a minor "down": In Uhura's log, she talks about deuterium, and the fact that it's "basically Starship fuel". I mean, I get that it's for the audience's benefit, but that's like if i wrote in my journal "I had to go get a gallon of gas... that's fuel for my car." It's a REALLY unnatural and awkward thing to say! Still a good ep, though. Can't wait for next week!

[@davidanderson2357]

Congratulations on having a car that only needs a single gallon of gas.

[@tetravega567]

Gasoline doesn't have to be combined with anything. It takes a process to make starship fuel. Deuterium is only half the fuel, the other half being the Anti-Deuterium it's combined with in the reaction chamber.

[@EmperorSteele]

@@tetravega567 (Homer Simpson voice) "NNNEEERRRRD!" =P

[@EmperorSteele]

@@davidanderson2357 Look man I only got $20 to last me till the end of the week

[@NomenLuni1975]

This was a brilliant episode. It shared a lot of similarities with TNG's Night Terrors, but I think that's one of the reasons I really enjoyed it.

[@ArmouredPhalanx]

This episode was, in the best way possible, very classic TOS meets TNG Trek. I mean, you can describe most of SNW that way, really, but this really felt like it would have been at home with TNG or some of the better TOS episodes.

[@jacara1981]

You missed how James Kirk kept mentioning the Cookies, then at the very end Sam steals James cookie right as he walked off

[@TheProfessor230]

Love this season thus far, the episodes have been extremely amazing this season, and has somehow managed to outdo an already amazing First Season

[@dagranhadsgaming5788]

This whole episode reminds me of two TNG episodes... "Night Terrors" and "Hero Worship". In NT, the crew cannot sleep because aliens from another dimension are trying to communicate in a way that disrupts the ability to sleep... just like Uhura couldn't sleep. And it eventually drove the crew insane. Then from the Hero Worship episode. The "light bulb" moment when Data basically "orders" the captain to take an otherwise counter productive action that actually saves them. Honestly surprised Sean didn't pick up on the Night Terrors vibe from this episode. Also a DOWN for me was the fact that they never had Spock mind meld with Uhura so he could see what she saw and confirm that she wasn't insane.

[@gvelden1]

What was a down for me was the fact that Kirk said to Uhura "we have to stop Ramon b4 he hurts anyone else" and wants Uhura to come along whilst she had just been telling herself that it wasn't real. He should have let her stay in sick bay. She wasn't up to it.

[@susanleslie6178]

I said to my hubby that giving a phaser to the hallucinating person wasn't a great idea!! 😂

[@samfisher6606]

I really liked this episode. I love that we got to see Jim and Sam interact. I want Sam to be a bigger character. He is super interesting, especially now that we know their dad really was first officer on the _Kelvin._ It was great to see Hemmer again. This episode really balanced all of the plots and subplots really well. And the way Kirk and Spock met was really interesting. But I like that it was just two people at a bar. That’s far more realistic than them meeting in something like a shoot out with Klingons. Im glad they resisted that urge to make their meeting super badass and instead it was just sort of mundane.

[@TheProfessor230]

​​@@pnorbert2222I assume so, although I don't know if his wife or his children live onboard the ship with him.

[@DarrylsB]

I noticed that James T was surreptitiously watching Chapel & Spock's 3D Chess match, and had calculated the winning strategy and how many moves. Combined with Tomorrow & Tomorrow & Tomorrow, that was a very nice common thread they would eventually bond over. As Spock Prime said " you needed each other. I could not deprive you of the revelation of all that you could accomplish together. Of a friendship, that would define you both, in ways you cannot yet realize."

[@MrXon]

Pretty sure James Kirk asked for time off to visit Sam, but instead ended up helping Uhura. Thats why he was on the Enterprise this episode.

[@JoeSiegler]

Holy crap. I just watched this episode this afternoon (got delayed). Astoundingly good episode. Even down to the scene setting in the absolutely final moment with the pullout and the door closing thing. Damn near perfection - I adored this. Wish Nichelle could have seen it.

[@Dooks1]

the depth of character development in this episode was amazing. love this show

[@dpcnreactions7062]

I love the bit at the end where elements of TOS start forming with Kirk meeting Spock for the first time.

[@taramichelle2972]

I absolutely loved this episode so much, it was so well written and the cast especially Celia and Paul were amazing. Celia is an incredible actress just perfect casting to follow the legendary Nichelle Nichols whom we loved so much and still miss in our hearts. To me Paul really became Kirk this episode I saw so many glimpses of the great Captain he will become. His friendship with Uhura was a highlight. The latinum up was perfect I loved that scene so much we got a Kirk speech from the heart. The ending scene with Kirk, Spock and Uhura was a perfect moment. Seeing Hemmer again briefly was lovely but agreed Seán not enough of him. This is such a strong season and Lost in Translation is definitely one of my favorite episodes of Trek. Thank you Seán and Kris for another great ups and downs ❤

[@HowardS185]

Yes, that last scene with Uhura, Kirk, and Spock gave me a big smile!

[@samcarpenter_]

I LOVE the conversation between Kirk and Uhura. What a great callback to Wrath of Khan too. Kirk tells Uhura to fight back and not let death win. It helps Uhura in that moment but still allows for him to have that moment of *actually* facing death in Wrath of Khan when he is older. This show, man. THIS SHOW is how you do a prequel.

[@Ikaros473]

I really geeked out seeing the bussard collectors actually collecting deuterium. I believe this is the first time in Trek we get to see this yea?

[@DarrylsB]

I was amazed from the opening scene of the beauty they put into depicting the Bannon Nebula. Now that I know it is in tribute to Melissa Navia's partner, the images mean even more.

[@jackdavinci]

We see the collectors in Star Trek Insurrection

[@pattimcb31]

I love these character episodes and it is good to see the ship becoming more lively than just a place to work.

[@Rick-hx9fo]

Loved the very end when Uhura introduces Kirk and Spock and the three of them sit down for a drink together. The start of their bond that will carry them through so many missions together. Legacy characters at their best. Loved it.

[@malachiXX]

Sean, you missed a neat Cetacean Observation....Just as James Kirk meets Uhura, he comments on the fact that Spock was 2 moves away from checkmate but now he's been distracted and he'll have to work harder. Kirk has always been able to occasionally beat Spock at 3D chess with a seemingly illogical approach to play that Spock has never understood. It's nice to see some of James genius at play even if he was only casually observing how someone else was playing 3D chess.

[@changeforsound]

This episode felt properly 'Star Trek'. A mystery, great character moments and plenty of scifi. I had the exact same feeling that I get when watching TNG, which is a brilliant thing.

[@briantkiger]

During Kirk's monologue about facing death, I couldn't help but think of Kirk's Kobayashi Maru solution and his own refusal to face death. "I don't believe in a no-win scenario."

[@Aaron-Fife]

I absolutely LOVED this episode. It was a fantastic dive into these beloved characters' bios, which is something that I think has been sorely lacking from current Star Trek (looking at you, Discovery.)

[@bobito8997]

This might be shaping up to be the best season of any Start Trek show yet. Superb.

[@rhettgervaisauthor]

I made freaking cookies today because of James T Kirk...Bastard.

[@skidawg22]

Nice way to further tie this series to TOS. With the Kirk and La'an scenes, I honestly had Christina Chong's music running in my head. If you haven't heard it yet, you really should - it's damn good.

[@woogha]

Twin flames kicks all kinds of butt.

[@joerider3769]

I've been watching Star Trek so long that I was a little annoyed at the "We're hurting a life form we don't know about!" storyline. Still, it was fun to watch how they figured it out! Great episode!

[@bomaxwell6463]

Two Cetacean Observation points: 1. The way Wesley offers his hand to shake Uhura's in the mess hall (his hand angled so his palm is slightly facing upwards), mirrors that of Shatner offering HIS hand to McCoy in TMP when the latter first arrives on the Enterprise. 2. Uhura's punching out of Kirk echoes (with a twist) Star Trek 2009. In the latter Kirk attempts to hit on Uhura in a bar & gets punched (OK, by a red shirt). Here, Kirk meets Uhura at the bar in the mess, then shortly after she punches him out - and his reaction is to proclaim, "I told you I'm NOT trying to pick you up!" This also plays into the idea of Kirk gaining a certain reputation where women are concerned from fairly early in his career...

[@kevincootes4911]

Kirk is on the Enterprise because he has been promoted, but is not yet acting as first officer. He states that he has a couple of months training his replacement.

[@nigelmurphy6761]

Another great episode review Sean. When Kirk and spock shook hands at the end of the episode, you could have just paused it there as we all know where that friendship goes. All we need now is for McCoy to make an appearance at some point which I'm sure he will.

[@johngriffith182]

I laughed so hard at Spock's "Frustrating" as he handed Sam's dirty glass to the waiter to take away!

[@philipwhelan14]

As was said already, JTK wasn't officially the first officer yet and although he may have wanted to see his brother, I feel the dog in him wanted to meet La'An after the call she made and "the drink".