Strange New Worlds 1x01 - 'Strange New Worlds' ~~ { ** Spoilers Within ** }

ilovesmybrick

Strange New Worlds 1x01 - 'Strange New Worlds' ~~ { ** Spoilers Within ** } Warning: This thread will contain spoilers 

ilovesmybrick

Enjoyable enough, has promise, and the visuals are superb. After back to back Discovery and Picard I'm going to hold my praise a bit to see how it develops, but I do appreciate the return of the episodic approach. The preview at the end also looks like it could be a fun few episodes.

My one major concern is the focus they placed on Pikes trauma and Khans backstory. I know they do have to at least address his knowledge of the future, but I really hope there's not another season where the main characters spend large amounts of time dissecting their personal problems. Six seasons (to date) of that is more than enough for me.

liamtech

Initial Impression

• EPIC - Fuckin savage - honestly, maybe im a bit of a nostalgia hound but - 'space, the final frontier...etc' - That had me shouting at the TV saying YES - WE ARE BACK!!!!!! Kirks line from the end of ST4 - 'my friends, we've come home' - immediately popped into my mind!!!!
• Loved the general tone - it was proper star trek - I was nattering to a friend about the franchise, and i speculated that the only good thing to come out of Discovery, would be Strange New Worlds and Pike/Spock - i reiterate that now, we are looking VERY GOOD HERE IN MY HONEST OPINION!!!
• As a pilot of an entirely new show, i found it very good - true to Trek in so many ways. General Order 1, to Prime Directive - but the whole Battle/Control etc etc - great bit of meandering to not get ratty with the PD
• im repeating myself here but there is a kind of atmosphere to good trek - it is completely absent from Disco - but it is present here in spades!! This feels like a return to proper trek - and yea it might have ups and downs, but i connected with the show - and even the characters. Look forward to getting to know them as the show rolls on!

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119018566#Comment_119018566

Very good points absolutely

• In a display of how much i loath discovery, when spock mentioned missing his sister i entirely forgot about Burnham, and began wondering what he was talking about - when the penny dropped RE Burnham - UGH - leave it out. Never mention her again.
• I was hoping the whole knowledge of death thing would run its course in this opening episode - im hoping it has now - La'an's speech about surprise and death and the advantage of knowing your gonna die - maybe thats all Pike needed - here's hoping
• i was concerned about the appearance of 'kirk', but its Samuel Kirk - his brother so - happy out - no canon issues
• Good to be cautious - i watched Picard - less than enthusiastic about S2 but i still enjoyed the season as a whole and will comment later. But Picard is an order of magnitude better than Disco (lets be frank, Disco IMHO is awful) - if this Pilot is anything to go by, SNW could be a massive step toward the franchise we love

BRING IT!

Spear

I'm quite pleased with this as a first episode. It has a moral point, it has a solid sci-fi basis, and it even makes a valid point about both Star Trek and sci-fi in general, that all these massive space heroics don't go unnoticed by less advanced species.

It also has a sense of humour, something rare in Picard, and absent from Discovery.

Random thoughts:

I'm hoping that Pikes fate isn't going to be constantly hammered into us. It crops up repeatedly in the first episode, but hopefully that's just to establish the backstory.

They had Melanie Scrofano (from Letterkenny and Wynona Earp) as the captain Pike's involved with. Wonder if that means the character reappears.

PhiloCypher

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119018566#Comment_119018566

I haven't watched it yet, but on your point about hoping Pike doesn't dwell on his foreknowledge of his future, while I agree I'd prefer them to show a lighter hand on the melodrama, Pike was shown to be somewhat of a deep thinker in the Original Star Trek Pilot "the cage" so it's not completely out of character if he does.

fritzelly

Well I loved that - a proper ST show, I'm excited for the rest of the season - please don't become Disco

corkie

Strange but cool and enjoyable episode. Spocks romance at the start was off-putting and was wondering if I would see the episode through.

I normally share the below links in the Picard threads as well, warning has full published breakdown of the episode <<< Spoilers!

https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Strange_New_Worlds_%28episode%29

Edit: -

Something from that link

The shuttlecraft Stamets takes Pike up to the Enterprise

^^^ Interesting Easter egg reference to discovery?

asking how they got warp capabilility. Una replies that they had given it to them, during that final battle near Xahea, when Burnham opened the wormhole that sent her and the Discovery through to the future.

^^^ Other discovery references.

That breakdown, gives more detail than you might not have picked up watching?

TheValeyard

I thought that was a very good opening episode.

Music - good

Casting - mostly good but Nurse Capel may annoy me I think.

Plot - good and kinda original.

Dialogue - mixed

Enjoyed 'the last day' speech and more on Earth WW3, the slow progression of civil war to eugenics war until it was simply a world War

54 minutes of a plot with a beginning, middle and end. Nice.

eadrom

I'm a bit Star Trek'd out but yeah, it was good!

Don't think I'm as sold on Captain Dad as others but he'll do. Spock is surprisingly great! Ethan Peck has worked on it a bit since Disco I think. Very Spocky.

The episode dragged a bit in places, felt a bit rushed in others. Enterprise itself felt a bit lifeless or something?

Visuals are good but I think they're trading some realism for a magic shiny glow on everything and I'm not mad about it. Although I guess it keeps things feeling lighter.

Which they do! Good fun. Few chuckles even. Spock's "the Klingon moon-caves are known for two things..." bit being one of them.

Would have liked a bit more umph to the first episode maybe -- but then again, that didn't work out too well for the other series. And it was fine anyway. Bit of first contact. Bit preachy. Beam down, moralise, off you go. "Hit it" to theme tune. Job's a good 'un. Nothing wrong with that.

Oh, "Samuel Kirk!" was a good gag too :-D

AMKC

Well that was fun.

At last the type of Star Trek we know and love.

I was kinda dissapoibted with the Engerprise do the sxale of it. They can do good scale. They have done in Discovery from what I remember if it. The JJ Films too had great scale. It should be easy here. Even TOS and Voyager altought Coyafer was not always so good but it could do good scale sometimes. The Enterprise should have looked massive over the city. I was disapointed with that.

I thought the part in the elevator involving Spock was funny but had to check it a 2nd time as missed it the first time.

Ye the kirk being Samual Kirk was very clever. Glad it was not James T Kirk.

I like that there looks like there's a proper warp core in the Enterprise.

breezy1985

I really enjoyed it. Was just generally a lot of fun and the bad bits were only small silly things you would get over like the too human Vulcan flirting.

At first I was annoyed the M'Benga was included as he hadn't joined the ship yet but he seems like a real good character and love new Chapel even if she is nothing like the old one.

Love that the address Pike's issues. That's an actual genuine crazy sci-fi trauma issue rather than forced bllix.

2 big clouds hang over the show in the shape of Singh and Kirk though. Already Spock has a load of secret family he never talks about and now we get a "Hey James Kirk is it, I knew your brother back in the day, and your nemesis grand daughter or whatever she is". I know it's gonna some how really mess things up down the road.

Endaaaagh

I liked it. For the first time in a long, long, time it actually felt like I was watching an episode of Star Trek.

The characters. feel like they each have their own personality, and even though we are only 1 episode in, I already feel like I know them more than the blubbering, over emotional, Hi-Fiving, crew of Discovery. We got an nice introduction to each character, showing their own distinctive personalities.

First time in a while I'm cautiously optimistic about watching Star Trek, actually looking forward to seeing where it goes.

breezy1985

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119022437#Comment_119022437

Just change character for Trek

sioda

Yup liked that. Decent cast and ok dialogue.

Visually loved it especially that final star base.

Pike is a good lead and after the flatness although with great bits of Picard hope this builds well towards a good season.

AMKC

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119022407#Comment_119022407

I"Hey James Kirk is it, I knew your brother back in the day, and your nemesis grand daughter or whatever she is". I know it's gonna some how really mess things up down the road.

I have no idea what you are on about. I must have missed that bit.

I only seen Samual Kirk and heard no talking of James T Kirk in it at all.

breezy1985

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119023018#Comment_119023018

It was a conversation between Spock and Kirk that I made up.

I'm saying we now have a story where Spock's relationship to James Kirk starts with Spock being Sam Kirks boss.

If no more comes of it fine but if Spock and Sam become best friends it will annoy me because I hate when Star Trek gets too small universe. I'de rather characters were just characters and not all call backs or links or related to Spock some how.

Remember the speech in Disco season 3 where Spock talks about how "everything he is" is thanks to Burnham. I can see that kind of crap between Sam and Spock like it turns out Spock is Jim's friend because of some blood oath to Sam or some sht.

AMKC

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119023122#Comment_119023122

Awe OK. I get you now. Ye I too hope that does not happen. I do not remember that between Burnham and Spock totally forgotten about never happened in my mind.

PhiloCypher

Just done watching it there, dialogue was a bit perfunctory in parts, but overall I really enjoyed it. The cast all have great chemistry so far, and the plot was full of that standaloney goodness I was looking for.

Was dubious about La'an's character when they announced her, but I really like her in this episode, especially her snark at Spock

Spoiler Warning

SPOCK: We are fortunate their physiology was compatible (with a neck pinch)

La'an: we were fortunate you finally got the hint.

One question I have is are we to presume nobody knows her genetically altered status as this is pre Khan being discovered by Kirk on Space seed. She seemed wary of her DNA being messed with by Chapel perhaps through fear of it being discovered.

It's only one ep in and I already feel like I have a better handle on the bridge crew names then I did Discoveries after 3 seasons.

corkie

@breezy1985

Remember the speech in Disco season 3 where Spock talks about how "everything he is" is thanks to Burnham.

Season 3, discovery had traveled to the future, so can't remember Spock actually saying that, thought it was Amanda?

Edit: - her mum, said it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2BgA_L1hDU0

https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Gabrielle_Burnham

President T’Rina also wanted to know who Michael really was, and when she saw it, she decided she could trust her with the data after all, and passed it along via Gabrielle, adding that “she wondered how much of the man Spock became was a result of who his sister was.” Mother and daughter have a heart-to-heart about the coexistence of duty and joy, and by the time Gabrielle says, “You always know where to find me,” I’ve become but a melted blob of flesh and tears.

https://www.vulture.com/article/star-trek-discovery-recap-season-3-episode-7-unification-iii.html

So we don't even know if Amanda was saying that or just the President.

breezy1985

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119023580#Comment_119023580

Spock on a recording someone dug up of him for Burnham. It also had a bit with Nemoy from Unification in the scene.

corkie

I edit my post with a youtube clip, it was Gabrielle talking about what amanda said to her. Spock never actually said it.

@breezy1985

breezy1985

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119023819#Comment_119023819

Ah so it's Mama Burnham quoting Mama Spock.

Still sucked.

corkie

Re-watching now.

The shuttlecraft Stamets takes Pike up to the Enterprise

Takes a shuttle up to have a look over the ship, and then beams aboard!!??

Was that just for viewer benefit, or something routine after a refit?

breezy1985

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119024338#Comment_119024338

Ya it's mad no one on set said "hang on a minute"

We got 3 ships name dropped. Stamets, Archer and King Jr. 2 or 3 are Easter eggs and practically every ship in Pic s2e1 was the same. It doesn't really work as an oh wow when every ship is a call back.

timetogo1

Just watched it now. Seems like the first episode of a Star Trek since Enterprise.

I hope it keeps on like this.

breezy1985

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119025417#Comment_119025417

This rewriting of history for ENT still makes me laugh.

Johnny Storm

I liked it. PLEASE dont screw it up!

Yer wan the security officer is clearly modelled on Drummer from the Expanse ( which is a good thing )

Edited to add: IMHO Pike's trauma over his upcoming accident is probably not going to go away. He needs to have some kind of issue/weakness to make him a more interesting character. Without something like that he is almost verging on being smarmy.

Also, all their haircuts seem a bit over the top - whats up with that?

_Kaiser_

With the exception of the far too human-like date scene on Vulcan, I really enjoyed that actually. Visually it looks great but it has a generally likeable cast (though Chapel's zaniness may get grating very quickly - the new Tilly or Jurati?) and the tone was a lot more in keeping with classic Trek.

Good start anyway!

breezy1985

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119026894#Comment_119026894

Looking a bit like Emma Stone is gonna make me forgive a lot with Chapel.

I'm more worried Uhura is gonna be the Wesley/Tilly

PhiloCypher

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119027226#Comment_119027226

I really enjoyed Uhura scenes in this episode

Spoiler Warning

The Kyliean escaping onto the elevator, The slow pan to reveal Uhura was in there with him, then her improvising by chatting about the latest sports results to keep him distracted from the fact he's in an elevator with an alien.

breezy1985

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119027496#Comment_119027496

Nothing in this episode gave me any bad vibes about Uhura. It's just she is the highly regarded cadet which never goes well (I also didn't like Nog)

CastorTroy

I liked it.

And I think I know more about the crew of Enterprise after 1 episode than the Discovery crew after 4 seasons.

Ortegas seems to just be there for snark.

Definitely a bit more fun in it and a main character that doesn't speak in whispers.

As for Burnham influencing Spock, I think it was at the end of season 2 where Spock said it himself.

breezy1985

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119029284#Comment_119029284

Half this crew we know already and funny enough it made me realize it's the secondary characters we learn most about in Disco.

Pike and No.1 got more to do than "yellow background guys" and easily as much as Detmer/Owo. Clem Fandango and Book got more time than most too ( frakked their way to the top )

corkie

@CastorTroy

As for Burnham influencing Spock, I think it was at the end of season 2 where Spock said it himself.

I will let you find a reference to where he said it? I know they bonded and worked out issues in season 2!

But I don't think he ever said anything like the particular quote we have been discussing?

“In critical moments, men sometimes see exactly what they wish to see.” — Spock, Star Trek, Season 3: The Tholian Web

“I fail to comprehend your indignation, sir. I have simply made the logical deduction that you are a liar.” — Spock, Star Trek, Season 1: The Alternative Factor

“Spock: Oochy-woochy kootchie-koo, Captain?

Captain James T. Kirk: An obscure Earth dialect, Mr. Spock. Oochy-woochy kootchie-koo. If you're curious, consult linguistics.” — Spock, Star Trek, Season 2: Friday's Child

https://quotecatalog.com/communicator/spock

DenMan

Really enjoyed it. Roll on episode 2.

TheValeyard

Also agree with the above comments. I knew more about the crew in first episode of SNW than season one of Discovery.

Also Gorn could make interesting bad guys but not sure that works time line wise. And CGI could be difficult.

Slydice

That was great! Absolutely fantastic!

Everything was thought out so well! They've set such a high bar in their pilot episode!

Damn!

That preview for the season to come!!! The solar sails ship!!! Maybe a Bajoran cameo?!!?!?!! That would be so freaking cool!!

TheIrishGrover

I enjoyed that a LOT. could have done without the montage towards the end but it's a minor quibble.

As we had already seen Pike and Spock we new they were great (and the very brief scenes of Number One in Discovery confirmed Romain was also going to be perfect)

Some of my misgivings from the trailers were satisfactorily explained (I was concerned about the chumminess of Soong and Number One (Una. Hahaha) in the trailer. Great lines but too chummy to say to the XO) but their previous friendship explains this.

The T'Pring/Spock scenes were great. Sure, some may say they were a bit too light but I thought that were very enjoyable. The most deadpan flirting.

Uhura and the alien in the lift was fun. Keeping him calm and occupied until the doors open and he is INSTANTLY sedated. Lol.

And the "Space, the final frontier..." Good to have it back. So yeah, very happy with this. Bring it on

AMKC

Just watched it again for a second time. I enjoyed it even more the second time. So many great ideas. The emergency transporter in sickbay for instance brilliant. I know in TNG they could been the injured and sick straight into sickbay but it also depended on someone being in the transporter room and it not being damaged or under repair. In the Original Series they had no such capability so ye it's a great idea and the A.I too.

The Warp core looks small enough but at least it is a warp core.

The crew seem to be jelling well together. They all seem very human too.

I think this is now my favorite pilot episode of any Star Trek show.

I hope the writers can keep up the high standards they have set themselves and not ruin it.

I look forward to the new races and worlds we will meet.

As for what O said in my first post about the scale of things never mind it all looks brilliant I love it.

Can not wait for episode 2 bring it on I am guessing we will learn or get to know about the chief engineer in that episode hopefully.

~Rebel~

I quite enjoyed that - a great palate cleanser after watching the utterly atrocious Picard.

Felt like a very solid reset for them to build off. I quite liked the idea of basing the first episode off of The Day The Earth Stood Still (I'm not sure we quite needed the finger pointing of actually putting the movie on TV, but that's fine), with Earth as the alien species. That idea nicely resets Trek as being the broadly positive progressive optimistic future it was intended to be. The couple of classic sci-fi references makes me feel like whoever the writing staff are, we're in more capable hands - the obvious above one as the spine of the episode, but also the fairly clear little reference to Silent Running (with a more positive outcome).

The powers that be have blown it before, so have to wait and see, but it's a very positive start - it feels like they know their tone, and are keeping things simple.

is_that_so

Liked this - a straightforward Star Trek episode of the week series. Sure there are things that don't quite fit but generally the thrust and premise is good. Even the season trailer is not a warning of it morphing sideways into something else.

corkie

@AMKC

The emergency transporter in sickbay for instance brilliant. I know in TNG they could been the injured and sick straight into sickbay but it also depended on someone being in the transporter room and it not being damaged or under repair. In the Original Series they had no such capability so ye it's a great idea and the A.I too.

Strange New Worlds Makes 2 Big Changes To Star Trek’s Transporters

Star Trek's transporters are a miraculous technology but in Strange New Worlds, the Enterprise's transporters can suddenly do some unheard-of things.

• the Enterprise's transporters could somehow have clothing pre-stored in the pattern buffer.
• Kyle somehow managed to beam the liquid from the transporter pad directly into Spock's bloodstream!

Spear

Transporters already actively interfere with the contents being transported, including screening out out viruses through a bio filter, and disabling weapons. Swapping some replicated clothing for some other replicated clothing is really a very minimal change.

CastorTroy

Sure they can do that in current day, according to the documentary, Power Rangers. 😁

Greyjoy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119034778#Comment_119034778

That sense of optimism about the future is something I've found distinctly lacking in other Trek shows like Discovery & Picard. It's a big reason why I latched onto this series of SNW so easily. It felt like in the other series their futures were getting worse not better. There were some small niggles for me with the story - the Archer having a crew of only 3 people stretched plausibility for me. I would have expected Pike or Number One to beam over to the Archer and examine the ship's log if they had detected no life signs aboard or at least access the ship's log remotely.

PhiloCypher

What I find refreshing so far, granted we're only one episode in, is that we've had nobody banging on about the show being woke or whinging amount the amount of diversity & references to contemporary events like Jan 6th. It's almost like the problem was never any of those things, just bad writing.

AMKC

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119037281#Comment_119037281

There were some small niggles for me with the story - the Archer having a crew of only 3 people stretched plausibility for me.

Not at all. It was a relatively small ship and most of it could probably be programmed to work automatically but not having an engineer on it was strange to me. Maybe the Captain AKA No.One knew all that do.

I do agree there should have more than 3 people on it but I think most of the ship could be automated otherwise.

liamtech

yea i think i have watched this now 3 times - and every time i watch - i found something i like even more

• The music is SUPERB - the Trek Theme variation after pike makes his speech (and we see a montage of the aliens drawing pictures of 1701) - epic
• there is a quality to Anson Mount as Pike/The-Captain - he seems to have a lovely combination of the Dept of Picard - and the playful boyishness of Kirk - perhaps we will see some Sisko-Determination shining through at some point - glimpses perhaps - he is fantastic
• The Acting is fantastic - i just cannot help but love these characters already - (not sold on Chapel but give it time!)
• I like the sets and the special effects - Yes its TOS era and we need to be careful canon wise - but im sold anyway - Its fine - nice blend of Classic TOS ERA look - and modern SFX
• the writing - the scene where Spock gives his presentation on Warp/Anti Matter weapons - real quality Star Trek Briefing room stuff there (just wish they had called it an anti matter bomb as opposed to a warp bomb lol)

Im sold on this - im invested - 1 episode in i feel 100% better about the franchise - if this show succeeds i want similar caliber spin offs - REAL TREK

liamtech

Some interesting star charts here from the episode - can only speak for myself but i would love to see Cardassia in the 23rd - prior to the military take over

TheIrishGrover

Just watched it again and it is still great (and great to see all the positive reception it has received). Just a couple of things. Mainly about La'an.

What was the gesture with the finger to the eye with the doctor? Was it a greeting? Or something I missed Something that may be explained later?

What was their concern with her? Was it due to her name/connections/possibly being genetically altered? Or was it due to her time with the Gorn? Do they think she may potentially suffer from PTSD? (This is what they seemed to allude to with her saying she has issues with people)

Edit: Fixed some typos (Damn phone)

liamtech

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119039090#Comment_119039090

I have similar questions about La'an - she could defo be the breakout character - everyone is interested in her

AFAIK - nothing has really been revealed about her

• We infer she is related to a certain augmented villain
• She had some serious interactions with the Gorn, prior to be rescued by Una
• She is (for reasons unknown) unwilling to be sedated for medical treatment (possibly that specific treatment alone, or all treatments - we dont know)
• She exchanged a finger/facial gesture with the Doc (who, BTW, I also think is excellent, thus far) - unexplained!

All very mysterious - just gonna have to wait and see