Star Trek-Strange New Worlds 1x03 - 'Ghosts of Illyria' ~~ { ** Spoilers Within ** } « » St

AMKC

Spoilers whitin

Strange New Worlds 1x02 - 'Ghosts of Illyria' ~~ { ** Spoilers Within ** } Warning: This thread will contain spoilers 

AMKC

So so far another good start anyway. Nice to see some action from different parts of the ship and how it effects things.

Hammer is certainly very confident in his abilities.

Is it me or is that intro different to the first two episodes?

OK this is good.

There is definitely some freaky sh-it going on here first Lance puts his head throw a panel and now Number one is glowing. Some quarter's do.

Nice chat and character development between Laan and Number one.

Yes full Star Trek now. We all went through this only recently and now they are cool.

So ye that not normal. I think theses Illyrians might have messed up and turned themselves into whatever they are now that Pike and Spock just saw.

I have to say Cammander Una Chin Riley is one cool Woman. She might yet become my favorite Character on this.

Awe now that makes sense about Number One.

Now they know why she was able to carry Hammer as well.

Proper character development and proper Star Trek. It really is good to have it back.

Oh no thats not good. What does she do.

Yep definitely my favorite Character she is like the Data or Spock of Pikes crew. In fact I would say now that Kirk had the weakest crew of Prime Universe Star Trek excluding that other show with the weird spore drive ship because well bar one maybe two members all the rest of that crew were weak.

Still Spock must have seen more than neatlrly anyone else on Starfleet veen in more missions than anyone else and served under at least two Captains.

AMKC

Well that was another very good episode. Some nice little twists on it too and we learn a bit about 3 of the crew so that is good too.

Still Number one does have a point at the end and in some alternate Universe it just might turn out like that.

Someone said before that Pike is kinda half like Kirk and half like Picard and I agree in the way he goes about things.

It's shows it here again when Number One wants to resign and he rejects it and says let me worry about Starfleet.

corkie

@AMKC You have the wrong episode no, in the content of your post?

Edit:- Just notice posting date so can not edit it.

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

s01e03 - Ghost of Illyria Transcript

liamtech

Another good episode - Classic vibes -

We learned a lot

What i LOVE about this episode is that there is a message - but they didnt force it down our throats ye know? It was decent, and yes just cause the humans screwed up Genetic Augmentation, doesnt mean the Illyrians did -

I think at this stage (3/3 on good episodes) its pointless to rank them - We are doing very good with this show, i LOVE it - fantastic stuff - That said, maybe slightly ahead of last week, slightly below Episode one, which is still a high point for me

In a kinda irony the Illyrians, who starfleet/Federation is prejudiced against - are the same species that Johnathan Archer ROBBED of a Warp Coil in the Enterprise episode 'damage' season 3 - so they are good enough to steal from - but not be friends with?? lol - No reference to ENT in the episode (which i am fine with btw)

Curious that Una doesnt look like the Illyrians in Enterprise, one assumes augmentation

Its a real pleasure to have trek back :) - REAL trek

liamtech

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119084623#Comment_119084623

On the Picard/Kirk thing - i know i said it but many have been getting that vibe - and yea it really is good - it will be interesting to see in a pinch, if he turns Sisko (Driven to succeed with passion, and defend the federation, even if its tricky water doing so)

I think it really speaks to the confidence of the show that Pike spends so much time off-screen so far. Like, we have a crew again. That can solve stuff themselves.

AMKC

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119085827#Comment_119085827

I am guessing Archer never mentioned that in his logs so Starfleet never knew of it.

But ye I always thought them Illyriabs and even there ship looked similar to Xardassians so maybe they were related somehow. Maybe as this shows goes on we might find out more for the Commander.

corkie

@liamtech Curious that Una doesnt look like the Illyrians in Enterprise, one assumes augmentation

"The Illyrians were a humanoid species native to a planet in the Delphic Expanse. (ENT: "Damage")

They were known for their extensive genetic engineering to enhance their capabilities. They viewed this as an alternative to terraforming, to adapt their bodies to new colonies instead of the opposite. (SNW: "Ghosts of Illyria") Their appearance varied, from having extensive cranial ridges to being outwardly indistinguishable from Humans. (ENT: "Damage"; SNW: "Ghosts of Illyria")"

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

https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0081827/

Spear

It was solid again. Some good creepy scenes from the early infection.

The doctor reveal though doesn't work for me. It's a bit too saccharine and clunky. In the past a story beat like that would be given to the guest star of the week, and not a main cast member.

fritzelly

Loved the episode again

Get to learn more about the crew while having a nice mystery with substance to be solved

eadrom

Very good. Some pacing issues maybe and there's something about the atmosphere on the ship that still doesn't feel quite right.

But really, very good. It's like the last few years or new Trek were just a bad dream.

TheValeyard

Another great espiodes and great seeing lots of cast getting screen time.

I think the Doctor story could be interesting down the road.

Surprised the no mention of the IIIlryians from the ENT episode. Suppose the difference in appearance could either be just updated design or they look different depending on environmental changes or augment changes.

Skerries

anybody find the music overbearing?

fritzelly

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119087420#Comment_119087420

Find myself so intently watching it can't say I've noticed it

CastorTroy

Seeing Hemmer makes me wonder why have blind characters when it's not a factor? I'm sure there'll probably be an episode where everyone is affected by something that affects sighted people so he'll save the day but otherwise it seems pointless.

Anyway, was a good episode. The fact we saw that ensign near the beginning and Pike spoke to him, I was thinking something would happen with him.

Had to laugh at the computer's message about the warp core. Pretty much just "The containment field is down. You really should keep it up"

Slydice

Oh that was very enjoyable. I think the point I liked the most was how similar the Delete-The-Log moment was to Siskos.

I liked this possibiliy of terraforming the people to the planet. Very similar to an Outer Limits episode from the 90s.

Oh.. and as each episode goes by.. I'm really liking Nurse Chapels personality.

~Rebel~

Really enjoyed it, proper classic trek. Love an auld epidemic on a starship. Was a bit jarring that they didn't instantly quarantine the whole landing party the second any of them had any weird symptoms, surely that'd be the most basic of protocols? But otherwise, no complaints at all, good stuff!

~Rebel~

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119087796#Comment_119087796

Isn't that sort of the point of proper representation though? Not including a disabled/underrepresented person to use as a plot device, but rather just including them as regular characters who happen to have this trait. It's like how every gay character in something until fairly recently was gay as a plot point to the story. Now it's much more common for it to be just another characteristic amongst many, same as any other person.

So I quite like that we have this blind character who's just totally capable and controlled in his work, and it's just no big deal. I'd imagine that's the sort of representation blind adults and kids would be appreciative of.

We had a similar thing to an extent with Jordi in TNG - but this takes it a step further, where they're removing the technology aid, and just letting the guy be who he is on his own merits naturally.

ilovesmybrick

Well, three out of three so far, that was excellent, and the visuals on this are absolutely amazing. I agree with the above that the M'Benga reveal was a bit off for me, but based on the past three episodes this show has definitely earned the benefit of the doubt from me. I couldn't help feeling that Number One's log entry at the end, if done in Discovery, would have been a tearful, stretched out mess of an arc covering an entire season. I do really like the short, snappy character development. The writing just feels tighter and sharper to me.

Three episodes in and we know a bit about most of the bridge crew, we have a sense of how they interact and the ship works as a whole, and we've had three pretty great episodes. Jesus this is what should have launched new Trek instead of Discovery.

Also, I really like the engineering set and the LCARS displays on the bridge, I can actually get over the overt shininess of everything. Really nice to have physical controls again, and to see a bridge set that, so far, seems to be trying to do a nice cross between the style of warp core in TOS, and resolve it with the type seen from TMP onwards.

is_that_so

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119088037#Comment_119088037

Yeah, good fun all round. Actually was amused that we really understood what was going on once the virus hit. Contact tracing, lockdowns and all that good stuff!

fritzelly

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119088037#Comment_119088037

Thought the writer was having a dig at a certain organisation/country

CastorTroy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119088039#Comment_119088039

I didn't mean to imply they're not capable, but usually now if a character has a trait like being deaf, they're played by a deaf actor and while able to work with everyone as well as anyone else, they do encounter obstacles. Anyway just seemed a strange character trait if it's not part of the character. To use my example, a deaf character is deaf and it's part of who they are and for your example, gay characters aren't just gay but it is still part of who they are and plays a role in their character.

But anyway, it's sci fi set in the future, he's an alien character and has abilities and the blindness may be a factor in a future episode more focussed on him.

As a sidenote, I was just googling to see if there are any blind actors and outside of ones who may be blind in one eye and people like Ray Charles appearing in The Blues Brothers, there isn't exactly a long list.

TheValeyard

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119087420#Comment_119087420

No, but I do find M'Benga somewhat difficult to understand when he lowers his voice.

odyssey06

Parts of it reminded me of DS9 Dramatis Personae, felt a bit rushed here though.

The idea of the Illyrians is intriguing as a scifi concept.

Sleepy

I'm loving the look of the ship exterior, the gold on the deflector dish makes it feel very like the Apollo lander for me... makes it more realistic somehow.

corkie

DS9 Dramatis Personae

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

https://subslikescript.com/series/Star_Trek_Deep_Space_Nine-106145/season-1/episode-17-Dramatis_Personae

@Slydice Outer Limits episode from the 90s? Couldn't find that episode.

CastorTroy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119091583#Comment_119091583

Season 3 episode 14 Music of the Spheres.

Didn't know that off the top of my head. I remembered the episode and that Kirsten Dunst was in it so helped in googling. Also starred Joshua Jackson.

Slydice

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119091583#Comment_119091583

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119093586#Comment_119093586

Yep, that's the one. Found a link to a wiki for it here if it helps:

https://theouterlimits.fandom.com/wiki/Music_of_the_Spheres

Bobtheman

I'm enjoying it. I like mount. He pitches Pike just right. I like the ensemble feel which was sadly lacking in discovery as it went on.

However I tend to get sick of many series about three seasons in. So it remains to be seen.

I like the doctor. Loving the African accent. Presume its genuine.

So far they have resisted the LGBT token member. Only 10% or less of the population fall into this category but we must tick the box.

Nothing against LGBT but its over done on TV

Spear

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119094929#Comment_119094929

M'Benga is played by Babs Olusanmokun, who's Nigerian born. But while he does speak with a mostly African accent normally, he seems to be thickening it a little for the show to erase the hint of an American accent he has.

corkie

@Slydice

Yep, that's the one. Found a link to a wiki for it here if it helps:

https://theouterlimits.fandom.com/wiki/Music_of_the_Spheres

Thanks. No wonder, I couldn't find reference to it. Not what I imagined it would be about.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_The_Outer_Limits_(1995_TV_series)_episodes

Thought humans/species transforming themselves to suit a foreign planet, instead of terraforming it.

pixelburp

Loved that episode: a solid adventure of a crazy Sci-Fi virus sweeping the ship. Yeah the character revelation about Number 1 was a bit too convenient as pertaining the threat - and not just one but TWO augments on the senior crew is a bit silly - but as before, these are criticisms sought after, not shouting at me while I watch. While I enjoy the episode, to be exact.

I suspect we'll find that planet the Doctor is hoping to find, and it'll come with a cost. His pronouncement that the entire crew wasn't a price worth paying may haunt him when faced with a different moral choice; seems like things are being set up that way.

~Rebel~

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119097475#Comment_119097475

They're doing a really good job of patiently setting character arcs in the background of stories, which they can come back to over the course of the season. It's not rocket science, but it's very refreshing to see after 2 shows failing so massively at it. I just hope no-one amongst the powers-that-be goes overthinking things from here - just keep on walking the path you're on please SNW!

pixelburp

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119099116#Comment_119099116

It's nuts and bolts episodic storytelling but it's so absent from the criminally inept scripts of the other shows, just doing the basics competently becomes a breath of fresh air - and hopefully an eye opener for the producers. And, as we saw with DS9 it is possible to stay roughly episodic while having a broader season-spanning story - it's just the writers on the other shows couldn't fashion a properly character driven show if their lives depended on it.

My hope at this point is that with Picard done(?) after season 3, that maybe Discovery also wraps up soon - though I see no news hinting that's the case - and Strange New Worlds becomes the leader of the franchise. Like, it HAS to have the hardcore back onside, right? Do we have any sense of this?

corkie

STAR TREK Strange New Worlds Used Dorothy Fontana's "Vulcan's Glory" Una Origin Without Credit?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wrm85PsFwrQ

Greyjoy

Another good episode, standard "crew gets infected" storyline but well balanced. i liked the Pike/Spock story on the planet as provided a contrast to the ship falling apart. Having both Number One AND La'an be genetically manipulated feels too repetitive. Una's secret did prompt some "after the credits" questions like how did she manage to make it all this way through Starfleet and not have her Illyrian heritage show up on any medical scan but that's just minor nitpicking.

What did take me out of the story was Number One's attempt to talk La'an down in the warp core. She had already confronted Hemmer in the transporter room so she knows the infected aren't thinking rationally. It just felt like a complete waste of time to try and talk her out of it especially when they were in such critical danger. It would have been refreshing for Number One to just walk in and phaser La'an on stun but then we wouldn't have had the fight scene.

M'benga's daughter felt a bit too tacked on at the end. It's the kind of revelation that would have had an entire episode devoted to it in other circumstances (and maybe we still might). That too prompted another "hang on" question after the credits - if he has time for reading a bedtime story how long does it take to upgrade the medical transporter?

Spear

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119101181#Comment_119101181

I think there's still some good contrast between Number One and La'an. Number One gets all the benefits of genetic engineering, yet never has to deal with grief from others about it. La'an being the opposite, she's not directly augmented, yet still bears the stigma of it all. Seems like grounds for La'an to bear some resentment against Number One.

But yeah, it doesn't make sense that Number One didn't get thoroughly DNA tested and screened as I'd imagine everyone in the fleet would be.

TheIrishGrover

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119101181#Comment_119101181

 Having both Number One AND La'an be genetically manipulated feels too repetitive

Is La'an genetically manipulated? Or was it just that she is a Noonian-Soong? I didn't think she was augmented (I may have missed that)

What did take me out of the story was Number One's attempt to talk La'an down in the warp core. 

Well, I just took that as she didn't want to fight her friend.

Overall a good episode. Y'know, a good standalone(ish) Trek-Classic with modern production values. Did it live up to the first two? No. Was it still good? Yes. (I especially liked the engineer clicking his fingers and the engineering crew immediately scrambling into action)

Man, I was SO sure that Redshirt that Pike called was gonna get it. (Can't remember his name). Classic Trek: Pike, Spock, Number One and "Random-Crew-Member" beam down......

Stark

Don't think La'an is an augment. We just know that she's descendent of Khan in some form. Not sure if she's a direct descendent, but either way, it seems any augment ancestry has been diluted to the point that Starfleet doesn't consider her an augment. I don't think there was ever any mention up to now of Khan having children? Could be a descendent of a non-augmented cousin.

AMKC

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119101181#Comment_119101181

That too prompted another "hang on" question after the credits - if he has time for reading a bedtime story how long does it take to upgrade the medical transporter?

Too long I would say. He probably only reads her that for 2 mins or maybe 5mins at the most as he does not want her to age and her disease to get worse. So ye definitely not enough time to upgrade the Transporter.

Maybe we will see and learn more about her in in future episodes.

AMKC

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119101324#Comment_119101324

Man, I was SO sure that Redshirt that Pike called was gonna get it. (Can't remember his name). Classic Trek: Pike, Spock, Number One and "Random-Crew-Member" beam down......

Lance was his name.

AMKC

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119101324#Comment_119101324

Overall a good episode. Y'know, a good standalone(ish) Trek-Classic with modern production values. Did it live up to the first two? No. Was it still good? Yes. (I especially liked the engineer clicking his fingers and the engineering crew immediately scrambling into action)

I disagree with you there. I have watched all three episodes twice so far and in my opinion episodes 1 and 3 have been the best so far not that any of them were bad but episode 2 is my least favorite episode so far.

Spear

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119101380#Comment_119101380

Lance seems to be the generic background filler guy already. He was at the captains dinner as well, plus often walking past the main chars in corridor scenes.

eadrom

Yeah, Una being an Illyrian, and whatever that entails, and M'Benga's daughter felt a little... unnecessary, almost. Like it didn't really have any impact on anything except to (a little too conventionality) explain why Number One avoided getting sick. But sure that could have been any sci-fi mumbo-jumbo.

Both of the "revelations" caused second-takes from me anyway, and not because they were shocking bits of information but more because they felt so oddly inconsequential.

That's the sort of pacing and 'atmosphere' (for lack of a better term) issues I mentioned in my earlier post. Minor quibbles really. Not sure that I want a whole episode of Number One crying about her hidden past, or M'Benga about his daughter. but also it seems like a lot to just be mentioning almost in passing.

GSPfan

I can’t understand a word M’Benga is saying. Trying my best and normally very good at accents but he’s really pushing me past my limits.

I like the character and the actor though. I think I’ll have to subtitle him.

I have to admit I’m finding nurse Chapel very attractive. She’s pretty and fun. It’s working for me. :)

corkie

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119100332#Comment_119100332

I know, it was me that posted the above, but i don't see the need for 'DC Fontana' to be credited in the episode.

After reading 'Vulcan's Glory' it is not like 'Una' backstory was mentioned much in the novel.

"Some officers have had a difficult time dealing with the fact that she is a genetically perfect being. On her planet, Ilyria, excellence is the only criterion that is accepted. She is technically designated as being the best of her breed for the year she was born."

"I see. She therefore would receive the appellation 'Number One' even if she were not the executive officer."

"You have it."

- Pike and Spock ~ https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Vulcan%27s_Glory

The point is, from 1989 to 2017, Star Trek books have been trying to make Number One’s status as an Illyrian a thing. And now, it is actually canon. With a wrinkle: Before, in all of those novels, being an Illyrian didn’t carry this kind of stigma.

~ https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/star-trek-strange-new-worlds-episode-3-easter-eggs-reference-guide/

Star Trek – Vulcan’s Glory by D.C. Fontana (Review)

Posted on May 1, 2013 by Darren

JayRoc

Enjoyed it. Probably the best of the three IMO. Nothing earth shattering so far but lots of potential.

The plotline with M'Benga's kid was daft though. Eh, so no one else in the federation has a transporter buffer you can use? Your choice is literally let your kid die or put your ship in jeopardy by using the sickbay medical transporter? Daft.

Minor quibble though

AMKC

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119106197#Comment_119106197

I disagree with that. The whole point is that he had told no one up to this point what he was doing or where he was keeping her. As far as Starfleet or his family if he has any is concerned she is with her mother or with him. Maybe he has told the mother or maybe she is dead too who knows. But ye if he had to ask a friend or someone else to store her in there buffer whats not to say they would not forget as its not there child and something bad happens or they tell someone accidently?

Also who would read her bedtime stories?

In his mind the safest place for her to be was in his medical transporter with him as they fly around the Galaxy on the flagship of Starfleet untill they find the planet with the cure for her so he can cure her.

pixelburp

I think the Doctor's story is a good example of emotional storytelling done right. Ok, maybe it doesn't stand up to the rigours of the Canon Police re. transportation buffers but as a storyline it was solid, relatable stuff that had a simple premise, done well. No contrived drama, while the secret wasn't kept needlessly mysterious for episodes on end.

Dad wants to find a cure for his daughter, keeps her "safe" by his side til he can find a cure. It has a tonne of storytelling potential, if done right.

JayRoc

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119106414#Comment_119106414

Ah, I wasn't being too anal-retentive about the sci-fi details or anything...I just get kind of pulled out of a story sometimes if something seems a bit silly to me, I find it a bit of a distraction.

I will say that unlike some previous posters, I have no trouble understanding him and like his accent actually. Not one I'm used to hearing a lot on TV, a nice departure