Star Trek: Strange New Worlds

[Drunk Monk]

One more comment about S1.8 - SWORD FIGHT!

[Drunk Monk]

A Mountain of Entertainment | “Stallone Face” Big Game Commercial | Paramount+

[Greg]

I noticed they are rolling out the teaser ads for the Superb Owl ads.

[Greg]

Someone is going to be excited. Maybe.

[Drunk Monk]

Someone is going to be excited. Maybe.

Very excited. These are the two best new ST series going right now.

[Drunk Monk]

[Drunk Monk]

S1 on YT

https://m.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLKf...tGnPcozCQX

[Drunk Monk]

S2E1 was good. The special effects are top notch. A dispute on the border between the Feds and the Klingons. Klingons are always fun. Spock takes his first command of the Enterprise while Pike is on a mission. I'm finally warming up to this Spock. He's funny. Chapel feels so disconnected to the TOS Chapel, but she's so hawt that she gets my green blood up. M'Benga is interesting because he's played out with the inevitability of his fate in TOS. Uhura is the best. This ep ends with a tribute to Nichelle, and that gave me the feels.

[Drunk Monk]

E2 was super preachy in that inclusive translucent metaphoric way that only Star Trek can be. Una (#1) is busted for being Illyrian who are genetically enhanced, which is illegal in star fleet since the Eugenic war. This is the same character that Majel played in the original pilot. Una is court-martialled which gives plenty of openings for speeches about systematic oppression and racism. At first it was preaching to the choir but it got off some genuine moments. Maybe I’m just such a Trekkie that it worked for me. La’an finally admits that she’s related to Khan (her last name - noonian Singh - is kind of a giveaway). A fair ep - needed a fight scene.

[Drunk Monk]

With all the cliffhangers from S1 more or less resolved, the Enterprise can forge onward boldly. La'an Noonian Singh gets a visit from the Dept of Temporal Investigations, which doesn't exist yet but there's a disruption in the timeline and she's now on an Enterprise that isn't part of Starfleet under the command of James Kirk. 

The SNW Kirk is a bit flat - hard to top the Kelvin universe Kirk. But it was an amusing way to revisit his character, and further explain La'an's connection with Khan. Pelia (the new engineer played by Carol Kane) is further introduced. She'slike a quirky Guinan, only funnier. It's a stand alone episode, literally outside of the present SNW timeline, and moved along with a decent pace and some funny banter. 

Not an outstanding ep, but not disappointing either.

[Drunk Monk]

E4 felt like a classic TOS ep, a mostly stand alone tale of Enterprise cleaning up a prime directive violation and a radiation field that made everyone lose their memory. Twas a bit silly when the science is considered but it was a solid storytelling device that allowed the cast to expand and grow. Simultaneous crises on board and with the away party, plus a tale with heart, the sort of which genuine ST should always have. 
SNW Spock is finally starting to work for me - I guess the grandson of Gregory Peck fits the ears after all. The rest of the cast is solid too, especially the women - Uhura, Chapel, La’an & Ortega nail it (although I still don’t see Chapel connected to TOS Chapel, but she’s hawt so she gets a pass). Pike is fascinating because he knows his fate, and that tempers his role with compassion. M’Benga is bad ass. 
Loving this show. LLAP!

[Drunk Monk]

E5: a canon defier. Due to an extra dimensional alien encounter, Spock becomes human. Ethan Peck, the SNW Spock and grandson of Gregory, delivers his best performance yet in the role. What’s more, it’s the engagement dinner for him and T’pring, a strict formality with his future mother-in-law who hates him. We meet Amanda. And Chapel & Spock, well, something happens that all trekkies have been waiting for…

Despite the canon violations, I enjoyed this ep. It was funny and had some heartfelt moments. SNW is it’s own timeline now, akin to the Kelvin timeline of JJ’s.

[Drunk Monk]

Just saw e6 in Hall H by chance a few hours before it releases. It’s the LD crossover.

On the huge screens with an auditorium sound system and hundreds of fans

It was awesome. Arguably the most brilliant ep of all of the new p+ treks. I laughed I cried and reveled with fellow trekkies.

[Drunk Monk]

The crossover was e7. I forgot I missed one when I almost died in Yose.

E6 was Uhura having hallucinations. Or are they? James Kirk joins the cast again and the sNEWw Mirk shows some character, although it still doesn’t quite feel like Kirk. He’s too old and not handsome enough. Nevertheless this did have the moment when Uhura, Spock & Kirk first meet, which reminded me of when 3P0 and R2 met in the prequels. 

Then I watched e7 again and it still worked. The beginning tightened up what was going on but the way I saw it in Hall H was cooler. I didn’t know when it started so I didn’t know when it was going to end and there’s a false ending that totally sucked me in.

#1’s scene got me choked up again. Rebecca is a formidable actress now. 

That Hall H experience was just magical - a high point of SDCC. It was ecstatic. That prolly sounds strange, but I was so moved by the whole weekend and that was a climactic point where everything came together by pure dumb luck and for a moment, I was exactly where I needed to be.

[Drunk Monk]

I thought e8 was going to be the musical ep (which gives me trepidations) but instead it was about ptsd. The first Klingon ambassador must be transported by the enterprise. M’Benga, Ortegas, & Chapel are vets of the Klingon wars and are triggered by his presence. It’s great backstory for M’Benga and Chapel. The depiction of the front lines is as violent at ST gets and M’Benga’s choices are intense. The ending was questionable.

Watched a bit of The Ready Room, Wil Wheaton’s fan show (he’s still annoying as Wesley) and M’Benga’s accent is acting. Chapel has an Aussie accent IRL, and somehow that makes her even hawter. I stood beside her actual uniform at sdcc and totally fangirled.