No matter how deep in space you are, always feel like you can see home. Don't you think? Maybe it's just me. Forgive the lighting; the lack thereof. A recent battle injury. There's nothing they can do if I want to keep my own eyes, and I do. I have to suffer light change slowly. I like to think it makes me mysterious." Now that we're fully aware of the characters, tone and direction of this series, the show decides to take a more mature route in its third instalment. To be honest, it has improved the quality even more, giving us an exciting mix of adventure, science and horror. All the elements work well together to create a new mystery that has expanded the content of the series so far from just simply an erratically-born war to the eponymous 'discovery' of new science. The inclusion of A-list actor Jason Isaacs is the extra bonus.
Sonequa has settled into her role nicely, with her character now known universally as the mutineer of Star Fleet, both revered and despised. There's clearly a feeling that her presence on the discovery is an isolating experience, but she quickly adapts to her new environment like the officer that she once was, and her ability to engage with either her equals or superiors without regret shows how powerful she is as a character. I may question the vague and almost amateurish approach to science, but the mention of her familiarity with quantum physics is context enough for the question of her intelligence. The new invention is science, however, has great potential. Whilst I've never once questioned things like Star Wars and Doctor Who for its seemingly outlandish disregard for the laws of physics, simply because they have in-universe explanations. Star Trek is demonstrating its own brand of explanation with these micro-particles that apparently make up the web of spacetime; meaning, by harnessing their power, Star Fleet can effectively use a method of teleportation for fast space travel. Michael's reaction is the spitting image of ours. Ignoring the capacity for such a discovery, it's a fascinating idea nonetheless, and it seems there are darker methods behind the mask if Lorca's mysteriousness is anything to go by. Generally, this episode had some effective visuals, and the sudden tone-change when the excursion arrived on the empty Star Fleet vessel was a great way to introduce a new threat, one that not event the almighty Klingon could overcome. Whatever these terrifying creatures are, their presence could mean the difference between Michael's loyalty to the Lorca or her loyalty to her self-persecution. Paul Stamets hasn't appealed to me as a character yet, but that may just be because he's quick to judge. This great third episode ups the tension from the first two as we start to explore the hidden world inside the Star Fleet organisation. It's nice to see Michael develop her character while also reminding herself of her betrayal to Captain Georgiou. There's still a lot we don't know about her, which can be perceived a good thing, but eventually we'll want to understand her intentions properly, and why Vulcan culture is such a taboo subject to mention. As a final note, I'd like to say that Mary Wiseman is wonderful as Sylvia Tilly, bringing a more realistic and comedic side to the Star Trek that has seemed too monotonous and non-risky so far. 8/10
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Why are we fighting? We're Starfleet. We're explorers, not soldiers." A mild improvement on an already decent sci-fi show. The second instalment amps up the excitement, space and political rivalry. Its greatest achievement though, is fleshing out its main character with a clear past and a realistic motive. The role of the Klingon is even expanded, to give us newbies a chance to understand their culture a bit more, but also the scale of their species, not to mention its general consensus in attacking the Star Fleet. In short, their pride is absolute, and under fire they would do anything to uphold their honour as inter-galactic warriors. The inevitable space battle may seem a little tacky in the science-fiction world, but for television, it's nothing bad at all - the proceeding is quite threatening at times, especially when the admiral's ship goes up in flames.
Concentrating on Michael, I didn't mention in my last review how charismatic Sonequa is as an actress. Her Walking Dead character may be a subtle basis for this character, but her role is far more demanding here. She conveys her emotions very well, especially in that final scene as the show offers up its first casualty. Her character is interesting, and still mysterious enough for the audience not to predict her next move. Her current situation may be dire and seem impossible of reconciliation, however seeing as she has friends in high places who have acquired a bit of leverage, she may not be permanently incapacitated. The story around her clash of cultures, and Michael's temptation to lean towards Vulcan traditions, may still be vague at the moment, but they are a fascinating element of the show so far, and gives us a hint of the Human race structure, what with their multicultural alliances with other species. Also, Michael's suppressed hatred for the Klingons, because of her parents' deaths, seems to be the main motivation for her rash actions. Whilst the characters appear to be making stupid mistakes, they can be justified by their psychological mould. It's also great to see the consequences of the Captain and Michael's two-man mission to capture T'Kuvma, ending in his death. Despite, the character only being present for two episodes, his reputation and image as a martyr, following this encounter, will very probably be the driving force of this series' conflict. Science, as always, is a difficult concept to envision on screen, and whilst there are some inaccuracies and unbelievable scenarios, the general vision is astounding. I liked the fact that Michael's imprisonment box reacts to half of the Star Fleet ship being demolished and cast out into space by reinforcing the containment field around the destroyed area. Convenient for a main character, yes, but futuristic nonetheless. Also, whilst the shots are moving at rapid speed, the design and architecture of the spaceships are pretty cool to look at, and just alien enough to feel original. My one, consistent gripe about the two episodes so far is that the story has been isolated in one location, and the repercussions of the events in the binary system has not been fully realised in the outside Universe. It was hinted that all the Klingon factions came together in the system due to the number of the ships that exited warp space, but apart from a few holographic communications, the audience doesn't get a glimpse of the full reaction. Hopefully, as we follow Michael's story into further territory, we'll start to expand our knowledge with the Universe, and we'll be on track to understanding how monumental this skirmish has been for the political landscape of Star Trek. 8/10 Your human tongue is not the problem, it's your human heart." Before I begin this review, I'd like to point out, guiltily, that I have never watched Star Trek before - not even the films. I have always been a Star Wars/Doctor Who fanboy and have never once thought of being a Trekkie, or even watching some of the old repeats on TV. So, this review comes from the perspective of someone who is entirely new to this concept and Universe. Interestingly, this is a prequel, so hopefully I won't have much trouble jumping on the story, but if any references or homages pop up, believe me, they will sweep over my head without notice. Apart from "we come in peace" of course.
From the first seconds of the show, it's clear that the budget is monumental, giving us a visual richness that I highly doubt has graced Star Trek shows before. The grand landscapes and glittering space is wonderful to look at, and the science and astronomy behind it, being an astrophysicist myself, is pretty prominent in the narrative. The binary system looks and is described correctly, with references to the accretion disk adding to the feeling that the writers have done their research. However, there's always a dramatic license when it comes to space, and I always question when it is not shown as a hostile place. Regardless of scientific accuracy, the story is very intriguing, giving us introductions to the USS Shenzhou and its crew, and a battalion of Klingons who have disguised themselves in the orbit of a binary system. The story predominantly concentrates on the events surrounding the ship's discovery of a Klingon ship, but there are also hints to First Officer Michael Burnham's troubled past, in which her parents were killed by the Klingon. Whilst this is a good way of developing our main character, there's not enough to constitute a full introduction yet as we're heavily involved in a diplomatic situation towards the end of the episode. The interactions between characters, especially Michael and Saru are great banter, but the script is dripping with corny lines. Unfortunately, this can take away the seriousness of the scenarios, especially when it comes to Michael disobeying an order from her captain to destroy the Klingon ship before they can make the first move. The conflict between the officers is interesting, especially as it's hinted that they are close. It's also interesting to see a new take on the morality of violence and how the relationship between Vulcans and Klingon was built on the fact that the Klingon respected their opposition for their strong attacks. Whilst the tone may suffer in places, and lose respectability, the director does his best to create a atmospheric situation. Michael trip through space with a jet pack was wonderfully shot, and actually gave the impression that she was flying through space. I also loved the opening scene between Michael and Philippa as they traversed a desert planet in search of a well - it gave me the notion of a science-fiction such as Star Wars, Stargate or Dune. However, most of the episode was set inside, on the deck of the Starfleet spaceship, which has its limitations. If only the script had a little filing, especially in terms of flat jokes (something that I'm never a big fan of), then the episode might have appeared more exciting and threatening. The Klingon scenes were fine, it's just that as a newcomer I'm liable to be blind to their intentions and motivation as a species. Their language sounds wonderfully guttural, but their culture and general traditions are lost on me for the moment. Why were they hiding in that binary system for one question? 7.5/10 |
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October 2017
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