Star Trek: Discovery: If Memory Serves
March 8, 2019 12:53 AM - Season 2, Episode 8 - Subscribe
Burnham takes Spock to Talos IV.
Memory Alpha is still very thin at the time of posting:
Cast and Characters
> Melissa George became the second actor to portray Vina. Susan Oliver originated the role in TOS: "The Cage".
> Rob Brownstien became the second actor to portray the Keeper. Meg Wyllie originated the role while Malachi Throne voiced the Keeper in TOS: "The Cage".
Continuity
> The episode reveals the Starbase 11 is located 2 Light years away from Talos IV.
Memory Alpha is still very thin at the time of posting:
Cast and Characters
> Melissa George became the second actor to portray Vina. Susan Oliver originated the role in TOS: "The Cage".
> Rob Brownstien became the second actor to portray the Keeper. Meg Wyllie originated the role while Malachi Throne voiced the Keeper in TOS: "The Cage".
Continuity
> The episode reveals the Starbase 11 is located 2 Light years away from Talos IV.
I also liked this one quite a bit. The plotting was much tighter this week, although it's still not clear why the Talosians' mental capabilities warrant a "go there and you die." And the theme of couples (siblings, friends, colleagues, lovers) coming apart meshed together quite nicely: poor Stamets and Culber, obviously, but also Vina and Pike, Spock and Burnham, even Pike and Tyler and, in a darker way, Leland and Georgiou. Vina's "let your friends go" moment, in which letting them go is the only way to get them back, may be the lesson for Stamets as well. (Assuming that the show is going to reunite the pair.)
Really nice work by Wilson Cruz this episode.
I snerked at Burnham's crack about Spock's beard.
Leland doesn't quite seem to know what to do about that knife which is so obviously sticking out of his back. Although the "how did that work out for you?" bit with Georgiou was a good comeback. It figures that the Empress would just drop a bomb on the Talosians and be done with it.
*hands Airiam an updated copy of Bitdefender*
Saru is getting snarky in his post-ganglia mode.
Voqler pointing out to Culber that they're having the same identity crisis was fine, but I do hope that the writers are not going to make those two Unlikely Friends or whatever.
posted by thomas j wise at 2:53 AM on March 8, 2019 [6 favorites]
Really nice work by Wilson Cruz this episode.
I snerked at Burnham's crack about Spock's beard.
Leland doesn't quite seem to know what to do about that knife which is so obviously sticking out of his back. Although the "how did that work out for you?" bit with Georgiou was a good comeback. It figures that the Empress would just drop a bomb on the Talosians and be done with it.
*hands Airiam an updated copy of Bitdefender*
Saru is getting snarky in his post-ganglia mode.
Voqler pointing out to Culber that they're having the same identity crisis was fine, but I do hope that the writers are not going to make those two Unlikely Friends or whatever.
posted by thomas j wise at 2:53 AM on March 8, 2019 [6 favorites]
Oh, and: the reveal that the Red Angel is definitely human is another point in favor of the "Calypso" short being way more relevant to the season than it first appeared.
posted by thomas j wise at 2:56 AM on March 8, 2019 [2 favorites]
posted by thomas j wise at 2:56 AM on March 8, 2019 [2 favorites]
Since the first season, I've been wishing that they would slow down and talk to each other. Well, be careful what you wish for, I guess.
My problem with the sloppy writing on Discovery is encapsulated by one line at the end of the episode. Pike is telling the crew, essentially, "I can't make you violate orders" and the crew, by their actions, quickly shows that they're with him. Nothing we haven't seen before, but still, a nice moment. Then, Burnham says "The crew is with you, sir." I guess for the benefit of those watching who have never seen an episode of television before, but its result is to suck all the dramatic tension out of the scene.
They had six months to write these 14 episodes. I know the show has had a lot of behind-the-scenes tumult, but this sort of thing speaks to a complete breakdown of the drafting process. Either that, or whoever is in charge isn't very good at it.
Sigh.
posted by Automocar at 6:26 AM on March 8, 2019 [4 favorites]
My problem with the sloppy writing on Discovery is encapsulated by one line at the end of the episode. Pike is telling the crew, essentially, "I can't make you violate orders" and the crew, by their actions, quickly shows that they're with him. Nothing we haven't seen before, but still, a nice moment. Then, Burnham says "The crew is with you, sir." I guess for the benefit of those watching who have never seen an episode of television before, but its result is to suck all the dramatic tension out of the scene.
They had six months to write these 14 episodes. I know the show has had a lot of behind-the-scenes tumult, but this sort of thing speaks to a complete breakdown of the drafting process. Either that, or whoever is in charge isn't very good at it.
Sigh.
posted by Automocar at 6:26 AM on March 8, 2019 [4 favorites]
Nice job with the black hole; no wonder the Federation wants everyone to avoid Talos IV.
posted by ZeusHumms at 8:50 AM on March 8, 2019
posted by ZeusHumms at 8:50 AM on March 8, 2019
I thought this was pretty good, with some cutouts for plot elements that troubled my suspension of disbelief: the fight in the mess hall, and the whole crew follows captain into, uh, what, space piracy or something? Given Burnham's fisticuffs with the Empress and her prior conviction, I gotta note that this seems like a really different way to run a Space Navy. But hey, I guess it's worked for the Klingons on other shows, so what the hell do I know?
Despite the inherent foolishness of just letting the fight in the mess go down, the character beats for Culber and Tyvoq were actually right on, and Culber's character work in the episode was well-pursued. The only thing that concerned me was that in advising Stamets to move on due to his death he was speaking as a ghost to his former partner. that bodes ill for a continuing role on the show, an outcome I would find disappointing.
It was so pleasant to have actual thematic unity in the script for once, as noted above.
I was a little wtf at the weird masking flipbook stuff used in the "previously", especially given the careful use of correct typography. TOS as initially broadcast occasionally used optical iris wipes in the shape of the Enterprise chest emblem a-la the old Batman series using the Batlogo as an optical mask wipe, although, I believe, only at ad cuts. I only ever saw this on certain episodes on syndicated broadcast in the seventies. By the eighties those wipes had been trimmed to add room for another ad in syndication, I presume. I don't think these wipes were preserved in any consumer release of the series, so it's unsurprising that DSC would not have used it here, although it would have been a superior choice of wipe in my view.
Hm, I wonder if there's a superfan that preserved those wipes someplace? Maybe a decent AskMe.
I mentioned this in an earlier DSC thread, but Susan Oliver, who originated the role of Vina, was a truly remarkable and accomplished person. She passed away in 1990, really before TNG had legs. I always thought it was a that shame she never appeared in a Trek again. One can only imagine how interesting a new role from her might have been on TNG or DS9.
posted by mwhybark at 8:53 AM on March 8, 2019 [8 favorites]
Despite the inherent foolishness of just letting the fight in the mess go down, the character beats for Culber and Tyvoq were actually right on, and Culber's character work in the episode was well-pursued. The only thing that concerned me was that in advising Stamets to move on due to his death he was speaking as a ghost to his former partner. that bodes ill for a continuing role on the show, an outcome I would find disappointing.
It was so pleasant to have actual thematic unity in the script for once, as noted above.
I was a little wtf at the weird masking flipbook stuff used in the "previously", especially given the careful use of correct typography. TOS as initially broadcast occasionally used optical iris wipes in the shape of the Enterprise chest emblem a-la the old Batman series using the Batlogo as an optical mask wipe, although, I believe, only at ad cuts. I only ever saw this on certain episodes on syndicated broadcast in the seventies. By the eighties those wipes had been trimmed to add room for another ad in syndication, I presume. I don't think these wipes were preserved in any consumer release of the series, so it's unsurprising that DSC would not have used it here, although it would have been a superior choice of wipe in my view.
Hm, I wonder if there's a superfan that preserved those wipes someplace? Maybe a decent AskMe.
I mentioned this in an earlier DSC thread, but Susan Oliver, who originated the role of Vina, was a truly remarkable and accomplished person. She passed away in 1990, really before TNG had legs. I always thought it was a that shame she never appeared in a Trek again. One can only imagine how interesting a new role from her might have been on TNG or DS9.
posted by mwhybark at 8:53 AM on March 8, 2019 [8 favorites]
The Talosians were great, and this was really effective continuity-keeping, even if some of the specifics ('PLEASE SHARE WITH US ALL YOUR PLOT-RELEVANT MEMORIES') were a tad convenient.
In the wrong hands, this plot device could easily devolve into a clip show.
posted by ZeusHumms at 10:27 AM on March 8, 2019 [7 favorites]
In the wrong hands, this plot device could easily devolve into a clip show.
posted by ZeusHumms at 10:27 AM on March 8, 2019 [7 favorites]
One very personal complaint that I don't expect anyone to share: I hated that moment at the end of the ep when Detmer interjects to stop Pike's comments about asking people whether they're on board, and then a few people chime in
I didn't hate it, but I do share your concern to some extent. I liked it as a powerful moment, but there was a voice in the back of my head pointing out that they haven't asked all 203 crew members on the ship and the bridge crew shouldn't speak on their behalf.
Also it's reminiscent of the moment on the bridge in STIII right before they steal the Enterprise:
Or for an alternate take, where the entire crew of a ship is, each individually, given the option to leave (though not because Voyager is doing something morally questionable), see The 37's.
posted by DevilsAdvocate at 11:11 AM on March 8, 2019 [6 favorites]
I didn't hate it, but I do share your concern to some extent. I liked it as a powerful moment, but there was a voice in the back of my head pointing out that they haven't asked all 203 crew members on the ship and the bridge crew shouldn't speak on their behalf.
Also it's reminiscent of the moment on the bridge in STIII right before they steal the Enterprise:
KIRK: My friends, ...I can't ask you to go any further. Doctor McCoy and I have to do this. The rest of you do not.Except in that case they really are the only five on the ship, so every person did indivudually assent.
CHEKOV: Admiral, we're losing precious time.
SULU: What course please, Admiral?
KIRK: Mister Scott?
SCOTT: I'd be grateful, Admiral, if you'd give the word.
Or for an alternate take, where the entire crew of a ship is, each individually, given the option to leave (though not because Voyager is doing something morally questionable), see The 37's.
posted by DevilsAdvocate at 11:11 AM on March 8, 2019 [6 favorites]
Nice review on Tor.com: Old, New, Borrowed and Red.
posted by Coaticass at 2:09 PM on March 8, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by Coaticass at 2:09 PM on March 8, 2019 [1 favorite]
Oh, and: the reveal that the Red Angel is definitely human is another point in favor of the "Calypso" short being way more relevant to the season than it first appeared.
I want the Red Angel to be Craft so much I can hardly stand it.
posted by fuse theorem at 3:38 PM on March 8, 2019 [2 favorites]
I want the Red Angel to be Craft so much I can hardly stand it.
posted by fuse theorem at 3:38 PM on March 8, 2019 [2 favorites]
If it weren't for the time travel aspect, I'd almost suspect Flint (from "Requiem for Methuselah", TOS) of being the Red Angel.
posted by Roger Pittman at 4:18 PM on March 8, 2019
posted by Roger Pittman at 4:18 PM on March 8, 2019
Okay, this is mostly about the previous episode, but my issues with it have been sort of reinforced by this episode:
I had a pretty big problem with a learning disorder being little more than a clumsy plot device in Light and Shadows. There was a lot of ham-fisted writing in that episode, but this was by far the worst and most offensive. (I consulted with a few friends who also live with learning and developmental disorders to see if their takes were any different than mine, and some have sworn off the series because of that episode. Yes, we all know that Star Trek has done far, far worse things, but, c'mon, this is 2019.)
Now here in If Memory Serves, it really does look like dyslexia (yes, I know, Vulcan dyslexia-esque thing) was nothing but a clumsy plot device. With Spock's thinking dislodged from time, they could've easily constructed an entirely different reason for him to be repeating numbers in their reverse order. Is it just so that Burnham would have a reason for knowing how to decode Spock's sequence of numbers? Why not that she was getting exasperated trying to make sense of it, happened to see it reflected in something, and just gave it a shot?
This hasn't been used to add anything to his character -- we've already got plenty of well-flushed-out reasons for Spock's childhood to have been difficult, specifically and strongly referenced in this very episode. I think they could have had pretty much any other character deal with a learning disorder and use it to add depth. Instead it feels unnecessarily tacked on to the only character who already came with plenty of depth.
I sincerely hope this gets addressed in a better way or at least adds something more than a clunky method of moving the plot forward in a single episode.
Now, that said, I otherwise mostly liked If Memory Serves, and I didn't really expect to. I've really not enjoyed the Spock-related plot this season, but this episode at least looks to be bridging a gap between The Cage and Spock's actions in Menagerie, which I honestly kind of appreciate. Burnham's unforgivable betrayal was exactly what I expected it to be -- what else could it have been? -- and that was reasonable and fine. I'm sad for Stamets and Culber both. And I'm half expecting Culber and Ash to hook up. I also very much like Pike's character. I didn't at first, but as we've learned more about him, I've appreciated him more. I am pretty indifferent to Section 31 power struggles.
posted by The Great Big Mulp at 5:25 PM on March 8, 2019 [3 favorites]
I had a pretty big problem with a learning disorder being little more than a clumsy plot device in Light and Shadows. There was a lot of ham-fisted writing in that episode, but this was by far the worst and most offensive. (I consulted with a few friends who also live with learning and developmental disorders to see if their takes were any different than mine, and some have sworn off the series because of that episode. Yes, we all know that Star Trek has done far, far worse things, but, c'mon, this is 2019.)
Now here in If Memory Serves, it really does look like dyslexia (yes, I know, Vulcan dyslexia-esque thing) was nothing but a clumsy plot device. With Spock's thinking dislodged from time, they could've easily constructed an entirely different reason for him to be repeating numbers in their reverse order. Is it just so that Burnham would have a reason for knowing how to decode Spock's sequence of numbers? Why not that she was getting exasperated trying to make sense of it, happened to see it reflected in something, and just gave it a shot?
This hasn't been used to add anything to his character -- we've already got plenty of well-flushed-out reasons for Spock's childhood to have been difficult, specifically and strongly referenced in this very episode. I think they could have had pretty much any other character deal with a learning disorder and use it to add depth. Instead it feels unnecessarily tacked on to the only character who already came with plenty of depth.
I sincerely hope this gets addressed in a better way or at least adds something more than a clunky method of moving the plot forward in a single episode.
Now, that said, I otherwise mostly liked If Memory Serves, and I didn't really expect to. I've really not enjoyed the Spock-related plot this season, but this episode at least looks to be bridging a gap between The Cage and Spock's actions in Menagerie, which I honestly kind of appreciate. Burnham's unforgivable betrayal was exactly what I expected it to be -- what else could it have been? -- and that was reasonable and fine. I'm sad for Stamets and Culber both. And I'm half expecting Culber and Ash to hook up. I also very much like Pike's character. I didn't at first, but as we've learned more about him, I've appreciated him more. I am pretty indifferent to Section 31 power struggles.
posted by The Great Big Mulp at 5:25 PM on March 8, 2019 [3 favorites]
I really like how Mirror Georgiou is always one step ahead of everyone. It makes sense that someone with enough ruthless ambition to become a galactic Empress would have no problem negotiating the intrigue of the Space CIA.
And speaking of Georgiou, this series has the best fight scenes of any Trek. From Burnham and Georgiou trying to "make it look real" last episode, to Spock's calm efficiency and the wild brawl in the mess hall, the fights aren't just flashy choreography, but they are tailored to suit the character and fit the situation. If this series has many more episodes as good as this one, it may turn out to be the best Trek.
posted by ambulocetus at 7:37 PM on March 8, 2019 [12 favorites]
And speaking of Georgiou, this series has the best fight scenes of any Trek. From Burnham and Georgiou trying to "make it look real" last episode, to Spock's calm efficiency and the wild brawl in the mess hall, the fights aren't just flashy choreography, but they are tailored to suit the character and fit the situation. If this series has many more episodes as good as this one, it may turn out to be the best Trek.
posted by ambulocetus at 7:37 PM on March 8, 2019 [12 favorites]
Was that Kim Cattrall as the Vulcan admiral in the holo conversation with Leland and Georgiou?
posted by TheWhiteSkull at 7:53 PM on March 8, 2019 [3 favorites]
posted by TheWhiteSkull at 7:53 PM on March 8, 2019 [3 favorites]
Memory Alpha has Patar (the Vulcan admiral) as someone named Tara Nicodemo. (Incidentally, the unnamed Section 31 ship that Leland is (nominally) commanding has a registry number of NCIA-93. Cute!
I really loved this episode. Per mordax's observation above about it being the longest time gap between "previously" and the current episode (and maybe the longest possible such, unless the crew of the latest Lost in Space revival wanted to do something similar), it also takes a bit of moxie to cut from Jeffrey Hunter's Christopher Pike and Anson Mount's, likewise with the new Vina and Talosians, but it all worked. So many threads, echos and call-backs to "The Cage" and "The Menagerie", and I'm including the latter because of the connection between this season and this episode's mutiny and Spock's breathtaking process of taking over the Enterprise single-handedly in "The Menagerie." Also, as previously mentioned, there's the stealing of the Enterprise in STIII, also in an effort to save Spock. That movie was followed by one in which Spock was obviously not quite himself post-post-mortem, which Culber can identify with (which leads me to hope that he will stay on the show and with Stamets, if they're setting up something wherein he gets his groove back), and also of course involving time travel. Even though they're using similar themes, though, it doesn't feel like they're simply trying to reheat those souffles; the different characters react differently, and there's still the wild card of h4xx0red Airiam, which we'll get to next week. Looking forward to it.
posted by Halloween Jack at 9:10 PM on March 8, 2019 [9 favorites]
I really loved this episode. Per mordax's observation above about it being the longest time gap between "previously" and the current episode (and maybe the longest possible such, unless the crew of the latest Lost in Space revival wanted to do something similar), it also takes a bit of moxie to cut from Jeffrey Hunter's Christopher Pike and Anson Mount's, likewise with the new Vina and Talosians, but it all worked. So many threads, echos and call-backs to "The Cage" and "The Menagerie", and I'm including the latter because of the connection between this season and this episode's mutiny and Spock's breathtaking process of taking over the Enterprise single-handedly in "The Menagerie." Also, as previously mentioned, there's the stealing of the Enterprise in STIII, also in an effort to save Spock. That movie was followed by one in which Spock was obviously not quite himself post-post-mortem, which Culber can identify with (which leads me to hope that he will stay on the show and with Stamets, if they're setting up something wherein he gets his groove back), and also of course involving time travel. Even though they're using similar themes, though, it doesn't feel like they're simply trying to reheat those souffles; the different characters react differently, and there's still the wild card of h4xx0red Airiam, which we'll get to next week. Looking forward to it.
posted by Halloween Jack at 9:10 PM on March 8, 2019 [9 favorites]
NCIA-31 (birth of John LeCarre)
NCIA-62 (Gary Powers freed)
NCIA-93 (Aldrich Ames investigation begins)
it all starts to add up
posted by mwhybark at 9:17 PM on March 8, 2019 [5 favorites]
NCIA-62 (Gary Powers freed)
NCIA-93 (Aldrich Ames investigation begins)
it all starts to add up
posted by mwhybark at 9:17 PM on March 8, 2019 [5 favorites]
Enh, fifty years IRL, 700 years in narrative, which is greater (IRL, I guess), but who's counting?
(Until another foolish showrunner pulls a stunt, "Living Witness" is the last story of the Trek universes, iirc)
posted by mwhybark at 9:23 PM on March 8, 2019 [2 favorites]
(Until another foolish showrunner pulls a stunt, "Living Witness" is the last story of the Trek universes, iirc)
posted by mwhybark at 9:23 PM on March 8, 2019 [2 favorites]
Woo this was great! I feel like they threaded a course through a lot of dangerous shoals. Burnham / Spock's huge trauma made perfect sense. She was terribly cruel to him, yet cruel in the clumsy way of children. Totally believable. We've finally got the Red-Angel-is-from-the-future card explicitly on the table. Spock is not a murderer. Culber is back alive and dealing with Tyler in a believable manner. (Still wish Stamets had ripped Tyler's throat out, but I'll accept Culber trying to do it himself.) The spore drive is temporarily inoperable. Airiam is an unwitting double agent. All of this happened in a reasonable not-stupid way. They set up so many traps for themselves in the writing and avoided them.
And the episode was fun! Lots of action, lots of plot development. Really a lot happened in 55 minutes.
But best of all was working in the old canon of The Cage. That "Previously On" was total Trek-nerd catnip and they made it make sense, and managed to bring us a new Talos IV episode that wasn't dumb. Even the projection-across-the-galaxy power was used in a reasonably constrained way. The only thing missing here was some inclusion of The Menagerie as well, with Pike in a wheelchair. I'm OK just pretending that just never happened.
Bonus: Burnham's character really has developed in a nicely complex way. I mean specifically her duality as a human but also one who can drop fully into Vulcan logic mode when necessary. Her crack about Spock's beard made me nearly spit my beer out laughing. And loved her resolution of her cruelty to Spock and his embrace of Logic as response. Her code switching between human empathy and Vulcan logic, both in pursuit of her goal. It's subtle writing and very good.
Finally they worked themselves out of the plot corner they had written themselves in to. Now the way is clear for resolving the Section 31 story (spinning off the new story) and going where they need to with the Red Angel. If that ends up bringing in Calypso from Short Treks, that'd be delicious.
doo doo doo doo doo doo
posted by Nelson at 10:13 PM on March 8, 2019 [4 favorites]
And the episode was fun! Lots of action, lots of plot development. Really a lot happened in 55 minutes.
But best of all was working in the old canon of The Cage. That "Previously On" was total Trek-nerd catnip and they made it make sense, and managed to bring us a new Talos IV episode that wasn't dumb. Even the projection-across-the-galaxy power was used in a reasonably constrained way. The only thing missing here was some inclusion of The Menagerie as well, with Pike in a wheelchair. I'm OK just pretending that just never happened.
Bonus: Burnham's character really has developed in a nicely complex way. I mean specifically her duality as a human but also one who can drop fully into Vulcan logic mode when necessary. Her crack about Spock's beard made me nearly spit my beer out laughing. And loved her resolution of her cruelty to Spock and his embrace of Logic as response. Her code switching between human empathy and Vulcan logic, both in pursuit of her goal. It's subtle writing and very good.
Finally they worked themselves out of the plot corner they had written themselves in to. Now the way is clear for resolving the Section 31 story (spinning off the new story) and going where they need to with the Red Angel. If that ends up bringing in Calypso from Short Treks, that'd be delicious.
doo doo doo doo doo doo
posted by Nelson at 10:13 PM on March 8, 2019 [4 favorites]
The only thing missing here was some inclusion of The Menagerie as well, with Pike in a wheelchair. I'm OK just pretending that just never happened.
*cough* (Within the apparent timeline, The Menagerie has yet to occur)
posted by mwhybark at 10:23 PM on March 8, 2019 [8 favorites]
*cough* (Within the apparent timeline, The Menagerie has yet to occur)
posted by mwhybark at 10:23 PM on March 8, 2019 [8 favorites]
Oh, thanks. According to this Wikipedia page The Cage is set in the year 2254 and The Menagerie is in 2267. And Discovery is in 2257 or thereabouts.
It also reminds me that in The Menagerie we learned that Spock served with Pike for eleven years. Kind of remarkable the Discovery writers figured out a way to slide their story in like this without breaking continuity. Perhaps Sybok will have his turn at the Disco yet.
posted by Nelson at 7:50 AM on March 9, 2019 [8 favorites]
It also reminds me that in The Menagerie we learned that Spock served with Pike for eleven years. Kind of remarkable the Discovery writers figured out a way to slide their story in like this without breaking continuity. Perhaps Sybok will have his turn at the Disco yet.
posted by Nelson at 7:50 AM on March 9, 2019 [8 favorites]
So, uh, anyone else getting some parallels to Final Space here? Future timeline of galactic destruction, what is probably an existing character looping back in time to try and stop it? If the Red Angel turns out to be Michael I'd like to pre-register a "I called it".
posted by Zarkonnen at 8:18 AM on March 9, 2019 [2 favorites]
posted by Zarkonnen at 8:18 AM on March 9, 2019 [2 favorites]
Too late, already called it. Not that I want it to be true. But did no one else notice that when Spock mind-melds with the Red Angel, they edited in Michael also mind-melding, and the shot placed Michael in exactly the same perspective as the Red Angel?
posted by Ivan Fyodorovich at 8:51 AM on March 9, 2019 [7 favorites]
posted by Ivan Fyodorovich at 8:51 AM on March 9, 2019 [7 favorites]
Oh, I definitely noticed, but forgot to mention.
posted by Zarkonnen at 9:07 AM on March 9, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by Zarkonnen at 9:07 AM on March 9, 2019 [1 favorite]
When Airiam mentioned SQL injection, I thought, "Woohoo, I got a skill set for the future, man!" This also tells me a lot about how long legacy systems can last. Pretty soon, Cobol is going to be mentioned. I am ready for this.
posted by jadepearl at 2:56 PM on March 9, 2019 [19 favorites]
posted by jadepearl at 2:56 PM on March 9, 2019 [19 favorites]
Poster's Log:
* That has to be the longest gap between a current episode and a 'Previously On' that I've ever seen.
Three years in-universe, a little shy of fifty-five years since it was filmed. Definitely the longest for Trek, very likely the longest for any TV show, almost certainly the only one where every performer with spoken dialogue in the teaser is now dead. The only thing comparable to it I can think is this, which hath its own charms.
As I said last week, I remain impressed* by the alienness of the Talosians in "The Cage" and I can now add that I am remarkably underwhelmed by the Talosians this time around. Given 2019 CGI and (presumably more advanced) makeup techniques, Disco produced aliens that compare favorably with creature designs seen in the second season of SeaQuest DSV.
One thing I did learn today, which I had not previously known: "The Cage" was directed by Rob Butler, who seemed to be in heavy demand in the sixties -- he worked on Hogan's Heroes, Gunsmoke, Batman, The Fugitive, Twilight Zone, and more. He also seems to have been ind of a lucky charm for doing pilots: he also directed the pilots of Hill Street Blues, Moonlighting, and Remington Steele. Anyway: he is still with us, but retired (at age 91, he deserves a rest), and he made only two other episodes of Star Trek after "The Cage" -- very fittingly, they were the two parts of "The Menagerie." Very cool.
*Check out the first link there for more typical early-sixties TV aliens: some plastic tubing and a balaclava.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 5:19 PM on March 9, 2019 [6 favorites]
* That has to be the longest gap between a current episode and a 'Previously On' that I've ever seen.
Three years in-universe, a little shy of fifty-five years since it was filmed. Definitely the longest for Trek, very likely the longest for any TV show, almost certainly the only one where every performer with spoken dialogue in the teaser is now dead. The only thing comparable to it I can think is this, which hath its own charms.
As I said last week, I remain impressed* by the alienness of the Talosians in "The Cage" and I can now add that I am remarkably underwhelmed by the Talosians this time around. Given 2019 CGI and (presumably more advanced) makeup techniques, Disco produced aliens that compare favorably with creature designs seen in the second season of SeaQuest DSV.
One thing I did learn today, which I had not previously known: "The Cage" was directed by Rob Butler, who seemed to be in heavy demand in the sixties -- he worked on Hogan's Heroes, Gunsmoke, Batman, The Fugitive, Twilight Zone, and more. He also seems to have been ind of a lucky charm for doing pilots: he also directed the pilots of Hill Street Blues, Moonlighting, and Remington Steele. Anyway: he is still with us, but retired (at age 91, he deserves a rest), and he made only two other episodes of Star Trek after "The Cage" -- very fittingly, they were the two parts of "The Menagerie." Very cool.
*Check out the first link there for more typical early-sixties TV aliens: some plastic tubing and a balaclava.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 5:19 PM on March 9, 2019 [6 favorites]
Definitely the longest for Trek,
May I belatedly add: since the "Previously on..." was from the very first episode and appeared in the most recent episode, there really is no way this could not be the case.
As some dumbass put it earlier today, human folly is a pretty deep well.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 5:52 PM on March 9, 2019
May I belatedly add: since the "Previously on..." was from the very first episode and appeared in the most recent episode, there really is no way this could not be the case.
As some dumbass put it earlier today, human folly is a pretty deep well.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 5:52 PM on March 9, 2019
Although her appearance was brief, I immediately recognized the doctor at the facility where Spock was being held, played by Alisen Down, from her wonderful villainous performance as Olivia in Twelve Monkeys.
posted by DevilsAdvocate at 8:00 PM on March 9, 2019 [2 favorites]
posted by DevilsAdvocate at 8:00 PM on March 9, 2019 [2 favorites]
The bold but odd "Previously" spurred me to turn to Mrs. and say, "Hm, smells like yet another change in producers." When combined with the events of the episode, it gives everything a bit of a "cleaning up some of the season's mess" feeling. Not a bad thing! Indeed, it was reassuring and overall pretty effective. I'm definitely more optimistic now than I have been… possibly at any point since the show began??
Burnham's unforgivable betrayal was exactly what I expected it to be -- what else could it have been? -- and that was reasonable and fine.
While watching it, I complained that it's both precisely what I predicted and kind of been-there done-that… but upon reflection, it's probably good that they didn't try to get any weirder with that stuff. This Spock plot is plenty weird enough already.
this series has the best fight scenes of any Trek.
Yes, though it's not a high bar. The franchise had never been competent at this prior to DISCO (I brought this up in the VOY: "Caretaker" thread). Really, it's just as accurate to say "this series has the first actually good fight scenes of any Trek" :)
posted by CheesesOfBrazil at 8:37 AM on March 10, 2019 [4 favorites]
Burnham's unforgivable betrayal was exactly what I expected it to be -- what else could it have been? -- and that was reasonable and fine.
While watching it, I complained that it's both precisely what I predicted and kind of been-there done-that… but upon reflection, it's probably good that they didn't try to get any weirder with that stuff. This Spock plot is plenty weird enough already.
this series has the best fight scenes of any Trek.
Yes, though it's not a high bar. The franchise had never been competent at this prior to DISCO (I brought this up in the VOY: "Caretaker" thread). Really, it's just as accurate to say "this series has the first actually good fight scenes of any Trek" :)
posted by CheesesOfBrazil at 8:37 AM on March 10, 2019 [4 favorites]
Not Disco-specific, but social media reminded me today that this year Wil Wheaton will be the same age that Patrick Stewart was when Star Trek: The Next Generation premiered.
Jesus.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 9:35 AM on March 10, 2019 [25 favorites]
Jesus.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 9:35 AM on March 10, 2019 [25 favorites]
the wild brawl in the mess hall
My feeling was that it was just Ash being defensive and not actually taking his head off, based on him and his Klingon partner taking down a Klingon assassination squad early in the series he could have won with ease.
posted by biffa at 1:03 PM on March 10, 2019 [4 favorites]
My feeling was that it was just Ash being defensive and not actually taking his head off, based on him and his Klingon partner taking down a Klingon assassination squad early in the series he could have won with ease.
posted by biffa at 1:03 PM on March 10, 2019 [4 favorites]
this year Wil Wheaton will be the same age that Patrick Stewart was when Star Trek: The Next Generation premiered.
And what age is that, you may ask?
posted by ricochet biscuit at 3:08 PM on March 10, 2019 [6 favorites]
And what age is that, you may ask?
posted by ricochet biscuit at 3:08 PM on March 10, 2019 [6 favorites]
The season plot arc, with the Red Angel showing young Spock how all sentient life ends and now coming back in time to change that destiny, is a convenient opportunity to free Disco writers from adhering to Canon.
Whatever the Red Angel has in mind to prevent the end of times will create a whole new Star Trek timeline...one that doesn't end with exploding planets, and maybe one that doesn't result in Pike in that wheelchair device.
posted by rocket88 at 7:21 PM on March 10, 2019 [2 favorites]
Whatever the Red Angel has in mind to prevent the end of times will create a whole new Star Trek timeline...one that doesn't end with exploding planets, and maybe one that doesn't result in Pike in that wheelchair device.
posted by rocket88 at 7:21 PM on March 10, 2019 [2 favorites]
This was again labelled as Season Finale in Netflix UK. But Wikipedia says there is another episode this week and they remain weekly for a while.
posted by biffa at 6:41 AM on March 11, 2019
posted by biffa at 6:41 AM on March 11, 2019
No idea what's going on with Netflix UK, but it's scheduled to be a 14-episode season, biffa.
posted by mstokes650 at 8:23 AM on March 11, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by mstokes650 at 8:23 AM on March 11, 2019 [1 favorite]
I thought this one was fun to watch! Sure, the writing is sometimes clunky and it's not exactly a big idea episode, but it was enjoyable.
*Mr. Dinty was complaining that Spock didn't use his words when taking over the controls from Michael at the beginning, and then I pointed out that what he would have had to say was "They're illusions, Michael!". We'll see if he ever forgives me.
*The previously on was somewhat interesting but not especially helpful if you hadn't seen the TOS episodes in question.
*The reason for bringing it up was super contrived, but I liked the way that the Spock and Michael fight played out - both in the past and when Michael tries to apologize for it in the present. It seems right.
*I'm here for snarky Saru. Allowing the fight is dumb, but considering the fact that this is a starfleet without any reasonable mental health services, I can't allow myself to be that surprised?
Mr. Dinty was joking that the reason why Spock went to Talos IV was because they were the only place that offered actual mental health services in the Quadrant.
posted by dinty_moore at 10:51 AM on March 13, 2019 [14 favorites]
*Mr. Dinty was complaining that Spock didn't use his words when taking over the controls from Michael at the beginning, and then I pointed out that what he would have had to say was "They're illusions, Michael!". We'll see if he ever forgives me.
*The previously on was somewhat interesting but not especially helpful if you hadn't seen the TOS episodes in question.
*The reason for bringing it up was super contrived, but I liked the way that the Spock and Michael fight played out - both in the past and when Michael tries to apologize for it in the present. It seems right.
*I'm here for snarky Saru. Allowing the fight is dumb, but considering the fact that this is a starfleet without any reasonable mental health services, I can't allow myself to be that surprised?
Mr. Dinty was joking that the reason why Spock went to Talos IV was because they were the only place that offered actual mental health services in the Quadrant.
posted by dinty_moore at 10:51 AM on March 13, 2019 [14 favorites]
I enjoyed the flashback to TOS but also I wonder if Spock has a beard so we aren't drawing too many comparisons with Nimoy.
posted by freethefeet at 4:17 PM on March 15, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by freethefeet at 4:17 PM on March 15, 2019 [1 favorite]
When Airiam mentioned SQL injection, I thought, "Woohoo, I got a skill set for the future, man!"
My wife: "What's an SQL injection and why are you delighted?"
I loved the previously, I loved how much Michael and Spock fight the way siblings do, this was a great episode.
posted by vibratory manner of working at 12:42 AM on March 17, 2019
My wife: "What's an SQL injection and why are you delighted?"
I loved the previously, I loved how much Michael and Spock fight the way siblings do, this was a great episode.
posted by vibratory manner of working at 12:42 AM on March 17, 2019
Finally getting to catch up on Disco now! Don’t think I have anything substantive to add re: themes, overall plot, etc that hasn’t been said already, so here are some stray observations:
- Michael’s outfit was hella cute and Georgiou’s was, uh...kinky-cute, I guess?
- I am normally anti-beard but Spock’s does actually kind of work for him, sorry Michael
- Lot of nice cinematography this ep even if the “medium distance, artsily lit shot of two characters facing each other” set-up was slightly overused. The switcheroo of characters (Michael for the Red Angel, Michael and Spock with their younger selves) in the memories was very nicely done.
- While I do find The Cage interesting from a historic perspective the Vina/Pike romance was obligatory heteronormative nonsense with added consent issues and ableism...this time, the actors completely sell it. I was rooting for them even knowing how it ended.
- (Sadly, the DSC writers couldn’t fix that Vina’s whole character conceit is unavoidably ableist. Like with Pike at least you can kind of justify it saying that 23rd century Federation technology couldn’t give him a good quality of life, but Vina seemingly consigns herself to a life of isolation, illusion, and almost total lack of agency because she’s scarred up? Yikes.)
- Was disappointed the Talosians aren’t as eerie this time around, but happy that their sense of alien morality was intact and just as creepy. They’re genuinely helpful and yet by human standards profoundly unethical!
- Torn between wanting DSC to stay Prime canon because all the “I’m not racist I just come up with endless arbitrary reasons for why Michael is the worst Star Trek protagonist ever” crowd can just deal, and wanting it to not stay Prime canon because poor Pike!
- On any other show I would say it stretches credulity that a seemingly mature adult would be so unwilling to give Michael even the slimmest chance to make amends, given her age, the circumstances around what she did and why, and their need to be on the ball in the current situation without sibling drama getting in the way — but of course, in (understandably!) rejecting Michael and their relationship Spock also rejected ever building his emotional coping skills. It makes total sense! (I am not saying he owes Michael forgiveness, for the record, only that his attempt to Vulcan-logic their relationship into non-existence rather than hash it out has clearly contributed to his current non-equilibrium.)
- Is Spock’s sexuality “gay for human male Starfleet captains,” or...? (Not a complaint.)
- Really like what they’re doing with Culber — Wilson Cruz felt underutilized last season even before his death, so it’s good to see him in the forefront with this plotline. Which isn’t to say that Rapp’s portrayal of Stamets’ confusion and heartbreak isn’t also devastating!
- I kept thinking about what the original Cage/TOS team might think about a sequel to their pilot in which a major emotional thread is the relationship struggles of an interracial gay married couple. I hope only good things!
posted by bettafish at 6:09 PM on April 6, 2019 [3 favorites]
- Michael’s outfit was hella cute and Georgiou’s was, uh...kinky-cute, I guess?
- I am normally anti-beard but Spock’s does actually kind of work for him, sorry Michael
- Lot of nice cinematography this ep even if the “medium distance, artsily lit shot of two characters facing each other” set-up was slightly overused. The switcheroo of characters (Michael for the Red Angel, Michael and Spock with their younger selves) in the memories was very nicely done.
- While I do find The Cage interesting from a historic perspective the Vina/Pike romance was obligatory heteronormative nonsense with added consent issues and ableism...this time, the actors completely sell it. I was rooting for them even knowing how it ended.
- (Sadly, the DSC writers couldn’t fix that Vina’s whole character conceit is unavoidably ableist. Like with Pike at least you can kind of justify it saying that 23rd century Federation technology couldn’t give him a good quality of life, but Vina seemingly consigns herself to a life of isolation, illusion, and almost total lack of agency because she’s scarred up? Yikes.)
- Was disappointed the Talosians aren’t as eerie this time around, but happy that their sense of alien morality was intact and just as creepy. They’re genuinely helpful and yet by human standards profoundly unethical!
- Torn between wanting DSC to stay Prime canon because all the “I’m not racist I just come up with endless arbitrary reasons for why Michael is the worst Star Trek protagonist ever” crowd can just deal, and wanting it to not stay Prime canon because poor Pike!
- On any other show I would say it stretches credulity that a seemingly mature adult would be so unwilling to give Michael even the slimmest chance to make amends, given her age, the circumstances around what she did and why, and their need to be on the ball in the current situation without sibling drama getting in the way — but of course, in (understandably!) rejecting Michael and their relationship Spock also rejected ever building his emotional coping skills. It makes total sense! (I am not saying he owes Michael forgiveness, for the record, only that his attempt to Vulcan-logic their relationship into non-existence rather than hash it out has clearly contributed to his current non-equilibrium.)
- Is Spock’s sexuality “gay for human male Starfleet captains,” or...? (Not a complaint.)
- Really like what they’re doing with Culber — Wilson Cruz felt underutilized last season even before his death, so it’s good to see him in the forefront with this plotline. Which isn’t to say that Rapp’s portrayal of Stamets’ confusion and heartbreak isn’t also devastating!
- I kept thinking about what the original Cage/TOS team might think about a sequel to their pilot in which a major emotional thread is the relationship struggles of an interracial gay married couple. I hope only good things!
posted by bettafish at 6:09 PM on April 6, 2019 [3 favorites]
When Airiam mentioned SQL injection, I thought, "Woohoo, I got a skill set for the future, man!" This also tells me a lot about how long legacy systems can last. Pretty soon, Cobol is going to be mentioned. I am ready for this.Well, duh. They don't call it Enterprise software for nothing.
posted by schmod at 9:46 AM on May 4, 2019 [12 favorites]
The spouse and I gave up on this show midway through season 2 last year, and we are picking it up again now for social distancing reasons, so to speak. Just hit this episode.
OMG THIS WAS GREAT! WHY WASN'T THE WRITING THIS GOOD IN EVERY EPISODE? WHOEVER WROTE THIS ONE, LET THEM WRITE EVERYTHING!
That is all.
posted by kyrademon at 8:58 AM on March 21, 2020 [3 favorites]
OMG THIS WAS GREAT! WHY WASN'T THE WRITING THIS GOOD IN EVERY EPISODE? WHOEVER WROTE THIS ONE, LET THEM WRITE EVERYTHING!
That is all.
posted by kyrademon at 8:58 AM on March 21, 2020 [3 favorites]
TOS as initially broadcast occasionally used optical iris wipes
wat
In my misspent youth when TOS was in syndication, I likely saw the original 79 episodes an aggregate six or seven hundred times. I never saw this.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 7:47 PM on April 17, 2022
wat
In my misspent youth when TOS was in syndication, I likely saw the original 79 episodes an aggregate six or seven hundred times. I never saw this.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 7:47 PM on April 17, 2022
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Poster's Log:
* That has to be the longest gap between a current episode and a 'Previously On' that I've ever seen.
Counting the use of footage from The Menagerie rather than The Cage proper, the original airing of that plotline occurred a decade before I was even born. (The only similar TV viewing experience I can recall was in Doctor Who, when they spliced Jenna Coleman into scenes with every prior Doctor.)
I liked that a lot. Both the extremely bold move of making a direct sequel to a TOS episode, and where they went with it. Other modern Star Trek shows have often made connections with TOS, with results ranging from cringeworthy to award-winning. The best ones have respect for the source material, and I feel like this episode falls into that category. Pike and Vina both have regrets about what happened, and the Talosians remain creepy and menacing despite their willingness to help out. By the end of the hour, I feel like I've learned something about the original situation, and I can see why the Federation would be willing to slap a death penalty on visiting Talos IV.
* Hearing Burnham's childhood fight with Spock was pretty rough...
... but also pretty believable.
* The stuff with Culber is also rough.
Coming back from the dead seems like a pretty traumatic experience, especially via 'being trapped in the mycelial plane for ages, wearing toxic bark for armor.' It makes sense that things would not be going well there, especially since DSC predates the notion of having a counselor on board. That said, watching him rage was still pretty raw even if it was completely understandable, and I was glad that Pike called out Saru for letting the fight with Tyler play out in the mess. (That was some serious WTFery.)
Also, my SO has me watching My So Called Life for the first time, and it's deeply weird to see Wilson Cruz in both properties at roughly the same time.
Anyway: this felt like a huge step up from prior weeks even though I suppose their plan to go to Talos IV counts as another half-baked no-planning plan, and has left them actual fugitives.
posted by mordax at 1:53 AM on March 8, 2019 [10 favorites]