Episode Discussion | Star Trek: Strange New Worlds | 2x01 "The Broken Circle"
Episode Discussion | Star Trek: Strange New Worlds | 2x01 "The Broken Circle"
Logline
A distress call from Lt. Noonien-Singh compels Spock to disobey orders and take the USS Enterprise and its crew into disputed space, risking renewed hostilities with the Klingons in a bid to aid their shipmate.
Written by Henry Alonso Myers & Akiva Goldsman
Directed by Chris Fisher
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I didn't really love this episode. I agree with other users that it feels a bit more DIS than SNW s1. I think maybe because of the pacing &/or the action, or maybe just how OTT the plot is, like stealing the Enterprise should be a bigger deal than it is here imo, it just feels a bit ... almost routine? Also I feel like I am the only person on the internet with this opinion, but I really like Spock's relationship with his fiancée and I don't particularly care for the whole Spock/Chapel sub-plot, soooo I am sad to see that continuing. I also didn't enjoy the overtly -> overly emotive Spock, it reminded me of the films, and the Chapel nearly dying bit again felt more DIS than SNW s1. Also, I counted like four different occasions of somebody remarking on Spock being a very un-Vulcan Vulcan, which really felt like a bit much...?
It was very nice to see more of M'Benga, though. He is a great character and I felt like we didn't see enough of him in s1. It felt weird having very little Pike or Number One, though. I hope this is not going to be the standard going forward, it feels like going backwards after SNW seemed to spend a whole season trying to reassure us that they understood what people hadn't liked about DIS?
Oh also -- the new chief engineer seems cool.
I didn’t really love this episode. I agree with other users that it feels a bit more DIS than SNW s1.
Haven't seen the episode and I stopped here, I just read it because that was something I was worried since the trailers... I really hope I'm wrong but it seemed a lot a new JJA Star Trek that I didn't dislike so much as others but I loved S1 because it was so similar to TOS.
(Keeping my response spoiler free as far as I can to take your not having watched the show in account).
I am diehard anti-disco, it just didn't do anything for me as a Star Trek show. I wouldn't quite peg it as Disco-like, I'd peg it as closer to Picard season 3 or maybe Dominion War-esque in tone and design. Touches on some interesting concepts, some interesting world building to fill out that era, and seems designed to add new nuances to expand on M'benga after his daughter situation was resolved season 1.
I will say, I think the milage you'll get out of the episode is going to be pretty reliant on how much you like M'benga. He's one of my favourite characters in the series, so for me, I enjoyed the episode quite a bit. If you're not an M'benga fan, I can see you enjoying it quite a bit less.
Some users in this post really loved it, it's probably worth checking out just in case. I will definitely be watching e2 at least, and I hope it will get back on track (according to my tastes).
I watched it, it was meh. I loved the new engineer but the fights were awful and too long. It didn't seemed SNW tbh, I hope it's just the start
I also agree on your pov on Spock and Chapel and all the rest.
I'm sorry you didn't like it, Iiii obviously didn't particularly either. It makes me remember how they were all talking about already filming s2 when s1 came out. It is disappointing. I hope they will get back to the SNW of s1. What is most frustrating is that Lower Decks is consistently good Trek specifically, so they do still know how to do it, they just don't seem to want to put any money into it? Even though their shows keep eventually petering out because the core audience of Star Trek is -- weirdly enough -- Star Trek fans. I am concerned that they will not listen to negative -> lukewarm feedback because they will just be like oh now you don't like the good one either, we can't please you! But, like, you can! It's so easy! You're already doing it with Lower Decks, all you have to do is make good Star Trek that isn't some weird action movie/soap opera mash up with Star Trek theming.
It's not that I didn't like it, I hoped more, well every ST series has mediocre episodes, in S1 the episode in costume was not my cup of tea, maybe we are unlucky that this was e1, will see the rest of the season if it get better.
Yes, I did like things about it also and I am hopeful next week will be a return to form. I feel like they can't go very wrong with the Lower Decks crossover at least. (I hope...)