Episode Discussion | Star Trek: Strange New Worlds | 2x05 "Charades"
Episode Discussion | Star Trek: Strange New Worlds | 2x05 "Charades"
Logline
A shuttle accident leads to Spock’s Vulcan DNA being removed by aliens, making him fully human and completely unprepared to face T’Pring’s family during an important ceremonial dinner.
Written by Kathryn Lyn & Henry Alonso Myers
Directed by Jordan Canning
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After some further thought, I have to make the observation that I think T'pring knew something was wrong with Spock. There are a few things that T'pring does that indicates she knows that whatever Spock is going through, it's more than he lets on. The main indication, to me, is when she held his hand after pouring the tea, which has to be excruciating to Spock. She helps him while he's pouring the water to ensure the tea is properly steeped. She initiates the end of the Ritual of Awakening; interrupting her mother because the timer has expired. She defends the memory Amanda and Spock share. I love T'pring because, regardless of the circumstance, she stands beside Spock and defends him in the best way possible.
Unfortunately, by the time she realizes something is amiss, they are committed to the ritual and they cannot get out of it even if she would want to delay it. I still think that Spock, at the time, chose to not disclose his condition for good reasons. I'm still on the fence that T'pring would've accidentally revealed that during the mind meld with her mother. I'm still onboard that Spock made the correct decision, however I can say that he should of at least disclosed that something was amiss a little later on.
I agree with you. T'pring really shows a lot of care & compassion here, and I think it makes her decision at the end of the episode make more sense. We obviously know how this relationship works out in the end, but it really has me interested in how/if Chapel affects the outcome in further SNW episodes. (I'm choosing to believe T'pring hadn't already scoped out Stonn as a partner by this episode because that seems too cruel for her, but I guess we'll see.)
I mentioned in another post that I think T'pring, despite asking for time apart, eventually realizes that Spock omitting his current condition was entirely justifiable. I think she's hurt, but she then understands Spock's point of view (as logic would dictate) that omitting disclosure was the best path forward with the highest probability of success.
It's such a tragic moment because both their responses were reasonable.
T'Pring is about to be Spock's wife, and it's not simply a business union--she's very much in love with him. She's eager to be his partner and keeping changes in his life from her compromises that partnership.
The thing about Spock is that up to the end of the episode he's still wrestling with the isolation that being bi-racial has come with--he's aware that T'Pring should be let in but emotionally he's never come around to that, having grown up at odds with other Vulcans.
What saddens me is that if Spock had communicated how his status affects his approach to full-blooded Vulcans (indeed if had even known to communicate it), I have no doubt T'Pring would have been much more forgiving... alas we sometimes figure out ourselves too late.
Spock could have handled the situation better. He really should have shared he was unwell and trying to suffer thru it. Great episode.