Last week I finished Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season Two. Much of it is quite good. "Those Old Scientists," the crossover with Lower Decks, manages to be at once very good SNW, very good Lower Decks, and just plain very good Trek overall. It also gives "payoffs" for plot points in previous episodes, such as operating as a counterpoint to La'an's time travel adventure, and Number One learning that she goes from defending her place in Starfleet to becoming the literal poster girl (ahem, woman) for the organization. This would go on my list of Ten Best Trek Episodes Ever, if I ever complied such a list, which I won't.
"Subspace Rhapsody," the musical episode, was an engagingly wacky romp with a substrate of important character development. The only way it could have been better came in Spock's explanation of why they keep bursting into song (with music from nowhere): After the technobabble, he could have added, "Or some unknown but nigh-omnipotent entity is... messing with us." Kirk groans, "Again?" Spock" "Indeed. If so, we can only hope the situation -- absurd as it is -- operates according to internally consistent principles by which it may be resolved."
OTOH some episodes relied on Trek-tropes I find irritating, such as the hitherto-unknown form of radiation that has bizarrely specific effects. (And associated with unknown elements, to boot.) Or Dr. Mbenge telling Uhura she might be hallucinating from "deuterium poisoning." Deuterium is just a heavier isotope of hydrogen, and I'm pretty sure that a whiff of hydrogen won't sicken you in any way. I can acc ept some technobabble, but don't say things about real things that aren't true.
"Under the Cloak of War" was searing, but IMO fell down slightly at the end. I can't believe the Federation would let the death of an ambassador pass as lightly as it seemed.
"Changes" was the only episode I actively disliked, though.
As for new characters, Pellea the engineer is a delight. I am grateful for every episode in which she appears.
And while I am still not entirely happy at bringing in the Gorn, which I think undercuts the Original Series episode "Arena," I will admit they are impressively scary enemies.
Pariah got a reaction from Gauntlet in Quotes of the Day...
