Yes, the new episode of SNW is…something. Uhura, mostly underutilized, is probably the “best” of the transformations, but everyone else is a racist caricature of caricatures of human culture as turned into Star Trek aliens. Spock is annoyed by all of them, and I wish it would have focused more—
—on how much focus it takes to be Vulcan. Pike was just Beldar from Coneheads. La’an was a Romulan because of her Augment DNA? If Augment DNA weakened Klingons, wouldn’t it weaken a “Vulcan?” But what Chappell was doing felt like what should have been the story. The opposite of Spock’s journey…
She should have been the one resistant to changing back, ready to denounce her humanity. Spock—as a FRIEND—should remind her it is her tenacity that makes her who she is, not unlimited resources because of a DNA hack; that’s cheating. Una’s race aren’t allowed in Starfleet because of it!
There was something here hiding in the corners and behind Pike’s even more ridiculous hair. BUT! Each new episode is feeling campier, and part of me is thrilled and tickled. Even Spock and La’an’s dream fight was to the TOS fist fight music. THAT’S where we’re headed. The 1960’s—by way of 2020’s.
However, I laughed my ass off at the post-credits scene. “Why would you do that?” “Are humans broken?” This could have been better. I will still be back next week.