Man, it is one hell of a flex to make an episode of Discovery be a direct sequel to a TNG episode from a quarter of a century ago.
- Nice: Admiral Vance remembers to explain for the Discovery crew about Romulans and Vulcans being related.
- But he does it in a way that does not confirm the strong-fan-assumption-that-isn’t-actually-confirmed that “Balance of Terror” is the first time any human had ever seen a Romulan.
- Discovery’s nacelles re-attach before Magic Mushrooming. That’s okay I guess, but having them spin in the opposite direction from the rest of the ship would’ve been cooler.
- Seems like Discovery has been in this time long enough for it to occur to them that they shouldn’t mushroom right up next to a planet, and maybe should zap in a little ways off and approach under impulse, like they did for Earth.
- I really like that Stamets was openly uncomfortable with Tilly getting promoted, but he deals with it and is ultimately supportive. This show is really mature.
- I mean, the episode doesn’t work without it, but it seems pretty darned contrived that Gabrielle Burnham was on Ni’Var.
- Nice: No one on Discovery is resistant to the idea of Romulan reunification. They’ve only just found out about the relationship between the two races, and they know the Romulans only as an old enemy, but they roll with it to the point that no one even gets the planet’s name wrong. Heck, I’m having a harder time not calling it Vulcan than they are.
- Is “Ni’Var” a pun? Like, as in, “When will the Vulcans and the Romulans reunite? NEEEVAAAARRRR!”
- “Actually the Romulans are cool; it’s the Vulcans that are assholes,” is a good direction for the story.
- Nice: Michael is legally a citizen of Ni’Var.
- I just want to say this out loud. The plot of this episode is, “It turns out that Michael’s mom became a Romulan Warrior Monk, who is Michael’s defense lawyer when she challenges the Vulcans to Ritualistic Doctoral Thesis Defense.”
- I was a little iffy about how tenuous relations are between the Vulcans and the Romulans, hundreds of years after reunification, but I guess it’s not actually all that long in Vulcan terms, what with a generation on Vulcan being two hundred years.
- Is Saru sweet on the president of Ni’Var? Are, in fact, they sweet on each other? I would really like that.
- So here’s my big mind-blowing realization from this week: Book reminds me of Tim Curry. Seriously. Watch his eyes and mouth. Damnedest thing.
“…and maybe should zap in a little ways off and approach under impulse.” Forbidden post 2009 Star Trek
“…but he deals with it and is ultimately supportive. This show is really” Full of drama for drama’s sake. Lower Decks at least had fun.
“Actually the Romulans are cool; it’s the Vulcans that are assholes,” Was Trite and predictable non-twist. TNG assholes (aside from Sarek). DS9 assholes. Voy: Tuvok who is an assholes he just made palatable by being next to Neelix. Enterprise All Assholes (including Sarek this time). 09? Assholes besides Spock who needs to grow up and become an Asshole. THE VULCANS ARE ALWAYS ASSHOLES
“…Are, in fact, they sweet on each other?” Blgh please god no.
To let people stay up to date on ongoing deconstructions. (All ones on our list, including finished and stalled ones, here .) Let us know, please, if there are errors in the post. Or if you don t want to be included. Or if there s someone who you think should be included, which includes you. We can use more content. Or if you are concerned about all the possible ways that someone might end up being victorious but needing more than just victory to make it stick. Or for any other reason, really.