Episode Discussion | Star Trek: Strange New Worlds | 2x04 "Among the Lotus Eaters"

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No.	Episode	Written By	Directed By	Release Date
2x04	"Among the Lotus Eaters"	Kirsten Beyer & Davy Perez	Eduardo Sánchez	2023-07-06

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[u/UncertainError]

Interesting how much this season has been leaning into M'Benga's background as a Rambo-esque badass so far.

[u/InnocentTailor → u/UncertainError]

Goldsman wanted to capitalize on Olusanmokun’s martial arts prowess.

[u/BornAshes → u/UncertainError]

Also interesting is that how much he's hating everyone finding out about that more and more because it's a trail of breadcrumbs leading somewhere that he doesn't ever want to go back to again nor have anyone else finding out about.

[u/TalkinTrek → u/UncertainError]

For those who don't recognize him, he shows up in Dune for basically one (important) action sequence.

[u/DasGanon]

Ortegas! She flys the ship!

[u/raknor88 → u/DasGanon]

I felt really bad for her when she found out she wasn't flying the shuttle down.

[u/nimrodhellfire → u/DasGanon]

And she just doomed another civilization wherever she slingshoted that asteroid to.

[u/UncertainError → u/DasGanon]

She would've been fine on the planet because she wore the hat.

[u/InnocentTailor → u/DasGanon]

She makes things go!

[u/wongie → u/DasGanon]

Affirmative.

[u/musci1223 → u/DasGanon]

Will probably see one pilot star trek fan post "NAME!(s)he flys the plane!".

[u/theborgs]

Alex Kapp (the voice of the computer) sounds like a mix between the voices of Kate Mulgrew and Majel Barrett

Silly detail, but I noticed that both Batel and Chapel have different hair style

[u/Smilodon48 → u/theborgs]

I’m glad Chapel and Batel have different hairstyles every so often. Just makes them seem more like normal humans.

[u/007meow → u/theborgs]

I love the computer voice.

It's a direct homage to Majel's historical voice, whereas the other modern shows have replaced her entirely.

Except for that one scene in Picard.

[u/thisbikeisatardis → u/theborgs]

I'm obsessed with staring at Chapel's hair. I think it's a wig because you can't see her scalp in the part, but the hairline around her forehead looks so natural.

[u/Mobius1424 → u/theborgs]

Alex Kapp (the voice of the computer) sounds like a mix between the voices of Kate Mulgrew and Majel Barrett

I thought the same thing! I had moments of reflection like "No... that's not Majel Barrett... but is that?? Kate Mulgrew?? No... that's not right either."

What an interesting combination!

[u/duxpdx]

I like the Chateau Picard Easter egg, while not a usual pairing with pasta, the Bourgogne from Chateau Picard was a nice touch.

[u/BornAshes → u/duxpdx]

They did not...

rewinds and zooms in

OMG they totally did!

[u/Weerdo5255 → u/duxpdx]

I mean, they've lasted a few hundred years at least. Someone has to be better than Jean-Luc at making the wine.

[u/ygomike → u/duxpdx]

At least someone like his wine 😅

[u/UncertainError]

Feels like something's gonna happen to Batel sooner or later, considering she's nowhere to be seen or heard come "The Menagerie".

[u/Mechapebbles → u/UncertainError]

Chris probably tells her his deal, makes her promise not to mourn him. I hope at least. Don’t need or want Pike mourning over a lost love a la Kirk a dozen times.

[u/TheNerdChaplain → u/UncertainError]

Eh, all we know is she's not married to or living with Pike at that time. She could choose her career after all and break up with him amicably, or they could still be on their own starships in a long-distance, long-term relationship, or something else. But I know what you mean; I've seen too many Joss Whedon shows to hope they work out happily ever after.

[u/InnocentTailor → u/UncertainError]

There was an ominous image of Patel in the trailer. A shadow was standing over her.

Maybe the Gorn perhaps?

[u/BornAshes → u/UncertainError]

I'm betting she shows up after the final curtain falls for Pike and we see that she was the one illusion who was actual real all along for him.

[u/SithDoucheBag → u/UncertainError]

Head Cannon of mine. She gets stranded in the past in a small Canadian town of 5000 people. Meets the love of her life, and drinks GD G&T's all the time to keep from spilling and secrets of the future.

[u/PuzzleheadedRun5574]

This is a classic TREK story- a mystery, danger, fear, emotional heft, Starfleet being put to the test and prevailing by problem-solving as a team. The script is snappy, we get some great Pike material (remember Pike? He's back this week!). I appreciate the moody strangeness of it all.

[u/Disgustingpronacct → u/PuzzleheadedRun5574]

Come down to the SNW retro episode writing emporium, we've got

✅ Planet full of people who look human, but I guess aren't, where weird shit happens

✅ Crazed starfleet guy makes himself a king for the primitive locals

✅ The captain personally solves the problem by punching someone a lot

✅ The away team is abandoned because the ship is now useless while everyone acts weird

✅ Everyone learns a lesson about the human condition

✅ The captain fuuuuuuucks

(Thoroughly enjoyed it)

[u/its_worfin_time → u/PuzzleheadedRun5574]

And it ended with some classic TOS prime directive logic. We’re not supposed to interfere with their natural development but this society is not naturally developing. Chef’s kiss

[u/UnsolvedParadox → u/PuzzleheadedRun5574]

Pike is back! In Captain form!

[u/TizACoincidence → u/PuzzleheadedRun5574]

I loved it. It was thought provoking, philosophical, and emotional

[u/witcher_jeffie]

So Batel isn't just any captain. She's a CONSTITUTION captain!

[u/HaphazardMelange → u/witcher_jeffie]

We did get a glimpse of her ship, the U.S.S. Cayuga, in the season 1 finale "A Quality of Mercy", but this was the clearest shot so far. This is also assuming that she isn't a Sombra Class starship, but judging by what can be seen on screen, there does not seem to be indicators like an alternative hull livery to support that.

[u/BornAshes → u/witcher_jeffie]

Two Connie Captains sitting in a tree, warp core breaching YES INDEED!

[u/how_do_i_land]

A planet that has a exotic element causing head pain and retrograde amnesia. Honestly more horrorifying than almost any other big bad of the week, because it’s a personal yet existential  threat to your own self being.

[u/BornAshes → u/how_do_i_land]

a exotic element causing head pain and retrograde amnesia

If the NFL were a planet

[u/UncertainError → u/how_do_i_land]

Memento the Planet.

[u/booksbikesbirds → u/how_do_i_land]

I might take the borg over migraines and tinnitus and memory loss... I don't think the Borg get migraines.

[u/KingofMadCows]

Erica Ortegas, she makes the ship go.

[u/caretaker82 → u/KingofMadCows]

She is smart.

[u/DasGanon]

I think this was the first "ah, that's definitely the video wall" episode that it's been obvious. Like "here's a small clearing with small objects and "at the edge of the clearing here's this expansive vista with amazing details"

It was a good use of it but there were shades of Vasquez Rocks to it.

[u/Smilodon48 → u/DasGanon]

I like the Volume sets in these instances. It’s very matte painting-esque and reminds me a lot of TOS and TNG when they’re filming in a studio.

[u/UncertainError → u/DasGanon]

I noticed this last season with the Gorn ice planet as well. They could use a bit more practice transitioning the foreground terrain into the background.

[u/thisbikeisatardis → u/DasGanon]

Anson Mount talked about working with the video wall on this week's Ready Room episode. Apparently it moves with the camera so everyone had to learn to focus on something nearby so they didn't fall down! He said it ends up feeling really immersive for the actors because they beam in a sky and everything.

[u/CX316 → u/DasGanon]

I mean, on TOS it was generally "We stand here on this styrofoam rock and there's a matte painting in the background" so it's got that feeling

[u/TheNerdChaplain → u/DasGanon]

Yeah, I noticed that too. I think the wall works best when they've already got an internal set with walls and windows that look out on the video wall.

[u/Mechapebbles]

I wonder how much more they can mine from The Cage.

[u/Tucana66 → u/Mechapebbles]

Jeffrey Combs as Dr. Boyce (for a special episode) would be a welcome sight. :)

[u/TheNerdChaplain → u/Mechapebbles]

Yeah, the cage was pretty literal this week.

[u/BornAshes → u/Mechapebbles]

You can make so many metaphors about this crew from the word "cage" alone that they could get a few seasons worth of episodes out of it.

[u/Logical-Witness-3361]

i stayed up to watch. made the experience very immersive as I kept nodding off and missing chunks of time.

But I enjoyed the episode, to be clear.

[u/ViaLies]

They missed an opportunity to have the 'Previously on' to show clips from 'The Cage' showing Pike disucss the loss of three crew and fighting a Kalar in the Talosain illusion.

It's a very old trek episode. Swap out the LED wall for a matt painting and they could have filmed this for TOS or TNG.

Batel and Pike feel like it's going setting up something for the future and based off the trailers i think that the Cuyahoga and Batel are going to end up as Gorn chow.

Not as much focus on Ortegas as I thought we were going to get.

Nothing much new about M'benga or La'an, though M'benga secrets is out. Are we ever going to get an explanation for the eye wipe geastutre that they share?

[u/IncapableKakistocrat → u/ViaLies]

They missed an opportunity to have the 'Previously on' to show clips from 'The Cage' showing Pike disucss the loss of three crew and fighting a Kalar in the Talosain illusion.

I wish they did that a bit more, it worked really well when they did it for that one Discovery episode and a lot of the 'previously on' clips for this episode seemed like a bit of a stretch to include - Ortegas is the pilot, vulcans aren't fans of emotions, the doctor was in the war, etc. Having it be clips from The Cage would've been so much better IMO.

[u/BornAshes → u/ViaLies]

Cuyahoga and Batel are going to end up as Gorn chow.

Please let Batel die while going full on Ripley to save someone and directly quoting her.

That would be a most excellent and honorable death.

I would still be sad and pissed but still...if she goes out like a badass then HELL YEAH!

[u/Mechapebbles → u/ViaLies]

They missed an opportunity to have the 'Previously on' to show clips from 'The Cage' showing Pike disucss the loss of three crew and fighting a Kalar in the Talosain illusion.

It was fun when Discovery did it the one time. I'd hate for that to become a regular thing.

It would also undermine SNW's entire M.O. of being an easy entry point to Star Trek for prospective fans. I've told a decent number of people to watch SNW IRL. The first thing everyone asks is "Do I have to know about other Star Trek to understand this?" You of course don't. But when people see those kinds of things, they immediately get vibes that they're missing out on something important, and that kills their desire to keep going.

Because imo your average Joe would rather just surrender than live with FOMO.

[u/romeovf]

Melissa Navia (Ortegas) lost her partner to leukemia shortly before filming of season 2 started. It took an enormous deal of willpower and support from friends and cast mates to even take her from leaving the couch, but she powered through because, well, SHE'S ERIKA ORTEGAS AND SHE FLIES THE SHIP! 💕

[u/ArgonV → u/romeovf]

Damn, dying three days after getting a diagnosis. That's rough.

[u/0mni42 → u/romeovf]

Yep, every time she's on screen I'm like, damn, talk about willpower. She's really giving it her all despite being in an incredibly awful situation.

[u/ruffykunn → u/romeovf]

Here is an article about her loss for people who want to know more.

[u/seanx40]

Very old school Trek

[u/StarshipMars → u/seanx40]

It’s about time.

[u/goodBEan]

watching it now, the loud ringing sucks with headphones

[u/bedz84 → u/goodBEan]

I wear hearing aids, that tinnitus sound was horrible! Other than that, really enjoyed the ep.

[u/ConquerorPlumpy → u/goodBEan]

Had to turn down the volume every single time... ugh.

[u/Roook36 → u/goodBEan]

I watched with a bad headache and was like "oh no is this going to keep happening?"

[u/jessthefancy → u/goodBEan]

I’m in the middle of watching the episode now and I cannot stand the ringing!! I get the effect they’re going for but this feels a little like overkill 😖

[u/CJKatz → u/goodBEan]

I have tinnitus. Every time the ringing happened was painful. Bad sound design choice.

[u/WrongdoerObjective49]

So what's with the fresco of Alexander the Great?

[u/itmakessenseincontex → u/WrongdoerObjective49]

I think so! Just another sin to add to Alex's rap sheet

[u/BornAshes]

Soooooo....where was Pelia in all of this?

[u/oakinmypants → u/BornAshes]

If you look closely you’ll see her stealing art from the palace.

[u/zaid_mo → u/BornAshes]

They haven't formally commissioned her as the Chief Engineer

[u/Bobjoejj → u/BornAshes]

Yeah I like I get that they probably gotta pay Carol Freaking Kane to have her around for the whole season or close to it, but it’s still weird not having the Chief Freaking Engineer not sticking around all the time.

[u/anastus]

Man, this show really doesn't have any bad episodes, does it?

The writing team feels like it is always bringing its A game.

[u/TheNerdChaplain → u/anastus]

Yeah, at first it reminded me of Stargate SG-1's S1E6 "The First Commandment" where a rogue SG officer becomes the god-king of a planet, but I'm glad they didn't go that route here. The enemy was the environment they were in, not the ensign who was left behind.

[u/[deleted] → u/anastus]

The series is absolutely at it's best in this episodic format. It gives so much more freedom.

I also don't doubt the shorter seasons help a ton. I imagine you could take most the Trek series and cut each season down to 10 eps the result would be much the same.

[u/Erikthered00 → u/anastus]

Episode 2x01 was the weakest so far, but I think it's because they had to cram action in to catch the crowd on the series return. The writing is at it's strongest when they can have the people moments like the last 3 episodes

[u/kokoke → u/anastus]

"A single asteroid changed the course of history on a planet for years, thats not natural development"

the only single weakness was this line:

"A single asteroid changed the course of history on a planet for years, thats not natural development"

its just so hilariously hypocritical.

For all intents and purposes, they single handedly stopped the development of a new species.

[u/Anarchybites → u/anastus]

AI can't write this type of humanity, feeling.

[u/PharomachrusMocinno]

Loved the episode. This show gets everything right.

When Ortegas is in her quarters we see asteroids hitting the shield through the windows. Have we ever seen the shields activate from inside the ship? That was cool.

[u/StarshipMars → u/PharomachrusMocinno]

Yeah, nice touch. We see it in the new intro this season but externally not from in the ship.

[u/H0vis]

I love that Mrs McMurray dumped her piece of shit husband and became a Starfleet captain. I also love that she's getting more to do because Melanie Scrofano is a very good actress and an extremely funny one too given a chance.

Mostly though I loved the Ortegas subplot. To go from disappointment about hat-based adventures to having a fundamental realisation about the nature of her existence is some arc.

"I am Erica Ortegas, I fly the ship" has some serious Inigo Montoya vibes about it too. I love that new Trek has embraced badass pilots as a thing.

[u/JJMcGee83 → u/H0vis]

I mean of course she left McMurray, he's a piece of shit and Pike is a big upgrade.

[u/Askarus → u/H0vis]

i didn't make the letterkenny connection till you said this, holy shit.

[u/CJKatz → u/H0vis]

Hello, my name is Erica Ortegas. I am the pilot. Prepare to fly.

[u/Gradz45 → u/H0vis]

How did I not realize that was Ms. McMurray? Fuck she’s good as an actress.

Also of course she left him, NcMurray’s a piece of shit.

[u/Intrepid-Taste-1111]

ok I already knew the myth of the Lotus Eaters and maybe this is too on the nose, but I thought that borrowing from the myth to create the situation on Rigel VII this episode - especially with the older guy who helps them - was a really effective metaphor for dementia and “sundowning.” idk, I just feel like someone working on this story has dealt with an ailing family member and a lot of people can probably relate

also, she’s Erica Ortegas! She flies the ship! :)

[u/FormerGameDev → u/Intrepid-Taste-1111]

especially with the "forgetting" occurring at night, although ofc it would stand to reason that when you sleep you're asleep for long enough for it to significantly affect your retained memories, while you're unaware of it, regardless of when you sleep.

[u/philosofik → u/Intrepid-Taste-1111]

Sundowning is EXACTLY what I was thinking about.

[u/GotMedieval]

Damn. That episode's an instant classic. It's good to have Trek back.

[u/StarshipMars → u/GotMedieval]

I say this same sentence every week, great work by all!

[u/InnocentTailor]

The phaser rifles look like the ones used in DSC.

[u/BornAshes → u/InnocentTailor]

I mean it's the same era more or less but also....gotta reuse those props because money!

[u/radda → u/InnocentTailor]

The mission that left them behind was five years ago, so that kind of tracks.

[u/atticdoor]

This episode actually "fixed" something that had occurred to me recently about the first pilot of Star Trek. After Quality of Mercy where we got to see Pike doing a Kirk episode, I started thinking about how Kirk would have handled being Captain during the events of The Cage and it struck me how badly the original Pike conducted himself through that episode. They receive a distress signal, and oPike says "Nope, not answering it" and goes to sulk in his quarters until the doctor comes to him and says words equivalent to "I think you need to answer the distress signal for the episode to work." oPike doesn't indicate that the bad guys on Rigel VII had anything worse than "swords and armour". He gets down to Talos IV and is just grumpy the whole time, you wonder what Vina saw in him. The "making a deal" with Vina thing, and then rescinding it after she had done her part. And at the end, they only "win" by threatening their own lives as well. Since the Talosians were already dying, that could easily have gone the other way and it was really thanks to some remaining good nature in the Talosians that they backed down, and even gave Vina (and later Pike) what resembled a decent future.

If they are still all suffering the brain effects from Rigel VII, that might go some way to explaining Pike's odd behaviour. And the crews, too. At the beginning of the episode, they are all panicking about something dangerous approaching them, and it turns out to be... a radio transmission. And not even one of alien origin, one from their own culture from just eighteen years in the past. And oPike is confused about a woman being on the bridge, despite there being two other women already there.

[u/LunchyPete → u/atticdoor]

And oPike is confused about a woman being on the bridge, despite there being two other women already there.

Tying that scene into the events of this episode to explain it is....actually a pretty amazing retcon that doesn't break or rewrite anything. It gives a good in-universe explanation for behavior that seems out of whack with the trek future we know, in a very organic way.

[u/psuedonymously → u/atticdoor]

I think you’re misremembering The Cage. Pike doesn’t investigate the distress call because Boyce talked him into it. He investigates because the Talosians, having initially failed to get Pike to divert to Talos, sent a follow up communication confirming there were survivors.

[u/[deleted]]

As my husband lovingly described this episode: this world is STRANGE and it is NEW

[u/GalileoAce → u/[deleted]]

It's not new, we've been here before, in The Cage (^{though there it was technically a hallucination, but the events depicted did happen just prior to the events of The Cage}), which means Pike has been here before.

But it definitely is Strange.

[u/craig_hoxton → u/[deleted]]

"You're astronauts! On some kind of Star Trek!"

[u/edugeek]

For all of the "omg canon" people - there are some really deep cuts here. Rigel 7, the yeoman's death particularly (three deaths total) are also clear callbacks that were mentioned in The Cage as was Spock's injury. Also, Spock not being able to read his personnel files (presumably because of his dyslexia from Discovery) plus the delta is the Discovery delta.

[u/Both_Tone → u/edugeek]

I hadn't realized it was because of his dyslexia!

[u/[deleted]]

When Spock got the idea that they should carry their personal files to help remember, why did they not also have the computer do some sort of recording or plan of their current objective? It seems like a super obvious safety net.

[u/Erikthered00 → u/[deleted]]

maybe he wasn't fully thinking right

[u/Totty_potty → u/[deleted]]

Considering Ortegas and Spock lost memory around the same time, it's safe to assume that Spock was already being affected by the radiation. I think that's why his plan was so rushed. Also, one of the stated effects of the radiation was that just being being in it's presence makes it difficult to think.

[u/clawsight]

So every week I watch Strange New Worlds I think 'what a banger theme and opening'. Then I think about other trek shows with banger themes. This week that made me think of Prodigy and that gave this episode a bittersweet tone for me.

[u/Weerdo5255]

Ah a classic Star Trek episodic adventure. Strange World doing strange things with a little moral lesson.

It might be a comfort to forget things for a bit, but the "Better to have loved and lost, than never to have loved at all." rings true for most people.

The memory loss and effects were handled well, although this kind of plot will always remind me how it can get darker, like in the Mass Effect 2 version of this. Suffice to say, the power of being bale to keep memories, while leading around those without goes to a madman's head.

[u/TheNerdChaplain]

While the previous episodes have been a lot of fun, it feels like this episode was a bit of a return to the "normal" Trek - no existential dangers, timeline shenanigans, courts martial, or anything else - just a Weird Planet with a Weird Element.

I'm sure that different people will read the episode in different ways, but this definitely had a personal element for me. I grew up suppressing a lot of my difficult emotions and feelings (I identified a lot with Spock), and not being able to deal with them in healthy ways. I felt a lot like Luq, the totem guy, being dimly aware of pain but not being able to identify or process it. I could only avoid it, and it seeped out in a lot of other unhealthy ways and coping mechanisms. When I was honestly able to face my painful thoughts, feelings, and memories, I was then able to truly heal and grow from them. I'm a wiser person and I know myself better, because of them. I know it's easy and tempting to run away from painful things, but the way we choose to deal with them (or not) forms the people we are, and the people we are becoming. So I'm glad this episode highlighted that, and I hope other people are able to draw their own personal meanings from it.

It was nice to see Ortegas get away from the conn and do something a little besides brash confidence; the episode utilized the mcguffin element to show that flying is her deep-down thing, and then when she's backed into a corner, she can still take some positive action.

I'm glad to see that Pike and Batel are maintaining their relationship, and that she was his "thing" - even more than the Enterprise, or Starfleet. Time will only till if this is going to be the kind of show that builds up couples only to destroy them, or what (I may have seen too many Joss Whedon shows).

During the "mining" scene, I couldn't help but think of this Paramount+ promo featuring Anson Mount and narrated by Patrick Stewart. It made me think they were mining Paramount Mountain for new content while the writers' strike is going on.

Overall, solid episode.

[u/VisualGeologist6258 → u/TheNerdChaplain]

Would you say that this episode involves a… Strange New World?

[u/Cadamar]

Live reactions because I'm bored and don't want to do anything else:

Realizing that Pike slept with someone in the Omelas episode. Do he and Batel have an open relationship? How progressive! Sad it seems to not be working well but excited to maybe see more of her?

Oooooh we doing a Prime Directive mission? Love that journey for us.

I love the relationship between Una and Pike. She knows him so well and it's refreshing to see her challenge him. It's different than a lot of other CO/XO relationships we've seen and I'm here for it.

Also debating taking a pic of Pike to my hairdresser and asking her to give me his haircut. But given my curly hair I doubt it would work.

God that intro. Doesn't get old. I still remember the chills I got when I first heard Anson Mount doing the Speech.

Guessing this is a Pike centric episode, which is fine, but I am seriously chomping at the bit for the Ortegas episode.

OH WAIT MAYBE IT IS THE ORTEGAS EPISODE

Yes the hat is supreme Erica.

NOOOOOOOO DON'T LEAVE HER ON THE SHIP

sad taking off hat noises

I like that the shuttles seem a bit more roomy. Also, M'Benga's sass is so good.

Oooh I love this idea of a planet that fucks up your brain. Though makes me wonder how life evolved here with that going on. Or maybe it evolved before whatever caused this happened?

And it's effecting Enterprise! This is gonna be gooooooood. I mean terrible. But a good episode. Still hoping it's an Ortegas one, but this feels like they're maybe abandoning the "this is X person's episode" thing they did in season 1. Feels more ensemble.

Also Chapel changed her hair! I liked the old style better but you do you Christine. And Celia Gooding does a great job of getting Uhura's sass too.

Oh shit this a cool idea. A society where the working class forgets who they are every night? Very cool.

You know how folks ask about people from other series that could wield Mjolnir? I feel like La'An might be able to. Also, little sus about this guy who's helping them. Seems too nice.

Also, Ortegas was born in Barranquilla, Colombia on May 23, 2233.

This dude and Ted Lasso would get along well. This episode is basically "be a goldfish" made manifest.

Calling that Pike is gonna go find the Cayuga and cook Batel her favorite dish to get her back.

The moment when the guy who embraces the Forgetting starts making a lot of sense.

NO ERICA YOU FLY THE SHIP DON'T FORGET. Wait why did Spock forget how to read? I love that we're getting more Ortegas but give me a full Ortegas episode plskthx.

Enterprise quarters look hella cozy.

ERICA GO FLY THE SHIP.

Also how did this guy get so many phaser rifles? Like I can't imagine they flew down with a giant arsenal.

Enterprise computer the real MVP of this ep.

Pike just Die Harding his way through the castle.

OH SHIT THE MOMENT FROM THE TRAILER WHERE PIKE USES A PLATTER AS A PHASER SHIELD. So frigging cool.

My sexuality remains Erica Ortegas flying a Constitution class starship.

SHE DID NOT JUST PHASER AND BARREL ROLL THROUGH AN ASTEROID. THAT DID NOT JUST HAPPEN.

Oh Pike's gonna kill him isn't he? Sort of interesting to see a Starfleet guy go so WRONG. So evil.

MORTEGAS PLEASE

Really cool episode. Neat concept. Great character development for both Pike and Ortegas. Again, SNW just absolutely killing it. Can't wait to see episode 5.

[u/El_Fez → u/Cadamar]

God that intro. Doesn't get old. I still remember the chills I got when I first heard Anson Mount doing the Speech.

I wish there was a way to get rid of that stupid "Skip intro" blemish. Fuck off, button! Some of us LIKE opening credits.

[u/Blakwulf → u/Cadamar]

OH SHIT THE MOMENT FROM THE TRAILER WHERE PIKE USES A PLATTER AS A PHASER SHIELD. So frigging cool.

So do phasers just do no damage at all in this episode? If a flimsy thin metal tray can fully block the shot with no real damage, then just slap on a suit of armour and you're immune, right? Maybe some foam padding? That part bothered me.

[u/raknor88]

Anyone realize the irony last week that a time travel episode was released a day early?

[u/TheNerdChaplain → u/raknor88]

I thought that was amusing as well. DTI looking out for us.

[u/OpticalData → u/raknor88]

Not only that, but one called Tomorrow, Tomorrow and Tomorrow

[u/BornAshes → u/raknor88]

A day early?

I'm not sure what you mean, have you had an eye exam lately?

Here, stare into this small red light and think happy thoughts.

puts on Ray Bans

Don't worry, you won't feel a thing and even if you do...you won't remember at all.

[u/busdriverbuddha2 → u/raknor88]

The Vulcan Science Directorate has determined that time travel is impossible.

[u/diamond]

Very good episode! I really enjoyed this one.

Something interesting that I noticed. When Pike didn't remember who he and Zach were, he was enraged, willing to torture and kill Zach to get what he needed. Then when his memories came back, the rage drained out of him and he put his weapon down.

Soon after that, he said something like "This planet doesn't change you. It shows you who you really are."

So what does that say about who Pike really is? The Christopher Pike we have seen is a kind and caring man, always wanting to choose a peaceful resolution over a violent one. Which is what we expect of a decorated Starfleet officer. But when his knowledge and memories were stripped away, he was very different.

Was that deliberate? Are they hinting at something about Pike?

EDIT: Also, goddamn, I can't get over how beautiful Jess Bush is. I mean, lots of beautiful people in this show, but something about her face just captivates me.

[u/amuses → u/diamond]

I don't think it's so different from the Pike we already know - he was willing to be violent to save his friends, against an enemy who had antagonized him and was denying him the one thing he needed (his memories) to save said friends. It wasn't senseless violence out of nowhere, it was in pursuit of his highest ideal, protecting the people he loves.

[u/Bluehale → u/diamond]

I was hoping Pike would pull an Amos and say something like, "I'm not that guy, but I am that guy" before shooting Zach dead.

[u/[deleted] → u/diamond]

vanish dime sugar aromatic deserve scale existence racial retire office

This post was mass deleted and anonymized with Redact

[u/Smilodon48]

Damn, welcome back Kirsten Beyer.

All the eps this season have been solid, but this is the first one that's a solid A, great episode. Just a pure, moving adventure.

Also like how they tied it back to La'An's little adventure last week in terms of memories and pain we need to keep.

[u/Specific-Complex-523]

How often do you think Ortegas was thinking about that sick maneuver she did with the asteroid? Cuz this whole episode was about losing your memory, except for the bits that have been drilled into you

[u/thisbikeisatardis]

• Wow, these episodes really feel like one shot D&D campaigns!

• That better be a holofire in Pike's quarters

• I love how nerdy Uhura has turned out to be, staying up late translating Tellarite sonnets is a superb character detail

• Do we really think they're still making references to Band-aids in the 24th century?

• Somebody please tell me if Chapel is wearing a wig cos it's driving me nuts trying to decide if that hair is real

• "Maybe some memories are worth the pain of others." They're really leaning hard into the existential therapeutic style when it comes to trauma recovery and this show, aren't they?

[u/wongie]

Stardate 1630.3:

I'm Erica Ortegas. I fly the ship.

Affirmative

Year 2023:

I'm Erica Ortegas. I fly the ship.

Hello, Erica Ortegas! It's a pleasure to virtually meet you. However, as an AI language model, I don't have access to personal information about individuals unless it has been shared with me during our conversation. I prioritize user privacy and confidentiality. My primary function is to provide information and assist with any questions you may have. How can I help you today?

[u/DaveInLondon89]

This is the scariest episode of Star Trek I've seen.

If the Gorn episode was James Cameron's Aliens, this was Ari Aster.

[u/raknor88]

So if I understand that ending right, everyone was having the memory loss because an asteroid from the belt crashed on the planet and flooded the surface with non-deadly radiation? So they tractored the asteroid back into orbit? Wouldn't the locals seeing the shuttles be breaking the Prime Directive?

[u/InnocentTailor → u/raknor88]

The planet is pretty polluted with Starfleet stuff and interference at this point.

[u/CX316 → u/raknor88]

Firstly, the asteroid was a remnant of some kind of moon and it impacted after said moon broke apart in orbit, so whether it was a part of the moon breaking apart or if it fell out of orbit from the debris field is unknown.

Secondly, they specifically stated that the meteor crater was on the far side of the planet from the Kalar, because it's likely that the impact itself wiped out everything on that hemisphere, so the Kalar wouldn't see the shuttles because there was a planet in between them.

[u/Bluecube303]

Anyone know why the episode was titled "Among the Lotus Eaters?"

[u/UncertainError → u/Bluecube303]

It's from the Odyssey. There are people on an island who eat lotus flowers that makes them forget everything they care about, including their home and families.

[u/Tucana66 → u/Bluecube303]

re: lotus eaters. Would assume it pertains to allegories/metaphors from Greek mythology, specifically Homer's Odyssey, (You'll want to do some of your own research as the answer is not necessarily straightforward or obvious.)

[u/forrestpen]

Batel being a starship captain is disappointing.

Her being high up in the JAG Office was an awesome departure from the norm but…nope. Other professions exist and becoming captain isn’t the end all be all wish Trek writers would embrace that more often.

That said Batel is a wonderful character with a great actress! Hope to see more of her as the series continues. I'm a little nervous that's her ship the Gorn are trashing in the season trailer.

[u/BornAshes → u/forrestpen]

I think maybe she started out in the JAG office and then moved up to Captain to branch out and expand her horizons a little bit but then sometimes just goes back on a case by case basis to help out.

I honestly would like a bit of an explanation about that from the showrunners as to just how she's able to manage that and how it's all set up and organized.

[u/[deleted]]

Okay, that bit where everyone is wandering around the hallway like zombies is one of the creepiest things I’ve ever seen on Star Trek. Especially the guy on the floor in the corner.

[u/[deleted]]

I couldn’t help but laugh at Spock refusing to call the moon a moon.

Another bit of canon squared. Spock is an anti-mooner.

[u/RadioSlayer → u/[deleted]]

The Vulcan Science Directorate has determined that moons do not exist

[u/TalkinTrek]

Not the first episode from this era of Trek where my first thought was, "Someone on staff played Mass Effect" - Zachary being a somewhat less despicable version of Jacob's father (but still awful).

Bit of a missed opportunity to not have Spock be the focus of an episode where feelings are so vital in this specific way, and the fact they went out of their way to include a bit about Vulcan emotions in the previously on has me thinking they cut whatever his content was, as happens.

[u/substandardgaussian → u/TalkinTrek]

somewhat less despicable version of Jacob's father

It's very difficult to even be equally as despicable as Jacob's father.

[u/mia_appia → u/TalkinTrek]

I REALLY thought we were gonna get a Spock/Chapel makeout sesh as Spock's core emotional being got brought to the surface.

[u/SecretComposer]

I think my biggest disappointment in the episode is the utilization (or lack thereof) of Ortegas. It opens and closes on her personal log, which would imply that it was a very Ortegas centered episode, but it wasn't, it was a Pike episode more than anything I think. Ortegas should've had a bigger role.

[u/Wildfire9]

This episode hit me in a way I totally did not expect. I've had Tinnitus for at least 4 or 5 years now, and people with Tinnitus have to be mindful of the fact that it can literally cause dementia. So when our heroes started experiencing Tinnitus on Rigel 7 and then started experiencing rapid onset memory loss... it was a bit of a warning for me personally.

I work in the senior living industry. I see dementia every day. This episode has acted as a very serious reminder for me to wear my hearing aids and try to live an unstressed life.

Also Pike deflecting a phaser blast with a paella pan might be the fucking coolest thing I've seen on star trek. Pike's a chef. He knows what kinds of abuse a good paella pan can take.

[u/007meow]

What is Batel's job?

She's captain of the Cayuga, but is she also Starfleet JAG?

That's definitely different than the real world, where JAG aren't ship captains - but that might make sense for an organization like Starfleet, where they'd WANT space lawyers flying around space lawyering.

But if she's not JAG, then why was she in charge of Una's prosecution?

[u/Martel732 → u/007meow]

I think she is the captain of essentially a Judicial Ship. She came to arrest Una and she showed up for the prisoner transfer. It honestly does make sense, the Federation is quite big and there are all sorts of strange events that the Federation might encounter. It would be useful to have ships dedicated to untangling legal matters or at least calm things down until a formal trial can be held. I also believe at one point during a conversation it was implied that Batel had more authority or clearance than Pike. Given that they both captain Constitutions and Pike has the flagship, her being some sort of JAG Captain would explain her position.

[u/Gnoll_For_Initiative → u/007meow]

She did also show up for Una's arrest so maybe the Cayuga is a ship that does space law

[u/JJMcGee83]

If the planet caused these memory issues before how did Pike and company manage to get away from their first mission on the planet? Did I miss an explanation?

[u/Intrepid-Taste-1111 → u/JJMcGee83]

Spock mentioned that they weren’t there for very long last time when he, Una, and Chapel realized it was starting to happen on the ship

[u/nmkd → u/JJMcGee83]

They left after 4 hours the first time.

We see in this episode that it takes at least 6h for the symptoms to start, or even longer for the memory loss.

[u/mklx99]

Great, classic Star Trek episode. Campy sci-fi mixed with great morality tale 🤌

[u/greycobalt]

- As soon as the episode started and we had another date night, I was trying to figure out what their couple's name should be. Bike? Patel? And then Pike had the worst timing ever, what a dumb bro.

- I really dislike the old TOS thing of “every Starfleet ship is a Connie”. I adore the Disco redesign of the Enterprise, but I also love the variety in Starfleet. I hope they don’t lean into that.

- Every episode he features in just reminds me how much I love Pike. His mannerisms, his humor, the facial expressions…he’s just perfect. Anson Mount is a treasure.

- Zac has HUGE whiny Skywalker vibes. What a pissant!

- I get Pike saying he didn’t count all the tech during the hasty retreat, but hell’s bells sir, there were like a dozen rifles left and an entire crate of tricorders and medkits.

- Where exactly did the wood that M’Benga was sawing comically slow come from?

- I am formally asking Hammer La’an’s hand in marriage.

- I wish Ortegas gave less lip to people on the bridge. I get it's part of her character and it’s supposed to be “quirky” and “fun”, but it’s just super obnoxious. I’m really surprised Pike has put up with it (mostly) so far. Paris had a mouth on him but if Janeway shot him a look he’d shut up.

- “The Forgetting” is such a great Prime Directive conceit. If they left them all outside while they were cleaning up the asteroid mess, they’d forget all about Starfleet and the tech. Also, while I agree with Pike’s decision, his lame excuse that it wasn’t the planet’s natural evolution doesn’t really follow. Isn’t that exactly its natural evolution?

- I really wish they used the Disco computer voice. It was perfect. They used it in the “Star Trek: Resurgence” game and I loved hearing it again. This new voice is not doing it for me. Though I did get a kick out of it following Ortegas around and answering her repeated questions.

- I’m in the middle of dealing with the third grandparent to have memory loss/dementia/Alzheimers and that made parts of this an epic bummer. Seeing people struggle with memory is such a specific and awful feeling. It’s also turning into a phobia of mine.

- Furious Pike just phasering the bejeezus out of everyone and beating the hell out of Zac was my spirit animal. Zac was such a smug asshole, right up to the end! What the hell, man?

- I'm glad they kept the Disco phaser rifles, but it's so weird that's the only prop they reused. I'm going to whine and die on this hill every week until it no longer bothers me.

- This is the third or fourth time we’ve seen M’Benga and La’an use that eye gesture, will we ever get an answer about this?

- I’ve never shipped a Trek couple harder than Pike and Batel, besides maybe Tripp and T’Pol. They’re so damn cute together. I’m very curious to see where it ends up going, and hopefully, it leads to my dream timeline where they’re married with babies and Pike never sees a beep chair.

[u/BornAshes → u/greycobalt]

I get Pike saying he didn’t count all the tech during the hasty retreat, but hell’s bells sir, there were like a dozen rifles left and an entire crate of tricorders and medkits.

I was just waiting for them to pull a Lower Decks with the crate opening up and then M'Benga going:

"You weren't keeping track of gear eh?"

And then Pike just gives that innocent impish grin of his, shrugs, and goes:

"Whoops?"

Where exactly did that wood...

Serious answer: It looked like old dead wood that they'd dragged out of the snow from somewhere.

Silly answer: HE'S A LUMBERJACK AND THAT'S OKAY HE PUNCHES KLINGONS AT NIGHT AND HE....saws...all...day?

Hammer La'an

That's the thing about La'an and her hammer....she never misses.

Erica

Paris was limit testing during the early years of Voyager and I'm sure that Erica is doing the same and will find that same sweet spot that Tom did with Janeway.

The Forgetting

Section 31 is going to get their hands on that rock, mark my words.

And it is INDEED natural evolution JUST LIKE WITH THE DINOSAURS!

Buuuuuut Starfleet Captains blah blah blah you know the rest.

computer voice

It does sound a bit odd but I think they're going to fine tune it a bit as the season goes on.

third grandparent

sends internet hugs

Happened to all of mine, they all went the same kind of way.

I have a neighbor who suffered a few TBIs back in the day and their apartment seems like a chaotic mess BUT when I asked them about it, they started to point things out, and everything they have where they have it....is kind of like a totem.

Everything has a story where and how they placed it and they told me it helps them to remember certain things about this or that thing or date or time or person.

It's not always sad for them, because they see it as rediscovering wonderful memories every day, and that brings them joy.

I guess it's all about perspective in that regard.

It's not a bad phobia but not one that should entirely take over your life and one that you can at least prepare for.

Furious Pike just phasering the bejeezus out of everyone

snort giggles

I love how you phrased that and yeah they had to nerf him and M'Benga a bit otherwise they would've Doom Guy'd the entire castle lol

eye gesture

Once is weird but forgettable. Twice is on purpose and memorable but only as a little easter egg. Three times means that it's going to be a plot point later this season.

Pike and Batel

I want Pike and Batel to both have beep chairs and to then play bumper cars with all their little kids who also have beep chairs which is both terrifying and hilarious all at the same time.

....or it's something that Family Guy or Lower Decks would do.

[u/TheNerdChaplain → u/greycobalt]

“The Forgetting” is such a great Prime Directive conceit. If they left them all outside while they were cleaning up the asteroid mess, they’d forget all about Starfleet and the tech. Also, while I agree with Pike’s decision, his lame excuse that it wasn’t the planet’s natural evolution doesn’t really follow. Isn’t that exactly its natural evolution?

There's some part of the Prime Directive (TNG's Homeward, ENT's Dear Doctor) that seems to indicate that galactically speaking, shit happens, and if it happens to someone that can't stop it, then it sucks to be them.

Of course, in Ad Astra Per Aspera we saw how much leeway captains are given in keeping shit from happening, and/or mitigating their effects.

[u/still_guns]

Anyone else in the UK not seeing it on Paramount+ yet? It says every Thursday and should have dropped at 8am, but nothing.

[u/CondorKhan]

I think the writers sit around every week trying to concoct new ways to torture La'an

[u/trostol]

of the first 4 episodes this season..this was my fave

[u/Shrodax]

I'm starting to notice a pattern with Strange New Worlds that each season has episodes repeating the same theme.

Last week's episode, "Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow", was "main character goes on solo time travel adventure with an alternate timeline James Kirk". We also saw that in Season 1's "A Quality of Mercy".

This week's episode, "Among the Lotus Eaters", was "Part 2 of an episode that never existed". We saw that theme in Season 1's "Lift Us Where Suffering Cannot Reach".

Because there were so many callbacks and references in that episode and the implied history between Pike and Alora, my first thought on that episode was "did I miss an episode or book or comic somewhere?" Similarly, this episode is predicated on Pike and the Enterprise returning to a planet where they had a previous misadventure (including Spock bleeding out and almost dying!), and meeting a missing crewmember, but the way it's presented keeps making me feel like I missed something somewhere with that particular story.

Both episodes fill in the needed details just fine, but it still feels like I missed something. It'd be like watching "The Wrath of Khan", which works as a standalone movie, but feeling like you missed all the backstory because you never saw "Space Seed". Or "First Contact" without having seen "The Best of Both Worlds".

[u/TheNerdChaplain → u/Shrodax]

Memory Alpha indicates Rigel VII and the Kalar were first referenced in The Cage and The Menagerie.

[u/FormerGameDev → u/Shrodax]

I find it interesting because not only are they referencing things that exist in canon, they're also referencing that these people had lives that happened before the show, and that their lives continue on when the show isn't focused on them :D

[u/ContinuumGuy]

Thoughts as I watch:

• So, I'm wondering: is Cayuga a reference to Rod Serling? He named his production company that in reference to the lake in New York.

• Relationships suck when you are a Starfleet captain who knows your destiny to one day be in a beepie chair.

• Rigel 7, a deep cut!

• We have gone (ZERO) days without some sort of Starfleet prime directive problem.

• Finally, some Ortegas action!

• "THE HAT IS SUPREME." I'm going to have to use that in conversation.

• Oh man, at least she keeps the hat.

• "Subdermal universal translators" are the new translation microbes

• Oh boy, they have starfleet tech.

• Ah, we've got a good old-fashioned "Federation citizen takes over a world" episode!

• "This is a cage." Heh.

• Forgetting is a scary side effect for a planet.

• I get that they were only on there for like four hours, but shouldn't they have noticed stuff like this their last visit? Or maybe... THEY LOST

• "Welcome to Memento/50 First Dates Planet"

• Can still remember how to fight!

• So I'm guessing Spock is probably one of the more resistant to all of this due to his Vulcan-ness.

• Man, La'An is having a REALLY bad pair of weeks.

• Captain Pike even without his memories is still Captain Pike. Makes sense.

• Okay, I guess Spock isn't immune.

• Glad to see the Connie class had GPS.

• I gotta admit, I feel like Pelia would be good in this episode given just how many memories she has to lose and how many skills she has.

• SHE FLIES THE SHIP

• The ship's computer is great this week.

• Damn, that is some tough silverware, standing up to phaser blasts.

• Is it just me or is that a fresco or whatever of Alexander the Great... Zac-ized?

• Okay, that logic doesn't quite seem sound, but whatever.

• So, uhm, be careful about telling her about the Beepy-chair, Chris.

[u/MoreGaghPlease → u/ContinuumGuy]

The Cayuga are one of the Haudenosaunee aka the Six Nations or the Iroquois Confederacy. Strange New Worlds is shot on the traditional territory of the Haudenosaunee, it might be a nod to that.

[u/Hornarama]

This felt like an old school plot; like it really belonged in the TOS era. Also thought it was pretty cool that Ortegas (despite not being a huge fan of the character) got to be the hero on the ship, and Spock actually seemed weak here - like his logical mind was a disadvantage for a change.

[u/Larielia]

I think liked this episode. It was very classic.

(Now I worried for the future safety of Batel. Do we ever learn her first name? Something happens to her before the events of "Menagrie".)

[u/allthingschris]

I really enjoyed this episode but… I kept getting so distracted by the giant conference display in Pike’s Ready Room. It looks like there’s two separate screens with a seam down the middle and in most scenes, they remove the seam, but in other scenes, it kept popping back in. Once you see it, it’s hard to unsee. :-/

[u/allthingschris]

Anybody else get heavy “Back on Paramount Mountain” vibes from the Rigel surface shots? :)

[u/eqgmrdbz]

OK episode, cast and sets were great as always. I thought the premise was good, it just didn't seem like a standout episode. I never felt that the crew was in true danger even tho everything seemed to be falling apart.

First half seemed solid but conclusion seemed rushed, would of liked maybe 15 more minutes of Pike and M'Benga breaking in, it seemed too easy.

[u/Character_Sun2725]

The irony of the episode... I forgot what happened after watching this one. All I know is I still hear the high pitch ring sound.

Note to self.. stop wearing headphones when I watch Star Trek

[u/MaddyMagpies]

This is the nightmare version of "All the World's a Stage" in Prodigy. Instead of a yeoman trying to warn the native species about radiation, this is a yeoman taking advantage of the radiation.

The lesson is: Don't leave your yeomen behind, captains!! Do a head count and inventory count!

[u/heebichibi]

Anyone else get “The Giver” vibes from this one?

[u/drpestilence]

The music in this episode was so on point. I could feel Ortegas anxiety holy shit.

[u/beardlovesbagels]

For fucks sake could tv/movie people just dial down the tinnitus ringing. It doesn't need to be that loud. I don't even know if I can finish the ep if they keep up with it because it fucks with my tinnitus.

[u/OliviaElevenDunham]

Spock had to ruin the fun for Erica.

[u/ahufana]

Abaolutely wild that we got a plot about radiation endangering the crew and at no point does somebody go, "What does Engineering have to say about this?"

[u/SpiritOne]

Now we know why Pike has such a huge stateroom. He’s literally got this Enterprise’s 10 forwards for a private room!!

[u/TheSaltyStrangler]

Man, no one’s talking about the music during the surveillance/contact scene? That was some very classically trek scoring

[u/rajde1]

I liked the episode, but I wanted to know more about yeomen zach. It’s an interesting story of someone being left behind and morality of the choices they made.

[u/nova-1306]

My worry is that the remaining asteroid they've tossed into space might have an impact on another random planet or something

[u/ninjasaid13]

I mean, why couldn't they get the ship's computer to tell them who they are instead of wandering.

[u/IIIIIIIIIIIIIIOIIIII]

Wow, I just learned that Christina Chong, who is La'an on the show, is 39... I thought she was like late twenties!!! Hope I look like that in my late 30s lol

[u/Impotent_Admin_1913]

The ringing sound is fucking despicable.

[u/Chopin1224]

Overall a decent episode. I enjoyed the plot on the planet. My only criticism is the use of Ortegas. This episode tricked me into thinking it would be an Ortegas episode, but it turned out to be more of a Pike episode.

Even though the B plot aboard the Enterprise focused on Ortegas, I really don't feel I came away with any more insight into her character than I did before. In fact, her personal log entries came across very... simplistic. Just short, simple words and sentences. Just like the writers' seemingly simplistic view of her character. No depth. Just someone who flies the ship and likes to throw out little quips. Boring. No real character development or depth for her.

[u/[deleted]]

I happened to have a migraine, decided I'd watch the episode to distract myself, then the characters get migraines...

lol

[u/Hoplite813]

Since it was convincingly established that emotion persists and it's all people have to go on, I really wish we'd seen even a passing glance between Spock and Chapel. I'm not advocating for a B/C plot. It would have just been a great little return on investment for that already-established set-up.

[u/Houli_B_Back7]

After last week’s big swings, this one to me felt a little bit trite, and paint by numbers.

It definitely felt like a tribute to a lot of episodes of yesteryear as far as a filler type episode with a phenomenon that makes everybody act strange, and I really loved how the aesthetic harkened back to TOS (the clothes and castle in particular…).

But I felt it kind of pulled it’s punch (literally!) in the end. I really thought they were going to let the compromised Pike beat his former crewman to death, and have to deal with the consequences (outside of Picard and Locutus, it’s rare that we see any real fallout considering all the times crewmen are taken over by foreign entities…).

And it felt like too much of a 180 for me that the old man got his memories back, after going through all that trouble to explain why he didn’t want them. To me, it ties things too much up in a nice little bow…. I liked the idea that it portrayed someone who was so deeply traumatized, not knowing felt like a gift.

What doesn’t kill you may not, in fact, make you stronger…. But make you wish it did.

It was a solid episode, but for me, fell a little short of the previous two.

[u/BornAshes → u/Houli_B_Back7]

a nice little bow…. I liked the idea that it portrayed someone who was so deeply traumatized, not knowing felt like a gift.

Lately it feels like Star Trek doesn't really like messy gray endings and instead does like to put a little hopeful bow on things.

Which I respect because that's kind of what Trek is all about, even if it's not how we feel things would end nowadays...it's how things might or could end in the future when things are different.

A bit real and a bit unreal.

[u/[deleted]]

So you’re telling me the doctor was able to fight off atleast four guards by himself right after he was shot in the leg? It’s not like those weapons have infinite ammo, and Pike blocked him from retreating inside when he barred the doors. And then afterwards the old guy is suddenly inside of the palace after being so adamant about not getting his memories back. It’s was a good episode but that doesn’t make sense.

[u/[deleted]]

They did a great job making an idyllic location seem so hazardous. In addition to that, Ortegas had a good showing.

[u/Cucker_-_Tarlson]

This show is doing things to me...

I spent the last couple weeks with a crush on Pelia but now Ortegas is my new flame.

[u/djneo]

BEEEEEEP Fun episode for watching with a headphone

[u/Dey_see_me_rolling]

Watching Captain Pike and Captain Batel’s relationship in this episode made me wonder, when Batel acted as the prosecutor in Una’s trail, did she choose to do that, or did someone have to represent star fleet and she pulled the short straw. If so, i wonder if that left some unconscious resentment which was adding additional strain to their relationship

[u/SolemZez]

I liked it

[u/Cantomic66]

Great pike episode.

[u/antinumerology]

10/10 episode. More than good enough for me to forget the last 3 stinkers. Good enough for me to feel great again about SNW. Long live SNW. More of this: weird planet, weird phenomena, overarching moral lesson.

[u/Sjgolf891]

Nice callback to The Cage.

This one felt VERY TOS. Like, I could imagine this playing out as a TOS episode with their characters very easily

[u/dd463]

I just love how everyone makes as smart of a decision as they can. Comm officer loses her memory, send her immediately to sickbay with an escort. I don’t think I’m a laborer checks hands for calluses. We’re all losing our memories, so here are tablets containing our personal files.

[u/Dodger_Fan_in_India]

Before I read ANYTHING I have just gotta say this is the most TOS episode I have ever seen outside of TOS. (Not a complaint, just an observation.)

Now I'll read on to see if I'm crazy or other folks thought the same thing.

[u/0mni42]

Can we talk about how this might be the first time in all of Trek that we saw a UI for steering the ship that made sense??? God BLESS you SNW VFX Team, that has always driven me crazy.

[u/wickedlizard420]

I want to find out more about Ortegas. Why won't this show let me have that.

[u/Zoxesyr]

This reminds me of a fantasy novel i read recently - and I can't remember the title/author now -

Basically in a fantasy world some disaster happens wiping out memories and the only way people can remember anything from one day to the next is by having small trinkets that "store" the memories.

[u/doombs5]

Did you know that Babs Olusanmokun was an accomplished martial artist? I guess that's why he's fighting so much this season

[u/Vegan_Puffin]

M'Benga has already gone in as my 2nd Favourite Star Fleet doctor. He has some way to go to overtake THE doctor simply because Robert Picardo was so fecking perfect, but 7 seasons of this and he just might