Star Trek: Discovery: Episode 2, "Battle at the Binary Stars"
One thing I failed to mention when I was talking about the first episode of this prologue were the lens flares. Oh the lens flares. After taking a hiatus during "Star Trek: Beyond" they are back in full force. I didn't notice them so much in this episode, but they are pretty distracting and unnecessary. This isn't a JJ Abrams production.
The title of this episode also reminded me of that old '70's/80's show, "Battle of the Network Stars." I kept waiting for the cast of "The Big Bang Theory" to show up and challenge the crew and the Klingons to a three-legged space race, followed by a tug of war.
I'm not sure if it's good or bad that I was more excited by the "Still to Come this season..." tag then I was by anything that happened in the actual episode. The second part of this two-part prologue was perfectly OK. A serviceable episode. Heavier on the action, a bit lighter on actual plot. We got to see the majority of the Klingons unite under T'Kuvma. A really cool long distance mind meld between Burnham and Sarek. Georgiou's death and T'Kuvma's shortly after. Burnham being sentenced to life in prison after her mutinous actions aboard the Shenzhou.
Just like part one, the writing and Martin-Green's star making turn as Burnham is what elevates this and compels you to keep watching. The speech that Burnham makes before her sentence is delivered is heart wrenching and looks to be the first of many that could go on her inevitable Emmy reel. I also enjoyed her conversation with the ship's computer about the ethical ramifications of letting her go or allowing her to die in the decimated brig.
My biggest issue with these two episodes is the necessity of them. Was this really the best way to introduce this particular iteration of the Star Trek mythos? I commend what the writers and producers are trying to do. Burnham is not your standard Trek POV character. She traffics in shades of gray and is not this shining beacon of righteousness and decency. She makes mistakes and those mistakes have cost her dearly. She's also a woman of color as the main character in a Star Trek series. Let's all reflect for a moment how sad it is that is considered revolutionary and ground breaking in the year 2017. Insert eye roll here.
I can't help thinking how compelling and cool it would have been to first meet Burnham on the prisoner transport we glimpse in those scenes during the end tag. How not knowing what we now know thanks to the prologue would shade the first time that Saru and Burnham come face to face on the Discovery. Having the Klingons be a touch more mysterious? I feel like the writers/producers wanted to do something like that but wussed out. I feel like the worry they have about alienating existing Trek fans is at war with the fresh ideas that they want to inject into the franchise. With only 15 episodes in this first season, and the intent to tell a season long, serialized story, it was a waste to expend some of that capital on these two episodes, the content of which could easily have been told in flashbacks interspersed throughout the first season episodes or could have been condensed into one flashback episode during the midway point of the season. A flashback episode that contained Burnham and Saru's perspective. I would love to have seen the events of the prologue through his eyes. Doing a single flashback episode after we have gotten to know him a bit better, would have allowed them to do that and would have enriched this story a little more.
Overall Grade: I did enjoy these first two episodes and that coming up tease pretty much guaranteed I'll keep up with this season. That and of course Martin-Green's performance. I'm still convinced that this was the best way to open this particular iteration of the Trek franchise, but that being said, I am impressed that the producers of the show are willing to take some risks that may alienate Trek devotees. B
The title of this episode also reminded me of that old '70's/80's show, "Battle of the Network Stars." I kept waiting for the cast of "The Big Bang Theory" to show up and challenge the crew and the Klingons to a three-legged space race, followed by a tug of war.
I'm not sure if it's good or bad that I was more excited by the "Still to Come this season..." tag then I was by anything that happened in the actual episode. The second part of this two-part prologue was perfectly OK. A serviceable episode. Heavier on the action, a bit lighter on actual plot. We got to see the majority of the Klingons unite under T'Kuvma. A really cool long distance mind meld between Burnham and Sarek. Georgiou's death and T'Kuvma's shortly after. Burnham being sentenced to life in prison after her mutinous actions aboard the Shenzhou.
Just like part one, the writing and Martin-Green's star making turn as Burnham is what elevates this and compels you to keep watching. The speech that Burnham makes before her sentence is delivered is heart wrenching and looks to be the first of many that could go on her inevitable Emmy reel. I also enjoyed her conversation with the ship's computer about the ethical ramifications of letting her go or allowing her to die in the decimated brig.
My biggest issue with these two episodes is the necessity of them. Was this really the best way to introduce this particular iteration of the Star Trek mythos? I commend what the writers and producers are trying to do. Burnham is not your standard Trek POV character. She traffics in shades of gray and is not this shining beacon of righteousness and decency. She makes mistakes and those mistakes have cost her dearly. She's also a woman of color as the main character in a Star Trek series. Let's all reflect for a moment how sad it is that is considered revolutionary and ground breaking in the year 2017. Insert eye roll here.
I can't help thinking how compelling and cool it would have been to first meet Burnham on the prisoner transport we glimpse in those scenes during the end tag. How not knowing what we now know thanks to the prologue would shade the first time that Saru and Burnham come face to face on the Discovery. Having the Klingons be a touch more mysterious? I feel like the writers/producers wanted to do something like that but wussed out. I feel like the worry they have about alienating existing Trek fans is at war with the fresh ideas that they want to inject into the franchise. With only 15 episodes in this first season, and the intent to tell a season long, serialized story, it was a waste to expend some of that capital on these two episodes, the content of which could easily have been told in flashbacks interspersed throughout the first season episodes or could have been condensed into one flashback episode during the midway point of the season. A flashback episode that contained Burnham and Saru's perspective. I would love to have seen the events of the prologue through his eyes. Doing a single flashback episode after we have gotten to know him a bit better, would have allowed them to do that and would have enriched this story a little more.
Overall Grade: I did enjoy these first two episodes and that coming up tease pretty much guaranteed I'll keep up with this season. That and of course Martin-Green's performance. I'm still convinced that this was the best way to open this particular iteration of the Trek franchise, but that being said, I am impressed that the producers of the show are willing to take some risks that may alienate Trek devotees. B
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