31st March, 2020.
You know, the video — the introductory video — is possibly going to be interesting … or just look odd.
Depending on your point of view.
But there’s something of an explanation for it, if nothing else.
I write brainteasers.
And, just to keep my ears occupied, whilst writing?
I’ll have old episodes of whatever, on in the background.
Today?
The six part, William Hartnell, Doctor Who story, The Web Planet.
Which, in the final episodes? Sees the alien species the TARDIS crew are working with, the Menoptra, trying to lure a Zarbi to where they want to go …
By yelling ‘zaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaar-BEEEE,’ at it.
In assorted strange voices.
When you’re a Menoptra?
You have to do this sort of thing.
When your the person watching Menoptra doing their thing … ?
All sorts of things stick in your mind!
Frankly?
Watching something else, to make sure that you get a TV earworm — eyeworm? — out of your head makes a certain amount of sense.
Yes.
~≈†≈~
And then shows us Soji (Isa Briones) having a nightmare of her childhood: trying to sneak into her fathers lab, to see what he’s doing.
And awakening with her lover: Romulan official, Narek (Harry Treadaway).
He’s interesting, convinced she’s hiding something.
Meanwhile, on the La Sirena?
On the La Sirena, Agnes (Alison Pill) has not revealed the truth about Maddox’s death to the rest of the crew: with only Rios (Santiago Cabrera) and Elnor (Evan Evagora) guessing there’s something nasty going on.
However, all this is put to the back burner: as Admiral Picard reveals the next stage of the mission.
He knows that Soji is on the Artefact, working with the Romulans: he needs Raffi to diplomatic access to the thing, and get to see the Director of the Borg Reclamation Project.
The Director is a very old friend.
Hugh …
For Jean Luc … ?
This meeting is going to show Jean-Luc some ghosts …
~≈†≈~
Now …
Has Star Trek Picard done it again: and given us another good episode?
Yes they have!
The Impossible Box moves the story forward, again.
In showing us Soji’s dream self, the episode’s dropping hints that she has a better idea of her origins than even she knows.
And, in a scene where Soji scans her childhood possessions? Outright tells us she’s no more than thirty-seven months old.
I couldn’t help but think of Bladerunner, there: the original movie. The Sean Young character, Rachel, was a replicant with implanted memories, memories designed to make her much more stable.
The episode also brings one thread — the relationship between Narek and Soji — to something of a climax.
As he* tried killing her, once he’s taken her through the meditation ritual designed to access her memories.
I suspect that thread’s still not over, as Narissa (Peyton List, looking suitably diabolic) is now in charge of track Soji.
There’s something else, as well: the performances!
For starters, we had no ham from Patrick Stewart!
In The Impossible Box?
In The Impossible Box, we see Stewart playing things fairly straight.
After all? He’s returning to a Borg Cube: the last place he wants to visit. And still Able to function.
Likewise?
I’m going to give Michelle Hurd another round of applause for a great performance: ref;apsing but still functioning!
Granted, her part wasn’t as big as others … ?
But, lord, that woman knows how to act.
Right now?
I’m looking forward to the next episode, Nepenthe.
I’d love to see Riker and Musiker … !
* I loved the little puzzle box Harry Treadaway’s character plays with: it’s sort of a cross between a Japanese puzzle box and a Rubik’s cube.
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