Star Trek Strange New Worlds — Episode 5 — Spock Amok — A Review

21st October, 2022.

Right, than … it’s Friday.

And … ?

I’ll be brutally frank, I’m looking forward to fish and chips.

It’s Friday: and why we’re supposed to eat them?

I couldn’t tell you.

Just that it’s something I’ve done for some time.

Something else I’ve been doing … ?

Is watching TV.

The past few weeks has seen me watching the first series of Star Trek Strange New Worlds.   Then posting my review, the following night.

I’ll be doing that with the fifth episode of the series: Spock Amok.

Given most Star Trek fans will be able to tell you exactly when the LAST time the word ‘Amok’ turned up in a Star Trek title?

I’m betting I know where it’s (partially) going to be set.

~≈🖖≈~

Episode 5 — Spock Amok — opens with the usual summary of earlier episodes.

Then shifts: to show us the planet Vulcan.   More especially, Spock’s family mating grounds: where, it seems, Spock (Ethan Peck) is to marry his fiancée, T’Pring (Gia Sandhu).

Only for T’Pring to insist on the kal-if-fee: the ancient Vulcan ritual where a woman’s betrothed has to fight a challenger.

Insist … ?   Because Spock’s ears have suddenly become blunt.

Marrying a human was not what T’Pring had in mind.

Something the now completely human Spock is mortified about: something that doesn’t affect the fully Vulcan version of himself that Spock has to fight.

To the death.

In his family’s traditional mating ground … 

Spock rapidly wakes up from he quickly realises is a dream.

On the morning of the day where he is to take part in a significant diplomatic mission for the Enterprise … and welcome the real world T’Pring for some much needed us time.

Seriously, much needed us time.

As T’Pring starts criticising Spock’s quarters the minute she walks in.

You get the feeling Fridays on the Enterprise … are just a little bit freaky.

~≈🖖≈~

Now … 

What DID I make of this episode … ?

What did I think?   Good, bad or indifferent?

First things first.

Spock Amok is an episode with the by now familiar split: into ‘A’ and ‘B’ plots.

A?   Is literally a Star Trek take on Freaky Friday: in order to try and improve their relationship, Spock and T’Pring try an old Vulcan ritual that lets them see through the other’s eyes.

Only to find they’ve swapped bodies.   T’Pring’s in Spock’s body, whilst he is in hers … and the pair have to do each other’s job.

With hysterical results.

At least I thought so: the pair trying to hide what’s happened, without making it blatantly obvious, had me laughing out loud.

B?   We see the crew going on various shades of shore leave: leaving Number One (Rebecca Romijn) and La’an (Christina Chong) feeling mildly insulted about being seen as party poopers … and playing Enterprise Bingo* as a result.

The net effect of these interwoven storylines?

Freaky Friday meets Party Poopers?

Is light hearted, silly … and pure unadulterated fun.

Spock Amok is a blast!

And enough of a blast to keep me watching this series.

I’ll be watching the next episode, Lift Us Where Suffering Cannot Reach, next Friday: Friday, 29th October.   I’ll have my reviews of it up on Saturday, 30th October.

I’ll be watching The Power of The Doctor, tomorrow: and have my review of that up on Monday, 24th October.

I’ll see you when I seen you next.

You have a blast, until then.

Spock Amok.

★★★☆ 

Next Time: 

*        According to the backstory?   Enterprise Bingo as a game played by junior officers on the ship.   Players have to break a list of minor rules: without getting caught.   I’m assuming winners get a gonk.