25th November, 2022
Is it me … or is it amazing how fast time goes?
It’s possibly not just me, is it?
After all, it only seems like last week that it was a Friday … and that I was telling I would be watching an episode of …
Yeah: OK.
It’s Friday, again! And, yet again, I’m going to be watching an episode of Star Trek Strange New Worlds: it’s A Quality of Mercy, the last one of the first series, so you know.
And, of course, I’ll be watching, once I’ve had dinner.
I’ll be posting my reviews, tomorrow night!
I’ll see you then!
~≈🖖≈~
26th November, 2022.
Episode 10 — A Quality of Mercy — opens with the usual summary of earlier episodes: focusing, especially, on Captain Pike’s knowledge of his fate.
Then shifts.
To show us that the USS Enterprise is on the edge of the Romulan Neutral Zone: the demilitarised area between the Federation, and the Romulan Empire.
Pike (Anson Mount), the Enterprise and the USS Cayuga, are there to help Commander Al-Salah of Outpost Four upgrade the Outpost’s ageing system.
He also gets to meet the Commander’s son, Maat al-Salah.
The name is one Captain Pike knows.
In the visions he’s had of his future?
The Captain saves a group of cadets from death: receiving terrible injuries, himself.
That group includes Maat al-Salah: one of only two of the cadets to die.
As soon as he gets the chance … ?
Captain Pike decides there’s only one thing he can reasonably do.
Send each of the cadets a letter: telling them exactly what fate holds in store for them, and that they should avoid going anywhere near a certain J-class ship in seven years time.
The only problem?
Is the warning he gets, from an unexpected visitor.
From himself: from Admiral Pike, several years from his own future.
Finish those letters, says Admiral Pike … and wreck the future.
Captain Pike is — understandably — sceptical.
Until Admiral Pike proves he is who he is, and knows what is to come … by showing Captain Pike the future, the only way he can.
By showing his younger self the future.
With a time crystal the Admiral had been given by the Monks on the Monastery world of Boreth.
This … is going to get complicated …
~≈🖖≈~
“Now,” I hear you ask, “what did you make of the episode, Paul?”
“And what did you make of the series?”
Let’s start with the first question, first, shall we?
Those of us who watch the many shows in the Star Trek franchise will be aware of the Romulans, the cousins of Mr Spock’s Vulcan people, and the antagonists of A Quality of Mercy.
Many of us will have seen the original series of Star Trek: and the original series episode, Balance of Terror, the episode that introduces us to the Romulans.
As those of you who’ve been reading my reviews of Star Trek Strange New Worlds will realise?
The series isn’t afraid to … um … borrow ideas.
Giving a Trek twist to old ideas.
Lift Us Where Suffering Cannot Reach, and All Those Who Wander, are the two examples, there.
The former is reminiscent of Le Guin’s The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas, the latter of Alien.
Both episodes are fantastic in spite of — or possibly because of — that resemblance.
I can see what you’re thinking.
You’re thinking, “Paul … are you telling us A Quality of Mercy is a re-telling of Balance of Terror?”
To put it bluntly?
Yes.
Yes it is: a version told with Christopher Pike taking the place of James T. Kirk.
Indeed, the Romulan Commander’s last words in one are almost identical to the parallel character’s last words in the other.
Is it a good retelling? Is it bringing something new to the table?
I think we can say A Quality of Mercy is very well made:
- The cast put in their usual great performances, Anson Mount in particular.
- Director, Chris Fisher, seems to have done a good job.
- Writers, Henry Alonso Myers & Akiva Goldsman, has given us a well written piece: even if it is a touch derivative of an original series episode.
That last point?
Is possibly one to argue about.
A Quality of Mercy is a very good episode: and, with its twist ending, and insight into Pike as a person, brings plenty of new dishes to the table.
But? As an older fan, I’ve seen Balance of Terror, the Original Series episode A Quality of Mercy is based on.
An episode many newer fans may not have seen.
And, while A Quality of Mercy is a very good story, with one hell of a twist in the ending, it’s a remake of one of the original shows’ best episodes.
A Quality of Mercy is great: but suffers by comparison the original.
A Quality of Mercy.★★★☆
~≈🖖≈~
What about the series as a whole, I hear you ask?
Over the past few months, I’ve caught both the fourth series of Star Trek Discovery, and the second season of Star Trek Picard.
Of the two?
Much as I enjoyed Discovery, it lacked the edge of Picard: and was possibly a little too much like the early years of Star Trek: The Next Generation, a little too fluffy, for my comfort.
It is — with the move to the 32nd Century — having something of a reboot: and doing well with it.
But is taking it’s time.
Picard? By contrast?
Picard’s second season was superb: and very watchable.
If you want me to give you numbers?
I used my star rating system on them.
That saw Picard series two scoring 3.9 stars per episode. With Discovery’s fourth season on 3 per episode..
Strange New Worlds, on the other hand?
Averaged out at 3.4 per episode.
Midway between Picard and Discovery.
That’s going by the numbers.
Episode 1: Strange New Worlds ★★★★Episode 2: Children of the Comet ★★★☆Episode 3: Ghosts of Illyria ★★★☆Episode 4: Memento Mori ★★★☆Episode 5: Spock Amok ★★★☆Episode 6: Lift Us Where Suffering Cannot Reach ★★★★⁺Episode 7: The Serene Squall ★★★☆Episode 8: The Elysian Kingdom ★★★★Episode 9: All Those Who Wanders ★★★★Episode 10: A Quality Of Mercy ★★★☆Average Per Episode: ★★★.4
On a more subjective level?
I’m far more impressed with Strange New Worlds than those figures would imply.
After all, it’s forced me to revise how I score these things: by introducing ★★★★⁺ rating for Lift Us Where Suffering Cannot Reach.
Series one of Star Trek Strange New Worlds is a very impressive start to a very well made series.
The second series is due to be released at some point in 2023.
I’m going to be watching that, as and when: and hope the second series is on a par with the first!
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