Star Trek Strange New Worlds Episode 5 — “Charades” — A Review

14th July, 2023: an Introduction.

Wouldn’t you know it?

It’s Friday … again!

Which means, yes;

I’m cremating fish and chips.

The weather’s completely different from what it was.

And an old friend has posted a video … 

At any rate … ?

I’ll be watching that video whilst I eat: then watching “Charades”, the next episode of Star Trek Strange New Worlds, once I’m done with that!

I’ll let you know about “Charades”, tomorrow!

~≈🖖≈~

15th July, 2023: “Charades”.

Episode 5 — “Charades” — opens with the usual summary of earlier episodes.

Then shifts.

To show us Nurse Christine Chapel (Jess Bush) recording her personal log: telling us that — whilst the USS Enterprise is on its way to the planet Vulcan — that a mission is planned to a moon called Kerkhov.

The place was home to the Kerkhovian civilisation: one that seems to have all but vanished.

The scene shifts, after Chapel, M’Benga (Babs Olusanmokun) and Spock (Ethan Peck) share a lift: to show us Lieutenant Spock recording his log.

A log where he notes how daily life is going for him: including how well he’s sharing shipboard life with his colleagues.

And how he’s looking forward to seeing his fiancée, T’Pring (Gia Sandhu).

T’Pring comes with uncomfortable news.

Once the Kerkhov mission is done, it’ll be time for her and Spock to have dinner with her family.

Something that Spock is not looking forward to.

To make matters worse?   Spock finds — during a briefing with Captain Pike (Anson Mount) — that the mission … is going to have Nurse Chapel as a passenger …

Things could get awkward.

And not in a good way!

Especially when the shuttle crashes …

~≈🖖≈~

Now … what did I make of “Charades”?

What did I think … ?

What did I make of the basic plot?

What is that plot?

Let’s answer that last question, so you know.

The crash in the opening episode, turns Spock completely human.

Something Spock can’t tell T’Pring, as it would not help their rocky relationship.

And, given her parents aren’t fond of Spock’s part-human heritage?

Given them the perfect excuse to cancel the wedding!

Spock and company have to impress T’Pring’s family, without revealing his condition!

Not only do we have Spock in a beanie … 

But we have a goofball comedy!

Is it a good comedy, though … ?

I have to say yes: it’s a light, frothy sitcom episode of Star Trek: complete with very progressive mother-in-law jokes.

Granted, I tend to prefer the darker episodes.

Granted, it’s not going to be for everyone.

Granted, T’Pril — T’Pring’s mother — had me thinking of Hyacinth Bucket.

And, granted, the ‘Spock’s turned into a human’ trope could pall: much the the oft repeated transporter accident/holodeck malfunction episodes*.

But … ?

Whilst it’s not quite my thing, “Charades” is a perfectly good episode.

Frankly?

That’s why I’ll be watching the next episode of Star Trek Strange New Worlds — “Lost in Translation” — on Friday, 21st July: and posting my written and video reviews of it on Saturday, 22nd July

I’ll be watching Chapter 24, “The Return”, on 17th July, 2023: and giving you my written and video reviews on the 18th July

I’ll see you then!

“Charades”.

★★★☆

*        It got to be something of a standing joke, for some fans.   The way, whenever the original series needed a sudden plot device, the Transporter broke down.   The Original series episodes, “The Enemy Within”, “Mirror, Mirror” and the Voyager episode, “Tuvix”, are very good examples.

        The other frequently used one … ?   Was a holodeck malfunction.   Look up “The Big Goodbye”, “A Fistful of Datas” and “Our Man, Bashir”!

        It’s amazing what you can do with knackered technology.