Friday, 21st July, 2023: the Introduction.
Yes: it’s official.
It’s been payday.
So … ?
Frankly, I’ve been tempted to treat myself to fish and chips.
You know, walk up to the nearest chippy, get cod and chips, then head home, and eat.
It would be nice.
But let’s be honest: it’s not the best way of keeping hold of any cash for the rest of the month!
So … ?
I’m doing my own dinner, thanking you: fish … and homemade chips.
On — as you’ve possibly noticed — a Friday.
Which means … ?
For one thing, I’m going to eat.
For another?
I’m going to be watching “Lost in Translation”, the next episode of Star Trek Strange New Worlds: and telling you what I though about it, tomorrow.
That’s when this gets published!
22nd July, 2023: “Lost in Translation”.
Episode 6 — “Lost in Translation” — opens with the traditional summary of earlier episodes.
Then shifts: to show us Ensign Uhura (Celia Rose Gooding) recording her personal log: on Stardate 2394.8.
The USS Enterprise, it seems, has been assigned to Bannon’s Nebula.
The Nebula is special.
It’s both a stellar nursery, and a source of deuterium: something Starfleet uses as fuel.
Captain Pike gets poetic about its role as a stellar nursery: before noticing his comms officer is looking ever so slightly sleepy.
Something that means the Captain has to remind her that’s she’s only supposed to burn the candle at one end.
It’s only when the ship is re-fueling, that the still sleepy Uhura get’s a strange signal.
One that she, subsequently, can’t find a log of.
A log, nor recordings, nor any evidence.
Which — after checking the communications section n in the engine room — is what gets her heading for Sickbay.
There could well be a very good chance she might be going ever so slightly mad …
~≈🖖≈~
Now … what did I make of this episode?
Of “Lost in Translation”?
There’s quite a lot I could be saying, here.
But, can I get a couple of minor points out of the way?
First?
Captain Pike’s wearing a badge!
Yes, I know: every Enterprise crew member’s wearing one.
The Captain’s is just a little fancier: an Starfleet arrow on a black circular background: versus everyone else’s simple arrow.
Another? Is the real world device called the Bussard collector, or Ramscoop.
It’s a (theoretical) device that lets an equally theoretical space ship suck up hydrogen, and turn it into fuel.
It’s something Ortegas activates: when Pike orders her to get fuel for the ship.
Granted, those are both minor details.
But?
They’re nice things to see.
They’re little bits of world building that — along with the details we’re given of Kirk’s family* — fill out the Strange New Worlds version of the Star Trek universe.
With those details out of the way … ?
The basic plot?
Is nothing we haven’t seen before: radically different alien beings are trying to communicate, and doing unintentional damage along the way.
The way it’s done?
Is — to me, at least — both new, and beautiful.
The aliens are multidimensional creatures that can only interact with our universe by possessing deuterium atoms: and trying to communicate by invading Uhura’s mind.
Driving her mad as a result.
To me it’s a novel way of doing things.
Novel: and well done.
As are the performances!
Strange New World’s ensemble cast — much like The Next Generation’s — are a competent, capable, bunch: and that shows on screen.
But?
Paul Wesley as James T. Kirk, is doing a very good job: capturing the character’s famous womanising streak, very well.
But also — as this episode shows us — gives us an idea of what the character’s leadership skills are like.
Very inspirational: as he manages to encourage Uhura into solving her issues, with help from he, and his brother, Sam (Dan Jeannotte).
Solving her issues: and the ship’s.
The real star of the episode … ?
As far as I’m concerned, the real star of the episode is Celia Rose Gooding as Uhura: going all the way from tiredness, to hysterics, to panic, to calm, to solving a problem …
And back to tired, again.
That … ?
Is one hell of a performance.
And a performance that makes “Lost in Translation” something to watch.
~≈🖖≈~
Have I enjoyed “Lost in Translation”?
And will I be watching the next episode?
I think we can say yes: I thoroughly enjoyed “Lost in Translation”!
And yes: I’m going to watching the next episode!
As Paramount’s been playing silly buggers? I’m going to be watching “Those Old Scientists” on Sunday, 23rd July, 2023: and reviewing it on on Monday, 24th July.
In both written† and video forms.
Given “Lost in Translation” was a powerful episode?
I want to see how “Those Old Scientists” does.
~≈🖖≈~
“Lost in Translation”.★★★★
* We weren’t told much of James T. Kirk’s family in the original series: beyond the fact he had a brother called Sam. This episode tells us a little more about how rocky the Kirk brothers’ relationship is. And that their father is still alive. Unlike what’s called the Kelvin timeline Star Trek films, Star Trek (2009), and Star Trek: Into Darkness: where Kirk Sr dies on the USS Kelvin.
I’m assuming that most of the modern Star Trek franchise shows, including Star Trek Strange New Worlds, are set in the original series timeline, rather than the Kelvin one.
† Those links will go live on Monday, 24th July! Bloody Paramount!
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