23rd May, 2024: an announcement.
Right … Whilst dinner’s doing … ?
I’m going to do my usual thing.
Stare off, mournfully, into the middle distance … before I remind you that it’s Thursday.
Which means I’m going to be watching Star Trek Discovery’s latest episode, “Lagrange Points”, tonight.
Then … ?
Telling you about it, tomorrow night!
I’ll see you then.
24th May, 2024: “Lagrange Points”.
Part 1: the summary.
Episode 9 — “Lagrange Points” — opens with a summary of earlier episodes: including a brief shot of the USS Discovery, in the seconds after jumping away from the Breen Dreadnaught.
The scene shifts …
To show us the busy interior of the Federation’s Headquarters: where Saru (Doug Jones) is re-united with President T’Rina (Tara Rosling) of Ni’var … only to notice both the busy period HQ is having, and the deeply worried look on his bride-to-be’s face.
It’s only at a high level meeting with her, and President Rillak (Chelah Horsdal), that Saru finds out exactly what’s happening to the Discovery.
~≈🖖≈~
On the damaged Discovery?
On the damaged Discovery, Captain Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) meets with her First Officer, Commander Rayner (Callum Keith Rennie).
Partly?
To to see how repairs to the ship are going, but also to warn Rayner know that Primarch Tahal, the Breen dictator of Rayner’s home planet, is due in the area.
She wants to make sure they can do their jobs, capturing the Progenitors artefact … but that Rayner will be able to cope.
Reassured of Rayner’s well-being?
She finds there’s only one problem with the ship, a problem Commander Stamets (Anthony Rapp) is keen to point out.
The Discovery’s spore drive … is going to need a lot more time than they’ve got.
~≈🖖≈~
Part 2: Thoughts, and Science.
Now … what did I make of this ninth episode?
Of “Lagrange Points”?
And what the hell is a Lagrange point?
That last question is simple — ish — to answer.
Even for a non-scientist like me.
It’s the place, or places, between objects in space where the gravitational pull from one object equals the pull from another.
There’s several between the Earth and the sun, for example.
And, if I’ve understood it, correctly?
You can put a satellite, there, and have it stay there for a very long time: it’s a stable place to put things.
Indeed, the James Webb Telescope is sitting on Earth’s L2 Lagrange point, the one that’s behind the Earth.
The reason Lagrange points are important to the episode?
Is because the Progenitor device the Breen and the Discovery are after?
Is splat-bang on the main Lagrange Point between two large black holes!
Isn’t science wonderful!
~≈🖖≈~
Part 3: More Thoughts.
All of the technobabble makes “Lagrange Points” sound more complicated than it is.
It’s not: not really.
It’s a good ol’ fashioned heist movie: and follows something of a traditional form.
It gives us the set-up: the Breen getting their hands on something the Federation wants.
It shows us the planning: where Captain Burnham plans the job, assigning roles to each of her team. (She and Book (David Ajala) on one team, Rhys and Adira (Patrick Kwok-Choon and Blu del Barrio) on the other.)
And it shows us the job, itself.
A job where our heroes have to sneak into a Breen ship, disguised as Breen, with no idea of Breen culture, and with nothing but their wits, a universal translator, and some of the funniest dialogue I think I’ve seen in an episode of Star Trek, to help them.
Captain Burnham’s “Nobody likes a disgusted scion” got me laughing!
Frankly?
Despite the episode reminding me of some scenes in Daleks’ Invasion Earth 2150 A.D.? Especially the one where Bernard Cribbins is disguised as a Roboman?
“Lagrange Points” is that rarity of an episode.
Fun, exciting, witty …
And — much like the Deep Space Nine Episode, “Badda-Bing, Badda-Bang”? — one hell of a heist!
~≈🖖≈~
Part 4: Over and Out!
With all that said … ?
Did I enjoy “Lagrange Points”?
Did I feel this is a fun, exciting, episode: with a cliff hanger ending that leaves me looking forward to “Life, Itself”, next week?
You bet your body parts!
I’ll be watching that episode of Star Trek Discovery — “Life, Itself” — on Thursday, 30th May: and posting my written and video reviews of it on Friday, 31st May.
Between now and then?
I’ll be watching “73 Yards” on Saturday, 25th May: and posting my written and video reviews of it, by Sunday, 26th May.
I’ll see you, when I see you!
“Lagrange Points”★★★★
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