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STP S3 E4: Forget All That Weird Shit on the Stargazer
Episode 4, “No Win Scenario,” made me sad.
For the first time since the CBS reboot of Star Trek in 2017, we got an episode that successfully did what a good Star Trek episode should do: it was exciting, it advanced the plot of the story, it was tied together thematically, it tugged at heart-strings, it had a moral message, and it even ended with a pivotal character moment providing the audience an ounce of sympathy for a generally unlikable cast member.
Can you imagine if Star Trek had been producing episodes and shows that were at this level for the past 7 years? Because that, that question right there, is the at the heart of all the criticisms, all of the negative reactions, and all of the vocal charges of “not real Star Trek.” We can overlook inconsistencies, we can overlook weird language choices, we can overlook all the minor things that come with making a TV show. As long as you make it Star Trek.
They finally made Star Trek. They finally did the one thing the audience and fanbase has wanted them to do. This episode is receiving effusive praise, and in some ways it’s warranted (we’ll talk about this more in a second). Many are claiming it’s restored their faith in the franchise, or at the very least, made them happy that Star Trek is back. But thinking about this episode just makes me sad… what…
