Warning: Spoilers forward for “Unusual New Worlds” Season 2, episode 10
Right here we’re then. After this, it is fairly the look ahead to the subsequent season of any live-action “Star Trek,” not to mention “Unusual New Worlds,” and naturally the continuing WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes will virtually actually additional confound issues. Nonetheless, the excellent news is, season 2 of “Invasion” on Apple TV+ begins on Aug. 23, and we will inform you having watched all of it already, that it is good. Actually good. This second season takes all of the plot strands that did not appear to go anyplace significantly groundbreaking and catapults them into some extremely imaginative locations. A late entry into the competition granted, however a really robust contender for the title of Shock Sci-Fi Summer season Hit.
However we digress. We’re gathered right here at the moment, in any case, to speak concerning the season 2 finale of “Star Trek: Unusual New Worlds” and following one thing of a rollercoaster journey by these final 10 episodes, what did Paramount Plus, Alex Kurtzman and Akiva Goldsman have deliberate for us? And the reply is, additional proof to help the idea that for one cause or one other, this second season was rushed by the writing course of.
Tragically, this finale, entitled “Hegemony,” appears like a lazy lurch over the ending line. That is to not say it wasn’t totally entertaining, however it fell again, retreated if you’ll, to what the chief producers know is protected, in an identical method to how every season of “Picard” mainly follows the identical story template with simply the variables modified to make it seem totally different. On this occasion although, it was the reappearance of the Gorn, the introduction of yet one more legacy character and the choice to make the finale a two-parter in an try and retain your curiosity and purchase Kurtzman, Akiva et al a bit extra time to give you one thing extra authentic. (In the event you’re feeling a bit misplaced and have to catch up, take a look at our Star Trek streaming information on find out how to watch all issues Trek.)
This installment begins off a bit of “Independence Day” then goes all “Assault The Block” earlier than borrowing a bit from “All These Who Wander” (S01, E09) after which lastly offers us our first pre-“TOS” have a look at engineer Montgomery Scott, performed in “Unusual New Worlds” by Martin Quinn and immortalized after all, by the legendary James Doohan. Nonetheless, we should always thank our fortunate stars that the casting director truly selected a local Scotsman to play the position and never a one-trick-pony from Gloucester, so , there’s that.
That stated, the writers have efficiently managed to insert this new chapter of Scott’s historical past into current canon with out having to rewrite something or depend on a portal and create alt-history. You need to surprise, if there is a printed word caught to the wall, within the author’s room, to the left of the fridge, above the espresso machine that claims, “If doubtful, use a portal.”
There isn’t any ignoring the sense that after such a run of wonderful episodes, albeit in a really combined up order, this finale falls only a wee bit flat. In the event you took the entire second season and combined it in with the primary and put the “Decrease Decks” crossover episode (S02, E07) within the first half, bake all of it at 475°F for 20 minutes, you’d find yourself with a tremendous “first season” consisting of 20, largely sensible installments, corresponding to any of the standard sci-fi made within the first decade of this millennia, together with “Battlestar Galactica,” “Stargate: Atlantis” and “Physician Who.”
Though, the very finish scene is sort of entertaining upon reflection … because the USS Enterprise comes beneath fireplace from Gorn assault ships, it turns into clear that the away group — together with La’An, Ortegas, Kirk and M’Benga — whereas making an attempt to flee the colony planet of Parnassus Beta, have been snatched by a transporter beam from an incoming Gorn destroyer.
Blaster fireplace rocks the bridge of the Enterprise and over the deafening cacophony of alarms and explosions, Quantity One shouts to the Captain that they have been ordered to retreat, however he has develop into immobile, virtually frozen in time. He is torn, emotionally and ethically about what to do. Over 100 harmless colonists along with a few of his closest colleagues and crewmates at the moment are captive and may very well be nearly unimaginable to seek out once more, offering they don’t seem to be tortured and killed first. After which there’s the crew of the Enterprise. Nonetheless, his face stays expressionless.
“What are your orders sir?!” Quantity One screams. Any additional delay might end result within the destruction of the Enterprise and the demise of all of these aboard. “Captain! What are your orders?!” She screams once more…
At this level, we fade to black — however, when this scene is replayed initially of the third season premiere, if Pike calmly appears up and responds with, “Activate the Omega 13…” I swear I’ll run and up and down the road bare á la Archimedes.
There are some enjoyable issues to notice, along with the introduction to Montgomery Scott. The Gorn in an setting swimsuit is extraordinarily fascinating and opens up all types of potentialities going ahead into the third season. Though, it must be stated that clearly, all command crew and certainly any Starfleet officer on an away mission, desperately wants some — any — tactical coaching.
Fairly what is going to occur to the away group aboard the Gorn destroyer stays to be seen. Possibly, by some intelligent physiology-altering hypospray, like we noticed within the first season premiere episode, a few Enterprise crewmembers may very well be made to appear to be Gorn and sneak aboard, calling themselves “Chris” and “Devon” like Ed Mercer and Gordon Malloy did in “The Orville” episode “Krill” (S01, E06). Tragically, we most likely have a 12 months to attend to seek out out. However within the meantime, remember to take a look at “Invasion” on Apple TV+.
“Unusual New Worlds” and each episode of virtually each “Star Trek” present (sorry “Prodigy”) at present airing streams completely on Paramount Plus within the US. Internationally, the exhibits can be found on Paramount Plus in Australia, Latin America, the UK and South Korea, in addition to on Pluto TV in Austria, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and Switzerland on the Pluto TV Sci-Fi channel. In addition they stream completely on Paramount Plus in Italy, France, Germany, Switzerland and Austria. In Canada, they air on Bell Media’s CTV Sci-Fi Channel and stream on Crave.
