The introduction of the individual crew members continues in this episode. This time, Una is the focus of the plot and we learn that she is an Illyrian - a genetically enhanced species that looks confusingly similar to a human. And, unsurprisingly, the United Federation of Planets doesn't find genetic augmentation at all funny. And in Starfleet they also have something against genetically superior officers. No pain, no gain. Unfortunately, Una can no longer hide this little secret after being the only one uninfected in a ship-wide virus outbreak. I don't really know what Starfleet has against such a potent immune system. The Admiralty should actually be happy to have officers in its ranks who are immune to unknown viruses and who never report being unfit for duty due to illness.
By the way: How did Una's origins remain undetected for years when Starfleet officers undergo regular medical examinations? The transporter should also have detected something, after all it recognizes the genetic structure of those who are being beamed. She seems to have picked up a few tricks from the movie Gattaca. Maybe she has a doppelganger living in her quarters as well who puts blood and urine samples in her fridge every day.
Although SNW takes place before the other series, they seem to have taken fashion a little more seriously than their Starfleet colleagues in the later series. Pike and his crew beam to an alien planet in stylish leather jackets - probably to make a good impression in the event of first contact with good-looking aliens. In ENT, TNG, DS9 and YOY the uniforms only consisted of more or less tight overalls or jumpsuits. In contrast, the leather jackets don't look quite as ridiculous and give the crew a more professional touch. But of course in SNW there is also beaming to a planet where an ion storm is currently raging. Ion storms are a popular story element in Star Trek anyway. Be it that the transporter doesn't work, shuttles can't land or that communication is disrupted due to ion storms. Or targeting, the UT or whatever. Ion storms are the answer for anything. Strong headache? Ion storms. Keys lost? Ion storms. Forgot the captain's birthday? Ion storms.
Otherwise, this episode is all about secrets and new insights. Una's secret about her origins and the fact that she starts to light up like a Christmas tree when her immune system causes nasty viruses to sizzle before she even has to sneeze. Joseph's secret about his misuse of the transporter in sick bay and his every evening story time about princesses and dragons. And the insight that the Illyrians are not all savage, horrible mutants who unnaturally changed their own genes out of pure egoism and self-interest.
I still think that the floors of this Enterprise have been waxed and polished too much and that an unnecessary number of light sources have been placed all over the ship. The engine room looks like a stylish nightclub. The only thing missing there are colorful cocktails with little umbrellas.
