Wedding Bell Blues

This whimsical episode gives fans a chance to see the beloved crew off -duty and opening up a bit, but the screenplay by Kirsten Beyer and David Reed is a fantasy that never takes flight.

What unfolds like Spock having a dream of marrying Nurse Chapel instead plays like a weak carbon of the classic Star Trek episode "Charlie X", in which Robert Walker Junior so memorably played a child-like alien who wreaks havoc with the Enterprise performing his often violent whims as a brat with super powers. Several elements of the original are carbon copied here.

But this time it's a Wedding Planner who's the culprit, played in okay fashion by guest star Rhys Darby in a role that cries out for the comic mastery of a Nathan Lane. He creates an alternate reality that traps Spock and conveniently creates rom-com cliches as Spock vies with Chapel's new boyfriend Cillian O'Sullivan.

Spock simply is too stiff to be funny here, and the jokes and pleasures of the over-produced segment are few. A tolerable entertainment, but overall lame.

The problem I have is that episodes are finite for this series. Only a couple more seasons left at 8 episodes a season. So I get pretty annoyed when they WASTE one by rehashing an old episode. Why do they insist or repeating plots? I think it's just laziness. I've seen many good original episodes, so it's not like they can't write new stuff. We need PIKE episodes, not rehashed KIRK episodes! Sure it was well acted and "fun", but people who remember the old episodes probably figured out the plot before 5minites passed. This is a great show, with a great cast. I want all fresh episodes for out limited time left.

Oh dear. Spock is so looking forward to Nurse Chapel returning to the refitted Enterprise after three months away.

Spock has learned to dance and got a valuable gift. Only he has given her time and not been in contact with her for three months.

Anything could had happened in those three months. Nurse Chapel arrives with the renowned Dr Roger Korby and they look like an item

An emotional Spock heads to the bar. Luckily there was no queue for a drink. The new bartender (Rhys Darby) has just the tonic for Spock.

After the action packed series three opener. There was less wham bam in this one. It was more frivolous and fun. Probably original Star Trek fans will get more out of it though.

You may hate it, but it's keeping up a solid tradition of silly Star Trek episodes. After the sheer horror of Hegemony, we all require a salve to heal one's wounds.

This is it.

Let it wash over you and I'm sure the hijinx will make you smile, laugh and maybe spare a sad thought for some of our heroes. Nothing here will get you out of your seat, but my word is it good to see my favourite Star Trek series up and running again and swinging for the fences!

This if you think this is terrible and "no proper Trek" I must ask you to go back through the catalogue and explore some of the frivolous episodes of series gone by.

I did call out the little twist a few times during, so I'm proud of myself also.

It's a silly Spock episode, what could go wrong? After the intense course of emotions from season 3's awesome premiere episode, settle in for a celebration of the Federation's centennial with a few special guests along the way!

In all seriousness, this episode provided a setting for what SNW does best: give Spock his time in the limelight. Focused on his emotions, intelligence, and the choices he makes for himself and the needs of the many, we get to see what kind of Vulcan he truly is. Though it's a bit awkward at first, the evolution of his relationship with a couple of the guest stars is wonderful to watch and insightful to a degree.

Rhys Darby plays a wonderful "Wedding Planner," shall we say, and is a suitable successor to a legacy character that shall remain (full) nameless.

Give it a watch. Star Trek was made to go full throttle in both directions and the two-part season premiere was a wonderful exercise. LLAP🖖