Terrarium

This is probably the best episode so far of Season 3. Good themes, some interesting ideas and not too much of the humour that has spoiled a lot of SNW of late. This one seems to have a little more faith in the ideas and execution than more recent episodes. However, Ortega constantly speaking her thoughts gets very annoying. It's like the writers and director felt they needed spell out every single moment rather than thinking the audience might actually be able to work it out for themselves! But explaining everything aside, it's a much better effort all round. Looking forward to the season finale next week!

Some will like it, some will hate it.

The bad: it's ironic that one of the best episodes this season is basically a copy&paste of a story which we've all seen before numerous times in other shows, Star Trek shows included. It's filled with clichés, it's basically pretty unoriginal in it's core. This is a sci-fi show from one of the most influential franchises ever. The writers should be able to do better and come up with new intriguing ideas.

The good: however unoriginal it was, it gave the old story of enemies becoming friends a good fresh look. And really, this episode is what Star Trek has always been about: to tell a good story that is a metaphor for the struggles of humanity. Overcoming fear and distrust of what we don't know, get to know what we don't know yet, value communication over action, make peace, etc. Expand knowledge and the understanding of the universe.

The action in this episode was quite low-key overall, which I found great. Not too much silliness, just the right amount of everything, set in a great atmosphere with great pictures.

If they keep making episodes like this one, I'm sure the show won't disappoint on the long run.

This was a good episode, the "agree"/"disagree" translator was clever and funny. Ortega's running commentary perhaps a bit overdone. This plot harks back to the great but forgotten 80s sci-fi classic movie Enemy Mine with Dennis Quaid and Lou Gossett Jr. The story is of two astronauts from different species who are at war. They are stranded on a barren and dangerous moon and have to work together to survive and become friends. Sound familiar?

A return to form after a few uneven episodes this season. It's clear the writers are drawing inspiration from earlier seasons to recapture those classic Trek vibes, sometimes it really works.

Some Trek staples I noticed:

Unbelievable Starfleet competency: Ortegas pulls off incredible feats of engineering mometimes literally building life saving devices in a cave with a box of scraps. Starfleet officers are supposed to be the absolute best of the best and the show doesn't always highlight this, so newer viewers might find it far fetched. But of course Ortegas can engineer amazing solutions, she's Starfleet.

Wild sci-fi mysteries: We've got a seemingly unexplained wormhole, an impossible planetary system, physics and biology laws being broken left and right... with an explanation for it all by the end.

Moral dilemmas everywhere: Nearly every scene brings ethical questions, and through them we get more insight into Spock, Una, Uhura, and Pike. I liked seeing a new side to Una, she's the source of conflict rather than the usual mediator. Strong character moments all around.

Visual spectacle: Some episodes this season have felt smaller, mostly on ship with even the view screen not having anything to show. This episode changed that with some beautiful, cinematic shots. Maybe they've been saving the budget for something big in episode 10? I hope so.

If I have one complaint, it's that Batel's storyline didn't progress at all. Given the setting, there was room for at least a quick call to Pike so we could see her reaction to the situation-and how her changed circumstances affect her perspective now.

Overall, a solid episode with classic Trek energy throughout.

Was losing interest in the series but this episode brought my interest back. Best episode of the season. The plot was more serious, more syfy, and was more true to the strange new world theme. I think the series should be written to follow this type of plot versus the season's previous episodes so far.