I re-watched "Subspace Rhapsody" this afternoon, this time with my (adult) kids. None of them are big Star Trek fans - in fact, I think the only Trek they've seen are maybe some of the TNG movies - but they all love musicals, so I thought I'd give it a shot. I ended up enjoying the episode more my second time through, especially as I had to give some quick context for the various characters as we went through.
Was it the best musical-style episode of TV ever? No, certainly not, but I do think it's easily the best musical-style episode of Star Trek ever.
Given a sample size of one, it is also the worst.
Season 2 episode 1
Very good start. I thought the doctor and nurse was going to make out. I don't recall where the drug they took came from.
Season 2 episode 2
The trial of number one. Another good episode. This concludes the fallout from season one about genetic engineering. I'm not sure if it was the best legal court room space episode. hmmm now that I think about it this might be my least favorite sci fi court episode. Duet, the trial of data, the trial of crystal creature were all better. hmmm Oh I guess it was better than episode of Q putting humanity on trial.
Also thought number one and the lawyer was going to make out.
There are a lot of Star Trek trial episodes. While I am with you that the one in Strange New Worlds isn't the best, it is most certainly in the top 50%. There are so many to pick from. Here are my favorites.
TNG: Measure of a Man - The data one 
TNG: Drumhead - Trying to find the Romulan spy on the Enterprise.
TOS: The Menagerie - Recut of the Cage (Pilot) where Spock is on trial for stealing the Enterprise
TNG: Tribunal - Wesley's friend dies in the academy. "A lie of omission is still a lie"
TNG: Devil's Due - Someone is playing God to planet. This one was dumb but fun.
I kinda dug the musical episode. I enjoyed that the characters were aware (and dumbfounded) by the singing and how they took a typically Star-Trek-We-Are-Scientists approach to it. It was great how well they followed the stereotypical tropes of how a musical usually works. And I thought they did a great job with the
Chapel/Spock love storyline too. They managed to explain why TOS Chapel pines for Spock and explains how she meets her future, not yet but soon to be an android, fiancé. I was really concerned, from a cannon point of view, with that sub-plot 'cause TOS Spock was usually logical to a fault and Ethan has definitely not been portraying Spock that way this, or even the previous, season. I'm very curious to see if he goes full Nimoy for the rest of the series.
I think I also gasped "holy sh*t, that's right!" when:
Kirk tells La'an that he's in a relationship and that his girlfriend is pregnant. A nice call back to Wrath of Khan. Though, IIRC, Wrath of Khan Kirk wasn't aware he had a son?
There are a lot of Star Trek trial episodes. While I am with you that the one in Strange New Worlds isn't the best, it is most certainly in the top 50%. There are so many to pick from. Here are my favorites.
TNG: Measure of a Man - The data one
TNG: Drumhead - Trying to find the Romulan spy on the Enterprise.
TOS: The Menagerie - Recut of the Cage (Pilot) where Spock is on trial for stealing the Enterprise
TNG: Tribunal - Wesley's friend dies in the academy. "A lie of omission is still a lie"
TNG: Devil's Due - Someone is playing God to planet. This one was dumb but fun.
You don't like Court Martial, with the fancy audio processing of heartbeats?
I think I also gasped "holy sh*t, that's right!" when:
Spoiler:Kirk tells La'an that he's in a relationship and that his girlfriend is pregnant. A nice call back to Wrath of Khan. Though, IIRC, Wrath of Khan Kirk wasn't aware he had a son?
He was and knew his name. At some point Carol told Jim to stay away and decided against telling David who his father was.
Spoiler:TOS Spock was usually logical to a fault an...curious to see if he goes full Nimoy for the rest of the series.
I'm far from being a TOS encyclopedia but AFAIK TOS Spock season 1 is still in the process of learning to control emotional responses, whereas yes sure S2, S3, and films Spock is the model of stoicism. So SNW Spock fits right into that, especially as to the reference to him having an emotional puberty in the full-human episode.
Some people forget that Spock smiled in the first pilot of Star Trek.
That pilot isn't Canon though. The Cage is, but I don't think he smiled in that one (I would have to rewatch to be sure). One thing to also remember. Spock is half human and in his early to mid 20s in SNW. T'Pol was in her 60s in ENT.
I’m halfway through SNW S1 and thoroughly enjoying it. Question: is T’pring a character invented for this show, or was she mentioned in TOS or other Treks?
I’m halfway through SNW S1 and thoroughly enjoying it. Question: is T’pring a character invented for this show, or was she mentioned in TOS or other Treks?
From podcast discussion she is canon but not sure if that is from TOS or other media.
That pilot isn't Canon though. The Cage is, but I don't think he smiled in that one (I would have to rewatch to be sure). One thing to also remember. Spock is half human and in his early to mid 20s in SNW. T'Pol was in her 60s in ENT.
Watch it again. Spock does smile in the flashback of the scene above.
I’m halfway through SNW S1 and thoroughly enjoying it. Question: is T’pring a character invented for this show, or was she mentioned in TOS or other Treks?
She was in the TOS episode Amok Time.
[can't seem to get gifs to work here]
kazar wrote:That pilot isn't Canon though. The Cage is, but I don't think he smiled in that one (I would have to rewatch to be sure). One thing to also remember. Spock is half human and in his early to mid 20s in SNW. T'Pol was in her 60s in ENT.
Watch it again. Spock does smile in the flashback of the scene above.
I stand corrected.
I'm far from being a TOS encyclopedia but AFAIK TOS Spock season 1 is still in the process of learning to control emotional responses, whereas yes sure S2, S3, and films Spock is the model of stoicism. So SNW Spock fits right into that, especially as to the reference to him having an emotional puberty in the full-human episode.
That's a really good catch; I totally missed that in "Charades". I just checked Memory Alpha (to look up Sybok because I couldn't remember if we've seen him on SNW yet (we have)) and Spock mentions in "The Serene Squall" that he hasn't undergone Kolinahr yet, but is looking forward to it. So I would assume that between Chapel leaving, getting engaged, getting un-engaged, and returning to the Enterprise, Spock has undergone it and no longer has any feelings for her... or any feelings really.
Leading to a lot of "gaussian girl" Chapel pines over Spock scenes in TOS 
I gotta say, like you I don't have an encyclopedic knowledge of Star Trek, but I feel like SNW has done a really great job using TOS as reference points for plot and character development.
For me, Spock was noticeably more emotional during the TOS era when he was younger so my head cannon was that he doubled down after briefly quitting Starfleet to perform the Kolinahr ritual. He became way less emotional starting in the movies and beyond.
Leading to a lot of "gaussian girl" Chapel pines over Spock scenes in TOS
In my memory, Leila Kalomi is the gaussiest from TOS.
Spock does get emotional with her, but only while Under the Influence.
Trachalio wrote:Leading to a lot of "gaussian girl" Chapel pines over Spock scenes in TOS
In my memory, Leila Kalomi is the gaussiest from TOS.
Spock does get emotional with her, but only while Under the Influence.
Wow, they really doubled down on her, didn't they? Blow-out hair, harsh white back light, AND blur. She's practically glowing in every shot I found
Ok so it seems possible that Kirk seeing a Gorn in TOS really just means it’s the first time Kirk sees a gorn, not breaking canon?
https://screenrant.com/star-trek-strange-new-worlds-spock-gorn-before-kirk/
Ok so it seems possible that Kirk seeing a Gorn in TOS really just means it’s the first time Kirk sees a gorn, not breaking canon?
https://screenrant.com/star-trek-strange-new-worlds-spock-gorn-before-kirk/
Are they not going to just do a reboot TOS? I always assumed that’s where this was headed.
Ok so it seems possible that Kirk seeing a Gorn in TOS really just means it’s the first time Kirk sees a gorn, not breaking canon?
https://screenrant.com/star-trek-strange-new-worlds-spock-gorn-before-kirk/
It's not like Spock and Uhura could have told him while he was fighting one.
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds' season 2 finale may have just solved a 56-year-old question about Star Trek's Gorn.
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While there are concerns that Star Trek: Strange New Worlds breaks Gorn canon with these new revelations, it's making sense of an unanswered question from their first appearance.
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Later in the episode, when Kirk fights the Gorn at the behest of the Metrons, the reptile explains that the colony was an encroachment on their territory. It doesn't, however, explain why it needed to lure the USS Enterprise to the planet. It's possible, therefore, that the Gorn were seeking revenge for what happened on Parnassus Beta several years previously.
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Parnassus Beta is also in Gorn territory, which is why they attacked the planet in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds' season 2 finale. If Captain Christopher Pike (Anson Mount) ends up negotiating a retreat from Gorn space, then this agreement will be rendered null and void by the founding of the Earth observation outpost on Cestus 3. Angered at Pike's betrayal, it would make sense for the Gorn to lure the Enterprise back into their space to seek vengeance for him going back on his word. The only problem is that it's Kirk, not Pike, who is now Captain of the USS Enterprise.
"I know, Spock, I was standing right over there singing and dancing too."
Pike was a better captain.
The finale is the last season would disagree with you. He seemed overwhelmed.
Whoever at Lower Decks thought we wanted to see more of Move Along Home is one sick bastage.
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