Episode Discussion | Star Trek: Strange New Worlds | 2x07 "Those Old Scientists"

LoglineAn accident while investigating a time portal sends Ensigns Beckett Mariner and Bradward Boimler through time from the 24th century, and Captain Pike and his crew must get them back where they belong before they can alter the timeline.

Written by Kathryn Lyn & Bill Wolkoff

Directed by Jonathan Frakes

Hogger85b ,

I wonder how many times crew get blackout/asleep and for a joke their mates put them in the holodeck for "computer end programme" to be a wake up meme.

polymorphist_neuroid ,

I’m still giddy about this episode. Possibly the best thing I’ve ever seen.

One thing I noticed particularly in this episode is how respectful both SNW and LD are of canon and fandom in general - the bit about not all Orions being pirates, for example. I know it originates w/Tendi from Lower Decks, but just in the context of this episode they take the one-dimensional nature of the Orions from TOS, poke a little fun at it, but then make it about the bias that the Federation/Star Fleet has against a culture they really don’t understand. The SNW writers effortlessly take what could be considered a flaw or one-dimensional writing from TOS and actually use it to flesh out the ST universe, all while telling a great story.

HardlightCereal ,

Some Orions haven’t been pirates for 5 years!

felixxx999 ,

Fine Fine episode Why are my eyes so big?? The Stafleet logo on the soles of his shoes. Mariner doing her double thumbs up. Her rolled up sleeves being slightly lighter red.
Enterprise love! Why do they talk so loud? Lol. The OPENING CREDITS! With that sucking alien. Glad they didn’t have them retreat from danger.

letThemPlay , (edited )

Absolutely loved this episode, Boimler getting wrapped in the cables when jerry-rigging the sensors had me in tears; and the Riker as he swung his leg over the saddle brilliant bit of improv made even funnier knowing Drakes directed this.

They managed to tone down the lower deckers slighter whilst still having their full personalities come through.

Pikes getting more exacerbated with them throughout the episode was well done, and the amount of physical comedy I’m running out of superlatives for this episode.

It was just brilliant, easily my favourite of the current era.

Edit. Just wanted to add, loved seeing the LD uniform in love action; thought it translated really well.

MaxHardwood ,

I loved it. I was ready to be annoyed they didn’t do a LD animation style intro sequence but they nailed it; nacelle monster and all. Same for the ending; I was hopeful they would do the end scene LD style and again they just nailed it.

Captain_Ender ,

Small note I LOVE that they're extending the "not all Orions are pirates" theme!!! LD did such a great job demystifying a race of people with Ensign Tendi and it only makes sense that their people have always been more than just a stereotype even during the TOS era. Was cool to see Boimler help change that perception with the Enterprise crew and confirmed when the Orion science captain saying "that's all we wanted" about being seen as explorers just like Star Fleet!

samus12345 ,
@samus12345@lemmy.world avatar

Apparently their visit back in time was always baked into this timeline. Explains why Temporal Investigations didn’t get involved. Pretty cool that Tendi, through Boimler, had a hand in building the foundation for better relations between the Federation and Orions.

polymorphist_neuroid ,

Yes! Boimler is a great example of an ally here - he tells Pike, who he spends all episode worshiping, directly and politely that his bias against Orions is wrong.

theothersparrow ,
@theothersparrow@lemmy.one avatar

An extremely fun episode.

One thing that jumped out at me was the adjectives used: “scientists, explorers, adventurers.” The episode reinforced what Starfleet as an organization and Trek as a concept are all about.

GaiusGornicusCaesar , (edited )
@GaiusGornicusCaesar@startrek.website avatar

The episode was really good. I like the appearance of the Orion Scout Ship we see in “Journey to Babel”, one of my favorite ships. It may raise some slight continuity errors, but who cares. Nice ship, nice episode, nice show. Probably one of the best episodes of Trek I’ve seen.

Calanon ,

Oh man, I really loved this episode. Very fun. Kinda sad we didn’t get to see Tendi and Rutherford live action though. Would be great to see maybe some of the SNW crew end up on the Cerritos…

Captain_Ender ,

In The Break Room it is Tawny and Jack heavily suggest they hope they get to return to the set of SNW. That with Pike repeatedly like "please don't break things" suggests the two crews will run into each other again... I'm hoping Enterprise crew accidentally find themselves on the Cerritos next time!

triktrek ,

Also, at the end of the LD Season 4 trailer, Mariner and Boimler mentioned something about “the Pike thing we are not supposed to talk about”. Maybe there will be some more LD/SNW developments.

triktrek ,

I hope the Enterprise crew gets to walk around yelling “Upper Decks! Upper Decks! Upper Decks!”

bappity ,
@bappity@lemmy.world avatar

THAT WAS SO GOOOOOOOODDDDDD!!! Couldn’t stop smiling through that whole episode!!
They were perfect for their roles in live action as well. Love how they kept their cartoony energy.

lagomorphlecture ,

When they’re in the corridor and Boimler husslea off, and you see him walking a crazy walk in the background, that really cracked me up.

FormerGameDev ,

Section 31 speed walking!

triktrek ,

You know the way Boimler was crawling under the communications panel, with his right legs at a 90 degree angle. It was just so perfect embodiment.

Navi ,

What an absolutely fantastic episode. Loved every second of it! As soon as it finished I just wanted to watch the whole thing again (but couldn’t because of stupid work)

triktrek ,

Did you not learn anything from Mariner? Work is gonna be there still five 45 minutes from now.

teft ,
@teft@startrek.website avatar

Pelia is quoting Carey Grant when she talks to Boimler. I thought that was neat.

I pretended to be somebody I wanted to be until finally I became that person. Or he became me.

guru_meditation ,

This is truly the best Star Trek episode, bar none. Hadn’t had goosebumps like this since watching “All Good Things…” back in 1994.

Tired8281 ,

Holy smokes, I can’t believe how awesome that thing was that I just watched. I’m awestruck at the talent it must have taken to pull it off so perfectly.

zpm ,
@zpm@lemmy.world avatar

I enjoyed it, fun and different and the ending did make me laugh with Spock’s arm. I found I was less invested in the story as I was focused on the character interactions. Overall, I’m fine with it and it didn’t have to be anything that is not trying to be.

triktrek ,

I didn’t quite get the reference with Spock’s arm. Was this supposed to reference something in previous Trek?

zpm ,
@zpm@lemmy.world avatar

I don’t think so, I think it’s just a joke about him doing things as a cartoon version he couldn’t do in real life, and also him tripping balls.

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