I was immediately excited to see a Chalnoth show up. I thought LDS could have some fun with a species that is, at least according to “Allegiance”, completely lawless trying to do science.
The bit about the Chalnoth not trusting Starfleet scans because they’re too nuanced and through I thought was good, but the rest of the b-plot after that didn’t really work for me. Maybe if Coqqor had actually engaged in the Mark Twain conflict resolution strategy. That would have been fun.
Fortunately the a-plot was really strong on this one.
Yeah, I don’t want to rewrite the episode too much, because that’s not what I’m here for, but what Rutherford and Boimler showed up on the bridge, still struggling to get their Twain cosplay off? The episode already had Rutherford decrying how complicated vests are. They get called to the bridge, and they’re still half in costume when they interrupt Freeman’s negotiations with Coqqor and he demands an explanation. They stumble over one another trying to provide context for who Twain is, and that they were in an argument, but by both engaging with the character they were able to sort out their differences. The camera pulls in tight on Coqqor’s face as his eyes narrow, and after a pause he says, “Show me.”
Freeman’s willing to entertain anything at this point but isn’t convinced. However, Coqqor really gets into the character. After some coaching from Boimler and Rutherford, Freeman is able to reach an agreement with Coqqor, and in addition to scanning access, they agree to a cultural exchange. They give Coqqor the Cerritos’ library of Twain writings, including a printing of “A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court” that’s been in Boimler’s family for generations, but he’s willing to part with for the sake galactic diplomacy. Coqqor then immediately eats the book.