September 17, 2025 • 39 mins
On "Phasers Set To Stun," we recognize the popularity of all things Star Trek, with a look at the television shows, animation, movies, and much more. On this week's episode, our crew continues their conversation about the third season of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. The divisive season finale is here! Join us for a recap of episode 10, New Life and New Civilizations!
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For exclusive episodes and content, send some latinum to our Patreon here! You can sign up for a FREE 7-day trial, or sign up for a free membership to get limited access!
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
Space the Final Frontier. Join us for a bold conversation
our prime directive to recap our favorite Star Trek shows,
both new and old, to engage and debate about all
(00:23):
things Trek. Prepare to energize with Phasers Set to Stunt.
Speaker 2 (00:40):
Welcome back to a new episode of Phasers Set to Stun,
where we could continue to show our love for everything
Star Trek in this ongoing series from a film by
podcast which focuses on every system of the expanding Star
Trek universe by covering television, movies, animation, directors, merchandise, and
much much more. Plotting your course on this voyage of
(01:01):
the USS Enterprise is your Core Trek crew. I'm Wayne Whited,
I'm David Burns.
Speaker 3 (01:07):
And I'm Skylefman.
Speaker 2 (01:09):
And today we must talk about Season three, episode ten,
the season finale of Star Trek Strange New Worlds titled
New Life and New Civilizations written by Dana Horgan and
Davey Perez and directed by Maja Bervillo. So at this
point forward, it's red alert, folks. There are spoilers ahead.
(01:29):
If you haven't seen this episode yet, you really need
to stop and being yourself to the nearest view screen
and catch it on Paramount Plus, then come back and
rejoin us for this discussion. So, Scott, why don't you
give us the short summary for the episode.
Speaker 3 (01:43):
I'll give it a shot. There's a lot of winding
through this one. A celebration of Captain Bettel's promotion is
cut short when the Enterprise hears from Doctor Corby, who
is visiting Skygowe, a distant civilization that worships the evil
Vesda as gods. They also learned that the Vesda, formerly
trapped in the transporter buffer, has somehow appeared right in
front of Doctor Korby. Enterprise makes its way to Corby
(02:06):
on Skygowen to investigate, and Vesda, in the form of
events in Gamble, hatches a plot to set the other
Vesta free to possess everyone on Skygwen as a vessels
and spread chaos throughout the universe. Meanwhile, Betel comes to
the realization that her destiny is to become the warden
that keeps the Vesda imprisoned. Betel battles Gamble in the
Vesda prison, gets a glimpse of a life what might
(02:28):
have been with Pike and the family they would build,
and just before Betel surrenders to her fate, losing her hmanity,
humanity forever. She has a brief moment to say goodbye
to Captain Pike. It's a strange end to the season,
but one that's worth discussing for sure.
Speaker 2 (02:44):
All Right, so this episode has kind of split the
fandom down right in the center. Like a lot of
the episodes, but this one seemed to me more than most.
Let's find out how we liked it. What do you
guys think?
Speaker 4 (02:58):
I like the music web as from season two better
if that tells you anything.
Speaker 2 (03:02):
Oh.
Speaker 4 (03:03):
Ouch, this this felt like a series finale, not a
season finale.
Speaker 5 (03:09):
It was I did not like it at all.
Speaker 4 (03:14):
This episode had elements of it trying to be the
Interlight from the next generation. It felt like we were
going into the nexus of Star Trek generations at times,
and I'm sorry, I'm not a fan of this finale.
I thought it was flat. I felt we were let down.
I mean this this season. I mean, we'll get talk
(03:34):
about season a little bit later, but it just felt
like we had a lot of really good episodes in
the season and I knew going. I felt something about
three quarters away through the season that like, I'm like,
we're really not building up to anything very much, and
I knew they were going to give us a resolution
to Betel, but even Betel's resolution, I felt like, really,
(03:55):
that's what we're going to do with her.
Speaker 5 (03:58):
Okay, sure, fine, let's move on.
Speaker 4 (04:01):
I'm glad the finale's done and I can't wait to
see season four.
Speaker 5 (04:04):
But man, not a fan of this episode.
Speaker 3 (04:08):
Yeah, I mean, I gotta admit I'm feeling the same way,
disappointed because we've been talking about not that they had
to pursue anto the theories that we came up with,
but there's a lot of directions we thought this could go,
and this is certainly not one that I expected. It felt.
It felt like at about twenty minutes in, when there's
(04:29):
talk about like destiny and all this other kind of stuff,
it was really really feeling odd. There are aspects of
certain other series in the start our franchise that go
in this direction, and it always feels a little weird
because when they get into like higher level mysticism and
things like this, it just seems off. The tone just
(04:53):
seems off, especially considering where they seem to be going
the entire season. It seemed like the are way too
willing to accept this whole idea that Bettella's destined to
become the Beholder, and you know, thoughts of like, well,
I'm going to be a vessel for good that's fighting
(05:13):
against you know, the definition of evil. When they get
that kind of big and that kind of broad, it
just feels like biting off more than they can chew.
I liked the Chef Pike kind of semi future that
we got, but it didn't have the same kind of
surprise element that things like Interlight had. It didn't really
(05:35):
make you think. The whole time you knew that it
was like, all right, this is a dream sequence. The
knock at the door is obviously him being beckoned into
the present day, real world whatever, So you knew that
it wasn't real. You knew that it was going away.
There were aspects of it that were well written, but
then ultimately kind of the resolution just felt weird.
Speaker 2 (05:57):
Yeah, I'm conflicted with this episode two, more more so
than what I was earlier this season with another episode.
I just well, first let me say that this this
just isn't the season finale I thought we were going
to get. I don't know what exactly I was expecting,
but it wasn't this. I know that this was not
on my radar. It's just it's just not how I
(06:20):
thought but Tell's story would play out. I think that's
the biggest problem I have with it. You know, I
just didn't think that that was the direction it was going,
or for that matter, with Instant Gamble and the VESDA,
I didn't think that's the way that story was. And
I'm not extremely happy with what we got. You know,
(06:42):
I don't think it. I mean, it's not a bad
episode in my opinion, but it's not like it's definitely
not the best. It's definitely not even in the top
five or six of the season.
Speaker 1 (06:55):
You know.
Speaker 2 (06:55):
I applaud the producers for trying for giving us a
season finale that delivers something different, because you know, the
the last two season finales used legacy characters or alien
races or something, so you know, I just I don't know.
I I you know, the writers had come out and
(07:17):
said that they had written this as a series finale,
and which that explains why you didn't have a cliffhanger.
But I'm really glad that that didn't happen, because, you know,
as a season finale, I'll accept it, but if this
was a series finale, I would have been completely baffled
and probably a little bit angry from the whole thing.
(07:38):
I just I don't know. I guess when we first
saw the Vesta back in through the Lens of Time,
I had high hopes that, you know, the series was
creating a new Battie, a really interesting Batty for strange worlds,
and I think I even mentioned that, you know, it
felt like an ongoing story that would carry on maybe
(07:59):
for the XT couple of seasons. But this feels like
an end of that story, and we still know very
little about that race and what they can do. It
just it seems like just a horrible missed opportunity for
a great what could have been a great storyline that
would have been original interesting. You know, I hope we
(08:19):
see them again, but you know, I hope they didn't
just just throw them away on this episode, but you know,
I fear they may have. And and speaking of throwing away,
what was the point of even having in sant Gamble there?
It just felt wrong. I mean, you know, he he
came comes in and then he's defeated almost immediately. It
just seemed hardly worth even bringing him back.
Speaker 5 (08:41):
I don't.
Speaker 2 (08:43):
I'm with you guys and this I think over the
last two episodes that we've reviewed, I think this is
the only episode that we both or all three of
us kind of agree with. It just didn't work.
Speaker 3 (08:53):
It just felt like a lot of wasted potential, Like
in the audition, like why did Gamble come back? Why
was am Benga in the portal? Because it seemed like
we had, you know, an interesting setup with his backstory,
an interesting kind of connection there. He had, you know,
a brave moment certainly when he was ready to just
end his own life to stop gambling his tracks. But
(09:16):
then it just seems like he's kind of cast to
the side when the Vesda is able to you know,
attack the Beholder. It seems to have to you know,
spend a lot of time and a lot of build
up doing it, when it seems like it would want
to just you know, be a little bit more persistent
at chipping away at it. And it seems like they've
(09:39):
built up such an interesting character with Betel to basically
have her stand as like this statue for the rest
of time. It seems like a wasted potential. I would
have liked to have seen betel Be, you know, a
character that's related but knowing that she's got the promotion,
has some tension about her being distant and Pipe being
(10:03):
distant and having to face that future together. It's interesting,
we got to see it, but it's kind of waste
of potential for that kind of tension to go away.
If it was written as a series finale. It just
seems like maybe they should have taken the time to say, like, nope,
we're locked in it for two more seasons. Let's go
ahead and dig in and make this something different.
Speaker 2 (10:24):
Yeah, and David, you were right too about.
Speaker 5 (10:28):
It.
Speaker 2 (10:28):
Definitely was not a I like what they were doing
with Pike, and I understand what they were doing, but
it was so much like The Interlight and I'm sorry,
the Interlight is ten times better. Oh yeah, you know,
I also got you know, I also thought about Startup
Generations too, which even that was that little bit there
was done better. Just like I said, I understand what
(10:49):
they're doing, but I just with everything that happened around it,
I just can't say that one thing redeemed the episode.
Speaker 4 (10:57):
I think when when we first realized what was going on,
that they were back at his house and stuff, like that.
I was like, oh, look we're in the nexus. That
was a ma immediately thought, yeah, we're in the Nexus.
Speaker 5 (11:06):
I'm like, okay, cool. Of course it wasn't.
Speaker 4 (11:09):
When it drug on you realized what was going on.
But I mean, I agree Scott that this villain was horrible.
I'm sorry, and this is no put down to Gamble
in the actor. I felt like this villain I will
equal to the tar villain that killed Tasha y Are
because it is a horrible.
Speaker 5 (11:28):
Villain in this film.
Speaker 4 (11:30):
And me this episode and another thing, I think, when
I look back now at this season, I should have
seen the warning signs this was coming because all the
bottle episodes we.
Speaker 5 (11:42):
Had in this season, we really didn't have a overawe.
Speaker 4 (11:47):
Arcing season going on here story in this season, with
the exception of Patel, we didn't. We had a lot
of bottle episodes, and with that happening that this is
what we get for the finale and we should have
it coming.
Speaker 5 (12:00):
To be honest with you, did.
Speaker 2 (12:02):
Either one of us did any of us actually think
this is the direction oftell was going?
Speaker 5 (12:06):
No, No, not at all, not at all.
Speaker 4 (12:09):
Now, now, maybe maybe, just maybe, if they'd given us
a two parter for this and and gave a.
Speaker 5 (12:16):
Little bit more room.
Speaker 4 (12:18):
Maybe it might have worked, Yeah, but I still don't
think it would have with where they went with Batel
and the villain they gave us. You know, I'm I
always try to find good stuff in episodes, and there
are some good things in this episode.
Speaker 5 (12:32):
I absolutely love the spot and Kirk stuff.
Speaker 4 (12:35):
When he finally tells him call me Jim, I love
that and I felt it deep down in my in
my bones.
Speaker 5 (12:40):
Yeah, I'm using that pun, but I felt it.
Speaker 4 (12:43):
You know that that relationship is going further. But as
an episode, man so let down.
Speaker 2 (12:52):
Yeah, I agree, I mean there was there are some
good bits about it. I do like even though it's
a copy of the Intererlte, I do like what they
did and their idea of doing it, and I thought
they'd be acting. The actors were fantastic, especially especially Anson Mount.
He did a phenomenal job in this episode because you know,
his character was going through a lot. But it's just
(13:14):
they're just not up there to redeem the whole thing.
And I you know, David, you mentioning that making maybe,
I mean, if they made this a two parter to
be continued, I don't know. Maybe they could have come
up with something else that could have made more sense.
Speaker 5 (13:27):
I don't, I don't know. I don't.
Speaker 2 (13:30):
Like I said, I'm conflicted with this epide.
Speaker 4 (13:32):
It definitely pales in comparison to the finale we got
last year year, with the last season, I should say
without question, yeah, And it's just, man, it's just I
don't know what they were thinking in this, that this
was the way to go.
Speaker 5 (13:47):
I don't, I don't know. I'm so confused, I really am.
Speaker 3 (13:50):
Almost Both finales we've got up to this point give
us a lot to talk about, think about, and anticipate,
and this one, I'm just anticipating the canuation of the
series and knowing that, you know, I've got faith in
the creative team behind it that they're going to take
it into a better direction. But it's it's it's tough
(14:12):
when you've got, you know, you're trying to advocate for
a show that you know there's doing really really well
to have something that kind of throws us off. I
feel like what I was hoping for, you know, and
I don't need to see Bettel turn into a Gorn,
but it did seem like there might have been a
little bit more depth there, especially because everything we've been seeing,
(14:35):
everything that's been teased, points to the Gorn, nothing necessarily
points to this whole Beholder thing, So it seems like
it could have gone that way. It seems like the
Vezda could have been drawn out into kind of like
the you know, the puppet masters behind the scenes that
have been orchestrating a bunch of little things that are
going wrong. I don't know, it just surprised me. And
(14:58):
it's like, as soon as I I heard them talk
about destiny and I'm supposed to be Beholder and all
this other kind of stuff, and she had like the
stars in her eyes and things like that. There were
just several little things that made me start to check
out bit by bit, and then I was just kind
of waiting for it to be over to see where
I was going to. I was actually hoping that at
the very end there would be some kind of twist
(15:20):
that would keep us talking and thinking about the season
until we get more.
Speaker 4 (15:28):
But I will say, this is the first episode when
you said you checked out, This is the first episode
that I checked out about halfway through it, like I
had it on. But it got to the point that
it became background noise.
Speaker 2 (15:40):
I was the same way, exactly the same way. I'm
glad both of you brought that up. I just about
halfway through, I'm like, you know, I'm losing interest. And
I kept on watching it, and of course I watched
it again for this podcast for the notes, but it
just didn't hold me like the rest of the episodes
this season. The whole thing reminds me so much of
the third Sees A Discovery, where I loved every episode.
(16:03):
I thought it was an incredible idea. The build up
was fantastic, but the last episode of the season was
such a huge, huge letdown, so much that I almost
stopped watching the entire series. I'm not gonna stop watching
this one, so I am looking forward to next season.
Speaker 5 (16:17):
I love these.
Speaker 2 (16:17):
Characters too, but uh, it's it's difficult to to after
following for ten weeks, well nine weeks, uh, this season,
to have to to end here and wait another eleven
twelve months for the next episode.
Speaker 4 (16:35):
At least it's only eleven or twelve months. It's not
like the last year. Yeah, yeah, you know, And I
know they'll rebound. I know they will, Oh yeah, you know.
It's but you know, and I don't blame this on
the actors the cast, because they're all phenomenal.
Speaker 5 (16:49):
Whatever you give them, they're going to give.
Speaker 4 (16:51):
They're going to give one hundred and they always do.
And and there's again, there's so many moments in here
that I laughed. I laughed at Gotti when he when
he spoke as Pellia and capitals, Like, would Pellias ever
say that as a vampire?
Speaker 5 (17:07):
It's not like he was a vampire.
Speaker 4 (17:09):
Uh, you know, I mean there were some funny things
in this episode, and then the whole ending too, like
I kind of like hit it?
Speaker 5 (17:16):
Is this a hit it moment?
Speaker 3 (17:18):
You know?
Speaker 4 (17:18):
And Erica was like, you know, I like hit it
and when he basically told her, you know, go, you know,
go go out, go as fast as you want.
Speaker 2 (17:25):
But overall, yeah, no, that that ending. The final scenes
of the episode, though, did did interest me a little
bit in the fact that now they've got what new
charts with lots and lots of new planets to explore.
You know, I'm hoping that it seemed that first of all,
that that scene seemed like a little tack on scene.
(17:47):
I think they added that when they realized that series
was gonna go on for another two years, but you know,
it gives me a lot of hope for next season
that we're going to see a lot of original stuff.
I love the continuity ideas, I love of seeing things
from Star Trek, but I also like the new ideas
of it, and I'm hoping this brings a whole bunch more.
Speaker 5 (18:04):
Yeah, let's put this behind us and move on.
Speaker 3 (18:06):
Yeah, speaking of speaking of tact on, not to lead
the Witness, but I do want to kind of ask
a resident doctor who Megafan, your opinion about Pelly is Lyne.
Speaker 5 (18:21):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (18:22):
I thought it was funny.
Speaker 5 (18:24):
Yeah, and I'll.
Speaker 2 (18:25):
Mention that in Easter Eggs too, got a little more detail.
But yeah, yeah, you know, I think I think it's funny.
Speaker 5 (18:31):
I did, I do?
Speaker 2 (18:32):
I mean, I like, I love the ideas as a
doctor grew fan, I love those little callbacks to other series.
Speaker 3 (18:38):
Yeah. Yeah, I'll leave it at that.
Speaker 2 (18:44):
All right. So, now that we've given our thoughts and
opinions on the episode, Uh, let's take a look at
the characters themselves. Which character do you think shying the
most this week?
Speaker 5 (18:53):
David?
Speaker 4 (18:54):
I mean, as much as I want to give, I
hated where they took her character, I'm still going with
Betel on this one. You know, she still put her
all into this and having to go through that she
didn't have a choice of what her destiny and I'm
using air quotes here of what it's going to become,
and she needed to say goodbye to Pike.
Speaker 5 (19:15):
I liked the whole dialogue between the two.
Speaker 4 (19:18):
Of them, you know, having kids and all that kind
of stuff, and the makeup that they did on two
of them when they were both very elderly.
Speaker 5 (19:24):
I thought that was extremely well done.
Speaker 2 (19:26):
Yeah, it was.
Speaker 5 (19:28):
So I've got to go.
Speaker 4 (19:29):
With Patel on this one. So even though I don't
like what they did with her character, I still think
she shined Scott.
Speaker 3 (19:36):
Yeah, I absolutely agree, and I mean, you know, knowing
that it's the last time we're possibly going to see her,
maybe in a cameo later. I got to give credit
to Melanie Scrafano, the actress that plays Captain Betel, I
think has consistently done a great job. I think this
(19:59):
is no different despite you know, not necessarily agreeing with
the direction of the story of the dialogue. I think
she did a great job, especially in the Chef Pike sequences.
It seemed like they were genuinely a married couple. I
like the fact that they gave Patel the or Patel
(20:22):
the the chance to be able to give Chris that
life that they never thought that they would get. And
I thought it was a beautiful moment when he you know,
walks up to his apron later and kind of holds
it up and then kind of lays it down with
the blank space. You see the absence there and it
pulls your hearts drings. So that's a Captain battel.
Speaker 2 (20:42):
Well, I'm going to give this to Captain Pike because
throughout this season I've always felt that Pike has been
kind of under us. You know, there have been a
couple of episodes whereas he's hardly even appeared in. But
you know, here in this episode, he really does shine
out in my opinion, you know, despite the script that
(21:03):
they're working with Danson, Mount does give an incredible performance
and could be, in my opinion too, one of his
best performances of the season. You know it the episode
put did put Pike in some really emotional situations. You know,
he faced a lot of hard questions, especially you know,
the type of life that he would lead or or
never lead.
Speaker 5 (21:23):
I guess due to.
Speaker 2 (21:24):
His future accident, but you know, his time, that scene,
the vision scene would would tell is definitely some of
the episode's strongest scenes. And he just does an incredible
job performing this. So I have to give it his
Pike and answer and mount for his performance. Now, if
you have any choice to be any character that appeared
(21:46):
in this episode, do we want to be any character
that appeared in this episode? But all right, let's pick one.
Which one would you like to be? In Why Scott
you begin this one?
Speaker 3 (21:58):
I'd go with Chef Pike because despite the heartbreak of
you know, not being able to live that life, he
still got to experience it. He still got to share
that time with Battel. I wasn't necessarily clear on whether
they both were kind of living an entire lifetime in
(22:21):
a condensed space of time. But if he did, he
was living the life that he always wanted. It seemed
like there was enough enough things where it didn't feel
like for the man who has everything, where everything seemed
a little too idyllic or a little too good.
Speaker 4 (22:42):
So I'm going to go with Corby two reasons. Reason
Number one is he is basically space Indiana Jones, and
number two, he gets to locked lips with Chapel.
Speaker 5 (22:54):
So just get right to it, and I'm gonna get
right to it. That's right.
Speaker 4 (22:59):
Yeah, uh so, I mean he had to suffer a
little bit, but uh yeah, definitely, Corby.
Speaker 2 (23:04):
I'm again, I'm going to choose Captain Pike because this
episode was a really important point in his life and
he's been given an incredible gift from Betel the memories
of a happier, longer life, which is something that he
didn't have before. You know, he knew that his he
knew how his life was going to end, as you know,
(23:25):
very soon with the accident, and that he'd end up
in that hover chair blinking, you know, as a one
life or no or two for yes, you know, for
the rest of his life. And that's I mean, that's
gonna be a really depressing weight on your head, knowing
that you know, this is where it's going to go.
You know, you know, I'm just kind of you know,
counting the days down until that happens. But now now
(23:46):
he's been able to give you know, he has another idea,
another an alternate life. You know, that this life that
he always wanted in his head. So now that you
know everything that happens afterwards is just you know, extra
now and that even when he's in the chair, you know,
he can look back and remember this life that he
had with Mattel, And I think that's wonderful. I think
I think that's probably the good thing that came out
(24:10):
of this episode is now Pike has a little bit
different outlook of his ending.
Speaker 3 (24:16):
Yeah, it's good call.
Speaker 5 (24:18):
Yeah, yes, all right.
Speaker 2 (24:19):
Now we're gonna dive deep into the episode and see
if we can pull out any Easter eggs. And there
wasn't too many this week. But did you two, either
one of you find anything.
Speaker 4 (24:29):
I just got the uh am calling Jim for the
first time, trying to call it Jim.
Speaker 5 (24:34):
That's about all I caught. Scott.
Speaker 3 (24:36):
Yeah, I mean, the only thing was what I mentioned
before about Pellya's mentioning a time traveling doctor. Although what
I thought was kind of interesting is was she trying
to kind of like stop herself from saying time traveling
and then say traveling doctor instead.
Speaker 2 (24:55):
Oh, I got the impression that she started to saying
it and realize maybe she shouldn't tell.
Speaker 5 (25:01):
Anybody about him.
Speaker 2 (25:03):
That's the impression I got, which makes me beginning to
think that you know, maybe Star Trek and doctor who
is in the same universe now, and maybe that is
what they're leading to after this and then the appearance
of the tartists in the Salot who ate its tale.
You know, I'm really interested in seeing, you know, where
they want to go with this. And you know, BBC,
if you're listening, uh, putting Carol Kine in the next season,
(25:26):
a doctor who wouldn't be too bad. I wouldn't mind that,
So you know, can we see that a little bit interesting?
Speaker 3 (25:33):
Yeah?
Speaker 2 (25:34):
All right, Well I found just a couple and I
really had to pull for a few of these. But
herst prank of telling Scottie to come in his formal
dress is actually a callback from the second episode of
the season, titled Children of the Comment, which where our
tegas had tricked or her into dressing up for Captain
(25:55):
Pike's dinner party. That episode was also directed by the
same person that did this episode. There were a few mentions.
There was a mention of the planet Rigel from the
original series pilot The Cage, and there were a few
mentions of Pike's fate from the Menagerie. There was also
a brief call to the Daystrom Institute, which appeared in
(26:16):
everything from Star Trek The Next Generation to start Trek
the Card and I also know actually this is a
little bit of what I think. It's a little bit
of a blooper. This is this is something that I
don't think they caught. But in Pike's vision, the character
of Elijah April, the boy who was marrying their daughter,
He's wearing a Science Division version of the Starfleet Cadet uniform.
(26:37):
But by the time the scene should be taking place,
he actually should be wearing the cadet uniforms that we
see in Startrek two and three, you know, the red
maroon jumpsuits. Yeah, that whoops herbs. All right, let's conclude
with how to look back at the season as a whole.
Which episode was your favorite? Which ones do you think
just didn't hit right? Any closing thoughts of the season
(27:01):
you'd like to share, David Scott.
Speaker 4 (27:04):
So, for me, my favorite episode has to be Shut
Up to KINFORI seeing zombies and Star Trek was new,
but getting to see and then Banga getting the history
wrapped up basically kind of you know, because we talked
about that, Wayne, you and I what we expected to
see this season. So I felt that was a good
move and it happened pretty quick into the season. Not
(27:27):
just that, but Babs gave an absolute stellar performance in
that episode, and I really love his character and I
love where the way they keep going with it, and
every time he's on screen, I'm excited to see it
and to see what he's going to do because he's
an incredible They're all incredible actors, but for some reason,
Babs just does such a wonderful job in that role
(27:48):
and I just love to see it. But and then
the fact that they're you know, it's a nod too
the actor KENFORI as well is a big thing for me.
I know, we've got Scarefest coming up up in Lexington
and can Foroury's going to be there.
Speaker 5 (28:02):
I'm going to go out and talk to him and
ask him.
Speaker 4 (28:04):
How he feels that he had a Star Trek episode
in his honor, yes, a planet named after him, to
see how he reacts to that.
Speaker 5 (28:15):
But that's my favorite episode.
Speaker 4 (28:17):
As for the season itself, I kind of talked a
little bit earlier in this episode that I felt like
they had too many bottle episodes in this season. And
it's hard to say because I love Bottle episodes. I
love what they can do with them, and we had
a lot of good episodes here, you know, I remember
saying week after week, Man, I don't know, this feels
like this is my favorite episode.
Speaker 5 (28:35):
This feels like this is my favorite episode, and.
Speaker 4 (28:37):
They had a lot of good stuff throughout it. I
just felt like, and it did kind of go back
to the original Star Trek where you get each episode is.
Speaker 5 (28:46):
You know, inside itself.
Speaker 4 (28:48):
It doesn't have that story arc that goes over the
entire season, and even the next generation did that, you know.
I think d Spaceline was the first one that finally
did the story arc you know, throughout the season.
Speaker 5 (29:00):
So I felt like, this.
Speaker 4 (29:01):
Is kind of a callback to that older stuff. But
when you have so much going on, and you know
that the Patel stuff you have, that's kind of a
story arc you got going on. But I think they
kind of like let it out, then it disappeared, then
they talk.
Speaker 5 (29:16):
A little bit about it, and then they let it disappear.
Speaker 4 (29:18):
It wasn't like what we got with the Gorn and
stuff like that in previous season. So I felt like
with all the Bottle episodes, and again, it should have
been our warning sign that the finale was going to
be like this. I felt let down by that, But
as a season, I thought we had some pretty good,
strong episodes this season, so I have to say it
was a successful season with the exception of the finale.
Speaker 3 (29:39):
Scott, Yeah, I agree with that last statement. There were
so many times when we said, I don't know what
this might be my favorite episode, which is a mark
of a good season. It is interesting kind of looking
back at how many bottle episodes there were, but it
also feels like any one of these, with the accept
(30:00):
the season premiere, any one of these could be something
you used to kind of introduce somebody to the season
or show it to somebody to say, like, this is
the potential at starter I still has for me. I'll
be interested to hear thoughts on this, But to me,
my favorite was the one that I didn't get a
(30:21):
chance to talk with you two about, which is four
and a.
Speaker 5 (30:23):
Half fulcons one.
Speaker 3 (30:25):
It was a lot of fun, even the I didn't
understand the title until I saw the episode, and then
I was like, it's so obvious and it's such a
jabb at spot. You could hear him like, fine, four
and a half fulcons whatever. That one to me just
kind of there were some dramatic elements. Obviously you knew
(30:46):
it was kind of a funnier episode, so it wasn't
going to have major consequences, but it still had interesting
insights into each of the characters, still had some great impact,
and Patton Oswalt's character was just hilarious. So Wayne, what
about you.
Speaker 2 (31:03):
I really enjoyed the season. While I don't think it
was quite as strong as the last season, there were
a lot of high points in it, like well, like
you said, shuttlety Foy and another one through the Lens
of Time is another one that was really good. A
lot of good character building this season. I feel like
the actors and the writers are now they're now comfortable
(31:24):
with their characters. Well not just their characters, but the
cast altogether feel much more comfortable, so they can now
expand rather than you know, not just explore, but expand
their characters. But I think my favorite episode ended up
being Tyrannium last episode because I just felt it we
finally got that great Ortegas episode that we'd always been wanting.
(31:47):
Plus it's just it was a really strong episode, well
acted directed, the effects were fantastic. I just I loved it.
It was an episode that fit perfectly into the Star
Trek lore but didn't know rely heavily on continuity, and
I think just stood out for me from above all
the other.
Speaker 3 (32:06):
That's a good choice. I wrestled with Chisen Terraria myself,
But then I was.
Speaker 2 (32:11):
Like, I was the same way I wrestled with four
and a half Falcons.
Speaker 3 (32:16):
Which is that's a that's a sign of a good season, right,
It's hard to make.
Speaker 5 (32:19):
A choice, it is.
Speaker 4 (32:20):
Yeah, absolutely, I'm a sucker for horror, so that's why
I went with the zombies.
Speaker 5 (32:24):
Oh yeah, yeah, you don't get.
Speaker 4 (32:27):
To see that in Star Trek too much. I thought
that was a unique way for them to go. But yeah,
I mean I struggled. The four and half Falcons was
absolutely sterical, and Scott we even mentioned and that we
wish you.
Speaker 5 (32:37):
Were there to talk to us about because it was
so much fun. It really was a lot of fun.
Doug was amazing in that episode. Doug.
Speaker 3 (32:45):
Yes, I think it's interesting, like the range of choices
that we have here. It shows the range of Star
Trek and the potential for it to move forward. There's
definitely some some genre pushing. It's not necessarily what you
might expect from conventional sci fi or what you might
expect from Star Trek. And I think they're handling that
really well. They're going in the good directions.
Speaker 5 (33:07):
They don't. I love that.
Speaker 2 (33:09):
I love that that they're pushing the boundaries of Star Trek.
You know, we're not just getting another you know, cookie
cutter Star Trek series, you know, like like we had gotten,
you know, we don't we need that. This is just
pushing everything. This is trying things new, and I really
commend them for doing that, and it makes it makes
Strange New Worlds a more dramatic and a more fun
(33:31):
and more enjoyable series to watch. So I hope they continue,
and I know they are because next season we got
the puppet episode and I'm really really curious to see
what they're going to do with that.
Speaker 5 (33:40):
Absolutely.
Speaker 4 (33:41):
So, do you guys think we'll see an Oe character
next season introduced? I do?
Speaker 3 (33:47):
I would think so.
Speaker 5 (33:47):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (33:48):
I don't feel like they're gonna think it's.
Speaker 5 (33:49):
Going Do you think it's gonna be Suoneer? Do you
think it's gonna be Bones McCoy.
Speaker 2 (33:54):
I think it'll be Bones. I think it's time to
introduce them because we got we got membenga storyline, which
they really haven't. We have no idea what what the
heck happens to him, you know, and they're going to
explore They have to explore it, especially if they're leading
towards this Star Trek year one series that they're talking
about every ice talking about. So I do think Bones
(34:16):
is going to be next season's character, and I think
they're going to start the beginning of that story.
Speaker 4 (34:20):
You know, now that they lost Gamble, they need help
mm hmm. So maybe that is how they get McCoy.
Speaker 3 (34:29):
So here's another interesting twist to think about. Jim is
still on the Farragut. Yeah, and we don't know who
the medical chief of staff. There is no is it
possible that Bones could be on the Farragut with Jim?
Speaker 2 (34:43):
But did he come from the though that we don't know?
That's true, We don't know he could have. I mean
that that's yeah, who knows. I never even thought of that.
Speaker 5 (34:52):
That's that's a good call to Wow, he knows Bones.
Speaker 3 (34:58):
Right, And what I would like them to do, and
I trust that they'll do so, is that they'll leave
room for continuing to have Chapel and a Benga. I
would love to see them see it all the way through. Oh,
even though I know that Jones is destined to be there,
I don't want them to say like, well, there's too
many people in medical, which I would argue, no, there's
(35:21):
never enough people in medical. But you know, interesting with
how Bones has that kind of I would say, kind
of a contentious personality and the conflict that might happen
with Spock that I just I wouldn't want him set
up in such a way that it's just like God,
(35:42):
that Bones guy.
Speaker 4 (35:44):
Right.
Speaker 2 (35:44):
Well, I don't see them bringing any of the new
other characters on as regular. It's not like what they
do with Scotty, because if they've already got a full
house right now, and in order for them, in my opinion,
in order for them to bring any of the other
character you know, mccoyr or Sulu in full time, they'd
have to get rid of one of the other one.
I don't know. Maybe that's the way they're leading for,
but I really do think if it is Bones, and
(36:06):
I think it is going to be for next season,
because I think they'll say Suli for if not season five,
for this new series that they're talking about. But I
don't think he'll be a regular. I think he'll be
like Kirk, and that may pop up once or twice, and.
Speaker 5 (36:20):
That's it makes sense.
Speaker 3 (36:22):
I feel like we'll see or Tagus continue to gradually
grow and kind of ascend to a point where she
all those kind of you know, outgrows enterprise or season
possibility to go on to other things, maybe even get
into a command position on another ship like that direction
that we saw Sulugo right now, and leave an open
(36:45):
chair for him, but not an empty chair, right.
Speaker 2 (36:48):
And that's it for this season of Star Trek Strange
New Worlds, as well as this week's episode of Phaser
Set is done. We'd like to open a channel to
our listeners and here just what you thought about the
most recent episode and this season in general. You can
email us at a film by Podcast at gmail dot com,
find us online at a film by podcast dot com,
(37:08):
follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and x and if you're
looking for more content or swag, you can join a
Patreon and find out what exclusive gyms are hidden within.
A big thank you once again to my fellow trekkers
David and Scott for joining me and the listeners over
the last nine weeks reviewing this season.
Speaker 3 (37:26):
Yep, thanks, can't wait, can't wait to dig into the
next season.
Speaker 4 (37:29):
Yeah, what's so, guys? Before we let the listeners go,
what are.
Speaker 5 (37:33):
We doing next?
Speaker 2 (37:34):
We're sad to see Strange New Worlds end for the year,
but we have two more seasons yet to come, starting
with season four sometime in twenty twenty six, and of
course there will be more Phaser set to stun coming
your way to fill the gap. In a few weeks,
we begin our look back at another Trek series, where
we will bring you our top ten episodes of Star
Trek Deep Space nine, season by season. A new starter
(37:58):
treks with a look at each season of the nineteen
ninety three to ninety nine series, giving you the low
down on which episodes you should watch and which ones
you can avoid, plus our usual thoughts and opinions, along
with some fun trivia and behind the scenes info. Well
you guys, think about that.
Speaker 4 (38:13):
I'm very excited to start digging into the Space nine.
Speaker 2 (38:16):
I really that wait that way. Yeah, we're both fans
of that series, and I can't wait to do a
rewatch and delve back into this because it was a
great series when it aired absolutely well. We look forward
to returning to the twenty fourth century and to you
our listeners on the next episode of Phasers, set to stun.
Speaker 3 (38:40):
Man. I forgot how many seasons and episodes there are
in Deep Space nine.
Speaker 5 (38:43):
There's a seven seasons, a lot of episodes. That's things.
Yes it is, Yes it is.
Speaker 2 (38:50):
I know. I was looking at the first season trying
to decide which episodes.
Speaker 5 (38:53):
You know, we know episode one is gonna be one.
Speaker 2 (38:55):
Come on, yeah, and on the season finale that's in.
Speaker 5 (38:58):
The finale for it. There's two. We just got to
come up with the eight more.
Speaker 2 (39:01):
I can tell you which one's gonna be my fleet's favorite.
Speaker 3 (39:03):
But
Space the Final Frontier. Join us for a bold conversation
our prime directive to recap our favorite Star Trek shows,
both new and old, to engage and debate about all
(00:23):
things Trek. Prepare to energize with Phasers Set to Stunt.
Speaker 2 (00:40):
Welcome back to a new episode of Phasers Set to Stun,
where we could continue to show our love for everything
Star Trek in this ongoing series from a film by
podcast which focuses on every system of the expanding Star
Trek universe by covering television, movies, animation, directors, merchandise, and
much much more. Plotting your course on this voyage of
(01:01):
the USS Enterprise is your Core Trek crew. I'm Wayne Whited,
I'm David Burns.
Speaker 3 (01:07):
And I'm Skylefman.
Speaker 2 (01:09):
And today we must talk about Season three, episode ten,
the season finale of Star Trek Strange New Worlds titled
New Life and New Civilizations written by Dana Horgan and
Davey Perez and directed by Maja Bervillo. So at this
point forward, it's red alert, folks. There are spoilers ahead.
(01:29):
If you haven't seen this episode yet, you really need
to stop and being yourself to the nearest view screen
and catch it on Paramount Plus, then come back and
rejoin us for this discussion. So, Scott, why don't you
give us the short summary for the episode.
Speaker 3 (01:43):
I'll give it a shot. There's a lot of winding
through this one. A celebration of Captain Bettel's promotion is
cut short when the Enterprise hears from Doctor Corby, who
is visiting Skygowe, a distant civilization that worships the evil
Vesda as gods. They also learned that the Vesda, formerly
trapped in the transporter buffer, has somehow appeared right in
front of Doctor Korby. Enterprise makes its way to Corby
(02:06):
on Skygowen to investigate, and Vesda, in the form of
events in Gamble, hatches a plot to set the other
Vesta free to possess everyone on Skygwen as a vessels
and spread chaos throughout the universe. Meanwhile, Betel comes to
the realization that her destiny is to become the warden
that keeps the Vesda imprisoned. Betel battles Gamble in the
Vesda prison, gets a glimpse of a life what might
(02:28):
have been with Pike and the family they would build,
and just before Betel surrenders to her fate, losing her hmanity,
humanity forever. She has a brief moment to say goodbye
to Captain Pike. It's a strange end to the season,
but one that's worth discussing for sure.
Speaker 2 (02:44):
All Right, so this episode has kind of split the
fandom down right in the center. Like a lot of
the episodes, but this one seemed to me more than most.
Let's find out how we liked it. What do you
guys think?
Speaker 4 (02:58):
I like the music web as from season two better
if that tells you anything.
Speaker 2 (03:02):
Oh.
Speaker 4 (03:03):
Ouch, this this felt like a series finale, not a
season finale.
Speaker 5 (03:09):
It was I did not like it at all.
Speaker 4 (03:14):
This episode had elements of it trying to be the
Interlight from the next generation. It felt like we were
going into the nexus of Star Trek generations at times,
and I'm sorry, I'm not a fan of this finale.
I thought it was flat. I felt we were let down.
I mean this this season. I mean, we'll get talk
(03:34):
about season a little bit later, but it just felt
like we had a lot of really good episodes in
the season and I knew going. I felt something about
three quarters away through the season that like, I'm like,
we're really not building up to anything very much, and
I knew they were going to give us a resolution
to Betel, but even Betel's resolution, I felt like, really,
(03:55):
that's what we're going to do with her.
Speaker 5 (03:58):
Okay, sure, fine, let's move on.
Speaker 4 (04:01):
I'm glad the finale's done and I can't wait to
see season four.
Speaker 5 (04:04):
But man, not a fan of this episode.
Speaker 3 (04:08):
Yeah, I mean, I gotta admit I'm feeling the same way,
disappointed because we've been talking about not that they had
to pursue anto the theories that we came up with,
but there's a lot of directions we thought this could go,
and this is certainly not one that I expected. It felt.
It felt like at about twenty minutes in, when there's
(04:29):
talk about like destiny and all this other kind of stuff,
it was really really feeling odd. There are aspects of
certain other series in the start our franchise that go
in this direction, and it always feels a little weird
because when they get into like higher level mysticism and
things like this, it just seems off. The tone just
(04:53):
seems off, especially considering where they seem to be going
the entire season. It seemed like the are way too
willing to accept this whole idea that Bettella's destined to
become the Beholder, and you know, thoughts of like, well,
I'm going to be a vessel for good that's fighting
(05:13):
against you know, the definition of evil. When they get
that kind of big and that kind of broad, it
just feels like biting off more than they can chew.
I liked the Chef Pike kind of semi future that
we got, but it didn't have the same kind of
surprise element that things like Interlight had. It didn't really
(05:35):
make you think. The whole time you knew that it
was like, all right, this is a dream sequence. The
knock at the door is obviously him being beckoned into
the present day, real world whatever, So you knew that
it wasn't real. You knew that it was going away.
There were aspects of it that were well written, but
then ultimately kind of the resolution just felt weird.
Speaker 2 (05:57):
Yeah, I'm conflicted with this episode two, more more so
than what I was earlier this season with another episode.
I just well, first let me say that this this
just isn't the season finale I thought we were going
to get. I don't know what exactly I was expecting,
but it wasn't this. I know that this was not
on my radar. It's just it's just not how I
(06:20):
thought but Tell's story would play out. I think that's
the biggest problem I have with it. You know, I
just didn't think that that was the direction it was going,
or for that matter, with Instant Gamble and the VESDA,
I didn't think that's the way that story was. And
I'm not extremely happy with what we got. You know,
(06:42):
I don't think it. I mean, it's not a bad
episode in my opinion, but it's not like it's definitely
not the best. It's definitely not even in the top
five or six of the season.
Speaker 1 (06:55):
You know.
Speaker 2 (06:55):
I applaud the producers for trying for giving us a
season finale that delivers something different, because you know, the
the last two season finales used legacy characters or alien
races or something, so you know, I just I don't know.
I I you know, the writers had come out and
(07:17):
said that they had written this as a series finale,
and which that explains why you didn't have a cliffhanger.
But I'm really glad that that didn't happen, because, you know,
as a season finale, I'll accept it, but if this
was a series finale, I would have been completely baffled
and probably a little bit angry from the whole thing.
(07:38):
I just I don't know. I guess when we first
saw the Vesta back in through the Lens of Time,
I had high hopes that, you know, the series was
creating a new Battie, a really interesting Batty for strange worlds,
and I think I even mentioned that, you know, it
felt like an ongoing story that would carry on maybe
(07:59):
for the XT couple of seasons. But this feels like
an end of that story, and we still know very
little about that race and what they can do. It
just it seems like just a horrible missed opportunity for
a great what could have been a great storyline that
would have been original interesting. You know, I hope we
(08:19):
see them again, but you know, I hope they didn't
just just throw them away on this episode, but you know,
I fear they may have. And and speaking of throwing away,
what was the point of even having in sant Gamble there?
It just felt wrong. I mean, you know, he he
came comes in and then he's defeated almost immediately. It
just seemed hardly worth even bringing him back.
Speaker 5 (08:41):
I don't.
Speaker 2 (08:43):
I'm with you guys and this I think over the
last two episodes that we've reviewed, I think this is
the only episode that we both or all three of
us kind of agree with. It just didn't work.
Speaker 3 (08:53):
It just felt like a lot of wasted potential, Like
in the audition, like why did Gamble come back? Why
was am Benga in the portal? Because it seemed like
we had, you know, an interesting setup with his backstory,
an interesting kind of connection there. He had, you know,
a brave moment certainly when he was ready to just
end his own life to stop gambling his tracks. But
(09:16):
then it just seems like he's kind of cast to
the side when the Vesda is able to you know,
attack the Beholder. It seems to have to you know,
spend a lot of time and a lot of build
up doing it, when it seems like it would want
to just you know, be a little bit more persistent
at chipping away at it. And it seems like they've
(09:39):
built up such an interesting character with Betel to basically
have her stand as like this statue for the rest
of time. It seems like a wasted potential. I would
have liked to have seen betel Be, you know, a
character that's related but knowing that she's got the promotion,
has some tension about her being distant and Pipe being
(10:03):
distant and having to face that future together. It's interesting,
we got to see it, but it's kind of waste
of potential for that kind of tension to go away.
If it was written as a series finale. It just
seems like maybe they should have taken the time to say, like, nope,
we're locked in it for two more seasons. Let's go
ahead and dig in and make this something different.
Speaker 2 (10:24):
Yeah, and David, you were right too about.
Speaker 5 (10:28):
It.
Speaker 2 (10:28):
Definitely was not a I like what they were doing
with Pike, and I understand what they were doing, but
it was so much like The Interlight and I'm sorry,
the Interlight is ten times better. Oh yeah, you know,
I also got you know, I also thought about Startup
Generations too, which even that was that little bit there
was done better. Just like I said, I understand what
(10:49):
they're doing, but I just with everything that happened around it,
I just can't say that one thing redeemed the episode.
Speaker 4 (10:57):
I think when when we first realized what was going on,
that they were back at his house and stuff, like that.
I was like, oh, look we're in the nexus. That
was a ma immediately thought, yeah, we're in the Nexus.
Speaker 5 (11:06):
I'm like, okay, cool. Of course it wasn't.
Speaker 4 (11:09):
When it drug on you realized what was going on.
But I mean, I agree Scott that this villain was horrible.
I'm sorry, and this is no put down to Gamble
in the actor. I felt like this villain I will
equal to the tar villain that killed Tasha y Are
because it is a horrible.
Speaker 5 (11:28):
Villain in this film.
Speaker 4 (11:30):
And me this episode and another thing, I think, when
I look back now at this season, I should have
seen the warning signs this was coming because all the
bottle episodes we.
Speaker 5 (11:42):
Had in this season, we really didn't have a overawe.
Speaker 4 (11:47):
Arcing season going on here story in this season, with
the exception of Patel, we didn't. We had a lot
of bottle episodes, and with that happening that this is
what we get for the finale and we should have
it coming.
Speaker 5 (12:00):
To be honest with you, did.
Speaker 2 (12:02):
Either one of us did any of us actually think
this is the direction oftell was going?
Speaker 5 (12:06):
No, No, not at all, not at all.
Speaker 4 (12:09):
Now, now, maybe maybe, just maybe, if they'd given us
a two parter for this and and gave a.
Speaker 5 (12:16):
Little bit more room.
Speaker 4 (12:18):
Maybe it might have worked, Yeah, but I still don't
think it would have with where they went with Batel
and the villain they gave us. You know, I'm I
always try to find good stuff in episodes, and there
are some good things in this episode.
Speaker 5 (12:32):
I absolutely love the spot and Kirk stuff.
Speaker 4 (12:35):
When he finally tells him call me Jim, I love
that and I felt it deep down in my in
my bones.
Speaker 5 (12:40):
Yeah, I'm using that pun, but I felt it.
Speaker 4 (12:43):
You know that that relationship is going further. But as
an episode, man so let down.
Speaker 2 (12:52):
Yeah, I agree, I mean there was there are some
good bits about it. I do like even though it's
a copy of the Intererlte, I do like what they
did and their idea of doing it, and I thought
they'd be acting. The actors were fantastic, especially especially Anson Mount.
He did a phenomenal job in this episode because you know,
his character was going through a lot. But it's just
(13:14):
they're just not up there to redeem the whole thing.
And I you know, David, you mentioning that making maybe,
I mean, if they made this a two parter to
be continued, I don't know. Maybe they could have come
up with something else that could have made more sense.
Speaker 5 (13:27):
I don't, I don't know. I don't.
Speaker 2 (13:30):
Like I said, I'm conflicted with this epide.
Speaker 4 (13:32):
It definitely pales in comparison to the finale we got
last year year, with the last season, I should say
without question, yeah, And it's just, man, it's just I
don't know what they were thinking in this, that this
was the way to go.
Speaker 5 (13:47):
I don't, I don't know. I'm so confused, I really am.
Speaker 3 (13:50):
Almost Both finales we've got up to this point give
us a lot to talk about, think about, and anticipate,
and this one, I'm just anticipating the canuation of the
series and knowing that, you know, I've got faith in
the creative team behind it that they're going to take
it into a better direction. But it's it's it's tough
(14:12):
when you've got, you know, you're trying to advocate for
a show that you know there's doing really really well
to have something that kind of throws us off. I
feel like what I was hoping for, you know, and
I don't need to see Bettel turn into a Gorn,
but it did seem like there might have been a
little bit more depth there, especially because everything we've been seeing,
(14:35):
everything that's been teased, points to the Gorn, nothing necessarily
points to this whole Beholder thing, So it seems like
it could have gone that way. It seems like the
Vezda could have been drawn out into kind of like
the you know, the puppet masters behind the scenes that
have been orchestrating a bunch of little things that are
going wrong. I don't know, it just surprised me. And
(14:58):
it's like, as soon as I I heard them talk
about destiny and I'm supposed to be Beholder and all
this other kind of stuff, and she had like the
stars in her eyes and things like that. There were
just several little things that made me start to check
out bit by bit, and then I was just kind
of waiting for it to be over to see where
I was going to. I was actually hoping that at
the very end there would be some kind of twist
(15:20):
that would keep us talking and thinking about the season
until we get more.
Speaker 4 (15:28):
But I will say, this is the first episode when
you said you checked out, This is the first episode
that I checked out about halfway through it, like I
had it on. But it got to the point that
it became background noise.
Speaker 2 (15:40):
I was the same way, exactly the same way. I'm
glad both of you brought that up. I just about
halfway through, I'm like, you know, I'm losing interest. And
I kept on watching it, and of course I watched
it again for this podcast for the notes, but it
just didn't hold me like the rest of the episodes
this season. The whole thing reminds me so much of
the third Sees A Discovery, where I loved every episode.
(16:03):
I thought it was an incredible idea. The build up
was fantastic, but the last episode of the season was
such a huge, huge letdown, so much that I almost
stopped watching the entire series. I'm not gonna stop watching
this one, so I am looking forward to next season.
Speaker 5 (16:17):
I love these.
Speaker 2 (16:17):
Characters too, but uh, it's it's difficult to to after
following for ten weeks, well nine weeks, uh, this season,
to have to to end here and wait another eleven
twelve months for the next episode.
Speaker 4 (16:35):
At least it's only eleven or twelve months. It's not
like the last year. Yeah, yeah, you know, And I
know they'll rebound. I know they will, Oh yeah, you know.
It's but you know, and I don't blame this on
the actors the cast, because they're all phenomenal.
Speaker 5 (16:49):
Whatever you give them, they're going to give.
Speaker 4 (16:51):
They're going to give one hundred and they always do.
And and there's again, there's so many moments in here
that I laughed. I laughed at Gotti when he when
he spoke as Pellia and capitals, Like, would Pellias ever
say that as a vampire?
Speaker 5 (17:07):
It's not like he was a vampire.
Speaker 4 (17:09):
Uh, you know, I mean there were some funny things
in this episode, and then the whole ending too, like
I kind of like hit it?
Speaker 5 (17:16):
Is this a hit it moment?
Speaker 3 (17:18):
You know?
Speaker 4 (17:18):
And Erica was like, you know, I like hit it
and when he basically told her, you know, go, you know,
go go out, go as fast as you want.
Speaker 2 (17:25):
But overall, yeah, no, that that ending. The final scenes
of the episode, though, did did interest me a little
bit in the fact that now they've got what new
charts with lots and lots of new planets to explore.
You know, I'm hoping that it seemed that first of all,
that that scene seemed like a little tack on scene.
(17:47):
I think they added that when they realized that series
was gonna go on for another two years, but you know,
it gives me a lot of hope for next season
that we're going to see a lot of original stuff.
I love the continuity ideas, I love of seeing things
from Star Trek, but I also like the new ideas
of it, and I'm hoping this brings a whole bunch more.
Speaker 5 (18:04):
Yeah, let's put this behind us and move on.
Speaker 3 (18:06):
Yeah, speaking of speaking of tact on, not to lead
the Witness, but I do want to kind of ask
a resident doctor who Megafan, your opinion about Pelly is Lyne.
Speaker 5 (18:21):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (18:22):
I thought it was funny.
Speaker 5 (18:24):
Yeah, and I'll.
Speaker 2 (18:25):
Mention that in Easter Eggs too, got a little more detail.
But yeah, yeah, you know, I think I think it's funny.
Speaker 5 (18:31):
I did, I do?
Speaker 2 (18:32):
I mean, I like, I love the ideas as a
doctor grew fan, I love those little callbacks to other series.
Speaker 3 (18:38):
Yeah. Yeah, I'll leave it at that.
Speaker 2 (18:44):
All right. So, now that we've given our thoughts and
opinions on the episode, Uh, let's take a look at
the characters themselves. Which character do you think shying the
most this week?
Speaker 5 (18:53):
David?
Speaker 4 (18:54):
I mean, as much as I want to give, I
hated where they took her character, I'm still going with
Betel on this one. You know, she still put her
all into this and having to go through that she
didn't have a choice of what her destiny and I'm
using air quotes here of what it's going to become,
and she needed to say goodbye to Pike.
Speaker 5 (19:15):
I liked the whole dialogue between the two.
Speaker 4 (19:18):
Of them, you know, having kids and all that kind
of stuff, and the makeup that they did on two
of them when they were both very elderly.
Speaker 5 (19:24):
I thought that was extremely well done.
Speaker 2 (19:26):
Yeah, it was.
Speaker 5 (19:28):
So I've got to go.
Speaker 4 (19:29):
With Patel on this one. So even though I don't
like what they did with her character, I still think
she shined Scott.
Speaker 3 (19:36):
Yeah, I absolutely agree, and I mean, you know, knowing
that it's the last time we're possibly going to see her,
maybe in a cameo later. I got to give credit
to Melanie Scrafano, the actress that plays Captain Betel, I
think has consistently done a great job. I think this
(19:59):
is no different despite you know, not necessarily agreeing with
the direction of the story of the dialogue. I think
she did a great job, especially in the Chef Pike sequences.
It seemed like they were genuinely a married couple. I
like the fact that they gave Patel the or Patel
(20:22):
the the chance to be able to give Chris that
life that they never thought that they would get. And
I thought it was a beautiful moment when he you know,
walks up to his apron later and kind of holds
it up and then kind of lays it down with
the blank space. You see the absence there and it
pulls your hearts drings. So that's a Captain battel.
Speaker 2 (20:42):
Well, I'm going to give this to Captain Pike because
throughout this season I've always felt that Pike has been
kind of under us. You know, there have been a
couple of episodes whereas he's hardly even appeared in. But
you know, here in this episode, he really does shine
out in my opinion, you know, despite the script that
(21:03):
they're working with Danson, Mount does give an incredible performance
and could be, in my opinion too, one of his
best performances of the season. You know it the episode
put did put Pike in some really emotional situations. You know,
he faced a lot of hard questions, especially you know,
the type of life that he would lead or or
never lead.
Speaker 5 (21:23):
I guess due to.
Speaker 2 (21:24):
His future accident, but you know, his time, that scene,
the vision scene would would tell is definitely some of
the episode's strongest scenes. And he just does an incredible
job performing this. So I have to give it his
Pike and answer and mount for his performance. Now, if
you have any choice to be any character that appeared
(21:46):
in this episode, do we want to be any character
that appeared in this episode? But all right, let's pick one.
Which one would you like to be? In Why Scott
you begin this one?
Speaker 3 (21:58):
I'd go with Chef Pike because despite the heartbreak of
you know, not being able to live that life, he
still got to experience it. He still got to share
that time with Battel. I wasn't necessarily clear on whether
they both were kind of living an entire lifetime in
(22:21):
a condensed space of time. But if he did, he
was living the life that he always wanted. It seemed
like there was enough enough things where it didn't feel
like for the man who has everything, where everything seemed
a little too idyllic or a little too good.
Speaker 4 (22:42):
So I'm going to go with Corby two reasons. Reason
Number one is he is basically space Indiana Jones, and
number two, he gets to locked lips with Chapel.
Speaker 5 (22:54):
So just get right to it, and I'm gonna get
right to it. That's right.
Speaker 4 (22:59):
Yeah, uh so, I mean he had to suffer a
little bit, but uh yeah, definitely, Corby.
Speaker 2 (23:04):
I'm again, I'm going to choose Captain Pike because this
episode was a really important point in his life and
he's been given an incredible gift from Betel the memories
of a happier, longer life, which is something that he
didn't have before. You know, he knew that his he
knew how his life was going to end, as you know,
(23:25):
very soon with the accident, and that he'd end up
in that hover chair blinking, you know, as a one
life or no or two for yes, you know, for
the rest of his life. And that's I mean, that's
gonna be a really depressing weight on your head, knowing
that you know, this is where it's going to go.
You know, you know, I'm just kind of you know,
counting the days down until that happens. But now now
(23:46):
he's been able to give you know, he has another idea,
another an alternate life. You know, that this life that
he always wanted in his head. So now that you
know everything that happens afterwards is just you know, extra
now and that even when he's in the chair, you know,
he can look back and remember this life that he
had with Mattel, And I think that's wonderful. I think
I think that's probably the good thing that came out
(24:10):
of this episode is now Pike has a little bit
different outlook of his ending.
Speaker 3 (24:16):
Yeah, it's good call.
Speaker 5 (24:18):
Yeah, yes, all right.
Speaker 2 (24:19):
Now we're gonna dive deep into the episode and see
if we can pull out any Easter eggs. And there
wasn't too many this week. But did you two, either
one of you find anything.
Speaker 4 (24:29):
I just got the uh am calling Jim for the
first time, trying to call it Jim.
Speaker 5 (24:34):
That's about all I caught. Scott.
Speaker 3 (24:36):
Yeah, I mean, the only thing was what I mentioned
before about Pellya's mentioning a time traveling doctor. Although what
I thought was kind of interesting is was she trying
to kind of like stop herself from saying time traveling
and then say traveling doctor instead.
Speaker 2 (24:55):
Oh, I got the impression that she started to saying
it and realize maybe she shouldn't tell.
Speaker 5 (25:01):
Anybody about him.
Speaker 2 (25:03):
That's the impression I got, which makes me beginning to
think that you know, maybe Star Trek and doctor who
is in the same universe now, and maybe that is
what they're leading to after this and then the appearance
of the tartists in the Salot who ate its tale.
You know, I'm really interested in seeing, you know, where
they want to go with this. And you know, BBC,
if you're listening, uh, putting Carol Kine in the next season,
(25:26):
a doctor who wouldn't be too bad. I wouldn't mind that,
So you know, can we see that a little bit interesting?
Speaker 3 (25:33):
Yeah?
Speaker 2 (25:34):
All right, Well I found just a couple and I
really had to pull for a few of these. But
herst prank of telling Scottie to come in his formal
dress is actually a callback from the second episode of
the season, titled Children of the Comment, which where our
tegas had tricked or her into dressing up for Captain
(25:55):
Pike's dinner party. That episode was also directed by the
same person that did this episode. There were a few mentions.
There was a mention of the planet Rigel from the
original series pilot The Cage, and there were a few
mentions of Pike's fate from the Menagerie. There was also
a brief call to the Daystrom Institute, which appeared in
(26:16):
everything from Star Trek The Next Generation to start Trek
the Card and I also know actually this is a
little bit of what I think. It's a little bit
of a blooper. This is this is something that I
don't think they caught. But in Pike's vision, the character
of Elijah April, the boy who was marrying their daughter,
He's wearing a Science Division version of the Starfleet Cadet uniform.
(26:37):
But by the time the scene should be taking place,
he actually should be wearing the cadet uniforms that we
see in Startrek two and three, you know, the red
maroon jumpsuits. Yeah, that whoops herbs. All right, let's conclude
with how to look back at the season as a whole.
Which episode was your favorite? Which ones do you think
just didn't hit right? Any closing thoughts of the season
(27:01):
you'd like to share, David Scott.
Speaker 4 (27:04):
So, for me, my favorite episode has to be Shut
Up to KINFORI seeing zombies and Star Trek was new,
but getting to see and then Banga getting the history
wrapped up basically kind of you know, because we talked
about that, Wayne, you and I what we expected to
see this season. So I felt that was a good
move and it happened pretty quick into the season. Not
(27:27):
just that, but Babs gave an absolute stellar performance in
that episode, and I really love his character and I
love where the way they keep going with it, and
every time he's on screen, I'm excited to see it
and to see what he's going to do because he's
an incredible They're all incredible actors, but for some reason,
Babs just does such a wonderful job in that role
(27:48):
and I just love to see it. But and then
the fact that they're you know, it's a nod too
the actor KENFORI as well is a big thing for me.
I know, we've got Scarefest coming up up in Lexington
and can Foroury's going to be there.
Speaker 5 (28:02):
I'm going to go out and talk to him and
ask him.
Speaker 4 (28:04):
How he feels that he had a Star Trek episode
in his honor, yes, a planet named after him, to
see how he reacts to that.
Speaker 5 (28:15):
But that's my favorite episode.
Speaker 4 (28:17):
As for the season itself, I kind of talked a
little bit earlier in this episode that I felt like
they had too many bottle episodes in this season. And
it's hard to say because I love Bottle episodes. I
love what they can do with them, and we had
a lot of good episodes here, you know, I remember
saying week after week, Man, I don't know, this feels
like this is my favorite episode.
Speaker 5 (28:35):
This feels like this is my favorite episode, and.
Speaker 4 (28:37):
They had a lot of good stuff throughout it. I
just felt like, and it did kind of go back
to the original Star Trek where you get each episode is.
Speaker 5 (28:46):
You know, inside itself.
Speaker 4 (28:48):
It doesn't have that story arc that goes over the
entire season, and even the next generation did that, you know.
I think d Spaceline was the first one that finally
did the story arc you know, throughout the season.
Speaker 5 (29:00):
So I felt like, this.
Speaker 4 (29:01):
Is kind of a callback to that older stuff. But
when you have so much going on, and you know
that the Patel stuff you have, that's kind of a
story arc you got going on. But I think they
kind of like let it out, then it disappeared, then
they talk.
Speaker 5 (29:16):
A little bit about it, and then they let it disappear.
Speaker 4 (29:18):
It wasn't like what we got with the Gorn and
stuff like that in previous season. So I felt like
with all the Bottle episodes, and again, it should have
been our warning sign that the finale was going to
be like this. I felt let down by that, But
as a season, I thought we had some pretty good,
strong episodes this season, so I have to say it
was a successful season with the exception of the finale.
Speaker 3 (29:39):
Scott, Yeah, I agree with that last statement. There were
so many times when we said, I don't know what
this might be my favorite episode, which is a mark
of a good season. It is interesting kind of looking
back at how many bottle episodes there were, but it
also feels like any one of these, with the accept
(30:00):
the season premiere, any one of these could be something
you used to kind of introduce somebody to the season
or show it to somebody to say, like, this is
the potential at starter I still has for me. I'll
be interested to hear thoughts on this, But to me,
my favorite was the one that I didn't get a
(30:21):
chance to talk with you two about, which is four
and a.
Speaker 5 (30:23):
Half fulcons one.
Speaker 3 (30:25):
It was a lot of fun, even the I didn't
understand the title until I saw the episode, and then
I was like, it's so obvious and it's such a
jabb at spot. You could hear him like, fine, four
and a half fulcons whatever. That one to me just
kind of there were some dramatic elements. Obviously you knew
(30:46):
it was kind of a funnier episode, so it wasn't
going to have major consequences, but it still had interesting
insights into each of the characters, still had some great impact,
and Patton Oswalt's character was just hilarious. So Wayne, what
about you.
Speaker 2 (31:03):
I really enjoyed the season. While I don't think it
was quite as strong as the last season, there were
a lot of high points in it, like well, like
you said, shuttlety Foy and another one through the Lens
of Time is another one that was really good. A
lot of good character building this season. I feel like
the actors and the writers are now they're now comfortable
(31:24):
with their characters. Well not just their characters, but the
cast altogether feel much more comfortable, so they can now
expand rather than you know, not just explore, but expand
their characters. But I think my favorite episode ended up
being Tyrannium last episode because I just felt it we
finally got that great Ortegas episode that we'd always been wanting.
(31:47):
Plus it's just it was a really strong episode, well
acted directed, the effects were fantastic. I just I loved it.
It was an episode that fit perfectly into the Star
Trek lore but didn't know rely heavily on continuity, and
I think just stood out for me from above all
the other.
Speaker 3 (32:06):
That's a good choice. I wrestled with Chisen Terraria myself,
But then I was.
Speaker 2 (32:11):
Like, I was the same way I wrestled with four
and a half Falcons.
Speaker 3 (32:16):
Which is that's a that's a sign of a good season, right,
It's hard to make.
Speaker 5 (32:19):
A choice, it is.
Speaker 4 (32:20):
Yeah, absolutely, I'm a sucker for horror, so that's why
I went with the zombies.
Speaker 5 (32:24):
Oh yeah, yeah, you don't get.
Speaker 4 (32:27):
To see that in Star Trek too much. I thought
that was a unique way for them to go. But yeah,
I mean I struggled. The four and half Falcons was
absolutely sterical, and Scott we even mentioned and that we
wish you.
Speaker 5 (32:37):
Were there to talk to us about because it was
so much fun. It really was a lot of fun.
Doug was amazing in that episode. Doug.
Speaker 3 (32:45):
Yes, I think it's interesting, like the range of choices
that we have here. It shows the range of Star
Trek and the potential for it to move forward. There's
definitely some some genre pushing. It's not necessarily what you
might expect from conventional sci fi or what you might
expect from Star Trek. And I think they're handling that
really well. They're going in the good directions.
Speaker 5 (33:07):
They don't. I love that.
Speaker 2 (33:09):
I love that that they're pushing the boundaries of Star Trek.
You know, we're not just getting another you know, cookie
cutter Star Trek series, you know, like like we had gotten,
you know, we don't we need that. This is just
pushing everything. This is trying things new, and I really
commend them for doing that, and it makes it makes
Strange New Worlds a more dramatic and a more fun
(33:31):
and more enjoyable series to watch. So I hope they continue,
and I know they are because next season we got
the puppet episode and I'm really really curious to see
what they're going to do with that.
Speaker 5 (33:40):
Absolutely.
Speaker 4 (33:41):
So, do you guys think we'll see an Oe character
next season introduced? I do?
Speaker 3 (33:47):
I would think so.
Speaker 5 (33:47):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (33:48):
I don't feel like they're gonna think it's.
Speaker 5 (33:49):
Going Do you think it's gonna be Suoneer? Do you
think it's gonna be Bones McCoy.
Speaker 2 (33:54):
I think it'll be Bones. I think it's time to
introduce them because we got we got membenga storyline, which
they really haven't. We have no idea what what the
heck happens to him, you know, and they're going to
explore They have to explore it, especially if they're leading
towards this Star Trek year one series that they're talking
about every ice talking about. So I do think Bones
(34:16):
is going to be next season's character, and I think
they're going to start the beginning of that story.
Speaker 4 (34:20):
You know, now that they lost Gamble, they need help
mm hmm. So maybe that is how they get McCoy.
Speaker 3 (34:29):
So here's another interesting twist to think about. Jim is
still on the Farragut. Yeah, and we don't know who
the medical chief of staff. There is no is it
possible that Bones could be on the Farragut with Jim?
Speaker 2 (34:43):
But did he come from the though that we don't know?
That's true, We don't know he could have. I mean
that that's yeah, who knows. I never even thought of that.
Speaker 5 (34:52):
That's that's a good call to Wow, he knows Bones.
Speaker 3 (34:58):
Right, And what I would like them to do, and
I trust that they'll do so, is that they'll leave
room for continuing to have Chapel and a Benga. I
would love to see them see it all the way through. Oh,
even though I know that Jones is destined to be there,
I don't want them to say like, well, there's too
many people in medical, which I would argue, no, there's
(35:21):
never enough people in medical. But you know, interesting with
how Bones has that kind of I would say, kind
of a contentious personality and the conflict that might happen
with Spock that I just I wouldn't want him set
up in such a way that it's just like God,
(35:42):
that Bones guy.
Speaker 4 (35:44):
Right.
Speaker 2 (35:44):
Well, I don't see them bringing any of the new
other characters on as regular. It's not like what they
do with Scotty, because if they've already got a full
house right now, and in order for them, in my opinion,
in order for them to bring any of the other
character you know, mccoyr or Sulu in full time, they'd
have to get rid of one of the other one.
I don't know. Maybe that's the way they're leading for,
but I really do think if it is Bones, and
(36:06):
I think it is going to be for next season,
because I think they'll say Suli for if not season five,
for this new series that they're talking about. But I
don't think he'll be a regular. I think he'll be
like Kirk, and that may pop up once or twice, and.
Speaker 5 (36:20):
That's it makes sense.
Speaker 3 (36:22):
I feel like we'll see or Tagus continue to gradually
grow and kind of ascend to a point where she
all those kind of you know, outgrows enterprise or season
possibility to go on to other things, maybe even get
into a command position on another ship like that direction
that we saw Sulugo right now, and leave an open
(36:45):
chair for him, but not an empty chair, right.
Speaker 2 (36:48):
And that's it for this season of Star Trek Strange
New Worlds, as well as this week's episode of Phaser
Set is done. We'd like to open a channel to
our listeners and here just what you thought about the
most recent episode and this season in general. You can
email us at a film by Podcast at gmail dot com,
find us online at a film by podcast dot com,
(37:08):
follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and x and if you're
looking for more content or swag, you can join a
Patreon and find out what exclusive gyms are hidden within.
A big thank you once again to my fellow trekkers
David and Scott for joining me and the listeners over
the last nine weeks reviewing this season.
Speaker 3 (37:26):
Yep, thanks, can't wait, can't wait to dig into the
next season.
Speaker 4 (37:29):
Yeah, what's so, guys? Before we let the listeners go,
what are.
Speaker 5 (37:33):
We doing next?
Speaker 2 (37:34):
We're sad to see Strange New Worlds end for the year,
but we have two more seasons yet to come, starting
with season four sometime in twenty twenty six, and of
course there will be more Phaser set to stun coming
your way to fill the gap. In a few weeks,
we begin our look back at another Trek series, where
we will bring you our top ten episodes of Star
Trek Deep Space nine, season by season. A new starter
(37:58):
treks with a look at each season of the nineteen
ninety three to ninety nine series, giving you the low
down on which episodes you should watch and which ones
you can avoid, plus our usual thoughts and opinions, along
with some fun trivia and behind the scenes info. Well
you guys, think about that.
Speaker 4 (38:13):
I'm very excited to start digging into the Space nine.
Speaker 2 (38:16):
I really that wait that way. Yeah, we're both fans
of that series, and I can't wait to do a
rewatch and delve back into this because it was a
great series when it aired absolutely well. We look forward
to returning to the twenty fourth century and to you
our listeners on the next episode of Phasers, set to stun.
Speaker 3 (38:40):
Man. I forgot how many seasons and episodes there are
in Deep Space nine.
Speaker 5 (38:43):
There's a seven seasons, a lot of episodes. That's things.
Yes it is, Yes it is.
Speaker 2 (38:50):
I know. I was looking at the first season trying
to decide which episodes.
Speaker 5 (38:53):
You know, we know episode one is gonna be one.
Speaker 2 (38:55):
Come on, yeah, and on the season finale that's in.
Speaker 5 (38:58):
The finale for it. There's two. We just got to
come up with the eight more.
Speaker 2 (39:01):
I can tell you which one's gonna be my fleet's favorite.
Speaker 3 (39:03):
But
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