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Star Trek: Strange New Worlds’ Enters Klingon Territory
This week, we have a noir episode of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds . My favorite part is that they offer a great, Star Trek- y answer to why everything is in black and white. Plus, the long coats and the hats. I’m in. Let’s go!
A Federation probe, Angelo 1 , has shut down and drifted into Klingon territory . The Enterprise has been tasked with collecting Angelo 1 , but the ship itself is too big and would risk discovery. A shuttle has been sent, led by Number One on her first mission as Commander. (I guess I should stop referring to her as Number One, huh? Ok, Chin-Riley it is!) With her are Dr. M’Benga and Uhura.
Uhura is disoriented due to the black and white. Doc explains that it is due to the “infrared black-bodied specter from the Mat'aaran star.” But that only affects how they see color (or don’t see color).
Uhura finally made the reset successful, and the Angelo 1 is now propelling back to Enterprise . But then they get a warning. Chin-Riley calls Pike and tells him that the D7 is blocking their return path and diverting to Mat'aar XII is their only way to stay safe. Pike assures her that they have the Angelo and agrees that they should divert until they find a safe way to get them back. He warns them to stay out of sight—the Federation cannot be seen here.
They begin their descent and are notified that there is an electromagnetic atmospheric barrier that they have to go through. A full planetary detection system. And the planet is fully inhabited. No place to hide. They know someone arrived, but not who. The best plan is to hide the shuttle and try to blend in with the people.
The inhabitants come out in long jackets, hats, and nice noir-ish clothing. Uhura has an important question: if this is a Klingon planet, why are there no Klingons? No one has the traditional Klingon characteristics but there is a Klingon hologram warning people that they must show their paperwork otherwise they will be subject to “search and seizure.”
A young local spots Chin-Riley and addresses her as Nevette. He calls her “boss” and laments that they thought she was dead. Chin-Riley plays along. “Well, clearly, I am not.”
The local, Roman (Demore Barnes), tells Chin-Riley she picked a good time to come back. Doc introduces himself and Uhura as “new recruits.” When Roman asks Uhura why they have no armbands, she quickly comes up with “we were undercover.” Chin-Riley assures him that they are out there investigating the report of an unknown ship crossing into Mat'aaran airspace. Roman suggests they go back to HQ—he has something else for them to “handle.”
HQ turns out to be a high-end club, complete with a player piano, people drinking, people playing cards, people chatting. Doc says that their new friend is “proud”—the exact type to collaborate with Klingons. He has the Klingon armband to prove it. Chin-Riley asks Doc how many Klingon-occupied planets he has been on. He admits none.
Roman addresses Chin-Riley, “introducing” them to a “traitor” with an EMF scanner. Clearly a member of the resistance, not working alone. They need that name of her accomplice. Chin-Riley suggests he leave the “traitor” with her, alone. She’ll get the info they need.
Doc and Uhura sit at the bar, watching. Uhura is concerned about what Chin-Riley is doing, but Doc assures her it is not her first time pretending to be someone she’s not. Doc knows that this is Uhura’s first time. “Of all the gin joints…” Uhura says. Doc tells her to keep her surname and any information she gives close to the truth, and take notes with her eyes—and keep an eye out for others who are taking notes with their eyes.
Back on the Enterprise , La’An and Spock are debating over a probe from Angelo 1 that they “went to great lengths to get back.” She wants to make sure they didn’t bring on a Trojan horse. Spock doesn’t think it was gone long enough. The scan is complete, allowing Spock to move back to the probe. They begin the physical examination, and La’An notices that a chip has been dislodged. La’An discovers the data from the chip is missing. He is looking for the most benign explanation; she is full of paranoia.
She takes this to Pike. “You think we have a Klingon spy?” She doesn’t think that it is necessarily a spy, but that someone tampered with it. La’An thinks it may have been tampered with while being transferred. Pike says she is the security officer; if she thinks it is a problem, she should go “sniff” it out.
One thing I will mention here is that the stuff on the Enterprise is all in black and white, too. Later, they make mention that they are within the radiation spray to get the effect as well, but I think it would have been better if it had just been shot in color. (Also, I think the stuff on the Enterprise is weak-sauce.)
Back to Chin-Riley, who is interrogating the “traitor.” “I have secured the reading,” she whispers adamantly—which Chin-Riley insists means nothing to her. The room freezes when Commander Kor (Andy McQueen) walks in, a Klingon who is a direct descendant of Kahless the Unforgettable. Doc assumes he must run this outpost.
Chin-Riley and the traitor have begun talking again. “It must be you now. 34.6 megahertz,” she hisses before the traitor’s suicide pill takes effect, and the traitor falls to the ground. Kor approaches Chin-Riley. He is annoyed that the traitor died, but Chin-Riley insists she did what she had to do. Kor accepts this. He commands that the remains be annihilated; traitors deserve no glory.
Heading back to Doc and Uhura, Chin-Riley puts on her arm band. Doc informs her that Kor is a member of the Imperial Family. He will not be easy to deceive. They all agree: this is bad . Chin-Riley decides that they are safer if they hide near the shuttle and wait for the Enterprise .
They go back to the shuttle and come across a new checkpoint. A guy is shot dead for not having any documentation. Uhura rushes to the man’s aid, but the Klingon stops her, warning that “compassion is unacceptable.” The...
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