Review: Star Trek: Strange New Worlds 2×07 – “Beastly Old Star Travelers”

With the pre-release of Episode 7, Paramount fooled us all. How the episode is usually taken, reviewer Tom Gotze wrote in the “Spoiled Animals Review”.

Yes, that’s what he calls it.

Terms of Service

You’ve been waiting for this episode for a long time, as it has been the subject of various speculations since it was announced. So, the prequel was also a very interesting move – or way to fill in the somewhat orphan Comic-Con.

Anyway, the episode is also called “Tierisch olle Sternreisende” in German, which means that the German translation of “TOS” remained – Animals!

The beginning of this Strange New Worlds episode is lower decks style as the episode begins in the future. More specifically, between Episodes 6 and 7 of Season 3 of Lower Decks, if you go to Stardate.

The hook is quite classic: you find a time-travel portal and Boimler is thrown into the past. Here the series then switches to live-action mode and we see Jack Quaid meeting the Enterprise crew “live”. Very good!

This is followed by the heavily altered – due to its graphic – opening credits, which even include some “basements” intro elements. And yes, what follows is a solid roundup of easter eggs and fan service. It’s not entirely without its weaknesses, but it sure is fun.

Head to the past

Because, of course, Boimler was surprised to meet his icons. But he should try not to get too bogged down in the schedule. Although I’m wondering if the time directives won’t come until later, ie around TNG time. Because Kirk has never been this elaborate about it.

But, as is often the case, you shouldn’t think too much about loop logic. Otherwise, one has to wonder, why leave the portal on this planet after getting it back from the Orions when you could also take it with you and make it mobile? Or why would you honestly tell Orion about the future? Glory with all due respect, but if you sell us seriously, then the portal will remain untouched for another 100 years – and neither Orions nor Starfleet will secure it in any way? While one might not know how it works, or might not have Oronium (- what a coincidence, the name! -), why would scientists leave Orion blank? This is better solved in the books with the Guardian of Eternity’s safety devices, for example.

But be that as it may, the episode just wants to entertain and incorporate lively and colorful “lower floors” entertainment. And she does it very well.

So, in a way, Boimler is the archetypal rule-follower who tries to do best despite hero worship. We know this from the “lower floors”. On the other hand, Beckett would like to get everyone’s signatures and breaks the rules.

Scenes work best when the two are fighting and the Enterprise crew is standing right next to them. Yes, it’s actually only Anson Mounts Pike who brings the right facial expressions here, but the other actors are clearly having fun too.

And somehow, in all of this, they don’t forget to include character scenes. At least Venus told Chapel that she and Spock had no future. While Spock rightly argues that this is how it should be at this point.

Farewell tears

But that’s just an addition to the cake, because the episode provides us with important information in passing: apparently, the Gene Code has been relaxed at least if you have an advertising poster of Una hanging in your locker – and to top it all off, her motto is printed on it (see also episode 2 x 02 “Strange New Worlds”)…

I actually thought it was a good thing to be presented this way. Although I hope the topic will eventually receive a deeper examination. And of course Tendi aka your grandmother Also known as Jabbar to be paid well. Will we see gray-skinned Orions as in TAS?

Of course, one can still talk about a lot of Easter eggs – The first part of NX-01 for example, or Ransom is in love with Una (the actors are married in real life) –but this may go beyond the scope.

So I’d rather watch the episode a second time. And many of you know that when an episode sparks that drive in me, it gets the highest rating.