Ok I wasn’t expecting anything that happened. This episode was a surprise a minute. I mean we had seen the trailer clips of Kirk in the past but I never would have thought this is how that happened.

It’s weird because last night I watched a different show that pulled just the main character out of their usual setting, paired them with a guest side character, and nobody else appeared. This episode had background with some of the crew but apart from Pelia they didn’t even really talk. Pike had one line and M’Benga had two, but like one scene only deals. Otherwise it was one regular on a two-hander with a guest side character.

Of all the characters to pull out from the ensemble and make carry the entire episode really, its interesting that it was La’an. I mean you could argue episode 1 was for Spock, but M’Benga and Chapel had their side story, there was banter with Uhura and La’an. Episode 2 was Una focused but Pike had a role, and so did La’an again, and Spock also testified etc. So even though they were focused, the rest of the crew didn’t entirely disappear. But yeah this was a two-hander really.

Interesting that if what happened, always happened, then Pelia saw La’an in the past. She said she was terrible with faces though so might not remember.

The end with La’an space skyping with Kirk was a bit odd. I mean I get her being impulsive given the emotional ride but Kirk just didn’t blink. Her lie wasn’t convincing so what was he thinking?

Interesting that the episode began with M’Benga saying La’an should talk, and now she isn’t allowed

I’m still a bit stuck on the genesis of dumping the ensemble for the La’an and Kirk hour. I guess they could shoot that second unit? And it wasn’t on the sets mostly either? So perhaps it was a production thing? Although all that location shooting (which they don’t usually do just have been expensive?) or perhaps the episode required less CGI and other sci-fi making things so was cheaper?

Although speaking of expensive. They sure did manage to buy a LOT of stuff from Kirk winning a few chess games. I mean that hotel suite? That was insane! That had like a lounge and two bedrooms.

I wonder why La’an’s hand opened the door? She said marker in her DNA but it wasn’t drawing blood and how could it know that fast? I mean it seemed like it wasn’t supposed to be very far into the future from now.

Anyway I liked it but stylistically it was so left field I am still processing.