Huh. Not what I wanted from the now-limited run of this show. On a show with 22/24/26 eps a season, a nice diversion, but not in this format. I guess it was entertaining? I kept getting bored and working on a puzzle.
I went into this episode pretty reluctantly. Holodecks just didn't seem to be a valid story topic for a TOS prequel series. Especially when it's just the yellow grid black room holodeck, with no effort to make it look like an early prototype or anything. But then they just put in all the holodeck tropes: period detective mystery, holodeck malfunction, safety protocols offline. Even the "make a challenge suitable for me" was done better with Data and Moriarty. Credit where due, though, I was honestly not expecting the reveal that Spock was also a holodeck character. That was pretty sharp. Just between us, I thought the brief red-herring reveal that La'an was the killer was a fun acknowledgement of the trope of there always being a murder somewhere just when, like, Jessica Fletcher shows up.
Also, no Pelia in a murder mystery game? Come on - Carol Kane is perfect for that!
I don't mind at all. I love Carol Kane, but not in this. I'm hoping she's just being phased out for the young Scotty.
It makes sense that the computer could use the transport patterns as really good hologram source code
I don't ever want another holodeck episode ever again, but what a fun idea. Imagine if all the TNG holodeck episodes had the same restriction and it was just the rest of the cast suddenly playing cowboys and mafia bosses. Not for nothing, I've never thought Paul Wesley was a good James Kirk until this episode. Shatner's performance exists in a time when overacting was allowed, and it was glorious. I think you can only reach those levels again in a parody like this, although I have a good idea of what Wesley's audition must've looked like to land the role.
Wasn't quite sure why Scotty didn't own up to the problem earlier
Unexpected background building for Scotty. I loved his interaction with Uhura, and the reality of why he doesn't trust others to do his job felt real. I'm enjoying Martin Quinn's engineer way more than Pelia or Hemmer.
where was Spock the whole episode? Aren't they studying some science-y thing? Was he in his lab?
There was a moment where, right after La'an reveals the truth about holo-Spock, when the real Spock should've walked into the science lab to help Scotty with the systems whether he wanted it or not. I think we needed to see him in the real world to hammer home the revelation.
Hated bringing Erica back to the helm early.
Since Erica's EMT was my favorite part of the last episode, I too was disappointed that she's just back on the bridge. Especially when they have a convenient use for the actor in another role built right into the episode.
And final spoiler thought: I do not want a Spock/La'an relationship. I am enjoying La'an's lighter Season 3 personality, but we've been through Spock's dating arc twice already.
