David Newgreen (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
4thofeleven) wrote2020-12-13 04:37 pm
4thofeleven) wrote2020-12-13 04:37 pm
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Star Trek Discovery: 3x09 (Terra Firma, Part One)
In which it's harder to eat people once you know their name.
So that was certainly an unexpected twist, for the show to revisit the alternate universe, that twisted and warped reflection of the Star Trek we are familiar with. But enough about that reference to the reboot timeline!
I mentioned this before in season one, but I'm really impressed with how Discovery has handled the Mirror Universe. It's genuinely horrifying in a way that it never was in any of the previous series, and feels far more like a real place with its own history and customs. Here we're going deeper into the Terran Empire than we've ever seen before, and really getting more of a sense of life in the Empire. Little touches, like the macho idiots at the party daring each other to use agonizers on each other, or the theatrical flair of Terran ceremonies, really make this feel like a society that people actually live in – which just makes the causal cruelty that much more unsettling.
(And I love the detail that in the mirror universe, the medical uniforms are blood red.)
And amidst all this cruelty and barbaric splendour, Burnham stands out as uniquely depraved; petty and hateful, without even the touches of honour or loyalty that redeem some of the others. I think Georgiou could easily have settled back into her role as Emperor, having perhaps learned a few minor lessons from her time in the Prime universe, where it not for having to confront her daughter's senseless evil once again. She's a representation of the senseless nihilistic cruelty of the Empire, made all the more heartbreaking now that Georgiou has seen the woman her daughter could have been.
(I also like the touch that we now know that Prime-Burnham and Prime-Tilly were doing a fairly poor job of impersonating their counterparts last time we visited the mirror universe. The real Captain Killy is far more controlled, while Burnham is barely controlled rage.)
Oh, and can I also say how delightful it is to have a mirror episode that doesn't needlessly sexualise things? I mean, make no mistake, the Emperor, Burnham and Tilly all look fantastic in their mirror uniforms and makeup – but they still get to be real characters, not cartoons, and there's no hint of male gaze or exposed midriffs to spoil things.
The big question, of course, is what is this place? Is this real, or a “Tapestry” style chance to see the consequences of different choices? Our new friend 'Carl' certainly has Q-like qualities, and it is delightful to see Star Trek once again embracing its more bizarre elements – whimsical gods have been absent from the franchise for far too long.
And once this all ends, where will Georgiou end up? Back in the 32nd century, cured of her molecular issues? Back in the 23rd century, removing the danger to her and allowing her to join back up with Ash's Section 31? Remaining in the Mirror Universe, and perhaps setting in motion the changes needed to bring down the Empire from the inside? Somewhere else entirely? Discovery is getting good as surprises, so I'm not going to make a prediction just yet.
Speaking of alternate universes – I do like how the Temporal Wars are being treated as a major piece of setting background, but one nobody really wants to talk about. I get the impression that, from Cronenberg's point of view, the Burn is but a minor disruption compared to the true disaster of the time wars. I am a little disappointed, though, that word of the creators is that the reboot-verse Time Soldier wasn't meant to be the same species as the alien Nazis from Enterprise; would have been a fun reference if he had been...
In general, though, I'm just glad Star Trek has stopped doing cliff-hangers at season's end, so we can see the resolution sooner rather than later!
So that was certainly an unexpected twist, for the show to revisit the alternate universe, that twisted and warped reflection of the Star Trek we are familiar with. But enough about that reference to the reboot timeline!
I mentioned this before in season one, but I'm really impressed with how Discovery has handled the Mirror Universe. It's genuinely horrifying in a way that it never was in any of the previous series, and feels far more like a real place with its own history and customs. Here we're going deeper into the Terran Empire than we've ever seen before, and really getting more of a sense of life in the Empire. Little touches, like the macho idiots at the party daring each other to use agonizers on each other, or the theatrical flair of Terran ceremonies, really make this feel like a society that people actually live in – which just makes the causal cruelty that much more unsettling.
(And I love the detail that in the mirror universe, the medical uniforms are blood red.)
And amidst all this cruelty and barbaric splendour, Burnham stands out as uniquely depraved; petty and hateful, without even the touches of honour or loyalty that redeem some of the others. I think Georgiou could easily have settled back into her role as Emperor, having perhaps learned a few minor lessons from her time in the Prime universe, where it not for having to confront her daughter's senseless evil once again. She's a representation of the senseless nihilistic cruelty of the Empire, made all the more heartbreaking now that Georgiou has seen the woman her daughter could have been.
(I also like the touch that we now know that Prime-Burnham and Prime-Tilly were doing a fairly poor job of impersonating their counterparts last time we visited the mirror universe. The real Captain Killy is far more controlled, while Burnham is barely controlled rage.)
Oh, and can I also say how delightful it is to have a mirror episode that doesn't needlessly sexualise things? I mean, make no mistake, the Emperor, Burnham and Tilly all look fantastic in their mirror uniforms and makeup – but they still get to be real characters, not cartoons, and there's no hint of male gaze or exposed midriffs to spoil things.
The big question, of course, is what is this place? Is this real, or a “Tapestry” style chance to see the consequences of different choices? Our new friend 'Carl' certainly has Q-like qualities, and it is delightful to see Star Trek once again embracing its more bizarre elements – whimsical gods have been absent from the franchise for far too long.
And once this all ends, where will Georgiou end up? Back in the 32nd century, cured of her molecular issues? Back in the 23rd century, removing the danger to her and allowing her to join back up with Ash's Section 31? Remaining in the Mirror Universe, and perhaps setting in motion the changes needed to bring down the Empire from the inside? Somewhere else entirely? Discovery is getting good as surprises, so I'm not going to make a prediction just yet.
Speaking of alternate universes – I do like how the Temporal Wars are being treated as a major piece of setting background, but one nobody really wants to talk about. I get the impression that, from Cronenberg's point of view, the Burn is but a minor disruption compared to the true disaster of the time wars. I am a little disappointed, though, that word of the creators is that the reboot-verse Time Soldier wasn't meant to be the same species as the alien Nazis from Enterprise; would have been a fun reference if he had been...
In general, though, I'm just glad Star Trek has stopped doing cliff-hangers at season's end, so we can see the resolution sooner rather than later!