+- Scivillage.com Casual Discussion Science Forum (https://www.scivillage.com)
+-- Forum: Culture (https://www.scivillage.com/forum-49.html)
+--- Forum: Zymology (https://www.scivillage.com/forum-56.html)
+--- Thread: Did puppet episode finally break any lingering defense for Star Trek? (TV brewing) (/thread-21161.html)
Did puppet episode finally break any lingering defense for Star Trek? (TV brewing) - C C - Aug 23, 2026
There would be no problem if Star Trek: Strange New Worlds had begun as a jovial gimmick show from the start. But it commenced with Captain Pike having a nightmare vision of his own future paralysis, and the show being rather dark and serious in other areas during the first season. And Pike still has that grim destiny waiting that the series will suddenly have to spin around 180 degrees for when it concludes next season. Yeah, if there were a total of 150 episodes instead of only 46, then occasional spoof episodes would also be okay or a delight (as in the older series). But as it is, they're contended to be virtually dominating the show.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
DAVE CULLEN
https://youtu.be/WtWrwqOdGtU
VIDEO EXCERPTS: Since the release of the puppet episode on Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, it feels as though there's been a degree of reevaluation of the show by some of its defenders. [...] generally speaking, there's no defending Strange New Worlds anymore in my opinion. The show's first season was okay, but it had problems.
The second season started the gimmick episodes including a musical and a crossover with Lower Decks, which was very self-aware. And from there on it just got worse. The show is now producing pastiches or homages to popular films from other genres. Be it the likes of Event Horizon, The Hangover, Dude, Where's My Car?, Casablanca, or The Muppets. It has seemingly lost its own sense of identity and certainly the writers don't appear to be even remotely attempting to draw inspiration from Star Trek.
[...] Now, I've discussed before how the writers seem to be heavily inspired and influenced by Joss Whedon shows like Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel. And this would of course explain some of the dialogue on the show, which feels very Whedon-esque, you know, quippy dialogue. And of course, it would also explain the musical episode in season 2 and this season's puppet episode. Because of course, there had been a Buffy musical and there had been an episode where Angel was turned into a puppet.
[...] The utter absurdity of the episode along with the recent abysmal installments like the episode that was an homage to both The Hangover and Dude, Where's My Car? Or the Casablanca rip-off has sort of cast a new light on this series now.
Given that there's only 10 episodes per season and by the show's end, there will only be 46 episodes produced across five seasons, that will mean that the gimmick format breaker episodes really stand out. Perhaps more than any other episodes. They stand out when compared to the more serious episodes.
When you think of the more light-hearted episodes on The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, or Voyager, those episodes may be memorable. But they aren't the episodes that immediately spring to mind when you think of those shows. And I think this is a critical point. Those series did so many more episodes per season, and when you think of those series, you think of the episodes that really exemplified them. You think of the best sci-fi stories, the most thought-provoking or dramatic stories.
Now, you might fondly remember the more humorous, lighter ones, but they were merely a welcome departure from the average type of episode. They didn't define those series. However, Strange New Worlds is the opposite. It will be remembered primarily for the goofy, gimmicky, comedy parody episodes...
There's no defending Strange New Worlds anymore ... https://youtu.be/WtWrwqOdGtU
RE: Did puppet episode finally break any lingering defense for Star Trek? (TV brewing) - stryder - Aug 24, 2026
The entire episode was... (explanation)
RE: Did puppet episode finally break any lingering defense for Star Trek? (TV brewing) - Syne - Aug 24, 2026
Humiliation ritual for Spock?
RE: Did puppet episode finally break any lingering defense for Star Trek? (TV brewing) - C C - Aug 24, 2026
(Aug 24, 2026 08:41 PM)stryder Wrote: The entire episode was... (explanation)So as absurd as the episode was (in regards to physics), they didn't break the universe.
Yah, Cullen actually put that spoiler in the video. The moaning is now along the line of "now they're even spoofing the spoof episodes" or using them to bait the audience.
RE: Did puppet episode finally break any lingering defense for Star Trek? (TV brewing) - stryder - Aug 24, 2026
(Aug 24, 2026 09:17 PM)Syne Wrote: Humiliation ritual for Spock?
The writers could have a far greater depth of characterisation using visual representation of Spock's psyche, as some of his fears/anxieties have been tapped into on previous episodes also found their way bubbling to the surface.
Or they could of just wanted to have some puppets to tick it off the "We did that" list. Considering that Star Trek always had a Damocles sword hanging over it's funding and dictated whether a new season would pop up or implode into oblivion, at least shaking up the norms gives a chance for discussion to be echoed on what they've achieved.
RE: Did puppet episode finally break any lingering defense for Star Trek? (TV brewing) - Syne - Aug 24, 2026
Oh, I did mean throughout the entire show.