Tomorrow’s Enterprise is a prime example of Star Trek as it can be — it’s about time
After what we felt was a largely disappointing season, it all ended rather well, as the show embraced its destiny. Let us explain.
Tomorrow’s Enterprise — what was it about
On one level, it’s the Uhura (Celia Rose Gooding), or the Uhuras show to be precise. There’s no parallel or fantasy worlds, no genre-hopping, no magical spirits, just a character story about growth, change and destiny. In our timeline, a white hole is being studied by the Enterprise when strange energy pulses emerge resulting in the untimely death of Scotty (Martin Quinn) in one set of events.
A year later, the Enterprise is in the same region of space checking out a black hole. Much has changed onboard, including a romance between Uhura and Scotty. Of course strange energy emissions soon cause problems for a shuttle on which Scotty gets killed beaming Uhura back to the ship for safety before the shuttle is destroyed.
In both versions of the Enterprise, Uhura detects strange musical signals, then messages from the other end of the white/black hole events. These messages are from herself! This new twist on Trek time travel is well realised as versions of Uhura need to initiate tasks able to complete inside the available year. Of course alls well that ends well, with a recognisable history back on track and Uhara seeing a lot of potential within herself. As per the earlier action story, Orders of Magnitude, Celia Rose Gooding demonstrates her capabilities as an actor, more than capable of anchoring the whole story.
Now a diversion…
Production values
In recent years, Star Trek has looked good on screen. For this episode, the challenge (apart from black / white holes and Uhuras’ space walks, was to convey one year later. Plenty for some key cast members, but absolutely full marks for the simple changes of hair style for Chapel and Uhura, and a sense the set dressing has changed a little. It all supports what we see as the core of this particular story…
The show is finally clear on its inevitable conclusion
While we might still hope for Star Trek: Year One, and feel it’s unlikely with recent Paramount mood music, we’ve known the how is heading towards the Original Series. In some clear brush strokes, let’s explore how Strange New Worlds evolves, not forgetting this episodes one-year future is subject to change. Pike left to become an Admiral. Ortega left to become a Captain (and another new look). Number One is not even mentioned and something has happened to La’an nobody wants to discuss. Kirk is now captain, Bones is discussed as hoping to get a permanent assignment and barring Sulu and Yeoman Rand, the show is suddenly at its endpoint.
No more avoiding fate, we know where it’s going, the show knows where it’s going. Finally, with focus, we get a strong, well-made story.
Not all perfect
The foreground story of black and white holes mixed with birth of “Star Baby” is a little twee, and weirdly anthropomorphised. Breach birth and rotate the baby may work in terms of the flow of the episode, but the idea felt a little weak. That said, this is probably the strongest episode for some time, and while we might complain about the show taking this long to produce something this good, let’s treat it as a sign the final and already filmed season may match this standard. We’ll find out next year!
