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Episode Discussion | Star Trek: Starfleet Academy | 1x07 “Ko’Zeine” (startrek.website)

submitted 2 weeks ago by ValueSubtracted@startrek.website to c/startrek@startrek.website

43 comments fedilink hide all child comments

As our cadets return home for their first school holiday, they must choose between what their families expect of them and their own dreams for the future — including an aspiring captain who’s secretly willing to risk everything to re-write her own past, and an aristocratic cadet called to serve his planet way before he’s ready.

Written by: Alex Taub & Eric Anthony Glover

Directed by: Andi Armaganian

There is no spoiler protection in the episode discussion threads, and spoiler tags are not necessary!

top 43 comments

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[–] ValueSubtracted@startrek.website 16 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

Well, that was certainly a low-stakes palate cleanser after last week's more intense episode. Probably a little too low-stakes for my liking.

They seemed intent on inverting common tropes in this one:

The "arranged marriage" storyline didn't play out in a way that we've really seen before.

Similarly, Darem's overall arc of "I need to stop being such a people-pleaser so I can be my more authentic, dickish self" is...a twist.

Caleb and Genesis put any "will they/won't they" plotlines to rest (though I suppose they could revisit it).

And Genesis' deep, dark secret turned out to be...not that deep. As much as I appreciate the inversion and that she didn't turn out to be a Species 10-C spy or something, I feel like we still don't know enough about Genesis. We're going to have to meet her dad to really get to the bottom of her character, I think.

[–] Kirk@startrek.website 6 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (1 children)

I really don't think we were meant to interpret the advice of "be a dick" literally. People with social anxiety often feel like they're being a dick when others just see confidence and playful teasing.

I interpreted his lesson to stop being afraid of how others perceive him, which is a recurring theme of this series.

[–] ValueSubtracted@startrek.website 5 points 2 weeks ago

Yeah, I exaggerate, but I think the message was definitely that it's okay to embrace your inner cockiness, which I think is an untraditional (but interesting!) message.

[–] StillPaisleyCat@startrek.website 2 points 2 weeks ago

The thing is, for Darem, his family and his people, this might be a high stakes situation.

It’s a change in leadership model, with a young new monarch. It should have more weight — especially as we and Jay-Den learn that they have some advanced Ionian-level portal technology. So, they seem the legacy of an advanced species with a highly structured society.

But the feel of the event was more like a resort destination wedding than a constitutional event.

The Khionians clearly a society hiding behind masks, and Darem excels at that.

BUT in the end, Darem’s long time betrothed expresses betrayal that Darem had been wearing a kind of mask with her, never showing his true self.

So, she sees only the ultimatum of an abdication an annulment as a solution.

Being creative and allowing Darem to continue with Starfleet so he could grow and become more comfortable and confident in his own identity, was beyond her ability to imagine.

[–] thetrekkersparky@startrek.website 13 points 2 weeks ago

This was most definitely my least favourite. Why show what Kionians look like in episode 1 when you're just going to make them all look human in episode 7. Just seems lazy to me.

Genesis and Caleb's story was better, but seemed out of character for Genesis. I also disliked the suggestion that men & women can't be friends without falling in love with each other.

[–] alx@piefed.blahaj.zone 11 points 2 weeks ago (3 children)

I love Jay-Den so much, and I really hoped he and Reymi would finally realize their love.

However, I hated the suggested romantic tension between Caleb and Genesis, fortunately it didn’t went further than that.

[–] themoken@startrek.website 9 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (1 children)

However, I hated the suggested romantic tension between Caleb and Genesis, fortunately it didn’t went further than that.

I think they did that well. Spent one moment of "is this...?" and then moved on. Felt very young adult to me, but I also hope that's the last of it.

[–] Kirk@startrek.website 6 points 2 weeks ago

I'm with you. Felt very normal for twenty somethings.

[–] Akuchimoya@startrek.website 6 points 2 weeks ago

Personally, I hope Jay-Den and Darem become/stay close friends. I think boys and men need more close, intimate, platonic friendships as a whole.

[–] CCMan1701A@startrek.website 3 points 2 weeks ago

I'm hoping they are more a Beverly Picard style where they want to, but don't.

[–] billmason@startrek.website 10 points 2 weeks ago

Quieter episode but I enjoyed it. I wasn't expecting a Genesis story this season from what's been said, but I was glad to get one.

[–] hopesdead@startrek.website 8 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (2 children)

So how did Reno break her toe?

EDIT: This had the feel of “Family”.

[–] khaosworks@startrek.website 10 points 2 weeks ago

She felt like testing the impact door.

[–] CmdrShepard49@sh.itjust.works 1 points 1 week ago

Im so glad they brought her into SFA. We definitely didnt see enough of her in DSC.

[–] Kushan@lemmy.world 7 points 2 weeks ago

Bit of a snooze fest if I'm honest. I was hoping we'd get more screen time with Genesys at some point but this was a bit flat and boring. It also seems to counter her character, an otherwise brilliant cadet that's acing it but does really obviously dumb shit? Didn't quite buy it.

The whole episode was quite predictable, this might possibly be my least favourite episode so far.

[–] haverholm@kbin.earth 7 points 2 weeks ago (3 children)

So I guess the message here is, "You're okay (without faking your application or going through with arranged marriages), and people around you want the best for you"? Which is valid, but not exactly mind blowing, narratively speaking.

I enjoyed the Genesis/Caleb staycation hookey games, not least Caleb seeing through her long con. Our boy is not a complete dupe, good on him.

The whole Darem sudden wedding side of things was part dull, part derivative. The entire landscape and scene setting where Jay-den arrived had me thinking of the SNW recreation of that "Amok time" arena. Which is promising I guess, if the writers and art dept. expect new 20-something viewers to glom onto 60 years old references — but they don't do much with it anyway.

I sort of thought the scaly amphibian form Darem changed into in the pilot was the default Khionian look. But despite a lot of talk about seaweed and "we've all got gills", everybody looks peculiarly human. Which is Star Trek, I know. The entire subplot just felt underdeveloped.

I'm still scratching my head what anyone sees in Kyle, so I'm assuming he'll turn out to be a salt vampire.

All in all, this felt like a stopgap episode before the season finale, where stuff hopefully goes off the rails on a more epic scale.

[–] ValueSubtracted@startrek.website 5 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

But despite a lot of talk about seaweed and “we’ve all got gills”, everybody looks peculiarly human.

I assume because this moon has (conveniently) become a desert over the years.

[–] haverholm@kbin.earth 3 points 2 weeks ago

Ah yes. Perfectly reasonable spot for merpeople to be married. Wonder how that place smells a few hours into the ceremony?

[–] buerviper@lemmy.world 5 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

I also thought of Amok Time! But why would they make that reference? And not do anything with it? Also agree on the Khionians, I didn't understand why they are all in their human forms. I also thought it was weird that everybody was pretty cool with a random Klingon to attend this important wedding.

I think this episode would have profited from being split in two. I know the 10 episode format only allows for so much episodes, but this one was a huge miss to me.

[–] haverholm@kbin.earth 5 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

I wouldn't call it a huge miss, but I don't think the two stories could stand on their own in separate episodes, either. It was just a bit... meh. Definitely the low point for me in the season so far, though.

[–] buerviper@lemmy.world 3 points 2 weeks ago

I don't know, they could have gone all in one the Khionian culture and his past and it might have worked. Instead we got a wedding I didn't care enough about. Likewise, the plot of "an empty school over the holidays" could have worked on its own. As I wrote somewhere else, with a show including Paul Giamatti, I was immediately reminded of the Holdovers. Two students and Reno, would have been a great setup I think. Instead, we got some hasty character "development".

[–] Akuchimoya@startrek.website 4 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

I understand why they didn't want to put all the time (and money) into everyone's make up, but, story-wise, that was pretty inexcusable.

[–] haverholm@kbin.earth 1 points 2 weeks ago

Yeah, when has Star Trek shied away from slopping latex (or CGI) on actors' faces? It's a weird choice.

[–] CCMan1701A@startrek.website 7 points 2 weeks ago

The swing from the last episode to this is crazy. I enjoy a good backstory, but was hoping there would have been something more interesting on the side quests. Maybe at the academy there is some systems failure and they have to camp outside idk.. our maybe the wedding starts and there is a murder they need to solve... Anything... Backstory stuff is ok, but when the seasons are only like 10 episodes, I'm not sure they are with it.

Overall, yes I enjoyed this episode. Would i slip it on rewatch, likely.

[–] Kirk@startrek.website 7 points 2 weeks ago

I thought this episode was the sort of comfortable, regular-ass side quest character-development stories the fans are always clamoring for. Honestly surprised to see the largely negative reaction here.

[–] end0fline@piefed.social 6 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

Another week, another episode I enjoyed. I'm not super sure how Genesis didn't think they were going to get caught when they activated the impulse and warp engines.

I don't know what is happening between Jay-Den and Darem but I am here for it.

[–] hmantegazzi@startrek.website 8 points 2 weeks ago

The more I think about that scene, the more I feel that she was trying to get caught in a situation that gave her no alternative to tell the truth. She feels like a character that's hiding too much for her own good.

[–] halcyoncmdr@piefed.social 6 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

First thing I thought was that the ship was going to be in Academy Mode because it was obviously landed and not in space, which we saw earlier seems to be able to simulate just about any scenario. Which would also explain why it was accepting commands from cadets without question.

[–] end0fline@piefed.social 4 points 2 weeks ago

I thought maybe that access card she made out of programmable matter was allowing her to do it, but who knows.

[–] buerviper@lemmy.world 6 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Meh, didn't really care for this episode. The wedding stuff would have interested me more if we were already more invested in Darem and his culture, but there is too much going on at the same time (lore-wise).

As for the academy stuff, don't know. Considering Giamatti is in this show, I hoped Genesis, Caleb and Reno would do a The Holdovers, but the entire premise falls flat. Again, too much in one episode. Genesis is first about to be recommended into that Captains program and in the same episode not. Wish this would have been more of a storyline between episodes.

After I thoroughly enjoyed the past episodes this is the weakest episode of the series so far to me.

[–] themoken@startrek.website 5 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Yeah, I liked the episode, nothing felt out of place in individual scenes, but you're right it does feel like they were trying to fit too much story into too little time. There's like four B-plots in there.

[–] buerviper@lemmy.world 3 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Yeah each scene works for itself, but together it doesn't create something that has anything to say. Every plot point has been seen somewhere else already, so it's not like there'd be any big surprises.

I think Darem's story suffers most. It's ironic if his bride says "Jay-Den talks about a side of yours I have never seen" if they all talk about a Darem we have never seen before. Not sure what the authors were thinking in this episode.

[–] Grail@multiverse.soulism.net 2 points 2 weeks ago

Oh, what Kaira means is that back on Khionia, Darem was really quiet and dutiful and selfless. Starfleet is the first place he's felt cocky enough to be an asshole.

It doesn't make any sense.

[–] khaosworks@startrek.website 5 points 2 weeks ago

Annotations for 1x07 are up at: https://startrek.website/post/35797552

[–] Kabutor@lemmy.dbzer0.com 4 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

A low point episode for me, the wedding could have been much better just adding a nemesis character to Daren that is hovering over her fiancee to grab the throne, some dark guy with evil intentions. As for the Genesis/Caleb plot I only enjoyed that he knew all the time she was playing him, I would have enjoyed much more if he will have resolved the issue, and don't have to tell the Chanciller about it.

Not very interesting episode, the main problem is that Darem has changed because a lot of time has passed between episodes, and I don't have a sense of that (there is a line when they said how long Tarima has gone for the recovery) , he has evolved from the character he was on the first episode, but we don't realize it

[–] Akuchimoya@startrek.website 6 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

The change in Darem was the whole point of the Calica/prank episode. He went from needing to be the best (because of his parent issues) to apologizing to Genesis, supporting her as their team leader (with the prank as well), and telling his parents he's found another way.

With the Miyazaki episode, he immediately gave Genesis credit for the idea of how to find the cloaked ship, and while he didn't have lines for it, when she was getting frustrated with the search, his body language and gestures were essentially encouraging her.

[–] Grail@multiverse.soulism.net 3 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Kaira: Jay-Den's toast. It was beautiful. But the man he described is someone I've never met. The Darem I know is quiet, always trying to appease, always one step behind me, our whole lives. [...] Go. Be cocky. Walk on hulls. Live the life you were meant to live.

Jay-den: Congratulations.
Darem: Thank you. For-for what?
Jay-den: For realizing that you are essentially an asshоlе.

All that stuff about Darem becoming less of an asshole since joining Starfleet has been retconned out. Now the story is that he was quiet and selfless on Khionia, and became a confident asshole since joining Starfleet Academy.

[–] Akuchimoya@startrek.website 7 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

I mean, have you really never met anyone who's one way around some people, and another way with others? We should all be so lucky! I've had co-workers who are total assholes to colleagues, but become simping ass-kissers in front of higher-ups. Or kids who are angels at home and absolute terrors at school. Or the other around: they're angels at school and terrors at home.

Darem was sweet, deferential, and dutiful for Kaira (and his parents' approval), and then he let himself loose for the first time at the academy when he didn't have any of that baggage on him. That's not at all different from kids who grow up in strict homes, then basically go hog-wild when they go off to college, and then later grow out of that wild phase.

[–] Grail@multiverse.soulism.net 3 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

But I thought he was competing so hard with Genesis during the sportsball episode because Khionia was such a competitive society.

[–] Akuchimoya@startrek.website 6 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (1 children)

We've known very little about Khionian society till now. Darem was competing hard with Genesis because his parents would, if we believe he was being truthful, leave when he made a mistake. That's what that episode was about: him dealing with the insecurities caused by his parents' neglect (and realizing there was another way). He and Genesis had a bonding moment over living up to their parents' expectations. They wouldn't even call him back, hence his going to Reno saying his PADD was broken as it wasnt receiving calls. And Reno saw through the situation and talked about people who do show up for him, referring to Genesis.

[–] Grail@multiverse.soulism.net 1 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

If he was a competitive asshole because his parents made him into one, why did Kaira never see that side of him?

[–] Akuchimoya@startrek.website 4 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

You've written into your mind that he was a competitive asshole before the academy, but the entire point is he was not like that until he got to the academy. He had to be perfect for his parents, not an asshole. You've decided that perfect = asshole, but that is not supported. You can watch that episode again and listen to what he says about his parents.

[–] Grail@multiverse.soulism.net 2 points 2 weeks ago

This episode is far below the standard of quality I've come to expect from STA. From Chancellor Ake using an ableist slur, to the bad Darem retcons, this episode brings down the whole series.