I can’t believe we are here already. After waiting impatiently for season two, we are already at the end. The Gorn have attacked a Earth settlement in the far reaches of space on the border of the Federation. Using loopholes in Federation law, they stick their heels in and attempt to kill everyone on the planet, the Cayuga, and the Enterprise.
1. Sometimes, A Monster Is Just A Monster
It is frustrating as all get-out that Starfleet and the Federation allow the Gorn to do what they do in this episode, especially with the destruction, murder, and chaos they have been inflicting. However their actions reflect what any large institute does in situations like this. Procrastinate and make things worse. While some of their caution comes from not wanting to cause an all out war (Good!) it allows the Gorn to do exactly what they want here and inflict hell once again (Bad!). Essentially a follow-up to “All Those Who Wander,” this is a harrowing episode filled with major death and destruction that has plenty of Alien callbacks and a slew of horror tropes. The crew is stranded, scared and it shows. Every character pulls from their past to work together in this situation. Whether it be Ortegas and Chapel being warriors in the Klingon War, La’An’s own experience with the Gorn, or simply the crew as a whole remembering their training, as Una so perfectly states. This is an outstanding and horrifying season finale that is whole-heartedly Trek mixed with the unforgiving horrors of space and the things that lurk in the dark.
2. Good Ol’ Midwestern Town
This is a fun set, that is clearly there to cut costs, but not in as such a blatant way as sending our heroes back in time to have them wander a city they film in. It’s most likely a backlot set of ‘small town America’ and it is used as an Earth settlement in the far reaches of space on the border of the Federation. This border town was purposely set up to look like the midwest of the 20th century. It’s a fun reference to episodes of Star Trek past that used western sets or had settlements that, for some reason, looked like Earth. This just gives it a reason. It’s fun. It’s hokey. And it’s a small part of the episode even though the entire story is set above or on this planet. Also, this episode clearly has a huge budget, so (assuming) if they’re cutting corners by using an existing back lot gives us better effects and props elsewhere? I’m all for it.
3. Interference
The Gorn have implemented some sort of interference wave that blocks weapons, scanning, transporting, communications, an so on. It’s a wild thing to give an enemy such as this, but they’re exactly the kind that would have a weapon like this. A monstrous species that uses every trick to ensure their plans go their way. For such an animalistic species, as seen in this series, rather than the humanoid lizard headed character of the original series, this type of technology and planning feels like it shouldn’t come from such a “savage” race, but that’s what makes it all the more scary and surprising when at every turn they have Starfleet on the run.
4. Scotty!
We heard his voice in the alternate timeline flash forward in last season’s finale, but we get a true meeting of him in this episode. It’s obvious he hadn’t been cast last season. Played here by Martin Quinn (Derry Girls). Quinn is the first person who is actually Scottish to take over the role. Originator James Doohan was famously a Canadian linguist and actor and Simon Pegg is British. His looks are actually a great mix of both Doohan and Pegg. A nice way of keeping his look familiar and nodding to the other actors to play Montgomery Scott. He’s a survivor from the Cayuga who is hiding amongst the wreckage of the settlement. Making his way down in a shuttle and somehow slipping past the Gorn, he has set up traps in an attempt to keep the other survivors safe. This was a huge secret that I can’t believe has been kept secret.
5. Always The Hero
Spock is always willing to jump in and sacrifice himself! I know that every time he volunteers to be put in harms way for the good of the crew it is a nod to his eventual sacrifice in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, but at the same time, every time he does this it takes a little bit of the power away from that future moment. Using his time on the Cayuga to actually save Chapel is good at least and the real sacrifice goes to another hero of Starfleet. One we have only just gotten to know. This character’s fate, and the fate of so many others is left in the balance when we are hit with a TO BE CONTINUED… at the end of the episode! A shocking reveal and conclusion that hasn’t really been used during a season finale in a hell of a long time.
