Picking up right where the premiere left off, the crew is becoming acquainted with their new mentor, and immediately find themselves in grave danger.
Some Spoilers Ahead
1. A Dal-liance With Darkness
Dal is afraid. He is constantly lying to his new companions and Holo-Janeway. Becoming increasingly unlikable as the episode progresses. Whereas all of the other characters are very easy to connect to in one way or another. Gwyn, who is currently the on-site antagonist, feels more like a hero than Dal at this moment. Or at least someone who is hoping to be better than she has been in the past. As Gwyn looks to get off the Protostar, she is clearly trying to make amends for past sins, while Dal is far from learning any lessons from his actions. In another show I could see us getting a role reversal between the two, but as Dal seems to be set up as the main character for now, I don’t really see that happening. So for the time being we are stuck with his arrogance and frustrating lack of trust, even towards those who have helped him. It is understandable, to say he has had a rough life up to this point is an understatement. It’s difficult as an omni-present viewer who knows and understands the Federation, to see this young fugitive assume they are not to be trusted.
2. Janeway Breaks It Down
Our leads, and all Star Trek newbies in the audience, get a quick, yet detailed history lesson on the Federation. Throughout the episode our holographic teacher does her best to assist this ragtag crew, even if Dal is constantly getting in his own way and lying about who and how experienced they all are. Holo-Janeway believes them to be Starfleet recruits, and this is where her programming really becomes evident. She really only sees what she is being told. Whereas a more sentient hologram would probably have realized immediately that these characters aren’t Starfleet. They just play it up as needing to be reminded about things, all of which would be in their Starfleet training or commonplace within Federation society. So because of this lacking in her A.I. she just keeps spouting needed information like a textbook with just enough of the real Janeway’s charisma to keep the character feeling like her.
3. A Better Look At the Diviner
John Noble’s big bad feels both an ancient creature and extremely strong and formidable. His introduction in the premiere made it seem like he was weak or in the middle of some sort of medical treatment. In episode 2 we get a brief moment of him suiting up in what seems to be armor and spouting an angry monologue about getting his ship back. Like most of John Noble’s live action roles, the focus cuts to his character’s mouth more than once, showing us just the lower part of his face as he spouts of his evil plans. It’s a funny call back to things like his part in the Lord of The Rings trilogy. This part of the show still continues to be the most “Star Wars-ian” aspect, but the Diviner and his villainous cohorts are some of the most intriguing bits. I want to know more about them immediately.
5. What Secrets Does the U.S.S. Protostar Hold?
I am LOVING this new ship. If the Voyager was a prototype war ship with various new features unlike anything else in Starfleet, the Protostar is like its sleeker and tougher younger sibling. It has two warp cores AND something extra along side them. In some ways it’s a bit disappointing that the opening credits spoil some of the ship’s features, but at the same time it only makes me more excited to see what she can do in coming episodes. We see it functioning in ways both similar and brand new to Starfleet ships. It’s nacelles move like Voyager’s when going to warp, but they fold down, rather than up, and a 3rd rocket-like engine extended from the rear hull creating what looks to be the ultimate warp engine. If the hints we get from Jankom Pog line up, this ship could be one that safely breaks Warp 10, without any “Threshold” side effects. We learn that just one of the warp engines would get the Protostar to Warp 9. And both we and the characters make note of that extra, glowing, component.
Continued belowThen we also get another new thing for Trek. A ship replicator?! The sequence is used for a fight scene between Gwyn and Rok-Tahk, but hopefully this new feature will bring about some interesting and exciting possibilities in future episodes.
5. The Stars Are Aligning
Hearing this cast come together as both the actors and characters spend more time on our screens is incredibly fun to experience. Not only does their chemistry begin to form a stronger bond throughout this episode, the characters begin to learn that working together is the way to move forward. Their shared experiences in having painful pasts, and this unexpected, and once in a lifetime opportunity for a fresh start, finally makes them see this. Their bond is still shaky, but by the end of “Starstruck” there is something new and wonderful on the cusp of blooming. This found family is the type of think Star Trek has toyed around with in every iteration, but this is probably the most apparent version of all. I could see this turning into a beautiful set of friendships and I look forward to seeing where this goes.
