3/5
Strange New World.
13 Episodes. Starring: Sonequa Martin-Green, Doug Jones, Mary Wiseman, Anthony Rapp, Wilson Cruz, Rachael Ancheril, Emily Coutts, Tig Notaro, Blu del Barrio, Ian Alexander, Janet Kidder, Paul Guilfoyle, Jake Weber, Oded Fehr, David Ajala, & Michelle Yeoh. Created By: Brian Fuller & Alex Kurtzman.
Spock "Live Long and Prosper" gesture. 'Star Trek' deserves your salute. Even if in these star wars it's all about Baby Yoda and 'The Mandalorian' with everyone mantra saying and believing, "This Is The Way" (although like the storied Celtics and Lakers, having Star Trek vs Star Wars every Friday this fall gone was the perfect fanboy fantasy for this writer who has always loved each rival 'Star' as much as each other). Way before this 'Discovery, this long way from Kirk Kansas show that boldly went were no one had gone before was always all about diversity. And it had nothing to do with whether your ears were pointy or not. You only have to watch the humanity of the' Star Trek' and 'Wars' director JJ Abrams produced 'Final Flight' of the 'Challenger' documentary series on Netflix to see. There she is. Nichelle Nicholas. The amazing actress who broke through barriers at warp speed for Gene Roddenberry's (wait for the quote for this theme) revolutionary 60's show as the original lieutenant Nyota Uhara. The best thing about 'Star Trek' after the Lennon and McCartney like dynamic duo of William Shatner's Captain Kirk and Leonard Nimoy's (how about that fitting tribute on-screen?) Spock that made this show number one. There she is turning science fiction into everyday fact. Urging the general public to join NASA. Because there's a chance to seek out new life and new civilisations with this mission. Now here is the post apocalypse of what was 2020 and this 'Discovery' named after in honour the first shuttle that flew back to space after the Challenger disaster. With the 'Strange New Worlds' of Marvel 'Inhuman' Black Bolt, Anson Mount's Captain Pike and Gregory grandson and Young Clooney in 'The Midnight Sky' Ethan Peck's Spock spinning-off from this show that leaves them for the interstellar travel of 900 years into the future and throwing it back in tribute like Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto and Zoe Saldana whose 'Star Trek' trilogy originally helmed by Abrams gave him the awakening force of the 'Star Wars' reboot gig. And look at what all these franchises have created in dimensional shifts. For as many Star Wars shows on Disney + as Marvel (with 'Discovery' being a nice stop-gap between the end of Mando and us tuning into 'WandaVision' next week), to everyone's favourite Professor X (no disrespect James) returning as his real iconic character (no hate Xavier) in 'Picard'. So much is being made so in this next generation like Riker Jonathan Frakes manoeuvring the best episodes in his direction. Think I'm wrong? Then like his 'Beyond and Belief: Fact or Fiction" show being montaged into a meme, "that is not true".
Black Lives Matter now like they did last year, decades gone and what's yet to come. Forever more. Always. Still. That's why seeing two black leads, male and female, fighting for freedom in the opening of this season in a whole, brave new world is outstanding. Just like seeing the LGBT love of the both just as normal same sex, different race relationship between lieutenant commander and medic that really flying a whole new way is just what the doctor ordered. One that can survive any strain, the virus of bigotry, or even death. As the heart (Anthony Rapp) and the soul (Wilson Cruz) of this show continue to beat as one in the face of a world with corners like a Borg hive mind. Rapp's rapturing last stand in this latest season and speech are truly stirring and among the best work and amazing acting this Broadway talent has done. And how about Star Trek's latest Discovery? Cribbed a little off 'Minority Report' sure like those data droids that look like EVE from 'Wall-E' got a new job, but how about this individual? Blu del Barrio. How about them? Or their real relationship in this series with teen sensation Ian Alexander that is anything but imaginary. Boldly defining that they don't go by he or she pronouns as we should call them exactly what they want. Exactly what they are. It's a subtle, but beautiful moment that quietly permeates the rest of the seasons references in all its grace. Not to box tick, but to be real world realistic...and respectful. Just like the 'Umbrella Academy' of Netflix show star Elliott Page. You are who YOU say you are. No one else. And how about the legend of Hong Kong cinema, Michelle Yeoh? The crazy, most rich thing about this show. The 'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon' star never hides her roar or flame, ducking from nobody. And her lead episode that turns out to be a twofer guided by the door of 'CSI' guest star Paul Guilfoyle having newspaper, cigar, easy chair and bowler hat fun allows her to be as bad as she wants to be for all kinds of 'Terra Firma' delight. Turning this 'Trek' upside down in tradition with its blue theme that even allows the gold armour of the lovable Mary Wiseman's Tily to have the time of her life breaking bad. This time the needs of SO many are weighed as Brian Fuller and Alex Kurtzman's 'Discovery' channels it all. Even the Kelpien. THIS is the prime directive.
Now, you may like to think you have sass, but you don't have it like Doug Jones' Commander Saru sashaying around the decks of Discovery. Following a captain crisis in the identity of the changing first two seasons, grizzled vets of grit for the grind like Jason Isaacs and Anson Mount bounced round the hotseat like Yeoh and Green, its time for a new breed. And even if this series lacks the bite of the first or the feeling of the second, its all about family and the lengths we will go to for our people. Which means you really see the Oscar winning 'Shape Of Water' creature actor for who he actually is here. And the moment couldn't be more poignant. From 'Hellboy' to 'Pans Labyrinth' just ask Guillermo, he arrived a long time ago, but our time to truly see Doug Jones is now. Still we all know the star of this show is Sonequa Martin-Green and as she turns her signature acting at a dramatic whisper to a euphoric shout to the stars in the epic episode opener, this fallen Red Angel is back. And this time she really has wings and someone on her six with the awesome addition of David Ajala. The 'Fast and Furious 6' London actor is revved up as the big free agent acquisition AND MVP of this season 3. 'Supergirl's' Manchester Black has another cavalier cool name here as Cleveland Booker. You may recognise those eyes from the stare he gave to Heath Ledger's iconic Joker when the clown in a chep suit broke a pool cue over his knee in order to hold try-outs. But this is the team this fine gentlemen joins. Making it fast and making it so. Book it! And what an undeniable, unsung team he joins headed and driven by Emily Courts compelling character that looks like she has Seven of Nine roots (how about Jeri Ryan stealing the show in last years beginning 'Picard'?) and a bracing Rachael Ancheril who gives Hannah Cheesman's season 2 performance a run for its circuits. There's real emotion here for a real family. Even the notoriously grumpy and great Tig Notaro shows love...in only the way she can. Real heart. Despite all that faces them down or stands in their way in a phaser fire fight finale. Whether that be the vocally recognisable Janet Kidder's Trekkie nostalgic green villain (looks like Kirk's been around) looking for her day with veteran back-up from criminally underused character actor Jake Weber (you'll recognise him) as her wild hog henchman. Or the mental red tape that admiral and star of 'The Mummy' Oded Fehr displays to Discovery as a Starfleet veteran in perhaps even the performance of his video game to big screen role call resume of a filmography. As commanding as they come. Still for all this cast as crew, going forth and fourth, Season 3 of 'Star Trek-Discovery' in all its diversity reminds you like its bookending opening and finale parts that in a world of woe, 'That Hope Is You'. Now fly. Re-energize. TIM DAVID HARVEY.
Further Filming: 'Picard', 'The Mandalorian', 'Star Trek-Strange New Worlds'.
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