Scifi TV Review: Star Trek Discovery Short Treks

In preparation for the new season, CBS provided a few short treks back into the Star Trek Universe, so, of course, I had to give them a go. How were they, you ask? Well, let’s begin shall we?

Trek One: Runaway

Ensign Tilly makes a friend of a stowaway who happens to be from a newly warp capable race.

In 15 minutes we actually got far more character development for Ensign Tilly than the entire first season of the series. This 15 minute story covers the very core of what Star Trek is all about, not just exploring Strange New Word and New Civilizations but the humanity that goes along with that mission. Solid short story, great characters. Honestly, this is what I expect from Star Trek. Great Start.

Trek Two: Calypso

A man awakes on a deserted Star Ship centuries in the future. The ship, The USS Discovery.

Giving us our first glimpse of Post Nemesis Star Trek. Taking place 1000 years after the series (presumably 900 years after TNG) we get little clue as to the state of the galaxy. The episode is a clever tease of things to come with little information actually given. Aldis Hodge and Annabelle Wallis are an incredible pair in this interesting view of the future. An episode embracing classic scifi that leaves more questions than answers. Plus, Apparently, at some point Discovery gains a Sentient computer and now I wonder how that happens. Maybe we will learn by the end of the series?

Trek Three: The Brightest Star

The origin story of a Kelpian named Saru and how he found his way to Star Fleet.

In a story that borrows slightly from Logan’s Run, we find that the Kelpian race freely sacrifice themselves to the ‘Ba’ul’ in order to maintain the Great Balance. Saru, wanting to know more, breaks with the traditions of his people by experimenting with a technological device that just happened to allow him to contact the USS Shenzhou.

Doug Jones dominates the episode providing in just 15 minutes far more character development for Saru than the entire first season of Discovery. In many ways, this single short made me more sympathetic to Saru than I ever thought possible. With this being the second one to really establish characterization in already known characters, it really gives me hope that this new season will be something special.

Trek Four: The Escape Artist

Mudd returns with his latest con but this time he finds himself in a rather hostile situation.

Rainn Wilson is amazing as the infamous Harry Mudd and I found him yo be a delight in this as much as I did in his appearances in the first season of Discovery. This one is just for fun but man if it isnt a delight. Proving that Star Trek doesn’t always have to be serious, this episode is fantastic.

So, there they are, the four Short Treks. Be sure to come back for the review of Star Trek Discovery Season Two Episode One: ‘Brother’!

Late To the Game 1/17/19

If you would like to read more reviews I have a weekly series called Key Movies Of My Life that comes out every Thursday and also a complete review of Star Trek Discovery Season One.

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