IR TV Review: STAR TREK - STRANGE NEW WORLDS - EPISODE 8 (“The Elysian Kingdom”) [Paramount+]
Playing in different character sandboxes to mix up the approach and challenge of a show is always tricky, even if the characters themselves are unaware in certain situations. With Episode 8 of “Strange New Worlds”, the payoff usually comes about but some are less efficient or effective than others in how they get there. “The Elysian Kingdom” reflects in the idea of the daughter that Dr. M'Benga (Bab Olusanmokum) has been hiding in the transporter buffer and that storyline. Like Pike's inevitability, certain story strains needs to be streamlined in order to move on with the fabric of the mission, especially if its intent registers off screen. Like TOS, there are still many beings in the universe that are undiscovered or left just off screen that the crew cannot control or even contend with. It is that sense of mystery and what cannot be controlled that can make the best episodes or the near misses. The reality created here within the ship is interesting because of how it alters the personalities of the characters with the exception of two. Some work well and some test the bounds of acceptance (oddly enough Anson Mount's).
Part of the point to make the characters as opposite as they would be in their regular reality without utterly breaking them. Dr. M'Benga becomes the lead in this story but the character itself is not as engaging to the play of it as one might want. In this mode, it is about outthinking what is happening without being too monotone in its resolution. Kirk for example always had a playfulness even when his actions could have trapped his crew...odd but it gave a sense of the cowboy mentality. What does finally happen in this episode does make total character sense but the sense of the narrative (just in this episode) tried too hard in getting to it without understanding that the subtlety of certain actions (as if the psyche is just trying to break free) can be more effective than over-the-top. Again this kind of episode is an exercise and a standalone that is what this series is made for. But with such a limited amount of episodes per season (even if it resolves a plot point), every single bit counts. B-
By Tim Wassberg
