Ups & Downs From Star Trek: Strange New Worlds 2.5 - Charades 

Spock sticking up for his mother, and then talking to her about the real memory that was shared: that Amanda was happy for him, even while -- simultaneously -- the other Vulcan mothers rejected her. That was my Latinum Up.

Huge miss Sean on the beanie. Obvious reference to the fact in several episodes the beanie was how Spock hid his Vulcan ears and now gets to hide his human ears.

Oh, when Amanda explained the meaning of the memory she shared, and that it did not matter that she was shunned, only that he was accepted, then remembering what she told Spock while showing him how to make the tea: "If there is one thing I have learned while living on Vulcan it is how to suppress my own pain." Oh. The hits deep.

My absolute favorite thing is the super whipped Father. Watching him show uncharacteristic excitement about things only to immediately back off of it when T'Prill spoke up was amusing. His appreciation for food was also something I can really relate to.

Up for the "hi Mom" Spock gives Amanda in the transporter room. It really came across with the feeling that many of us have felt I think, that "mom's here, she's gonna fix this, everything's going to be fine now".

Surely Spock's beanie is a reference to The City on the Edge of Forever.

You forgot a HUGE part. When Spock's mother finally realizes something's up, and tells him to take off the beanie, he says "Hi Mom" sounding so embarrassed and ashamed. That was spectacular.

The interactions between Spock and Amanda made me cry and miss my mom. I loved this episode for giving me a moment to thing about her.

Loved this episode too. Surprised you didn't mention Chapel telling Vulcan interviewer what she just did and that he can read her paper in a few months.. and that the fellowship isn't ready for her. The reaction and look on his face was priceless.

"I'm going to teach you how to lie, and the Captain is going to help me." "Do I have a choice?" "No." Loved it.

The door incident with Pike has a punchline - once everything gets revealed, *the door opens again*

i really liked the part when Chapel is about to talk about her feelings and asks her friends to turn around, and the reaction of 'how does that make a difference?' but obliges is very human.

I liked how the Vulcan ritual was kind of like Festivus with the airing of grievances. 😅

Up for Uhura being competent at her job, Una's smile of pride at Pike, and Uhura being the grounded best friend between her Ortegas and Chapel :)

Bravo to Ethan Peck. He just completely showed his acting chops with the switch from human to vulcan and back and ...dang, just good

The Beanie was not a reference to the Spock helmet, but to how a Beanie is the go-to for hiding Vulcan ears from humans in any time travel episode. It is now used to hide human ears from Vulcans.

In addition to Spock's beanie being a reference to The City on the Edge of Forever ... I felt like Chapel's rapid fire question and answer prep for the Vulcan interview was a reference to The Voyage Home where Spock is answering questions from multiple terminals simultaneously.

For me the scene of the show was Spock’s facial change when he got his “vitamins.” Brilliant piece of acting.

One Easter egg you missed was in the scene when Spock hugged Chapel. He said "You seemed like you needed it." I caught that as a reference to the TNG episode when Data kissed the girl and said "you seemed to need it."

just wanna say that Gia Sandhu is killing it as T'Pring. she's been fantastic. Sidenote: I think it's the 1st time they positively identified Vulcan as Eridani B - otherwise known as the exoplanet AEgir or Epsilon Eridani B, which is in the triple star system 40 Eridani. While the main star is 16.3 light years away from Earth, Eridani B is only 10.5 light years away. So the "Vulcan" system - i.e. 40 Eridani - is at least 6 light years across - so it's entirely feasible that this moon could be more than a light year from wherever the Enterprise was located.

Are we going to get a scene with Spock screaming "WE WERE ON A BREAAAAAAK!"?

My two main ups were (1) Ethan Peck's suppressed angry face when T'Pril is providing her Creating Awaereness to Spock. His eyes were bulging and I was sure he was going to explode. It was amazing to behold. And (2) when Anson Mount does his version of the Grandpa Simpson in and out .gif when Spock does his human reveal. Pure gold. This is by far the best episode yet.

For me, the best part of the episode is the last scene with T'Pring and Spock. Gia's ability to emote her feelings without over doing it is amazing. You could feel her disappointment with Spock's decisions. Nicely done!

Nurse Chapel giving it to the academy "maybe your not ready for me" at the end was a definite up for me

I really like T'Pring's father, Sevet. Definitely has not undergone the Kolinahr, I can see why he would be friends with the younger Sarek that fell in love with a Human. Gives me Romulan northerner, like Zhaban, vibes though.

Finally, Spock's prop ears is finally in cannon as props. LOL!

Sevet seems like the most pleasantly social Vulcan. Henpecked, but, very pleasant. Vulcans like to perpetuate a mystique about themselves, but seeing their family dynamics are much closer to human than they would ever let on.

Trellium down for not mentioning the scene with Chapel and the interviewer where she said "you are not ready for me" that actually made me cheer out loud

It didn't occur to me until now, but do you suppose T'pring's father was depicted so affably (and perhaps you might say "humanly") in order to suggest an explanation as to why T'pring herself is attracted to the more human-Spock?

When Spock goes to the bathroom and totally flips out is my favorite part. We have all been in a situation where we have to keep decorum but someone is right on our last nerve and we really can’t do anything about it. On a personal note I always think of bathrooms as a sanctuary. It is the only place you can be truly alone and let it all out (no pun intended but it works) 🖖

My Latium up is for this Discovery/Strange New Worlds version of Amanda. To live among Vulcans and probably be marginalized everyday yet retaining her dignity, grace, composure, and sanity is an amazing thing to behold.

This entire episode was so beautifully written and portrayed to show how when you are in a dominant culture but have parts of your intersectionality that are marginalized that how much people have to hide themselves or mask themselves in order to fit in. I'm really glad that they allowed Spock to show different sides of his intersectionality.

They talked about T’pring’s dress in the aftershow Ready Room, and it is an incredible costume. It’s just regal. You don’t notice it as much on the first watching but WOW! It was a really good episode.

Another Cetacean observation... Spock's beanie was also a callback to his Earth disguise is The City On The Edge Of Forever!

Majel Barrett was Nurse Chapel and later Lwaxana Troi. I want Jess Bush to eventually play Lwaxana!

Watching this with my mom was emotional, hilarious, and downright amazing. She's been waiting for Spock and Chapel to kiss like that since 1967 😂

It was one of the funniest episodes of sci-fi that I've seen in a while. Going to be interesting to see if Spock tries to use the "We were on a break" excuse for him and Chapel (cue memory of Ross trying it in Friends).

This show just keeps getting better and better. I hope it lasts a long long time.

Loved the scene of the doors closing in Pike’s face. You could just feel his confusion through the screen

The line "Thier judgement is thier weakness, not ours" hit me super hard in the feels

I liked t’prel’s husband. He’s bumbling, kinda good natured, he’d be very amicable, if not for his wife.

This episode was so good. I loved Ethan's and the cast's rapport throughout. But yeah. I smell a meme template with some guards holding back Spock and him letting the camera know he'd, just,destroy you. I loved this one.

I think that with Una having her nature as an augment being publicly known, she's able to be more open around everyone there socially rather than risking things earlier

I really hope we get to see more of T'Pring's father. He's fun.

Yeah, that "What the f---" line threw down the gauntlet saying "This is gonna be a good one."

Anson Mount always knocks it out of the park with an easy charisma but this episode was something else. His expression when Spock admits he's currently human had me crying

This is my favourite episode so far, I laughed so much throughout it. It was great to see the comedic skills of the main characters; the cast looked as though they were enjoying themselves. I really enjoyed the scenes with T’Pring and her family, not because her mother was so challenging as such, but because T’Pring and Sevet navigated her idiosyncrasies with such fortitude and self discipline. You said that Sevet might have some Romulan in him, well I thought that T’Pril could give the members of the Qowat Milat a run for their money with her absolute candour. I enjoyed this episode especially because it was about relationships and this was conveyed so well by the cast. However, the relationship that I was touched by the most was the one between Spock and his mother, it was so tender. I think that Spock’s enforced confrontation with his humanity finally made him understand the sacrifices, humiliations and difficulties that Amanda had endured throughout her life as a human married to a Vulcan, living on Vulcan.

'Charades' is the episode where Strange New Worlds surpasses previous explorations of Spock's humanity, leaving canon just enough to explore the Chapel/Spock/Mother Amanda relationships but not so much as to be implausibly off canon. I love Nimoy's and Quinto's portrayals but I love that this episode really lets Ethan Peck nail Spock's dual nature.

Just as I look forward to "New Star Trek Thursdays", I also look forward to the Ups and Downs episodes as well. Complete package there. And thank you so much for your insights and your remarkable observations and details you catch. Your time and efforts are very appreciated. Thank you and a huge thumbs up...or a live long and prosper as the case may be. Cheers to you.

The kiss. ❤ Spock: "What does this mean?" Chapel: "I don't know. Shut up." ❤

When I was a teenager, Spock was my favorite character because I was also unable to express my emotions. This episode was perfect to remind me of all these feelings, and in addition very funny, I loved it

Totally Agree with the Spock/Kirk "I will break you" moment... Hopefully this moment will be repeated/called back to in future episodes.

As always thank you so very much for the videos. And if I may give a shout out to a dear friend of mine, who's battling Brain Cancer right now. This is for Jim Van Over, a friend of mine who, with our group went to see "Wrath of Kahn" at it's first screening at our local theater, and who a few years later would start working at ILM. And whose name may be found in many of the Star Trek shows and movies credits. (Note: If you're seeing James or Jim Van Over, it might not be him, it could be Jr.... who I used to bounce on my knee as a toddler... yeah I'm old.)

They mention Roger Korby in the episode? That was a big up for me.

LOVE the show. LOVE the crew. And is it me....or is Chapel getting hotter by the episode? OH!! - you did not mention the reveal that Spock had moved the shields to protect Chapel. That GOT me in the feels. I love those kind of secret gestures that happen to come out later. Genius writing.

The door closing on Pike got some of the biggest laughs for me. Pike's reactions were great.

Did anyone else notice Spock's "Napoleon Dynamite" moment in his voice when he yelled at his mother? All that was missing was the "gosh" at the end of his rant.

I started to wonder with Yellow and Blue characters as maybe a link to The Gamesters of Triskelion. Also loosely resembles part of The Cage when the rebuilt the girl with no idea what she should look like.

Loved the episode and I love how they are totally teeing up for Tpring in TOS to have exactly every reason to hate spock and want him dead so she can marry Stonn... in fact, I am desperately hoping that the next time we see Tpring, that Stonn makes an appearance just in the background :) As for the rest of the episode, I loved it, I adored Anson's antics in the background.. masterful ! and I loved the sweetness of really fleshing out Amanda as a character and her hardships adapting to vulcan life as well as her high points being wehn spock was asked to play for the first time. just, as a mom, lovvvvvved it.

Pike's wraparound in this episode wasn't the same as the one he wore in Season 1. This version was an upgrade for me, beautiful.

The first scene with Chapel and the Vulcan Science Institute Guy felt like a meta commentary about Trek and the complex relationship to its fans. While the syntax (this being aesthetic, story choices and direction) is different, the heart and the meaning are the same. I also wanted to say that they did a great job casting Mia Kirshner as Amanda. Not only is she very talented, experienced and beautiful she also (to me) resembles Jane Wyatt who originated the role in 'Journey to Babel'.

I loved this episode and laughed a lot too! I'm glad I wasn't the only one who laughed a lot at Pike's reactions throughout the episode too, especially with the doors closing on him as he's trying to escape.

For the distance issue 17:30 they did say the moon was in the Vulcan _sector_ but I didn't catch them say the Vulcan _system._ The system usually means solar system, as in planets orbiting a Star. But "sector" - I think - usually means an area that may contain multiple stars, multiple solar systems, which could be light years apart.

This is the one show that I wish would have more episodes a season. This show just does the most excellent job of capturing TOS's spirit and feel. This was another great episode. They consistently knocks it out of the every week.

t'Pring's dad was just awesome. Loved him so much. Vulcan dad energy lol. I was annoyed that Chapel didn't just explain that Spock's half-vulcan, half-human and that now he's fully human... instead of all this fluff.

I think that final scene between Spock and Nurse Chapel was just so satisfying. It was a long time coming from S1 and the chemistry between the characters is mesmerising. If they end up in some sort of secret relationship, I wouldn't have a problem with that

This episode was so great. And I definitely agree, Anson Mount killed it with the physical comedy. The shot of him chugging the whiskey during the ceremony had me in stitches.

Shatner would have never agreed to defer to the supporting cast like Mount did in this episode. One thing I love about this series is that Mount's ego doesn't envelope the cast like a heavy blanket.

Doubt it was an intentional call-back but Spock indignantly coming clean and peeling off the ears had definite shades of Pel flinging her lobes at Zek for me

Brilliant! Plus the TOS music stings too. "Speaking of Luxwaxana, sort of" I see what you did there!

Another outstanding episode. Like Star Trek Lower Decks, the writers of Strange New Worlds have a deep love of this franchise.

I totally share your enthusiams for this episode, Sean, it was such a brilliant mix of hilarity and family love. Definitely my favorite episode of this season so far and of ther series overall.

They're no downs, only ups. Best funny fun episode ever! Now the Spock and Chapel connection really makes so much sense carrying over to original series and also trying so hard not to allow his feeling for Christine to resurface.

I have so many things that I loved about this episode, but overall - I believe that Ethan Peck is doing Leonard Nimoy proud in his portrayal of a younger Spock. It's magnificent to watch.

My highlight was definitely the conversation about the mind meld. It wasn’t just that she saw the acceptance of Spock into the group, it was the fact that she never was and Spock only now just saw that. In a week where so many of the main cast excelled, Mia’s performance stuck out so much for me as absolutely fantastic.

Anson Mount's subtle humor CORPSED me. it was darling and lovely and I wish we could have had more interaction explaining Charades to the vulcans. I was laughing so hard I made no sound. 🖖🏻💝🖖🏻

Honestly loved this episode. Me and my dad had a good laugh over some of the scenes hahaha.

One of the top twenty episodes of Star Trek made this century. I loved it. I'd write down every funny line or discreet expression or moment of physical comedy, but it'd basically just be the full script.

Peck was great. Seeing the human Spock emphasizes the real issues that his normal state must be suppressing/ controlling. It reminded me of Torres in Voyager when she was split into her human and klingon selves, Finally, I LOVE Mount as Pike, even when he says nothing, his expressions say everything

Seán, great review of a great episode. I thought the previous work was hard to top, but then, this episode was the top! Nothing is said, nor shown, on screen without a reason, and I'm surprised that nobody up to now has not underscored the importance of Amanda's words before she departs for home: "A human loving a Vulcan is a hard thing." She as herself, is speaking of herself and Sarek, but you don't get foreshadowing underscored any harder than this textbook line. It really casts a pall on Nurse Christine Chapel's love for Spock. And, T'Pring's eyes, dead and cold, when Christine enters the quarters to administer the 'vitamins' to Spock, and her looking after them as Christine drags Spock away to the bathroom, those two, alone, during HER engagement dinner? T'Pring knows more than she's letting on, maybe even if she knows more than she's willing to admit to herself. This is Hamlet-sized tragedy in the making for Spock, Chapel, and T'Pring, and we are all cheering at Christine's "Spock, shut up!" declaration of love, but how is this tenable? How can the lightness be sustained? How is heartbreak not assured in both women's futures? The Chinese character for 'chaos' is 'two women under one roof' (c.f.: James Clavell's Shogun, ... the book, ... and the miniseries, too). The writers have shown that they are astute. Just because it feels good doesn't mean that opening the box on those feelings doesn't make you any less Pandora. I hope they've worked out what this moment means for all three, and I hope they've worked out who has to pay what emotional costs from the fallout, ... ... and are these costs (not?) so high that they (don't) ruin them, and the show for us? I'm looking for the happy ending here, but, as a writer, it's hard for me to see it. I mean, how do they even go to work tomorrow now? "Oh, everything's fine"? "Oh, everything is as it was"? But if not those [cop-outs], then this relationship now bleeds into every interaction they have going forward? Ick. I loved the episode, but I'm concerned about its fallout.

Solid episode, but I was struck by the fact that the Vulcans never studied a dimensional vortex in their own system.

This was a fabulous episode, I love hijinks episodes they're wonderful but I especially love that they also delivered real emotional pathos. Also I love AR Walls for giving actors and editors the ability to work better with their environment.

I think an UP you missed is when Amanda was planning on how to get Spock thru the dinner and Pike asks if he has a choice. When Amanda says No I laughed so hard. It was a big up for me.

My own personal latinum up is Sean's "transparent as Captain Boday's skull" 🤣 Excellent DS9 callout In all seriousness, in addition to your point about T'Pring being rightfully upset with Spock at the end, you can kinda see the seed of what leads to the events of Amok Time. I'm curious if this will be continued and explored in future episodes/seasons of Strange New Worlds or if we'll just have to connect the dots ourselves.

This show just keeps getting better! Comedy gold this week! Shout out to the writers !

I really thought I was going to hate this episode when I saw the trailer but I think it's my fav of the season, if not the series. Especially liked Amanda getting some love ❤

An adequate showcase for the excellent actors. TOS T'Pring never had the chance to do anything -- the story didn't orbit around her. Gia Sandhu is radiant and whole, fully deserving to star in one more episode. And the two mothers are fantastic...

So we learn in this episode that there is a species in the universe that has convergently evolved to resemble a voice response system.

I was going to be really mad if you didn't mention the nasal suppressant do you think that was an obvious one for anyone who has seen enterprise but I am glad you mentioned it.

This episode was great and nearly had me in tears because of the connection between spock and his mother

The weak part of this whole episode is that anything in the Vulcan system would have been investigated by the Science Academy, or if a starship was needed, then the Intrepid would have been requested

A great alternative title for this episode could have been the "The Human Condition". :D

I think, we all need friend like Pike to have our back. The rest of the crew did it to, but Anson really took it to the next level.

After many long years, this show is what has made my wife a Trek die-hard. This episode delightfully exemplifies one of the reasons why. Brilliant all around.

The turbo lift scene where Nurse Chapel just stairs at Spock and Doctor M"Benga shakes his head as Spock leaves, that deserver an UP.

I think the evident AR room is a callback to the old studio sets from TOS, at least it works that way for me, I loved the episode

My favorite light-hearted Trek episode BEFORE tonight was TNG Rascals. Now Charades. Ethan Peck delivers fantastic comedy in this one.

The tear rolling down Amanda’s cheek as Spock was showering her with praise ❤

The acting as always was on point! Sevet was hilarious! Chapel was wonderful as always 😍 The green shirt! You can't go wrong with that, Mount wears it well. I wasn't totally sold on the "Apple Store Tech Support" bit but it did finally get the Spock/Chapel train rolling.

What I don't quite get yet is what is Chapel's role as a nurse. Not only in this episode but in other episodes, it seems like she's like a medical scientist/researcher, sometimes acts like the Enterprise's chief doctor, so I'm a little confused about what her duty as a nurse really is.