2.09 Star Trek: Strange New Worlds - Subspace Rhapsody

[ctg]

An accident with an experimental quantum probability field causes everyone on the Enterprise to break uncontrollably into song, but the real danger is that the field is expanding & beginning to impact other ships - allies & enemies alike.

IMDB rating: 7.0 Runtime: 52 minutes

 

[Droflet]

They tried this on Buffy and it didn't work, for me. I'll give this a look but am not hopeful of it being anything better. We'll see.

 

[ctg]

Well, I've never been comfortable with the musicals, simply because I don't get them. I understand that they are part of the old school theatre, but that is where my understanding ends. Back in the days when Buffy was on a small screen, Buffy/Angel musical episodes were kind of cool, but still it wasn't my kind of thing. I just coped through them because Viv loved them.

So you understand that I'm struggling with this piece, but since Dave's not posting it, I'll do my best.

According to Uhura's log, the Enterprise encountered "a naturally occurring subspace fold," somewhere near "the edges of the Alpha Quadrant." Why there? We don't know, and frankly it's a mystery because the artist impression made me think of the fold as a river in space.

Not that is the case, because scientifically speaking the subspace fold would be a dimensional break. The thing is ST has never explained concepts of hyperspace, or subspace. Very often in the warp speed, we'll see stars streaking because the vessel is moving so fast that a dot becomes a streak. But that is all still happening in the real space and not some other dimension.

A couple episodes back, the long-lost race in the Vulcan space were living in a higher dimension. There was an explanation and also an artistic impression on what it would look if a real person went there, where the energy beings live.

Nevertheless, the Enterprise crew, including the captain were moving on with their lives when the incident happened with Spock's experiment. All thanks to Chief Engineer's suggestion on using music as a medium to transport the message across the quadrant that normally could takes weeks to reach the recipient.

Space is a really big place and not the size of a Manchester where everything is around the corner. So whenever they've done jumps in seconds from one place to another, it has been across vast distances. The subspace communications have also been faster-than-light. So in that sense the context clashes with the past.

Another thing, James T Kirk seems to be part of the normal cast, which is strange because according to the narrative, he's not Pike's First, but actually he has his own command. Yet, coming as an outsider, he too were subjected to the singing.

The first song were wonderful and Spock couldn't be explain, "Why are we singing?." Not even though he'd initiated and approved Uhura's choice on playing Great American songbook to the anomaly. One which they called as a phenomenon.

Spock called it "A quantum uncertainty field," while Pelie translated it to more common, "A musical reality." Which makes sense because in the infinite space the impossible is possible. So they had to name it a zipper field, because of the way the fold functioned.

Jimmy's reply to zipper field, "Mr Spock you explained it very well. I almost understood it," made me to giggle. He's almost perfect captain material, except he doesn't understand the science. Never has, but that hasn't stopped him from doing anything. Not even making repairs in the ship he doesn't command.

So the next song was about Una's advice to Captain Kirk. Looking at their performance, I noticed that Una as already dancing and really enjoying their number before the singing even started. Kirk took it more manly. All while, La'An was watching it jealously.

Therefore, the third song was on her feeling down, not knowing how to find happiness. Poor woman. Just shag Kirk already, but know that you're not going to be the only woman in his life. It's just one of those things that you cannot never change.

So she told Pike that singing is a security threat, but the captain wasn't faced about it. After all they were about the close the zipper, with a tachyon energy beam fired from the main dish. It didn't go well, as the amount was reflected back to ship at the moment Cpt Batel called Kirk, and started singing at the front of the bridge crew about their relationship.

La'An was right, singing is a security threat. To the whole fleet as the admiral got online and told the Enterprise to fix it, "in a beautiful baritone," after 12 ships had been affected by the expanding "musical reality."

Pike's solution was to fire torpedoes at it. Kirk volunteered himself and La'An to look into the matter, but she wasn't feeling confident because Jimmy represent the love of her life. Una told her to get on with it in the song number five. Discreetly if possible.

Not that secrecy was ever going to be a key item as Spock's expriments with the subatomic particles lead to this.

Klingon's weren't happy about being hit by the ever expansing subspace field. They called it causing dishonour, and their solution was to bomb the thing. Pike ordered Uhura and Spock to find a solution. In the course of that, Spock came across Chapel feeling emotional about her good news on being accepted in the Vulcan Science Academy. So the sixth song was about Nurse Chapel's confession about her opportunities.

I enjoyed watching the crew having a blast in Chapel's number. Spock walked out after it without saying a word. Straight after that La'An confessed to Jim about her feelings. James didn't deny feeling the same way, but he said that he wasn't La'An traveller. And that he had a scientist girlfriend in a star base. But he said nothing about all the other females.

After that Spock confessed to Uhura that he wasn't feeling well after Chapel's break in their relationship, and seventh song was about him being wrong. All thanks to his human side. After the song, he left Uhura alone in the main engineer, and eight song became Uhura's number on being alone and trying to find a solution to their overall problem.

To be honest, her number made me to cry. I don't know why I shed tears, but I guess her song touched me. In the course of it, she found a solution to the problem and all they needed to do was to raise the field to 344 gigavolts, and in order to do that she needed them all to sing.

Pike gave that duty to Uhura, and she led them to the grand finale. I was ready to be disappointed for not hearing Klingon's sing, but they made it to the scene. Only their song weren't hardcore metal, instead it was a pop one with a dancing Klingons.

All happy, expect Spock and the dancing grumpy bears.

 

[BAYLOR]

TV shows really should do the kinds of episodes.

 

[ctg]

TV shows really shouldn't do these musical episodes.

Did you not like it?

 

[REBerg]

When crew members first burst into song, I was amused. When the entire episode became a musical, I was annoyed.
The most redeeming moment, which was all too brief, was the Klingon song and dance routine.
SNW is great without over-the-top creativity. The only place I enjoy musical productions is on a live theater stage -- where they should be, by law, confined.

 

[ctg]

When crew members first burst into song, I was amused. When the entire episode became a musical, I was annoyed.

The problem I kept thinking the whole time was that why they didn't make them to sing throughout the whole episode? I mean, once the situation had been developed thanks to Chief Engineer's suggestion, they should have carried on and even had those Klingon interactions.

The reason, if I remember correctly in DS9 the Klingon's were going through an opera, and frankly they should have given the characters all of their own style. Especially for mister crumpies. For me personally, if they had gone full of heavy metal or even sang in Klingon, it would have been so much better. Not that it was terrible.

What we are missing is a female opinion on this matter. Did they liked it?

 

[BAYLOR]

Did you not like it?

it's been done before , Xena and Buffy . At this point a Musical episode where everyone sing their deepest secrets or truths has become a bit cliche .

I did notice the fact that they stretched the Trek Canon a bit by having James T Kirk on the Enterprise . In the menagerie Kirk stated he first met Pike when assumed command of the Enterprise. Though Ttruth ,in don't mind this disregarding Trek Canon. I like the idea of Kirk showing up on Pikes Enterprises earlier than he did . In any event , Strange New Worlds is really not prime universe trek anyways.

I like this show , I like Captain Pike , He's become one my favorite Trek Captains. I like the crew and the cast is are terrific.

 

[ctg]

I did notice the fact that they stretched the Trek Canon a bit by having James T Kirk on the Enterprise . In the menagerie Kirk stated he first met Pike when assumed command of the Enterprise. Though Ttruth ,in don't mind this disregarding Trek Canon. I like the idea of Kirk showing up on Pikes Enterprises earlier than he did . In any even,t Strange New Worlds is really not prime universe trek anyways.

Well, I'd say that it's as much canon as the Enterprise. And it's most certainly made for Trekkies, because there's an awful lot of fan service in the episode, and they are doing the classical runs, we talked about like for example in Picard. Maybe the thing with Jimmy is that he's as much part of the Enterprise crew as his brother, and they are definitely working that relationship instead of utilizing long distance communications to prop up the brotherhood.

It's just I find it so weird that he's constantly in the fleet flagship. Almost as if Jimmy thinks he owns it, because that is the impression I'm getting at the moment. We know two people, Bones and Scotty, who has to show up in the Enterprise, before Pike is ready for the end of the line. Nurse Chapel is going to go away to Vulcan Science Academy. Who knows, maybe McCoy will show up in the medbay to help the current doctor.

What I wish is that they would move on with the long arcs, because at the moment it's more of the Strange New Worlds than advancing those story lines.

 

[BAYLOR]

Well, I'd say that it's as much canon as the Enterprise. And it's most certainly made for Trekkies, because there's an awful lot of fan service in the episode, and they are doing the classical runs, we talked about like for example in Picard. Maybe the thing with Jimmy is that he's as much part of the Enterprise crew as his brother, and they are definitely working that relationship instead of utilizing long distance communications to prop up the brotherhood.

It's just I find it so weird that he's constantly in the fleet flagship. Almost as if Jimmy thinks he owns it, because that is the impression I'm getting at the moment. We know two people, Bones and Scotty, who has to show up in the Enterprise, before Pike is ready for the end of the line. Nurse Chapel is going to go away to Vulcan Science Academy. Who knows, maybe McCoy will show up in the medbay to help the current doctor.

What I wish is that they would move on with the long arcs, because at the moment it's more of the Strange New Worlds than advancing those story lines.

Part of wishes that Pike could avoid his fate but he can't because of severe consequences . In all reality all Pike has to do is resign, Kirk gets promoted and takes over command of the Enterprise and he can safely avoid the accident. In that scenario , there should in theory be no serious repercussions to the timeline.

I do have a theory about how Piek may have kept his sanity while paralyzed and in the Chair. I suspect that the Talosains were then sending illusions and thereby allowing him to have life of sorts with Veana even before the events in Menagerie.

 

[ctg]

Star Trek has always had a habit of taking unlikely detours into other genres, whether it was Kirk and Spock dressing like gangsters in the TOS episode “A Piece of the Action” or the powerful Deep Spine Nine period piece “Far Beyond the Stars.” But with its most recent episode, Strange New Worlds takes the franchise in the most unexpected direction.

Directed by Dermott Downs, “Subspace Rhapsody” finds the Enterprise crew breaking into song after discovering an anomaly at the edge of the Alpha Quadrant. The episode gives Uhura actor Celia Rose Gooding a chance to show off the pipes that landed them a role in Jagged Little Pill: The Musical on Broadway, and also featured a Klingon hip-hop number that recalls Han Solo’s lowest moment.

As shocking as the episode was for Trekkies, “Subspace Rhapsody” benefited from a steady hand at the helm, thanks to Downs’ previous experience working with musicals. The mind behind the “Duet” episode of The Flash, which saw Supergirl and Flash forced to sing to battle the Music Meister, Downs knows how to make normally straight-laced heroes burst into song.

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds "Subspace Rhapsody" Soundtrack and Musical Influences

Here's a list of every song in Star Trek: Strange New World's musical episode "Subspace Rhapsody" and what influenced the soundtrack!

www.denofgeek.com

On Aug. 4, the “Subspace Rhapsody” official cast recording will be available to purchase, which includes the following tracks:

• Star Trek Strange New Worlds Main Title (Subspace Rhapsody Version)
• Status Report
• Connect to Your Truth
• How Would That Feel
• Private Conversation
• Keeping Secrets
• I’m Ready
• I’m the X
• Keep Us Connected
• We Are One
• Subspace Rhapsody End Credit Medley

 

[Elckerlyc]

I don't think I will purchase a copy. Having to endure it once will suffice, thank you. The only musical I can and will suffer is The Sound of Music.


Perhaps it would have been better if they had reserved this (kind of) episode for next season (if there will be a next season). It comes a bit too quick after the cartoonic episode. It does get harder this way to take the series with a minimum of seriousness. Too much silliness.

 

[Vladd67]

I don't think I will purchase a copy. Having to endure it once will suffice, thank you. The only musical I can and will suffer is The Sound of Music.


Perhaps it would have been better if they had reserved this (kind of) episode for next season (if there will be a next season). It comes a bit too quick after the cartoonic episode. It does get harder this way to take the series with a minimum of seriousness. Too much silliness.

It would seem you are not alone.

 

[Dave]

They tried this on Buffy

Xena and Buffy

I'm sure we've discussed this before and wondered how long it would be before someone made a Star Trek Musical. The only thing is that I had expected a proper West End/Broadway Musical, and not one that needed to be explained by some poor technobabble.

Why they didn't make them to sing throughout the whole episode?

Now you mention it, since it was caused by 'whatever Spock said' then they should have been singing constantly until they had fixed the problem.

And why did some also break out into spontaneous dance routines?

If dance is part of this 'Musical Reality' then why didn't everyone both sing and dance continuously?

Klingon's weren't happy about being hit by the ever expanding subspace field. They called it causing dishonour.

I think the dishonour would be caused by them telling each other some emotional truths - which apparently breaking out in song requires, according to Uhura.

Only their song weren't hardcore metal, instead it was a pop one with a dancing Klingons.

But there is already Klingon Opera. I'm sure there was an example of it heard on DS9. That was all screaming (or postpunk hardcore metal if you like) so I agree that I was very surprised by the K-pop boy band routine.

The most surprising thing of all, given the strange nature of this episode, was how many ongoing storylines were given some closure in this episode. On the other hand, they were all relationship conflicts - Spock and Chapel, La'an and Kirk, Pike and Batel - but maybe they have been saving them up for this episode.

I wish is that they would move on with the long arcs

Well, if they were saving these up, I guess you get your wish now, and they will move on. I have also been getting tired of the "Love Boat" aspects of this Season too. At least we've been spared the 'Love Boat Mermaids'.

James T Kirk seems to be part of the normal cast, which is strange because according to the narrative, he's not Pike's First, but actually he has his own command.

James Kirk has just been promoted to First officer of the USS Farragut. That is also canon. He doesn't get his first command until he takes over the USS Enterprise from Pike, though he serves as an Academy Instructor at some point.

I agree with you that it's strange that he spends so much time on the Enterprise. I thought initially he was just visiting brother Sam, but now they make up other excuses. Today, he was getting some kind of exchange review from Una. One might expect that there were duties on the Farragut that a First Officer needed to complete! And since things tend to go wrong when he visits, I'd ban him from any more visits if I was Pike.

 

[BAYLOR]

I'm sure we've discussed this before and wondered how long it would be before someone made a Star Trek Musical. The only thing is that I had expected a proper West End/Broadway Musical, and not one that needed to be explained by some poor technobabble.

Now you mention it, since it was caused by 'whatever Spock said' then they should have been singing constantly until they had fixed the problem.

And why did some also break out into spontaneous dance routines?

If dance is part of this 'Musical Reality' then why didn't everyone both sing and dance continuously?

I think the dishonour would be caused by them telling each other some emotional truths - which apparently breaking out in song requires, according to Uhura.

But there is already Klingon Opera. I'm sure there was an example of it heard on DS9. That was all screaming (or postpunk hardcore metal if you like) so I agree that I was very surprised by the K-pop boy band routine.

The most surprising thing of all, given the strange nature of this episode, was how many ongoing storylines were given some closure in this episode. On the other hand, they were all relationship conflicts - Spock and Chapel, La'an and Kirk, Pike and Batel - but maybe they have been saving them up for this episode.

Well, if they were saving these up, I guess you get your wish now, and they will move on. I have also been getting tired of the "Love Boat" aspects of this Season too. At least we've been spared the 'Love Boat Mermaids'.


James Kirk has just been promoted to First officer of the USS Farragut. That is also canon. He doesn't get his first command until he takes over the USS Enterprise from Pike, though he serves as an Academy Instructor at some point.

I agree with you that it's strange that he spends so much time on the Enterprise. I thought initially he was just visiting brother Sam, but now they make up other excuses. Today, he was getting some kind of exchange review from Una. One might expect that there were duties on the Farragut that a First Officer needed to complete! And since things tend to go wrong when he visits, I'd ban him from any more visits if I was Pike.

I liked the idea of Kirk and Pike being on the Enterprise together early then when the original sires said that they met. There are hardcore fans that lament thats violates Trek Canon but in truth , they never stuck to Canon even in the original series either.

Also Strange New Worlds isn't really set in the Prime Universe because it can be. This in actaullaity an alternate version to the original Trek universe.

 

[Dave]

I liked the idea of Kirk and Pike being on the Enterprise together early then when the original sires said that they met. There are hardcore fans that lament thats violates Trek Canon but in truth , they never stuck to Canon even in the original series either.

Also Strange New Worlds isn't really set in the Prime Universe because it can be. This in actaullaity an alternate version to the original Trek universe.

The original series (or those old scientists) didn't need to 'stick to canon' as it was still writing it, so not sure how it "never stuck to canon... either". Kirk was only said to have met Pike when Pike was a Fleet Captain, which is why on their first meeting, Pike was made a Fleet Captain for one mission. SNW has been very careful with sticking to canon, unlike many other series.

There are many things - ship design, uniforms, actors - that are different, but it is as close to the Prime Universe as one can get. Most of the problems are due to it being a spin-off from Discovery which rode fast and loose over everything. The biggest problem in SNW is the Klingons, and why they don't suffer from the the Qu'Vat or Augment Virus. However, I personally never liked that explanation for the difference in Klingons anyway, I preferred Rodenberry's explanation of them being Northern and Southern Klingons, or else Worf's that it was something never spoken about, and it should have remained that way.