ValueSubtracted

I think Braka and the Venari Ral are an interesting contrast to Osyraa and the Emerald Chain, which was an entirely different flavour of tyranny.

I thought about that, and concluded that the comic book probably took a lot of liberties with reality. Caleb did dismiss it as propaganda, after all.

It did look like a fun read.

Definitely a darker episode. I thought it was a bit of a mixed bag, but I enjoyed the Ake/Braka development.

I have to admit, I didn't expect them to kill off a (guest star) cadet. Earlier in the episode, I'd been thinking about how nice it's been that they've kept the supporting cast of cadets so consistent, but now we're down one. At least we still have the Delta Swallower.

I didn't love the basic setup - using a derelict ship that people died on as a training ground didn't really sit well with me - but it was a decent story in that setting.

I get that - if not nostalgia, certainly familiarity goes a long way.

Yeah, it's only the Vulcan encounter in the MU episode that's archive footage, with a stand-in wielding the shotgun.

He's a quadruple threat!

A fan convention, formerly known as Star Trek Las Vegas, now known as ST:LV Trek to Vegas ever since they lost the official license.

At last, Jaglom Shrek!

Finally, the branching storylines we've been demanding!

Up to 10 dead, including the suspect, now.

I don’t think it’s unreasonable to hold onto a belief that things will not always just continue to be shitty forever.

Neither does Star Trek. But neither the franchise nor I are so naive that we think that there's a "mission accomplished" state in which bad things don't happen any more.

Personally, I think the message of "things could be fine without struggle or setbacks" would go up like a lead balloon in the year 2026 (or really, any year since at least 2014, probably much earlier). I don't see anything inspirational or hopeful when it seems like pure fantasy.