The Trouble With Edward

DVD, Short Treks (The Trouble With Edward)

This episode very much shows –oops, it's not actually over! I was about to start writing my review and then we get a post-credits sequence. You might be thinking this is a moment of redemption for the unfortunate Edward, perhaps some new fact about his Tribble experiment that shows it wasn't actually his fault. Or maybe, and this is what I was hoping throughout the story, he'll wake up and it will all have been a dream. No and no. And no. It's a 'hilarious' mock advert for Tribbles breakfast cereal, done in the style of the past, complete with fullscreen 4:3 ratio ('square' rather than widescreen, in other words), cheesy music and over-enthusiastic kiddies. And a cartoon Tribble. Right. Okay. It reminds me of the time Quark made a jingle to entice more customers to his bar ("Come to Quarks, Quarks is fun, come to Quarks, don't walk –run!"). Quark's silly advertising was funny because it was so out of kilter with the serious world of DS9, poised on the brink of dangerous space where anything could come at them at any time. It was great to have this lighthearted element in a series that dealt with heavy issues. It showed even 'DS9' had its comedy episodes, and in fact it was a much lighter toned series than it's ever given credit for, with probably the most hilarity and amusement of any. But all Treks have had their share of humour. So why should I yet again baulk at modern Trek doing something that is so much a part of the Trek DNA?

DNA probably isn't the best analogy considering its connotations in this particular episode. For it is this gentleman, Edward Larkin, who supposedly, against Captain's orders, carries out an experiment on the humble Tribble and ostensibly turns it into the ferociously breeding life form that it became known for. So that's two issues right there: 'known for,' and 'Edward's experiment.' Is it wise to retcon a Starfleet interference explanation into the Tribbles' backstory? That's why I was really hoping this wasn't serious and it had all happened in Edward's mind. They already redesigned the Klingons into ridiculously oafish orc monsters with little of the detailed culture we saw before, trying to make them scary by their ugliness and alien attitudes (cannibalism, or at least eating sentient beings), and silly claw hands (never could get past those silly claw hands!). Making up a war that made no sense and had little to recommend it as a story, either, didn't help. And now we get a backstory for Tribbles. Not that I'm trying to poke holes (well, only if it's justified), but we had references to the furry menaces as early as 'Enterprise,' the 22nd Century. I can't recall if Phlox actually mentioned their unstoppable breeding, but he certainly fed them to his Sickbay menagerie. It all hinges on whether the breeding was happening then or not, before we set off the alarm klaxon for: CANON BREACH! ALERT! CANON BREACH! ALERT!

I'll give them the benefit of the doubt and assume they checked out the relevant episodes and facts and found it was never stated before this point in history that they were heavy breeders. Even then, it's somewhat silly that it was all down to one Starfleet scientist who disobeyed orders and carried out his experiment, even if it was with the best will in the world to create a source of food for a planet in trouble. He had good motives, but he refused to accept the chain of command and did whatever he wanted to do - sounds like most of the characters on the USS Discovery, he'd have fitted in fine there! Actually, now that I think of it, I do appreciate this attention to detail showing the perils of doing what you want instead of what your superior orders. And to be fair (still assuming the facts check out), the idea of the Tribbles not being excessive breeders prior to this would make sense for, for example, Lorca's Tribble that he kept in his Ready Room in Season 1 of 'DSC' and which we never saw give birth. So that's two positives. Plus the relief mission to this alien world that they want to help without the Klingons knowing about it was an actual compelling Trekky situation that I want to see! None of this galaxy-ending threat to all life, but doing what Starfleet does best, and helping people! And it was quite fun actually seeing Tribbles give birth, popping out all over the place (even if it was supposed to be when they had eaten, yet there didn't seem to be much food around, particularly). I'm almost talking myself into relatively liking this one, what's going on?

While I'm in a good mood, I must say that it was a joy to see actual ships in actual space and hear an actual Captain's Log, the kind of things modern Trek hates to do because they seem to think it'll put off modern audiences who can't stand convention and need things to move along all the time, visually. They're wrong of course (either the audience for not liking it, or the writers for thinking the audience won't like it). The Enterprise looked lovely, and when you only see it for a little bit you don't have time to get upset that the nacelle pylons look wrong or the various other changes to the original design that were entirely unnecessary, it's just a nice shot flying in orbit as Pike does his voiceover to explain the context. And the other little science vessel, the Cabot, looked good, too. But I still feel they should have gone with a more swanlike approach with the beautiful pearl white or greys of the 'TOS' ship brightening up the darkness of space, instead of the ship melting into the background with only its running lights able to illuminate areas. The science vessel had hints of the Shenzhou in its saucer, which is also nice to see when so much of the lineage and designs that went before (or was coming after), were cursorily discarded - it's not designer John Eaves' fault, I've just been reading his book 'The Art of John Eaves,' and he does explain that he wanted to make the Enterprise closer to the original, but those in charge didn't agree.

Unfortunately, aboard ship it still looks absolutely nothing like the classic ship, neither 'The Cage' variation or 'TOS,' an absolute criminal shame. It just looks like a redress of the ugly Discovery, it's ugly corridors, ugly doors and ugly Transporter Room all ugly and big and not even close. It also still irks that people talk in such a casual, snarky way as if they're from some silly, old-fashioned, chisel-jawed hero's B-film, but I'll let it pass as Captain Pike and his newly promoted Science Officer Lynne Lucero are both of the same rank now and they obviously have some kind of history that we're not privy to (was she filling in while Spock wasn't aboard the Enterprise because I thought he was Science Officer in 'The Cage'?). She did actually come off across as a bit 'dumb,' as Edward unwisely put it in his anonymous messages back to Command, because she fails to listen and work with him and instead reacts to his behaviour by immediately putting him in for a transfer instead of getting to know him and working through the personal issues. The first thoughts I had about this troubled man who doesn't fit in, is brilliant, but fails to connect with people, were characters such as Reg Barclay on 'TNG' or Mortimer Harren on 'Voyager.' They had the benefit of serving with experienced Captains, both Picard and Janeway knew very well how to deal with people, how to bring out the best in them and use them to their full potential. In this Captain's defence she was brand new to the job. You'd think she'd have had some command experience while on the Enterprise, so it is a little hard to believe she just clamped down on her staff, but he was a bit of a troublemaker so it's a failure of both sides.

Failure is the theme I would take from this episode, and this is where the biggest fault lies for me. Because it's all very well having an upbeat comedy, but it's another story which suggests Starfleet isn't that great in this era. Much like too many areas of modern Trek, it's too negative and we never get redemption, we never learn anything, and nor do the characters. Edward dies while protesting he's not dumb, smothered under a wave of Tribbles that appear to be on breeding overdrive, popping out as fast as a gun firing in a way that was visually entertaining, but hard to take seriously in the 'real' world of Trek. Then the Captain is brought up in front of a board of enquiry (they do a lot of that in modern Trek!), and her defence at the loss of her ship, all down to one crewman, is that he was an idiot. She doesn't question herself or her handling of the situation she blames it all squarely on dead Edward. This doesn't make her look very good, but the worst thing is, it ends on that note, as if calling someone a fool is the punctuation to the episode, the message being far from Trek's utopian ideals. And then in kicks the light, comedy tootling music over the end credits and it's like these writers don't understand Trek or tone! It's happened so many times before that they make light of what's heavy, and weighty of what's light: I think of Mirror Georgiou as the prime (oops, wrong word), example of this awful fantastical approach - she's a mass murderer, yet treated like 'oh, Auntie Georgiou, you're so naughty, ha, ha,' or every little emotional problem is blown out of all proportion with tears and sobbing!

It's not funny that Edward died and that his Captain was too inexperienced to see what he was doing and help him to work with her. She just summarily dismisses what he has to say and shows no wisdom, just a hardline clampdown leading him to feel he has to prove himself. So that, in a Tribble-shell, just about sums up the problems I have with this episode, and I understand it's supposed to be merely a short, throwaway laugh about How We Created The Tribbles. But Trek is never throwaway, even 'The Animated Series' had points to make and ideas to explore. No amount of beautiful CGI (and the ships do look lovely, and the Tribbles filling up every space are a visual sweetie). But it still, still, still keeps coming to Trek from the wrong directions, it's failing to do what Trek needs to do and so it keeps being upsetting. Granted, I wasn't upset by this one, or 'Q&A,' really. I'm used to them being different and I don't expect to like them, or pretty much anything that comes out of this stable. For every uniform that looks vaguely like the sciences blue from 'The Cage' and 'Where No Man Has Gone Before,' or a briefing with a Tri-screen in the centre of the table, there's a giant hoover sucking Tribbles up or a woman that appears to be a Trill when we shouldn't know the species. That's a big problem actually, just as Michael Burnham should be the most notorious member of Starfleet ever, thanks to her public mutiny and disgrace, and yet we're supposed to believe she sank without trace from history, Tribbles should be the most widely known threat in Starfleet after taking down an entire starship!

At least with the Trill we can extrapolate that they were around in the 23rd Century because Dax met Dr. McCoy, but would they have been in Starfleet where you have to have detailed medicals? Because in 'TNG' no one knew about the uniqueness of Trills, it was all brand new knowledge. The alternative is that this officer was one of those species (like Kamala in 'The Perfect Mate'), that outwardly resemble Trill thanks to the same spot markings, but were actually another race entirely. But it's just one of those things that you wonder why they would put it in other than to infuriate those in the know, rather than please them. For too much of the episode it felt like a parody of Trek, with the characters sounding like American teenagers, and it's also not very good that the problem scientist is the only 'old guy,' as if older people aren't much cop, hence why we see so many younger characters (other than Pike, arguably the most popular). They could have turned out a story about a man that is resistant to change, maybe he was fond of his previous Captain or was struggling personally with something and it could have been a tale told to bring him around to see why he needs to conform to Starfleet rules. Instead it just consigns him to a terrible death in the service of 'comedy.'

I will give them credit for making the Tribbles seem frightening, if only briefly, as they cover the decks, and they have to break out Phaser Rifles to take them out, though again, is that the best way to get rid of them? Shooting them one by one? They don't even use a wide beam which we know is possible! These are supposed to be a team of top scientists, they could have made the story a celebration of their ingenuity in a crisis to save their own ship, but no. It's funny, see? Also, for all the popularity of Tribbles I'm not really sure why they get so much attention. They were integral to two episodes, one each of 'TOS' and 'DS9,' the rest of the time they have little cameos as one of those simple, but effective ideas Trek used to throw out so much. Nothing wrong with them, but maybe they're given too much attention in the grand scheme for what they are. Regardless, until we see Trek treated with the respect such an old and venerable franchise deserves I think the old guard like me are never going to get something that satisfies that desire for Trek. We watch old Trek all the time, and still love it and still want more in that world, and while I could imagine showing a short like this to interest the uninitiated, it's yet another example of mismanagement of the greatest entertainment series ever created. Again I say it is entertaining, and it's not as irritating or dull as some, but it has a long way to go to win me over, and I want to like it, it shouldn't have to work hard, which just shows how far off course it all is.

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