Yes, my insistence on a season being complete before watching it means I'm a little late to the party. Sorry, Netflix spoiled me.

Wasn't Star Trek: Strange New Worlds simply lovely? It didn't change the world (in fact, one of the plot threads is about not changing the world) of Star Trek or the nature of entertainment. But it was excellent viewing - and most of all, it was fundamentally STAR TREK, representing the best of everything the IP has stood for. I would call it "classic Star Trek with modern sensibilities." Tons of cool space wonders and dangers, with a dynamic captain full of personality and verve.

*Spoilers for the season finale follow.*

That finale was a bit of a gut punch, though, wasn't it? I confess, I initially flinched at the message it conveyed - that taking the high road of diplomacy is the wrong choice that can cost millions of lives. I'm sure they weren't trying to say that's always true, but in this case....

I found the final conversation between Pike and Kirk to be quite enlightening, though. I think Miriam would have liked to have joined them in that discussion, as those are the difficult choices she gets to make for the world.

***

Obi-Wan Kenobi! It was better than I'd been led to believe (I know opinions are wildly divided; this is mine). Solidly very good, and at times great.* Ewan McGregor was of course incredible; he always is. And Vivien Lyra Blair as Leia was somehow even better than advertised.

Where I found it most interesting was as a story of living under an oppressive, powerful empire; as a story of refugees simply trying to survive and fighters (of all kinds) refusing to give up hope. I think the smaller scope gave it an opportunity to tell this story that grand, sweeping space opera doesn't have.

Yes, it was absolutely hemmed in on all sides by canon (and violated canon a few times anyway); I feel like much of the criticism stems from people wanting a show that it simply could not be.

*One quibble. Did Episode 5 have to rip-off the final act of The Last Jedi so blatantly? I cringed.

Favorite line: "Leia, I'm not giving you a blaster - you're 10 years old. But you won't always be."