Star Trek: Strange New Worlds
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I want to feel this.
But hes willing to cast all that aside to be with Chapel.
Its almost beside the point at this moment, however.
Charades isnt about consequences, because both Spock and Chapel are choosing to ignore them.
Its about getting them to the point where they can no longer resist one another.
Meanwhile, Spock has begun channeling all that weird energy into other interests.
With his emotions fully suppressed, he can spend time learning about cooking from Pike.
But the thing about repression is it doesnt really work.
Spock can wordlessly clean up Samuels messes, but they still annoy him.
Hes invested all his energy into reuniting with TPring, but thats gotten complicated too.
Its less than ideal timing, but Spock agrees to it anyway.
Besides, all hes got planned is a simple shuttle mission flying by the Kerkhovianmoon.What could go wrong?
The problems start with the addition of an unexpected companion on the trip: Chapel.
That forces them to be alone together, a situation Spock at least has been avoiding.
Its undoubtedly a WTF situation.
The shuttle is in better shape than ever (and has picked up a mysterious alien artifact).
Its only Spock whos different.
Meanwhile, Spock is hungry.
And effusive in his gratitude.
And freaked out about the engagement dinner.
And way too amused at others jokes.
And super annoyed at Samuels messiness.
And horny (and not just for Chapel).
Hes, in contemporary terms, feelingallthe feelings, and its weirding him and everyone else out.
Its Laan that cracks it: Hes essentially now an adolescent in an adult human body.
It bums her out and sends her into Spocks arms for a nice warm hug.
That, Chapel tells him, wasnt typical of you.
When Spock asks if thats okay, she changes the subject.
What might seem like an ideal situation for Chapel is anything but.
She likes Spock the way he was, with all his frustrating reserve.
This human Spock isnt quite the same, and she wants the old one back.
In fact, its imminent.
Theyll be holding it aboard theEnterprisetomorrow night.
It requires a lot of preparation.
Amanda walks him through a tea ritual that involves carrying a scalding-hot pot without flinching.
Laan, Oretegas, Una, and Uhura offer a tutorial in talking like a Vulcan.
These are the easy parts.
Its not acrazycomparison, though.
Sevetloves Pikes attempt at Vulcan cuisine, but TPril squelches his enthusiasm before plunging directly into the ritual.
And yet, somehow, the catastrophe never arrives.
Its a gambit that buys enough time for Chapel to return with a cure.
Shes not the only one giving up in anger, either.
Rejected by the Vulcans, Chapel decides to end the interview with a kiss-off.
Beyond that, he tells her, I want to feel this.
They kiss and decide worrying about what happens next can wait.
(See also: MBengas daughter and the secret of Unas augmentation.)
But it doesnt feel like the end of the story.
Or she would if his heart werent elsewhere.
Hit It!
Just as Pike is (unavoidably?)
It seems like the question of whether or not Pikes destiny is preordained also applies elsewhere to the series.
These are the same characters, of course, but theyre also very much different interpretations of the characters.
It might be unfair to bind them to what happens in the original series too closely.
(Especially since Ethan Peck and Jess Bush have such terrific chemistry.)
Patnaiks a lot of fun, too.
Its just a good episode for moms all around.
