Logline
A shuttle accident leads to Spock’s Vulcan DNA being removed by aliens, making him fully human and completely unprepared to face T’Pring’s family during an important ceremonial dinner.
Written by Kathryn Lyn & Henry Alonso Myers
Directed by Jordan Canning
It’s funny how both Pike’s and Uhura’s first word with a totally unknown species is “Hi!”
You’re Starfleet! Come on!
OK… they will have learned this lesson by the 24th century. 😂
Also, why treat the aliens like idiots? Why say: “You made him easier to talk to” instead of “He is now a different species.” Additionally, this seemed to just have served as a plot point to make Chapel admit her feelings openly, so I wasn’t too excited about the “talk to a coloured cloud in a waiting room” scenes.
These minor quibbles aside it felt like an average TNG episode. And for me that means it is a successful episode.
23rd actually, for SNW!
I meant TNG. In the time period of TNG, it is the 24th century and they have learned the first contact procedure.
Maybe society just keeps getting less formal over time and by then “Hi” is one of the more formal ways to greet someone, as opposed to just “sup” or [suggestive eyebrow movement]
Doesn’t seem likely. By the time Picard takes over, the Federation has gone to great lengths to get first contact right. I am thinking of TNG episodes like The Big Goodbye, First Contact, Who Watches the Watchers or Darmok as examples.
And to push this further, chronologically before SNW, Enterprise already put some effort into first contact beyond Hi. Cogenitor is just one of many examples.
I will try to resist using the Beyond opening scenes as a reference, because they were just ridiculous.
What’s wrong with just saying hi? They’re friendly people and are happy to meet someone new.
It’s not wrong, but it’s not the best approach. Hi is casual and usually reserved for people that are familiar with each other.
Go to a dignitary and greet with Hi. Chances are it will not be perceived as showing the respect that could - and likely should - be given. In a first contact setting, a formal approach is surely the way to go.
I used to get told off for doing this at a call centre job because it was too informal. Definitely would not fly in a first contact situation!