Face the Strange

If you liked the type of temporal adventures that happened from time to time in TNG and Voyager where certain characters have to fix a problem in a different time period, whilst others are unaware, you will like this one.

For me it is feels as unoriginal as it was back in the late 90s to early 00s, but it is nonetheless entertaining as a concept and fun to see character interacting with crew mates in different time periods.

The theme of connecting with people is well worked in the plot and is central to tackling certain problems. It is hard not to roll eyes when you know Rayner is going to have to develop and be less aggressive as he goes about his business.

You dread it is going to end up with Rayner adopting a change of approach and Michael sitting in the captains chair looking smug about it. To be fair that is exactly what happens, but the writers do not change him into Mr Touchy-Feely. He simply makes the effort to connect to the degree required when necessary. I can live with that.

For me it is a 7.5/10, but I round upwards.

The season five is the first season where this serie should have originally been... and this just my opinion. Previous ones didn't meet my expectations. Now this is promising. I hope we don't lose this as seen with earlier seasons. Now in s05e04.

Characters are coming better, acting is better, dialogs are improving, story is following computer games which might be good but the beef for me is how those characters are developing. Still hoping that these extraordinery miracle manouvers with ships will vanish (episode1). Those are just so... hmmm... too great to be approved.

And sorry, I'm not the fan of continuous actions, I have still some time to follow up (imagine) how people really would develop in such a environments. Somehow feeling that marvel multiversum s*it is the only which solds nowadays. I'm happy that some 80's/90's "normal" positive atmosphere is met again. Story and characters are hard to build, but easy to destroy.

Except for some terrible camerawork at a specific part early in the episode it still feels fun and engaging. Elias Toufexis, Anthony Rapp, Callum Keith Rennie and Tig Notaro are all fantastic. Sonequa Martin-Green is a strong lead, although her character can be lacking (which is not the actors fault). Ofcourse the episode looks wonderful, the sets are as beautiful as always. The writing on the show can be a bit under written or too on the nose, it's fine but there's some squandered potential that could have led to more engaging character work. No Saru this episode, which is sad as he's the best character on the show

PROS +Callum Keith Rennie getting in the groove +Special effects are on point +Tig Notaro +Fun characters

CONS -That horrible camerawork early in the episode -Story feels a bit too familiar -Writing is a bit on the nose -No Saru :(

....I think this could've been a decent show if this was the first season and you scroll past the touchy feeling scenes. But alas, it's not and she is still here.

This season isn't as bad and annoying like the last four seasons, but I can't get past the actress Sonequa and her character Michael.

I mean she annoys me as an actress with the soft speaking and at times, when the situation doesn't ask for it, highly emotional voice and her character is like this all knowing and always right being. I mean even in this episode with time running out and the universe on the line she's the deciding factor. And the only reason she agrees is because smoke is being blon up her behind. I mean come on...

Luckily they minimized the parts of Saru, Adira and Tilly otherwise this sheason would've been unwatchable like the first four seasons. I like the introduction of the character Rayner to offset the high in their feelings crew.

But it's too little too late and it's understandable this show is being cancelled.

Attempts have been made to reintegrate the show with the rest of the franchise--the Guardian of Forever was the best recent example--but the showrunners seem to have given up on even reconnecting with the interesting elements of the first couple seasons. In an episode about reconnecting with the past and appreciating the things you've lost over time (I think that was the emotional core, but with so many cooks, it's hard to tell what anyone was supposed to get out of this) there might have been more references to the good things about this show.

This show is at its best when it has performers who are given something real to work with. Anthony Rapp deserves a humanitarian award for his ability to act while tolerating the obviously ludicrous production culture on this show; every scene involving his character is immediately elevated by his committed and professional performance.