DOA On TV Star Trek Strange New Worlds

 

 

Star Trek Strange New Worlds  A Case of Chiaroscuro

This week's episode goes full noir mystery.  From the AI overview, Chiaroscuro is "an art technique that uses strong contrasts between light and dark to give flat objects a sense of roundness".   The entire episode is in black and white due to unusual radiation from the system's sun.

Una, in her first mission as a commander, is joined by Uhura and doctor M'Benga using a shuttle to direct a Federation probe out of Klingon airspace as quietly as possible.  They succeed, but suddenly a Klingon craft appears nearby and they decide to drop to the planet below to hide for a bit.  It can't be known they were here at all.   

It looks like they will be in hiding for awhile so they suit up in appropriate gear and head to the city.  

 

The planet is under heavy Klingon occupation.  There's a Resistance, and Una is a dead ringer for the leader of the Resistance, Nevette, who acts as a double agent of sorts also being the main Klingon collaborator.

The episode is a fine mystery, as Nevette has disappeared, and is mostly likely dead.  Who could have killed her, and where is the body?  Una does an excellent job at jumping in and playing both sides so she can solve the mystery, and keep herself and her crewmates alive.

Having lived under enemy occupation as a child, Una can't just let the Resistance fend for themselves, though M'Benga tries to warn her getting involved is a mistake.

A subplot on the Enterprise (also in black and white) involving La'an thinking the retrieved probe has been tampered with and clashing with Spock in her theories, just seems like a way to show their relationship fraying, and heading towards the inevitable end.

I have had a hard time connecting with the Una character, but after her singing in Klingon last episode, and her star turn here, stepping into a new role in Star Fleet and just killing it, I'm really liking her.

Uhura was very brave standing up to Klingon mind torture.  Talk about a character getting tougher as she goes along, she's really doing great.

M'Benga is such an amazing character, his past being fleshed out perhaps best of all the doctors, I love this guy.   

Librariandoa's Saturday Puzzles An August Crossword

 The month of August is the theme of this crossword.  I used Armored Penguins Crossword Generator if you'd like to do your own puzzle.  Apologies for all the black space if you're printing. I wanted to keep the puzzle to 15 items, not too long, not too short.

 

 

 

 

Librariandoa's Saturday Puzzles An Answer Key for the 8 7 26 Secret Code Puzzle

 Here's the answer to last week's puzzle.  Bartlett's Familiar Quotations say this is attributed to James J Walker.

No girl was ever ruined by a book. 

 

 

Five Things Friday 8/14/26

 Feel that cool breeze? Me neither!  Buy ice cream. Eat ice cream.

Mary's Recipes August 13, 2026

 Mary the Sweater Girl!  She always has a big comfy sweater on these days, no matter the weather.

 

 

DOA On TV: Strange New Worlds

 

I read books in the evenings this week instead of watching TV.  Only the latest episode of Star Trek Strange New Worlds made it onto my screen.

 

Star Trek Strange New Worlds Season 4 Ep 3 Human Best Friend

 

A tired crew of the Enterprise accept an offer to visit  a pleasure planet that provides natural levels of relaxing inebriation via the atmosphere.  Your cares simply melt away.   

Exceptions are La'an who joins an exercise class and insists on making it a weaponry practice class, and Scotty and Ortega, who have in recent times been making each other crazy with clashes regarding flying the Enterprise and the power that should be allotted to unusual maneuvers.

Scotty is mellow enough but he's stubborn about helping her find the missing shuttle, which he apparently hid someplace.  Ortega wants to kill him or drop him off in someone else's lap while she searches.

  Everyone is having too good of a time to help out. Uhura has a big party going on in her suite and the angry vibe the two are projecting--nope you can't come in, he can't stay here and ruin my party. 

Una is belting out Total Eclipse of the Heart in Klingon in front of a receptive crowd. Pike is getting a horse tattoo.  Spock is falling apart and can't leave his apartment.  First, he's seeing James Kirk everywhere, second people look like houseplants to him.  It's not safe for him to leave his room.  

Shore leave is rarely a good idea on Star Trek.  The Holodeck was a safer place, right? 

Librariandoa's Saturday Puzzles A Secret Code for 8 7 26

 It's the return of the Secret Code Puzzle!    Use the key at the bottom of the page to unlock the code.

 

 

Librariandoa's Saturday Puzzles An Answer Key for the 8 1 26 Rebus

 From Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, as always:   (Click to enlarge for the "hints").

 

 

 

News is only the first rough draft of history

Alan Barth

 

Five Things Friday 8/7/26

 August always makes me think of the Dog Days of August when the summer weather is at its hottest, and the humidity is unbearable, and people lose their minds a bit.  As it turns out, there are The Dog Days of Summer to reckon with, from July 3rd to August 11th.  That explains a lot about this particular summer, doesn’t it? I’m hopeful then that August 12th brings a turn towards cool autumn breezes, less humidity, and reasonable heat.

Mary's Recipes August 6, 2026

 Here's Mary at a Country Club sponsored event, judging from some of the photos around this picture on a scrapbook page.