Strange New Worlds S2-E8- ''Under the Cloak of War '' ~~ { ** Spoilers Within ** }

I thought that was a fantastic epidhde. I loved every second of it from start to finish. Very dark yes but I got some real DS9 vibes from early on. I know tge ending is ambiguous but it doesn’t matter. Both men (and likely Chappel) know the truth about the butcher. I’m turn after watching it which is a good thing. If M’Benga had kept quiet there might have been peace with the Klingons much sooner but then the Klingon was a fraud. Could you trust him really?

It really was like one of those great TNG episodes where they’re a transport fir conference delegates which is guaranteed troubke but amped up with DS9 style darkness. For me I think itlll be going on the list if all time favourite trek episodes.

I didn’t realise there was a musical epidhde coming? Why? Wasn’t the LD episode enough crap this season?

12 hours on since I finished this epidhde sbd I’m still thinking about it.

M’Benga has me really torn. He’s kind of a DS9 character hanging out in a TNG like show at this stage.

Mostly ST mainstream show characters are straight up with no subterfuge involved unless it’s fir the greater good in fooling an enemy. M’Benga has already had his daughter stored in the transporter without anyone else’s knowledge. I liked his talk with Pike at the end where he said he Sydney start tge fight but was glad it happened and how pike wouldn’t understand his position really. I thought it was done of the best Star Trek I’ve seen in ages. On one hand you have tge fair and accountable federation where everyone is allowed due process etc because it’s the world they made according to a vision. On the other is M’Benga living you could say in the real world where things aren’t fair. You do what you need to. It might not be the right thing to do but it’s the best thing you can do given the options you have. It reminded me of In The Pale Moonlight.

I’ve no doubt M’Benga is glad the fight happened. He came prepared and set up the Klingon. I’m forced to believe a fight would have broken out no matter what. I suspect M’Benga was smart enough to provoke the Klingon to start it but it also seems unlikely given his earlier demeanour. I really need a rewatch

Either way now the SNW crew has jumped from a crew I generally like but am not too familiar with owing to the short seasons, to a crew I’m bloody invested in because I want to see what’s next.