Stardate: 2398.3
Original Air Date: August 3, 2023
Writers: Dana Horgan & Bill Wolkoff
Director: Dermott Downs
“Why are we singing?”
From Uhura’s communication officer’s log: traveling at the far edge of the Alpha Quadrant, the Enterprise has encountered an unusual phenomenon –a naturally occurring subspace fold. Spock posits that the subspace fold could be used to triple the speed of subspace communications in this sector, but his experiment requires so much computer power that the rest of the ship is forced to communicate the old-fashioned way.
Kirk is beamed aboard the Enterprise (for some contrived reason) in order to observe Pike (much to the chagrin of a nervously infatuated La’an), while Nurse Chapel receives a prestigious fellowship with Dr. Korby (a nod to the classic TOS episode “What Are Little Girls Made Of?”). It is a prestigious fellowship with thousands of applicants and only five people accepted. At the same time, Kirk and Uhura struggle to solve the challenge of subspace communication using the subspace fold, until Pelia suggests using music instead. After playing the classic Cole Porter tune “Anything Goes,” the subspace fold sends a strange shockwave through the Enterprise.
From here, the crew breaks out into song from every deck, but they do not understand why they are singing. Spock posits that perhaps they have entered a mysterious quantum alternative reality “improbability field” wherein everyone sings randomly. The Enterprise decides to attempt to close the improbability field. Soon, the improbability field expands and it becomes a threat to Starfleet. Especially because when breaking out into song, crewmen cannot stop themselves from revealing their innermost thoughts and feelings. To complicate matters, this involves the Klingons.
Underlying the whole episode are La’an’s romantic feelings for Kirk (from her travel through time in the episode “Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow”). Instead of suddenly breaking out into song and revealing her true feelings, La’an decides to tell Kirk herself. But sadly, Kirk is already in a relationship with Carol, a scientist on Starbase 1.
In the end, Uhura discovers the secret to this singing mystery –they must shatter the improbability field through a song, or a grand finale, an “ensemble number.” And, naturally, it works. But fences are still in need of mending –especially between Spock and Nurse Chapel, Kirk and La’an, and Pike and Batel. The episode ends with Uhura humming which amusingly causes consternation among her fellow crewmen.
My Thoughts on “Subspace Rhapsody”
For the penultimate episode of Season 2, SNW takes a big risk and tries something entirely new for the franchise. For that I give them a ton of credit. But with that being said, I personally don’t care much for showtunes and power ballads mixed in with science fiction like Star Trek. This unique episode will definitely appeal to some Trek fans. To me, this episode had an interesting idea –to make a musical version of Trek– but some of the song and dance routines, especially the hip-hop boy band dancing Klingons, really dropped it down a few notches in my book.
Additionally, I find myself continually disappointed with the prevalence of romantic soap opera sub-plots underlying each episode this season. Generally speaking –outside of two episodes– Season 2 has fallen far short of Season 1 in my view.
Star Trek Trivia:
- Dr. Roger Korby is again mentioned in this episode, a nod to the classic TOS episode “What Are Little Girls Made Of?” Perhaps Nurse Chapel accepting a fellowship with Dr. Korby is the start of her engagement to him.
- Dr. Korby is referred to as the “Louis Pasteur of archaeological medicine,” which is verbatim how Spock describes him in “What Are Little Girls Made Of?”
- As a result of Spock’s experiment, Uhura is forced to handle communications like an old-fashioned switchboard.
- Uhura plays the classic Cole Porter song “Anything Goes” from the Great American Songbook which kickstarts the musical element in this episode.
- In this episode Kirk mentions he is in a relationship with Carol, a nod to Carol Marcus from TOS. Kirk mentions she is pregnant.
- Many of the actors in SNW are extraordinary singers, like Christina Chong.
- Bruce Horak returns in this episode as a Klingon, General Garcog.
- The Klingon vessel in this episode is a K’t’inga class ship, even though this ship did not initially appear until Star Trek: The Motion Picture.
- The USS Nimerfro is briefly hailed by Uhura at the end of this episode.
- The opening credits in this episode appropriately feature a unique operatic version of the SNW theme song.
As with Doctor Who in this century, the Star Trek universe may have become popular enough to be more fantastical in many areas. Even to the point where it might no longer seem quite as seriously dramatic or scientific as the glory days from the last century. Shows like Buffy The Vampire Slayer and Xena: Warrior Princess have taken their chances with musical episodes. The appeal would be undeniably of course. But if it can somehow work for Star Trek, then the most traditional appeals are how the main Trek ensemble work out the best solutions. That much can always be refreshed for the Trek universe. So agreeably enough, a musical Trek succeeds for reassuring Trekkers that there’s nothing that the brave Enterprise crew cannot face. Thank you for your review and trivia.