Here we go with a Spock episode about his relationships. Specifically with the one we know will die and the one with the blue eyes and platinum-blonde hair. This episode is written by Henry Alonso Myers as well as Lower Decks story editor Kathryn Lyn, and directed by Schitt’s Creek and Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock director Jordan Canning. “Charades” takes the bold step of making Ethan Peck seem like a psychopath. Or as the episode itself points out, a teenager. I am sure I can hear my editor scream as he edits this assuming I’m about to write a lot of swear words directed towards the pointy-eared robots.

I’ve said nicer things about Spock in recent reviews because there were inroads towards making him human, palatable, and maybe even likable. Then we got a teen drama based around a moody Spock who’s mentally a teenager and aimed to be comedic at times. That lands like someone playing lawn darts with their head off of very tall buildings. Meanwhile, T’Pril (T’pring’s mother) is acting like a South Asian mother. She is very strict, very picky, and in the case of her Vulcan side, she is the bossy matriarchal type that makes everyone around her hate themselves.

To say “Charades” is a chore undercuts just how much Alonso Myers and Lyn’s attempts to lean into “isn’t it whacky that Spock is acting human but has to act Vulcan” throughout its nearly 1 hour run time. I say nearly because I’m discounting credits. To cut the long and short of it: The Enterprise is near Vulcanis A II on a research mission of a nearby gas giant, Kerkhov. While on a survey mission, Nurse Chapel and Spock awkwardly chat before crashing into an anomalous space entity and are returned to the Enterprise “repaired.”

She has survivor’s guilt as a result of coming out of the crash unaffected while he becomes a dope-smoking teenager (emotionally). He is always hungry, angry, and just a bit horny for women with blue eyes and blonde hair. The trouble is, before he went on the mission with Nurse Chapel, he agreed with T’Pring that the two finally have their special Vulcan ceremonial dinner to celebrate their engagement. I say celebrate, it is more of a chance for T’Pril to moan and poke at Spock’s human side. Bunch of pointy-eared racists, go back to where you came from then if you don’t like humans.

I don’t dislike “Charades,” unlike a lot of what I’ve been watching as of late, it still had heart beyond my dislike of going through these growing pains to make Spock more human. That’s what really brings “Among the Lotus Eaters” from “Why are we doing this?” to “My heart is breaking for her and I just want to hug her and tell her everything is going to be ok.” The big difference is that we know where these characters are roughly heading, Strange New Worlds is a prequel show after all, there is wiggle room but not much.

We know that T’Pring and Spock won’t last. We know Chapel wants to be with Spock and that he’s never going to be as tentative as he could be if he let go of his Vulcan side, but they are going to have something of a relationship. So watching her break her heart trying to save Spock’s Vulcan side after being “repaired” to be human, that’s the heart that grounds “Charades” in something we can all connect to. Even if we abhor this awkward growing and sometimes psychotic phase. If Ethan Peck ever smiles like he did here again, I’ll believe he dislocates his jaw, swallows his food whole, and sheds regularly.

Where I think “Charades” loses me is the slow pacing as we go through the dinner and the not-very-funny idea of “Isn’t it funny watching Spock learn to be human.” It makes those middle acts feel more like a chore more than an enjoyable adventure or drama about the characters we either care about or are learning to care about. Something about the Vulcan-based tension puts me off and generally makes me want to go watch any other episode. I know my dislike of the episode is entirely a personal thing.

I will say something nice though, and I believe I’ve said something similar before. I think Peck is equaling if not surpassing Nimoy as Spock. Nimoy laid the foundation for the character, gave it everything, and made Star Trek a stalwart that stood until the bald French one came along to make it a powerhouse. Nonetheless, Peck’s interpretation makes him more applicable to the modern day and importantly enjoyable as time goes on. When he’s not frustrated with his mother or his human side and is personable, he’s quite likable. It is the extremes of his conflict that feel tiring.

I think the subtleties surrounding the character and editing/direction have to be applauded too. They do a lot of the work to make him enjoyable. The hair and makeup department (emphasis on the hair) just changing little bits beyond the missing rubber ears highlights the care to show he’s no longer stiff and “emotionless.” It is a lovely bit of visual storytelling which is sometimes missed by a lot of drama that focuses on people talking rather than a punch-up in a Sainsbury’s car park at 3 AM in Slough.

Ultimately, I enjoy a large portion of “Charades” for its progress in giving us a Spock that isn’t so dull. However, those middle acts with T’pril feel like pulling teeth. I was honestly hoping for the American drama/comedy trope of the husband shouting about all the things he hates about being in a matriarchal relationship, and it never came. I only suspected it as the cut to credits to cut off our lead swearing “joke” was played out again and signposted better than Lands End. I wanted to enjoy it more, but I don’t like dull Vulcans trying to be annoying.

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SNW "Charades"

6.5

Score

6.5/10

Pros

• An episode with heart.
• He saves Chapel.
• Hair and makeup showing the power of their department.
• beautiful direction.

Cons

• A very slow middle in the prep for and the dinner.
• Don't let that man smile ever again, he looks like a serial killer!