It's the same dumb cycle that's happened with every new Trek show since TNG (and probably TAS). It's tiresome, but at least it's predicable, I guess? Just ignore the obligatory backlash and see how it turns out.
Might be worth showing him the first episode of Lower Decks then. Or "Temporal Edict" is another strong early episode that's still fairly introductory and really gives a lot of the Star Trek vibes about being capable and ethical while still showing it as a fun time.
They've retracted the comment.
"The premiere date for Star Trek: Strange New Worlds S3 was given to one of our members in error and is incorrect. Apologies for the inconvenience caused. We share your excitement and can't wait for the 3rd season of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds to premiere."
Though it could still be accurate and they're just doing damage control. Maybe we'll find out for First Contact Day?
Westlake is great, but so is Nami Melumad (who does the music for Strange New Worlds and Prodigy), so I'm absolutely not behind a call to have her fired, whether that call is meant to be tongue-in-cheek or not.
Great notes, as always.
In addition to the already-cited references, the Beagle could additionally be a sly reference to Archer's pal Porthos.
Interestingly, Jolene Blalock is credited simply as "Jolene". EDIT: Mike McMahan says this was at her request. https://bsky.app/profile/mikemcmahan.bsky.social/post/3ld3v4usznc2i
Our T'Pol also had some indirect experience with the concept of katra transference when Archer briefly carried Surak's katra.
Nice notes, as usual.
V’Ger is the antagonist in TMP
Also it's in the Lower Decks opening credit sequence this year.
the Cambodian word for “toilet” is bangkon, which is pronounced similarly.
Interesting catch. That didn't occur to me, ហើយខ្ញុំចេះភាសារខ្មែរ។
Nurse Westlake is named after Chris Westlake
He's also appeared as far back as the series premiere, though he's rarely spoken until now, and I don't think he's ever said more than a couple of lines.
I guess I could add a similar note to this for every episode this year with a Stardate, but the launch date of the Protostar is Stardate 59749.1, placing this episode just under 100 days before that ship launches under Captain Chakotay.
The Star Trek: New Frontier novel series previously featured Mark McHenry, a Starfleet officer who was a descendant of Apollo and had powers as a result.
Nice notes!
Since you went through the history of Cetacean Ops, it's worth remembering it was referenced more noticeably albeit less overtly in "The Perfect Mate" when La Forge says "Listen, have you had a chance to see the dolphins yet?"
This may just be a coincidence, but the room with the divided gravity reminded me of the "sweet spot" that Mayweather enjoyed, but since there's no point where the gravity seems to cut entirely, this may not be an intended allusion. Though they do mention having a problem with the gravity plating, which was mentioned in many episodes of ENT starting with "Unexpected". (Also a few times on Voyager.)
The tops of the kiosks in the shopping area are shaped like TNG-era comm badges.
"dress Sciences uniform from TNG"
Just to add to this, this is the uniform type primarily seen in seasons 1-2 with the extra line across the top.
"a Command top from DIS Season 2"
Nothing to add on this one; just wanted to say good catch noting the collar on that one! I had to look a few times before I realized which one you meant.
"a torn Monster Maroon from the movie era"
Also an excursion jacket from that era (on the left side).
The grav plate manual is on one of a set of cylindrical record tapes. I feel like these probably appeared in TOS at some point, though I'm not positive. In any case, they definitely exist in real life; cylindrical magnetic tapes were used for decades, and probably still are in some cases. https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo/1980s-computer-tapes.html
A sign (about 17 minutes in) mentions "astro-medicine ward 4". A sign with the same text is visible outside of sickbay in TOS, as well as in early promotional photos of Paul Fix as Dr. Piper and Sally Kellerman as Dr. Elizabeth Dehner. You can also see a re-creation at the Star Trek Set Tour in Ticonderoga, NY.
https://tos.trekcore.com/gallery/albums/photography/cast-photos/guest-stars/paulfix_drpiper02.jpg https://tos.trekcore.com/gallery/albums/photography/cast-photos/guest-stars/kellerman_tospb.jpg
There's a sign that says "Trav..." and is cut off (also 17 minutes in). It's probably regarding "Travelers" or something and not an allusion to Travis Mayweather. Probably.
When Chad whips out the corn dogs at the end, the gesture and sound effect (snikt) resemble Wolverine from the X-Men expanding his claws.
I'd probably just start the PIC era in 2399. We only see the 2380's in a handful of flashbacks. Prodigy definitely has some PIC connections, but it's far more a continuation of Voyager, and it starts like a year after season 5 of Lower Decks.
Fun fact: The TNG episode of the same name was originally intended to star Patrick McGoohan as Ira Graves.
Not only do you not need to catch up with Disco, but the end of season 2 of Disco doesn't dovetail to the beginning of Strange New Worlds super-well when you watch them back-to-back; if anything, they feel like they lightly contradict each other.
Though if I were to recommend a single episode it would be "Through the Valley of Shadows" from season 2, which is probably the only "important" episode as far as Strange New Worlds goes, though the key stuff gets recapped in SNW.
The Short Treks episode Q&A gets some references in the series too, though if you don't watch it you likely won't realize you missed anything.
Not sure your country of origin, but in the U.S. it has all 13 theatrical films + Section 31, as well as Woman in Motion and Building Star Trek.
https://www.paramountplus.com/collections/star-trek/