I think this was a solid, but a bit boring finale. I think it was strongest during the scenes where Reno was commanding. Everything else just dragged. Mostly because there are no stakes here. We know the Federation won't end, or Nus win, or anyone die. It is clear from the beginning. But then it drags.

The "trial" made no sense to me. You already have the federation hostage. Why would you need to put on a show? Nus was a bit of a hollow villain, and I hate it when shows/movies/books/games try to give villains a reason for being evil. Especially when it is so convoluted now. Let Federation be the bad guy for once! I think it would be enough if Federation couldn't have helped in a crisis situation. Such systemic failure is enough to push people to bad places. But here, we get the son of a secret weapon manufacturer turned terrorist. Meh.

But overall, this was a strong first season. The worst episode was "mediocre", which is quite strong for a Trek series lol, and some real bangers. I think the 10 episode format is way to little and they should have cut one person from the main cast for better focus. I would have cut Reymi.

Had to come back and just say.. This message is 🔥

"So, the question I'd ask to all these people watching - is this the person you want to follow into the future? An angry child with his finger on the trigger whose entire worldview...is based on a lie?"

Incredibly well done episode. Not sure others have mentioned these, but I really really liked these things in particular:

• Reno has great presence and delivery. And the sharpest uniform.
• I’m glad the announcer from Children’s Hospital fell through an anomaly and arrived in Starfleet Academy.
• English graffiti and open flames everywhere! J/k how could they get everything else so right but then fumble this so poorly. You’re telling me the venari ral are space romans, but not romulans?

A great first season, I feel like they know what they’re doing and I want more.

Well, that was worth all the narrative setup mechanics from last episode! Everybody else here has already mentioned the highlights of the finale, I will only applaud the resolution to Braka's staged court drama.

That felt so arch Trek, reasoning their way out of an impossible pinch, by listening to the adversary first. It was clever, but not contrived writing, and it fit the overall themes of the season perfectly.

This show really pulled the rug from under me from day one, and it hasn't let up much since the pilot. Now, how long do we have to wait for s2? New Short Treks release to fill the gap when?

Great episode, great finale, really strong first season. I had issues with some episodes trying to do too much in too little time, but for the last two episodes the writers focused on one story and did a damn good job tying up the season arc. Can't wait to see where the show goes next season.

The one criticism I have of the finale, and literally everywhere else it comes up in new era Trek is: Stop moving the camera so fucking much! It's unnecessary and really takes me out of it when the camera is wiggling back and forth, or spinning around in an arc, or acting like an unstable drone during the trial portion (particularly at the end). I want to drink in what's going on, not be trying to puzzle out WTF I'm looking at, especially when stream compression turns a lot of motion into blurry pixels.

A little shaky cam when things are intense or exploding, sure, but overall I wish it was shot in a more conventional style.

So this season has definitely had its downs and weird choices, but this was an excellent episode. I want to especially call out the music - it was stirring in a way that very little of other TV Trek’s ‘musical wallpaper’ is.

My only hiccup was a weird undercurrent I picked up on in the trial that is admittedly my own projection. With everything going on in the world I totally get Nus Braka’s anger and desire to just burn it all down, which probably says more about me than I’d care to admit lol. What I really don’t like is the ‘haves’ (the Federation; the billionaires; the wealthy countries) essentially lecturing the ‘have nots’ (the worlds failed by the Federation; us normal people; the struggling countries that have been abused by the wealthy countries) that they can’t be angry at them and the situation; they just don’t understand the burden they carry. Even with Nahle’s reframing of Braka’s situation, we know there are worlds that the Federation has failed badly, and they need to understand that for every Braka, there will be more angry people with legitimate grievances and you can’t just tell to ‘calm down’. I’m not talking about what Nahle said to Alisha, more about her lecture toward Braka at the end.

I know that wasn’t their intention but I can’t get it out of my head and it leaves a sour taste in my mouth.

Oh those end credits were awesome though!

Incredible season and exceptional finale, and awesome acting from everyone!

Those who are snubbing STA are truly missing something.

My only little disappointment is not seeing Discovery blipping first right as the blockade is lifted, at least a few seconds or a minute before all other ships warping in. I understand why they didn’t and how it would have stolen the show, but still, I can only imagine Burnham and Action Saru teleporting right next to Nus Braka to arrest him only a second after Discovery arrives… and to find out there is another heavy lot of history as well between the three! I’d just love a one-episode team up of the Athena with Discovery and its crew in season 2 or 3 !!

Only thing that didn't work for me was the Caleb/Tarima telepathy working like a psychic airtag for Anisha. Needed more explanation than 'They have a connection,' IMO.

I enjoyed the season more than I anticipated.

I have a small problem with the fleet warping instantly at the end, warp speed 900 I guess, but still a good dramatic effect

I need to see this Talaxian Fur Fly

I must say, I enjoyed this season of SFA more than any season of SNW so far and I thought this particular episode was excellent. I was kind of bummed by the explanation of why Discovery couldn’t jump with the spore drive, but was ecstatic to see her in the last few minutes of the episode (when the kids are standing by the window overlooking the fleet).

I can not wait until season 2.

I got drunk on wine during this episode.

Everything was awesome! I flipped out seeing the 27th century mobile emitter. The things this episode expressed about Starfleet and the Federation are how I feel about this community (the fandom). I started attending STLV recently in 2024. Being in Las Vegas, getting to be surrounded by this community is one of the reasons I love this community. Trekkies are awesome! I love everyone here. This episode did a lot to express what a found family is, something the heart of this series.

This episode was soooooooooooooooooooooooo good!!!!!!!!

A pretty solid finale to a pretty excellent season.

I liked a lot of it - Reno and the cadets having to solve the problem using their wits alone, Nus Braka's ridiculous show trial, and the ultimate resolution of de-weaponizing the minefield (which one would think has long-term implications, if they've truly found a way to permanently stabilize Omega). The cast was stellar, which we've come to expect at this point.

I'm not completely satisfied with the resolution of the individual story arcs. I don't think we got enough of Sam 2.0 for her inner conflict to really land, and while I assume ther and Genesis' made-up language is a callback to something, but I honestly don't remember it clearly. And I thought Anisha came around to Nala and the Federation too quickly at the end - I would have liked to have seen her a little angstier in that final scene.

The overall theme of the season has been identity, and choosing who you want to be. The cadets all went through that coming-of-age process, but so did the Doctor, and arguably Ake as well. I do hope we get to know Genesis better in season two, and Darem deserves more as well.

And I do hope they find Ocam - I assume he wandered off into the woods or something after episode 8.

Oh shit, that was fun. I hate having to wait now. Also, the end credits are sublime and must be paused and read in their entirely. This is non-negotiable.

Annotations for 1x10 are up at: https://startrek.website/post/36717083