Please explain it to me, then.
There's my boy.
I’m not sure how I would feel about Nog showing up not voiced by Aaron Eisenberg.
Mushrooms have significantly less mysticism associated with them
Ah yes, psychedelics are famously not associated with mysticism.
The closest comparison to the mycelial network is Yggdrasil, which is solidly in the high fantasy category rather than sci-fi.
The closest comparison is actual fungal networks that exist beneath forests supporting life through the transference of nutrients and biochemical communication, are some of the largest organisms on the planet, and are actual nonfiction science.
All that is to say, I think the mycelial network needed more time to set up than the show gave it.
I think I can agree with you to some extent there. Stamets, by virtue of being standoffish and prickly when the character is introduced, is not the best at explaining things, and the concept could have used a better explanation early on to mitigate the response I'm complaining about with this post.
My apologies that this one's going up late, even by my standards. Between work, social obligations, and my internet going out during the time I normally have to write these, I wasn't able to get it up when I'd like. Still, it is (barely) before the next episode drops, so there's that.
MRW the ship is overrun by tiny monsters demanding “treats” and threatening us with “tricks, but the captain won’t let me detonate the warp core!
Because it had to be something they found to be dishonourable enough that their reaction was to want to destroy the subspace fold.
Makes sense. That is a mane that radiates authority and command.
Just a heads up, I've altered the formatting on this post, because I didn't like the way the lists were appearing when viewed on mobile. Everything is looking good on my end, but if something appears jacked up to you, please let me know so I can attempt to fix it.
Worf gets away with a lot of things that would violate the Prime Directive in regards to the Klingon Government because he has dual citizenship and is a member of Klingon nobility.
Even with Worf being a Klingon, and a recognized member of Klingon society, he still had to resign his commission to leave the Enterprise and go fight for Gowron's forces in the civil war against the Duras' sister's supporters.
Worf: Captain, we must intervene. The Duras family is corrupt and hungry for power with no sense of honour or loyalty. They represent a grave threat to the security of the Federation. Captain, you and I know that they have conspired with Romulans in the past. If they should be victors in this war, they will surely form a new Klingon-Romulan alliance. That would represent a fundamental shift of power in this quadrant. Starfleet must support Gowron. It is in the interests of both the Federation and the Empire. I beg you, support us in our cause.
Picard: Mister Worf, I don't have to lecture you on the principle of non-interference. As Starfleet officers, we have all sworn an oath to uphold that principle whatever our personal feelings. I'm sorry. I must refuse your request.
Picard: Mister Worf. I'm afraid I must recall you to duty. The Enterprise will be leaving this sector immediately.
Worf: Captain, I respectfully request that I be allowed to take an extended leave of absence.
Picard: Mister Worf, your responsibilities as a Starfleet officer are incompatible with remaining on board a Klingon ship during a time of war.
Worf: Captain.
Picard: I order you to return to duty at once.
Worf: Then I resign my commission as a Starfleet officer.
They just conveniently forget that's the case in the final scene of "Redemption II" when Worf asks Picard for permission to return to duty. Guess he never got around to filing the paperwork.
My interpretation of Rom's portrayal was that he was playing up the simple earnestness of the character, as a ploy to lull Admiral Vassery into accepting the terms of deal as part of a test to see if the Federation had the lobes to be viable allies to the Ferengi Alliance.