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Within the “Star Trek: Unusual New Worlds” episode “4-and-a-Half Vulcans,” the usS. Enterprise known as to a planet referred to as Tezaar on an pressing mission. Tezaar is a pre-warp society that does not know the Federation exists, however, due to a cultural slip-up years earlier than, are in shut contact with the Vulcans. To unravel a nuclear energy disaster on the planet’s floor, the Enterprise crew might want to beam right down to make repairs, however should disguise themselves as Vulcans to keep away from tainting the Tezaaran tradition. The Tezaarans, nonetheless, are far too savvy to fall for any atypical disguises, so Captain Pike (Anson Mount), La’an (Christina Chong), Uhura (Celia Rose-Gooding), and Nurse Chapel (Jess Bush) should bear fast gene remedy to actually change themselves into Vulcans. They develop pointed ears and arched eyebrows. A particular chemical cocktail additionally alters their brains, making them chilly and logical as properly.
The disaster is rapidly averted, however a complication within the gene remedy prevents the crew members from turning again into people. Swiftly, there are 4 new Vulcans on board the Enterprise. The expertise is most eye-opening to Spock (Ethan Peck), who’s half-Vulcan, half-Human.
To be able to change them again, Spock and Una (Rebecca Romijn) hunt down the assistance of a Vulcan spiritualuide who’s knowledgeable in finding and altering Katras (a phrase for an individualized Vulcan consciousness). Fortunately, Una used up to now a Katra knowledgeable named Doug. Una is reluctant to see Doug, nonetheless, as a result of their sexual chemistry stays explosive even after their breakup. Una and Doug merely can not resist one another. Doug is extra passionate than most Vulcans, having been raised by dad and mom who had been actually into human cultures. (That additionally explains his human title.)
In a enjoyable piece of nerd casting, Doug is performed by comic Patton Oswalt, probably the most open-hearted geek celebrities on the market.
Geek elder statesman Patton Oswalt performs a Vulcan named Doug on Star Trek: Unusual New Worlds
It is candy to see Una, an ordinarily staid character, shedding her cool in entrance of Doug. He is a genius artist, a mathematician, and an exquisite gardener. Doug has no downside staring into Una’s eyes and matching her romantic power. They’re actually into one another. To guard herself from flirting, nonetheless, Una rapidly declares that Spock is her husband — one thing Spock did not conform to. Comedic shenanigans ensue.
Patton Oswalt is a popular culture nerd par excellence, and even wrote a e book about his cinematic journeys at Los Angeles’ New Beverly Cinema in his e book “Silver Display Fiend.” Oswalt’s standup routines are full of popular culture references; he has an prolonged bit concerning the NewSong track “Christmas Footwear,” and a bit about what may occur if Jesus Christ joined the X-Males. He’s steadily interviewed about sci-fi, and as soon as mentioned that “Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan” is likely one of the better of all sci-fi films. He declared “Star Trek: The Movement Image” to be one of many worst, and mentioned that “Wrath of Khan” ought to have been referred to as “Sorry About That First One.” “It is beige folks on a gray background in a foul temper for two-and-a-half-hours.” Oswalt can definitely invent a flip of phrase. He is probably not a Trekkie at first, however Oswalt is aware of his “Star Trek.”
And Doug is a enjoyable character. He is comedic, sure, however then “Unusual New Worlds” is extra comedic than it’s anything. He matches proper into the world. There’s additionally one thing candy about Oswalt, who stands 5’3″, being offered as a sexual and romantic dynamo for the statuesque Romijn, who stands at 5’11”. He’s, because the slang time period goes, a real Brief King.
Patton Oswalt’s different appearances on Star Trek
“Unusual New Worlds” was not Oswalt’s first time on “Star Trek.” Followers of “Star Trek: Picard” may recall listening to his voice in the season 2 episode “Penance,” the place Oswalt performed an artificially clever cartoon cat named Spot-73 who exited solely inside the pc methods of Dr. Jurati (Allison Tablet). Oswalt’s scenes came about in an evil parallel universe the place Earth had develop into genocidal, killing off each different species within the galaxy, and his animated character commented on how mass executions, along with being evil, serve no actual societal operate to an already-cowed populace.
Oswalt will get to offer some context for the shift right into a parallel universe, one thing that occurred to Dr. Jurati with out her data. Hilariously, Oswalt throws in a number of deadpan deliveries of the phrase “meow” all through his scene. By the way, Spot-73’s title is a reference to the very actual cat Spot, as soon as owned by Knowledge (Brent Spiner) on “Star Trek: The Subsequent Technology.”
Oswalt has appeared in a number of high-profile “nerd” initiatives. For the Marvel Cinematic Universe, he performed Pip the Troll, the title character on “M.O.D.O.Okay.,” and the Koenigs on “Brokers of S.H.I.E.L.D.” He was in one of many “Blade” films (which he asserts is the worst one), and voiced characters on “The Batman,” “Teen Titans Go!,” and “Justice League Motion.” He co-hosts the intros and outros for the most recent iteration of “Thriller Science Theater 3000.” “Star Trek” is hardly the ultimate frontier for Oswalt, however enjoying a Vulcan is definitely a feather in his already closely feathered cap. It is a delight to see him once more.
