#SNW Hegemony

[cozyforjate]

What a season finale?!!!

It was a great episode, probably one of the best of the season for me but damn, i hate cliffhangers! Especially when there's a strike going on and you have no idea when the next season will air!

But it is what is… The only thing we can do now is pray for the strike to be over as soon as possible.

AMPTP, please pay your writers and actors!

*

So lets talk about Spock and Chapel (and a little bit about Pike&Batel)

!SPOILER WARNING!

*

The episode starts with Batel and Chapel helping the colonists. We learn that Chapel left the Enterprise early to start her Fellowship with Dr. Korby and Cayuga is basically her ride.

Can i just say that i love how SNW portrays their female characters? Batel and Chapel are 2 women who are really good at their jobs, love helping people, ambitious, strong, beautiful and charming!

The episode made a clear parallel between 2 relationships: Spock&Chapel and Pike&Batel.

At the beginning of the episode Batel and Chapel’s fates were unknown, both Spock and Pike were worried about losing the women that they love, but refused to give up hope and they were both ready to do whatever it takes to save them.

Both couples reunite at some point in the episode. Pike&Batel’s hug is lovely and sweet. Spock&Chapel holding each other’s hands in space is a beautiful and almost poetic moment. That scene was designed to look visually stunning and it did!

*

If we quickly remember the status of both relationships:

Batel had a bumpy relationship with Pike at first, she even walked out on him bcoz just like Chapel, Pike had issues maintaining a serious relationship. But unlike Spock&Chapel, Pike&Batel fixed their problems bcoz Pike noticed his errors, they talked, they understood each other and made up!

Spock and Chapel still haven’t done that and we have to wait for season 3 to see them properly communicate again. But there’s still HOPE for them.

*

“Hope” is one of the main themes of the episode. We have seen different characters talk about “hope” and use it as a motivation to keep fighting.

Una to Spock:

“I would never tell you not to hope.”

Pike to La’an:

“Sometimes... hope is a choice.”

Despite every single fact pointing to Christine’s death, Spock chooses not to lose hope.

“and Nurse Chapel, who I HOPE made it to the surface as well.”

“I have not given in to grief yet. Logic dictates we do not know Chapel's or Batel's fate. And until we do, the best chance we have to save them is if Enterprise takes out the Gorn's interference field.”

Hope is the thing that keeps him going. And i think, one of the reasons why he insisted he should be the one doing the space mission is bcoz he really believed that it might help save Christine’s life (and others').

*

The zero gravity Gorn fight was amazing. Spock and Chapel defeating the Gorn together was so satisfying to me!

After that, they move towards each other and have an “almost” space hug. Beautiful! And then they slowly fly up together. The filming of the whole scene is breathtaking. Feels like a space dance in EV suits. As a big piece of Cayuga falls down, they reach for each other’s hands at the same time and hold so tight! Aww. The music, the scene… You get the sense that there’s HOPE. Against Gorn but also for Spock and Chapel too.

They energize still holding hands. Chapel seems pretty shook and Spock intensely watches her. He must be feeling so many things at once in that moment.

The way Spock loves Chapel is too pure.  He would do anything for her. ANYTHING. Vulcan emotions are stronger than human emotions. That’s why they suppress them. And what happens when they choose not to suppress them? Take a look at Spock! Ethan Peck has been doing an amazing job portraying a half Vulcan-half Human in love. But perhaps his feelings for Chapel can not even be described with the word love.

I have no words for what I feel.

Bcoz it’s more.

*

Anyway, before they go Spock stops her. He wants to apologize but she doesn't let him. She tells him that they'll have time later. She smiles at him, eyes shining, holding his arm… Spock recognizes that look and that smile. Its Christine. His Christine. And he smiles back. There’s HOPE.

*

Look guys, I don’t know if they’ll break up or decide to try again. All i know is, Spock and Chapel love each other. Despite their differences, despite Boimler’s “you’re doomed” BS, despite Chapel’s struggle with relationships&deep trauma, despite Spock’s struggle with human emotions… They LOVE each other. Feelings are there and not going anywhere.

Star Trek loves “on again - off again” relationships. So i predict Spapel be the new on/off relationship that will last for as long as the show goes on.

[boardchairman-blog]

**Shots of the Episode**

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (2022)

Season 2, Episode 10: “Hegemony” (2023) Director: Maja Vrvilo Cinematographer: Glen Keenan

[thesevenwondersofawitch]

Watching Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 2, episode 10, Hegemony

I believe this is the s2 finale, so let's go!

I love how they mentioned the singing from the last episode 😂

Why am I kinda shipping Batel and Chapel

I feel like Captain Batel is gonna die

HOLY SHIT

IT'S THE GLOW CLOUD

Or the Gorn

Oh shit, Batel's ship blew up 👀

Chris doesn't have much luck when it comes to romance, it seems

Nitrogen bombs + Gorn = Gorn Popsicles

Erica is a genius😂

Quite the memorable first landing party for her to take part in😂

The fact Spock plans to add zombie movies to his research is so funny to me😂

Also, the fact that he's seen movies, makes me think (or hope) he and his mama watched Alice In Wonderland because he loved the book

I love how everyone (especially Pike) felt sick after Erica's driving/diving

If anything happens to her, I'm gonna be very grumpy

Aw man, Spock is so upset that he doesn't know what happened to Chapel

"Sickbay is gone" CHILLS LITERAL CHILLS

Spock ^

Wow, the planet really turned into a Wasteland 👀

Awwww the baby Gorn is kinda cute!

This is why I would never survive a zombie/Gorn apocalypse/invasion

Ooof, cannibalism

PELIA MY BELOVED

^ I love her in case it wasn't obvious

The way Pelia turned to Uhura like what did you figure out then turned away like ugh don't waste my time(when Uhura mentioned she needs an engineers help) then turn around when Uhura said she had a crazy theory 😂

I feel like Pelia and Raffi would get along famously

SCOTTY

HELL YEAH

Scotty: "That's a lot of lieutenants."

Erica: "There'll be a quiz."

BATEL IS STILL ALIVE

WOO

I love Scotty 😂

I love how Scotty is so crafty and resourceful

Pelia to Una: "And if you had answered like that in my class I would've given you an A+"

Una: -_-

I love how Batel knew exactly what Pike was up to when he thought she was sleeping

Pike and Batel: * having a slightly emotional conversation about not going alone to look for stuff/Pike trying to save everyone, ending with them looking flirtatiously at each other in silence*

Scotty, lurking behind Batel: "You're never gonna be able to retrieve the device without my help"

Batel and Pike: °_°

Scotty: "I didn't mean to eavesdrop. Not my fault you decided to have a secret conversation right in front of my sleeping spot."😂

CHRISTINE!!!!!!

The fact that it's Majel Barrett(I think) doing the voice for the computer while this Chapel is plugging things into the computer makes me so happy

Chapel: *banging on glass trying to get Spock's attention*

Spock: *casually floats by not noticing*

Damn, Batel's got a strong stomach I would've gotten sick being that close to that Gorn

IS BETAL GORN OR SOMETHING AND THAT'S WHY IT LEFT HER ALONE

OH SHIT

SPOCK SAW THE REFLECTION OF THE GORN

Uh oh, it took his gun

Whoa, the Gorn was also wearing a space suit, cool

Oh no, did Marie get Gorn eggs planted in her and that's why it left👀

OH SHIT SHE DID

Batel this episode ^

That's why she was so upset Chris came for her😭😭

I love that Scotty interrupted them 😂

Ooooooo Pelia is required in sickbay

PELIA KNOWS SCOTTY?!She cringed when Pike said his name😂Pelia: "One of my best students who sadly received some of my worst grades."

Pike: "Well, I'll leave you to it" *speed walks away*😂

Pelia, shaking her head looking at the jumble in Scotty's arms: "What the hell is this supposed to be?!"

Scotty in a voice similar to a child whining to their parent: "Something that could help us hide from the Gorn."

Pelia: "Oh"

Scotty: "If we can fix it."

Batel to Chapel: "I'll need you to take me out." Okay, it's a date then😁🤗

Wait the Gorn still have their people? I thought they rescued the surviving Starfleet officers?🤔

Idk it brings me such joy to see Pelia helping carry Scotty's project in the halls as things blow up, but it does

ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME? IT'S A CLIFFHANGER?!!!!

Whyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy

This is fine.

[waitingintheskyyy]

Am I dumb or did anyone else find this lines weird?

Like Spock, bestie, I know your emotions are taking over just a little bit, but isn't it a bit narcissistic assuming you're the only one who "can" by the sole reason of not being a weak little human?

(we stan Uhura in this household)

[pinazee]

Ortegas was a night witch in the war! Thats so cool!

(If you dont know, in WW2 Russia had female pilots that would idle their engines and glide to their target to go undetected, drop their bomb, then fly outta there. The sound of the glide apparently sounded like broomsticks to the germans hence the nickname. I highly recommend reading up on them if you haven’t. They were incredible women)

[spatulahat]

Strange New Worlds should have kept the same Gorn design from the 60's, including for their young. Imagine these guys chestbursting out of crew members, fully clothed and ready to slow wrestle.

[agent-troi]

my thoughts on the snw season 2 finale so far:

- for the last time, the federation never heard of the gorn until cestus iii, this whole storyline makes no fucking sense

- stop trying to make spock/chapel happen, it’s never going to happen

- why all the buildup/suspense over whether chapel survived? we know she made it, she was in tos for fuck’s sake

- once again, a tos character recast in snw looks nothing like the original (but i was so excited to hear that scottish accent, even though he looked nothing like scotty i knew that’s who he was supposed to be)

[xfilesposterproject]

Here’s my poster for this week’s Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season finale “Hegemony”. Prints for this and the rest of my SNW episode posters are now available for a limited one-week window at jjlendl.com/shop.

[curator-on-ao3]

Ad Astra Per Aspera Pike and Una earned hug = good

Hegemony Pike freezing on the bridge as Una repeatedly asks for orders = bad

[my-fandom-mania]

Slow motion Gorn fights continue 🤣

[shannyfishwriter]

SNW: "Untraveled Roads" - Chapter 1

Title: Untraveled Roads Pairing: Spock/Chapel Summary: A large party of ambassadors on board the Enterprise leads to a very interesting realization for Spock and Christine Chapel when it comes to what a possible future together may look like. ===========

"The Enterprise will be hosting Federation ambassadors and transporting them to a summit," Pike explained.  "We'll pick up our guests at Starbase One and ferry them to Betazed for more Federation discussions.  Our job is simply transport and while they're in our care, we entertain."

"If that means you're cooking, I'll wear whatever uniform I need to impress the guests," Oretegas quipped.

"Exactly which ambassadors will we be hosting?" Chin-Riley questioned.  

"They aren't quite sure which ambassador from Earth they're sending yet," Pike said, raising his eyebrow slightly as he glanced over his PADD and leaned back in his chair.  "But along with whoever that ends up being, we'll have Tellarite Ambassador Crugriv Jurs and his attache along with Andorian Ambassador Itith Ch'riathrass and assistant and Vulcan Ambassador Sarek and his wife.  Pike looked in Spock's direction as he spoke his father's name.  

"So, the founding Federation members basically," Una stated.

"Seems that way."

"What exactly will be required during their stay?" Uhura spoke up.

Pike sighed.  "I don't think any of them are expecting anything, but Admiral April has expressed that we hold some dinners.  So, everyone will need to be on alert for invitations to those."  He tilted his head.  "I don't expect it to be too involved, but we'll have them for a few days and we need to all do our best to make them comfortable."

<Read More Here>

[quasi-normalcy]

It occurs to me that it could be a hell of a long time before that cliffhanger gets any resolution. Like, there's still a strike going on, and it's not clear to me that Paramount+ will necessarily survive long enough for a third season to air.

[woman-of-many-fandoms]

Is anyone else kind of hoping hegemony part 2 brings in a Doctor that will get their experience bring in gorn octuplets that bite into the world.

[ziyan-idaris]

I've started a new PikeUna story called Battle Wounds. This is dark one that focuses on Chris and his struggles since the events of Hegemony. This starts three months after that. Chris might have lost Marie, but he is coming to realize he has Una and how important she is for him. Losing her would mean losing everything.

[pinazee]

What an adorable Scotty they found

[piinkmoooon]

I don’t know what the future holds for Batel, La’an and Erica but I highly doubt that they would start off the season on a tragic note, we do know that M’Benga survives. 

I’m also wondering if their encounter with the Gorn ends at Pike retrieving the colonists or are we going to witness a multi-episode war breaking between the federation and the hegemony.