Hey I’m also behind everyone else too, I’m glad to see a chance to chime in.
I consider this to be the absolute best “red shirt” episode yet. These are my reasons.
Ensign Gamble was introduced in prior episodes; no last-minute-hey-meet-airiam contrivances.
The episode starts with Gamble reading his log, as though he is framing the entire episode and foreshadowing his survival.
The threat was menacing and inscrutable, like an Armos with better presentation. But also sad, Gamble merely picking up that orb shows how fragile life can be even in the space future. He just gets iced for no good reason like Yar, because ultimately space is scary and dangerous.
Dr MBenga suffers more trauma and loss, as he should. Every redshirt was probably somebody’s protege and certainly leaves void we rarely get to see ( eg TNG Lower Decks). Closest runner up is Trip getting all tore up over ENT casualties.
This is how to kill an away team member and have me care about it.
I hope not. I saw single film and it was fucking grimy.
They are selling a blockbuster franchise and thus do not wish to offend anyone… so they invent a whole new breed of terrorists… atheist terrorists. 🤷♀️🤦♀️
It’s pure schlock for those that bring a foam finger to the movies.