WHY WE LIKE IT: Rok gets some love.
WHY WE DON'T: The dumb new sidekick.
REVIEW: Tribbles seem perfect for a kids' show (though that's a weird title), and their finding a tribble infestation on a dead star-turned-planet (at least, that's the implication for the bosonite trove's location) is the kind of story I was expecting much sooner. That said, I don't love this sort of sequel to the Animated Series' tribble episode. The tribble hair looks weird in this style of animation - more like triangular anime hair strands - which makes them look like big pine cones. Because of the Klingon scientist's faulty manipulations, they also get very big (bigger than in the aforementioned TAS episode) and are blood suckers. Well, that just took a dark turn.
I don't rightly understand the environment, though I dare say neither do the production team. Are those stone ribs all over the place meant to be frozen solar flares or fossils? Did I misread the opening sequence completely, or did this world used to be a star that died, then I guess had a thriving ecosystem, then died again due to the tribble infestation? That's my take on what we're seeing, but the episode doesn't seem to be sure. Well, at least it's a scientific mystery, and that gives Rok a chance to shine. She's been rather on the outs for a bit, as the straight arrow who doesn't want to participate in Dal's plans, but there's no reason to keep her on the sidelines anymore. I like that one mistake makes her insecure, and the lessons that come out of that situation. What I don't much like is the RESULT of that original mistake: The Bribble.
Did the show really need a new cutesy animal sidekick? I mean, we still have Murf, right? This little hedgehog - part tribble, part Br'kkian, part sneeze - somehow stops the giant tribbles from rolling all over our heroes (a dull resolution) and follows them to the ship where it's added to the cast. Sigh. We've already got a big cast and I don't see what it can bring to the show with 8 episodes to go.
More interesting is Zero's body starting to break down (it doesn't heal from wounds, for example) and Jankom offering to help them build a new, BETTER body (if it can't be fixed, you just build a better one). But what would that be? Jankom himself points to his mechanical arm as an example, but Zero already had a mechanical body before... How are they going to build a new, better BIOLOGICAL one? The subplot also ties into the science theme of the episode - which is pleasant to me - but without answers. As for the Protostar drive, the kids manage to revive it. That was quicker than expected!
LESSON: Cover your face when you sneeze!
REWATCHABILITY - Medium-Low to Medium (might depend on your age): An exercise in cutesyness that just doesn't work for me, but might be fun for younger audience members (including younger at heart).
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