The Star Trek: Discovery Podcast is an in-depth discussion about Star Trek: Discovery, shown weekly on CBS All Access in the U.S., Space in Canada and Netflix everywhere else. We're Brian Meloche and Ruthie Rink, two long-time Star Trek fans, and each episode we analyze the story, characters, and the show’s placement in the Star Trek universe. Our listeners are very important to us, and your feedback is an essential part of this podcast. Thanks for listening!
Star Trek: Discovery – Short Treks, Season 2 Episodes 4 & 5: Ephraim and Dot/The Girl Who Made the Stars
We’re back with not just another episode of The Star Trek Discovery Podcast! No, not at all! That’s because this is episode 47!!! This time, Ruthie and I cover the fourth and fifth Short Trek of Season 2: Ephraim and Dot, which was written by Chris Silvestri & Anthony Maranville, and directed by Michael Giacchino; and The Girl Who Made the Stars, which was written by Brandon Schultz and directed by Olatunde Osunsanmi. Both of these animated Short Treks were released Thursday, December 12, 2019.
We aren’t separating these…
We decided not to release these as separate episodes because we didn’t get a lot of feedback on them, especially The Girl Who Made the Stars. Therefore, we’re releasing them as a single episode.
Fred’s Pics!
Fred from The Netherlands was kind enough to collect a LOT of images for these Short Treks. Therefore, we use them to tell most of the story!
First of all, we have some feedback on the last two Short Treks…
We had feedback for the last two Short Treks and the episodes in which we covered them, The Trouble with Edward and Ask Not, so we start off with that.
Short Treks Season 2 Episode 4 – Ephraim and Dot
This one used two “characters” that were introduced on Star Trek: Discovery: The tardigrade from Season 1 (assuming it’s the same one), and the DOT-7 that we saw in the season finale of Season 2, Such Sweet Sorrow, Part 2. It’s told in a Tom & Jerry style. We didn’t really agree about this episode. Ruthie didn’t care for it at all. I loved it, but I had one major continuity problem with the Short Trek. More on that in a bit.
We start with black and white images…
To start, we get an old film to start with. Would they have this in the 23rd Century? I don’t think so because that’s not even a thing today, but that’s a minor point. We begin…
Starfleet Science – STDP 047 – Short Treks S2E4 (00:18)
The Tardigrade in Space. – STDP 047 – Short Treks S2E4 (00:21)
I missed a reference…
I totally missed this one! Thanks, Fred! It’s the salt creature from The Man Trap, which was the first episode of Star Trek aired in the U.S., September 8, 1966.
First, we see the salt creature from The Man Trap. – STDP 047 – Short Treks S2E4 (00:32)
The tardigrade in black and white. – STDP 047 – Short Treks S2E4 (00:36)
The tardigrade in the mycelial network. – STDP 047 – Short Treks S2E4 (00:42)
Most precious cargo. – STDP 047 – Short Treks S2E4 (00:49)
Could it be a predator? – STDP 047 – Short Treks S2E4 (01:06)
Oh no! – STDP 047 – Short Treks S2E4 (01:06)
Then, we get color, and it’s the Enterprise!
Look!!! It’s the Enterprise, TOS style (mostly)! Continuity gaffe? It’s got the struts of the Enterprise from Star Trek: Discovery, but I’m going to let that slide. Considering the look of the Enterprise in Discovery, I think it’s a minor point but it can also be considered a retcon.
NCC-1701 – STDP 047 – Short Treks S2E4 (01:07)
USS Enterprise on Tardigrade collision course – STDP 047 – Short Treks S2E4 – Ephraim and Dot (01:16)
The USS Enterprise, on a collision course with the tardigrade (Ephraim). – STDP 047 – Short Treks S2E4 (01:17)
The tardigrade narrowly avoids the USS Enterprise. – STDP 047 – Short Treks S2E4 (01:18)
Ephraim coasting by the USS Enterprise. – STDP 047 – Short Treks S2E4 (01:24)
Ephraim checking out the Enterprise. – STDP 047 – Short Treks S2E4 (01:25)
It’s Kirk and Khan!
Kirk and Khan, with Ephraim watching outside. – STDP 047 – Short Treks S2E4 (01:36)
Dot – STDP 047 – Short Treks S2E4 (01:49)
Looking in the sickbay window – STDP 047 – Short Treks S2E4 – Ephraim and Dot (01:55)
Does the Enterprise have a laundry chute?
Dot and Ephraim land in a pile of clothes. – STDP 047 – Short Treks S2E4 – Ephraim and Dot (02:31)
The tardigrade in the Enterprise engine room – STDP 047 – Short Treks S2E4 – Ephraim and Dot (02:54)
A nice, warm spot for eggs – STDP 047 – Short Treks S2E4 – Ephraim and Dot (03:21)
More blasts from the TOS past!
Dot covered with tribbles – STDP 047 – Short Treks S2E4 – Ephraim and Dot (03:38)
Sulu from The Naked Time. – STDP 047 – Short Treks S2E4 (03:49)
The hand from Who Mourns for Adonais? – STDP 047 – Short Treks S2E4 (04:12)
The Doomsday Machine – STDP 047 – Short Treks S2E4 – Ephraim and Dot (04:20)
Going into the doomsday machine – STDP 047 – Short Treks S2E4 – Ephraim and Dot (04:21)
The Tholian Web – STDP 047 – Short Treks S2E4 – Ephraim and Dot (04:27)
Lincoln in space – STDP 047 – Short Treks S2E4 – Ephraim and Dot (04:35)
No bloody A, B, C, or… D!!!
They made a big continuity error, labeling the refit Enterprise as the NCC-1701-A. It isn’t. The refit Enterprise we see in the first three films is the NCC-1701, no bloody A, B, C, or D.
The refit Enterprise misdrawn as the NCC-1701-A – STDP 047 – Short Treks S2E4 – Ephraim and Dot (04:42)
That ship is the one that battles against the Reliant and orbits the Genesis planet, as shown below.
The Enterprise, in a space battle with the USS Reliant. – STDP 047 – Short Treks S2E4 (04:45)
Enterprise at the Genesis planet. – Short Treks S2E4 (04:50)
That ship is also the one that fights against the Klingon Bird of Prey and was destroyed via auto-destruct in Star Trek III: The Search for Spock.
A Klingon Bird of Prey is decloaking. – STDP 047 – Short Treks S2E4 (05:04)
Ephraim looking at a Klingon Bird of Prey. – STDP 047 – Short Treks S2E4 (05:04)
The Enterprise is taking damage. – STDP 047 – Short Treks S2E4 (05:08)
The NCC-1701-A is on fire. – STDP 047 – Short Treks S2E4 (05:08)
The NCC-1701-A is first seen at the end of Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home, and that’s the starship we see in Star Trek V and VI. That, to me, was a major continuity error that I couldn’t get past. I mellowed on this since I first watched it, but that was a goof that should have never happened. Ruthie, on the other hand, took exception to that one. She thought that it was no big deal.
The tardigrade going into the burning refit Enterprise. – STDP 047 – Short Treks S2E4 (05:11)
Oh no! The tardigrade eggs!!!
Ephraim trying to save her eggs. – STDP 047 – Short Treks S2E4 (05:19)
Dot attacking Ephraim, who has one egg. – STDP 047 – Short Treks S2E4 (05:28)
Tardigrade young. – STDP 047 – Short Treks S2E4 (07:21)
Dot empties out and baby tardigrades leave to go to their mother. – Short Treks S2E4 (07:26)
The tardigrade young leaving Dot. – STDP 047 – Short Treks S2E4 (07:28)
A happy ending! – STDP 047 – Short Treks S2E4 (07:35)
They boldly go where no one has gone before! – STDP 047 – Short Treks S2E4 (07:40)
Short Treks Season 2 Episode 5 – The Girl Who Made the Stars
This one had potential, but it felt rushed to me. I liked it but thought it had some flaws. On the other hand, Ruthie didn’t care for this one at all. In fact, she liked this Short Trek even less than the first one. We didn’t get a lot of feedback for it either. In other words, this episode didn’t seem to excite our listeners, or us.
Space station – STDP 047 – Short Treks S2E5 – The Girl Who Made the Stars (0:22)
Young Michael Burnham screaming for her dad. – STDP 047 – Short Treks S2E5 – The Girl Who Made the Stars (00:30)
A tardigrade appeared here, too…
Neither of us mentioned it in the podcast, but did you notice that Michael’s stuffed animal is a tardigrade?
Michael tells her dad that she’s scared of the dark. – STDP 047 – Short Treks S2E5 – The Girl Who Made the Stars (00:42)
Computer, illuminate. – STDP 047 – Short Treks S2E5 (00:55)
This doesn’t look much like Kenric Green to me…
I didn’t feel like Mike Burnham didn’t look much like Kenric Green, who played Mike Burnham on the show.
Dad listening to Michael’s fears. – STDP 047 – Short Treks S2E5 (01:04)
One single tiny light. – STDP 047 – Short Treks S2E5 (01:24)
Look at that badge!
Mike Burnham has a Section 31 badge on. This image doesn’t show it that well, but it’s a Section 31 badge, mostly black with silver on one side. You can’t really see the silver part in this image, but it’s there. Therefore, if you consider this canon (Ruthie doesn’t), Mike Burnham was Section 31. Sorry, I captured this image, so I don’t have a time reference.
Mike Burnham has a Section 31 badge. – STDP 047 – Short Treks S2E5 – The Girl Who Made the Stars
Hunter-gatherers. – STDP 047 – Short Treks S2E5 (02:06)
What are we going to do? – STDP 047 – Short Treks S2E5 – The Girl Who Made the Stars (02:17)
We can find new land on the other side of the mountains. – STDP 047 – Short Treks S2E5 – The Girl Who Made the Stars (02:25)
She leaves the village…
A firefly greets her. – STDP 047 – Short Treks S2E5 – The Girl Who Made the Stars (02:55)
She is joined by a little friend. – STDP 047 – Short Treks S2E5 – The Girl Who Made the Stars (02:59)
The little friend was put in the egg. – STDP 047 – Short Treks S2E5 (03:09)
Darkness found her. – STDP 047 – Short Treks S2E5 – The Girl Who Made the Stars (03:11)
There was only one thing to do… Run! – STDP 047 – Short Treks S2E5 – The Girl Who Made the Stars (03:18)
The light egg broke. – STDP 047 – Short Treks S2E5 – The Girl Who Made the Stars (03:25)
Then the night beast finds her. – STDP 047 – Short Treks S2E5 – The Girl Who Made the Stars (03:30)
The girl sees a light. – STDP 047 – Short Treks S2E5 – The Girl Who Made the Stars (03:40)
She followed the light. – STDP 047 – Short Treks S2E5 – The Girl Who Made the Stars (03:55)
She wasn’t scared, she was curious. – STDP 047 – Short Treks S2E5 – The Girl Who Made the Stars (04:15)
It didn’t see a little girl, but a brave warrior. – STDP 047 – Short Treks S2E5 (04:29)
Stars brighter than the whole galaxy. – STDP 047 – Short Treks S2E5 – The Girl Who Made the Stars (04:36)
Outside of her valley, there was a whole universe. – STDP 047 – Short Treks S2E5 – The Girl Who Made the Stars (04:40)
First, you must conquer fear. – STDP 047 – Short Treks S2E5 – The Girl Who Made the Stars (04:45)
A fixed alien ship leaves. – STDP 047 – Short Treks S2E5 – The Girl Who Made the Stars (05:07)
I brought us the light. – STDP 047 – Short Treks S2E5 – The Girl Who Made the Stars (05:24)
I brought us the light. – STDP 047 – Short Treks S2E5 (05:29)
Many stars filled the sky. – STDP 047 – Short Treks S2E5 (05:32)
Therefore, it was the girl who lifted them out of the darkness. – STDP 047 – Short Treks S2E5 (05:41)
Later, she became a queen. – STDP 047 – Short Treks S2E5 (06:03)
Finally, we get the moral of the story…
It was the light inside that guided her. – STDP 047 – Short Treks S2E5 (06:06)
Dad, I think I don’t need the night light anymore. – STDP 047 – Short Treks S2E5 – The Girl Who Made the Stars (06:19)
Good night, my queen. – STDP 047 – Short Treks S2E5 – The Girl Who Made the Stars (06:24)
Later, the queen kills the night beast. – STDP 047 – Short Treks S2E5 – The Girl Who Made the Stars (06:38)
The queen killing the night beast. – STDP 047 – Short Treks S2E5 (06:40)
The queen, battling the beast. – STDP 047 – Short Treks S2E5 (06:42)
That’s it for Ephraim and Dot & The Girl Who Made the Stars!
So, that’s it for this episode! In conclusion, Ruthie didn’t like either episode and thought they were a waste of time. However, I loved one and liked the other, but were disappointed with aspects of both. Next time, we will be back with news and the final Short Trek, Children of Mars. Most importantly, remember to subscribe to The Star Trek Picard Cast! We plan to record a Picard episode next!
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