Pike leads a risky rescue behind enemy lines as the landing party flees a deadly enemy.
It's not entirely great for the show to take two years to resolve its season-ending cliffhanger. That derailed momentum outside of the narrative. Within the world though, the action remains just as intense and complicated. Pike was left with an agonizing decision. Half of his crew had been abducted by the Gorn. The Enterprise was under attack. He had seconds to choose how to respond. Everyone on the bridge looked to him for guidance. He relies on their advice. They offer solutions. Ultimately, they have to maintain their connection to the Gorn ship holding their friends. They also have to regroup and better strategize with Starfleet. Of course, Admiral April doesn't provide much guidance. He sees the risk that comes from engaging with this conflict when it extends beyond the Federation's jurisdiction. He encourages Pike to take action. The Enterprise crew was always going to figure out how to handle this situation. Starfleet was aware of the escalating threat from the Gorn. The Enterprise maintained its mission of exploring strange new worlds. At a certain point, this team was required to offer the solution. And now, the threat will become someone else's problem in the future.
Facing slim odds is a factor in the decisions made. At first, the crew is concerned about radiation exposure when entering into the Gorn's home world. Ultimately, Pike decides it's worth the risk in order to trigger a solar flare that will send these monsters into hibernation. That was the immediate concern. He needed to stop a full-on invasion. He had no way of warning the rest of Starfleet. This crew was isolated. They went rogue. No backup was coming. They were cloaked. They could operate in secrecy. The Gorn weren't alerted to their presence. That's the only way the team is capable of assessing the situation and plotting to manipulate it to their benefit. That's how the story behaved in the prior finale. That same energy is maintained here. Risks have to be taken though. The ship's integrity is compromised by this maneuver. It's successful though. Pike acknowledges the dangers he has created for someone else. He's also pleased by preventing more lives lost in this conflict. He solves the immediate problem. He looks to the future. Yet he remains aware that his time is limited and won't be at the helm for much longer.
Pike isn't willing to lose Captain Batel either. He wants Chapel and Spock to find a solution to prevent her from being torn apart by the Gorn growing within her. She was infected. She can't be placed in stasis either. She's allergic to the medication. Instead, the beasts keep growing. Every theory ends in failure. The team takes action when the odds aren't great but provide some hope. That's communicated. And then, things change in the heat of the moment. It requires Chapel and Spock to have faith in each other. It requires a shift in perspective. That saves her life for now. Pike warns Batel that she isn't out of the woods just yet. That's concerning. But again, he doesn't want to lose her. All of this is made more complicated by the surgery happening on the Enterprise while it makes all of its maneuvers. That keeps the action central to the proceedings. It needlessly makes things more dangerous because the Gorn inside Batel respond just like the Gorn elsewhere in this environment. That means the process quickens. It's not too consequential that all of this occurs aboard the ship. It keeps Batel in proximity to Pike when he needs her the most.
The hostages from the landing party are crucial to their rescue as well. La'an had the strength to break free of her confinement thanks to her prior experiences with the Gorn. She saves the members of her team. However, they have to obtain their coordinates and transport them to the Enterprise. That's the only way to ensure all of the surviving colonists are rescued. The stakes are most personally felt with Ortegas. She wanted to join a mission. Her skills as a pilot were needed here. That's true when the crew first engaged with the Gorn. It's also true when they have to escape. She's bleeding out. Her condition is critical. She is willing to sacrifice it all for the mission to succeed. The drama emphasizes her blood loss. Everyone fears the worst. Yet they all survive this dire situation. Brief moments are found to discuss the future and various personal relationships. They will require time to heal. They may not be the same on the other side. They prevail because of the ingenuity as a team. Working together in harmony is rewarding. Lingering trauma and issues are bound to pop up as well. This is just the start of the new season after all. It was a whole lot of fun to watch though.
