This is the Daystrom Institute Episode Analysis thread for Strange New Worlds 2x08 Under the Cloak of War.
Now that weāve had a few days to digest the content of the latest episode, this thread is a place to dig a little deeper.
The characterization of DakāRah subverted my expectations. I was expecting him to continue to be portrayed as Legate Ghemor was - truly remorseful and wanting to do better to change his society. I was reminded throughout the episode of the one in DS9 where Kira had to listen to the dying Cardassianās life story. She got pretty angry at lives lost that he was culpable for but ultimately was able to forgive him.
Juxtaposed with this episode, the reveal that Rah is antithesis of honour and a huge coward turns the story from the trope of forgiveness is for the victim to ādo some people just deserve to die for the evil theyāve done?ā
This felt like a really good DS9-type episode. I really enjoyed it.
This episode really made me think of DS9ās āThe Siege of AR-558ā and the later arc for Nog dealing with the trauma of war. Really solid story and wonderful job filling in these characters so far! As a whole, LDS and SNW are the two best new-Trek out there, IMO.
I believe MāBenga that it was self defense. If you think about how DakāRah was goading him it was obvious that he wanted to suss out what our good doctor knew about what happened in JāGal. Remember, as MāBenga was killing his 2nd, 3rd, and 4th in command he was fleeing and knew there was someone out there who knows the truth of what happened. Given the large number of casualties, he most likely is on high alert when he comes across anyone who āwas thereā. He figures Ortegas and Chapel donāt have it in them to assassinate 3 Klingons so that leaves MāBenga who (upon rewatch) has this dark edgy energy, soā¦ maybe? When he finally gets the truth out of MāBenga he has no choice but to kill the person who can disrupt his new cushy life.
Thinking about it, either MāBenga dies or he dies. Letās say MāBenga spares his life and exposes him for the coward that he is. He tried to kill civilians! His own people too! The Federation could never allow him to continue his cushy life and his fellow Klingons would never allow him to live after finding out. To not make that attempt to kill MāBenga first would be an illogical choice.
Also other questions to consider:
Did MāBenga hold back during the sparring so as not to give away his abilities?
How threatening was Rah? What if Rah had just said something like āIām going to make sure no one knows the real storyā and MāBenga takes that to mean Rah will kill him at the first justifiable opportunity? So might as well defend himself now?
MāBenga would have to know exactly where to stab so that the 2nd Klingon heart doesnāt keep him alive. Otherwise what are the chances of hitting that right spot by luck?
I wasnāt that impressed with MāBenga in season 1 but heās had excellent character development this season. After this episode, I think he could be my favourite of the SNW crew!