Season two's winner was not. In fact, several of the traditional categories felt difficult to award via a degree of superiority over other episodes. Having said that, I chose "Charades" with a critical consideration to the expressions of the Kerkov culture.
Charades was written by Kathryn Lyn and Henry Alonso Myers. It first aired on July 13, 2023.
Season One's recipient was "Spock Amok," an episode with wonderful sets, amazing design details, unusual special effects and delightful structural elements. The second annual Randy Award in this category goes to "The Broken Circle," season two's inaugural episode. Like its predecessor, "The Broken Circle" covers a wide range of varied and diverse production elements. Sets on a star base, on two star ships, and on a very interesting planet. Special effects with models and space detritus and pyrotechnics. A plethora of props and set pieces that create a reality full of diverse inevitability. En toto, it's a rich tapestry; deep and wide, the perfect canvas for wonderful storytelling.
One of the things that I really love about myself as cook. I can go to a restaurant. Eat something amazing. I pretty much know how to replicate it myself. The flip side of which looks like this: I get a hankering for some flavor or combination of flavors. My mind starts to image a dish, and before long I have it all laid out in my head. Now, a lot of people cook without recipes, and really that's all I'm doing.
But feel so confident in the outcome of some idea and nailing it 90% of the time--that just make me happy.
In season one I honored actors who portrayed a Romulan Captain, a Majalin father trying to save his son from becoming a human sacrifice, and an Orian Pirate whose competence proved assailable. This season, supportive roles performed by women and Vulcans stood out.
My Bronze award goes to Graeme Somerville for his portrayal of the overly stoic, Vice Admiral Pasalk. Somerville has had a long and rich career in the Professional Theatre Community of Ontario and Quebec. The fact that this series is filmed in Canada provides those of us who live in the United States the chance to experience many fresh yet seasoned actors. You may not know, but in the original cast both William Shatner and James Doohan were born in Canada. Somerville's role was part of the second season's second episode "Ad Astra Per Aspera" written by Kathryn Lyn and Henry Alonso Myers. It first aired on July 13, 2023.
The Silver Award in this category goes to another Canadian Actor, Ellora Patnaik, who portrayed T'Prill, T'Pring's exacting and judgmental mother. Patnaik was born and raised in Toronto to Indian immigrants and has a resume that includes nearly 60 films and CBC TV series.
Keeping it all Canada all the time, the Gold Award goes to Mia Kirshner who portays Amanda Grayson, Spock's mother. A role that she initiated on Star Trek: Discovery. Kirshner is also a very successful actor in the Canadian film and TV industry. Both the Silver and Gold winners roles come out of the episode "Charades" written by Dana Horgan & Onitra Johnson. I aired on June 22, 2023.
When you look at sites that rate such things with a broad range of participants, the "singing" episode does not fare particularly well. I acknowledge it's short comings. Chief among which was the uneven quality of the original score. I absolutely adore the opening number. Cole Porter never wrote more intricate lyrics and the driving melody just wells up with anticipation. Likewise, the finale, though a bit cheesy when combined with all the high school grade choreography was a good song. All the others in the middle needed the proverbial out of town notices on their way to Broadway.
While some members of the cast have great voices, Celia Rose Gooding (Uhuru) won a Grammy in 2021 for her work on the Broadway Cast recording of "Jagged Little Pill". Christina Chong (La'an) release an extended play collection of songs in 2021 entitled "Since 2021", and since 2021 a series of 5 singles, one of which features Jonathan Peck (Spock). Others, like Babs Olusonmokun (Dr. M'Benga) gave thanks for the marvels of auto-tune. Which, in a way, made his participation in the project even more endearing.
Like it, Love it, or Hate it--Any which way you cut it--"Space Rhapsody" is clearly Strange New Worlds season two Best Ensemble show! Written by Dana Horgan and Bill Willkolf, the episode first aired on August 10, 2023.
The point of this award is to acknowledge the initial renown of this iteration of the Star Trek franchise as a return to single episode story telling. And while this true, it's only true to a certain point. Of the episodes that qualified, this one was chosen in large part for the uniqueness of its story-line, as well. Another nice aspect is the way in which it featured alpha shift helmsman, Lt. Erica Ortegas.
"Among The Lotus Eaters" was the 4th episode of season two. It was written by Kirsten Beyer and Davy Perez, and was first aired on July 6, 2023.
After a few weeks to let the dust settle from they amazingly popular Season One Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Randy Awards, I'm ready to take on Season Two. As with season one the award categories are the same--well, mostly the same. Along with the original ten categories and 16 honorees, I have added one additional multi-tiered category in keeping up with the way in which the second season morphed from the first.
The second season relied more on recurring characters who were not a part of the formal cast, than did the first. So here is a list with descriptions of all the possible Randy Awards for season two:
1) Best Stand Alone Episode: GOLD
2) Best Ensemble Episode: GOLD
3) Best Guest Actor in a Supporting Roll: GOLD, SILVER & BRONZE (this is an actor with multiple scenes, but no pivotal role in the story line. It's a judgment call, and I am the judge)
4) Best Design and Set Elements: GOLD
5) Best Special Effects Design: GOLD
6) NEW Best Recurring Actor in a Featured OR Supportive Role: GOLD, SILVER, BRONZE
7) Best Make-up Design: GOLD
8) Best Costumes Design: GOLD
9) Best Actor in a Featured Role: GOLD, SILVER & BRONZE
10) Most Ambitious Concept in an Episode: GOLD (It's like pornography--you know it when you see it!)
11) Best Episodes: GOLD, SILVER & BRONZE
Here is a list of the 10 episodes that comprise Season Two.
As the 100 minutes or so continued to unfold, Lee Osorio's portrayal of Ryan; white, straight, former high school star jock and now divorced, and about to enter into a battle over full custody of his infant daughter with his ex-, rose with the intensity of the script. The play is set in Twin Falls, Idaho, and so the one thing that we have to give the author, the outcome was politically resonant with the state and city.
The stage was stark and beautiful. The outcome, a pitcher of loosely sweetened lemon aide from the bountiful harvest of life's lemons.
