Top Six: Ranking The Season Two SHORT TREKS

The fall of 2019 gave us a second round of SHORT TREKS and we return to the 23rd century, "DISCOVERY" era universe. We also got our first two animated shorts and the first short connected with the new series, STAR TREK: PICARD.

A total of six shorts were produced in season two, two more than season one.

1) THE TROUBLE WITH EDWARD (Oct. 10, 2019) - A perfect example if CBS wanted to create a STAR TREK sitcom. Lots of humor in this short and executed perfectly. H. Jon Benjamin is cast perfectly as Edward and how he factors into the Tribbles lore.

2) Q & A (Oct. 5, 2019) - A nice treat to see "Number One" and Spock on the Captain Pike led Enterprise. We learn some fascinating things about both #1 and Spock in the 13 minute episode. It continues to pump the desire for CBS All Access to create an actual series, based on the Captain Christopher Pike crew on the Enterprise.

3) ASK NOT (Nov. 14, 2019) - Captain Pike is a star fleet prisoner, being guarded by an ensign. Very quickly you can see this is a training exercise that the ensign is not aware of and her handling of the situation determines if she is assign to serve on the Enterprise. Having Pike back is always a great thing, but with the story basically taking place in just one room, made the episode feel small.

4) CHILDREN OF MARS (Jan. 9, 2020) - We know this story will tie into the STAR TREK PICARD series. We get a glimps inot the life on Mars, though the eys of two unrelated girls going to school, as their respective parents are working on the planet. After establishing they don't like each other, from their first meeting, they bond together as the worst begins to happen. Touching and well done as there is very little dialog in the short, with a cover version of HEROS played over the scenes.

5) THE GIRL WHO MADE THE STARS (Dec. 12, 2019) - The second animated short for the TREK SHORTS, has little to do with the Star Trek universe, other than we see a young Michael Burnham and her birth father. The story is more of a night-time fairy tale to help the child overcome her fears of the darkness of night. The animation is very well done and the story telling concise. I doub't this will tie into any upcoming Trek story lines, other than a memory of her father, for Michael, on the Discovery.

6) EPHRAIM AND DOT (Dec. 12, 2019) - A cute little short, in the style of a TOM & JERRY or SYLVESTER & TWEETY cartoon. I did like the animation style, but feels more like a Pre-K story than one for all ages.