I liked much of what the new ST team has put out on the screen since they brought the series back to life in 2017. I think they have a team of super talented writers who have a way of making the old feel 'refreshed' and 'new'. They do a fair job of trying to meet the wishes of their fans too, without being bullied. However, with the latest ST Short Trek to air, The Trouble with Edward, I think they swung and missed....COMPLETELY.

I know what they were trying to do: they brought back a fan favorite 'Tribbles' and combined them with a ST favorite character ' the bungling scientist/nerd' Edward Larkin is supposed to be an updated Lt Barkley ( the nerd scientist) and the Tribbles are still the Tribbles. So why do I think they missed? They should have left the Barkley's characterization alone. He was first portrayed as a bit of a fool in TNG, causing problems but never deliberately, Then his character was redeemed later in VOY when he enabled them to contact Earth for the first time, even if he simply bungled into it. Therein lies the problem with the Short Trek. Larkin, is well played by the actor but his character lacks any of the endearing qualities we found in Lt Barkley. He rather reminded me more of a 'Mr Hyde' type in Dr Jeckell and Mr Hyde. He was malicious without any real cause and almost evil. His dislike for his new captain was without much reason and he acted quite treacherously too. Quite un-SF-like No, the only thing he shared with Lt Barkley is his knowledge of science.

The Tribbles also were some how given a malicious quality, something quite uncharacteristic of the, imo. The Captain Lucero character did her best with what she had to work with, which wasn't much. I saw a better depiction of 'uncertain and naive SF officer stepping in big shoes' in Karizon Dax in DS9.

All that said, the worst part was that the entire tone and mood of this Short seemed to copy a 'mocking'tone I have NEVER before seen in ST. An outcast character, somewhat mis understood by everyone because of his brilliance, without ANY redeeming characteristic? When I heard Captain Lucero tell SF brass that " he was just dumb", those words did not seem to be Star Trek words to me. They sounded more like something I would expect to hear on The Orville!