: He's like Michael J Fox in Back to the Future. I'm not interested in comedy
: here. But again dub-work: he can keep the 'I don't get to see her often
: enough' and 'I miss her' while we see they're looking at Earth. His quick
: bio is unnecessary, nor do I want to hear the cheese of 'beautiful isn't
: she?'

This could easily go over the wide shot from behind while looking at Earth (the shot is long enough it can be extended well enough for that), and would segue into him saying the chief doesn't talk too much when it's obvious he doesn't want to small talk. The shot itself suggests a distance between them.

You are correct in that for it to totally 100% work there needs be better writing and shots that just aren't there.