Story: The War Without, The War Within
Written By: Lisa Randolph
Series: Star Trek: Discovery
Year: 2018
The Discovery is back to it’s own universe, but arriving 9 months late has put a crimp in their grand return. After making some repairs from their latest jump’s damage, and getting no response from Starfleet, they are finally met with a Federation starship with shields up and phasers ready, and soon they are boarded, lead by Sarek and Admiral Cornwall. Cornwall wants to know where the jerk Lorca is, who as far as she is concerned knew she was going to end his Captaincy and abandoned the war effort with the most effective weapon the Federation had at their disposal...but Sarek gets right to the point, and mind rapes Saru to figure out where they've been. That...was messed up.
To be honest, Sarek seems out of character for much of the episode, but I am not sure why. I feel like the scene with Georgiou confirms he isn't another Mirror, but it could all be part of a front. But he just seemed somewhat off to me, the way he looks at Burnham and that initial mind-rape. I dunno.
Anyhow, they come up with a scheme to take on the Klingons with a little bit of advice from a woman who had conquered them before, Emperor Georgiou. In order to achieve the plan, they must jump into a large cave within Quo'nos, and scan the planet and it's defenses...so that the Federation can then attack the home-world of the Klingons. But, in order to even jump they need spores. Stamets takes his last sample to a dead moon, and basically unleashes the spores to terraform and create new samples in order to make the Spore Drive work again.
A subplot throughout this episode is Ash Tyler and how he is coping with the discovery that he was a Klingon spy and sleeper agent. The Voq part of his mind may be dead, but there is still some fallout to such events. Tilly is the spark of optimism for this show though, and she goes to sit with him...which encourages others to accept that maybe he should be given a new chance. Burnham isn't so sure of course...and when she finally confronts him, she doesn't budge. I rather liked that she told him he needed to just deal with his issues alone the same way she had to with her own failures. He tried to murder her. He did murder the Doctor. He needs some kind of consequences, even if it is unclear WHO made the choices to do those things. I'd find it a failing of the show if the Voq thing was swept under the rug by everyone. Burnham needed to make that choice, at least for now.
Sarek and Burnham separately get some info from Georgiou about defeating the Klingons, which he takes back to Vulcan...and she takes her info to Cornwall, who in the makes a most likely misguided move to use this Mirror version of Georgiou to her advantage...and gives her the center seat of the Discovery. It's a kooky plan on Cornwall's part, I'm fairly certain it will not end well! But now we have a Captain Georgiou again, though this time...more evil!
I rather enjoyed the slower pace much of this episode kind of had following the rip roaring Mirror Universe arc. We needed to take a step back and take a breath, and put all of the pieces in place for what is sure to be a big finale for the first year of this latest incarnation of Trek. Here's hoping for a strong ending.
NEXT TIME: Ending the War
Written By: Lisa Randolph
Series: Star Trek: Discovery
Year: 2018
The Discovery is back to it’s own universe, but arriving 9 months late has put a crimp in their grand return. After making some repairs from their latest jump’s damage, and getting no response from Starfleet, they are finally met with a Federation starship with shields up and phasers ready, and soon they are boarded, lead by Sarek and Admiral Cornwall. Cornwall wants to know where the jerk Lorca is, who as far as she is concerned knew she was going to end his Captaincy and abandoned the war effort with the most effective weapon the Federation had at their disposal...but Sarek gets right to the point, and mind rapes Saru to figure out where they've been. That...was messed up.
Anyhow, they come up with a scheme to take on the Klingons with a little bit of advice from a woman who had conquered them before, Emperor Georgiou. In order to achieve the plan, they must jump into a large cave within Quo'nos, and scan the planet and it's defenses...so that the Federation can then attack the home-world of the Klingons. But, in order to even jump they need spores. Stamets takes his last sample to a dead moon, and basically unleashes the spores to terraform and create new samples in order to make the Spore Drive work again.
A subplot throughout this episode is Ash Tyler and how he is coping with the discovery that he was a Klingon spy and sleeper agent. The Voq part of his mind may be dead, but there is still some fallout to such events. Tilly is the spark of optimism for this show though, and she goes to sit with him...which encourages others to accept that maybe he should be given a new chance. Burnham isn't so sure of course...and when she finally confronts him, she doesn't budge. I rather liked that she told him he needed to just deal with his issues alone the same way she had to with her own failures. He tried to murder her. He did murder the Doctor. He needs some kind of consequences, even if it is unclear WHO made the choices to do those things. I'd find it a failing of the show if the Voq thing was swept under the rug by everyone. Burnham needed to make that choice, at least for now.
Sarek and Burnham separately get some info from Georgiou about defeating the Klingons, which he takes back to Vulcan...and she takes her info to Cornwall, who in the makes a most likely misguided move to use this Mirror version of Georgiou to her advantage...and gives her the center seat of the Discovery. It's a kooky plan on Cornwall's part, I'm fairly certain it will not end well! But now we have a Captain Georgiou again, though this time...more evil!
I rather enjoyed the slower pace much of this episode kind of had following the rip roaring Mirror Universe arc. We needed to take a step back and take a breath, and put all of the pieces in place for what is sure to be a big finale for the first year of this latest incarnation of Trek. Here's hoping for a strong ending.
NEXT TIME: Ending the War