Story: The Sounds of Thunder
Written By: Bo Yeon Kim & Erika Lippoldt
Series: Star Trek: Discovery
Year: 2019
Saru is struggling with his new biological development. Losing his ganglia not only has changed him physically and emotionally, but has changed his entire viewpoint on his homeworld. It is also making him bolder and a little edgier. He seeks answers about his homeworld but is barred from returning there. But then, a new Red Angel signal pops up, and it happens to be over Kaminar, his homeworld. This coincidence seems to unlikely, and Pike and the Discovery decide that it is possible that the Angels are sending Discovery some kind of message. Saru is getting his chance to free his people, but it's going to be complicated.
This episode gives a deeper exploration into Saru's people, building on the groundwork laid in the Short Trek episode "The Brightest Star," and also the major development for Saru that came in "An Obol for Charon." We learn more about the Baul that have enslaved the Kelpians, get a full understanding of Kaminar's history and how the Kelpians were once the predators to the Baul, until their continued advancement of technology changed that entirely. But the Red Angles have essentially forced this process of Kelpian enslavement to end. Their signal invited Discovery and Saru back to the world, and that opened up a Pandora's Box of issues. Saru's mere existence without his ganglia and outside of their rule enrages the Baul, and Saru's new sense of ire and boldness allow him to take on the Baul...he uses the signal from the Sphere that advanced his own ganglia to fall out, and transmits the signal to the planet, causing all Kelpian to lose their ganglia. The Baul in returnto decide to just wipe them out.
But the Baul don't get the chance. The Red Angel reappears and this time they wipe out the weapons of the Baul, leaving the two inhabitants of the planet to find a brand new balance. One where the Kelpian can survive with their ganglia gone (and new spike shooting ganglia growing in their place), and the Baul with their technological advancements but no major weapons. Maybe they will have to finally find a way to coexist peacefully.
I liked that this episode didn't have any "we almost caught Spock!" element. He is still on the minds of Pike and Burnham, and the idea of finding him still weighs on them...but the focus feels more natural. The integration of the Red Angel arc is also more naturally worked in. It's the first time in a while that I feel like that story is gaining some ground. It seems like they are really out there doing something important, their ultimate endgame is perhaps still an enigma, but it feels like they are consistently bringing the Discovery to places where they can make a difference. Plus Saru got a good look at one and we now know that it seems to be a humanoid being in some kind of mechanized suit. Perhaps some kind of time traveler trying to change the course of the universe?
I liked this episode, it's another solid entry in a season that feels far more concerned with trying to tell Star Trek style stories in this new modern world. It was also a reminder that when they leave the lingering storylines of Season 1 in the past? The show is vastly more entertaining.
NEXT TIME: Finding Spock!
Written By: Bo Yeon Kim & Erika Lippoldt
Series: Star Trek: Discovery
Year: 2019
Saru is struggling with his new biological development. Losing his ganglia not only has changed him physically and emotionally, but has changed his entire viewpoint on his homeworld. It is also making him bolder and a little edgier. He seeks answers about his homeworld but is barred from returning there. But then, a new Red Angel signal pops up, and it happens to be over Kaminar, his homeworld. This coincidence seems to unlikely, and Pike and the Discovery decide that it is possible that the Angels are sending Discovery some kind of message. Saru is getting his chance to free his people, but it's going to be complicated.
But the Baul don't get the chance. The Red Angel reappears and this time they wipe out the weapons of the Baul, leaving the two inhabitants of the planet to find a brand new balance. One where the Kelpian can survive with their ganglia gone (and new spike shooting ganglia growing in their place), and the Baul with their technological advancements but no major weapons. Maybe they will have to finally find a way to coexist peacefully.
I liked that this episode didn't have any "we almost caught Spock!" element. He is still on the minds of Pike and Burnham, and the idea of finding him still weighs on them...but the focus feels more natural. The integration of the Red Angel arc is also more naturally worked in. It's the first time in a while that I feel like that story is gaining some ground. It seems like they are really out there doing something important, their ultimate endgame is perhaps still an enigma, but it feels like they are consistently bringing the Discovery to places where they can make a difference. Plus Saru got a good look at one and we now know that it seems to be a humanoid being in some kind of mechanized suit. Perhaps some kind of time traveler trying to change the course of the universe?
I liked this episode, it's another solid entry in a season that feels far more concerned with trying to tell Star Trek style stories in this new modern world. It was also a reminder that when they leave the lingering storylines of Season 1 in the past? The show is vastly more entertaining.
NEXT TIME: Finding Spock!
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