Story: Light and Shadows
Written By: Ted Sullivan
Series: Star Trek: Discovery
Year: 2019
After a long wait and endless teasing, we have found Spock. Burnham takes leave for Vulcan as she believes she can find Spock there. And she is right, her mother has found him and has hid him in a temple, one where telepathic abilities are inhibited...meaning Sarek and other Vulcans are likely not to find him. Burnham takes Spock to Section 31 in order to not jeopardize her own career, but when Georgiou reveals that Leland and 31 intend to harm Spock, Burnham escapes with Spock in tow (with Georgiou's assistance). Oddly, I would say this storyline that has been teased for much of the season feels more like the B-plot of the episode. That isn't really a bad thing, I just find it odd.
What felt like the A-plot to me (or at least the plot I found more interesting) was the time rift that Discovery is investigating while still studying some residual energy left by the Red Angel on Kaminar. Pike decides to try and pilot a shuttle near the rift to launch a probe, assuming it will lead to answers about the Red Angel. But when he and Tyler get near, they end up sucked into the rift, shifting through time itself. This is an interesting sci-fi storyline that also uses it as an opportunity for Pike and Tyler to find some common ground, which hasn't been possible up until now. Eventually they get out of the rift with the assistance of Stamet and his amazing and ever helpful Tardigrade DNA magic powers. While it usually works for the show, I do think they lean into "Stamets is magic!" a little too much for plot convenience. At any rate they get back, but not without Ariam (weird robot person bridge officer) getting some kind of connection to a signal. It seems something with her is going to be explored in the future.
It is hard to judge Ethan Peck as Spock so far, he is playing a broken confused version of the character, and he isn't really given much to do beyond muttering some sequence of numbers. I am sure some fans will decree it is garbage and he is not playing the same character, but I find it likely that while he isn't quite himself now, when the season wraps up, he will be clean shaven logical Spock that we all know and love. Speaking of the random numbers, it turns out they are coordinates: to Talos IV we go! Boy anytime Spock or a one of his friends has a personal crisis he runs back to the Talosians!
I think this episode was fine. I am glad that this season's take on the Search for Spock is over. I haven't found it remotely interesting to have them searching for him, when the Seven Signals was a more interesting thing to explore. Spock is only an interesting thing to find if you're a fan of Trek lore. But I am not obsessed with re-exploring Trek-lore, so much as I am in seeing a modern twist on Trek themes and explorations. The signals and the mysterious Red Angel qualify, Spock does not. I did like all the time rift stuff, and the Pike/Tyler character developments. And Burnham finding Spock ends the least interesting thing of the season...though we still had to deal with Section 31 blandness and a generic and, in my view, boring fight scene between Burnham and Georgiou. Sure it was well choreographed and Yeoh is a great fighter on screen, but the fight actually meant nothing because it was staged so Burnham can escape. Why should I care about a fake fight just because it "looks awesome!!" I am watching Star Trek, I am not here for action. I want boring sci-fi plots about anomalies!
Anyhow, not the worst episode, and of the episodes that have a heavier Section 31 plot, this is one of the better entries this year.
NEXT TIME: A Visit to Talos IV
Written By: Ted Sullivan
Series: Star Trek: Discovery
Year: 2019
After a long wait and endless teasing, we have found Spock. Burnham takes leave for Vulcan as she believes she can find Spock there. And she is right, her mother has found him and has hid him in a temple, one where telepathic abilities are inhibited...meaning Sarek and other Vulcans are likely not to find him. Burnham takes Spock to Section 31 in order to not jeopardize her own career, but when Georgiou reveals that Leland and 31 intend to harm Spock, Burnham escapes with Spock in tow (with Georgiou's assistance). Oddly, I would say this storyline that has been teased for much of the season feels more like the B-plot of the episode. That isn't really a bad thing, I just find it odd.
It is hard to judge Ethan Peck as Spock so far, he is playing a broken confused version of the character, and he isn't really given much to do beyond muttering some sequence of numbers. I am sure some fans will decree it is garbage and he is not playing the same character, but I find it likely that while he isn't quite himself now, when the season wraps up, he will be clean shaven logical Spock that we all know and love. Speaking of the random numbers, it turns out they are coordinates: to Talos IV we go! Boy anytime Spock or a one of his friends has a personal crisis he runs back to the Talosians!
I think this episode was fine. I am glad that this season's take on the Search for Spock is over. I haven't found it remotely interesting to have them searching for him, when the Seven Signals was a more interesting thing to explore. Spock is only an interesting thing to find if you're a fan of Trek lore. But I am not obsessed with re-exploring Trek-lore, so much as I am in seeing a modern twist on Trek themes and explorations. The signals and the mysterious Red Angel qualify, Spock does not. I did like all the time rift stuff, and the Pike/Tyler character developments. And Burnham finding Spock ends the least interesting thing of the season...though we still had to deal with Section 31 blandness and a generic and, in my view, boring fight scene between Burnham and Georgiou. Sure it was well choreographed and Yeoh is a great fighter on screen, but the fight actually meant nothing because it was staged so Burnham can escape. Why should I care about a fake fight just because it "looks awesome!!" I am watching Star Trek, I am not here for action. I want boring sci-fi plots about anomalies!
Anyhow, not the worst episode, and of the episodes that have a heavier Section 31 plot, this is one of the better entries this year.
NEXT TIME: A Visit to Talos IV
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