Star Trek: Discovery -- Season 3 Episode 12 (There Is a Tide…)

I’m still not sure what to make of Star Trek: Discovery.  I miss the good old days when most episodes had a distinct storyline.  Some contributed more to the overall story, but most could stand on their own.  Then, came CBS All Access.  Discovery and Picard seemed to go the route of a serialized narrative.  We progressed a little more each week, but there was usually little new stuff.

I think this episode typifies that.  The Emerald Chain has taken over Discovery and infiltrated Starfleet/Federation headquarters.  The assumption would be that they’re attacking, but Osyraa wants to negotiate.  She has an idea to fold The Emerald Chain back into The Federation.

They left Captain Saru, Doctor Culber and Adira back in the radiation-laden nebula to take care of Su’Kal.  We’ll have to wait to see what becomes of them.  The point is that she honestly wants peace.  She knows the game is up.  The Emerald Chain has scientific prowess and The Federation has the spore drive.  Put those together and they could go places.  The only real holdup is that Osyraa would have to answer for her crimes.  She’s not really keen on this, so it’s unclear of any such merger will actually happen.

Part of me feels like this was an unnecessary episode.  You could have cut it out and it would have had little effect on the overall storyline.  It occurs to me that it’s really the opposite problem.  Discovery has a 13-episode arc this season.  That’s half of what I was used to with The Next Generation and Deep Space Nine.

There were so many wasted opportunities.  We never really got a good look at what had become of Earth, Vulcan or Trill.  We know so little about The Emerald Chain.  In fact, I know that it’s made up of Andoria and Orion.  I think there are other planets, but I’m not sure.  I think Osyraa is the leader, but I’m not clear on that.  I think she mentioned something about others in positions of authority.  A little background information could have gone a long way.

For that matter, we know so little of what happened to The Federation at large.  At least three  founding members are no longer members.  How many more fragments are there?  How vast is the known galaxy?  There are so many questions.  It would have been nice for the series to take a break and explore the 32^nd Century a little more.

Maybe we’ll get that chance next season.  We’ll have to see what happens tomorrow.  We could see the Federation return to normal.  Maybe not.  I’ll grant you that nine centuries is a lot of ground to cover.  What we’re given is a feeble attempt, though.  I really think Discovery can do so much better.

That’s part of the problem with doing a serialize season like this.  It’s too long of an episode and too short of a season.  It reminds me of a joke, wherein a guy goes to a restaurant.  After eating the meal, the waiter asks how the food was.  The man says, “I have two complaints:  First, the food was horrible.  Second, there wasn’t enough of it.”  I want more and I want better.  Is that too much to ask?

 

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Star Trek: Discovery -- Season 3 Episode 8 (The Sanctuary)

Things aren’t good in the 32^nd Century.  The Federation is a shell of its former self.  The bad guy is The Emerald Chain, who seems to be made up of former Federation members.  Dilithium is scares and everyone is hurting, causing everyone to hurt others.  In The Sanctuary, that hurt comes to Booker’s home world, Kwejian.

Ryn, an Andorian who has gone against The Emerald Chain, is onboard The Discovery, as is Booker.  Osyraa wants Ryn back.  She correctly assumes that if she puts pressure on Kwejian, Booker will be the first person they call for help and that he (and, by extension, Discovery and Ryn) will eventually show up.

Saru is given explicit orders not to engage in battle.  Starfleet is stretched pretty thin as it is.  Another engagement wouldn’t make anything better.  Instead, offer up some diplomatic solution to the problem at hand.  If you know anything about the season so far, you know that’s not going to happen.

Osyraa really wants Ryn and she has Kwejian under her boot.  (They have a locust problem and she has a repellant.)  Saru is new as a captain.  In fact, he’s looking for some sort of catchphrase.  It comes across as goofy and unnecessary, but is probably more of a metaphor for the fact that he’s still finding himself.  Either way, he comes to realize that battle may be the best option.  It’s simply a question of how to go about it.

Everyone in this future is caught between two bad options.  Kwejian can’t tolerate insects that eat their food, but the solution is to put themselves at the mercy of a sort of protection racket.  Starfleet doesn’t want a battle, but that means implicitly allowing all manner of bad situations to continue.  Granted, Kwejian isn’t really their problem, but Starfleet used to mean something.  Starfleet used to do the right thing.

The Burn has really set thing back a long way.  Warp drive isn’t really a thing anymore and no one knows what caused it.  Fortunately, we now at least know where it may have begun.  In the previous episode, a location was pinpointed and a distress call was found coming from there.  No additional progress is made in this episode, which is frustrating.

However, we do know that there is something seriously wrong with Georgiou.  We even get one scene where her face acts like programmable matter.  It’s still not clear exactly what happened.  Georgiou doesn’t offer up any clues and the doctors are at a total loss, as well.

I’m curious to see how all of this comes together.  If someone did that to Georgiou, there would presumably be a reason.  I’m also curious to see what this distress call is.  Also, we find out a little bit about where a Booker got a human name.  Why is his cat called Grudge, though?  And is Grudge even really a cat?  Anyone that’s seen Captain Marvel knows that cat-shaped creatures aren’t always what they seem to be.

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Star Trek: Discovery -- Season 3 Episode 3 (People of Earth)

How do you make everything old new again?  Jump 930 years into the future.  That’s how.  The Federation and Starfleet are nearly gone.  Earth is united, but separate from other planets.  A Starfleet Admiral sent a message 12 years ago, but Starfleet’s not headquartered on Earth anymore and the admiral in question is ostensibly dead.

We find Michael Burnham reunited with the rest of the crew of the Discovery.  When they jump to Earth, they find Earth isolated and defending itself from raiders.  This is why Discovery is held at virtual gunpoint and not allowed access to the planet.  No one there has heard of Discovery.  Given that there’s a nonhuman captain, a basic story of a generational ship just isn’t cutting it.  It takes a good dose of the truth for everyone to start trusting each other.

Normally, I wouldn’t worry about spoilers.  The Original Series aired more than 50 years ago.  The Next Generation was 25 years ago.  At this point, if you haven’t seen it, you’re probably not in any rush.  If you haven’t started watching the third season, I should warn you that I will be giving out several important details.

The first is the identity of these raiders.  One might assume them to be aliens.  They’re not.  They’re humans from further out in the solar system.  The colony was self-sufficient.  Recent setbacks forced them to attack Earth.  This gives Saru, as the recently minted Captain of Discovery, a chance to play peacemaker.

This is probably the most Trek moment of the series so far.  Saru is able to bring peace where there was only discord.  It’s not going to be easy.  Neither side is really trusting of the other; it will be a while before it gets to that point.  Unfortunately, Discovery isn’t sticking around to find out.

This brings us to the second spoiler.  The admiral that sent the message was a Trill.  You may remember them as the joined species from The Next Generation and Deep Space Nine.  We have a new character joining the crew of the Discovery:  Adira.  It’s revealed that she’s the new host for the symbiote.  Being that Earth is more isolationist in the 32^nd Century, I think it’s safe to assume that she’s human.

This brings up several issues.  Most notably, how was the transfer done?  From what we’ve seen in other series is that it’s a rather involved process that generally involves surgery.  Yes, Doctor Crusher did it with minimal help.  I suppose it’s possible that a human doctor was able to do it.

This brings me to my second point:  It was established in the Trill’s first appearance that humans weren’t suitable hosts.  Then again, the hosts’ appearance was retconned.  It’s plausible that this aspect was, as well.  It’s also possible that there’s something special or different about Adira that we’re not privy to.  It’s been several centuries, so there may be medical advancements.  Maybe she’s one quarter Trill.

This is only mentioned at the end of the episode and there are complications.  Adira can’t remember anything from the symbiote’s previous hosts.  This will necessitate a visit to the Trill home world in the next episode, so I’m assuming we’ll get some answers.

I do see some pieces falling into place.  It makes sense to have Saru as captain.  The show was always supposed to be about Burnham as something other than the commander of a starship.  We’ve also been seeing Saru’s character arc taking him to along the more-ambitious route.  This wasn’t totally unexpected.

There are also several unanswered question, like where Burnham’s mother is.  Also, what is The Burn.  You’d think someone would have some answers.  I suspect that this information will be withheld until the very end of the season.  We may not find anything out until the last two or three episodes.  I don’t know what it would look like to have the crew find out all the details too soon.  We’re in for a thirteen-episode run.  I would probably dole out little bits, myself.

To that end, I’m wondering what a fourth season might look like.  I think at this point, Discovery can’t go all the way back before the 25^th Century.  I foresee one of two possibilities at this point.  Either Discovery stays in the 32^nd Century or it jumps back in time to prevent The Burn.  Given that the show likes to end its seasons big, I’m predicting the second one.

This future is kind of bleak, even compared to Deep Space Nine.  I’m wondering how the writers would work this future into the show’s narrative.  Sure, we could have Discovery rebuilding The Federation.  Another time jump might be more dramatic.  Then again, we’re only three episodes in.  Maybe I should watch a few more episodes before making a grand prediction like that.

 

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Star Trek: Picard -- Season 1 Episode 10 (Et in Arcadia Ego, Part 2)

It occurred to me while watching Star Trek: Picard how easy it would have been for it not to have happened.  The details vary, but it would seem that Patrick Stewart didn’t want to return for a fourth season of Star Trek: The Next Generation.  If he had left the show, Picard would have remained assimilated or would have been killed.  If this happened, I might be reviewing an episode of Star Trek: Riker right now.  Of course, I’m not sure how accurate the details are.  I suppose it would make for a great alternative history cameo or something.

Anyway, this review is about the final episode of the first season of Star Trek: Picard.  The androids are facing the threat of being annihilated by Romulans.  Rather than listen to Picard’s grand speech or hope that Starfleet will arrive in time, the androids are building an antenna to call the super AI interdimensional beings for help.  What’s scary is that this help will come in the form of killing all organic life in the galaxy.

There’s a lot of deception and trickery on both sides, but Picard is eventually able to stop the annihilators from crossing over into our universe.  Of course, it is at the last second.  (You know, I’m not really even sure what it would look like not to have it at the last second.)  But the universe is saved and we’ll get a second season.

This isn’t to say that the episode doesn’t pull at the heart strings.  Picard gets to meet Data one last time and Data has a rather emotional request for Picard.  You might be wondering how this is possible.  To be accurate, it’s the copy of Data’s memories that were copied from B4.  Either way, it’s a more appropriate sendoff for the character.

One thing I find curious is that the Romulans really did have a huge fleet.  This raises several points.  First, why send so many ships to wipe out one planet?  I guess they may have been expecting the galaxy-destroying AI to already be there.  Of course, had the AI already been there, it probably wouldn’t have mattered anyway.

Also, where did all those ships come from?  If the Romulans had those ships before their sun went nova, couldn’t those ships have been used in the evacuation?  If not, it would mean that they were built after the evacuation.  It would be a testament to the Romulans that they could find the resources to make that many ships.  (For that matter, the Federation also has a lot of ships.)

This isn’t to say I dislike the episode.  There was some personal growth for many of the characters.  And there is going to be a second season.  I would hope the major characters will return.  My only question is if this will include Dr. Jurati.

She was supposed to turn herself in for the murder of Bruce Maddox.  That got sidetracked, but she still did it.  She still has to answer for that.  Maybe the second season will start with Jurati in an orange jump suit.  The entire season could be breaking her out of jail for a special mission.  I am looking forward to seeing what happens.

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Star Trek: Picard -- Season 1 Episode 7 (Nepenthe)

One thing that bothered me about transporters in Star Trek was that the operator always knew who to beam up.  Riker would call to beam up three people out of a room full of people and they would always beam up the correct three people.  This was probably done for the sake of the narrative.  It would get tedious to have to name everyone that was leaving.

This is why I find it odd that when Picard and Soji visit Nepenthe, they’re put down in the back yard of the people they’re visiting.  They could easily have found themselves on the opposite side of the planet, given how far they were traveling.  It’s amazing that they weren’t transported to a spot a mile above the planet.  Still, I guess we need to consider the narrative.

Speaking of the narrative, who is it that Picard and Soji are visiting?  William Riker and Deanna Troi, of course, as promised in the series trailer.  I supposed Picard could have taken Soji anywhere, but it’s nice to see Riker and Troi again.  It’s especially nice to see that they’re still a happy couple, despite a tragedy.

Meanwhile, Hugh and Elnor fight the Romulans on the Borg cube.  Things don’t end well for Hugh, which is a shame.  Elnor is a great fighter and is an interesting character.  It has become increasingly obvious that he’s in over his head.  I’m assuming that he’s never been outside the sisterhood’s compound.  He would appear to be a fast learner, though.

On La Sirena, Jurati has to come to terms with the fact that she’s the mole.  In fact, we get to see the rest of her conversation with Commodore Oh.  It looks like there’s more than either character was letting on.  Her only option seems to be to inject herself with a compound.  It’s not clear if this is meant as suicide or not, but it does seem to disrupt the tracking capabilities of a homing device Jurati was made to swallow.  (At least it was chewable.)

Picard doesn’t seem to be the diplomat he once was.  Maybe it’s the irumodic syndrome talking.  I don’t know, but he answers Soji’s concerns with sarcasm and he’s rightfully rebuked.  Troi and Riker call him on it, but it’s not the first time he’s done something like this.

Soji is very suspicious of everyone now.  She’s been betrayed by the one person she trusted the most and wonders if all of this is another act.  It’s entirely reasonable of her.  (On a side note, Troi can’t sense Soji.  Troi could sense Data with his emotion chip, but Soji is different.  Exactly what those differences are remains to be seen.)

We get a few of the obligatory throwbacks, like a mention of Picard’s artificial heart.  There’s also a mention of a Tyken’s rift and Kestra, from Night Terrors and Dark Page, respectively.  I’m not sure if multiple references in each episode was intended, but it’s not unwelcome.  It doesn’t set this up as an eighth season of The Next Generation, but it does allow for some nice continuity.  I’m curious to see what the subsequent episodes bring.

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Star Trek: Picard -- Season 1 Episode 5 (Stardust City Rag)

AbsoluteCandor was an episode of Truth.  Now, we have Stardust City Rag, an episode about lies.  Or, rather, the truth being concealed.  Admiral Picard has the location of Bruce Maddox.  He has his hired sword.  Now, he just has to talk his way into a meeting with the woman holding Maddox.

Maddox is being held on a planet called Freecloud by a woman named Bjayzl.  As others have pointed out, she bears an eerie resemblance to Deanna Troi.  She and Maddox apparently had some sort of loan going.  Since Maddox is no longer in a position to repay that debt, Bjayzl is going to sell him to the Tal Shiar.

It’s up to Picard and crew to save him.  With him is Seven of Nine, former Borg drone.  She and Bjayzl seem to have a history.  The truth of their relationship doesn’t fully come out, but it’s clear by the end of the episode that Seven wanted revenge.  Why?  Our flashback this episode is of Icheb being tortured.  Fans of Voyager will remember Icheb as another former drone that Seven cared for.

Maddox is saved only to meet an untimely death by the end of the episode.  It’s a shame.  As much as I didn’t like Bruce Maddox, I don’t think he deserved what he got.  It does seem to set up a future episode, hopefully.  Apparently Bruce and Agnes had a thing going.  I would hope we find out what it’s all about.

While the show could be enjoyed by anyone, Star Trek: Picard is shaping up to be a series throwing out Easter eggs to long-time fans of the show.  On Freecloud, we see signs for Mott’s Hair Emporium and Quark’s Bar.  While neither is seen onscreen, it’s nice to see that both had a career after their respective shows ended.  There’s also a mention to Icheb’s missing cortical implant, which Seven of Nine now has.

Freecloud does seem to be a cesspool, although it does provide for some fun scenes.  Almost everyone on the ship gets their own holospam.  The captain gets an ad for ship maintenance.  Agnes gets an ad that she has to punch to get rid of.  Poor Elnor doesn’t get anything.  Of course, I would imagine little is known of him, so that’s to be expected.

It’s nice to see Seven of Nine let her hair down.  She seems a little more human than when we last saw her.  She doesn’t have her jumpsuit, looking more like an Indiana Jones disciple.  I suppose that wouldn’t be far off, as she’s working to help protect the former Neutral Zone.

I have to say I’m quickly becoming a fan of the show.  This is definitely what I might have expected from Discovery.  That’s not to speak ill of it, but there is a definite cohesion that Discovery was lacking.  I’m definitely going to continue binging.

Absolute Candor was an episode of Truth.  Now, we have Stardust City Rag, an episode about lies.  Or, rather, the truth being concealed.  Admiral Picard has the location of Bruce Maddox.  He has his hired sword.  Now, he just has to talk his way into a meeting with the woman holding Maddox.

Maddox is being held on a planet called Freecloud by a woman named Bjayzl.  As others have pointed out, she bears an eerie resemblance to Deanna Troi.  She and Maddox apparently had some sort of loan going.  Since Maddox is no longer in a position to repay that debt, Bjayzl is going to sell him to the Tal Shiar.

It’s up to Picard and crew to save him.  With him is Seven of Nine, former Borg drone.  She and Bjayzl seem to have a history.  The truth of their relationship doesn’t fully come out, but it’s clear by the end of the episode that Seven wanted revenge.  Why?  Our flashback this episode is of Icheb being tortured.  Fans of Voyager will remember Icheb as another former drone that Seven cared for.

Maddox is saved only to meet an untimely death by the end of the episode.  It’s a shame.  As much as I didn’t like Bruce Maddox, I don’t think he deserved what he got.  It does seem to set up a future episode, hopefully.  Apparently Bruce and Agnes had a thing going.  I would hope we find out what it’s all about.

While the show could be enjoyed by anyone, Star Trek: Picard is shaping up to be a series throwing out Easter eggs to long-time fans of the show.  On Freecloud, we see signs for Mott’s Hair Emporium and Quark’s Bar.  While neither is seen onscreen, it’s nice to see that both had a career after their respective shows ended.  There’s also a mention to Icheb’s missing cortical implant, which Seven of Nine now has.

Freecloud does seem to be a cesspool, although it does provide for some fun scenes.  Almost everyone on the ship gets their own holospam.  The captain gets an ad for ship maintenance.  Agnes gets an ad that she has to punch to get rid of.  Poor Elnor doesn’t get anything.  Of course, I would imagine little is known of him, so that’s to be expected.

It’s nice to see Seven of Nine let her hair down.  She seems a little more human than when we last saw her.  She doesn’t have her jumpsuit, looking more like an Indiana Jones disciple.  I suppose that wouldn’t be far off, as she’s working to help protect the former Neutral Zone.

I have to say I’m quickly becoming a fan of the show.  This is definitely what I might have expected from Discovery.  That’s not to speak ill of it, but there is a definite cohesion that Discovery was lacking.  I’m definitely going to continue binging.

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