Face the Strange

Except for some terrible camerawork at a specific part early in the episode it still feels fun and engaging. Elias Toufexis, Anthony Rapp, Callum Keith Rennie and Tig Notaro are all fantastic. Sonequa Martin-Green is a strong lead, although her character can be lacking (which is not the actors fault). Ofcourse the episode looks wonderful, the sets are as beautiful as always. The writing on the show can be a bit under written or too on the nose, it's fine but there's some squandered potential that could have led to more engaging character work. No Saru this episode, which is sad as he's the best character on the show

PROS +Callum Keith Rennie getting in the groove +Special effects are on point +Tig Notaro +Fun characters

CONS -That horrible camerawork early in the episode -Story feels a bit too familiar -Writing is a bit on the nose -No Saru :(

....I think this could've been a decent show if this was the first season and you scroll past the touchy feeling scenes. But alas, it's not and she is still here.

This season isn't as bad and annoying like the last four seasons, but I can't get past the actress Sonequa and her character Michael.

I mean she annoys me as an actress with the soft speaking and at times, when the situation doesn't ask for it, highly emotional voice and her character is like this all knowing and always right being. I mean even in this episode with time running out and the universe on the line she's the deciding factor. And the only reason she agrees is because smoke is being blon up her behind. I mean come on...

Luckily they minimized the parts of Saru, Adira and Tilly otherwise this sheason would've been unwatchable like the first four seasons. I like the introduction of the character Rayner to offset the high in their feelings crew.

But it's too little too late and it's understandable this show is being cancelled.

This is a time travel episode that does not move the plot forward at all. It takes up time and space for a chase story that is simple and needs some filler episodes. The real story is that Rayner is perceived as a toxic male and Tilly and Michael are tasked with fixing him. (Tilly in the previous episode). The time-travel technobabble uttered to explain how they will save the ship/Federation/universe was eye rollingly silly, but since there was no phony earnest teary-eyed breathlessness during those scenes, I liked it in a relative sort of way. Also, there was very little of the Tilly character is this episode, which is why I gave it 5 stars instead of one.

On the pro side of this episode: the writer himself admits, that Michael's carreer is more than unlikely.

On the cons: I got remembered by season 1 Michael, why I started to dislike Michael in the first place. She's a no one, has nothing to say, yet decides what's best for all and the dump crew is simply following her.

Plus: this season arc could have been over last week. Discovery found the second clue before all others. Great. If that tech is so dangerous, destroy the damn clue! Riddle cannot be solved, tech remains lost. The end. But no! We must give our semi intelligent bad guys every friggin chance to get to the clues and the device. Urgh!

With First Officer Rayner still being Captain Jellicoe lite. Thinking he is still captain rather than someone sent by the Federation to early retirement and saved by Burnham.

So this is an episode that has Rayner and Burnham having to work together. Discovery has hit a time bubble after a malevolent bug gets into the ship. It is a weapon.

With the future of the Federation looking bleak. It really is a race against and with time.

Once again an old school Next Generation episode. The story and the final series does feel like a tribute act.

In it's own right it was an enjoyable episode as we get to see the crew of the Discovery from the past.