...But to Connect

After reading a lot of the early reviews for this one, I thought it would be another disaster like "all is possible", but instead this is easily a stands out episode of the entire series. Taking cues from TNG's "measure of a man" (but in no way living up to it), they finally managed to use the touchy freely nature of the show tot heir advantage.

To be clear, there is nothing wrong with having emotions and perspectives in a show. Discovery simply tends to handle them in an enormously ham-fisted way, constantly Talking about how characters feel instead of Showing. One of the principle tenants of filmmaking and scriptwriting is to show and not tell. One which they unfortunately have yet to learn on this show.

But to conclude, here we have an episode of diplomacy in one storyline, and a moral dilemma in another storyline (though arguably both are), and not a single thing was exploded! Congratulations for making an episode of Star Trek, Discovery team! Now keep doing this!

(Feel free to explode things, but that's never supposed to be the principle goal of most Star Trek episodes. The goal should be to Resolve a problem, not to Explode a problem).

Now if we can just scale back on the constant "mystery box" plot devices, we'll be good to go! (look it up if you don't know what that is...but be aware, once you're conscious of it, it's hard to watch Discovery anymore due to their rampant overuse of it).

I haven't loved this series as a whole, but there have been a few episodes that have been beautifully written. The season finally of last year, and this episode are examples. Slow paced, yes, but engaging dialogue, along with a wonderful handling of exploration into the emerging AI. The response to the head engineer at the resolution of this issue, and about his place on the ship, was handled nicely. Also, the growing divide between the Captain and her significant other were subtlety handled. I like the way the friction was directed, but even with the divide, their ability to still love each other. No over reactions. Very nice.

Like I say, haven't loved this series, and Brave New Worlds is a much truer ode to the original Star Trek, but this series has it's place in keeping the show relevant to a newer generation of watchers. Older generation Treckies probably won't love this series.

This was one of the most boring episodes I have witnessed.

I guess they thought they would be clever and write an ST episode where dialogue and moral/ethical quandries are at the forefront as were with Picard often, with little to no action,yet they still held our interest intensly

There was zero subtlety or sense how to shape touching on various pol-soc (or personal) issues, that might mirror thouse of our society, in tastefully/neutraly as ST was always famous for. All perspectives, all voices,equally. ST was never in your face preachy. Even more,here it is inclusion by exclusion, as someone nicely put it...

Antithesis of quality ST writing. Writers who wrote this have no sense (talent?) how to compile an immersive tense dialogue or steer the storyline. They poured freezing cold water all over the tension they have built, big part by dragging on (talentless writers stretch the storyline and pepper the few "good" story ideas they have over the season, while quality writers just write good stories, they do NOT drag on, or mess with the audience ).

Instead we got A LOT of FORCED lgbt sandwich talks, emotions, Michael whispering and smiling ( two acting expressions she seems only to lately possess).

Horrible travesty of an episode. Writers by large lately keep forgeting they are in the business of ENTERTAINMENT (!) not forcing perspectives onto people.

I found the script of this episode quite honest, and whenever there is honesty something interestnig follows. Discovery hasn't fullfilled our hopes for a new series, but this episode is not to blame. Either what they are trying to say is too complex, or the pace they are using comes too short. I suspect it is the emphasis on emotions that consumes most of the 45 minutes, it can't be done, which leaves the impression that not much has happened. Overall I would put it above Voyager and Picard, certainly above DS9, while TOS and NG get a free pass because of the time they were made and the freedom of insipiration that discontinued episodes allowed them. I would not cancel this series, and hope they will go on, but maybe get a bit better.

Absurdity of this show continues. Now computer has dreams. Everyone is irrational that its just impossible to think of them as some officers, admirals, high ranking members. Ship fully runs on emotions, there is literally zero logical approach to anything. Lets trust everyone and everything. Just absurd.