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Star Trek: Discovery
S1.E2
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IMDbPro

Battle at the Binary Stars

  • Episode aired Sep 24, 2017
  • TV-14
  • 38m
IMDb RATING
7.5/10
7.5K
YOUR RATING
Michelle Yeoh in Star Trek: Discovery (2017)
ActionAdventureDramaSci-Fi

Escaping from the brig while the ship is under attack, Burnham joins the captain in an audacious plan to end a battle rapidly escalating into war.Escaping from the brig while the ship is under attack, Burnham joins the captain in an audacious plan to end a battle rapidly escalating into war.Escaping from the brig while the ship is under attack, Burnham joins the captain in an audacious plan to end a battle rapidly escalating into war.

  • Director
    • Adam Kane
  • Writers
    • Gene Roddenberry
    • Bryan Fuller
    • Alex Kurtzman
  • Stars
    • Sonequa Martin-Green
    • Doug Jones
    • Shazad Latif
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.5/10
    7.5K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Adam Kane
    • Writers
      • Gene Roddenberry
      • Bryan Fuller
      • Alex Kurtzman
    • Stars
      • Sonequa Martin-Green
      • Doug Jones
      • Shazad Latif
    • 29User reviews
    • 47Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Photos20

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    Top cast26

    Edit
    Sonequa Martin-Green
    Sonequa Martin-Green
    • Michael Burnham
    Doug Jones
    Doug Jones
    • Saru
    Shazad Latif
    Shazad Latif
    • Ash Tyler
    • (as Javid Iqbal)
    • (credit only)
    • …
    Anthony Rapp
    Anthony Rapp
    • Paul Stamets
    • (credit only)
    Mary Wiseman
    Mary Wiseman
    • Sylvia Tilly
    • (credit only)
    Jason Isaacs
    Jason Isaacs
    • Captain Gabriel Lorca
    • (credit only)
    Michelle Yeoh
    Michelle Yeoh
    • Georgiou
    Mary Chieffo
    Mary Chieffo
    • L'Rell
    James Frain
    James Frain
    • Sarek
    Kenneth Mitchell
    Kenneth Mitchell
    • Kol
    Chris Obi
    Chris Obi
    • T'Kuvma
    Terry Serpico
    Terry Serpico
    • Brett Anderson
    Sam Vartholomeos
    Sam Vartholomeos
    • Danby Connor
    Arista Arhin
    Arista Arhin
    • Young Michael Burnham
    Emily Coutts
    Emily Coutts
    • Keyla Detmer
    Ali Momen
    Ali Momen
    • Kamran Gant
    Clare McConnell
    Clare McConnell
    • Dennas
    Thamela Mpumlwana
    • Young T'Kuvma
    • Director
      • Adam Kane
    • Writers
      • Gene Roddenberry
      • Bryan Fuller
      • Alex Kurtzman
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews29

    7.57.5K
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    Featured reviews

    10marian_the_nightman

    -They said the show has 2 ships ,but actually is just one ship.

    -Who says the new Klingons are better than the TMP Klingons clearly never saw Worf or his Klingon mates in a battle,because all that scenes are epic,even the ones with Duras Sisters from Generations are epic.The new Klingons are just some talking monuments dressed in weird circus costumes who can't make a good impression for an older trekker.One of the (BRILLIANT) new phrases 'I come in peace' is taken from a cool movie , Dark Angel/I come in peace.That movie has two wrestlers with white eyes as aliens,but they look so spectacular, like nothing from this world.This series has new Blingons..ups..Klingons,buried in tones of make up , without no reason ,because they still look like humans.I really wanted to see Georgiou as a lead character ,because i like her,she is a great captain.Probably the producers didn't wanted to reveal the real story because they were afraid about the old fans reaction to the new non-canon ship and spore drive .The Shenzhou looks amazing and i really don't understand why they wanted to go on with Discovery which looks much worse than Shenzhou .I cant stand too see a new take of Star Trek ,but i really can't stand too see any race change,so i'm disgusted to see the new producers are following Abrams foot steps,even they know this will disappoint many old fans,but hey,money talks.
    6Prismark10

    Battle at the Binary Stars

    So the ever emotional Burnham commits mutiny against her friend and mentor Captain Georgiou and is locked up on the brig. Burnham needs to find a means to escape as the ship comes under attack from the Klingons. However it is difficult to like a character who disregards the rules so much.

    I did say I liked how the various Klingons were designed but could not understand why they have been rendered as bald. How can a race of aliens get less hirsute which each new iteration of Star Trek?

    However the constant talking in Klingon did get irritating, I thought I was watching a foreign movie with all the reading of the subtitles I had to do.

    Burnham rejoins the crew and hatches an audacious plan to battle the Klingons. The episode has cinematic battle scenes between the Federation and the Klingons, there is certainly a lot of lens flare.

    The first two episodes are in effect a prequel to the main Discovery series as it is the third episode where we will encounter many of the main cast members.
    10XweAponX

    A Series of Unfortunate Events

    This was one of those instances where going by the book of Starfleet was a BAD IDEA. In the original series, they never really get into how DIFFERENT Klingons and Romulans are from Terrans. They are ALIENS.

    Which was why there was always friction, not just between Terrans and these other races, but a three way tension, Klingon against Terran against Romulan against Klingon.

    So far, in this show, the Klingons are not the Lovable and ridiculous GOWRON brand. These are truly ALIENS. Not the safe kind either.

    What you don't understand, can kill you, until you DO understand it.

    That's what happens here. Michael understood, but being raised Vulcan makes it difficult to express immediacy to one's captain. And Georgiou was not getting it. Until the end, maybe. But then it was just more bad luck.

    This is supposed to be Starfleet history. Somewhere in this story is Captain Garth. and Axenar. Which explains CBS's lawsuit, the fan film was about ready to spill Discovery's entire plot line. But we haven't gotten to Garth yet. Maybe Sovol is in this universe, hanging with Sarek. And they are both putting up with irritating humans.

    But where Axanar was being assembled to tell the story in terms of the old Universe of Trek, using the designs we had been familiar with, with actors playing the people they played in the shows, this version of the story is telling the tale from the outskirts, from the Fringe Division of Trek. Why are there holes in the Discovery's Saucer Section? Oh, WAIT. You have not seen that yet. Well, you will, and then you will see why.

    This is the Section 31 version of Trek History. Which does not make it bad in any way.
    8joekinplaya

    Very impressed with graphics; this episode cements the atmosphere of the series

    I was very impressed with the ship battle scene. They made phasers actually look threatening and intimidating, not just some nerdy laser that goes "PEWWW." Also the depiction of polarizing the hull plating after it's been damaged was very cool. There are few things I found to be flaws though IMO that's more just personal biases. The constant Klingon is getting pretty annoying. The problem is they talk slow. You see a sentence on the bottom. I finished reading. They're still saying the same sentence for like 10 more seconds!

    I understand they're trying to be more realistic and more authentic... but then why would they translate "We come in peace" in English? Also these Klingons are also fluent in English it seems. We're able to look past that trope and just accept "Sure they're only speaking English to make it easier for us." From an artistic perspective, what they did was impressive... but it's still annoying to watch especially considering Star Trek is based on dialogue, not action.

    Aside from these gripes, I found this to be pretty good episode. I'm really wondering how the story will end up. I seriously did not expect that ending. I had assumed they'd forget the incident and have Michael instated as captain of that ship.
    6Hitchcoc

    I Can't Really Get Involved...Yet

    OK. The Klingons want to revive their empire. They have one guy who is set to do this. Starfleet is in their way. The Captain and Number 1 are at odds because neither of them can appreciate the others' gifts. So, of course, No. 1 is put in the brig for mutiny and a bunch of other stuff. There are supernatural elements all over the place as No. 1 is eventually going to arise. The problem is that the usual impressive nature of the crew is lacking. The look terrified every time they receive a jolt of some kind. I guess we know who is who now, so let's get on with it.

    Related interests

    Bruce Willis in Die Hard (1988)
    Action
    Still frame
    Adventure
    Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)
    Drama
    James Earl Jones and David Prowse in Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
    Sci-Fi

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      T'Kuvma additionally mentions "Humans, Vulcans, Tellarites, and filthy Andorians." These four races are the founding species of the Federation, as first established in Zero Hour (2004).
    • Goofs
      Right after Burnham has finished talking to Sarek we see the USS Shenzhou fly past undamaged. In the previous exterior pull away shot there was major damage and large and sections of the hull were missing around the brig.
    • Quotes

      Captain Philippa Georgiou: Ambassador Sarek, it's good to see you again.

      Sarek: Thank you for receiving us, Captain Georgiou.

      Captain Philippa Georgiou: The pleasure is ours.

      Sarek: As discussed, this is my ward, Michael Burnham.

      Captain Philippa Georgiou: Hello, Michael. Welcome to the USS Shenzhou. And congratulations on your recent commencement.

      Michael Burnham: [Philippa extends a handshake] Respect is earned, as is friendliness.

      Sarek: Yet diplomatic niceties must be observed.

      Michael Burnham: This is hardly a negotiation.

      Captain Philippa Georgiou: First contact, then. The only human to attend the Vulcan Learning Center and Science Academy rejoins her own kind. You can see my analogy, more or less.

      Michael Burnham: Less.

      Sarek: I will leave you now. Live long and prosper.

      [to Michael]

      Sarek: Behave.

    • Connections
      Featured in After Trek: O Discovery, Where for Art Thou? (2017)

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 24, 2017 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Official Site
    • Languages
      • English
      • Klingon
    • Filming locations
      • Ontario, Canada
    • Production companies
      • CBS Television Studios
      • Roddenberry Entertainment
      • Secret Hideout
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 38m
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.00 : 1

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