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Star Trek: Discovery
S1.E12
All episodesAll
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
IMDbPro

Vaulting Ambition

  • Episode aired Jan 21, 2018
  • TV-MA
  • 38m
IMDb RATING
8.1/10
5.1K
YOUR RATING
Jason Isaacs in Star Trek: Discovery (2017)
ActionAdventureDramaSci-Fi

Burnham heads to the ISS Charon with a special "gift" for the Emperor. With the help of an unexpected source, Stamets gains clarity while trapped inside the mycelial network. Saru asks for L... Read allBurnham heads to the ISS Charon with a special "gift" for the Emperor. With the help of an unexpected source, Stamets gains clarity while trapped inside the mycelial network. Saru asks for L'Rell's help.Burnham heads to the ISS Charon with a special "gift" for the Emperor. With the help of an unexpected source, Stamets gains clarity while trapped inside the mycelial network. Saru asks for L'Rell's help.

  • Director
    • Hanelle M. Culpepper
  • Writers
    • Gene Roddenberry
    • Bryan Fuller
    • Alex Kurtzman
  • Stars
    • Sonequa Martin-Green
    • Doug Jones
    • Shazad Latif
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    8.1/10
    5.1K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Hanelle M. Culpepper
    • Writers
      • Gene Roddenberry
      • Bryan Fuller
      • Alex Kurtzman
    • Stars
      • Sonequa Martin-Green
      • Doug Jones
      • Shazad Latif
    • 25User reviews
    • 32Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Photos9

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    Top cast18

    Edit
    Sonequa Martin-Green
    Sonequa Martin-Green
    • Michael Burnham
    Doug Jones
    Doug Jones
    • Saru
    Shazad Latif
    Shazad Latif
    • Ash Tyler…
    Anthony Rapp
    Anthony Rapp
    • Paul Stamets
    Mary Wiseman
    Mary Wiseman
    • Sylvia Tilly
    Jason Isaacs
    Jason Isaacs
    • Captain Gabriel Lorca
    Michelle Yeoh
    Michelle Yeoh
    • Georgiou
    Mary Chieffo
    Mary Chieffo
    • L'Rell
    Wilson Cruz
    Wilson Cruz
    • Dr. Hugh Culber
    Sam Asante
    Sam Asante
    • Senior Guard
    Jeremy Crittenden
    • Lord Eling
    Raven Dauda
    Raven Dauda
    • Dr. Pollard
    Billy MacLellan
    Billy MacLellan
    • Barlow
    Dwain Murphy
    Dwain Murphy
    • Captain Maddox
    Tasia Valenza
    Tasia Valenza
    • Shenzhou Computer
    • (voice)
    Marie Ward
    Marie Ward
    • Junior Guard
    Marco Perretta
    Marco Perretta
    • Star Fleet Medical Doctor
    • (uncredited)
    Clayton Scott
    Clayton Scott
    • Kelpien
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Hanelle M. Culpepper
    • Writers
      • Gene Roddenberry
      • Bryan Fuller
      • Alex Kurtzman
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews25

    8.15.1K
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    Featured reviews

    10blueshadow-632-977816

    I've just added the word "holysh**f**ks" to my dictionary.

    I've just added the word "holysh**f**ks" to my dictionary, I really do not want to spoil anything of this episode but this is something worth watching!
    10XweAponX

    Now that was a kick in the rear

    Just goes to show, there are no more "filler" episodes in shows, no idle moments, not one line spoken by any character that will not have significance later on. The way these episodes have been constructed, we see now that everything that has happened has brought us right to here. It's all been pieces of the puzzle.

    So: Stametz is talking to "himself". Burnam is on an intrigue filled palace ship and has to make a tough, quick decision, Tyler/Voq is in need of L'Rell's help, but she is loathe to give it. And Lorca, Lorca is...

    We've been trying to excuse and explain Lorca's behavior this whole season. We can stop now. And that time when Admiral Cornwell was going to relieve Lorca? (In "Lethe") - Now we know, she was right. But then she was conveniently kidnapped by Kol.

    "Nothing is as it Seems"

    Going through my review, I don't see any blatant spoilers, so I am changing it back. Thank you.
    10Manwhofell

    Wow!

    Wow! Thats it, just wow! This hit me from left field.
    10sa-02896

    After this, we're finally talking about sci-fi...

    I've been spending fake time waiting for a real next atempt on creating science fiction content for today's time. The time has come...
    9GraXXoR

    Finally firing on all cylinders

    After a slow start, the situation escalates onboard the ISS Discovery as the crew continue on their mission to get back to their own universe...

    Burnam and Emporer Georgiou finally meet face to face but things don't go quite to plan.

    This episode comes with an epic sting in its "tale", one I haven't seen pulled off with such finesse for a long time.

    I'm really enjoying this arc now, and I think this show has, after bumpy start established itself as a top notch, well produced sci-fi romp.

    It may not be Rodenberry's Star Trek, but I think even he would be enjoying this story.

    Related interests

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    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
      The title is a reference to the line "I have no spur to prick the sides of my intent but only vaulting ambition, which o'erleaps itself and falls on the other" from Act I, Scene VII of William Shakespeare's play "Macbeth".
    • Goofs
      When Lt. Stamets is in the mycelial network with mirror Stamets and they arrive at Engineering the name plate on the wall behind the mirror Stamets says "USS Stamets". Lt. Stamets said when he was looking around the corridors before reaching Engineering that he recognized it as Discovery. Therefore, the name plate should read "USS Discovery".
    • Quotes

      Saru: Lieutenant Tyler is in distress. He... thinks he is a Klingon.

      L'Rell: [growls] Then he has awoken.

      Saru: I do not know what your people had planned for him, but this cannot have been it. You must be able to help him.

      L'Rell: There is nothing to help. Beneath that man's inferior carriage is a devoted warrior, who has sacrificed everything, and T'Kuvma's chosen successor. He will light the way for his race. He will win this war.

      Saru: I guess you didn't hear the news. The Discovery was thrown into a parallel universe. Here, the war is over. And you lost.

      L'Rell: Lies.

      Saru: I wish they were. But the war, and all your devious designs, mean nothing now. All that remains is the suffering of an individual I suspect you care for. Now, I do not know where your Voq ends and our Tyler begins, but they're both in jeopardy. The question is, will you ease their pain?

      L'Rell: The one you call Tyler was captured in battle at the Binary Stars. We harvested his DNA, reconstructed his consciousness, and rebuilt his memory. We modified Voq into a shell that appears human. We grafted his psyche into Tyler's, and in so doing, Voq has given his body and soul for our ideology. If he suffers for that choice, so be it. He accepted that suffering in order to best the enemy. That is what it means to be a soldier. That - is - war.

    • Connections
      Featured in WatchMojo: Top 10 Best TV Plot Twists You Didn't See Coming (2018)

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • January 21, 2018 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Official Site
    • Languages
      • Klingon
      • English
    • Filming locations
      • Pinewood Toronto Studios, Port Lands, Toronto, Ontario, Canada(Studio)
    • Production companies
      • Secret Hideout
      • Roddenberry Entertainment
      • Living Dead Guy Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 38m
    • Color
      • Color

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