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Star Trek: Discovery
S1.E13
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What's Past Is Prologue

  • Episode aired Jan 28, 2018
  • TV-14
  • 44m
IMDb RATING
8.1/10
4.9K
YOUR RATING
Jason Isaacs in Star Trek: Discovery (2017)
ActionAdventureDramaSci-Fi

Lorca plans to move forward with a coup against the Emperor, propelling Burnham to make a quick decision to save not only herself, but the U.S.S. Discovery.Lorca plans to move forward with a coup against the Emperor, propelling Burnham to make a quick decision to save not only herself, but the U.S.S. Discovery.Lorca plans to move forward with a coup against the Emperor, propelling Burnham to make a quick decision to save not only herself, but the U.S.S. Discovery.

  • Director
    • Olatunde Osunsanmi
  • 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
    4.9K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Olatunde Osunsanmi
    • Writers
      • Gene Roddenberry
      • Bryan Fuller
      • Alex Kurtzman
    • Stars
      • Sonequa Martin-Green
      • Doug Jones
      • Shazad Latif
    • 30User reviews
    • 30Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Photos8

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    Top cast15

    Edit
    Sonequa Martin-Green
    Sonequa Martin-Green
    • Michael Burnham
    Doug Jones
    Doug Jones
    • Saru
    Shazad Latif
    Shazad Latif
    • Ash Tyler
    • (credit only)
    Anthony Rapp
    Anthony Rapp
    • Paul Stamets
    Mary Wiseman
    Mary Wiseman
    • Sylvia Tilly
    Jason Isaacs
    Jason Isaacs
    • Captain Gabriel Lorca
    Michelle Yeoh
    Michelle Yeoh
    • Georgiou
    Rekha Sharma
    Rekha Sharma
    • Commander Landry
    Emily Coutts
    Emily Coutts
    • Keyla Detmer
    Jeremy Crittenden
    • Lord Eling
    Patrick Kwok-Choon
    Patrick Kwok-Choon
    • Rhys
    Sara Mitich
    Sara Mitich
    • Airiam
    Oyin Oladejo
    Oyin Oladejo
    • Joann Owosekun
    Ronnie Rowe
    Ronnie Rowe
    • Bryce
    • (as Ronnie Rowe Jr.)
    Julie St-Louis
    • Terran Officer
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Olatunde Osunsanmi
    • Writers
      • Gene Roddenberry
      • Bryan Fuller
      • Alex Kurtzman
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews30

    8.14.9K
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    Featured reviews

    7doappel

    Could have been more

    A good episode, but nothing special. Some minor decision making made little sense, so does "the science". I also frequently feel like they'd recycle too many elements from previous shows and movies. "Riding on top of an explosion" is getting old, for example.

    And about the show in general: I'm a bit disappointed by "the hounding" from setting to setting, within few episodes. So far Discovery's priority certainly isn't to deepen the plot, rather than jumping to the next climax.
    8Al2ien

    Entertaining action with unnecessary shaky cam

    I might be the minority, but I had hard time watching the same kind of shaky camera work that turned me away from series like Black Sails and Vikings. Fortunately, not every episode of ST: Discovery has these annoying camera movements, but they were strong in this one and made my eyes hurt.

    The last three episodes have been still an invigorating ride after the tedious Ep4-Ep9. After ST: TNG I don't have any deep thoughts for the newer action oriented one, but it's merely fun to see how they are messing things with mirror universe and evil characterizations even if it doesn't result to logical explanations. I like the fast-paced and a bit rushed storytelling but I wish there were more room for building up the mystery of Captain Lorca who suddenly became the more interesting character in the series.
    10jtkjones

    Fantastic!

    What does it mean when an episode is so good it feels like a finale but there are still 2 episodes left?? This episode, similar to the last 1-2 episodes, has done a great job of explaining some of the "canon" complaints of Trek purists. Even though they didn't have a leg to stand on to begin with, some loose ends getting handled are welcome.

    DSC is having the best 1st season of any Trek series ever. The story telling is superb, the characters are well written and supremely well acted. Doug Jones is mind boggling with how he can emote wearing his Saru makeup. The man can ACT!

    It's nice to see people who initially, and blindly, jumped on the hate bandwagon finally realizing how incredibly wrong they were and admitting they are enjoying DSC. And the remaining purists are now far outnumbered and keeping to the shadows hugging their "great bird of the galaxy" dolls. DSC is here for the long haul!
    10sbulgacs

    Action Packed Fun

    This episode is more Burnham focused but the rest of the primary cast all get a shout. Probably the least "classic Trek" episode of the series so far. But that's not a bad thing per se. I say least classic Trek because of the amount of action, fighting and violence. The closest previous episodes I can think of are ones where Klingons are invading DS9. However those episodes where pretty straight forward plot wise where as this episode of DSC has lots of twists and turns. I was on the edge of my seat for most of this one. I have to give it to the production team. Not only is this is turning into great Star Trek but also a fantastic Sci Fi series overall. Something that we've been missing as of late. I didn't rate Blade Runner 2047 and the less said about the Last Jedi the better. It kinda appears that the writers have attempted to turn this first season into a 13 hour movie basically. Similar in structure to West World. Which I think a lot of us suspected from the outset. Building up to an explosive final act. If the last couple of episodes of the season are as good as this, I can't wait! I still hope they manage to sort the look of the Klingons out though. Would also like to see a couple more stand alone episodes in the 2nd series. Where individual members of the crew get a chance to shine.
    9Hitchcoc

    How'd They Do That!

    From the first episode of the original series, through all the others, I've always marveled at the explanations as to why things work or don't. Because this is major episode, I hung in there and I know now that the good guys pretty much ended up on top. But exactly why, I don't know. The whole plot with the spores functioning as weaponry is beyond my simple mind. But it was thrilling and sets up a fact at the end that will have to be addressed

    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

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    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      "What's past is prologue" is a line from Act II, Scene I of William Shakespeare's play "The Tempest". It also inspired the title of Past Prologue (1993) as well as Jake Sisko's story "Past Prologue" in The Ascent (1996) and the Star Trek (1966) novel "Past Prologue".
    • Goofs
      When Lorca swings the sword at Georgiou after pulling the knife from his shoulder and throwing it, you can see Michael fighting a woman in the background. She throws a punch at the woman that misses her by at least a foot.
    • Quotes

      Saru: It is well known that my species has the ability to sense the coming of death. I do not sense it today. I may not have all the answers; however, I do know that I am surrounded by a team I trust. The finest a captain could ever hope to command. Lorca abused our idealism. And make no mistake, Discovery is no longer Lorca's. She is ours. And today will be her maiden voyage. We have a duty to perform, and we will not accept a no-win scenario. You have your orders. On your way.

    • Connections
      Featured in After Trek: What's Past is Prologue (2018)

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • January 28, 2018 (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

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    • Runtime
      • 44m

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