An Obol for Charon

Why is everyone on this star ship only reporting to Burnham!? Is this series about the crew of a star ship, or is this series about a Mary Sue named Burnham?

The captain seems to be absolutely unimportant in STD in both seasons and a military structure is almost non existent. It is kinda anarchy, with the Burnham person on the top. Bad writing...

This episode has continued the old-school Star Trek style that old school trekkies love so much. The storylines are exploration-based, requiring a lot of active thinking on the audience's part. The general direction is commendable. That said, I didn't like this episode particularly much. First of all, there are so many subplots on move at once, so it may confuse the viewers a bit. The show tried to be faithful to old trek, but the old trek does not present everything in a rush. Can be improved. Most importantly, I am getting tired of Sonequa's acting style. Recently, I feel like whenever she is trying to show strong emotions, she speaks in a slow,over-stressed tone that sounds not unlike giving a public speech to strangers or a students. She tries so hard to be moving and it feels extremely unnatural. In the last episode, when she addresses Tilly's problem, it really freaked me out: Why would you talk that way with your close friend? I don't know why didn't I notice this problem last season, probably because it didn't happen. Oh Martin-Green, please stop giving us more of your artificial emotions. Despite all this, this episode is very interesting and solves some continuity issues. My vote is seven.

Looks like the writers are finally starting to find their voice. While they're masterfully postponing whatever it is that seems to be the main plot, we get an episode more in the Star Trek spirit with the discovery of a new life form, the contemplating on society & moral values, themes of economic exploitation & racial submission. Although the writing felt somewhat forced here and there, and could have definitely done without the melodramatic overacting, it's a rather well-made multidimensional episode that manages to keep the viewer on edge with its fast pace and plot twists. Looking forward to see more ones in this direction! There's hope for Discovery yet!

I don't think I can stand any more of Sonequa Martin-Green's "emotional overflow" face. I can't believe that her one-expression performance passes for acting these days and her complete failure as the main protagonist infects the entire show.

This episode sort of oscillates between emotional drivel and meaningless technobabble without conveying any sense of urgency. Most of the crew are still placeholders devoid of personality. It is no wonder that the only "likable" character in this show is Saru. Maybe it's because under that heavy make-up is the only talented actor in this cast but even Doug Jones can't save writing so inept it re-defines "bad" and this episode serves as a glaring example how this show just doesn't work within the Star Trek universe.

Unless we get to see a complete turnaround in the next epsiodes this show deserves to be cancelled before it further damages Star Trek as a brand.

Rebecca Romijn turns up as Number One from the Enterprise. The character played by Majel Barrett in The Cage. If she is a recurring character surely she would have to be given a name unless she really was christened Number One.

She brings news of Spock to Captain Pike who plots a course to follow his escape shuttle. However the Discovery is threatened by a mysterious sphere that has disrupted the ship's communication systems.

Meanwhile Saru has become ill and Tilly's life is also in danger as the blob of consciousness is attached to her.

There were hints by Saru all along that the sphere might be trying to communicate. Even he does not realise it at first. I was going to say have they forgotten Star Trek 4 but that has not happened yet.

There was too much chat in this episode in all sorts of languages and too many people becoming ill.

I was surprised to discover that Stamets is not the Chief Engineer of Discovery. It leads me to question what is his role and where is the chief engineer?

The episode paid tribute to Doctor Who by reversing the polarity.