Spoilers Star Trek: Discovery 1x05 - "Choose Your Pain"

[Charles Phipps]

I really enjoyed the episode! I am really liking this series a lot! I think Lorca makes for an interesting Captain and Saru is great as well.

I am still warming to Michael. I wonder if she will get to a higher rank again.

I found it interesting Starfleet has made her a scapegoat for all of this because space exploration has employed ex-Nazis before and yet Burnham is too repulsive for them.

Oddly, the least Roddenberry thing about this show is the fact no one considers Burnham to have had a mental breakdown versus Benedict Arnold.

 

[wayoung]

Going back to Lorca destroying his own ship, killing his crew (and ignoring that that almost happened so many times in other shows, since this was presented as something unique) I think that's exactly why he got the job captaining the Discovery. Last thing Starfleet wants is for this tech to get into Klingon hands. The ship and everyone on it needs to die if there is any chance of capture. Who better to give that responsibility to than someone who has already proved able to execute such a contingency plan?

 

[guyute03]

There's a podcast up right now with an interview with Anthony Rapp on http://www.startrek.com/podcasts talking about last night's episode. He's read a lot of Trek books apparently. Cool.
They talk about

Spoiler: Spoilers

Gary Mitchell, the toothbrush scene, the F-bomb scene, shooting the last mirror scene, the first novelization

 

[rhllot]

is there an Andorian in the ship ?? I want to see now!!

 

[Charles Phipps]

Going back to Lorca destroying his own ship, killing his crew (and ignoring that that almost happened so many times in other shows, since this was presented as something unique) I think that's exactly why he got the job captaining the Discovery. Last thing Starfleet wants is for this tech to get into Klingon hands. The ship and everyone on it needs to die if there is any chance of capture. Who better to give that responsibility to than someone who has already proved able to execute such a contingency plan?

I don't think that's the case even if he's Section 31, which I feel less and less like it's true. Lorca is clearly overcompensating for the death of his crew and possibly suicidal.

I think if Starfleet knew he did that, they'd not want him anywhere near command.

I also think he may well have killed them for nothing as not all Klingons are Space ISIL.

 

[EmoBorg]

SMD protrayal of Burnham is alright by me but Jason Isaacs acting was so good in this episode. Jason Isaacs could easily steal the show from SMD.

As for Ash Tyler, yah he could be Voq.

Saru's sentiment towards Burnham was expected. He just don't trust her.

Rainn Wilson as Harry Mudd made for an interesting comedic villian.

Nice to see Archer and Pike's name pop up.

 

[Guy Gardener]

I don't think that's the case even if he's Section 31, which I feel less and less like it's true. Lorca is clearly overcompensating for the death of his crew and possibly suicidal.

No.

They want a Captain who would pragmatically kill 130 Starfleet officers, if the alternative was giving the Klingons the Sporedrive, and certain victory over the Federation.

 

[SpocksOddSocks]

No.

They want a Captain who would pragmatically kill 130 Starfleet officers, if the alternative was giving the Klingons the Sporedrive, and certain victory over the Federation.

Actually, this makes me see extra poignancy in the scene with Landry and Lorca destroying the Glenn...

"it's just a ship"

 

[wayoung]

If this show has established anything about his character it is that Lorca can and will do anything to win this war, including sacrificing his own crew, without a moments hesitation. I doubt he lied about what happened on the Buran.

Blowing up his own ship makes him perfect to Comand the Discovery.

 

[Tesophius]

Just as an aside, I think the "Buran" was a nice nod to the Soviet Union's sadly defunct and rotting space shuttle program.

Indeed. Fun fact: the enormous plane that carried the Buran is still operated by Ukraine today.

 

[Big Data]

Burnham is injecting a conscience into this crew. I can't imagine throwing her out in favor of soulless Lorca.

 

[rahullak]

Well, I give this a solid 9. Character development is really good in this one. Burnham probably had a little less to do in this one as Saru, Lorca, Stamets and the doc had some hoops to jump through. Nice intro of Mudd.

I'll have to look through the mirror scene again, as I didn't quite catch what went on.
Still a bit put off by the dialogue delivery by actor playing Stamets. It seems so...unnatural.

Good one all-in-all.

 

[Tosk]

That list of decorated Captains was cool, but holy jeez....Enterprise-centric much?

Robert April - Captain of the Enterprise.
Jonathan Archer - Captain of the Enterprise.
Matthew Decker - Future Enterprise commanding officer. (However briefly.)
Phillipa Georgiou.
Christopher Pike - Captain of the Enterprise.

I'll have to look through the mirror scene again, as I didn't quite catch what went on.

Stamets smiled and walked out of the room. His reflection stayed several seconds longer before doing the same.

 

[cultcross]

Lorca is clearly overcompensating for the death of his crew and possibly suicidal

Don't get that vibe at all, definitely not the suicidal bit, he fought tooth and nail to escape the Klingons this episode.

Lorca can and will do anything to win this war, including sacrificing his own crew, without a moments hesitation

Or that vibe! He's definitely one to play outside the rules occasionally, but he says to Mudd he blew up his crew so they wouldn't face torture and public execution on Qo'nos, not to win the war. I think he cares about his crew pretty deeply.

 

[David James]

Haven't watched it yet, but aside from TAS, this would be the official canonizing of April. Did it mention him in the context of the Enterprise (considering Archer and Pike were mentioned too)?

No it didn't

 

[Bgt]

Well, definitely the best of the bunch so far.
Tilly is almost dealbraker for me. I cannot understand if it is the actor or the role, could be both... she is SO annoying. I keep asking myself how on earth they let her graduate Starfleet Academy.

I like Saru even more and the Doc seems interesting as well.

I think they have a HUGE problem with the prosthetic makeup thingy, cause it doesn't allow actors to act. I was observing Saru's scenes, he couldn't have any expressions, he moves his head to show emotions and that's it. I feel bad for the actors. They must find a way to fix this next season. Are those things even makeup or some kind of masks? It is awful.

So, imho, STD it is still a mediocre show, but it showed some glimpses of hope! yaaay!

 

[Smoked Salmon]

Indeed. Fun fact: the enormous plane that carried the Buran is still operated by Ukraine today.

I never knew that. Interesting.

 

[Charles Phipps]

Lorca killed them to keep them from being tortured not to keep technology or a ship from the Klingons.

 

[Big Data]

she is SO annoying. I keep asking myself how on earth they let her graduate Starfleet Academy.

Wesley Crusher

 

[rhllot]

Just as an aside, I think the "Buran" was a nice nod to the Soviet Union's sadly defunct and rotting space shuttle program.

It was not sad, that was a good idea to quickly cancel that project!
space shuttle were expensive and risky !! NASA acknowledged the big mistake they made with that program. Russia made the right choice, today their Soyuz rockets are the safest and most efficient spacecraft to go to space