And that's perfectly fine. The writers and producers have made decisions that improve the drama at the cost of realism. However, we shouldn't be surprised when they do it again.
Spoilers Star Trek: Discovery 3x07 - "Unification III"
- Thread starter Commander Richard
- Start date
Another enjoyable episode, if not a very standout one for me. Picking up on Unification was a great way of using the 800-year gap between the TNG era and Discovery's current one to follow up on a concept that would have taken a long time to show changes. I enjoyed the interactions between Saru and the Vulcan president, showing once again that Saru is a very capable leader who uses his empathy to great effect in this scarred universe. Like Earth, Vulcan/Ni'Var isn't doing that badly without the Federation, which I appreciated, even though the cracks are showing. The interactions between the 3 representatives also showed us quite a bit of what post-Unification society might look like. I'm not surprised that there are still many issues to resolve, knowing the Vulcan penchant for clinging to ancient forms and Romulan pride and passion would not make an easy blend. It's a pity we didn't get to see more of the planet itself though, or learn about what happened to the rest of Romulan space, and we didn't really get to know any of the representatives beyond them functioning as mouthpieces for their respective communities. My main issue with the fall of Romulus in the Picard era is that it assumes a vast intererstellar empire couldn't survive the loss of one planet, even if it was the seat of power. The fact that many ex-Federation worlds seem to be coping reasonably well after having left it underscores that, and is a welcome change from the Hobus (and Praxis) events of previous Treks.
Burnham for me continues to be a love-hate character. I have no issues with her instability this season and enjoyed the 'tough love' scenes with Gabrielle, though without having actually seen much of what Michael went through in the past year, I feel I sometimes have a hard time grasping how badly she's been affected by it. She seems... unstable, which amplifies her less desirable traits. I'm not so sure that her staying aboard Discovery is such a good idea anymore. She seems much happier when she is alone with Book, and her work on Discovery seems more fueled by not wanting to disappoint her friends than actually enjoying her job. And that's even without considering if her 'act first, think of the consequences later' approach even warrants her staying in any kind of leadership function, as this week she again put not only Saru but also the leader of a potentially difficult diplomatic contact on the spot. I cannot get myself to like Burnham as a character, but perhaps that is not required. Her story does remain compelling, and there is no doubt that her actions continue to be the main driving force behind Discovery's successes, if not always as intended.
Then again, there were also quite a few things in this episode that irked me. Tilly being made acting first officer being one. I like Tilly. She's smart, kind and compassionate and yet can set aside her feelings when objectivity is called for. Her advice last week to report Burnham's insubordination to Vance showed that, and it's clearly also why Saru values her so much. Having said that - she's not ready. Not even for an acting role. Being a first officer entails much more than advising the captain and applying technical skill. I cannot see Tilly doing personnel reviews, dealing out assignments, leading away teams or, gods forbid, taking over the center seat if Saru should be incapacitated in battle. There is also the matter of how it comes across to others when the ship's chosen representative is one of their least experienced. Perhaps in a few years, with more training. Perhaps if Discovery were just a science vessel with a small crew on research assignments. But not now. Not even if the rest of the bridge crew support it. It also suggests there is a great lack of experienced command personnel on the ship if no one else was sufficiently qualified to even get a mention. Certainly we have some crew of sufficient rank, but most seem to be in departments outside of command or likely have no wish to take up the post, like Reno. Unless Starfleet is really stretched for crew at the moment - and it very well might be - I really thought Vance would insist on assigning someone to fill the post. It would have made excellent sense to have someone posted to the ship with better knowledge of current events, technology and Starfleet's organization. Perhaps this move will yet surprise me with a good follow-up, but seeing is believing.
Finally, what I also did not like, it that this was again a very Burnham-centric episode. Discovery this season has done best when other characters get a chance to share the spotlight. Star Trek has had great episodes that focus on only one character, but most series at least spread the love around a bit among the cast. Exploiting Burnham's connection with Spock to get in the door with the Vulcans and Romulans was, for lack of a better word, a logical move, but it once again cut most of the other characters out of the story, especially with the further focus on her relationship with her mother. While I understand that Gabrielle might pick Vulcan as a good option to wait for Michael to show up, perhaps this reunion could have been moved to another episode to free up time for the B plot.
So, we're going for another 7.
Burnham for me continues to be a love-hate character. I have no issues with her instability this season and enjoyed the 'tough love' scenes with Gabrielle, though without having actually seen much of what Michael went through in the past year, I feel I sometimes have a hard time grasping how badly she's been affected by it. She seems... unstable, which amplifies her less desirable traits. I'm not so sure that her staying aboard Discovery is such a good idea anymore. She seems much happier when she is alone with Book, and her work on Discovery seems more fueled by not wanting to disappoint her friends than actually enjoying her job. And that's even without considering if her 'act first, think of the consequences later' approach even warrants her staying in any kind of leadership function, as this week she again put not only Saru but also the leader of a potentially difficult diplomatic contact on the spot. I cannot get myself to like Burnham as a character, but perhaps that is not required. Her story does remain compelling, and there is no doubt that her actions continue to be the main driving force behind Discovery's successes, if not always as intended.
Then again, there were also quite a few things in this episode that irked me. Tilly being made acting first officer being one. I like Tilly. She's smart, kind and compassionate and yet can set aside her feelings when objectivity is called for. Her advice last week to report Burnham's insubordination to Vance showed that, and it's clearly also why Saru values her so much. Having said that - she's not ready. Not even for an acting role. Being a first officer entails much more than advising the captain and applying technical skill. I cannot see Tilly doing personnel reviews, dealing out assignments, leading away teams or, gods forbid, taking over the center seat if Saru should be incapacitated in battle. There is also the matter of how it comes across to others when the ship's chosen representative is one of their least experienced. Perhaps in a few years, with more training. Perhaps if Discovery were just a science vessel with a small crew on research assignments. But not now. Not even if the rest of the bridge crew support it. It also suggests there is a great lack of experienced command personnel on the ship if no one else was sufficiently qualified to even get a mention. Certainly we have some crew of sufficient rank, but most seem to be in departments outside of command or likely have no wish to take up the post, like Reno. Unless Starfleet is really stretched for crew at the moment - and it very well might be - I really thought Vance would insist on assigning someone to fill the post. It would have made excellent sense to have someone posted to the ship with better knowledge of current events, technology and Starfleet's organization. Perhaps this move will yet surprise me with a good follow-up, but seeing is believing.
Finally, what I also did not like, it that this was again a very Burnham-centric episode. Discovery this season has done best when other characters get a chance to share the spotlight. Star Trek has had great episodes that focus on only one character, but most series at least spread the love around a bit among the cast. Exploiting Burnham's connection with Spock to get in the door with the Vulcans and Romulans was, for lack of a better word, a logical move, but it once again cut most of the other characters out of the story, especially with the further focus on her relationship with her mother. While I understand that Gabrielle might pick Vulcan as a good option to wait for Michael to show up, perhaps this reunion could have been moved to another episode to free up time for the B plot.
So, we're going for another 7.
If we could just even have one, just one, episode focusing only on Nilsson, Rhys, Bryce, Detmer and Owo and literally no Saru, Burnham, Stamets and Tilly, that would be a very welcome change of pace.
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He was on the bridge, albeit briefly, and we can assume he has had some interaction with the shuttle bay crew. Tilly knows Grudge, which would suggest some familiarity with Book. But who knows?
I don't think you would need to do that. Just do it like Lower Decks (the TNG episode, not the new show) and have the "core four" appear basically as extras in the episode.
She was there to tell Michael's secrets with absolute candor.
Yeah that sounds great. These characters just scream like they need more development. We know that Owo and Detmer seem pretty friendly with each other, and I personally think Rhys and Bryce would probably hang out together in their free time too, although as far as I remember we haven't seen them interact in any significant manner.
As much as I found it too convenient for her to be on Ni'var, I liked this version of mom a whole lot.
She was brought back suddenly and with little ceremony and we saw the reunion be done and over with in the space of less than one episode. It was the best way of going about it.
This episode brought back one of Discovery’s biggest flaws: trying to cram too much into one episode. The return to a unified Vulcan and Romulan people, the return of Burnham’s mother, Tilly’s promotion and her journey to decide that she wants it. These all should have been separate episodes to allow them to breathe.
The opening scene was exactly what I wanted to see from Michael, but we quickly lost it when she decided that she, and only she, could get the information from Ni’Var with the debate. They are quick to dismiss her and try and end the entire thing, but then let her and her mother hash out everything that is wrong with her without interruption, especially after the young Vulcan was ready to stop the thing before it even started. Then, when she ends her challenge and has her Federation is awesome speech, the crew has to stand up like she just gave the speech of the century. Except she didn’t. And then, they give Gabrielle possibly the worst line in Trek history since the gazelle speech, telling Burnham that she was the one who made Spock who he was. Was Beyer trying to piss off the fans?
None of this is left at the feet of Sonequa Martin-Green. After all the debate I’ve seen in here about her crying, she hits all the emotion marks and there isn’t an unwarranted tear. The chemistry she and David Ajala have feels real and not forced.
The return of Gabrielle is basically a footnote in a story after having it mean so much to Burnham last season and in the year she was on her own. I don’t think she needed to be part of the absolute candor nuns to put Michael in her place either. It seems like the writers just had to have that Picard tie in. It also should have been its own story to allow them to actually have some tender moments.
I think we all had the initial Stamets’ reaction with the Tilly first officer storyline. In a way, I knew it’d be her, but I was hoping the show wouldn’t, which I guess puts me in the minority. She was an awesome character and still is, but they seem like they are pushing her toward Wesley Crusher territory. Not only does she have the engineering smarts, but she’s going to command the ship too! We don’t get any chance to see her on the journey to making the decision as it is crammed into this episode. I fear the writers are just going to make the alien of the week baddie cow tow to her when she says something completely neurotic in an attempt to assert herself. She is either being set up to fail or to be written as a super saviour.
And acting until when? Outside of Burnham, who else is Saru going to find other than the people he already passed over? I know Detmer has been going through her PTSD, but she has served with Saru just as long and has been through a heck of a lot more than Tilly.
Saru is an excellent leader in a one-on-one situation, but they keep giving him this weak speeches every time they need to do something, like going to Ni’Var in this episode. Is it just him trying too hard to be a captain?
After some really nice camera work last week, the debate scenes felt jerky, like they were done with handheld in scenes that didn’t call for that in my opinion. Both the Vulcans and Romulans are calm, cool, collected. The two things clash.
The opening scene was exactly what I wanted to see from Michael, but we quickly lost it when she decided that she, and only she, could get the information from Ni’Var with the debate. They are quick to dismiss her and try and end the entire thing, but then let her and her mother hash out everything that is wrong with her without interruption, especially after the young Vulcan was ready to stop the thing before it even started. Then, when she ends her challenge and has her Federation is awesome speech, the crew has to stand up like she just gave the speech of the century. Except she didn’t. And then, they give Gabrielle possibly the worst line in Trek history since the gazelle speech, telling Burnham that she was the one who made Spock who he was. Was Beyer trying to piss off the fans?
None of this is left at the feet of Sonequa Martin-Green. After all the debate I’ve seen in here about her crying, she hits all the emotion marks and there isn’t an unwarranted tear. The chemistry she and David Ajala have feels real and not forced.
The return of Gabrielle is basically a footnote in a story after having it mean so much to Burnham last season and in the year she was on her own. I don’t think she needed to be part of the absolute candor nuns to put Michael in her place either. It seems like the writers just had to have that Picard tie in. It also should have been its own story to allow them to actually have some tender moments.
I think we all had the initial Stamets’ reaction with the Tilly first officer storyline. In a way, I knew it’d be her, but I was hoping the show wouldn’t, which I guess puts me in the minority. She was an awesome character and still is, but they seem like they are pushing her toward Wesley Crusher territory. Not only does she have the engineering smarts, but she’s going to command the ship too! We don’t get any chance to see her on the journey to making the decision as it is crammed into this episode. I fear the writers are just going to make the alien of the week baddie cow tow to her when she says something completely neurotic in an attempt to assert herself. She is either being set up to fail or to be written as a super saviour.
And acting until when? Outside of Burnham, who else is Saru going to find other than the people he already passed over? I know Detmer has been going through her PTSD, but she has served with Saru just as long and has been through a heck of a lot more than Tilly.
Saru is an excellent leader in a one-on-one situation, but they keep giving him this weak speeches every time they need to do something, like going to Ni’Var in this episode. Is it just him trying too hard to be a captain?
After some really nice camera work last week, the debate scenes felt jerky, like they were done with handheld in scenes that didn’t call for that in my opinion. Both the Vulcans and Romulans are calm, cool, collected. The two things clash.
I wondered that too. At least Michael had the sense to send it off to make the final signal and self destruct. I do wonder if they have just brushed it off never to be heard from again.
Left in ruins on Essof IV?
Sometimes this show feels like a hallmark movie: The "say yes" scene. AWWWWW
Her mom as advocate: "with an advocate like this, who needs enemies." Though all worked out well.
I am in print on this board just a day or two ago calling Tilly as the new XO. Writers were setting that up recently. The scene with Saru in previous ep when Burnham goes AWOL.
But what a weird decision to pick the neurotic newb over seasoned bridge officers. BUT at least they're all REALLY happy about it. And cute!
Her mom as advocate: "with an advocate like this, who needs enemies." Though all worked out well.
I am in print on this board just a day or two ago calling Tilly as the new XO. Writers were setting that up recently. The scene with Saru in previous ep when Burnham goes AWOL.
But what a weird decision to pick the neurotic newb over seasoned bridge officers. BUT at least they're all REALLY happy about it. And cute!
Seems about an average amount stuff for one episode. Burnham's mom was integral the Ni'Var plot. A random Quwot Milat nun would lack the connection to Burnham.
Tilly's story is a B plot.
Yep forgot about that. After my rewatch I noticed she did mention it. But still leaving it there someone could in theory stumble upon it.
I dunno that Spock would get along with Burnham if they weren’t Brother and Sister.
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