I propose this thread to take bets (nothing to gain here except bragging rights) on the outcome of the season. Say whatever you want and let's see how right or how wrong you were, come January 7. You can give as much, or as little, detail as you wish, but of course the more detail you give, the more you run the risk of being wrong. Here's my prediction: Ossyra dies. Two minutes before dying she threatens to kill one or several major characters and is stopped in extremis. Su’Kal is instrumental in the defeat of the Emerald Chain. Tilly's position becomes permanent. That's all I got... for now. Now remember this: If you're the first one to make a prediction you get more kudos than if you let someone else precede you. The sooner you say something (right) the better it looks. Your turn.
People die. The last shot is on the bridge A joke is made at Saru's expense Reaction shot from Saru. Everyone laughs Credits Oh, wait. That's TOS.
TOS can't make up its mind. Billions of people die in "The Changeling", and Kirk makes a bad joke. One person dies in "The City on the Edge of Forever," and Kirk's all "Let's get the hell out of here" with a somber face. It depends on how close they were to the Captain, I guess.
Real answer: I bet Adira beaming down to the surface brings Grey into some kind of spotlight that contributes to the finale shenanigans in some as-yet unforeseen manner. I also think Osyrra is taking orders from someone more powerful, perhaps someone from the Temporal Wars. We'll learn that the trigger event for Su'Kal's flipout that caused the Burn is something more deliberately nefarious than what we presently know. Regardless, cake remains eternal.
Osyrra is defeated, massive dilitihium planet begins getting mined, the Federation is restored to its former glory, Michael delivers speech about hope, optimism and Gene's Vision.
Spell it weird, with maybe an apostrophe and it becomes a valid Star Trek name. G'eahne's Vision. Then they'll understand. Have Saru reference a Renaissance earth painter or a gazelle. That will help.
Saru will choose to care for Su'Kal which will (insert reason) make it so he is unable or unwilling to continue as captain. Either an external actor or Michael will take command. Somehow Tilly will redeem herself and be promoted, but I am going to say she does not retain her number one position. We still won't know who the CMO or Chief Engineer is.
Michael will be Captain in the final episode of this season. She'll have some corny line to use to order her helmsman out. Book will die. As will Vance, probably. Saru will be promoted to Starfleet Command. The Klingons won't show up this season, but they will factor into the next. Next season will be about restoring the Federation.
Final scene will be this. I totally called it. Vance: Thanks to you all, the Emerald Chain has been taken out. The President himself wants to congratulate you personally. The President of the Federation steps out of the shadows...and it's Prime Lorca. TO BE CONTINUED
Book will die in a noble sacrifice to protect burnham and Discovery and i think it will be the driving force behind burnham recommitting to being a responsible officer and becoming Saru's number 1 again. I think Sa'kul is actually the monster. He's a ba'ul/kelpien hybrid, the first ever born. The fully kelpien sa'kul is some sort of thought form or tulpa that the real sa'kul projects. Note that we never see culber scan the fully kelpien sa'kul. Monster sa'kul is brought to kaminar where he is accepted by both cultures and allowed to live in peace preventing another burn. Starfleet will come to the rescue just in the nick of time guns blazing.