Spoilers Star Trek: Discovery 4x03 - "Choose to Live"
- Thread starter Commander Richard
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This one gets an 8 from me - and it's probably the best episode of the show since "If Memory Serves" back in Season 2.
Most of everything proceeded in a more natural progression; and I like that there wasn't really a neat little bow on everything. The fact the Federation is turning the criminal over to Nvar for sentencing makes sense in the current political situation, and I like that neither Burnham or the Admiral are completely okay with it, and raised the appropriate objections, but in the end, yes, they're subservient to the President of the Federation, as it should be.
I like the Vulcans on the 32nd century too; they've mellowed a bit and IMO that's a good thing.
I also like what they did with the Qowat Milat (from Picard) here too, and it underscores how the Romulans and Vulcans have re-united. Nice use and depiction of the Vulcan mind meld; and that she was going to just get in and get what she needed and 'leave' - but even if it was a bit sappy and simplistic, it's nice that they found a way to advance Booker's recovery from grief so we weren't going to have everyone trying to talk him out of taking every dangerous mission so he could kill himself for how ever many episodes are remaining in this season.
If I have a complaint, it's how quickly Burnham found and fixed the Cryogenic system. You're seriously going to tell me a member of the alien race who designed the thing couldn't have 'fixed it' in time to awaken his own people to repel the grave robbers? (Oh, and also happy said alien race didn't wake up with the urge to conquer the Galaxy or some other ridiculous nefarious motive. One thing though - if said alien race had knowledge of Dilithium and matter/anti-matter reactors, it stand to reason they have FTL capability, so you'd think they could manage the trip to their 'new world' in LESS than 10 thousand years, and wouldn't required cryo-hibernation.)
Oh, and while we all knew the consciousness transfer would be successful; I'm oh so thankful they didn't add a visible and overly dramatic mental journey sequence, I give the writers credit for NOT digging up and reusing that tired Trek trope here.
Again, very nit picky, but this one was overall a good episode
Most of everything proceeded in a more natural progression; and I like that there wasn't really a neat little bow on everything. The fact the Federation is turning the criminal over to Nvar for sentencing makes sense in the current political situation, and I like that neither Burnham or the Admiral are completely okay with it, and raised the appropriate objections, but in the end, yes, they're subservient to the President of the Federation, as it should be.
I like the Vulcans on the 32nd century too; they've mellowed a bit and IMO that's a good thing.
I also like what they did with the Qowat Milat (from Picard) here too, and it underscores how the Romulans and Vulcans have re-united. Nice use and depiction of the Vulcan mind meld; and that she was going to just get in and get what she needed and 'leave' - but even if it was a bit sappy and simplistic, it's nice that they found a way to advance Booker's recovery from grief so we weren't going to have everyone trying to talk him out of taking every dangerous mission so he could kill himself for how ever many episodes are remaining in this season.
If I have a complaint, it's how quickly Burnham found and fixed the Cryogenic system. You're seriously going to tell me a member of the alien race who designed the thing couldn't have 'fixed it' in time to awaken his own people to repel the grave robbers? (Oh, and also happy said alien race didn't wake up with the urge to conquer the Galaxy or some other ridiculous nefarious motive. One thing though - if said alien race had knowledge of Dilithium and matter/anti-matter reactors, it stand to reason they have FTL capability, so you'd think they could manage the trip to their 'new world' in LESS than 10 thousand years, and wouldn't required cryo-hibernation.
)Oh, and while we all knew the consciousness transfer would be successful; I'm oh so thankful they didn't add a visible and overly dramatic mental journey sequence, I give the writers credit for NOT digging up and reusing that tired Trek trope here.
Again, very nit picky, but this one was overall a good episode
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and the infiltrators should have a Transporter Jamming mechanism in place to prevent that...
(Technology works both ways)
J'Vini knew the Vulcan nerve pinch. She used it on a crewperson aboard the Credence. It worked here as the person was unsuspecting of her presence.
Lowering shields before transporting cargo has been a thing since TOS. It might be the sending place or the receiving place which has to lower their shields. In "Dagger of the Mind", before cargo was sent to the Enterprise, the prison had to lower its shields.
Lowering shields before transporting cargo has been a thing since TOS. It might be the sending place or the receiving place which has to lower their shields. In "Dagger of the Mind", before cargo was sent to the Enterprise, the prison had to lower its shields.
It was a thing in TOS, but after that they were able to transport through their own shields.
Best episode of the season and maybe since early season 2.
Quick observations.
Quick observations.
- The NiVar ninjas reasoning was flimsy. She definitely could have trusted the Federation to help.
- Tilly is brilliant when she is being intentionally funny but the writers should be very careful with the "bumbling awkward fat person" comic relief stuff. Her character is brilliant this season other than that. (Why Tilly, why not sexy Book or Sexy Detmer as the awkward one)
- Adira was great again and seems to be one of the few multi dimensional characters in the show who can be more than just "happy guy" "awkward guy" "zen guy". Her and Grey's scene touched me more than I expected and same for Book who I kinda wrote off in the S4E1 thread.
- Someone needs to get honest with the honesty ninjas. Their "ways" are full of sht I mean what muppet tells the Starfleet officers to put away their phasers which they are highly trained with for swords. Where's Indy Jones when you need him
- New ship was a bit busy so hard to get a good look for an opinion. Choosing the most obviously Discovery interior for the 32nd century ship was a laughably bad idea though. Also why is there phasers strapped to the wall in a programmable matter world.
- That First Officer though was a Robau in the making and will be a loss to SF
- Loved all the DS9 references in the bar
- Loved the single episode mystery box. The moon ship really great looking and It really reminded me of one of my favorite Mass Effect missions. Would have loved to see a little bit more of the aliens and they had a real cousin of 8472 look about them
No they weren't - It's remained a thing throughout Trek, including the 24th century and beyond.
Need canonical proof? See this from TNG S3 - "The Enemy":
Actually there have been hints that Tilley is off from the 2nd episode of the 3rd season. I just thank they are really setting home to roost, enough so that people are really starting tontine, and unlike Detmer held it together better for the short term.
If we're honest, they were able to, then not able to, etc, etc. Another "speed of plot" thing (and no, I don't remember specific episodes, but I am certain it varied)
I loved a whole lot about this episode, from the main plot with the hunt for J’Vini and the her mission to save the Abronians, to Tilly’s personal journey, more of Book’s story, Stamets trying to help Book/everyone in finding a solution to the DMA, the stuff on Ni’Var, and most of all, the continuing stories of Gray and Adira.
I love how the episode title Choose to Live works on many levels, including of course the more obvious level of the Qowat Milat’s stock phrase/warning, and as referring to Book’s acceptance of his guilt and grief, Tilly’s journey of self discovery, and Gray’s incorporation/becoming visible.
My initial thought was that Taglonen, the Abronian who contacted J’Vini telepathically, had already begun to fix the issues with their cryopods when he was surprised by the attacking grave robbers who killed him.
Burnham could’ve simply figured out how to open the terminal that Taglonen was using and clicked “execute” on a fix he had just developed, but been unable to complete.
Also, do we know how far they travelled? Or maybe they were waiting for a predicted environmental change/disaster, or the fallout of one, on their chosen world to take place, and intended to hibernate until then?
I love how the episode title Choose to Live works on many levels, including of course the more obvious level of the Qowat Milat’s stock phrase/warning, and as referring to Book’s acceptance of his guilt and grief, Tilly’s journey of self discovery, and Gray’s incorporation/becoming visible.
If I have a complaint, it's how quickly Burnham found and fixed the Cryogenic system. You're seriously going to tell me a member of the alien race who designed the thing couldn't have 'fixed it' in time to awaken his own people to repel the grave robbers? (Oh, and also happy said alien race didn't wake up with the urge to conquer the Galaxy or some other ridiculous nefarious motive. One thing though - if said alien race had knowledge of Dilithium and matter/anti-matter reactors, it stand to reason they have FTL capability, so you'd think they could manage the trip to their 'new world' in LESS than 10 thousand years, and wouldn't required cryo-hibernation.
My initial thought was that Taglonen, the Abronian who contacted J’Vini telepathically, had already begun to fix the issues with their cryopods when he was surprised by the attacking grave robbers who killed him.
Burnham could’ve simply figured out how to open the terminal that Taglonen was using and clicked “execute” on a fix he had just developed, but been unable to complete.
Also, do we know how far they travelled? Or maybe they were waiting for a predicted environmental change/disaster, or the fallout of one, on their chosen world to take place, and intended to hibernate until then?
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It's directly listed in the technical bible, and episodes of TNG, DS9, and VOY that they can.
Hell, it was done in TNG: Relics, and the very first episode of Voyager.
Some semi-decent scenes sprinkled in there. Overall, not particularly compelling. Burnham resolves the situation in about 5 seconds making the space ninja lady look like a complete idiot.
I didn't mind the Book and Stamets subplot - looked forward to returning to it. I like Book. I like Stamets. As has often been the case with Discovery, when we move away from Burnham / SMG's performance, the viewing experience improves.
The saccharine Gray / Adria continues to grate. Going by what we know of the Trill / symbiont relationship, Gray will have lost all the symbiont memories he possessed and Adria will no longer possess Gray's memories.
Standard hour of TV rating: meh.
Adjusted for Disco rating: average.
I didn't mind the Book and Stamets subplot - looked forward to returning to it. I like Book. I like Stamets. As has often been the case with Discovery, when we move away from Burnham / SMG's performance, the viewing experience improves.
The saccharine Gray / Adria continues to grate. Going by what we know of the Trill / symbiont relationship, Gray will have lost all the symbiont memories he possessed and Adria will no longer possess Gray's memories.
Standard hour of TV rating: meh.
Adjusted for Disco rating: average.
It bothers me as well that there are no automated defense systems of any kind or any advanced defense technology from the 32nd century. Only an alarm.
Some automated defense systems options:
- Beam intruders into the brig.
- Force fields (as shown in TNG "Allegiance" or DS9 S2 "The Jem'Hadar")
- Automatic bridge defense system from TAS https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Automatic_bridge_defense_system
- Automated wall-mounted phaser emitters like in DS9 "Homefront".
Even civilians had access to those as early as TNG season 1 "We'll Always Have Paris".
- Automated replicated phaser emitters like in DS9 "Civil Defense".
- Drones (like the DOTs or Exocomp style)
- Programmable matter (tie the intruders).
Why no personal force fields?
Or use the personal holo emitter that everyone is wearing to create at least a barrier against physical attacks.
Something. Anything.
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DISCO writers suck at understanding all the technology available and resort to only having a "Alarm" for Drama reasons.
Lieutenant with three years experience.
Aproxamaltry 1.5.
At beginning of season one, she is fresh out of the academy.
Season one and two go by about less than a year.
Season three goes by about a month.
Season four starts six months after season three.
And she has no combat skills. Tactical officer Tilly is comically ridiculous.
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