Theory on Tilly's character arc this season

[Yistaan]

Last season, Saru rushing Ensign Tilly into first officer position made no sense. However, in retrospect, could Saru have been playing a long game of reverse psychology all along? He strongly suspected that deep down Tilly didn't actually want to be in command, but neither he nor anyone else was going to be the one to tell her themselves. So, by pushing her into command right into the deep end, so to speak, head first, this forces Tilly to be the one to decide if it's really for her. If she is indeed right for command, she does excellently, loves it, and gains more confidence and wants to do more. If she isn't, she realizes it, has rough experiences that force her to rethink if this is what she wants, and makes the decision on her own to do something else.

If Saru had everything above in his head, suddenly what he did last season makes more sense.

 

[Fateor]

Last season, Saru rushing Ensign Tilly into first officer position made no sense. However, in retrospect, could Saru have been playing a long game of reverse psychology all along? He strongly suspected that deep down Tilly didn't actually want to be in command, but neither he nor anyone else was going to be the one to tell her themselves. So, by pushing her into command right into the deep end, so to speak, head first, this forces Tilly to be the one to decide if it's really for her. If she is indeed right for command, she does excellently, loves it, and gains more confidence and wants to do more. If she isn't, she realizes it, has rough experiences that force her to rethink if this is what she wants, and makes the decision on her own to do something else.

If Saru had everything above in his head, suddenly what he did last season makes more sense.

Unlikely, because that risks getting people killed when the "not ready for command" person screws up.

 

[XCV330]

I think Saru was still in a developmental process himself, remembering it wasn't that long ago his ganglia fell off and hit this wild impulsive stage. I chalk it up to that. Current Saru wouldn't do it.

 

[Yistaan]

Unlikely, because that risks getting people killed when the "not ready for command" person screws up.

As someone who can actually do a decent job at my six figure salary occupation but not really that passionate about it to the point I pass on management/promotional opportunities, Saru probably figured Tilly's decent enough that the ship won't blow up on her watch but at the same time might re-evaluate whether she really wants to go to command in Starfleet (like when my real life boss makes me acting manager while he's gone--yeah our agency doesn't suddenly implode but I suddenly realize management in this career isn't for me). Luckily Tilly had an opportunity to get out and find something different. Not sure that's so easy for me or those of us in the real world.

 

[Jellico]

Tilly is a favorite with my wife and I. We love our Tilly. She adds more hope than comedy. Every story around her seems to stress the positive vision of Trek.

 

[Commander Troi]

I loved "All Is Possible" and am glad Tilly is getting a chance to find out what she really wants to do. I've seen too many people IRL feel stuck in a career path they didn't really want but was "expected" of them in one way or another.

I see Mary was in Longmire, which I think is a drama. Anyone see her in that?

 

[Jellico]

I saw Longmire. She was good.