Spoilers Star Trek: Discovery 4x07 - "…But to Connect"

[Uhura's Song]

Really liked this one. The alarm bells and discourse about what to to about an emotional/sentient AI running the ship, that should have happened last episode, that Burnham blew off, happened here. And they did it well.

Book going rogue with the mad scientist guy was predictable, but the episode was strong.

 

[dupersuper]

Ah...because she's a citizen of the Federation?

So the Federation gets billions of votes?

Good thing all Federation members have hands, otherwise they couldn't vote correctly.

I guess the Horta were one of the members that left after the burn...and the Melkotians...and Medusans...and Exocomps...and the sentient nanites Wesley accidentally made...and Phylosians...

‪‪I love the idea of him in a Short Trek.

I just love the idea of the return of Short Treks...

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

The only thing I really need to know about "...but to connect" is:

What's the first part of that sentence?

 

[Agony_Boothb]

The only thing I really need to know about "...but to connect" is:

What's the first part of that sentence?

The title comes from a line in Burnham's rebuttal to Book and Tarka at the DMA conference:

'For generations, the Federation has sought out new life, new civilizations, not to destroy but to connect, even in the face of uncertainty.'

 

[DaveyNY]

The title comes from a line in Burnham's rebuttal to Book and Tarka at the DMA conference:

'For generations, the Federation has sought out new life, new civilizations, not to destroy but to connect, even in the face of uncertainty.'

This is why I love this place ... I completely missed that myself.

 

[DEWLine]

I am now wondering if "...but to connect..." is in the Federation Charter somewhere...?

As for the Short Treks format...speaking as one more member of the audience, I'm not done with it yet either. I can see dozens of stories in the Trek multiverse best told that way!

 

[cooleddie74]

In my head canon "All Is Possible" is a line from Archer's Charter Speech in 2161 which would tie in with the NX-01 snow globe that has the episode title on the base.

 

[JoaquinSlowly]

In my head canon "All Is Possible" is a line from Archer's Charter Speech in 2161 which would tie in with the NX-01 snow globe that has the episode title on the base.

I like that idea a lot. And Archer using it in his Charter Speech (and the perhaps the quote in All is Possible?) could be a nice reference to T’Pol’s exchange with Archer from Broken Bow:

Human instinct is pretty strong. You can't expect us to change overnight.

With proper discipline, anything's possible.

 

[cooleddie74]

Good catch! I'd like to think the writers might have had that in mind when they scripted this episode.

 

[JoaquinSlowly]

Good catch! I'd like to think the writers might have had that in mind when they scripted this episode.

Thanks! ‪‪I had the same thought, and the number of references to Enterprise this season would seem to make it at least plausible, if not probable.

 

[cooleddie74]

That's why I can't get too mad at DSC. The series has ENT fans on the writing staff.

 

[fireproof78]

I like that idea a lot. And Archer using it in his Charter Speech (and the perhaps the quote in All is Possible?) could be a nice reference to T’Pol’s exchange with Archer from Broken Bow:

That's where that line is from. I was trying to find it.

 

[Lonemagpie]

Review I did last week is up. Discovery‘s “…But to Connect” in Review – Warp Factor Trek

 

[JoseNoodles]

It was a bit disappointing. I think it was inevitable that Book and Ruon were always going to go on their own to find the creators of the anomaly no matter what, so the whole debate and vote at the conference seemed like padding, even if it made sense from an in-universe perspective. Also Zora's naivety is becoming grating. I get that she really cares for the crew, but her logic for withholding the information was silly. She doesn't want to put them in situation where they could be killed, even though they've already been put into positions where they could have been killed this whole time. The anomaly puts their lives in constant danger. How would preventing them from getting information that could end the anomaly somehow make them safer? The spore drive effect on Book's ship was cool though.

 

[Commander Troi]

Like many of you, I really liked this episode. It got me a bit misty-eyed too, reminding me why I love Star Trek in all it's forms - that drive to explore, to "seek out new life and new civilizations", and yes, to connect.

Didn't he mention Aurolio (Kenneth Mitchell's character from the last episode in season 3). That's why I thought he was talking about.

...I really enjoyed the Zora plotline a lot more than the DMA plotline and it actually reminded me a little of A Measure of a Man.

Aurolio! Ooh, that would be cool.

Yeah, I was quoting Picard. "...to seek out new life. Well there it sits!"

I really enjoyed the way the diplomatic meeting went. I like that the more peaceful direction was reached, but it's clear that many parties disagreed -- amicably. They're moving toward a union of worlds, but it's not going to be without bumps. And one of those bumps was Earth, which I liked. I was always sad that Enterprise didn't get to do more building of the Federation; never did I expect that Discovery would give me what I wanted a thousand years later in the timeline.

Yes! I've been hoping to see the "growing pains" of putting the UFP back together, and was pleased to see it here.

The line of thinking always reminds me of the Kurt Vonnegut short story Harrison Bergeron

Yay, another Vonnegut fan!

The tension between Book and Michael is well done, but Tarka is full of shit. There’s something else afoot, I bet.

Yeah, I don't trust Tarka as far as I could throw him.

Don’t know why. I find isolation quite restful and ideal for clearing the mind. Methinks that was the punishment’s original intent.

LOL! I think you're thinking of the intent of monasteries.

I like how they are setting up Kovich as Starfleet's "floater". He just goes where he's needed. I hope they dive a little more into his background at some point, maybe in a Short Trek.

What the hell is Kovich's position/job? He interrogated Phillipa, knows Terran Empire history, knows about time soldiers, gives Admiral Vance advice, counseled Culber, offered Tilly a job at the Academy, and knows about AI psychology?

 

[Ray Hardgrit]

Kovich seems to me like Vance's Counsellor Troi.

 

[JoaquinSlowly]

Like many of you, I really liked this episode. It got me a bit misty-eyed too, reminding me why I love Star Trek in all it's forms - that drive to explore, to "seek out new life and new civilizations", and yes, to connect.

The episode was a great celebration of that ethos, and echoes the message at the end of Season 2 Burnham had for Spock, that she wanted him to reach out to others.

Aurolio! Ooh, that would be cool.

Aurellio has been mentioned as Tarka’s *current* partner working on the next gen spore drive for the Federation, and the partner he referred to here was from their time as captives of the Emerald Chain, and supposedly escaped and his whereabouts unknown, so he can’t be referring to Aurellio. Also, there’s a definite vibe that Tarka’s referring to a life partner, and Aurellio’s partner we know is Orion from his conversation with Stamets last season.

I think we’re supposed to get another new role for Kenneth Mitchell this season, as his ALS advancing has made reprising Aurellio more difficult, so it’s nice to still get a mention of him!

Yay, another Vonnegut fan!

You could definitely say that! ‪‪I have a tattoo of Vonnegut on my right shoulder, and the nephew ‪‪I helped raise, and is one of my favorite people in the world, is named after him! Vonnegut and Trek are both so wonderfully human, I’m not surprised to see an overlap in the fandoms!

Yeah, I don't trust Tarka as far as I could throw him.

Same. ‪‪I believe his story like, 30%.

What the hell is Kovich's position/job? He interrogated Phillipa, knows Terran Empire history, knows about time soldiers, gives Admiral Vance advice, counseled Culber, offered Tilly a job at the Academy, and knows about AI psychology?

According to Cronenberg he’s a Federation historian, which given their time of rebuilding, would make a sort of sense to have him be such an important utility player. If he’s the most knowledgeable and well versed historian on all aspects of the Federation, he’d be an invaluable resource in trying to regain what they’d lost.

 

[Tim Thomason]

According to Cronenberg he’s a Federation historian, which given their time of rebuilding, would make a sort of sense to have him be such an important utility player. If he’s the most knowledgeable and well versed historian on all aspects of the Federation, he’d be an invaluable resource in trying to regain what they’d lost.

I think he could be a character we've already seen. Hopefully not Odo like some think (that would be horrifying and disrespectful), but maybe another shape-shifter (Female Changeling? Laas?), or The Doctor in a new form (either the original or the backup Living Witness one), or a Time War veteran (Daniels, Future Guy reformed).

It would be neat if he was an AI himself, either as the Doctor or an immortal synth/golem.

 

[Unimatrix Q]

I wonder what is the state of some of the old Romulan Colonies. Surely, some of them weren't into the unification?

Maybe some of them became kinda like theme parks, with actors playing Tal Shiar, politicians and soldiers to entertain visitors.

There could be some nice romulan restaurants, soup vendors and other attractions.

Wouldn't doubt that there are some nice replicas of Ki Baratan on these worlds.

So it's possible that there are a few romulan Disney Worlds out there

 

[Unimatrix Q]

I am now wondering if "...but to connect..." is in the Federation Charter somewhere...?

As for the Short Treks format...speaking as one more member of the audience, I'm not done with it yet either. I can see dozens of stories in the Trek multiverse best told that way!

But this time please without excluding international viewers!