Spoilers Star Trek: Discovery 3x12 - "There Is A Tide…"

This was a great episode.
Kenneth Mitchell was one of my favorite guest stars in the first two seasons, so I liked getting to see him again. I forgot until I read through @KRAD's recap review on Tor.com that he has ALS and has been in a wheelchair since last October. So seeing that they were willing to still bring him back, and work with his disability made his return even better. Hopefully they'll either make Aurellio a recurring character, or find other ways to continue to bring him back.
We got some great action scenes in this one, both with the bridge crew and Micheal.
The scenes with Vance and Osyraa were really good too. Janet Kidder and Oded Fehr really did a great job in those scenes.
I loved Stamets telling Aurellio that he and Hugh have a kid.
Speaking of Stametsm the scene where Michael wouldn't let him into the Spore Drive chamber and shot him off the ship was one of the most emotionally powerful moments we've gotten in the entire series.

Not to mention that we're going to be sending people back to the moon in a few years, and we're in the very early stages of working on getting people to Mars.

 

Another solid 9

 

So you’re saying he was under influence of spores? You know, that explains a lot...

 

Is that creepy holo guy actually more comforting than a red light? I would think Vance did it intentionally except I'm assuming it would tattle on him or does the Fed hologram only check on the other guy?

 

I’m pleasantly surprised that they actually made Osyraa more than a cardboard villain and let her genuinely try to negotiate a treaty with the Federation. Yes, she’s evil and yes, she killed her own nephew, but she is probably more capable of running a functioning government than the Feds. Did Vance actually expect she would agree to be put on trial? Seriously? I find the Emerald Chain far more interesting than the Federation. I hope they do put them together and keep Osyraa as a leader they have to deal with. I also would like to see Aurellio’s Orion wife and half human, half Orion pea green kids.

Aside from that, I’m tired of Burnham saving the day. I suppose she’ll save the ship, the Federation, the crew and Book and Book’s little cat too in the next installment.

 

After thinking about it more, the takeover of Discovery was way too easy. Especially for a ship supposedly retrofitted with 32nd century tech.

Without spoiling too much, the Mandalorian also had a takeover of a capital starship recently. However, taking it over was hardly easy and the show made it look realistic in that serious effort was needed. Discovery should be more like that.

 

Ah, I see. We want evil murdering people running the government now. Very interesting.

 

Very enjoyable episode this week. Ossyra is actually a pretty good villian, finally, and I loved the negotiation scenes between Vance and her. I also enjoyed seeing Zerah back and overall it was an action filled 50 minutes leading towards the finale.

8.

 

Maybe not in real life, but more entertaining TV. I’m not seeing compelling evidence that the Federation or Star Fleet is run by competent people.

 

I mean, in this fictional universe the Terran Empire literally collapsed and that was a government defined by being cruel.

 

They don't, Stamets was lying about it because he doesn't want them used for what he did.

 

Please 8 pound baby Jesus, let Mama see some Romucans next week! (how you like them apples?)

Nope nope nope nope nope nope!

 

This may be the first episode where I was actually interested in Osyraa beyond Janet Kidder's interesting Orion makeup and cared about her goals, which is a shame because Janet has been doing a solid job with what she's been given. It's that good an Emerald Chain episode. It made her a great character.

 

Half measures all.

 

Could also be bluffing to protect the tardigrades. Alternatively, Starfleet might've actually looked for tardigrades in the past 930 years and concluded they were extinct. Stamets learned they were extinct when studying history.

 

No there were others. I just rewatched DS9. And they can't replicate gold pressed latinum and that other metal, which I'm drawing a blank on right now. Duranium? There's multiple points of evidence in DS9 that replicators can't replicate perfectly.

 

I knew Zareh would be back. Totally trivial: I'm glad he switched from a mullet to a ponytail.

 

I don't know. It seems like the Federation has the stronger position. As far as we can tell, they hadn't given any thought to aligning with the Orions. It sounds like they were trading already too--just unofficially. When presented the option, the Federation turned her down because she wouldn't face a trial. So, the Federation really didn't feel compelled to agree out of any strong necessity.

 

I don't know why but Janet Kidder's acting in this episode reminded me of 1960s star trek especially with her dialogue during the negotiations with Admiral Vance.

 

This was definitely my favorite episode with her in it. She really shone.