Binging Season 4

[Lord Garth]

Time to wrap this up. At least on my end.

Observations for "Coming Home"
Discovery is able to communicate to Species 10-C that Book and Tarker were separate from them and that they'd been acting on their own. Reno's rescued, Tarker's defeated, and Book's brought back after we thought he was dead (sure had me fooled for a while!). The Discovery, Rillak, Book, and invited delegates are able to negotiate with Species 10-C to stop using the DMA, which is devastating worlds, Earth and Ni'Var are no longer in danger, and Discovery is sent back home (since its Spore Drive was damaged). To top it all off, after everyone coming together in this galaxy-spanning crisis, several more worlds are rejoining the Federation, including Earth. And, as I said on the previous page, we get to see a more just justice system in the Federation, where intentions are taken into account, since Book's sent to help worlds damaged by the DMA. How long will that take? Probably until Season 5. Through it all, however, Book and Burnham are still in love which other; and we're seeing the budding relationship between Saru and T'Rina... which I think will probably also lead to whatever new position Saru will be offered in the upcoming season.

That's the summary. My other takeaways: getting to see Vance in action was a real highlight. While re-watching this time, I started hoping we'll see him in SFA somehow too. Having a mobile Starfleet Command is definitely something useful. That's why I think it's better for Starfleet Command to be in space instead of on Earth. Nice to see more with Tilly and the Cadets. I liked that so many of the crew will get to visit Earth and other places while on leave, going to places that, like Burnham said, they haven't seen in 930 years.

I don't know how other people feel about this, but one spin-off I'd like to see is Star Trek: West Wing. I'd be interested in a series with Rillak handling Interstellar Politics.

One final thing. Even in the 32nd Century, the galaxy maybe explored but the universe itself is still so large. If they can begin exploring other galaxies, then that's the real continuation of Star Trek in the real expansion of the Final Frontier. The James Webb Space Telescope, the successor to Hubble, is able to see many galaxies and that's so many other things to explore.

Okay, not the final thing, I have to put this in there: Species 10-C is the most alien thing we've seen in Star Trek since TAS, back when only animation could do something like this justice. Effects have come a long way. I appreciated the extra effort to make Species 10-C look so much more alien than what we normally see in Star Trek. This took alien to another level. As in actually, truly alien, even to the other humanoid-looking aliens we normally see.

I'll give this episode a 10. It tied things up nicely.

 

[Lord Garth]

Now for some numbers, and to see how the fourth season compares with the others.

"Kobayashi Maru" --> Original Rating: 8 --> Final Rating: 8
"Anomaly" --> Original Rating: 9 --> Final Rating: 8
"Choose to Live" --> Original Rating: 8 --> Final Rating: 9
"All Is Possible" --> Original Rating: 7 --> Final Rating: 9
"The Examples" --> Original Rating: 8 --> Final Rating: 8
"Stormy Weather" --> Original Rating: 10 --> Final Rating: 10
"... But to Connect" --> Original Rating: 10 --> Final Rating: 10
"All In" --> Original Rating: 8 --> Final Rating: 8
"Rubicon" --> Original Rating: 9 --> Final Rating: 8
"The Galactic Barrier" --> Original Rating: 7 --> Final Rating: 8
"Rosetta" --> Original Rating: 8 --> Final Rating: 8
"Species Ten-C" --> Original Rating: 7 --> Final Rating: 9
"Coming Home" --> Original Rating: 9 --> Final Rating: 10
Season Average: 8.69

I gave the DSC S1 and 8.73 whereas I give DSC S4 an 8.69. A difference of 0.04 points. That's an even tinier margin than the difference I gave between PIC S1 and PIC S3. For reference, I gave PIC S1 a 9.1 and PIC S3 a 9.2 after having re-watched them at least twice. Wow. Basically, for all intents and purposes, the first and fourth seasons of Discovery are essentially tied, in my opinion. Albeit for different reasons. DSC S1 swung more for the fences, while DSC S4 felt more steady.

So, this is how I rank the seasons of Discovery, rounding off to the nearest tenth:

Season 1 --> 8.7
Season 4 --> 8.7
Season 2 --> 8.3
Season 3 --> 8.3

 

[Quantum21]

Episodes 8, 9, 10

04x08, All In:

I recalled this as being the weakest of season 4 and what a delight, it's not bad at all. I find the alien bar setting tiresome and Trek only does it well occasionally but this time I felt a certain amount of charm with it.

If we're to accept the conceit that the Discovery would not take the barge and boranite by force in a martial action, then we have this tug of war between former smugglers.

Apparently making latinum is pretty easy for Starfleet, piles are generated in no time at all with only a few bumps for Owo to show for it.

The relationship between. Book and Burnham is on show here. There is single-mindedness but respect. Tarka is probably at his second worst in this episode, acting rather callously.

Burnham again appears to be a good leader and acknowledges her weaknesses while "getting her man" with a tracker. Her smuggling past has given her a leg up on other Starfleet officers and she makes the most of it.

Rewatching is a fun ride. It's almost a good standalone.

8 out of 10

Other 2 later.

 

[Quantum21]

Episode 04x09, Rubicon

Book and Tarka take the path of no return. Negotiations be damned, Tarka goes all the way. At this point Book probably should've taken the hint, but his first-hand observation and deep connection to the destruction of his planet won't let him.

The DMA is a mining machine. Destroying it makes it more powerful. Again, we're shown the very alien nature of the threat.

It's good to see Commander Nahn back. Unfortunately again, we are told Burnham can't be trusted alone. She's too close to Book. I preferred they would have trusted her. Kirk certainly was compromised on occasion, but I guess this mission was too important.

8 out of 10

Episode 04x10, The Galactic Barrier

Yes it is! Our first look at it since Picard flew past and totally ignored it in season 1 TNG, and Shatner got confused and put it at the center of the galaxy (Oops) in ST:Ick. Discovery doubles down on exploration.

The episode has a nice debate at the beginning of the unexpected alienness of Species 10C. How the translator is "confirmation bias", brilliant. Speed is decided to be of the essence.

President Rillak cements herself here as one of the most most annoying characters in Trek, supplanting many a badmiral.

Book and Tarka also have a debate. Tarka is declared an "asshole". Fair enough. There's no altering of the goal.

There's a few TNG style character moments and then we're finally hearing Tarka's background story. He's finally softened and we can sympathize with him, but with previous and upcoming decisions, we can't really be on board.

The crew makes it through the barrier. It feels as if a weight has been lifted but more challenges to come.

There is one scene where the updated barrier looks a lot like the Remastered version of WNMHGB that subtley tugged at my nostalgia...As opposed to the rodeo lassoing and hogtie-ing of Picard season 3.

Of all the episodes, this one feels the most interstitial. Possibly the weakest of the season but still with a lot of good moments.

Hirai almost steals the show munching away and generally acting amused at an intellectual puzzle.

7 out of 10

Episode 04x11. Rosetta

A great episode. A real landmark of modern Star Trek.

The away team experiences alien emotions through the leftover communication method on the origin planet of the 10C. This starts off horrifically, but eventually is understood and creates a commonality that they can work with during the upcoming first contact. Personal moments are revealed as they gain this understanding, all the while the episode exudes something as alien as we've ever seen in franchise, visually, biologically and culturally.

The acting, and script really come together as we realize they're in an alien nursery and the despair is palpable. There's a sadness to this planet that slowly makes way for understanding and optimism. Stamets is finally confident they can succeed.

Praise had to be heaped both for the characters here as well as the scientific investigation. This is true TNG, not that stuff from a recent season 3 show.

This has to be the best production design we've seen in the franchise. It's just a bonus that makes it feel more real, and light years beyond a lot of previous efforts.

The 10C had to be very advanced indeed to abandon a Dyson ring. We have our first real clue to their possible appearance.

Did I mention I love this one?

11 out of 10

 

[Quantum21]

Episode 04x12, Species 10C.

Another good episode that I consider a 3-parter from the end of the season.

What is tragic in this episode is that diplomacy was working. We did in fact share similar ties with 10C and could find some common ground even when communication was not easy.

Despite my sympathies, Tarka needed to be thrown out of an airlock. He ruins a perfectly good plan. A love beyond time and space May not be a good enough reason to be abandon all your responsibilities and fellow species.

The episode is a strong "middle third", not a weak point of the trilogy as many are.

Species 10C is shaping up nicely. They're a Level II civilization. It got me thinking about a level III...harnessing the power of a galaxy? Would they be even harder to reach? A Dyson ring would be child's play. 10C, you are more than enough to occupy my brain.

Why can't we have more Reno? Does she have to be that popular? Damn

9 out of 10

 

[Quantum21]

Episode 04x13, Coming Home

This episode solved nearly every plot thread from season 4, and like I mentioned in this forum before this would've been an excellent wrap-up for the whole series.

Another feeling I had was of gears moving forward with the Federation...New planets are slowly joining, the Academy is established, ships are building, and people are reunited.

Earth seems on track to join next, and we get a momentous visit from a real life hero in Stacey Abrams. You can call this stunt casting, but I'll take it over Melvin Belli, Mick Fleetwood, Jason Alexander, Lousise Fletcher, etc from any of the older shows.

The other takeaway is species 10C. Like you'd expect from real Trek, these supremely alien intelligences related just enough for peaceful resolution even to the point of making reperations. There was no real surprise here, but the presentation counts, it was wonderfully done. Gene Roddenberry is out there smiling somewhere.

This was a great 3-parter, possibly one of the better stretches of this length in the franchise.

10 out of 10

 

[Quantum21]

I would almost say this re-established what aliens are in Trek for the next 20 years. Kudos to the producers for not making the 10C mundane.

Time to wrap this up. At least on my end.

Observations for "Coming Home"
Discovery is able to communicate to Species 10-C that Book and Tarker were separate from them and that they'd been acting on their own. Reno's rescued, Tarker's defeated, and Book's brought back after we thought he was dead (sure had me fooled for a while!). The Discovery, Rillak, Book, and invited delegates are able to negotiate with Species 10-C to stop using the DMA, which is devastating worlds, Earth and Ni'Var are no longer in danger, and Discovery is sent back home (since its Spore Drive was damaged). To top it all off, after everyone coming together in this galaxy-spanning crisis, several more worlds are rejoining the Federation, including Earth. And, as I said on the previous page, we get to see a more just justice system in the Federation, where intentions are taken into account, since Book's sent to help worlds damaged by the DMA. How long will that take? Probably until Season 5. Through it all, however, Book and Burnham are still in love which other; and we're seeing the budding relationship between Saru and T'Rina... which I think will probably also lead to whatever new position Saru will be offered in the upcoming season.

That's the summary. My other takeaways: getting to see Vance in action was a real highlight. While re-watching this time, I started hoping we'll see him in SFA somehow too. Having a mobile Starfleet Command is definitely something useful. That's why I think it's better for Starfleet Command to be in space instead of on Earth. Nice to see more with Tilly and the Cadets. I liked that so many of the crew will get to visit Earth and other places while on leave, going to places that, like Burnham said, they haven't seen in 930 years.

I don't know how other people feel about this, but one spin-off I'd like to see is Star Trek: West Wing. I'd be interested in a series with Rillak handling Interstellar Politics.

One final thing. Even in the 32nd Century, the galaxy maybe explored but the universe itself is still so large. If they can begin exploring other galaxies, then that's the real continuation of Star Trek in the real expansion of the Final Frontier. The James Webb Space Telescope, the successor to Hubble, is able to see many galaxies and that's so many other things to explore.

Okay, not the final thing, I have to put this in there: Species 10-C is the most alien thing we've seen in Star Trek since TAS, back when only animation could do something like this justice. Effects have come a long way. I appreciated the extra effort to make Species 10-C look so much more alien than what we normally see in Star Trek. This took alien to another level. As in actually, truly alien, even to the other humanoid-looking aliens we normally see.

I'll give this episode a 10. It tied things up nicely.

 

[Cyrus]

I have been re-watching season 4. Today I watched "Rosetta" which is my favorite of the season. Most Star Trek planets are Earthlike so I always love episodes showing the landing party wearing vacuum suits.

I remembered that they showed some Ringworlds at the beginning of this episode so I paid more attention this time. My initial reaction was that I wished that instead of "Dyson Rings" they had referred to them as "Niven Rings". But on the re-watch it's clear that these are no worlds, nothing living on them, so nothing like the Ringworld. Which is as should be since the whole solar system was abandoned.

 

[NCC-73515]

It took them a whole episode to get through the galactic barrier by jumping through bubbles.
It should have been called: Journey to Bubble.

 

[Quantum21]

It took them a whole episode to get through the galactic barrier by jumping through bubbles.
It should have been called: Journey to Bubble.

It felt like a science procedural. It's TNG reincarnated like most of season 4. Really enjoyed that part.