Bumping this only so it doesn't pass the one-year mark.
Now we have threads within easy reach for each season.
Now we have threads within easy reach for each season.
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Binging Season 4
- Thread starter Lord Garth
- Start date
Good bump. And good analysis.
Since I'm re-rewatching the fourth season anyway, I might as well fill in the gaps from the last time around. I already made detailed observations about the first three episodes and everything I said there stands.
Observations for "All Is Possible"
When Tilly is assigned to train Cadets and finds her true calling being an instructor at Starfleet Academy, that gives her a direction that's uniquely suited to her. One that First Officer definitely wasn't. But that's not what I want to highlight. What I want to highlight is this: We have it truly spelled out what the 32nd Century is like on a Sociological Level for the first time. With FTL travel scarcer and so many worlds that have been cut off from each other, most Federation citizens and those who want to join Starfleet have spent most or all of their time only around their own kind or their own society. They don't have experience dealing with other cultures, other aliens, and other worlds, even within the Federation itself. These cadets, like everyone else in the Federation, have to re-learn how to work with each other. Before the The Burn, that was taken for granted. Which is why Kovich wanted Tilly to help these cadets. Because she's specifically from before The Burn.
Here's where I go political now. There's no way around it: politics, at least American politics, are polarized. Only in the 1850s through 1870s were they worse. The decade leading up to the Civil War, then the Civil War itself, and the Reconstruction after it. For most of the 20th Century, my understanding is that you'd have extremes on the left and the right, but then the middle would prevail. Without that middle, the government constantly teeters on brinksmanship, like we have in the 21st Century. The two sides are dug in; and leaders can't budge out of fear of looking weak.
So is also the case between the Federation and Ni'Var. President Rillak and President T'Rina can't back down from their positions or they will look weak and lose support from their backers. A third side, a moderating side, someone who can make sure someone is serving the Federation's interests and Ni'Var's has to be a bridge. After Burnham takes to Rillak and Saru talks to T'Rina, Burnham and Saru talk to each other and realize Rillak and T'Rina are hoping Burnham and Saru can suggest an alternative they can agree with, but they can't actually come right out and say it. In politics, it's hard to come right out and say anything without weighing how it will be received. It's why I myself would never want to be involved with politics. But, anyway, Burnham offers to be the bridge between the Federation and Ni'Var, in order to allow Ni'Var to rejoin the Federation and have its concerns addressed. This is Burnham putting her background living on Vulcan and being a Ni'Varian citizen to use. Like Tilly in her story, Burnham has something unique to bring the table in this diplomatic situation as well.
Finding out where there's common ground and having two parties that actually want solutions are the way to reach agreements and make sure progress is made. Not wanting to find common ground and preferring to complain about dilemmas instead trying to solve them is a way to make sure no progress is made.
Not a powerful enough episode to be a 10, but a strong enough message on all fronts, showing All Is Possible, that I give this a 9.
Observations for "All Is Possible"
When Tilly is assigned to train Cadets and finds her true calling being an instructor at Starfleet Academy, that gives her a direction that's uniquely suited to her. One that First Officer definitely wasn't. But that's not what I want to highlight. What I want to highlight is this: We have it truly spelled out what the 32nd Century is like on a Sociological Level for the first time. With FTL travel scarcer and so many worlds that have been cut off from each other, most Federation citizens and those who want to join Starfleet have spent most or all of their time only around their own kind or their own society. They don't have experience dealing with other cultures, other aliens, and other worlds, even within the Federation itself. These cadets, like everyone else in the Federation, have to re-learn how to work with each other. Before the The Burn, that was taken for granted. Which is why Kovich wanted Tilly to help these cadets. Because she's specifically from before The Burn.
Here's where I go political now. There's no way around it: politics, at least American politics, are polarized. Only in the 1850s through 1870s were they worse. The decade leading up to the Civil War, then the Civil War itself, and the Reconstruction after it. For most of the 20th Century, my understanding is that you'd have extremes on the left and the right, but then the middle would prevail. Without that middle, the government constantly teeters on brinksmanship, like we have in the 21st Century. The two sides are dug in; and leaders can't budge out of fear of looking weak.
So is also the case between the Federation and Ni'Var. President Rillak and President T'Rina can't back down from their positions or they will look weak and lose support from their backers. A third side, a moderating side, someone who can make sure someone is serving the Federation's interests and Ni'Var's has to be a bridge. After Burnham takes to Rillak and Saru talks to T'Rina, Burnham and Saru talk to each other and realize Rillak and T'Rina are hoping Burnham and Saru can suggest an alternative they can agree with, but they can't actually come right out and say it. In politics, it's hard to come right out and say anything without weighing how it will be received. It's why I myself would never want to be involved with politics. But, anyway, Burnham offers to be the bridge between the Federation and Ni'Var, in order to allow Ni'Var to rejoin the Federation and have its concerns addressed. This is Burnham putting her background living on Vulcan and being a Ni'Varian citizen to use. Like Tilly in her story, Burnham has something unique to bring the table in this diplomatic situation as well.
Finding out where there's common ground and having two parties that actually want solutions are the way to reach agreements and make sure progress is made. Not wanting to find common ground and preferring to complain about dilemmas instead trying to solve them is a way to make sure no progress is made.
Not a powerful enough episode to be a 10, but a strong enough message on all fronts, showing All Is Possible, that I give this a 9.
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Observations for "The Examples"
Tarka reminds me of Dr. Stubbs from TNG's third season premiere episode "Evolution". Extremely arrogant and thinks of himself as a genius who everyone else needs to catch up to. When he replicated the mashed potatoes and started molding them, it reminded me of Close Encounters of the Third Kind. To quote that film, "This means something!" In Close Encounters, they also encounter truly alien life, such as the Discovery will encounter with Species 10-C.
Down on the planet that Discovery has to evacuate before Species 10-C destroys it, we get to see a very subtle theme in Season 4 that started in "Choose to Live" and is continuing here: Discovery's views on the Justice System. In "Choose to Live", the goal is to bring in J'Vini and allow Ni'Var to rehabilitate her. The sign of enlightened society. In "The Examples", the non-Federation colony in danger believes in punishment. Sentencing people to life imprisonment no matter the crime. Probably to make these criminals into "The Examples" for everyone else, to scare them straight. Not only is it punishment, but punishment taken to an extreme. It's better than TNG's "Justice" when even the smallest crime led to death, but not by much. With the threat of Species 10-C, the authority figure representing the colony is willing to leave them to their deaths, thinking they don't deserve to survive.
Burnham wants to rescue everyone. Except one criminal in particular actually did legitimately commit crimes: theft and murder. He wants to face atonement. Burnham is willing to let him face atonement and comes to terms with the fact that she can't save everyone. This is the first step as Captain in learning she can't be everything to everyone. Book, who went with Burnham, digs in further on the position of saving everyone, which is the first serious wedge created between Book and Burnham.
At the end of the episode, Book and Tarka have their first meeting. They both have the want and the drive to stop Species 10-C no matter the cost. Later in the season, we'll see that if they have to disregard everything in doing so, then so be it.
It would've been nice to see some of Rhys' side of the story, evacuating colonists, but I'm not going to pretend I care about that. That's not the real story. The real story is how should society deal with criminals, different people's values on others' lives and their own, and having the ability to be able to make a tough choice.
The episode isn't perfect, but works on multiple thematic levels at the same time, it continues character arcs from earlier and the season and lays down the foundation for what will happen later, so there are a lot of moving parts, more than it would look like on the surface, so I give "The Examples" an 8.
Ratings So Far
"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
This week I'm watching Episodes 6 and 7. Thoughts on those later.
Tarka reminds me of Dr. Stubbs from TNG's third season premiere episode "Evolution". Extremely arrogant and thinks of himself as a genius who everyone else needs to catch up to. When he replicated the mashed potatoes and started molding them, it reminded me of Close Encounters of the Third Kind. To quote that film, "This means something!" In Close Encounters, they also encounter truly alien life, such as the Discovery will encounter with Species 10-C.
Down on the planet that Discovery has to evacuate before Species 10-C destroys it, we get to see a very subtle theme in Season 4 that started in "Choose to Live" and is continuing here: Discovery's views on the Justice System. In "Choose to Live", the goal is to bring in J'Vini and allow Ni'Var to rehabilitate her. The sign of enlightened society. In "The Examples", the non-Federation colony in danger believes in punishment. Sentencing people to life imprisonment no matter the crime. Probably to make these criminals into "The Examples" for everyone else, to scare them straight. Not only is it punishment, but punishment taken to an extreme. It's better than TNG's "Justice" when even the smallest crime led to death, but not by much. With the threat of Species 10-C, the authority figure representing the colony is willing to leave them to their deaths, thinking they don't deserve to survive.
Burnham wants to rescue everyone. Except one criminal in particular actually did legitimately commit crimes: theft and murder. He wants to face atonement. Burnham is willing to let him face atonement and comes to terms with the fact that she can't save everyone. This is the first step as Captain in learning she can't be everything to everyone. Book, who went with Burnham, digs in further on the position of saving everyone, which is the first serious wedge created between Book and Burnham.
At the end of the episode, Book and Tarka have their first meeting. They both have the want and the drive to stop Species 10-C no matter the cost. Later in the season, we'll see that if they have to disregard everything in doing so, then so be it.
It would've been nice to see some of Rhys' side of the story, evacuating colonists, but I'm not going to pretend I care about that. That's not the real story. The real story is how should society deal with criminals, different people's values on others' lives and their own, and having the ability to be able to make a tough choice.
The episode isn't perfect, but works on multiple thematic levels at the same time, it continues character arcs from earlier and the season and lays down the foundation for what will happen later, so there are a lot of moving parts, more than it would look like on the surface, so I give "The Examples" an 8.
Ratings So Far
"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
This week I'm watching Episodes 6 and 7. Thoughts on those later.
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Oh honestly a comparison I didn't notice till I read this post. Good catch.
Examples really stands out to me. In terms of the arc, it functions as a perfectly fine entry but as an ethical drama it is very much like TNG.
The big difference though is, as you say: Burnham is learning and growing.
Need I mention this episode looks great?
I wasn't going to comment on this episode till my mini-review but you really hit this on the head. This episode is essential to the process they're talking about in integrating all these lost worlds, and they do it with a fine personal story.
It floated under the radar at first for me but on a later rewatch, it really hits you. I think this is remarkbly good writing and well worth your 9.
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Observations for "Stormy Weather"
Upfront, this is one of my favorite episodes of Discovery, not just the fourth season. Discovery ends up trapped in a void with censors not working, and the crew, aided by Zora, needs to figure out how to get out.
"Stormy Weather" brings us a step closer to "Calypso". Burnham recognizes that Zora has emotions. The crew get to "see" Zora for the first time on the bridge. The name Zora means "dawn" or "new day". Zora was first introduced in "Calypso" which, as far as I'm concerned, was a signpost in big neon lights that let us know a New Day was coming for Discovery.
And, thanks to Zora, they manage to find a use for Gray besides just being Adira's romantic partner. Gray wants to a find a way to be useful and helps Zora to come down from feeling overwhelmed by playing a game. Once Zora's attention isn't so spread out, she's able to notice unusual activity on the exterior hull. This unusual activity leads to a hull breach. Zora's able to put emergency shields in place in time to keep the damage to Discovery from getting any worse. So, by helping Zora, Gray is indirectly responsible for saving Discovery. Talk about giving him something to do! To quote Burnham within the episode itself, "Good work, Gray!"
Being able to save the ship comes at a cost, however. One crewmember doesn't survive. Zora has to cope with not being able to have saved everyone and -- unless something happened during the six months between DSC's third and fourth seasons -- this is technically the first time Burnham's lost a crewmember as Captain of Discovery. She stays focused on the mission and wants to find a way out of the void (and bursts the bubble of whoever hates the show!) Immediately afterwards, Gray comes to the bridge to let Burnham know Zora can help get Discovery out of here. Gray lets Burnham know that Zora's external sensors are working, Burnham asks if Zora can explain this, and then that's the first time the crew gets to "see" Zora. Bringing us a step closer to "Calypso".
When Zora explains that at first nothing was registering on her external censors because she was so overwhelmed, but when the game Gray played with her was able to help Zora relax and focus, she was able to detect problems and solve them. "Greater focus creates greater awareness," Saru observes.
Saru: "Captain, if we can generate a signal that can penetrate the void, then... "
Burnham: "... she should be able to follow the signal and lead us out of here."
Zora doesn't know if she's able to do that. This is where Zora becomes a direct contrast to HAL-9000 from 2001: A Space Odyssey. HAL was the AI onboard the ship in 2001, which was also named Discovery, couldn't be trusted, and had no problem killing crew members. Unlike HAL, Zora wants to save the crew and protect the ship. Zora has difficulty handling the loss of even one life. When Zora says she can't do something, it's because she can't. When HAL said, "I can't do that," what I really meant was "I won't do that." Night and day. There's another contrast between HAL and Zora, and I'll get to that later.
TO BE CONTINUED
Upfront, this is one of my favorite episodes of Discovery, not just the fourth season. Discovery ends up trapped in a void with censors not working, and the crew, aided by Zora, needs to figure out how to get out.
"Stormy Weather" brings us a step closer to "Calypso". Burnham recognizes that Zora has emotions. The crew get to "see" Zora for the first time on the bridge. The name Zora means "dawn" or "new day". Zora was first introduced in "Calypso" which, as far as I'm concerned, was a signpost in big neon lights that let us know a New Day was coming for Discovery.
And, thanks to Zora, they manage to find a use for Gray besides just being Adira's romantic partner. Gray wants to a find a way to be useful and helps Zora to come down from feeling overwhelmed by playing a game. Once Zora's attention isn't so spread out, she's able to notice unusual activity on the exterior hull. This unusual activity leads to a hull breach. Zora's able to put emergency shields in place in time to keep the damage to Discovery from getting any worse. So, by helping Zora, Gray is indirectly responsible for saving Discovery. Talk about giving him something to do! To quote Burnham within the episode itself, "Good work, Gray!"
Being able to save the ship comes at a cost, however. One crewmember doesn't survive. Zora has to cope with not being able to have saved everyone and -- unless something happened during the six months between DSC's third and fourth seasons -- this is technically the first time Burnham's lost a crewmember as Captain of Discovery. She stays focused on the mission and wants to find a way out of the void (and bursts the bubble of whoever hates the show!) Immediately afterwards, Gray comes to the bridge to let Burnham know Zora can help get Discovery out of here. Gray lets Burnham know that Zora's external sensors are working, Burnham asks if Zora can explain this, and then that's the first time the crew gets to "see" Zora. Bringing us a step closer to "Calypso".
When Zora explains that at first nothing was registering on her external censors because she was so overwhelmed, but when the game Gray played with her was able to help Zora relax and focus, she was able to detect problems and solve them. "Greater focus creates greater awareness," Saru observes.
Saru: "Captain, if we can generate a signal that can penetrate the void, then... "
Burnham: "... she should be able to follow the signal and lead us out of here."
Zora doesn't know if she's able to do that. This is where Zora becomes a direct contrast to HAL-9000 from 2001: A Space Odyssey. HAL was the AI onboard the ship in 2001, which was also named Discovery, couldn't be trusted, and had no problem killing crew members. Unlike HAL, Zora wants to save the crew and protect the ship. Zora has difficulty handling the loss of even one life. When Zora says she can't do something, it's because she can't. When HAL said, "I can't do that," what I really meant was "I won't do that." Night and day. There's another contrast between HAL and Zora, and I'll get to that later.
TO BE CONTINUED
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I'm on episode 04x04. All is possible.
It's more low key than I remembered it. I think Star Trek having a tense diplomatic conversation is very TNG!
Burnham uses her unique heritage to help smooth over the situation and gain respect. It's a test also by the President if her faith in her hasn't been misplaced.
I have no issues with the President being suspicious, my qualms are with her behavior during an important mission. There are times and places for there conversations, this episode dies a better job with that.
The production design in this episode is outstanding. It makes a fairly static story interesting to watch.
It's more low key than I remembered it. I think Star Trek having a tense diplomatic conversation is very TNG!
Burnham uses her unique heritage to help smooth over the situation and gain respect. It's a test also by the President if her faith in her hasn't been misplaced.
I have no issues with the President being suspicious, my qualms are with her behavior during an important mission. There are times and places for there conversations, this episode dies a better job with that.
The production design in this episode is outstanding. It makes a fairly static story interesting to watch.
Sorry for having to break this up into two posts but I have a life, and that comes first. 
Anyway, on with the show.
Observations for "Stormy Weather" (Continued)
Zora feels fear about being able to get out of the void and also feels regret about not being able to save the lost crewmember. Burnham has explain to Zora that certain things are beyond their control, and they have to accept that. Zora then agrees to try to overcome her fear. So, in a way, ahead of "... But to Connect", Burnham is talking to Zora as if she's a member of the crew.
The B-story going on in this episode revolves around Book hallucinating and seeing is father. His father asking him why he isn't avenging his people. His father, who tells him he's doing nothing, and following Burnham's lead and not taking initiative because he loves her. So now, not only does Book disagree with Burnham, he's starting to feel like he's being put into a spot by his father where he has to choose between Kwejian and Burnham. But Book's not quite there yet. He's in denial. He doesn't know if this is a hallucination or for real. Then the A-story and the B-story converge. Burnham reports to Sickbay, where Book, Stamets, and Culber are.
And just like that, Discovery knows what to look to for and how to get out of The Void. I typed out the exchange above both to fully wrap and my mind around it and to appreciate just how much science-fiction the solution to their problem is. When Burnham tells them what to look for, Adira and Bryce figure how to forge a path to their escape outside of The Void. The short of it is, they'll create a signal and follow that sound out. Once again, this is a solution that feels like science, actual science instead of the technobabble you'd hear in a lot of other Star Trek. And this was all figured out through teamwork.
Then they hit a speed bump. Discovery will lose its shields before it makes it out of The Void, so the crew can't be protected from being eaten by The Void. This is where the technobabble comes in, but it's at a minimal level, and it only makes up one of the steps instead of all of the steps. The crew will have to stay in the transporter pattern buffer while Zora takes Discovery outside of The Void.
Burnham elects to stay with Zora throughout the journey out. "A captain always stays with her ship." Further demonstrating Zora's personhood, she says she'll appreciate the company.
Shortly before Book goes into the transporter buffer, he sees one final hallucination of his father. This is where Discovery starts to talk about The Afterlife. Something I was hoping they'd cover in Season 2, around the time "New Eden" premiered, but they never did. But they touch upon it here. Book doesn't know if he's really seeing his father, but he chooses to believe he is, which allows him to think that his family and everyone he knew isn't really gone. This could be religion, this could be coping, or this could be using religion to cope. Whichever way, this can be how a lot of people find their way to God.
Then Book has to take one final look at Burnham, before going into the transporter. Book told his father it wasn't weakness to follow someone you love, it's strength. Book's father doesn't argue with this but still says Burnham will choose the Federation over Kwejian every time. But Book still loves Burnham, gives her a hug, and then Grudge meows in the background. Book says, "She's finally warming up to you." Burnham says, "We're tight now." And it shows the love and the family unit that's really there. Making what Book's going through even harder, with his father putting doubts into his mind.
Then the Epic Shot of Burnham in the EV Suit, walking back towards the bridge. That right there is a Money Shot. And the cinematography, and all the different angles on the bridge are top-notch. Shows how large and empty the bridge is, as Burnham sits down. She's there, alone with Zora, as they brace themselves for getting out of The Void.
Zora has difficulty concentratiing but Burnham convinces her to press on. Burnhman doesn't know how much more she can withstand, and then Zora helps out Burnham. That's where another inverse of 2001: A Space Odyssey comes in. In 2001, a song is used to distract HAL as he's deactivated. In Discovery, Zora sings a song to keep Burnham distracted, so she has something else to focus on besides just that she might die. And Zora pulls her through, even though Burnham loses consciousness. Then Burnham wakes up in Sickbay finding out they all made it out of The Void.
Toward the beginning of the episode, Burnham tabled the question of trusting Zora when she experienced fear. But now, during and after travelling through The Void, and going through life-and-death, thick and thin, Burnham says definitively that she trusts Zora. Zora's accepted. Zora creates a family tree, encouraged by Burnham, and the family is the crew of Discovery.
Book is still feeling rage over the destruction of Kwejian, and still feels powerless. He has a heart-to-heart with Saru, who still resents the Ba'ul on some level, but tells Book he still works with them, and sits with them across council on Kaminar. The time Saru spent away from Discovery between the third and fourth seasons has given him a new perspective. Saru tells Book that he can't let rage rule his thoughts. Some good advice that comes from Saru's own character development and journey.
In case you haven't already guessed, I give this episode a 10. And pretty much a Perfect 10 at that. This is probably in my Top 3 episodes of Discovery.
I actually re-watched this episode and "... But to Connect" two weeks ago, but I was sick last week, and wanted to post my observations earlier but had to be all there, and I wanted to do it justice. As you can see above. So I gave "Stormy Weather" another re-watch yesterday. Doing another re-watch of "... But to Connect" tonight. Then "All In One" and "Rubicon" later on this week, like I originally intended.
Anyway, on with the show.
Observations for "Stormy Weather" (Continued)
Zora feels fear about being able to get out of the void and also feels regret about not being able to save the lost crewmember. Burnham has explain to Zora that certain things are beyond their control, and they have to accept that. Zora then agrees to try to overcome her fear. So, in a way, ahead of "... But to Connect", Burnham is talking to Zora as if she's a member of the crew.
The B-story going on in this episode revolves around Book hallucinating and seeing is father. His father asking him why he isn't avenging his people. His father, who tells him he's doing nothing, and following Burnham's lead and not taking initiative because he loves her. So now, not only does Book disagree with Burnham, he's starting to feel like he's being put into a spot by his father where he has to choose between Kwejian and Burnham. But Book's not quite there yet. He's in denial. He doesn't know if this is a hallucination or for real. Then the A-story and the B-story converge. Burnham reports to Sickbay, where Book, Stamets, and Culber are.
Culber: We've isolated the particles that passed through Book during the jump. At the rate they're decaying, the hallucinatory effects should disappear in about an hour, maybe less.
Book: "Best news I've heard all day!"
Culber: "And it gets better because, in this case, your symptoms turn out to be our solution."
Stamets: "These particles in Book's brain are the DMA Clue we've been looking for, and they're only found in one place: The Galactic Barrier."
Burnham: "But we're nowhere near the edge of the galaxy."
Stamets: "Exactly!"
Burnham: "So, if the DMA brought this along for the ride, then it must have come from outside our galaxy. As did the species who made it."
Book: "All this time, I thought it would be an enemy that we'd know."
Burnham (to Book): "Yeah." (to Stamets): "These particles. Were they created by The Void?"
Stamets: "I don't think so. But I'm guessing this mess is a byproduct of whatever device powering the DMA is doing to space itself. But assuming the DMA is from outside our galaxy, it should have deposited more particles at the point where it punched in."
Burnham: "So if we locate the greatest concentration of particles, we can use that puncture to get out."
And just like that, Discovery knows what to look to for and how to get out of The Void. I typed out the exchange above both to fully wrap and my mind around it and to appreciate just how much science-fiction the solution to their problem is. When Burnham tells them what to look for, Adira and Bryce figure how to forge a path to their escape outside of The Void. The short of it is, they'll create a signal and follow that sound out. Once again, this is a solution that feels like science, actual science instead of the technobabble you'd hear in a lot of other Star Trek. And this was all figured out through teamwork.
Then they hit a speed bump. Discovery will lose its shields before it makes it out of The Void, so the crew can't be protected from being eaten by The Void. This is where the technobabble comes in, but it's at a minimal level, and it only makes up one of the steps instead of all of the steps. The crew will have to stay in the transporter pattern buffer while Zora takes Discovery outside of The Void.
Burnham elects to stay with Zora throughout the journey out. "A captain always stays with her ship." Further demonstrating Zora's personhood, she says she'll appreciate the company.
Shortly before Book goes into the transporter buffer, he sees one final hallucination of his father. This is where Discovery starts to talk about The Afterlife. Something I was hoping they'd cover in Season 2, around the time "New Eden" premiered, but they never did. But they touch upon it here. Book doesn't know if he's really seeing his father, but he chooses to believe he is, which allows him to think that his family and everyone he knew isn't really gone. This could be religion, this could be coping, or this could be using religion to cope. Whichever way, this can be how a lot of people find their way to God.
Then Book has to take one final look at Burnham, before going into the transporter. Book told his father it wasn't weakness to follow someone you love, it's strength. Book's father doesn't argue with this but still says Burnham will choose the Federation over Kwejian every time. But Book still loves Burnham, gives her a hug, and then Grudge meows in the background. Book says, "She's finally warming up to you." Burnham says, "We're tight now." And it shows the love and the family unit that's really there. Making what Book's going through even harder, with his father putting doubts into his mind.
Then the Epic Shot of Burnham in the EV Suit, walking back towards the bridge. That right there is a Money Shot. And the cinematography, and all the different angles on the bridge are top-notch. Shows how large and empty the bridge is, as Burnham sits down. She's there, alone with Zora, as they brace themselves for getting out of The Void.
Zora has difficulty concentratiing but Burnham convinces her to press on. Burnhman doesn't know how much more she can withstand, and then Zora helps out Burnham. That's where another inverse of 2001: A Space Odyssey comes in. In 2001, a song is used to distract HAL as he's deactivated. In Discovery, Zora sings a song to keep Burnham distracted, so she has something else to focus on besides just that she might die. And Zora pulls her through, even though Burnham loses consciousness. Then Burnham wakes up in Sickbay finding out they all made it out of The Void.
Toward the beginning of the episode, Burnham tabled the question of trusting Zora when she experienced fear. But now, during and after travelling through The Void, and going through life-and-death, thick and thin, Burnham says definitively that she trusts Zora. Zora's accepted. Zora creates a family tree, encouraged by Burnham, and the family is the crew of Discovery.
Book is still feeling rage over the destruction of Kwejian, and still feels powerless. He has a heart-to-heart with Saru, who still resents the Ba'ul on some level, but tells Book he still works with them, and sits with them across council on Kaminar. The time Saru spent away from Discovery between the third and fourth seasons has given him a new perspective. Saru tells Book that he can't let rage rule his thoughts. Some good advice that comes from Saru's own character development and journey.
In case you haven't already guessed, I give this episode a 10. And pretty much a Perfect 10 at that. This is probably in my Top 3 episodes of Discovery.
I actually re-watched this episode and "... But to Connect" two weeks ago, but I was sick last week, and wanted to post my observations earlier but had to be all there, and I wanted to do it justice. As you can see above. So I gave "Stormy Weather" another re-watch yesterday. Doing another re-watch of "... But to Connect" tonight. Then "All In One" and "Rubicon" later on this week, like I originally intended.
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Observations for "... But to Connect"
My observations for this episode are going to be shorter than for previous episode, but I like them just about as much. Like the last episode, this is another re-watch of my re-watch from two weeks ago.
The highlights that stood out to me were the overlapping debates being held on two different fronts. On one front is Stamets' concern about how Zora would react in a crisis and what that would mean for Discovery. On the other front is Burnham and Book debating about how to deal with Species 10-C in front of the Federation Council and its allies and invited parties from all four quadrants.
Eventually, Zora agrees to follow Starfleet orders and actually join Starfleet as a Specialist. This is in line with "Calypso" when Craft asks if Discovery can leave its location and Zora steadfastly refuses, following orders she received from The Captain to a fault. I assume this Captain is Burnham, and Season 5 will somehow make this whole thing make sense, but let's not get ahead of ourselves. I believe Discovery has been leading up to "Calypso" ever since the second season.
Stamets. It would've been very easy to portray him as bigoted towards AI and non-carbon-based or non-organic life in general. But the writers thankfully didn't take that path. They built up Stamet's case as well and made it look like an actual two-sided argument. Stamets' concerns were addressed instead of dismissed.
With Burnham and Book, they both make their cases. It in fact, is actually the argument that Star Trek has always had: 1) Do desperate times call for desperate measures? as argued by Book, or 2) Does the Federation stick to its principles no matter what? as argued by Burnham. Back in Season 1, the Federation succumbed to desperate times calling for desperate measures, until Burnham found another way. Here, in Season 4, the Federation and its allies voted to stick to its principles no matter what. Shows some actual growth within the Federation since the times early-DSC or late-DS9. But Book steadfastly doesn't see eye-to-eye with Burnham. At the end of the episode, he leaves with Tarka, and they're determined to stop Species 10-C their way, no matter what.
Two other notes of observation in the twin unfolding storylines: President Rillak has to maintain impartiality while the Federation Council & Outside Representatives debate and then vote on how to proceed in approaching Species 10-C. Doctor Kovich maintains impartiality while he's evaluating Zora and the Discovery crew. And he decides that Zora is in fact a new lifeform. In both storylines, the decision to be more understanding is what prevails. That makes this what I think Star Trek should be at its very core.
So, I give this episode another 10.
A side-by-side comparison. At this point, the average I give for DSC S4 is an 8.86. The average I gave for DSC Season 1 as a whole, upon this year's rewatch, was an 8.73. So, these two seasons are neck-and-neck for which one I think is the best of the first four. It'll be interesting to see how this ends up when I get to the end of the season again.
Onto the next two episodes!
My observations for this episode are going to be shorter than for previous episode, but I like them just about as much. Like the last episode, this is another re-watch of my re-watch from two weeks ago.
The highlights that stood out to me were the overlapping debates being held on two different fronts. On one front is Stamets' concern about how Zora would react in a crisis and what that would mean for Discovery. On the other front is Burnham and Book debating about how to deal with Species 10-C in front of the Federation Council and its allies and invited parties from all four quadrants.
Eventually, Zora agrees to follow Starfleet orders and actually join Starfleet as a Specialist. This is in line with "Calypso" when Craft asks if Discovery can leave its location and Zora steadfastly refuses, following orders she received from The Captain to a fault. I assume this Captain is Burnham, and Season 5 will somehow make this whole thing make sense, but let's not get ahead of ourselves. I believe Discovery has been leading up to "Calypso" ever since the second season.
Stamets. It would've been very easy to portray him as bigoted towards AI and non-carbon-based or non-organic life in general. But the writers thankfully didn't take that path. They built up Stamet's case as well and made it look like an actual two-sided argument. Stamets' concerns were addressed instead of dismissed.
With Burnham and Book, they both make their cases. It in fact, is actually the argument that Star Trek has always had: 1) Do desperate times call for desperate measures? as argued by Book, or 2) Does the Federation stick to its principles no matter what? as argued by Burnham. Back in Season 1, the Federation succumbed to desperate times calling for desperate measures, until Burnham found another way. Here, in Season 4, the Federation and its allies voted to stick to its principles no matter what. Shows some actual growth within the Federation since the times early-DSC or late-DS9. But Book steadfastly doesn't see eye-to-eye with Burnham. At the end of the episode, he leaves with Tarka, and they're determined to stop Species 10-C their way, no matter what.
Two other notes of observation in the twin unfolding storylines: President Rillak has to maintain impartiality while the Federation Council & Outside Representatives debate and then vote on how to proceed in approaching Species 10-C. Doctor Kovich maintains impartiality while he's evaluating Zora and the Discovery crew. And he decides that Zora is in fact a new lifeform. In both storylines, the decision to be more understanding is what prevails. That makes this what I think Star Trek should be at its very core.
So, I give this episode another 10.
A side-by-side comparison. At this point, the average I give for DSC S4 is an 8.86. The average I gave for DSC Season 1 as a whole, upon this year's rewatch, was an 8.73. So, these two seasons are neck-and-neck for which one I think is the best of the first four. It'll be interesting to see how this ends up when I get to the end of the season again.
Onto the next two episodes!
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Two episodes last night!
The Examples-04x05, Stormy Weather - 04x06
I briefly covered the Examples earlier, my memories and reaction were about the same.
The only thing I'd like to add is about Book's reaction to someone being left behind. He's been accused of being too sensitive or overreacting, but that neglects to account for both the major trauma of destruction of his planet and also his ability to feel it empathically with his abilities. To me there's nothing out of place with his portrayal.
Stormy Weather:
I'd like to cover the name-dropping first! The Admiral and Tarka bring up the Metrons, Nacene, Iconians and Q.
The Metrons did indeed say they were open to communication 1000 years later. So it's possible they did so but there's been some regression in the galaxy. They might have told us to go away again.
The Nacene. I'm not sure how they'd talk to them. I didnt think they were very likely. Consider them just a tease.
The Iconians! They've been used in 2 Canon episodes and countless fan and tie-in stories. The Admiral even remarks they're still around, so that part is similar to the tie-ins. Eventually someone is going to bring them back.
Q was tied into Picard. I think we knew that wasn't happening.
The episode is another low key affair but that doesn't mean a lot is not happening.
Zora is being groomed for becoming more central to the story and a character in its own right. I enjoyed the interaction with the crew in this episode though there is also a tendency to distrust which I think the audience can't shake.
Tarka is the usual super intelligent scientist in Star trek. They're all annoying of course, but despite that the scientific method is used throughout this episode. It's not anti-science and I give it high marks for that. The void solution feels appropriate and couldn't have worked without teamwork.
I give this one a solid 9.
The Examples-04x05, Stormy Weather - 04x06
I briefly covered the Examples earlier, my memories and reaction were about the same.
The only thing I'd like to add is about Book's reaction to someone being left behind. He's been accused of being too sensitive or overreacting, but that neglects to account for both the major trauma of destruction of his planet and also his ability to feel it empathically with his abilities. To me there's nothing out of place with his portrayal.
Stormy Weather:
I'd like to cover the name-dropping first! The Admiral and Tarka bring up the Metrons, Nacene, Iconians and Q.
The Metrons did indeed say they were open to communication 1000 years later. So it's possible they did so but there's been some regression in the galaxy. They might have told us to go away again.
The Nacene. I'm not sure how they'd talk to them. I didnt think they were very likely. Consider them just a tease.
The Iconians! They've been used in 2 Canon episodes and countless fan and tie-in stories. The Admiral even remarks they're still around, so that part is similar to the tie-ins. Eventually someone is going to bring them back.
Q was tied into Picard. I think we knew that wasn't happening.
The episode is another low key affair but that doesn't mean a lot is not happening.
Zora is being groomed for becoming more central to the story and a character in its own right. I enjoyed the interaction with the crew in this episode though there is also a tendency to distrust which I think the audience can't shake.
Tarka is the usual super intelligent scientist in Star trek. They're all annoying of course, but despite that the scientific method is used throughout this episode. It's not anti-science and I give it high marks for that. The void solution feels appropriate and couldn't have worked without teamwork.
I give this one a solid 9.
Observations for "All In"
Not as much to say about this episode. Book and Tarka head to the black market to look for the material they need to construct their weapon to fight Species 10-C. Burnham goes after him, after being unofficially ordered by Vance to do so off-book (no pun intended). I like that it made use of the Missing Year when Burnham was on her crazy adventures with Book. Owo is a great wrestler. Book and Burnham end up in an adventure even though they're on opposite sides. They ultimately end up playing a card game where the winner gets the material they're seeking. Then there's the clever ending where Burnham took into account that she'd lose to Book in a card game, and slipped in a tracker so Discovery could track him. It's noted that Burnham might be too close to this, when sent to look for Book, and that will carry over into the next episode. I can't think of anything else to say. I should probably give this episode a 7 but I'll go with an 8, because I really enjoyed this one a lot as silly as it was sometimes.
Observations for "Rubicon"
Great to see Nahn back. Rillak and Vance order Nahn to step in if Burnham can't go through with stopping Book, as they're finally able to track him. Then Burnham and Discovery are in a battle of whit against Book and especially Tarka. Book is open to listening to a compromise by Burnham, but Tarka is single-mindedly determined to stop Species 10-C and find a way to get back to the universe he's seeking, and locks himself and Book into a point of no return when he takes action against Discovery. Species 10-C turns out to be more resilient against Tarka's weapon than anyone was led to believe, and the Federation has to speed up Discovery's contact with Species 10-C, appropriately raising the stakes while also making Tarka look like someone not easy to beat. This episode was an exercise in brinksmanship, setting up what's to come next.
On the Nahn side of things, because we'll have Nahn of leaving her out, I always wondered what happened to her after she left Discovery, and what type of life she'd be able to live on her home world, having no connection to anyone. And, as she said, she couldn't reveal she was from the past. She would have to live a lie. Instead, she chose to live the truth, and went back to Starfleet. I wish she stayed on Discovery, and I wish she was still Security Officer but, nonetheless, good to see her back anyway, even it was just for one episode. I'll give this one an 8.
I've got the momentum going, so I'm going to keep pressing on tonight.
Not as much to say about this episode. Book and Tarka head to the black market to look for the material they need to construct their weapon to fight Species 10-C. Burnham goes after him, after being unofficially ordered by Vance to do so off-book (no pun intended). I like that it made use of the Missing Year when Burnham was on her crazy adventures with Book. Owo is a great wrestler. Book and Burnham end up in an adventure even though they're on opposite sides. They ultimately end up playing a card game where the winner gets the material they're seeking. Then there's the clever ending where Burnham took into account that she'd lose to Book in a card game, and slipped in a tracker so Discovery could track him. It's noted that Burnham might be too close to this, when sent to look for Book, and that will carry over into the next episode. I can't think of anything else to say. I should probably give this episode a 7 but I'll go with an 8, because I really enjoyed this one a lot as silly as it was sometimes.
Observations for "Rubicon"
Great to see Nahn back. Rillak and Vance order Nahn to step in if Burnham can't go through with stopping Book, as they're finally able to track him. Then Burnham and Discovery are in a battle of whit against Book and especially Tarka. Book is open to listening to a compromise by Burnham, but Tarka is single-mindedly determined to stop Species 10-C and find a way to get back to the universe he's seeking, and locks himself and Book into a point of no return when he takes action against Discovery. Species 10-C turns out to be more resilient against Tarka's weapon than anyone was led to believe, and the Federation has to speed up Discovery's contact with Species 10-C, appropriately raising the stakes while also making Tarka look like someone not easy to beat. This episode was an exercise in brinksmanship, setting up what's to come next.
On the Nahn side of things, because we'll have Nahn of leaving her out, I always wondered what happened to her after she left Discovery, and what type of life she'd be able to live on her home world, having no connection to anyone. And, as she said, she couldn't reveal she was from the past. She would have to live a lie. Instead, she chose to live the truth, and went back to Starfleet. I wish she stayed on Discovery, and I wish she was still Security Officer but, nonetheless, good to see her back anyway, even it was just for one episode. I'll give this one an 8.
I've got the momentum going, so I'm going to keep pressing on tonight.
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04x07. But to Connect...
A fantastic episode.
I enjoy the debate on both sides, from the grand meeting of the burgeoning Federation as well as the AI debate.
I'm happy that the Federation morality won the day, though it's understandable why it's not even close to unanimous. It'll take time to get Earth and others on track.
Despite this gathering of aliens and the big questions involved the highlight of the episode is still the Zora hearing.
There are two excellent arguments made. Starfleet has regulations and an independent entity with control of this ship can't be relied upon. The evidence is the fact that she refused an order out of emotion.
This brings out the counter argument. Her feelings suggest sentience and the evidence would show it has new code on top of whatever influence the Sphere data had.
Their conclusion makes sense but still makes me uncomfortable. By classifying Zora as a new life form and essentially making her a crewman, it can be regulated.
It still doesn't really solve the problem of an AI with the means to influence functions of the ship if it decides to break Starfleet rules. No one crewman can do what it does.
Still, there is a mechanism in place and we'll see what happens with Zora in season 5 and possibly the outcome of Calypso.
It was a refreshing, mature discussion of AI either way.
Rating: 10 out of 10
A fantastic episode.
I enjoy the debate on both sides, from the grand meeting of the burgeoning Federation as well as the AI debate.
I'm happy that the Federation morality won the day, though it's understandable why it's not even close to unanimous. It'll take time to get Earth and others on track.
Despite this gathering of aliens and the big questions involved the highlight of the episode is still the Zora hearing.
There are two excellent arguments made. Starfleet has regulations and an independent entity with control of this ship can't be relied upon. The evidence is the fact that she refused an order out of emotion.
This brings out the counter argument. Her feelings suggest sentience and the evidence would show it has new code on top of whatever influence the Sphere data had.
Their conclusion makes sense but still makes me uncomfortable. By classifying Zora as a new life form and essentially making her a crewman, it can be regulated.
It still doesn't really solve the problem of an AI with the means to influence functions of the ship if it decides to break Starfleet rules. No one crewman can do what it does.
Still, there is a mechanism in place and we'll see what happens with Zora in season 5 and possibly the outcome of Calypso.
It was a refreshing, mature discussion of AI either way.
Rating: 10 out of 10
Observations for "The Galactic Barrier"
Ever been on the way to somewhere, and then you run into traffic? Ever knew you had to do something, and there was this one thing you needed, and you couldn't find it? I don't care who you are, BOTH those things have happened to ALL of us. And what I appreciate about "The Galactic Barrier" is that it shows that nothing is a straight path. It's not easy to get through the Galactic Barrier or several more people would've already done it before Discovery. It's not easy to find the components Tarka's looking for to create his trans-dimensional transporter, or other people would've found it look before now. This episode showed show obstacles that most entertainment would skip over. So, it was nice to see the types of things you normally wouldn't see.
I liked getting more backstory on Tarka and his friendship with fellow scientist Oros. There were a few moments where I thought in the back of my mind, "Just kiss already!" I won't lie. I had similar thoughts about Picard and Q at the end of PIC Season 2.
Then, finally, there was the debate over controlling the flow of information, if people should hear things, and when. I agree with Rillak that the crew and guests shouldn't have known about Earth, Titan, and Ni'Var until they were through the Galactic Barrier. One crisis at a time. But I am glad the President did tell them once they were through the Galactic Barrier. And I appreciated what Burnham said to Rillak at the end about how Rillak was the one who needed to tell everyone about the immediate threat, because she's the President, people look to her, and Rillak is Burnham's President too. Discovery's commentary on the role of the President and how they should be viewed in an ideal situation.
I'll give this episode an 8.
I posted observations for "Rosetta" last year, so I'll just cut-and-paste what I said there.
Observations for "Rosetta"
I have to get everything out there now while it's still fresh on my mind. This episode is where I'll end up having an Unpopular Opinion.
This episode reinforces my feeling that it's "the calm before the storm." I remember someone freaking out one time about how Species 10-C was going to make its move in 29 hours and started loudly complaining about the pacing of this episode. The thing is, as I just re-watched it, I think this episode plays almost in Real Time. An hour watching this episode is almost like an hour happening in the actual episode. 29 hours is longer than you think, when you break it down hour-by-hour-by-hour. Ever had a job where things were slow during an hour in your shift? That's when you feel how long an hour really is. Ever get stuck in a waiting room or put on hold on a phone for an hour? That's when you find out how long an hour really is. So, no, I don't have an issue with the pacing here.
President Rillak's pep talk to Doctor Hirai didn't grate on me on second viewing. She does have a point about watching what you say in a diplomatic mission. They're trying to keep everyone, including Ndoye, confident that Burnham, Saru, Culber, and Detmer will be able to learn more about Species 10-C before actually contacting them.
When Book talks to Ndoye, I kept thinking, "Oh no! Ndoye's going to be put into a really tough spot!" When I was first watching the season, I thought it would be the beginning of the end of her career. I'm glad they ultimately didn't go that route, since she has good intentions, as does Book, and only wanted to look out for saving lives.
The visuals in this episode are great. Anyone who says they don't think Burnham, Detmer, Saru, and Culber marching towards the shuttle bay doesn't look awesome is lying. That looks awesome. I don't care what you think about the show, that was a great shot.
And I liked how alien the surface of the planet looked. The space suits were great too. This also fits what I think of as Star Trek, but we don't get to see it that often. The crew going in a mission on a planet that actually feels alien! Great callback to how grave the situation is when Saru feels fear for the first time since Season 2.
Adira feels like a teenager trying to branch out and make friends with other people, starting with who she idolizes: Detmer. It has to be strange for her, not being around too many people her own age. It feels like the Tal host is a lot less dominant than Dax ever was with Jadzia or Ezri, but then Ezri also felt very young and not much like Dax. So maybe the Symbiont is more a vessel for memories than an actual personality. Ezri felt very jumbled up, and maybe Adira's also very jumbled up. She seems more Tilly-esque this season without being Tilly.
The weakest part of the episode is when Tarka captures Reno. This is where you can tell the most that Covid had an impact on the production. Tig Notaro was only available for a limited window to shoot all her scenes for the entire season, and with strict quarantine procedures, I'm guessing they couldn't really show a Tarka/Reno fight or her struggling while being captured. You'd think she would've notified Security immediately, but I'm going to guess Tarka moved fast before she could. Still, like I said, it's the weakest part of the episode.
End of cut-and-paste.
I'll give this episode an 8. Parts of this episode feel like it should be a 9, parts of it feel like it should be a 7, so I split the difference.
Two episodes left. Despite my original plan, I'm going to finish re-watching this season today. I want to get this wrapped up.
I didn't get to watch the Indiana Jones movies last week, so I'll do that at some point over the next two weeks. The first three only. Then I'll watch Bonnie & Clyde, which is one of my favorite movies and I already have it on DVD anyway. Moll and L'ak are supposed to be like Bonnie & Clyde, so it'll be interesting to find out how, but that's getting ahead of myself.
Ever been on the way to somewhere, and then you run into traffic? Ever knew you had to do something, and there was this one thing you needed, and you couldn't find it? I don't care who you are, BOTH those things have happened to ALL of us. And what I appreciate about "The Galactic Barrier" is that it shows that nothing is a straight path. It's not easy to get through the Galactic Barrier or several more people would've already done it before Discovery. It's not easy to find the components Tarka's looking for to create his trans-dimensional transporter, or other people would've found it look before now. This episode showed show obstacles that most entertainment would skip over. So, it was nice to see the types of things you normally wouldn't see.
I liked getting more backstory on Tarka and his friendship with fellow scientist Oros. There were a few moments where I thought in the back of my mind, "Just kiss already!" I won't lie. I had similar thoughts about Picard and Q at the end of PIC Season 2.
Then, finally, there was the debate over controlling the flow of information, if people should hear things, and when. I agree with Rillak that the crew and guests shouldn't have known about Earth, Titan, and Ni'Var until they were through the Galactic Barrier. One crisis at a time. But I am glad the President did tell them once they were through the Galactic Barrier. And I appreciated what Burnham said to Rillak at the end about how Rillak was the one who needed to tell everyone about the immediate threat, because she's the President, people look to her, and Rillak is Burnham's President too. Discovery's commentary on the role of the President and how they should be viewed in an ideal situation.
I'll give this episode an 8.
I posted observations for "Rosetta" last year, so I'll just cut-and-paste what I said there.
Observations for "Rosetta"
I have to get everything out there now while it's still fresh on my mind. This episode is where I'll end up having an Unpopular Opinion.
This episode reinforces my feeling that it's "the calm before the storm." I remember someone freaking out one time about how Species 10-C was going to make its move in 29 hours and started loudly complaining about the pacing of this episode. The thing is, as I just re-watched it, I think this episode plays almost in Real Time. An hour watching this episode is almost like an hour happening in the actual episode. 29 hours is longer than you think, when you break it down hour-by-hour-by-hour. Ever had a job where things were slow during an hour in your shift? That's when you feel how long an hour really is. Ever get stuck in a waiting room or put on hold on a phone for an hour? That's when you find out how long an hour really is. So, no, I don't have an issue with the pacing here.
President Rillak's pep talk to Doctor Hirai didn't grate on me on second viewing. She does have a point about watching what you say in a diplomatic mission. They're trying to keep everyone, including Ndoye, confident that Burnham, Saru, Culber, and Detmer will be able to learn more about Species 10-C before actually contacting them.
When Book talks to Ndoye, I kept thinking, "Oh no! Ndoye's going to be put into a really tough spot!" When I was first watching the season, I thought it would be the beginning of the end of her career. I'm glad they ultimately didn't go that route, since she has good intentions, as does Book, and only wanted to look out for saving lives.
The visuals in this episode are great. Anyone who says they don't think Burnham, Detmer, Saru, and Culber marching towards the shuttle bay doesn't look awesome is lying. That looks awesome. I don't care what you think about the show, that was a great shot.
And I liked how alien the surface of the planet looked. The space suits were great too. This also fits what I think of as Star Trek, but we don't get to see it that often. The crew going in a mission on a planet that actually feels alien! Great callback to how grave the situation is when Saru feels fear for the first time since Season 2.
Adira feels like a teenager trying to branch out and make friends with other people, starting with who she idolizes: Detmer. It has to be strange for her, not being around too many people her own age. It feels like the Tal host is a lot less dominant than Dax ever was with Jadzia or Ezri, but then Ezri also felt very young and not much like Dax. So maybe the Symbiont is more a vessel for memories than an actual personality. Ezri felt very jumbled up, and maybe Adira's also very jumbled up. She seems more Tilly-esque this season without being Tilly.
The weakest part of the episode is when Tarka captures Reno. This is where you can tell the most that Covid had an impact on the production. Tig Notaro was only available for a limited window to shoot all her scenes for the entire season, and with strict quarantine procedures, I'm guessing they couldn't really show a Tarka/Reno fight or her struggling while being captured. You'd think she would've notified Security immediately, but I'm going to guess Tarka moved fast before she could. Still, like I said, it's the weakest part of the episode.
End of cut-and-paste.
I'll give this episode an 8. Parts of this episode feel like it should be a 9, parts of it feel like it should be a 7, so I split the difference.
Two episodes left. Despite my original plan, I'm going to finish re-watching this season today. I want to get this wrapped up.
I didn't get to watch the Indiana Jones movies last week, so I'll do that at some point over the next two weeks. The first three only. Then I'll watch Bonnie & Clyde, which is one of my favorite movies and I already have it on DVD anyway. Moll and L'ak are supposed to be like Bonnie & Clyde, so it'll be interesting to find out how, but that's getting ahead of myself.
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I think Jadzia had hosted Dax for a couple of years before DS9, plus the circumstances around transitioning the symbiont was more "normal" and not as traumatic as with Ezri and Adira, maybe the jumbledupness has something to do with that.
(Note for the pedantic, lol: I'm discounting the events of "The Host" since almost everything about the Trill from that episode was changed other than the name and the general idea of joined species.)
Observations for "Species Ten-C"
The penultimate episode of the season. By this point, this has truly become Discovery's version of TMP. It's not too often you get TMP-like Star Trek, or Star Trek that embraces TMP at all, so I welcome it. Here, Discovery tries to learn a language to communicate with Species 10-C. Then Species 10-C creates a mathematical language that it hopes Discovery will understand. Then Discovery and Species 10-C start communicating with each other... until Tarka, having taken over Book's ship and looking him up with Reno, decides to take action against Species 10-C himself, even though evidence points out that he'll cause just as much damage as the Federation is trying to prevent.
Aside from all of this, loved the therapeutic/cathartic screams Burnham and Stamets did in private. I've done that myself before, in the past. So, I can say this is an actual thing.
This episode also marks the first time the Kardashev Scale is mentioned on Star Trek. Species 10-C is identified as Level 2 on the Kardashev Scale. What does Level 2 mean? I'll do you two better and show you what all the levels mean. Cutting-and-pasting from Wikipedia. Kardashev scale - Wikipedia
I'll give this episode a 9.
One more episode to go. I'll finish it off tomorrow. It's getting late and it's been a hectic day.
The penultimate episode of the season. By this point, this has truly become Discovery's version of TMP. It's not too often you get TMP-like Star Trek, or Star Trek that embraces TMP at all, so I welcome it. Here, Discovery tries to learn a language to communicate with Species 10-C. Then Species 10-C creates a mathematical language that it hopes Discovery will understand. Then Discovery and Species 10-C start communicating with each other... until Tarka, having taken over Book's ship and looking him up with Reno, decides to take action against Species 10-C himself, even though evidence points out that he'll cause just as much damage as the Federation is trying to prevent.
Aside from all of this, loved the therapeutic/cathartic screams Burnham and Stamets did in private. I've done that myself before, in the past. So, I can say this is an actual thing.
This episode also marks the first time the Kardashev Scale is mentioned on Star Trek. Species 10-C is identified as Level 2 on the Kardashev Scale. What does Level 2 mean? I'll do you two better and show you what all the levels mean. Cutting-and-pasting from Wikipedia. Kardashev scale - Wikipedia
- A Type I civilization is able to access all the energy available on its planet and store it for consumption. Hypothetically, it should also be able to control natural events such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, etc.
- A Type II civilization can directly consume a star's energy, most likely through the use of a Dyson sphere.
- A Type III civilization is able to capture all the energy emitted by its galaxy, and every object within it, such as every star, black hole, etc.
I'll give this episode a 9.
One more episode to go. I'll finish it off tomorrow. It's getting late and it's been a hectic day.
2?I've watched the two older episodes that we know connect to S5
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