Spoilers Star Trek: Discovery 1x09 - "Into the Forest I Go"

[Feron]

Naah, she isn't looking away. She's looking at where Tyler stood, just moments before - it's Tyler who cannot stand to see the Klingon ship destroyed and skulks away, surprising Burnham who is merely glancing at something to her right (perhaps Saru) and notices from the corner of her eye that Tyler is missing.

Exactly. This just provides more evidence to the "Tyler is Voq" theory, because he is the one who seems to be uncomfortable seeing the Klingon ship blow up. She notices this, and appears perplexed.

Then again, it's not as if the heroes would have a choice between a stealthy and a non-stealthy sensor. Perhaps smashing the display screen and ripping out the loudspeaker would have taken more time than figuring out a place where a noisy and silent sensor would be equally unlikely to be discovered?

Timo Saloniemi

Exactly. While I also chuckled at the bright and noisy sensors, this was a plan that was cobbled together in just a few hours. It's not like Batman, where they have some special "Bat-Stealth-Sensor" conveniently already made to use in the mission.

 

[eschaton]

Thinking about it more over the past week or so, even though this episode was fantastic, my big issue with it is this: It feels like they wrote it (at least in rough draft form) before they wrote many of the preceding episodes. That is to say, they had the beginning and the end of the arc penciled in, and then tried to figure out how to get from point A to point B.

Why is this bad? Because most quality serialized TV, even if it has an end destination in sight, is to a large extent made up on the fly (or lifted from books which were written in a linear fashion). This is important because often the writing process brings out something in a character you didn't expect to find. To use a Trek example, consider how in DS9 basically all of the amazing recurring characters (Garak, Martok, Weyoun) started out as one offs, and then the writers liked them so much they built them into the crescendo of the series.

In the case of Discovery, I'm left feeling like although there were some plots of the week, the whole purpose of episodes 3-8 was just to get us to episode 9. A good example of this is how the Tyler/Burnham romance has worked out. They introduce Tyler in episode 5, introduce a potential attraction in episode 7, firm it up in episode 8, in order to get them in a relationship by episode 9. The problem is, while I finally feel like they have believable chemistry as friends, they have no romantic chemistry onscreen. If the writers weren't wedded to the concept, they could have altered the plot slightly and have them in a platonic relationship. Instead they barreled ahead.

 

[Nyotarules]

That does not explain why Spock did not wear gold. So the 3rd officer is "command track" but the first officer is not?

Besides, in Star Trek piloting the ship is a skill that seemingly everyone can do. Most major characters have taken over the helm at some point, unlike tactical, engineering etc.

Cos Nimoy looked bad in mustard yellow.

 

[Timo]

Isaacs would look baaaaad in the TOS gold, too. Looking forward to it.

Timo Saloniemi

 

[137th Gebirg]

In the software world it's very common to start counting with zero.

Unfortunately so, yes.

 

[Mechanoid1]

Me thinks they goofed. Look, there were at least 6 to 7 mini jumps prior to the commencement of the 133 jumps. So the jump log should of read 140 at least by the time Lorca sabotaged the final jump.
Btw was Stamets in the chamber when they started jumping and firing torpedos?

 

[Nyotarules]

The problem is, while I finally feel like they have believable chemistry as friends, they have no romantic chemistry onscreen.

I concur. As happy as I am that minority actors are part of a romantic couple, these particular ones have very little chemistry on screen. There was better chemistry between Burham and the tardigrade alien.

 

[XCV330]

Me thinks they goofed. Look, there were at least 6 to 7 mini jumps prior to the commencement of the 133 jumps. So the jump log should of read 140 at least by the time Lorca sabotaged the final jump.
Btw was Stamets in the chamber when they started jumping and firing torpedos?

it looks like the 133 jumps were a specific programmed set. The previous few may have been from a different menu. I cant' remember if he was in the chamber before or not. The ship has made little jumps without him or Ripper so its possible, I guess.

 

[Mechanoid1]

it looks like the 133 jumps were a specific programmed set. The previous few may have been from a different menu. I cant' remember if he was in the chamber before or not. The ship has made little jumps without him or Ripper so its possible, I guess.

The 133 jumps were also little jumps. Anyway the last jump also had nothing to do with the previous 133 set of jumps. Those should of been wiped.
Still think it was a goof up. No big deal. Just 1 more of many. Looking forward to see where there at now.

 

[eschaton]

I concur. As happy as I am that minority actors are part of a romantic couple, these particular ones have very little chemistry on screen. There was better chemistry between Burham and the tardigrade alien.

Trek has never been good at believable romances, but Burnham/Tyler romance is honestly so far the worst, aside from the weird attempt at the end of TNG to get Worf and Troi to hook up. Plenty of "romances of the week" were worse however.

I think part of the issue is SMG's characterization as Burnham pretty much requires her to have difficulty expressing her emotions. But Latif is surprisingly unconvincing as well. This is a shame, because if they're taking the story in the direction I think they are (making him Voq, and hence developing conflict between his romantic feelings for Burnham and his hatred for her as the killer of T'Kumva) starting out with believable passion is a must.

 

[cultcross]

I hope it's not against rules but I found this on Memory Alpha. Take it for what it's worth:

"About one month into the Federation-Klingon War, the Buran was ambushed and boarded by Klingons. Knowing his crew would be tortured and executed on Qo'noS, Lorca elected to destroy his ship and crew. He was the only survivor, though during the battle he sustained an injury that left lasting photosensitivity in his eyes. (DIS: "Choose Your Pain")"

Well all that was stated on screen, so as far as we know it's accurate. Although I would word it slightly more caveated as it was stated, rather than seen. We know that something happened to the Buran and afterwards Lorca had that injury. I wouldn't be surprised if we don't know exactly what happened.

 

[Vger23]

Trek has never been good at believable romances, but Burnham/Tyler romance is honestly so far the worst, aside from the weird attempt at the end of TNG to get Worf and Troi to hook up. Plenty of "romances of the week" were worse however.

I think part of the issue is SMG's characterization as Burnham pretty much requires her to have difficulty expressing her emotions. But Latif is surprisingly unconvincing as well. This is a shame, because if they're taking the story in the direction I think they are (making him Voq, and hence developing conflict between his romantic feelings for Burnham and his hatred for her as the killer of T'Kumva) starting out with believable passion is a must.

I'm wondering if, like the show itself, the relationship will gain steam and dimension as it progresses. I like both actors and they seem to be very capable....so I suspect as they feel their way through it will get better.

 

[Grendelsbayne]

Worf told Guinan he needed a Klingon woman for dating, Guinan told him she knew a few woman on the Enterprise who would find him tame. He laughes in response. (TNG Yesterdays Enterprise)

Which doesn't really say anything about strength at all. ('Tame' in particular implies we're discussing behavior, not capability.) And is obviously totally undermined by how Worf later repeatedly dates normal strength non-klingons.

 

[Nyotarules]

Trek has never been good at believable romances, but Burnham/Tyler romance is honestly so far the worst, aside from the weird attempt at the end of TNG to get Worf and Troi to hook up. Plenty of "romances of the week" were worse however.

I think part of the issue is SMG's characterization as Burnham pretty much requires her to have difficulty expressing her emotions. But Latif is surprisingly unconvincing as well. This is a shame, because if they're taking the story in the direction I think they are (making him Voq, and hence developing conflict between his romantic feelings for Burnham and his hatred for her as the killer of T'Kumva) starting out with believable passion is a must.

I must be the only fan of the Worf/Troi romance lol It reminds me of real life, the unlikeliest people do hook up and have a great life together. The people with chemistry are the ones making the divorce lawyers' bank account happy.

 

[Nyotarules]

Which doesn't really say anything about strength at all. ('Tame' in particular implies we're discussing behavior, not capability.) And is obviously totally undermined by how Worf later repeatedly dates normal strength non-klingons.

That is because Worf heeded Gunian's advice, the way she stressed the word 'tame' implies to me something sexual.

 

[Grendelsbayne]

That is because Worf heeded Gunian's advice, the way she stressed the word 'tame' implies to me something sexual.

Well, obviously, but it implies a problem of sexual behavior. Not that he would inevitably crush them like a grape because he's so super strong.

 

[Crazy Eddie]

Once you go Klingon, you need something to lean on.

 

[Ithekro]

While I don't recall Troi getting all beaten up while with Worf, Dax had to help the poor Klingon into the infirmary a couple of time since he couldn't keep up with her. And Neelix loved that stuff.

 

[Refuge]

Thinking about it more over the past week or so, even though this episode was fantastic, my big issue with it is this: It feels like they wrote it (at least in rough draft form) before they wrote many of the preceding episodes. That is to say, they had the beginning and the end of the arc penciled in, and then tried to figure out how to get from point A to point B.

Why is this bad? Because most quality serialized TV, even if it has an end destination in sight, is to a large extent made up on the fly (or lifted from books which were written in a linear fashion). This is important because often the writing process brings out something in a character you didn't expect to find. To use a Trek example, consider how in DS9 basically all of the amazing recurring characters (Garak, Martok, Weyoun) started out as one offs, and then the writers liked them so much they built them into the crescendo of the series.

In the case of Discovery, I'm left feeling like although there were some plots of the week, the whole purpose of episodes 3-8 was just to get us to episode 9. A good example of this is how the Tyler/Burnham romance has worked out. They introduce Tyler in episode 5, introduce a potential attraction in episode 7, firm it up in episode 8, in order to get them in a relationship by episode 9. The problem is, while I finally feel like they have believable chemistry as friends, they have no romantic chemistry onscreen. If the writers weren't wedded to the concept, they could have altered the plot slightly and have them in a platonic relationship. Instead they barreled ahead.

I wondered if it was playing out that way to others. It's like the separate episode writers are not tying in with each other. A little lip-service to a previous episode ending and 'let the audience fill in the gaps' has been overused. It's lazy. We don't need to be spoon fed but when one episode ends on a note of drama - Admiral captured - then the next hardly mentions her, you shrug it off once or twice. However when the build up is repeated - Admiral possibly dead, L'Rell a slave to Kor, only to find in the next episode the Admiral has been alive in this room of horrors for God knows how long and L'Rell is in there too! Also Cornwell is shunted off quietly, no mention of what she was going to do with Lorca, another dropped story. It's glitchy.

 

[Shawnster]

So, who led the Discovery astray here? Did Lorca put in bad coordinates on purpose? Did Stamets want to see those paralel universes?

I'm thinking Stamets here....

How about neither? Why is nobody considering this a result of Stamets' obvious medical crisis /transformation?