Spoilers Star Trek: Discovery 2x11 - "Perpetual Infinity"

[eschaton]

I still don’t understand why Dr. Burnham brought the sphere to Discovery so they would protect or delete the data. The sphere was dying when it trapped Discovery. If it died, the data would be lost, and no problem.

Why didn’t Dr. Burnham use her abilities to keep everyone away from the sphere and just let it die?

Out of show reason: Because that episode was filmed before Berg/Harberts were fired. Thus at the time the sphere was either meant to be just the standalone plot for the series that week or to fit in to whatever arc they had planned. When Kurtzman came in it seems like he veered to the Control arc instead, and thus found a way to awkwardly shoehorn it in (much as he did New Eden).

Within show reason: Your guess is as good as mine.

 

[ITDUDE]

Those words together are banned, don't you know.

Tell that to the producers... TATV... still not over it...

 

[eschaton]

Another thought - this was probably the single cheapest Discovery episode to date. There was the tiny newly-constructed set of the Burnham family home in the flashback. But other than that it reused the base from the last episode and used the Discovery and Section 31 sets, and nothing else. This is part of why I think the episode felt underwhelming - it felt like the second half of the previous week's episode rather than an episode in and of itself.

I should note this is the first time this season that the series kinda felt cheap to me. Even though there were previous episode (like An Obol for Charon) where they didn't get off ship, it didn't show as much as last season.

 

[Mr Awe]

Another thought - this was probably the single cheapest Discovery episode to date. There was the tiny newly-constructed set of the Burnham family home in the flashback. But other than that it reused the base from the last episode and used the Discovery and Section 31 sets, and nothing else. This is part of why I think the episode felt underwhelming - it felt like the second half of the previous week's episode rather than an episode in and of itself.

I should note this is the first time this season that the series kinda felt cheap to me. Even though there were previous episode (like An Obol for Charon) where they didn't get off ship, it didn't show as much as last season.

I'm pretty sure that episode 10 and 11 were previously one episode that was split into two parts that were expanded to two full episodes to extend the season.

 

[eschaton]

I'm pretty sure that episode 10 and 11 were previously one episode that was split into two parts that were expanded to two full episodes to extend the season.

You could be right. it would explain why there was so much padding in The Red Angel in particular. Though the cliffhanger ending to that episode suggests otherwise.

I still think it's more likely the final episode was split in two, because they decided they didn't want to make the mistake they did last season and rush through the ending.

 

[Mr Awe]

You could be right. it would explain why there was so much padding in The Red Angel in particular. Though the cliffhanger ending to that episode suggests otherwise.

I still think it's more likely the final episode was split in two, because they decided they didn't want to make the mistake they did last season and rush through the ending.

It's possible that having a logical cliffhanger point helped them decide to split the episode. We might get a better idea when we see the finale. However, the weak and padded story combined with the cost savings made me think they split the one story into two.

 

[The Habs Fan]

It's possible that having a logical cliffhanger point helped them decide to split the episode. We might get a better idea when we see the finale. However, the weak and padded story combined with the cost savings made me think they split the one story into two.

You definitely could be right, but I'm betting it's the last episode of the season that got extended by 1. I'm just basing that on the fact that both episodes (13 and 14) have the same writers and director.

 

[Gonzo]

It's clearly all Connolly's fault.

 

[DaveyNY]

It's clearly all Connolly's fault.

Yeah, if he hadn't died, then Nahan would probably not be in the right place at the right time when needed to 'space' Airiam and the story would have ended there!
(along with all humanoid species)

 

[eschaton]

Yeah, if he hadn't died, then Nahan would probably not be in the right place at the right time when needed to 'space' Airiam and the story would have ended there!
(along with all humanoid species)

On the other hand, we don't know what Connelly would have done if he had lived. Maybe he would have somehow saved everything.

Having Michael have to go back in time to save him would be like ultimate fanwank, wouldn't it?

 

[DaveyNY]

On the other hand, we don't know what Connelly would have done if he had lived. Maybe he would have somehow saved everything.

Having Michael have to go back in time to save him would be like ultimate fanwank, wouldn't it?

Well, he certainly would have pizzed off several of the characters on Discovery with his attitude.

Maybe his end would have been at the hands of Airiam/Control after trying to tell her the proper way to download her memories and then insulting them to boot.

 

[SJGardner]

Imagine if Dr. Burnham somehow learned that Connolly had died and would immediately cry out "What? You let him die? Connolly is the key, you've doomed us all!" For added dramatic effect, this could be the last thing she yells before she's pulled into the wormhole.

 

[DaveyNY]

Imagine if Dr. Burnham somehow learned that Connolly had died and would immediately cry out "What? You let him die? Connolly is the key, you've doomed us all!" For added dramatic effect, this could be the last thing she yells before she's pulled into the wormhole.

But everybody thought she said ... "...Con Ollie..." and spent the next few weeks trying to find the Oliver she was referring to.

 

[Kemaiku]

*Connollys head screaming in a jar*

"Yeeeeah not really what I meant."

 

[Gonzo]

On the other hand, we don't know what Connelly would have done if he had lived. Maybe he would have somehow saved everything.

Having Michael have to go back in time to save him would be like ultimate fanwank, wouldn't it?

That would most definitely be gold plated fanwank with knobs on.

I will laugh if it ends up being the Borg though.

From what I have seen I do think we could be heading for a colossal reset of horrific proportions.

The kind that would make the last two seasons completely irrelevant or maybe even like they never happened at all.

Just saying.

 

[Mr Awe]

You definitely could be right, but I'm betting it's the last episode of the season that got extended by 1. I'm just basing that on the fact that both episodes (13 and 14) have the same writers and director.

Perhaps. But, perhaps the same group was contracted for both finale episodes. I don't really know. It was just a sense I got as I watched the two most recent episodes.

 

[SJGardner]

That would most definitely be gold plated fanwank with knobs on.

I will laugh if it ends up being the Borg though.

Make it into an even bigger fanwank crack theory and have it all turn out to be Connolly resurrected by nanoprobes and becoming the first Borg.

 

[SolarisOne]

I'm gonna start calling Leland, "Semi-Perfect Control". 'Cause all Control needs is to absorb the rest of the sphere data to achieve its terrifying Perfect form.

 

[Vger23]

I'm assuming that the wormhole-like phenomenon associated with the suit is how New Eden ended up transplanted halfway across the galaxy from Earth...is that the sense you all got?

 

[Gonzo]

Just had a horrible thought, if it does end up being a reset either full or partial it could actually restore Connolly and we may get him if a Pike/Enterprise series gets the go ahead.

I expect Burnham to end up in the suit at some point and she is the one behind the signals.