Spoilers Star Trek: Discovery 3x02 - "Far From Home"

[fireproof78]

Being didactic is an important part of the Trek formula, IMHO.

But even if you disagree, you have to admit there was a big disconnect in what the episode told us versus what it showed us. It told us that the "Starfleet way" of Saru was superior to the Terran Empire inclinations of Georgiou. But it showed us that her ass-kicking was effective at getting the job done.

A better way to do it would be if Georgiou's rashness got her into tons of trouble, and then Saru, when left with no other option, turned to violence. Because that's how Trek has always shown violence in the past - something that can be done as a last resort, but not something to revel in.

See, I don't see the "reveling" but, as you note a means to an end. And, since I don't think "getting the job done" means this way is better. That's too utilitarian of view for my money.

Finally, I think moving past didactic formulation is important because it doesn't always work out. But, maybe I don't mind the ambiguity.

 

[Gingerbread Demon]

She is the Rodney McKay of Discovery.

They'd make a perfect couple....

 

[Danny99]

I liked this episode because they finally moved away from having Michael drive the story. Don't get me wrong: I don't hate Michael as much as I have other characters, but I hate the use of her as the centre of the plot in 99% of the episodes. I think we connected more with the rest of the crew in that one episode than we have in two seasons prior.

That being said, the saloon plot was, as others have said, confused. There was a lot going on that could have been pared down and tightened up. The ice plot seemed kind of silly and only served to have a reason for Michael to come save them. I would've rather seen the crew figure their own way instead of having Michael come running to the rescue again.

As for Reno and Gene, I'll admit, I laughed at "I've already forgotten that." The writers have another opportunity to do what they could've done with Lorca in Season One and have her suffering from PTSD and trying to force through with this rough humour, even if its not "Starfleet." She lost her wife, she spent however long keeping people alive on the downed ship she was originally on and now she's flung 900 years into the future. I don't know if Reno was written specifically to fit Tig Notaro, but if you are going to have her, this is the character you get. That being said, I think she has the dramatic gravitas to play what I'm thinking.

When it comes to Detmer, we saw that she took a good smack to the implant side of her head when the ship crashed. Given that we don't know what her implant exactly controls, I'd hope the writers would go with an undetectable injury from it and she is hiding it instead of being another casualty they need to worry about.

While I love Mirror Georgiou's lines and Michelle Yeoh's delivery, I was against bringing the mirror version of her out of the mirror universe. It was like bringing a 13th century king into the present day and expecting them to acclimate and be fine. Trying to get her to fit in with this crew is only going to work for so long. I'd love to see the writers send her off on a mission of her own instead. She would be right at home in the mercantile we saw in episode one.

 

[Ovation]

Being didactic is an important part of the Trek formula, IMHO.

Is it, though? I rather despise being. Told. Every. Little. Thing. I can make logical inferences and keep track of the onscreen story at the same time.

 

[JirinPanthosa]

What does everyone think is going on with the eye implant? I hope they aren't bringing back Control somehow, but the sphere data hijacking it also makes sense.

 

[JirinPanthosa]

Is it, though? I rather despise being. Told. Every. Little. Thing. I can make logical inferences and keep track of the onscreen story at the same time.

Yet everyone criticizes Lost for NOT doing that.

 

[Gingerbread Demon]

What does everyone think is going on with the eye implant? I hope they aren't bringing back Control somehow, but the sphere data hijacking it also makes sense.

That is what I think is one possibility going on and I'd be cool with that since the Sphere seemed friendly. A friendly AI experience is probably a welcome thing, and I'd be cool with that.

Yet everyone criticizes Lost for NOT doing that.

Because back then I think people wanted the shows to hold the viewers hand.

 

[fireproof78]

I have no desire for any show to hold my hand. It is unnecessary and borderlines on insulting at times. And, yes, Trek was very guilty of this throughout its run.

 

[Ovation]

Yet everyone criticizes Lost for NOT doing that.

Not me.

 

[tomalak301]

I wish we can change scores. After a weekend and reading some thoughts, I rewatched the episode and it was better on the second viewing. I still didn't like the stuff between Zarah, Tilly, Suru, and Georgiou, but I weighed my "5" too heavily on that plot line. There was so much other stuff that was great here, like the stuff with Reno and Paul, Culber and Paul, the beginning with the crash landing, Suru actually being more comfortable in the role as Captain and a few other things.

I also still like that Detmer does seem to have a storyline this season, even though a lot of the comments have been if she has been co-opted by Control. I was thinking about her implants and how my question ever since Battle at the Binary Stars has been what are those implants and do they serve a purpose. I wonder if because she was knocked out hard if those implants were more of a mental block (Like blocking PTSD) from her role in the original battle. It's kind of like wearing a prosthetic leg and being able to walk even though you have a disability. Maybe being knocked out impacted those implants mentally and that is why while there isn't any neurological damage, everything she might be going through might be Mental. Basically, I have a feeling Season 3 we might get what I've been wanting all along: What are those Implants Detmer has and why did they try to go for a 7 of 9 look for her. I'm just excited that she has a storyline this year and it did feel like the writers were trying to give the bridge crew more to do. You had Bryce having a long sequence with Suru, Owo and Detmer flying through the Asteroid field (Again?) and even Linus had a nice scene.

I think I would push this episode up to a 7. That would put it right on par with the premiere, but the premiere was saved by the final scene of hope. This episode was pretty good all throughout. Speaking of which, in an episode that was pretty dis-topic, I did appreciate that moment of Hope at the end.

 

[Gingerbread Demon]

I love the line Reno has in the trailer "Dysfunctional is the crew"

 

[cooleddie74]

I don't know...the Maquis felt they were at war with the Federation. They saw both sides as betraying and screwing them over and used violence against representatives of both the Federation and the Cardassian Union. It may not be full-scale guerilla war against Starfleet but the Maquis sure didn't see the Federation as allies or even their friends.

 

[Agony_Boothb]

What does everyone think is going on with the eye implant? I hope they aren't bringing back Control somehow, but the sphere data hijacking it also makes sense.

I think Detmer is suffering from PTSD. We see no evidence of control style brainwashing, like detmer's eye glowing red for example. But we do see behaviours very much akin to shock and trauma.

 

[Gingerbread Demon]

I think Detmer is suffering from PTSD. We see no evidence of control style brainwashing, like detmer's eye glowing red for example. But we do see behaviours very much akin to shock and trauma.

OK going forward that actually does make sense too.... So many possibilities.

 

[USS Fardell]

Far From Home
The second episode of the third season. The Discovery arrives in the 32nd Century and crash lands on a planet. The crash landing sequence was done rather well. Almost as good as the ones in Generations and Beyond, and a lot better than the one in Timeless. The rest of the episode is about the crew dealing with the situation they have found themselves in. Saru and Tilly making First Contact. The rest of the crew making repairs to the ship. Something is up with Detmer! Other things happen.
Saru and Tilly go out on the planet, and find themselves in over their head, discovering that the colony is being exploited by a 'courier' as a result of the lack of dilithium. The Western beats were strong with this one. Zarah was as much a Western antagonist as Calvera, or Buford Tannen. He and his gang certainly had the Coridanite miners under his thumb. He's also an effective fighter, but he was ill-equipped to deal with someone like Georgiou. Him being left alive at the end was a surprise, but it was well done.
Back on Discovery, the crew races to repair their ship. The various characters shine here. What of Detmer? It isn't an injury, or damage to her implant. (it's certainly leading to something.) Culbur, Staments and Reno are all good. Reno is much the same as the previous season, while Staments put himself on the line to make that final repair. That's certainly believable.Reno encouraging Staments to do the repair (so she woundn't have to), and Culbur calling out his partner for being reckless were both good.
Both these storylines are good. Although, having Burnham rescue Discovery from the ice, rather than having them escape under their own power seems anticlimatic. It would have been better for the former occurrence to happen. But that didn't make their efforts useless. Overall, a very good episode. 8.5/10.

 

[cultcross]

Nhan should’ve been in the Georgiou role. Security badass that saves the day.

The purpose of a security officer is to get beaten up to make the villain look hard. Just speak to Worf.

I wish we can change scores

Ask and it shall be granted unto thee

 

[JirinPanthosa]

I think Detmer is suffering from PTSD. We see no evidence of control style brainwashing, like detmer's eye glowing red for example. But we do see behaviours very much akin to shock and trauma.

I would applaud them for doing something that mundane.

If it were the sphere though it wouldn't necessarily be control, she could start gradually getting conscious access to its data.

 

[Phily B]

Yeah, I thought they might have been doing a PTSD thing, it seemed pretty obvious considering her previous injuries and her seeing a ton of people die/get severely injured again. That'd be cool if done well.

 

[cultcross]

It's something the show has touched on before, so it wouldn't be too out there an idea. I'd love it if it was something so human. Especially as she is now separated from whatever support network she had at home. The crew are basically Voyager now, but permanently and deliberately. That's gotta sting.

 

[XCV330]

It's something the show has touched on before, so it wouldn't be too out there an idea. I'd love it if it was something so human. Especially as she is now separated from whatever support network she had at home. The crew are basically Voyager now, but permanently and deliberately. That's gotta sting.

yes. i hope they eventually have time for the crew to get out of survival mode and come to terms with the enormity of their decision. Burnham has had awhile to think about it, and in some ways, she's probably still mission driven as her mother may still be out there somewhere, but for the rest, they haven't had a moment to slow down.