Spoilers Star Trek: Discovery 4x13 - "Coming Home"

[Amaris]

And the Federation probably had far more than 150 member worlds by the time of the Burn. With just 60 left but being in such decay and disarray it would stand to reason that a huge chunk of its 3070 Era membership broke away in the wake of the Burn and what's left by the time of Discovery's arrival in the late 32nd century is a very truncated and far tinier Federation akin to the dissolution of the British Empire.

True, though in this case the dissolution was for the worse rather than the better.

 

[Kamen Rider Blade]

I think it was a bit of a copout that they teased so many deaths only to have the people wind up being okay, except Tarka.

We still have next season, Tarka might be alive and the 10C are holding him as a "Guest".

If the 10C was able to steal Book's Transporter Signal, it stands to reason that Tarka's Transporter Signal was also hijacked and put into stasis.

I was starting to groan as Michael called the President aside right as the crisis was happening, expecting another heartfelt sharing of emotions and a sappy speech, but she actually called her aside to address a "double-agent" among the diplomats. Then General Ndoye just comes forward and takes credit. Respect.

I'm happy that Michal was able to deduce very quickly that there was a "Double Agent" amongst her ship and that the suspects were the Diplomats. I'm even happier that General Ndoye had the bravery to admit it without any waste of time on investigation and she tried to justify her actions based on her love of Home Planet.

An actor's personal life doesn't impact my enjoyment of the material, for the most part.

I concur, what somebody does in their personal life shouldn't affect their work.

 

[Rhodan]

I think people would agree that this episode as a whole was executed well. Problem is that it was totaly predictable ending where contact is established, aliens tell they didn´t know what were doing, they stop doing it and Discovery is free to begin another unrelated adventure.
Also, I´m beginning to reference cartoons here a lot but after Book´s resurrection I´ve got flashbacks to second Futurama movie where Yivo brought Kif back to life after Amy gave him tantrum.

 

[Mr Awe]

I thought Species-10C were wonderfully designed and a great deal of the episode focused more on communicating and forging an understanding with them than a big action fest. Season 4 is perhaps the most organically Trek feeling season yet, where the values/ethos of Trek are at the heart of the story and not an afterthought. I do think the show’s writers have been listening to feedback and they are responding to it, in largely positive ways. Even in small ways like having some of the bridge crew together as they take shore leave, that was a nice touch to show how much this crew has become a family, like other Trek crews do over time.

I've been (justifiably) critical of writing/pacing this season. However, I whole heartedly agree that this season was, as you put it, the most organically Trek feeling. They really did a fantastic job at that aspect and deserve kudos for that.

I'm hoping that next season they get to explore more rather than being tied down to one large calamity.

 

[Mr Awe]

Nobody hates Star Trek more than Star Trek fans. I don't even know why I continue to read these threads. Out of 20 years of habit, I guess. I feel like people who actually enjoy modern Trek are scared out of the comments on every platform because Discovery keeps getting renewed and there's always good ratings in the polls, but the threads are just filled with vitriol over everything.

There's plenty of people on this board who like Discovery in general and some who said this was its best season. However, there are some who have a different opinion. My opinion about Discovery has changed in the past two season to some degree.

Perhaps you just recall the negative comments more? But there are plenty of people who like it and say so. Not everyone will agree with your personal opinion.

 

[Mr Awe]

The episodes polls posted here for every episode say otherwise.

It's just a vocal minority beeing more upset.

No, there's definitely many people who think the storytelling overall has been subpar this season. They did stick the landing in the season finale, but it was sometimes a tedious journey getting to the finale. Characterizations were off. 10C weren't fully thought through. Too many plot conveniences and lack of consequences. Etc.

However, there are also many people who enjoyed it greatly this season. So, opinion is split.

 

[Tuskin38]

I wonder if the USS Mitchell was named after Kenneth Mitchell? He said he was going to appear this season in 'a cool way'.

 

[Ray Hardgrit]

Yeah, it's interesting that a USS Mitchell would get mentioned so much during an arc that involves heading through the Galactic Barrier, definitely makes you think of Gary Mitchell, but I can't think of anything else this season that'd match what he said.

This means that the guy's played three Klingons, a scientist and a spaceship, so he's given Jeffery Combs some proper competition.

 

[thribs]

They could only carry 450.000 people? Why not use the turbolift shafts? I'm sure they could fit a planet's worth of people there.

 

[Ray Hardgrit]

The turbolift shaft is how a ship with a crew in the hundreds was able rescue hundreds of thousands!

 

[BigJake]

Well, this was an easy 9/10.

Spoiler

It would have been a 10/10 with some explanation of why the 10C had such trouble identifying warp-capable species as "higher life forms," but they're alien enough (and cut off from the universe enough) that I can roll with it. Maybe their disaster happened long enough ago that there weren't warp-capable species in the Milky Way when they first went into isolation, maybe they couldn't scry through the Galactic Barrier and assumed it was evidence that the galaxy was lifeless... I dunno.

But everything else fired on all cylinders, and came to a really uplifting resolution... despite that harrowing moment where we thought Book was dead. And how beautiful that it got to be him who demanded the 10C fully shut down the DMA. And Earth coming back into the Federation under President Stacey Abrams (I know that wasn't her in-lore name but I was just tickled to see her)... all so good! Really enjoyed it.

 

[shapeshifter]

The last three weeks of watching each back to back has made something clear to me, DISC is TOS flavored and PICD is TNG flavored but both are modern takes the classics. It is amazing how the DNA of the respective parent shows are present in each.

Whatever can be said about writing style errors or whatever, this episode evoked strong emotional responses in me and isn't that why we watch?

This finale was Niagara Falls so I have to give it its due. Well done. Full 10 Cannot wait for what's next for DISC...

 

[Ray Hardgrit]

Whatever can be said about writing style errors or whatever, this episode evoked strong emotional responses in me and isn't that why we watch?

That... is an interesting question. I suppose it depends on the individual watching it. Personally I can get engrossed in these episodes but it's rare that anything affects me emotionally. Unless it's funny.

Actually there was one moment that evoked an emotional response and that's when Book's transporter beam failed. I wanted to send a strongly worded message to my TV explaining that's not how transporters work! Even if the ship explodes they're always still fine. Unless they've been dragged into the Nexus or something.

But then it turned out that the Ten-C had hijacked the beam so it all made sense in the end and I was happy.

 

[cooleddie74]

Species 10-C was extremely cool. A moment of pure Trek.

 

[Awesome Possum]

Well, this was an easy 9/10.

Spoiler

It would have been a 10/10 with some explanation of why the 10C had such trouble identifying warp-capable species as "higher life forms," but they're alien enough (and cut off from the universe enough) that I can roll with it. Maybe their disaster happened long enough ago that there weren't warp-capable species in the Milky Way when they first went into isolation, maybe they couldn't scry through the Galactic Barrier and assumed it was evidence that the galaxy was lifeless... I dunno.

But everything else fired on all cylinders, and came to a really uplifting resolution... despite that harrowing moment where we thought Book was dead. And how beautiful that it got to be him who demanded the 10C fully shut down the DMA. And Earth coming back into the Federation under President Stacey Abrams (I know that wasn't her in-lore name but I was just tickled to see her)... all so good! Really enjoyed it.

Spoiler: Spoilers

I figured they were so advanced that something on the level of warp technology is so beneath them that it's on par with how we respond to animals like chimps or crows using simple tools, they're basically curiosity.

 

[JoaquinSlowly]

Spoiler: Spoilers

I figured they were so advanced that something on the level of warp technology is so beneath them that it's on par with how we respond to animals like chimps or crows using simple tools, they're basically curiosity.

Well put! Similarly, insects and animals like beavers have been terraforming far longer than humans, and we don’t consider them higher species.

 

[The Wormhole]

Eleven months ago exactly I made this prediction regarding how season 4 would end:

My personal theory is that the last two or three episodes of season 4 are going to involve the Dreaded Space Anomaly detected heading for Earth which is going to result in Disco leading a Starfleet task force to work with the EDF and together they work to stop the Anomaly just as its edges are crossing into the Sol system, With the day saved, an eternally grateful Earth agrees to rejoin the Federation. Final scene of the finale involves celebrations in San Francisco or Paris or some city with a real recognizable landmark which is apparently still standing in the 32nd century.

Looks like I was about 80% correct.

 

[Ray Hardgrit]

I may be an enigma. If I get bored I fall asleep or go do something else.

There's a bit of room between being bored to sleep and being emotionally affected.

Oh yeah, you mean how DISC transporters are now near instantaneous until it's needed most.

That, plus Discovery had locked on to the beam and was materialising him onto the bridge themselves. I interpreted that as meaning that they'd taken over the process and Book was already safely in their pattern buffer. Like with Ndoye a minute earlier, when she was beamed to sickbay after her ship's fiery destruction.

 

[TimeIsAPredator]

. People who are dismissing the newer stuff as woke haven't been paying attention since the 1960s.

That always baffles me too. Casting from the very beginning was about progressive politics as was half the episodes.

Star Trek never stopped commenting on our social order

Commenting on social order and straight up cameos are different for me. I would rather an episode about voting rights.

Well, some of our beloved recurring actors of the past have subsequently gone full-crazy, and we're still enjoying the reruns.

It won't stop me enjoying.

Are you anticipating Ilhan Omar being on the show next season or something?

Don't know much about her but I don't want any US politicians or any other for that matter.

There was a Screen Rant article about how Discovery "broke the old rules of Trek" by having non bipedal aliens for the first time ever. Couldn't help but laugh.

 

[thribs]