How are you spending your New Year’s Eve? With loved ones, friends and family?
Aw, that’s nice.
I don’t have that. All I have is this blog and Star Trek.
So this is how I’m spending my end of 2021*. Blogging about the latest episode.
Staments and Tal use the data from the void to try and pinpoint the 10-C origins, while Burnham focuses on making friends with Grunge, the most important thing. Zora works out the origins, but decides to keep it a secret to protect the crew from danger. The ship itself is doing mutiny!!!
Well there’s an interesting premise.
Burnham consults with Kovich, who has been tasked with getting the results from Zora using his background, with a warning that fully sentient units are prohibited. Kovich explitly mentions that have a background in cognitive science with a speciality in artificial sentience and intelligence – which does explain some of what he has been involved in in past episodes, but not his level of authority or presence. Just who is Kovich …
Burnham joins an assembly, with Book and Tarka are also present, of Federation members. Rillak promises that they will have the coordinates of 10-C soon, and they need a decision for what to do when that happens. Immediately, everyone argues between violence and communication. Burnham gives an argument to not assume malice, before sharing a glance with Book.
Staments makes a hilarious display of using music and hugs to hide a discussion from Zora, which Kovich immediately undermines by explicitly outing his plan. Staments makes a strong argument against allowing an emotional AI running the ship. Kovich states if they poses a risk, he has the authority to remove them and put them into another form (which to me … seems reasonable to me?). Tal and Gray arrive to advocate for them, but Zora has a solution – a kill switch, to give anyone concerned the power to terminate them if they believe they pose a risk. Which … seems excessive??? The moved into another body solution seemed much more sensible?
In the assembly, Tarka seizes a moment and teleports to the head of the assembly to reveal he has designed a weapon to destroy the DMA, throwing the assembly into chaos.
Tarka elaborates on how his weapon works. Burnham points out the weapon is illegal, as it would disrupt subspace, damaging warp capabilities. It could pose risks to other worlds’ abilities to travel, and maybe damage 10-C, provoking war. The two clear choices present, the assembly recesses. Book is hurt by Burnham’s insistence for a peaceful solution.
Tal and Gray (and Culbert) advocate against the kill switch. When Kovich points out this goes against Zora’s core function, Zora declares they have changed their core function – to care for Discovery and the crew.
Book and Burnham don’t see eye to eye, and he goes for a walk. Rillak insists on being impartial, so asks Burnham to advocate for peace. Meanwhile Tarka tells Book to advocate for his weapon. When his motives are questioned, Tarka reveals he is from a parallel universe, and he needs the DMA power source to get back.
Book speaks for his dead, giving an emotive speech about pain and loss. Arguing that they do not live in normal times, they need to defend themselves, whatever the risks. His speech receives an applause from everyone. Burnham reluctantly decides to speak for the peaceful solution.
On Discovery, they find a new system, and find it stores Zora’s subconscious, they have found Zora’s dreams. Kovich believes these images are genuine, and shows her values. AIs can’t dream – so this is something new. Both Burnham and Staments simultaneously give a talk about their perspective, about understanding, trust, and fear. Staments argues to Zora that for him to trust Zora, they must trust them. Zora agrees, and gives up the coordinates.
The assembly votes.
For peaceful first contact. The room is tense. Book walks away.
Kovich and Staments discuss his findings. Staments still has concerns. He feels more comfortable with Zora being part of the chain of command. Kovich declares that Zora is a new life, not an AI. Staments suggests Zora joins Starfleet. Everyone in the room happily agrees. Kovich also reveals if this partnership wasn’t arrived to, he would’ve reassigned Staments (one of only two Spore drive operators, from the only Spore drive ship … yeah …).
Tarka installs a portable spore drive on Book’s ship, and Book, after leaving Grunge with Burnham, leaves Discovery, presumably to carry out the attack on the DMA without the Federation, which Burnham discovers a few seconds too late (possibly? I feel like she had a moment where she could’ve caught the ship in a tractor but okay).
Absolutely loved this episode – Discovery does these large scale debate episodes well, and we got two debates – whether to risk peacefully reaching out to a dangerous entity, in case their harmful actions are accidental, or take defensive violent measures, a quicker solution but one which risks further conflict. And the dialogue with Kovich, Staments, Saru, Tal and Gray determining what Zora is is a nice little sub-note to Measure of a Man, sure not as explorative, but all the same an interesting discussion on sapience.
And a nice little cliffhanger to end the year on.
* legitimately almost wrote ‘end of 2020’ because in my mind the last two years have absolutely just been a blur.
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