Reno is back, our other favourite sassy engineer, as we get a literal first second plot twist as the DMA disappearing and reappearing, breaking the laws of physics. The DMA therefore must be artificial, created and controlled.
Ruon Tarka, the scientist making Spore Drive.2, is assigned to also help figure out the DMA problem, annoying a bristled Staments. Discovery starts its mission to evacuate Radvek 5, an asteroid chain that currently is in the DMA’s potential path.
Burnham talks to magistrate of Radvek, including about six individuals who are static and not near the evacuation point. The magistrate reveals that these are prisoners, imprisoned as an example. The magistrate doesn’t really care much for them, and even if he did, everyone who knows how to operate the prison has already fled. Therefore Burnham and Book decide to make it their personal mission to rescue them (because otherwise the episode would be too simple I guess!). Commander Rhys asks to lead the evacuation team, as he was rescued as a child when his town was wiped out by a hurricane by Starfleet (which is a nice bit of character building but much as is the case with this show, most of the bridge crew are only given backgrounds like this – this is a common criticism against the show by many who are used to the more ensemble way previous Star Trek shows operate, but personally, I don’t mind that much as it seemed clear to me this isn’t an ensemble show but one focused around Michael Burnham).
Tarka arrives and instantly treats everyone with a sense of cockiness. As they discuss the DMA, he shows disdain for their theorising and insists they need to do an actual experiment and create a scaled down version of the DMA. He shows Staments his idea, winning over Staments who is in awe of the proposal. Saru is more cautious about the risks, but Staments assures him they can handle it safely.
Book and Burnham arrive at the prison, to free the prisoners who seem fairly confrontational despite being told they’re being rescued. Culbert has a meeting with Kovich, where he tells him he’s struggling with the therapy he’s running, that he’s been lying giving people hope. Kovich explains that the reason Culbert pushes himself into a ‘savour-complex’ because he got a second chance, while other people don’t. His savour-complex is his escapisms. Kovich tells him he’s only human, he needs rest.
The prisoners are free, and they immediately decide to run. Burnham tries to stop them, but they call her out on it and for some reason she agrees. They ask for a guarantee for their freedom, which Burnham is unable to promise.
Tarka’s experiment is a success, but they need more power. To do would risk the ship, so Saru is initially against it, but Tarka convinces him by literally screaming at his face to take the risk, Staments on top adds that this is the closest they have ever been to figuring out the DMA. They attempt the experiment, but in order to give the model enough power, they have to reduce the containment field strength … a dangerous situation which Saru continues to allow. Staments pushes the containment all the way 5% before Saru kills power and storms off.
Burnham finds a standing order that allows her to grant asylum (as the imprisonment was ‘political theatre’ rather than justice), and they flee after one of them reveals privately they did kill a person. They escape the prison, and all but the murderer are beamed out. When Booker asks him over, he reveals he is staying. He is resolved to stay there until he dies, be it imprisoned or when the DMA hits. He insists it is his choice to be allowed to die, and Burnham is forced to allow him. Booker is upset by this, wanting to save everyone. They beam back and Booker storms off. Burnham reveals to Felix, the murder, that the DMA is going to hit. Felix wants to spend his last moments confessing what he did – he robbed a man who gave him shelter, and killed him when he was caught in the act. One of the items he stole was an item that recorded the family’s past. He reveals the family’s name just before the DMA hits and pushes the asteroids into a star. Discovery jumps away. The magistrate arrives on the bridge demanding the prisoners be put in the brig, but Burnham points out they are all under Federation protection now. She tells him to ensure their new society is more just. She’s right … although maybe it would be appropiate to actually confirm the prisoners were imprisoned for what they said they were.
Burnham goes to meet the girl who had the item stolen from her, on the way down, Zora (the ship) expresses empathy towards Burnham’s sorrow – the ship has developed emotions …
A drinking Booker is approached by Tarka. Tarka offers him real alcohol, and introduces himself. Booker deduces that Tarka has an idea about who is responsible, but Tarka says he doesn’t, only that they would need the power equivalent to a hypergiant star. He scratches a scar on the back of his neck and then makes a lot of cryptic comments and a surface reading of this I guess is meant to make me think he is a baddie??? Is it him???? Who knows but it’s certainly a sus convo.
Isn’t the scar on the back the same thing as in X-Men 2???? Tarka is the imposter lol.
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