‘Discovery’ watch – my thoughts and reactions – Part 46: ‘The Galactic Barrier’

Things are tense and I feel it. The Federation are not sure if they can even speak 10-C’s language, the new DMA is even more powerful, giving them only 12 hours, and Discovery sets off for a mission they may not come back from.

Bryce leaves the crew again to continue working with Kovich, and the President gives all her powers to the Vice-President as she comes on board.

And what was a very long cold opening, we now move through the titles to the first act.

We pause for a long silent moment, nine lightyears away from the barrier, before Discovery jumps in.

Meanwhile Tarka has taken Book to the former site of the camp he was kept prisoner in order to get the materials they need to get through the barrier.

We flashback to Tarka along with Oros, the only friend he had during his captivity.

Discovery comes out of warp right outside the galactic barrier. It’s not clear if Discovery can survive breaching through, until Staments points out safe bubbles. Discovery pushes in, and enters one of the bubbles. The ship immediately deals with weirdness, but manages to reach a bubble. Meanwhile Tarka comforts Oros during a panic attack, who confides in him he’s developing a way out using multidimensional travel.

A message from Vance reveals to Bunham and Rillik that the DMA has moved and is in collision to Earth. They disagree on telling the crew about the danger to their home, but their discussion is interrupted by their bubble getting stuck.

In the past, Tarka and Oros attempt their teleporter, but it fails. Tarka reveals under torture what they were doing when they were discovered, but manages to overpower a guard and kill them, before blasting off his and Oros’ obedience disks. Forced to leave him behind, he fled. When he returned for him, he had gone, and there was no sign that he had been killed, so Tarka assumes he had successfully teleported away, and is committed to following him,

The crew push Discovery into another bubble to ride out of the barrier, using their plans when they return home to inspire them. Discovery has pushed through the other side of the barrier, and the President speaks to the crew, and tells them their home is in danger.

There’s a sombre atmosphere on the ship as the news sinks in, but Burnham and Rillik are glad they were able to connect before the difficult mission.

I never felt a strong sense of threat from this episode, but I definitely felt the tenseness. The crews fears definitely came through in the direction, presentation and acting. And it was great to see the flashbacks, not so much because it helped clarify Tarka’s motive (it didn’t, really, although I guess we can empathise with his resolve much more now we’ve seen his relationship – and if Oros is still alive, it gives us a basis of comparison) but seeing Sawn Doyle play a less guarded Tarka, both in present and in the past, allowed for some very gripping TV.

Bu with few episodes left, will we get to meet the 10-C in enough time to allow for a suitably engaging finale?

P.S. next week will be fun what with both Discovery and Picard coming out on the same day!

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