For the second time in a row, we don’t get a cold opening as we watch episode 8, Si Vis Pacem, Para Bellum. (This and Magic to Make the Sanest Man Go Mad are the first two episodes since Encounter at Farpoint to do so.)
A Federation ship is under attack at Discovery jumps in firing (I can’t recall for sure, but I can’t quite remember if this series has shown beam phasers being fired out of ship canons either :'( ).
Jason Isaacs as Lorca commanding the ship is a joy to watch, with his patienceless command style (“Mr. Rees, can I trouble you to fire at something?!”). Outnumbered, he commands the conn to keep the Discovery in between the Klingons and the damaged Federation ship (there’s a nice moment where Detmer has a look of fear on her face at that command and very forcibly confirms the order). The ship fails to intercept both torpedoes, and Lorca has a look of dismay on his face and he orders the ship to jump. (When they arrive, he gives the conn to Ariam, so I guess she’s Second Officer? unless they’re not on the bridge. Look I want to know, okay?)
An irritable, confused and exhausted Staments walks out of the spore chamber as in his ready room Lorca complains to a Starfleet admiral about being the only ship rendering aid. The admiral confirms that the Kol has managed to share the stealth technology to all ships that have joined him.
Saru, Tyler and Burnham are on a planet below trying to investigate the planet’s natural EMF to see if it can be harnessed as a sonar.
Suddenly a blue mist forms into the shape of a being, as do many around them.
Back with the Klingons a now scarred L’Rell attempts to pledge her House’s loyalty to Kor by offering to get information out of his prisoner (which is likely to mean Cornwall).
Saru, Tyler and Burnham are lead to a room, and try to figure out a way to communicate with the beings. They touch Saru’s arm and communicate with him that way.
L’Rell enters Cornwall’s cell with torture devices. She roars at her to get her to screen, which causes the guard to leave laughing (????). L’Rell is glad, as it now allows them to talk. Tyler talks about his plans after the war with Burnham. Burnham replies that after the war she goes back to prison. Tyler flirts back saying that perhaps they should hope the war doesn’t end and Burnham replies back with the Vulcan proverb about the needs of the many and they say some other stuff but it’s very quiet so I’m not sure what they say.
On Discovery, Tilly confronts Staments on his behaviour, from his switchings between hyper and grumpy. Staments confirms he’s been having problems, but can’t confide in Culber, as it will either result in Staments being sent away for testing or Culber’s career ruined if he doesn’t report it.
L’Rell asks Cornwall about how Federation treats its prisoners. Well Cornwall replies that they are interrogated humanely and there is no death penalty, L’Rell declares she wants to defect (I call TRAP). She claims Kol has left her alone, and that they can use her ship to escape.
Saru reveals that the beings have a symbiosis connection with their planet. Saru reveals they want to be known by the rest of the universe. The crew call it a night, but Saru cannot sleep due to the noise he is able to hear from the planet. He goes outside and the beings connect to him and read his mind.
The next morning a very chipper Saru reports that the beings will cooperate with them, and that he was able to use the planet’s naturally occurring transmitter to contact Discovery. As he asks Burnham and Tyler for their communicators, the music tells us something is wrong. Sure enough, he crushes them and tells them the beings have invited them to stay there with them. Burnham picks up that Saru appears compromised, but Saru claims that the planet is the ultimate place of peace.
He leaves, and Tyler decides that they need to complete the mission regardless. Burnham objects, saying that Starfleet regulation prohibits them from using other culture’s resources without permission. Tyler retorts that Saru had claimed they had that permission, but Burnham rightfully rebuts that Saru’s cannot be taken for granted – however Tyler pulls rank.
As L’Rell tells Cornwall how much she is disappointed in Kol, Kol asks them where they are going. L’Rell and Cornwall appear to fight before L’Rell appears to kill Cornwall. She tells Kol Cornwall tried to escape and that she will dispose of the body. Kol is fairly chill with the fact that when he caught them, neither looked like they were forcing the other, the fact that the fight starting a beat after they were discovered, and that L’Rell just killed a very important and apparently hard to obtain asset. The two responses I’d expect here are “Do I look like an idiot?!” or “You were meant to be interrogating her! How could you be so incompetent to let her turn the tables on you and then for you to kill our most important POW?!”
Saru tells Tyler that the noises have stopped being an issue for him as he accepted to harmonise with them. Tyler says that, similarly, he is fighting something, but isn’t sure he can stop – he doesn’t want to defeat the Klingons, he wants to hurt them. Saru uses a rock which he claims will help Tyler feel at ease, however Tyler reacts to it and this causes Saru to realise Tyler was only distracting him. He pulls Tyler’s phaser away from him and grabs his throat, forcing him to the ground, demanding to know where Burnham is.
Burnham arrives at the transmitter and starts to set up some equipment. A fast-moving (and maybe a bit CGI?) Saru sprints after her. L’Rell drags Cornwall’s body into a room full of other Klingons, who apparently she knew but didn’t realise were dead. She voices her anger.
Saru reaches Burnham and tries to destroy the machine. They engage in hand-to-hand combat, before Burnham shoots multiple stun shots at him (lower setting? Other reason? Who knows?). She tries to tell him that there can’t be peace while there’s still a war, but he starts to charge at her anyway before the beings transport Tyler to their location. Saru falls to the ground apologising for his actions, stating he was trying to protect them. Burnham tells them they need their help to bring peace to the universe, otherwise the Klingons will bring the opposite with them. Saru objects, saying the Klingons will attack the peaceful planet if they get involved. The beings appear to agree to help, and activate the transmitter. Discovery then contacts the party (aren’t they two days out? Did Burnham’s initial message get through? What did the beings activating the transmitter accomplish?) and transports them up, over Saru’s objections.
In sickbay, Saru expresses shame over his actions, and that he gave into his desire to have no fear.
T’Rell tells Kol that Cornwall confirmed that Discovery has secret tech (which I’m sure they already knew). She claims to have been effective when Kol points out she was reckless letting her escape (which is a fair point – you can be more effective when your prisoner isn’t dead to no longer tell tales). Apparently this is enough to convince Kor to invite her into his House. But then he calls her a liar and he knows of her deceit, and tells the guards to take her away. Then an officer tells Kor that a invitation from Pahvo (the planet Starfleet was on) has been sent to them, so he orders them to go there (without asking what the message even is??)?????
Yeah I have absolutely no idea what to make of that scene.
On the bridge of the Discovery, Lorca reveals that instead of the Pahvans using their signal to detect invisible Klingon ships, they have sent a message to the Klingons inviting them there. Burnham and Tyler are confused, but Burnham speculates that the Pahvans, wanting harmony, are trying to bring the two enemies together.
I mean, at the end of the episode, I’m confused. I get that the show is playing a long game, so maybe not everything is apparent but – was Saru brainwashed or was he actually acting under his own will, did L’Rell actually kill Cornwall or was it fake, what is L’Rell actual motives, is she actually trying to defect or is it just a trap, how much does Kol know about L’Rell’s actions to invite her into his House after praising her skills before imprisoning her for deception??
Like – a lot of these look like they’re set ups for plot twists that rely on fake-outs. But the thing is, that fake-outs are so expected nowadays, you can’t play your characters ambiguously. That’s just cheating.
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