I’m looking forward to seeing how Burnham and Raynor’s dynamic as CO and XO evolve this week, as we travel back to Trill!
CaptainPikeachu made this point earlier, but we get confirmation that Booker has told everyone about his connection to Moll, and as CaptainPikeachu said, it is refreshing to avoid the ‘Poor Communication Kills’ trope where a character learns a secret but keeps it to themselves when we would avoid so much grief if they had just been open about it! We hear about Moll’s Tragic BackstoryTM.
Booker appeals to be allowed to be involved in Moll’s recapture, feeling the need to redeem himself. Culber continues to be awesome with his mental wellbeing mindset though, one of my favourite things about this show for sure!
The MacGuffin from last week has the unique facial pattern of a Trill from 800 years ago, whose symbiote may still be alive. Meanwhile, a recently demotes (or … re-promoted) Commander Reynor meets with Burnham. A frosty joke creates a slight moment of awkwardness, which continues as Raynor is reluctant to do 1-on-1s with the crew. Burnham insists and I am giddy for the character work we are in for.
After Burnham introduces Raynor to the bridge crew (a lot of whom aren’t previous characters), we jump to Trill and we catch up with Reno and a caffeinated Tal, with Reno’s signature deadpan commentary coming in to play very quickly. Tal is summoned to the bridge, where they teleport (does no one walk anymore? – or rather … why does anyone walk anywhere anymore … I guess if they’re not in an immediate need to be somewhere … exercise is an important discipline!).
Xi refuses Discovery permission to beam down until they answer a question, “Where does the fourth point?” Because the Trill are big on quest tasks like passing riddles! Luckily, this won’t be an obstacle to delay us, the crew already know the answer from last week, it’s Betazed, proving they have the key and pleasing Xi, who becomes more willing to cooperate! Calzara Bix still possesses the symbiote, and they ready to meet.
Oh wow – titles, that was a long cold opening and a good one, I hadn’t even realised we hadn’t reached the titles yet.
An aged Calzara meets the away team of Burnham, Booker, Culbert and Tal – but this fetch quest isn’t over yet, because Calzara cannot help them, only the original host can – which means a Zhian-tara, the ritual we first saw in Facets that allowed us to meet previous hosts. Culbert volunteers (“emotionally overwhelming is what I do best” big mood bro).
MEANWHILE BACK AT THE RANCH – former Starfleet officer Saru is settling into his new office. He seems to be having trouble transition, even though he has left Discovery before, but perhaps it is more to do with his new Ambassador role. T’rina walks him to his engagement and they discuss their engagement announcement. Saru is embarrassed by T’rina referring to him as ‘handsome and erudite’ (which is cute), but he asks for it to be removed. Saru readies himself for his first speech as Ambassador.
Tilly has been appointed as Raynor’s ‘chaperone’ (as he drly puts it), but Raynor is clearly putting off the task Burnham gave him, choosing to instead review data. Tilly puts him in his place by pointing out he doesn’t need to be doing that, getting on Raynor’s bad side, who orders him to ask crew to report to him in scheduled 5 minute slots instead. Ooohhhhh this is painful …
The Bix consciousness transfers into Culbert, who acclimatises to his new body. Wilson Cruz immediately settles into the fun part of the sci-fi gig where you get to play your character but differently, adopting a more gravely tone and suave swagger. He suggests he hid the clue, and walks off in ill-hidden glee.
Saru appears to be doing a GOOD JOB as Ambassador, mediating a compromise to meet another member planet’s needs, with T’Rina looking as proud as a Vulcan can. T’Rina’s aide asks for a word from Saru, and they beam upstairs (… I guess that’s like taking a lift). Her aide believes that Saru is a bad political influence on T’Rina, who is acting more from love than a political mindset – while she voted as per her wishes, it was potentially bad optically given the Vulcan purist movement on Ni’Var. Saru asks the Aide to be clearer, so he does – their betrothal and marriage risks T’Rina’s political future.
Bix is tiring of the crew’s questions, frustrated the crew who are on a time limit. These concerns are seconded with the revelation they are in a predator’s hunting grounds. Bix says the knowledge they seek risks their lives, but Starfleet duty prevails and they continue. Bix reveals he, the Romulan scientist and others were involved in a secret coalition to investigate the Progenitors. After finding their tech and it killing one of them, they destroyed their work, records of themselves, abandoned the project and hid the results.
Raynor has his first meeting with Rhys, who gives the most abrupt ice breaker challenge – tell him something not in his file in 20 words or less. Tilly’s and Rhys’ reactions are expected. Rhys gives a 22 word answer and is dismissed and … like this is poor leadership, but I also respect the pedantry. We continue through the montage, with Raynor continues to be bored and disinterest (although, excellently, so is Reno).
Bix comes up with an excuse for why they just can’t skip to the end (seeing as he knows where it is) – the crew has to prove they are worthy of the power, but also that the time is right. He asks pointedly if they are in a time of peace, and Burnham concedes they are, but can’t promise it’ll last, but expresses faith in the Federation. And counters that Bix clearly believes it must be true too, otherwise why not destroy the tech outright, which Bix concedes in return. They find a fresh kill, the predators are near, as night falls. Bix points out to where the clue is hidden, as a nearly invisible monstrous winged insect being crashes down in front of them!
Bix states there’s no way to get past and they should leave. I agree! I would too. Bix flees, to safeguard the body of Culbert, but Burnham and Booker stay. Booker tries to telepathically communicate, but is blocked. Booker distracts the creature as Burnham teleports over to where the clue is hidden. Booker is about to be hit by the creature but teleports away just in time (unlimited teleports do seem to create a huge advantage, couldn’t they just keep buzzing all over the place?).
Unfortunately, so does the creature’s cloaking ability, and a second one arrives. It shoots at Burnham, and Booker takes the hit for her. They stumble over into cover (erm … no teleport) just in time.
Raynor is focusing on Moll and L’ak (clearly where his mind has been all day), as Stamets walks in saying he’s figured out the numbers he was working on. As it has to do with their mission, Raynor is all ears, dispensing his 20 word limit. Staments reveals that the tech basically allows one to create new life – or even reanimate the dead. Staments is very gleeful, whereas Raynor brings up the dangers. Staments brings up this discovery dwarfs the spore drive (and it’s clear his mind is on the thoughts of scientific legacy), but Raynor is no longer interested and dismisses Staments.
This is enough to push Tilly over the edge and she calls out Raynor. In her 20 words, she deconstructs that Raynor is struggling to accept his demoted role, then excuses himself, leaving Raynor to girth.
Saru brings up awkwardly brings up postponing his announcement, but T’Rina clocks on that her aide has spoken to him. T’Rina, rightly so, expresses she is able to make her own decisions without others needing to protect her. Ah Saru – an excellent ambassador and reader of people but not here.
Spotting eggs, they realise the predators are protecting their young, so they decide they will have to come back another time. However, the rock prevents it, so Burnham falls back to her roots as a xenobiologist, and approaches the predator (not sure why, once outside of the ricks, she can’t then teleport away????). Appearing non-threatening, Booker attempts to communicate with them again, and this time it seems to work, allowing the crew to leave, finding Bix stargazing.
This was, of course, a test, and having passed, Bix passes on the clue, with the original location being a red herring. Saru meanwhile interrupts a conversation T’Rina is having (hey Saru, extras deserve respect too!), and apologises. Thankfully, T’Rina accepts, surprising Saru, who was expecting worse, but T’Rina wisely points out that couples argue. T’Rina accepts their announcement will inflame the purists, but sensible points out that hiding it would be worse.
Culbert returns from the experience, and reclaims his body, speechless. Burnham warns them about Moll and L’ak, and Xi assures them they will be able to deal.
OOOh Tilly is having Slug Cola!
Raynor speaks to Tilly, explaining he is used to having a professional distance from his crew. He tries to prove a point that he has picked up on the core values of his crew from their twenty-word summary, but this doesn’t impress Tilly – he still hasn’t connected, or shown respect, nor earned it. To be honest, I am kinda glad we avoided the cliché ‘and his heart grew three sizes’ growth – it’s only his first day on the job, and more fleshed out character growth is always tastier. So while I was initially disappointed this wasn’t as fleshed out as I would’ve hoped, it was a deliberate need to prove a character point.
Culbert is having a minor existential crises which is very fair from his possession, and their discussion moves onto religion and faith and I appreciate the respect that is shown here. This is one of my bug bears with some Trekkies – that part of Star Trek’s depiction of utopia is an abandonment of religion. And I get it from the perspective of what I think is called ‘organised’ or ‘institutional’ religion – these are man-made social constructs that are as flawed and problematic as any other, influenced by capitalism and greed. And there I’d agree. But faith, pure and personal, has a place. It is not unscientific – the supernatural is just the as of yet unknown, a concept Trek has often referred to and does so again here. Besides, we see clear signs and homages to Christianity and other religion in Classic Trek – DS9 explores religion more thoroughly and I do not believe always critically.
Gray gives a thesis statement about connection and reflection that underlines the episode and all the character’s arcs this episode, as what I believe is the Bix symbiote is released back into the pool – and a sneaky Moll leaves a tracker on Tal’s uniform. Dun dun dunnnn!
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