Star Trek Discovery continues this week for those who know how to find it. "Context is for Kings" This episode felt quick for some reason. Michael Burnham is a criminal en route to some kind of mining colony or who knows where when their shuttle pilot dies. Who will rescue them, you ask? I'll give you a hint: it rhymes with Biscovery. This is our first time actually getting to see the titular ship, and it's billed as a scientific workhorse able to perform countless experiments and tests and science stuff. Burnham is scorned by the other criminals, the crew, and even the few faces from Shenzhou that she worked with before, including her old friend Saru. But her Vulcan-educated super-smarts get her assigned to a special experiment, and then when a similar experiment goes wrong on their sister ship, she gets assigned to the away mission. Klingons and monster chases ensue. Things are not as they seem. She's been selected by the ominous Captain Lorca for a special project which looks like it could turn rather ominous as well. By the end, we still don't know what's happening, but it feels a lot like that moment in a horror movie where you shout, "Get out of that room!" but the character stays and... it doesn't go well. I thought it was dark last episode, but geez, this time they literally turn out the lights. I'm starting to get suspicious the production value isn't as good as we thought if they have to keep hiding it. It's one thing to do it here or there, but honestly, you never get a clear look at anything. Discovery, the ship, looks awesome. When you can see it. And other than being an elaborate science vessel researching a new kind of propulsion, we don't learn much about it. Captain Lorca (played by Jason Isaacs) seems insane and creepy. Not at all in the tradition of Kirk or Picard, but I think I like that. He's unique, and haunting. Cadet Sylvia Tilly (Mary Wiseman) is amusing and fun as the socially awkward roommate. I can't tell if she's supposed to be on the spectrum or just goofy. The Science Officer Stamets (Anthony Rapp, AKA the guy who single-handedly killed Kevin Spacey's career... ya know, unless you count Kevin Spacey himself who had it coming) is written to be pretty annoying as the condescending scientist who spouts treknobabble all the time. He makes me miss Geordi LaForge. I'd much rather spend time with Burnham and Saru, the only two with chemistry so far. But Saru hates her now, and like everyone else, blames her for the war and the death of their captain. It's laid on a little thick. But Why? Why is the war Burnham's fault? Her mutiny was about a difference in tactics, not betrayal or disloyalty in the moral sense, and it didn't succeed anyway. She didn't actually cause the war. She didn't make it worse, either. It wasn't even her fault the captain died. Those events happened completely without her. She didn't even kill that Klingon on purpose at the beginning, (but regardless, no one references that specific action as her fatal error, "You killed that Klingon and pissed them off!") No, they reference the mutiny. But the mutiny didn't work! And her logic had to have made sense to somebody since it was so easy to convey to the audience. Worse, she accepts the blame, even though she knows she didn't cause the war. I really feel the writers botched this internal logic. I understand the court martial. I understand her guilt. I even understand everyone hating her because they don't realize what really took place. But what I don't understand is why no one ever clarifies the truth. Saru, for example, is a smart guy. He should know better. I thought when he showed up at her room with blueberries, he was the one person who knew she wasn't to blame. But then he guilt-tripped her over Georgiou's death. Come on man. That's cold. Conclusion: This wasn't the best setup for the new status quo, and it wasn't what the show needed for a third episode to lock in fans. It was dark, vague, and un-endearing. The characters were mysterious, yes, but mostly annoying. Burnham is too depressed, when instead we need to see her resilience and fortitude energetically carrying us through. The acting is fine, but we need a reason to root for her. The writers are really working against the best interests of this show and the Star Trek mythos as a whole. It's clear the show is going to double-down on its dour disposition rather than pivot to something more adventurous. Even Battlestar Galactica never got this heavy, dark or ambiguous. If it wasn't for the sound design team and their brilliant subtlety I'd never know it was Star Trek. I don't associate with the haters out there who are never satisfied, though. Most of their complaints are racist, sexist, and after this episode probably homophobic (I'm not joking, it gets really bad sometimes on the internet) but this episode isn't helping in the critical department: editing, writing, cinematography, themes and the like. They've just made weak choices at the showrunner level and this may be the first solid evidence of the shakeups happening behind the scenes over the last year and a half. Sure, I'll keep watching, but it had better liven up soon because The Orville is free on Fox every week and isn't as difficult to find (even with Fox moving it around) and it's a lot more entertaining on a visceral level. Even if it is kinda stupid. After this week, I'm really starting to fear The Orville could win over the Trek fans afterall.... We'll find out soon, see you in the future! Discovery Episode 1&2 Review Discovery Episode 7 Review (because I skipped a couple reviews)
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