‘Star Trek: Discovery’ Manages To Cram A Lot Of Star Trek Into One Episode
by Frank Martin
Star Trek has been many things over the years. Its episodes can range from comedy, to action and adventure, to horror, and a lot to philosophical pondering along the way. In the past, episodes used to stick to one theme or tone over another. Last week’s episode of Star Trek: Discovery decided to do things a little differently. Rather than just have one motif, the episode followed multiple plot threads, all of which focused on a completely different aspect of storytelling. This just goes to show how much the franchise has evolved over the years, that the pacing is now moving so briskly that a single episode can be jam-packed with a lot.
The treasure hunt across the galaxy continues as Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) and the Discovery crew head to Trill looking for the next piece of the puzzle. Their mission brings them to a very old symbiont who is able to pass one of their previous host into Dr. Culber’s (Wilson Cruz) body. Then he takes them on a journey to find the puzzle piece, but it’s really a test to see if they are worthy of acquiring it. Meanwhile, Saru (Doug Jones) has his own political issues because of his impending marriage. He’s never been in a relationship like this before, so it’s interesting to see him navigate these particular romantic waters.
Those two plot lines were completely different from one another, but they operated simultaneously very well. And there was also a third storyline involving Rayner (Callum Keith Rennie) as he begins to adjust to the Discovery’s crew. He’s very brisk and straightforward, not to mention smart. But he’s not exactly a people person. The crew of the Discovery is very different than any other Starfleet crew because they came from the distant past. They are more akin to a family, so watching him try to fit in is a poignant character arc. All these things work together to paint a very different picture of what Star Trek is like and it does it very well.
Star Trek Discovery streams Thursdays on Paramount+.