Our weekly adventure into figuring out just what the hell happened to Spock is finally reaping some rewards in the form of real information. The episode begins with a bit of a primer on the origins of Trek, with a quick recap of what happened to Spock and Pike in the pilot, "The Cage." I love that this is not just referenced, or even re-played out, but rather original footage used. It's a nice touch. Anyway, Spock leads Burnham to Talos IV because he knows that they can fix his brain, since his logic is all broken due to time being all jumbled up in his mind. There we learn that Spock mind-melded with the Red Angel, and it showed him the destruction of all sentient life in the universe by those Matrix-like robot squids that Pike and Tyler brought back from the future. We also learn that Spock is still resentful of Burnham because she ran away to protect him when they were little, and in order to get him not to follow said some really hurtful things. You'd think he would have had plenty time to get over that, but it was a key moment in his life when he turned away from his human side and became completely cold and....Vulcan.
Meanwhile on Discovery, Culber and Stamets are not getting along. As we have seen happen slowly throughout the series, Stamets is no longer who he once was. He is compassionate, caring, and thoughtful. The kind of guy to prepare your favorite meal for you to cheer you up. But Culber doesn't know that guy, and he's not sure who he himself even is. He has all the memories of his former self, but none of the feelings. Except, he does want to kick Tyler's ass, and nearly does. After a physical stalemate, in a powerful scene, the two men comfort each other. Culber says, "I don't even know who I am." Ash Tyler replies, "Who do you think you're talking to?" It's very well played.
Also, there have been unauthorized transmissions, and someone has sabotaged the spore drive. Everyone suspects Tyler, because... well you know he once was a Klingon spy who killed a crew member and now is working for Section 31 who we have almost certainly determined are the bad guys. But we as viewers know that it was actually our partial (full?) robot friend on the bridge who is working for the squids.
In the end, Spock is no longer catatonic (and has been called out on his bad beard.... we're looking at you next, Tyler), Section 31 has been duped, Mirror Geougiou still seems to be helpful to our cause even if for her own selfish reasons, Discovery is officially on the run, and the crew has unified in their new role as fugitives. I like how this episode came together. We finally got long-awaited answers and get to see Spock do something other than stare into space. I love the return of Trek to its roots with the Talosians. I also like that both the Stamets and Culber characters haven't just been reset to normal. They have been through some shit, and they should not be the same. Good for the writers of new Trek for recognizing that. But mainly, we now have a cause that is great enough to get me invested in the outcome. The destruction of all sentient life obviously cannot/will not happen, so the rest of the season we get to watch our heroes prevent it. This should make for even more Good Trek.Published May 2, 2019
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