Star Trek: Discovery 5.10
Jun. 1st, 2024 03:45 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
selenakAnd so it ends. When I'm a bit less busy, I'll try to write an overall series write up, and why I think Star Trek: Discovery, flaws and all, is the best (and most innovative) thing that happened to Trekdom since DS9, and became my darling among the space shows (not just Star Trek) in the last decade.
Okay, it's pretty obvious which part of the episode was shot afer the cancellation, i.e. with the awareness there would not be another season - the epilogue/flash forward. Meaning that if we did get another season, and this was a season, not a series finale, it would have ended with Michael and Book on the beach (it was a beach, right?), and would still have been a very happy ending. Other than assuring us Michael Burnham would have a good life (including staying together with Book, having a kid, rising to the rank of Admiral), the one loose end the epilogue wrapped up was explaining how Zora and Discovery came to be in the state we find them in the Short Trek Calypso, and making this Michael's final mission with the ship, a bit Sheridan and B5 style (with the difference that Michael herself does not go beyond the rim die). I'm currently torn as to whether or not I would have preferred the overall arc of s4 to be the arc of the final season (simply because the challenge of establishing communication with an utterly alien species appeals to me more than a treasure hunt with an ending which was kinda predictable for a final season, though I liked the s5 arc on its own very much, and appreciated all it brought to the table), and will probably make up my mind for the overall Disco post. So for now: the finale as a season finale, not as a series finale.
As mentioned, I kind of figured Micihael would in the end decide no one should have the Progenitor's tech (as it's simply too powerful an instrument for any one species to possess, let alone any one person) - this goes with the Star Trek main character ethos. (Well, okay. Maybe Archer would have... never mind.) So what I was most anxious about was the fate of Saru. And once more, the writers had faked us out with the (as it turns out) red herrings that he might be doomed; instead, he squared off against the Breen Evil Overlord Apparently Not Played By Mary Chieffo and through smarts and masterful bluffing achieved a diplomatic detente. And no shot fired. Go Saru!
Otoh, Michael took a bit longer to convince Moll they needed to work together, and even then Moll attempted a double cross before giving in, but I liked that she neither died nor went evil; she remained a shades of grey wildcard of an antagonist/temporary ally, with the one reliable agenda being her love for L'ak. (Who did not go Pet Sematary, since he wasn't resurrected. Mind you, when the Progenitor told Michael that while it was possible to bring back the body, the personality was gone and the result would be a new being, I suddenly wondered whether anyone has written yet a subtle horror story in which Spock post Search For Spock is in fact a new being (who simply has the memories of old Spock), and the katra return didn't work, and New Spock has lived with the awareness he's just imitiating what everyone expects him to be because everyone would be crushed to discover the truth.)
Of course, the treasure hunting quest was but one part of the overall season arc, the other one being: The Search For Meaning. I.e.: what gives my life meaning? (Note: not "what is my life's purpose" - slightly different thing.) Intermingle that with the overall series emphasis on the importance of both connections between people and the maintaining of ideals, even if it's hard, and you have Michael's overall answer. The episode, like the pilot, was very much focused on her, and that, of course, is one of Discovery's most controversial aspects - it did develop its other characters, but it was more focused on its main character than other Treks, which means that if you didn't like or at least appreciate Michael Burnham, you probably bounced off the show. I came to love the character, and so I was fine with the Michael-centricity of the finale, but I will say I'm also glad that the next show, the long rumored Starfleet: Academy, is set in the Discovery era, meaning pretty much the entire rest of the cast can show up either in guest roles or permanently. (I think I've heard Tilly will definitely?) Hopefully, it means we'll find out what happened to Detmer and Owo after they took off with the ISS Enterprise, among other things.
The Progenitors turning out not to be the First Ones after all (B5 spelling intended), though responsible for creating "infinite diversity in infinite combinations" instead of just one species (which their predecessors did), leaves a bit of mystery and means the origin of life in the Trekverse isn't nailed down to one specific identifiable originator(s): probably wise. A bigger reveal, for me, was Covich, who with some prodding from Michael 'fessed up to being "Daniels of the Enterprise". Now it's been years since I did my ENTERPRISE marathon, so correct me if I'm wrong, but does that mean he's the blurry figure from the future giving Archer instructions in the first two seasons? Anyway, Discovery (and Strange New Worlds) being unafraid to embrace ENTERPRISE lore instead of treating the show as the red headed step child of the franchise is something I've always liked, and I'm glad it happened one more time. David Cronenberg made Covich a cool and interesting character, and I'm glad he now has an alibi to show up in other Treks as well.
Siince he wasn't cruelly sacrificed on the altar of drama, Saru after outwitting the Breen Overlady got to return to his wedding, and the celebration of same concludes the episode (along with the Michael and Book on the beach scene) as presumably originally created, i.e. the season. While we do see Saru in Old Michael's memories later, I thought it was a pretty good note to leave the character, too, if leave him we must - he's proven that he's as successful a diplomat as he was a First Officer and Captain, i.e. he will florish in his second career, he's happy with T'Rina who is the best new (i.e. not a version of an already established) Vulcan character since eons, and they will undoubtedly live and prosper. Saru the Kelpien was himself a fantastic example of a new alien species and character, and in this season we learned even his alter ego in the Mirrorverse did well. His relationship with Michael with its start in fraught rivalry became such a great friendship that I'm glad we took leave of them sharing one more hug.
Lastly: our new character for the season (other than Moll and L'ak), Rayner, finished an arc of his own, somewhat echoing s1 Michael's to the last. As her mutiny in the pilot - which no one shared, and which achieved nothing of what she wanted to do - was contrasted to her refusal of Cornwell's order in the finale (which was shared by the rest of the bridge crew, and which meant Cornwell reconsidered, leading to the ability to end the war started in the pilot - , Rayner's high handed intended rescue attempt from the season opener which damn near caused a catastrophe, is contrasted with his successful command in Michael's absence and his ability to indeed (co-)save the day. He's still gruff (that stoic pep talk line was hilarious and yet effective), but has learned to coordinate with others, as did early Michael. Tilly noticing that Michael was basically Rayner's mentor for the season and comparing this Michael and Rayner to herself and Adira, then noticing that maybe Rayner wouldn't appreciate the comparison, was the adult version of early Tilly babble and just great. Looking forward to seeing you at the academy, Tilly!
More overall thoughts to come, as mentioned. But for now, these are my finale thoughts.
Okay, it's pretty obvious which part of the episode was shot afer the cancellation, i.e. with the awareness there would not be another season - the epilogue/flash forward. Meaning that if we did get another season, and this was a season, not a series finale, it would have ended with Michael and Book on the beach (it was a beach, right?), and would still have been a very happy ending. Other than assuring us Michael Burnham would have a good life (including staying together with Book, having a kid, rising to the rank of Admiral), the one loose end the epilogue wrapped up was explaining how Zora and Discovery came to be in the state we find them in the Short Trek Calypso, and making this Michael's final mission with the ship, a bit Sheridan and B5 style (with the difference that Michael herself does not
As mentioned, I kind of figured Micihael would in the end decide no one should have the Progenitor's tech (as it's simply too powerful an instrument for any one species to possess, let alone any one person) - this goes with the Star Trek main character ethos. (Well, okay. Maybe Archer would have... never mind.) So what I was most anxious about was the fate of Saru. And once more, the writers had faked us out with the (as it turns out) red herrings that he might be doomed; instead, he squared off against the Breen Evil Overlord Apparently Not Played By Mary Chieffo and through smarts and masterful bluffing achieved a diplomatic detente. And no shot fired. Go Saru!
Otoh, Michael took a bit longer to convince Moll they needed to work together, and even then Moll attempted a double cross before giving in, but I liked that she neither died nor went evil; she remained a shades of grey wildcard of an antagonist/temporary ally, with the one reliable agenda being her love for L'ak. (Who did not go Pet Sematary, since he wasn't resurrected. Mind you, when the Progenitor told Michael that while it was possible to bring back the body, the personality was gone and the result would be a new being, I suddenly wondered whether anyone has written yet a subtle horror story in which Spock post Search For Spock is in fact a new being (who simply has the memories of old Spock), and the katra return didn't work, and New Spock has lived with the awareness he's just imitiating what everyone expects him to be because everyone would be crushed to discover the truth.)
Of course, the treasure hunting quest was but one part of the overall season arc, the other one being: The Search For Meaning. I.e.: what gives my life meaning? (Note: not "what is my life's purpose" - slightly different thing.) Intermingle that with the overall series emphasis on the importance of both connections between people and the maintaining of ideals, even if it's hard, and you have Michael's overall answer. The episode, like the pilot, was very much focused on her, and that, of course, is one of Discovery's most controversial aspects - it did develop its other characters, but it was more focused on its main character than other Treks, which means that if you didn't like or at least appreciate Michael Burnham, you probably bounced off the show. I came to love the character, and so I was fine with the Michael-centricity of the finale, but I will say I'm also glad that the next show, the long rumored Starfleet: Academy, is set in the Discovery era, meaning pretty much the entire rest of the cast can show up either in guest roles or permanently. (I think I've heard Tilly will definitely?) Hopefully, it means we'll find out what happened to Detmer and Owo after they took off with the ISS Enterprise, among other things.
The Progenitors turning out not to be the First Ones after all (B5 spelling intended), though responsible for creating "infinite diversity in infinite combinations" instead of just one species (which their predecessors did), leaves a bit of mystery and means the origin of life in the Trekverse isn't nailed down to one specific identifiable originator(s): probably wise. A bigger reveal, for me, was Covich, who with some prodding from Michael 'fessed up to being "Daniels of the Enterprise". Now it's been years since I did my ENTERPRISE marathon, so correct me if I'm wrong, but does that mean he's the blurry figure from the future giving Archer instructions in the first two seasons? Anyway, Discovery (and Strange New Worlds) being unafraid to embrace ENTERPRISE lore instead of treating the show as the red headed step child of the franchise is something I've always liked, and I'm glad it happened one more time. David Cronenberg made Covich a cool and interesting character, and I'm glad he now has an alibi to show up in other Treks as well.
Siince he wasn't cruelly sacrificed on the altar of drama, Saru after outwitting the Breen Overlady got to return to his wedding, and the celebration of same concludes the episode (along with the Michael and Book on the beach scene) as presumably originally created, i.e. the season. While we do see Saru in Old Michael's memories later, I thought it was a pretty good note to leave the character, too, if leave him we must - he's proven that he's as successful a diplomat as he was a First Officer and Captain, i.e. he will florish in his second career, he's happy with T'Rina who is the best new (i.e. not a version of an already established) Vulcan character since eons, and they will undoubtedly live and prosper. Saru the Kelpien was himself a fantastic example of a new alien species and character, and in this season we learned even his alter ego in the Mirrorverse did well. His relationship with Michael with its start in fraught rivalry became such a great friendship that I'm glad we took leave of them sharing one more hug.
Lastly: our new character for the season (other than Moll and L'ak), Rayner, finished an arc of his own, somewhat echoing s1 Michael's to the last. As her mutiny in the pilot - which no one shared, and which achieved nothing of what she wanted to do - was contrasted to her refusal of Cornwell's order in the finale (which was shared by the rest of the bridge crew, and which meant Cornwell reconsidered, leading to the ability to end the war started in the pilot - , Rayner's high handed intended rescue attempt from the season opener which damn near caused a catastrophe, is contrasted with his successful command in Michael's absence and his ability to indeed (co-)save the day. He's still gruff (that stoic pep talk line was hilarious and yet effective), but has learned to coordinate with others, as did early Michael. Tilly noticing that Michael was basically Rayner's mentor for the season and comparing this Michael and Rayner to herself and Adira, then noticing that maybe Rayner wouldn't appreciate the comparison, was the adult version of early Tilly babble and just great. Looking forward to seeing you at the academy, Tilly!
More overall thoughts to come, as mentioned. But for now, these are my finale thoughts.
no subject
Date: 2024-06-01 01:59 pm (UTC)Daniels was a time agent who helped Archer and was initially on the Enterprise Nx-01 (no USS) as a crewman before showing up a few time later. The shadowy figure was a different character thoufh who was on the wrong side guiding the suliban and space nazis.
Tbh I disliked the coda and would have been fine with the "and the adventure continues..." ending for the season being for the series as a whole. The Coda patches continuity with Calpyso but only by the letter, inorganically, the only reason they do it is because they have to for continuity's sake.
no subject
Date: 2024-06-02 02:40 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2024-06-01 04:06 pm (UTC)I love your long and perceptive reviews and I'll miss them. Especially since I found the early virulent hate really upsetting (and even reviews of the series finale, that I've seen, are very dismissive -- often comparing it to Picard’s finale, SIGH). I'm planning to rewatch the whole show soon.
no subject
Date: 2024-06-01 09:57 pm (UTC)Same here! I briefly checked out the reviews on
Tor.comReactor this season, but it looks the reviewer isn't that fond of the show (which is annoying since I enjoyed reading his DS9 reviews).no subject
Date: 2024-06-02 02:38 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2024-06-08 04:31 pm (UTC)I really confused that everyone seems surprised about the cancellation. I thought we knew going in that this would be the final season? I was completely expecting it.
no subject
Date: 2024-06-01 09:25 pm (UTC)I have mixed feelings about the coda (mostly the tying into Calypso short trek bit, plus I'm fond of 'and the adventure continues' endings), but I liked seeing Michael happy with Book and that her memories on Discovery included crew members whose actors hadn't been around a bunch this season (I'm assuming due to availability reasons), and the show ending on her captaining Discovery one last time.
no subject
Date: 2024-06-02 02:35 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2024-06-03 10:50 am (UTC)