Star Trek: Discoverywas a bit of a diet beverage in its first nine-episode chapter.
It chased two polar instincts, cutesyandmilitaristic, combining nonsensical fan service (hello, offscreen step-brother Spock!)
and empty PG-14 subject matter (neck snaps and f-bombs!).
Credit: Jan Thijs/CBS
The fascistic faux-Starfleet is engaged in all-out war with the united non-humans of the galaxy.
Its an oppressive, racist, and xenophobic culture, explained Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green).
The Terran culture gives the impression of predicated upon an unconditional hatred and rejection of anything and everything Other.
Im intrigued to see how the episodes ahead deepen our understanding of the Terrans particular flavor of oppression.
But in this shifting foundation, the show found a new playful gear.
The reveal about Tilly inaugurated a shipwide game of dress-up.
She also goes by Captain Killy, which is how Ill sign my name in video-arcade rankings forever after.
The ensuing third season was one of the best sequences of genre storytelling in this decade.
The midseason premiere ends with what feels like a broader mission statement for the half-season ahead.
Burnham and Lorca are on the MirrorShenzhou.
Are there reasons to be skeptical?
It doesnt help matters that Tylers big moment of the episode was, sigh, a neck snap.
Farewell to Wilson Cruz Dr. Hugh, a sensitive and calming presence that this hyped-up show badly needed.
Hughs murder was an empty shock, somethingDiscoveryhas engaged in too often.
This shows been a strange ride.
This was sortaDiscoverys third pilot, after theShenzhou-centric opener and the episode-3 main-setting introduction.
Im not ready to loveDiscovery, but Ill give this episode a slow clap.
