The Discovery faces a new paradigm as it embarks on the second half of its debut season.
Discovery returned Sunday night after nearly two months away for viewers, at least.
Despite Yourself explains that absence: Discovery has crossed into a parallel universe where the Federation doesnt exist.
Credit: CBS
However, the decision to revisit the Terran Empire which Spc.
The crew doesnt immediately realize where theyve arrived, of course.
Upon completion of their ill-fated jump, Capt.
What the Discovery believes to be the U.S.S.
Cooper soon arrives and neutralizes the threat.
Spooked by rebels, Discovery?
its captain inquires via an audio-only transmission.
Youre losing your edge.
Off the bridge, Lorca explains to Burnham and Cdr.
Saru that he and Stamets had suspected the mycelial web link could lead to parallel universes.
Upon its retrieval, Burnham analyzes the core and learns about the Terran Empire.
The existence of the human-only organization explains certain inconsistencies like why Vulcan and Andorian bodies littered the Klingon wreckage.
In this universe, alien species have allied to fight back at the oppressive human regime.
The episode gets a little whimsical from there.
Awkward, oversharing Cadet Sylvia Tilly occupies that role, and is forced to masquerade.
to get to pass as Terrans while they figure out a way home, the crew rebrands.
To successfully crash a party you have to look like you belong, Lorca explains in a voice-over.
You must project confidence.
The subsequent transformation is a little far-fetched beyond renaming themselves the I.S.S.
Discovery, the crew does things like renovating the bridges interior and making replica Terran uniforms but also thrilling.
But if Tillys captain, what does that make Lorca and Burnham?
As Burnham tells Lorca, theyre crucial players in the Terran Empire.
Amazing, isnt it?
Lorca tells Burnham as the duo gazes out at the stars.
Different universe, but somehow the same people had a way to find each other.
The strongest argument Ive ever seen for the existence of destiny.
Other destinies continue to unfold elsewhere on Discovery throughout the episode.
A cloudy-eyed Stamets spends nearly the entire episode unresponsive in the sick bay as doctor and lover Lt. Cdr.
Hugh Culber cares for him.
Culber flags Lorcas hypocrisy: Suddenly you care about protocol?
What did you do to me?
he says when he snaps out of it.
As LRell laments that the prayer she uttered hasnt worked as planned, Tyler locks her back up.
Despite temporarily holding off LRell and her mind games, Tyler eventually succumbs.
After offing Culber, Tyler arrives at the transporter chamber, where he meets Lorca and Burnham.
The trios preparing to transport to the I.S.S.
Shenzhou after concocting an elaborate plan.
As Lorca and Burnham explain to Saru, theyve discovered that another Starfleet vessel, the U.S.S.
Defiant, previously stumbled into the Terran universe.
(Trekkers know this story fromEnterprisesIn a Mirror, Darklyarc.)
By accessing Terran databases, they can ascertain how the Defiant returned to its proper timeline.
How to do that?
Long live the Empire!
The episode ends in this dystopian gray space.
