Starfleet and the Klingons face off in an action-packed midseason finale.
When I took command of this vessel, you were a crew of polite scientists, Capt.
Now, I look at you, and you are fierce warriors all.
Credit: Jan Thijs/CBS
No other Federation vessel would have a chance of pulling this off just us.
Discovery saved Pahvo and ended the Klingon war.
The tension between science and violence and a deftly paced episode made for compelling viewing.
Into the Forest I Go begins with Lorca once again disobeying his Starfleet superiors.
You want me to run from a fight and leave a peaceful species to face annihilation?
The Vulcan admiral remains steadfast Im sorry, but the logic is clear and Lorca surprisingly seems to comply.
But really, hes deceived Starfleets top brass.
The plan presents some quandaries, though.
First, Discovery will need sensors placed on board the Ship of the Dead.
The second hitch is tougher.
Burnham says that acquiring sufficient data to develop an algorithm will take days which Discovery doesnt have.
Lorca notes that while they dont have days, theydohave a spore drive.
This is where things get messy.
But in his dutiful examination, Culber discovers the extensive neurological trauma Stamets has undergone.
Im not ready to play roulette with his brain, Culber tells Lorca.
The captain ignores Culbers pleas and whisks Stamets away.
Youre not just a scientist, Lorca says, youre an explorer.
Promising to pivot to science after the wars conclusion, Lorca convinces Stamets to participate.
Discovery reappears in Pahvos orbit and launches their mission.
(Note toDiscoverywriters: This technological silver bullet seems a littletooconvenient.)
As Burnham arrives on the Klingon ships bridge, Discovery initiates its sequence of 133 spore drive jumps.
You keep him alive until he finishes the jumps, an unmoved Lorca replies.
Trillions of lives are at stake here.
Thats an order, doctor.
(Recap continues on page 2)
Burnham, meanwhile, witnesses Kols astounded reaction to Discoverys maneuvers.
Kols officers also report that their sensors detect signs of sabotage near the burial chamber.
Suspecting LRell, Kol orders his underlings to track the rogue Klingon down and to cut off her legs.
Thats because Burnham is camped out in the wings and has a universal translator.
This gear is a universal translator, an example of human ingenuity, she tells him.
AllIsee is another attempt by humanity to rob us of our identity, Kol counters.
The Klingon leader attempts to intimidate Burnham, telling her he uses the late Capt.
I thank you for it, Kol tells Burnham when she reveals herself as TKuvmas killer.
My rise to power would not be possible if not for the assassination of TKuvma.
Ever the Klingon, Kol agrees.
As Kol and Burnham duke it out, other important action unfolds.
Simultaneously, Klingon officers find Cornwell and Tyler in the burial chamber.
Discovery destroys the Ship of the Dead and the episode seems headed to a tidy conclusion.
Terral offers Lorca the Legion of Honor, which Lorca subsequently offers to Stamets.
As one might expect from a midseason finale, however, things dont wrap up so nicely.
Tyler wakes in the middle of the night after having a sexual nightmare about LRell.
The ship begins to shake.
Captain, Saru says, Im afraid I dont know where we are.
UntilDiscoveryreturns early next year, neither will we.
