Context Is for Kings

If you were on the fence about Star Trek: Discovery last week after its one broadcast episode (half episode, really; the two-parter finished online), let me try to clarify things after episode 3: do it. Go for it. Get the streaming service. Suck it up, pay the monthly fee (you do it for Game of Thrones without complaint; or do you pirate that too?). It's worth it.

Here ends the spoiler-free portion of the review. If you need the spoiler-light version as farther convincing:

It's easier to recommend Star Trek: Discovery now that we can all wrap our heads around what it is -- "Star Trek: Black Ops." I expect this will have a section of Trekdom up in arms. Starfleet doesn't have a sinister bone in its body, they'll say. But Deep Space Nine used the "Section 31" conceit to serve up some of the most powerful morality tales of the entire franchise. Starfleet doesn't pursue research with weapons applications, they'll say. Except for the Genesis Device, of course, the Macguffin at the heart of the best Star Trek movie. Or, you know, just recall that the Starfleet of Kirk's era wasn't nearly as enlightened as that of the series that followed, justifying the time in which this series is set (as opposed to setting it post-Voyager).

But watch it. Because this series is very quickly declaring itself as a worthy entry in the Star Trek canon, actually going boldly where none have gone before -- because this setup sure feels like it will facilitate some new kinds of stories. Or even worthy takes on similar old stories, as we have a whole new darker set of characters to experience them.

Here ends the spoiler-light portion of the review. If you continue from here, I'm assuming you're current on the show.

One of the virtues of doing a "prologue" two-parter to open the series is that it already firmly established Michael Burnham (and, to a lesser extent, Saru). That made for more time to introduce others in the Discovery crew this week, and the episode really did this well -- we got very little in the way of monologues serving up backstory (Captain Lorca talking about his eyes was the only moment that stuck out awkwardly for me). Instead, we got lots of the characters actually showing us who they are.

Starting with Lorca (since I just mentioned him), we've got a captain who might just have the shortest leash of any to command in a Star Trek series. He's stern, won't leave the door open even a crack for insubordination, and is absolutely willing to bend the rules to get what he wants. But he's also not humorless (his playful but withering dig at Stamets' intelligence establishing that). After wondering what the hell a Tribble was doing in his ready room for several minutes, I decided that might actually tell us everything we need to know about the man. Lorca is the sort of person who would keep a cooing biohazard as a pet, the sort of person who has actually figured out (or had people figure out) a way to keep the damn thing from overrunning his ship with its breeding... and who decided to keep that information a secret. Lorca lives dangerously and keeps his cards close to the vest always. He's unlike any Trek captain we've seen so far, and casting Lucius Malfoy (Jason Isaacs) to play him seems perfect.

Another character with rough edges, Stamets will not suffer fools -- but he's smart and inventive enough that unfortunately for him, he usually has to. Simultaneously, though, he actually might be the closest thing to a "regular Starfleet character" that this show has -- he's the voice on the show most questioning why a convicted criminal should be welcomed into the crew, he's the one complaining how his pure dream is being co-opted for nefarious applications. He seems like he might be the moral center of the show, which is interesting for at least two reasons. First, it seems like Discovery's mission will have vanishing use for morality; second, because he's going to be a beacon of morality and the franchise's first regular gay character. (Not to be retconned as such.) This facet of Stamets wasn't discussed in his first episode, though it's been widely reported on, and I love the pairing of stalwart morality with the character who a stubborn portion of society would find inherently immoral. I look forward to seeing what Anthony Rapp does with the role.

Cadet Tilly is hilarious. I imagine some people will find her annoying. And it's also true that "doe-eyed newbie" has an expiration date as the character experiences more and more. But it's great to have someone in the mix who doesn't react to the bizarre, unique, and incredible with blank-faced stoicism. It's also fun to have someone so socially awkward in the mix too, whose attempts to be sly backfire in her face ("assigned seating"). Giving Burnham, the character raised by Vulcans, a roommate who's so emotionally unreserved is an inherently wonderful comedic pairing. And it seems like Mary Wiseman has the comic timing to pull it off.

The episode gave us not only lots of character, but plenty of atmosphere too. The sequence aboard the USS Glenn was a straight-up Alien homage, a mini-horror movie that included lots of tension and some truly grisly visuals (this is the stuff they can do because it's a streaming show). The opening taste of prison life, by way of the three hardened criminals on the shuttle with Burnham, was another glimpse at a corner of the Star Trek universe we don't usually get to see.

In short, I'm enthusiastically on board now. If this were the pilot episode of the show, it would, far and away, be the most effective pilot of any of the Star Trek series. I give this episode an A-. I'm ready and eager for what comes next.