Kobayashi Marie continues its discussion of the first season of Star Trek Discovery with Episode 4 of the CBS-All Access series.
The Butcher’s Knife Cares Not for the Lamb’s Cry
We’re four episodes in and I still feel like we haven’t properly got going yet. I can’t quite put my finger on it. Perhaps because we’re jumping between Discovery and the Klingons, without anything obvious to link them yet.
On Discovery, Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) gets her new uniform, with no rank insignia. She’s still looking for her place on board, as she’s not exactly been welcomed by Saru (Doug Jones). Her scientific background is being brought into play as she is asked to work out how to weaponise the tardigrade creature to be used against the Klingons. Quickly, she realises that the creature is not aggressive and is, in fact, the missing piece in making the spore drive work. She seems to sense that the creature will only attack in self-defence, and is the only one who feels any sense of unease as the tardigrade is harnessed into their mission to save Corvan II.
Commander Landry (Rekha Sharma) on the other hand – Discovery’s security chief – has less of a scientific approach. Her method involves sedating and then releasing the creature, while pointing a lethal weapon at it. Not such a good idea. Landry meets a gory end, and we have to say, it was all her own fault. As she’s been around so little, it’s a wonder they just didn’t give her a red shirt and be done with it. I’m starting to get a little irritated by the introduction and swift disposal of decent female characters, and I have a feeling that I’m not done yet.
On the plus side, we get to meet Dr Hugh Culber (Wilson Cruz). His bickering with Paul Stamets in sick bay reminded me of the short-tempered but loveable Leonard McCoy. Obviously we have a lot more to learn about Culber in future episodes.
Meanwhile, the Klingons are plotting. After much to-ing and fro-ing regarding loyalty and uniting the Klingon houses, Voq ends up being exiled in the wreckage of the Shenzhou and usurped by Kol. In an earlier scene on the same vessel, we are introduced to a sense of growing attraction between L’Rell and Voq. Although it sounds like their first dinner date consisted of the flesh of Philippa Georghiou so … ewww. Safe to say that our illustrious captain is definitely not coming back, I guess.
L’Rell also lets us know that she comes from a long line of liars and deceivers on her mother’s side (because men don’t lie or deceive?). Hmm. Wonder why we need to know that?
Lorca’s mentions of the Wright Brothers and Zefram Cochrane in his motivational speech were a nice touch, but I wonder whether they are already regretting the reference to Elon Musk. Funny how things change so quickly …
My favourite image from this episode is this:
Such a beautiful shape against the fiery backdrop.
Now, please can we have an episode where I feel invested …
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