After many so-so episodes, we get another so-so episode. But there is something quite positive about it that hasn't featured up until now, which is that there's some actual discovery. Instead of getting bogged down in the Klingon war it spends most of its time on a beautiful alien planet, discovering a new alien species that has a new way of communicating. Now I won't overstate it, it's not like this is some great turning point in the series, but it's nice to at least have some discovery in Star Trek: Discovery.
The plot isn't that strong. Most of the time spent on Pahvo is entertaining enough, even if it isn't particularly deep, and Saru's behaviour is amusing. The moral/philosophical theme of peace and harmony is not exactly subtle, but it's a breath of fresh air in a series so obsessed with being dark and gritty. Unfortunately the episode had to find a way to link to the Klingon war, which is a shame. This is the problem with making something like Star Trek overly serialised. When there's a story that would be great on its own, it always has to link back to the Klingon war in some way, usually with the question "Does this kill Klingons?"
Klingon politics is the weakest element again because it's just hard to care about it. Who cares if there's enmity between J'lakbuth and K'hrorh'lor (or whatever their names are)? All of the Klingon politics that STD keels returning to is funny because it's so contrived and a laughable attempt to add "depth". Seeing a Klingon turn against her own race by helping break out a prisoner (who then dies anyway)... I have no words.
The plot isn't that strong. Most of the time spent on Pahvo is entertaining enough, even if it isn't particularly deep, and Saru's behaviour is amusing. The moral/philosophical theme of peace and harmony is not exactly subtle, but it's a breath of fresh air in a series so obsessed with being dark and gritty. Unfortunately the episode had to find a way to link to the Klingon war, which is a shame. This is the problem with making something like Star Trek overly serialised. When there's a story that would be great on its own, it always has to link back to the Klingon war in some way, usually with the question "Does this kill Klingons?"
Klingon politics is the weakest element again because it's just hard to care about it. Who cares if there's enmity between J'lakbuth and K'hrorh'lor (or whatever their names are)? All of the Klingon politics that STD keels returning to is funny because it's so contrived and a laughable attempt to add "depth". Seeing a Klingon turn against her own race by helping break out a prisoner (who then dies anyway)... I have no words.