Star Trek: Discovery (TV Series) Through the Valley of Shadows (2019) User Reviews

Oxygen on the bridge is at 97 percent!

[conradinkson · 8/10 · 17 April 2019]

This seasons special effects look amazing, all the actors are doing an amazing job, Sonequa Martin-Green and Anson Mount are doing an outstanding job.

But the writing, what is going on with the writing.

Through the Valley of the Shadows, season 2, episode 12, if the bridge was at 97% oxygen you wouldn't go in there. You wanted to say the atmosphere was at 97%. Does this season have a science adviser?

Pretty good episode but not entirely convincing

[snoozejonc · 7/10 · 27 March 2021]

Captain Pike visits a Klingon planet whilst Burnham and Spock investigate a Section 31 ship.

This is a fairly entertaining episode with decent character moments, some reasonably good sci-fi concepts but some plot threads that seem a bit contrived.

I liked the character moments more than anything, particularly certain parts involving Pike and the scenes with Spock and Burnham. The concept of Control continues to be pretty good, but it's appearance in this episode is quite predictable. I'm undecided how I feel about the time-crystal Mcguffin at the moment. I definitely wasn't convinced on plausibility of their location and guardians in this episode. This feels like a contrivance to revisit aspects of another plot. However, I thought the idea involving Pike was good.

There is more of the awkward dialogue that plagues Discovery, but I have now come to accept it as the writers style. The technobabble isn't too bad but there are other parts the over explain what's happening to the point of irritation.

The Ash Tyler and Burnham romance is still as poorly done as the worst of the Star Trek romances. I can't put my finger on exactly why it doesn't work for me other than I feel no real chemistry between the characters and have zero interest in whether or not it works out for them. It doesn't help that Ash Taylor always acts like a wet blanket in their exchanges together and I wonder how could anyone possibly love this character?

Culiber and Stamets do have better chemistry and a more compelling romantic arc but I really hope they don't dedicate too much time to it, as romance isn't personally what I watch Star Trek for.

The visuals as ever are superb with great cinematography, atmospheric lighting and great effects. I appreciate the editing, especially some of the scene transitions. There is one where Saru's face fades into a rock formation that is of similar shape which I thought was excellent.

Most performances are solid with Anson Mount and Ethan Peck having some of the best moments for me.

Great episode.

[NinjaAnt · 8/10 · 6 April 2019]

I must say season 2 has been far superior to season 1, and this episode doesn't disappoint. I must admit to being a huge fan of Pike, that guy is a legend. As a lifelong fan I'm unfortunate enough to know exactly how his life turns out in the not too distant future, thanks TOS, but I'll enjoy the ride for now.

Spock vs the T-1000

[XweAponX · 10/10 · 5 April 2019]

Pike meets a "Minbari" Klingon. Looked like warrior caste, even. "Tenavik, Son of None". A most unusual Klingon. With the time crystal in the Red Angel suit destroyed, Discovery is back to investigating the "Red Signals", this particular Red signal magically appeared over the the Klingon planet "Boreth", turns out Boreth is more important than we've ever seen, we thought it was run by overzealous monks who re-created Kahless from the blood on his betleH. But this planet turns out to be a lot more important then being merely a breeding ground for clones or for fooling Worf, something important goes on there.

Spock and Burnham visit a Section 31 ship, to find out why it was late checking in. What they find there, we are almost able to guess due to Leland's previous encounter with "Control", but it is actually much worse.

Imagine Spock having to fight the Terminator T-1000 without letting it touch him. He gets creative.

But the big question should be, "Hey, wasn't the Magic Red Angel suit destroyed and then sucked into the far future?"

If that's so, then who is sending the Red Signals? Is there another Red Suit floating amok? Or, maybe we haven't completely caught up with things that have already happened, but just haven't happened to Discovery - Yet.

Pike is confronted with a startling image, and a choice. Will it be "No Fate but What you Make", or will he embrace what is to come?

Fantastic episode!

[aa-vanille · 10/10 · 5 April 2019]

This episode was jam-packed with super interesting stuff and totally unexpected turns. It's easily one of the best in Discovery.

I loved everything: Michael and Spock embarking on an adventure together. Them calling each other "brother" and "sister". Fighting together against Control. Them talking (however briefly) with Amanda. We finally see their dynamics as a family and as a team. I hope there would be a reunion just like at the end of season one but with Spock and Gabrielle present this time.

I also loved the fact that in this episode Michael basically screws up. She gives in to her anger and tries to hunt down Leland on her own. Thankfully Spock insisted on going with her. It's a great thing that we get to see our heroine doing stupid stuff for a change. Makes her more flawed and human. And I totally didn't see Control posing as Michael ex-shipmate coming. I was genuinely at the edge of my seat when it became clear that it was Control and that it successfully set its trap for Michael and Spock.

L'Rell and Tyler meeting. L'Rell is really growing on me this season.

Pike going on an adventure on Borath. Absolutely loved this part - Pike meeting Ash and LRell son, who is all grown up due to the planet of Borath unique relationship with time. Tenavik is probably the only more or less attractive Klingon we saw so far on Discovery.

The part with Pike getting the time crystal was both shocking and amazing. It was great to finally see how Pike got injured and what happened then. His reaction and his choice was just perfect and serves to further prove that Pike is the epitome of a Starfleet captain. It adds depth to the overall plot and Pike's character.

I can't express how glad I am that Discovery follows the original plot rather than the ridiculous Kelvin timeline with Vulcan destroyed, Kirk being a total moron (argh) and Spock and Uhura being a couple (eek).

Give me Capt Pike's Star Trek

[SavhCaro · 10/10 · 9 April 2019]

I gave up on S1 in the middle. Just wasn't 'right'. When I found out Anson Mount was going to be in S2 I was more than willing to give it another try. The bonus was finding out he was going to play Capt Pike. Pike has always been that obscure character that the whole series originated from. The writers have done an exemplary job in fleshing out that glimpse of him and made him real. Anson Mount's portrayal has given their words life. Even knowing the story I was still not prepared for how deeply it effected me. Almost a week later and I'm still feeling it.

I am like some of the reviewers, having trouble with the Captain playing a secondary role to a subordinate. Then I remember Discovery is Michael's show, Michael's story. Pike has been there in the background which has been hard to handle since he's the captain. But after this episode they have brought him to the forefront and these last two episodes are going to be epic!.

Great episode

[mhdreiling · 10/10 · 5 April 2019]

It was a fantastic episode, a difficult balance act between various focal points of attention. For me, it simply worked. And (no spoilers) that Pike scene was heartbreaking. Anson is terrific.

I have to admit that at first I didn't quite like this series, but I persisted and it finally grew on me. During my life I've never identified myself as a total fan. Star Trek has always been something that I was somewhat interested in (because I love everything space related), something that I occasionally watched, as if almost by chance I found a TNG episode on cable TV on a rainy day. But this series, besides all the fuzz and the criticism that's been around since it came out, has done for me something really unexpected: it was the platform that made me a fan. Curiously, that first happened because I wanted to understand the criticism, and because I wanted to "get" what I considered missteps in the series (some of them are still bugging me though). Nowadays I'm watching Enterprise for the first time, and after that I'll watch another series and so on. And I can't wait for the last episodes of the season. Live long and prosper.

Through the Valley of Shadows

[Prismark10 · 6/10 · 22 September 2019]

Anson Mount's Captain Pike has the been the highlight of the second season of Star Trek: Discovery.

A story involving time crystals was bound to Pike seeing a future outcome that would leave him shocked. Pike visits the Klingon world of Boreth after the mysterious Red Angel signal appeared there.

Meanwhile Burnham and Spock investigate a Section 31 ship that has broken protocols. They see the body horror of the dead crew expelled into space. However Burnham finds one person barely alive and it is someone she once served with.

What the episode displays is that Control is a foe that will not stop in any circumstances. Burnham and Spock realise this, it will manifest anywhere.

The time crystals looks like something Superman had in his home in the North Pole. I am not sure about the science behind the rapid aging of Tyler and L'Rell's son in Boreth.

I know Burnham can be impulsive which makes her thoughtless. I thought Spock would be logically sceptical of the survivor they found.

ABSOLUTELY AMAZING EPISODE

[jenabraham-43312 · 10/10 · 7 April 2019]

Thus episode gave us an insight into captain Pikes future and we now know he knew what was to come ... Sensational visuals that we have now come to expect from this remarkable series Sonequa and Ethan shine and their chemistry is brilliant Talk about a cliff hanger .. cannot wait to see where this takes us I have really enjoyed season 2 and getting to know these unique characters which are now embedded into Star Trek history

What Is This Show?

[albersjd-1 · 6/10 · 5 April 2019]

Who is this show made for? I'm a lifelong Star Trek fan, growing up with TNG and learning to love TOS, TAS, DS9, and ENT (while knowing VOY is a thing people enjoy). I'm a Star Trek convention goer, and I have the joy of passing on the best of Star Trek to my children. But Star Trek: Discovery is different. Spock claims, "I love science," and Tilly yells, "Hooray for science!" all while focusing more on fantasy. This might be the most Star Wars version of Star Trek yet.

Season 1 was a train wreck. As a fan, I felt like I had to watch it, but it was a disaster. The new Klingons, the mirror universe, Michael Burnham earning a spot on a new ship after an insurrection, the mushroom drive, and Dr. Culbert (the other characters seemed to rise to the cinematography, but he never quite did).

Season 2 started off with a bang, producing 6 standout episodes. But the other 6 episodes are horrible! Get rid of Section 31, and return to Roddenberry's vision where everyone in the future gets along. The Stranger Things episode that was "Saints of Imperfection" had nothing new to offer. A red angel (who happens to be related to Burnham, because every event is) who is time traveling to stop Control. But where was the red angel last season when Burnham almost died several times? And Dr. Culbert is back, and he's now the focus of every scene he is in?! Is there a way to have Jonathan Frakes direct every episode? He *gets* Star Trek.

So now we enter "Through The Valley Of Shadows", yet another reference to the Bible (Psalm 23). Michael Burnham is at the center of another episode with a great supporting cast that just stands there to be talked down to by the insurrectionist. Control is reanimating corpses (huh?!) that are lost in space. The Klingons possess a time crystal (huh?!) that brings together past, present, and future. We've now earned the Episode 4/10.

But what about Captain Pike? He has to face his demons, resolutely going forward for the good of the Federation when it means immense personal loss to himself. Pike is certainly a fusion between Kirk and Picard, and he is lovely. He steals every scene with his presence, but he is shot down nearly every time by Burnham. If Star Trek: Discovery wants a do-over, they should turn this show into an ensemble cast with Pike at the center.

We all want Star Trek. There are other shows on TV that are good sci fi, and some that are good Star Trek. But this is neither. Focus on some plot devices instead of always being focused on what new social redefinition Star Trek might be at the center of. Please make good TV again, or this will be the end of Star Trek. And please make it free, as Star Trek has been for nearly 53 years.

Is it getting better?

[AliensReservoir · 8/10 · 6 April 2019]

It seems so, that it's getting better and better, i would never thought i would give an 8 out of ten to a STD episode, but for the last 2-3 episodes it is getting better and better. No more 100s plots to follow... nor excessive drama, and fantasy/stupid tech, though it is not perfect, but i got many hopes now on ;) (just remove this fantasy/magic mushroom spore drive at least, so yes destroy the Discovery)

Finally i can enjoy the main story without being lost by crossed plots.

I like captain Pike a lot, he is what he should be in my old memories of the TOS, after all he is the mentor of captain Kirk, and they translate his character very well about who truly is Pike (the actor is good too), so on this one a big thumb up and big Bravo!!

So, if I they continue this path a 10 out of 10 would be my next rating as it's NOW quite good and a bit more "coherent". Just ask some help to the science community to adjust the "tech" and you would become more science fiction instead of fantasy fiction.

So over all I would say continue this path and you are all good ;)

Just stop it

[neville-papperman · 15 April 2019]

Oh please,since the Star Trek 2009 ,the only source of inspiration for Klingons are the Christopher Plumer's bald character and the only one bald Klingon female character from the first movies and their costumes,even if they are not the greatest Klingon characters,please stop it,why you people don't like the normal Klingons like Worf and the Duras sisters and their costumes anymore..?!?...you know this is what we the old fans want,but yet you still want to listen to us,shame on you.

Through the Valley of Shadows

[bobcobb301 · 6/10 · 26 August 2019]

More of the same in this one here. At least they acknowledge the existence of the Vulcans, something it almost seemed like the show forgot, but there is just no meaningful drama this season.

Tired of weepy melancholic monologues

[du_puy1 · 5/10 · 30 October 2019]

I like this show but it suffered from too many mushy angsty speeches. I like Pike, Saru, Tilly, Paul, Phillipa and evening the new engineer Tig. The actor pulls off Spock admirably for the writing he has been provided with but he isn't completely convincing. I am tired of the whole Ash/Michael on/off again teenager type crush. I am VERY tired of the MB character constantly countermanding Pike and then following it up with this impassioned illogical plea that makes everyone stand around in awe as if they had never seen or knew someone as great as her. They need to grow her character and stop making her so one dimensional and predictable.

I like this show. But they have maybe one more season to get some better writing and character development for the central characters and start treating like a real ensemble cast, back off of the Michael Burnham story line and build some better arcs around the other characters. Otherwise, I can't see them getting a season 4.

Roller Coaster series..

[pete-470 · 8/10 · 9 April 2019]

..with lots of ups and downs. This was an up episode, but not the peak. The down episodes are pretty dire, but the improvements are such they make me realise even more how consistently flat the first series was. Now to make the third series consistently good.

One lf the best episodes

[belanna-41503 · 10/10 · 1 May 2019]

This is by far one of the best episodes. Anson's interpretation of Pike accepting his fate to save the galaxy is great and inspiring.

Coming Together

[starsurfer83 · 8/10 · 27 November 2019]

Captain Pike is the star here with some great secondary work from L'Rell and Tyler. The portents for what all of us know are going to happen to his character add depth to that one episode he was in . . . and they're laying the groundwork for what's assuredly going to be a moment of triumph and grief (griumph?). I also appreciate showing other factions of Klingon society (reminding more of the Minbari here from B5), because no fictional society has been more pigeon-holed than the Klingons.

Pike and Anson Mount Rise Above the Garbage Heap Surrounding Them

[Nominahorn · 4/10 · 13 March 2023]

2.12 "Through the Valley of Shadows"

Another signal appears, this time over the Klingon planet where L'Rell and Voq's son is being kept safe. Pike goes down to try and find an object they need to stop Control. Meanwhile, Burnham and Spock investigate a suspicious Section 31 ship.

THE GOOD

-Pike is a true hero here, knowingly accepting the horrific fate that awaits him, and choosing duty and self-sacrifice over his own emotions or physical wellbeing. The aspirational nature of Trek characters is one of my favorite parts of the franchise and it is something that DSC's characters almost never lived up to...until now.

-Some amazing acting by Anson Mount. He's able to portray both overt emotions and subtle nonverbal ones with equal believability. He and his character are true lone bright spots on the show.

THE BAD

-Terrible dialogue. Sounds like it was written by a middleschooler.

-B plot with Spock and Burnham served no purpose and took up a ton of screen time. Episode would have been much stronger if it just focused on Pike and the Klingon monastery since those scenes were mostly above-average-to-good but the plot there needed more fleshing out.

THE UGLY

-More "time crystal" nonsense. Even if it does lead to some really great Pike scenes it doesn't make them any less insulting to the viewer's intelligence.

-Control standing around talking to Burnham and telling her its plan instead of just killing/infecting her is an example of probably the worst, dumbest, most overused villain trope of all time. When human villains do it, it's at least somewhat believable because human ego makes us do dumb things all the time, but an AI doing it makes the trope infinitely dumber than it already is.

-In the previous ep that plan was to move the sphere data to the Red Angel suit and send it far into the future so Control couldn't get it. Now we're being told they can't move the data off Discovery so they have to destroy the ship. The rudderless nature of the show continues to amaze me. There is apparently nobody in charge behind the scenes making sure there is even basic consistency from one episode to the next. What a disaster.

Couldn't they ask someone with a decent idea of computer stuff?

[ok-notifications-517-439932 · 5/10 · 8 April 2019]

Ok, nevermind the crap S1 was. We got the first half of season 2 which felt like Star Trek finally made it to Discovery. Then they switched the tone and it felt like Marvel Discovery, with Thanos/Control, Nebula/Airiam and Red Angel/Captain Marvel with stories which absolutely made no sense, had wrong pacing but where fun. And now this. Nothing makes any sense. It gets absolutely ridiculous when they are doing anything with computers. And then there are time crystals and visions, which means, that some writer finally saw an older episode of Star Trek but it was DS9 and they liked the idea of the Orb of Time. Sigh. Lets just hope that it will get better with episode 13.

10 star ratings are the real science fiction here.

[QuackQuack · 1/10 · 13 April 2019]

I say the same thing every week, but it's true. The show is just getting worse episode after episode. The only reason I watch? 1. I paid for it. 2. It's such a horrible show, it's actually fun to watch. JUST to see how bad the writers can make stuff up. and 3. The reviews are entertaining here. Especially the 10 ratings. There's no way in heck that any episode deserves 10 stars. The writers who give 10's are almost as bad a writer as the STD's writers. Or maybe they're the same people?

A good day to quit Star Trek Discovery.

[doappel · 5/10 · 6 April 2019]

I never would have considered this possible but I actually wouldn't mind if a Star Trek series gets canceled. There is barely any logic in STD season 2, either in minor or huge events. Or in other words: Spock would never consider wasting any precious time for this.

ugh............

[Rob-O-Cop · 4/10 · 10 May 2019]

I don't know if I can make it through this series. I had to stop 5-6 times to give my brain a break from the numbing stupidity effect of being bombarded with sincerely delivered rubbish dialog, character actions and nonsensical plot. Did anyone read the script (if there was one and they didn't just free form improvise this as a nonsense exercise for acting class) before they committed it to screen?

Fantasy drama as usual

[overhaul2-1 · 4/10 · 7 April 2019]

...but I just couldn't bare captain Pike constantly taking orders from Burnam. Alright, we sometimes got situations that cap. Picard taking suggestions from number One or Data, or Kirk from original Spock, but this is just regular occurrence here. And it's cringe.

Fishing of fans of Star Trek TNG, TOS, Voyager, DS9 or others

[Filmreader · 1/10 · 8 April 2019]

I paste here this text I read somewhere. Fishing on the love fans have for the original Star Trek is not enough. That was one more awful, uninspired episode. The once beloved (or feared) Klingons have become caricatures in this show. Among other things.

The most holes of any plot

[davidlbyrne · 2/10 · 10 September 2019]

I like this show, and I liked the look of the Time Monastery. Everything else was garbage, I don't know where they get these writers. Pike faces an impossible challenge to get a time crystal that apparently nobody else in history has passed, and all it took was to see his future and be ok with it. So he walks off with a time crystal, handed to him by the guy who said "no time crystal ever leaves this place". Bologna. Time crystals should devolve all sense of time having direction or continuity, not just show you in a wheelchair with your face melted. Which btw was low-key ableist to suggest that Pike seeing himself handicapped would drive him mad and be too horrible to want to continue. Meanwhile, Michael and Spock somehow notice one of the super secret Section 31 ships not reporting in, a routine they have no business knowing about, and the one person left alive is of course Control trying to get Michael assimilated. Like it knew she would turn up cause of them not reporting in to their *secret* organization? Then, they regain control of the ship with the Control nanobots magnetized to the floor, and apparently just ditch it, as the next scene they're flying their janky shuttle craft that sounded like it was meeting a lot of wind resistance -in space- back to Discovery. Discovery, who is now surrounded by Section 31 ships and goes by Michael's suggestion to abandon ship because they need a supernova to power the time crystal. Hmmm who was it that said a supernova happens every day? Oh yeah, that was young Michael in the episode before. Also, don't they still have a spore drive? Can't they escape to anywhere a supernova might happen like super easily? Really annoyed by this episode, hope better writers get a shot and they drop whatever idiots nepotism'd their way into a job.