Sorry, I just don't get it.
If that option is even on the table: Why not extract Zora into an android body and be done with it? Then she can emote, be her own person, evolve and protect and make her own decisions all she wants... and she can also be controlled better, or do you actually want to punish a being that's responsible for you getting enough air to breathe?
We did have some of the same issues with Data (but again, he wasn't the ship's computer!) and Odo, way more poignant and socially relevant. Quite frankly, Stamets was the only one making any kind of sense here - and he ran the risk of being reassigned?!?
And that assembly... WTF? Why is there even an either/or-situation? Why can't they go find the species and prepare to shut down the phenomenon? Why is Discovery so necessary that it's needed on both fronts - it isn't, just build another spore drive (as it's done here) and/or send another ship to the galactic rim. It's really becoming ridiculous how a centuries old starship and its captain are the only ones to solve any issues the universe might come up with.
I understand where Booker's coming from. But how gullible can you be to trust that trader who, for all we know, could even be one of the species responsible for creating the black hole in the first place. "Other universe" - if that's not a hint, then what is?
But quite frankly, how come that Booker and the trader even get to be at the assembly (and Burnham as well, mind you, last time I checked she isn't a political leader - Starfleet's admiral what's-his-name wasn't even there...)? They simply take over the assembly, instead of being removed. And Burnham's moralistic speech... spare me that crap. Not even she actually believes it, and we are meant to believe that the assembly goes with it?
Okay, unless something extraordinary happens in the rest of the season, this will be my last season of Discovery. It's ridiculous, overly emotional, overly centered on personal issues...and the main arc suffers.
Oh my god.
This one really hurt.
They REALLY wanted to draw parallels to social issues here and failed horribly.
The whole "what do we do with ZORA" thing was just a joke and the solution laughable. What had they done if ZORA had said "no, I don't want to join starfleet"?
And what happens if she decides that she wants to study flower instead of following orders?
They extracted a Trill conciousness (which was an absolute Taboo (remember how Odo and Curson (never learnt to spell that one) wanted to stay outside of Jadzia Dax?) but when it actually makes sense they draw some parallels to the problems trans people have today? (Them being the only ones besides the people that actually matter showing up to voice their oppinions was pretty on the nose...).
And then we have our alltime favourite Burnham - she didn't give one codescending speech about the federations values this episode, no! no! no! she gave TWO codescending speeches. One of them Stamets gave one at the same time.
Like I said: This episode was pure pain...
Have you ever noticed that no other Captain in the entire franchise has ever given a codescending speech with the exception of Spock?
Some have pointed out the obvious, but they did it as motivation, not this codescending "we have to be better" crap which actually means: "If you don't agree with me you are a piece of shit"
Well, almost all - in the preview we saw Cmdr. Nhan for a few frames - sadly not in a DIS Uniform. Would be really nice if they bring her back permanently.
She is one of the few characters that were actually likeable in this show (Not a fan of the Botox Job, but hey its her body so she can make it less attractive if she wants to...)
Review by Alexander von LimbergBlockedParent2022-01-04T15:56:48Z— updated 2022-03-11T11:27:09Z
That's how democracy in the future works? You assemble the most senior and experienced representatives of entire worlds and basically nobody except an impartial speaker, a captain from the past, a trader with no official affiliation and an obviously mad scientist (gosh! Cleveland, report him don't collaborate! He has personal motives! That's not exactly scientific decision making!) are allowed to speak (the captain chose to whisper/breathe once again) Can anyone just beam in and speak as they wish?
The AI situation is classical Star Trek. It's not unlike the trial of Data back in TNG. Only that the "investigators" like to talk w/o ever getting close to the philosophical core of this question. But they always look very concerned and sad. Basically they ask the suspect aka Zora "will you harm us?" and it responds: "I can assure you I'm on your side because I recorded subconsciously some videos of you once in a while". That's it, basically, right? [I know that's not the main point, but I must admit, these AI dreams are scary. Can the computer see, sense and video record everything what happens aboard? That's creepy AF. Everything? And seniors officers can access this data when they ask nicely?]
This episode is again mediocre. It's really like last episode. Nothing much happens - which is a good thing since the constant explosions and hasty space travel from one inconsequential plot element to another had already ruined this season (and seasons before).