‘Star Trek: Discovery’ Season 2, Episode 9: Angry, Illogical Spock

"Every sentence he speaks drips with disdain for those around him, particularly for his sister, Burnham. Instead of the endearing Vulcan curiosity Spock personified in previous iterations, we have tantrums now." I'm going to argue that this is entirely in character for Spock. The Spock that you are referring to is one that exists ten years in the future from the present point in time. Because Spock was half-Vulcan / half-human doesn't mean that he was born the fully formed person we know from the TOS years. I think that at this point in time (Discovery time), Spock was a work-in-progress. Our first introduction to Spock, three years before our current time, and thirteen years before the TOS years, was on the Enterprise's mission to Talos IV ("The Cage", "The Menagerie"). Spock was pretty emotional then, talked loudly and even smiled when confronted with the strange plant life on Talos IV. Of course I know that The Cage was filmed quite some time before the series premiered, and Nimoy was still defining his character. According to Gene Roddenberry, the lack of emotion was originally the character trait of his first officer and future wife "Number One" (Majel Barrett). When her character was dropped, the lack of emotions was transferred to Spock.

Last comment on this one: Is there anybody else who thinks Airiam bears a striking resemblance to Woody Allen in his robot disguise from the 1973 movie SLEEPER? (If you're too young for this reference, Google it and give yourself a chuckle!)

As another example of DISCOVERY's ongoing character/relationship-development weaknesses, Pike and Michael keep TELLING everyone, "That's not the Spock I know" -- but DISCOVERY has never shown us the Spock they know. Now, the writers obviously didn't have the time to show Spock and Pike aboard Enterprise. But these episodes could've included more Pike-Spock scenes, where we'd see their relationship in action as Pike tries to figure out all the mysteries surround Spock and the Red Angel. And, as much as I like seeing Pike and Spock, I fear the presence of 2 such important non-Discovery Trek characters has taken up time which might have been better spent correcting season 1's "meh" writing and developing the new show's characters and relationships. Unless, of course, Pike and Spock become continuing season 3 characters.

Approaching this as a long-time STAR TREK writer myself, the season 2 writing staff is clearly grappling with DISCOVERY's "original sin" -- season 1's unfortunate lack of character/relationship development. Characters are mainly defined by 1) what they do and how they do it, and 2) how they interact with other characters. DISCOVERY's characters have lacked both consistent behavior (so we can say, "Yeah, that's what Burnham would do") and well-developed relationships with each other. As a result, even after a season and a half, we still don't really know these people -- which makes it harder to care what happens to them. In an effort to retroactively impose relationships, instead of having previously shown us over time Airiam's friendships with her crewmates, we're TOLD in a few shorthand bits that they and Airiam are pals.That's not enough, and it's a desperate attempt to correct previous writing errors. Had we seen Airiam and her relationships developed (even a little) before, her tragic situation would have meant much more to viewers. But having tragedy befall a character about whom we knew literally NOTHING before "Project Daedalus" dilutes any emptional impact. Which is a shame.

RE: Airam's being blown out of the airlock... Or.. Just keep her in the Pattern Buffer, at least until a better way to solve the problem without her dying could be figured out.

To me, the logic flaws in this episode are unforgivable--especially as they're in the name of inducing sentiment over a character we've barely known until this episode. Indeed, as the reviewer asked, why isn't the transporter being used to beam characters to the brig, or the other side of a door or. . . wherever. . . to solve the problem of the rogue crew member. If Ariam can suddenly control herself well enough to speak her mind and do some fancy programming to allow an airlock door to be opened. . . why can't she control herself well enough to stop beating up her crewmates? And why is Burnham's phaser rifle suddenly incapable of melting an airlock door? Even in the original Star Trek series, phasers could vaporize just about anything. And why doesn't what's-her-name--the character with the assisted breathing apparatus--report her suspicions about Ariam's behavior to anyone? Clearly, she knows something's fishy with Ariam. We get shot after shot of her looking askance at her. But it goes nowhere! Have her try to report it, but Ariam clues in and stops her. She never even tries to act on her suspicions. It's a dramatic non-starter. When a writer just throws out the rules long established by either drama in general or this particular science-fiction universe for convenience--even if it has the laudable goal of stirring some emotion in an audience-- it doesn't work. We can't feel something about what we're seeing if we don't first BELIEVE what we're seeing.

This review makes me wonder if the reviewer has actually watched all the episodes. If they have, I wonder how much attention was paid to them. Also, I don't think Sopan Deb may be aware of the pressures to get an episode "in the can" on time and on budget. There may have been scenes written and or filmed explaining a few plot holes but didn't make it into the aired episode. This episode clocked in at 53 minutes and change. For CBS ALL ACCESS customers who endure commercials? This ep may have been trimmed to fit an hour with commercials. What I do agree with is that Hannah Cheeseman delivered a great performance. If Discovery writers can find an organic way to bring her back her character I'm all for it. If the fans push back hard enough we most likely will see Airiam again. Jonathan Frakes did an outstanding job directing, as always. While I've enjoyed all the Star Trek series, Discovery has become my favorite of them all. CBS?

I think it's incorrect that the data Airiam stole is from the probe from the future: IMO it was acquired from the dying sphere's transmission (covering knowledge from tens of thousands of years or so). I don't even think that Discovery has any data from the probe, as the probe accessed the shuttle's computer after which both exploded. Right? There's a lot in this series which nearly makes me stop watching, but the last three episodes made me feel a little better. They developed some good tension despite the known downsides and strangeness. Today the close ups of the bridge members and everything after Airiam died felt to me so overly sentimental. Maybe it is something that Netflix 'knows' viewers need? An aspect I'd love to have seen in this iteration of Trek is the characters and part of the plot being more down to earth. If you consider what each of them went/goes through and which events their journey so far included!? This Season they e. g. landed on a comet, were trapped by that sphere, crash-landed in the mycelium network, faced that space-time singularity etc. That Michael will be at the centre of the Red Angel plot (as indicated at the end) is likewise a bit much. It's like in Star Wars where the Skywalkers & friends are at the centre of the galaxy's fate. I'd not be surprised if Michael (..Michael?!) turns out to be(come) the Red Angel, besides sounding funny it would be like erasing the shows main character and Discovery doesn't seem to be this kind of show.

Reviews with spoilers -- especially such abrupt spoilers as the one in this review -- should be clearly labeled as such. Beyond that, this registered to me as a much better episode than this review gives it credit for being. Developing and then maximizing the emotional component of the Airiam story with such economy is a real feat. The emotions here felt real, and that's rather remarkable given how little Airiam's character had been developed prior to this episode. Ms. Cheesman's portrayal was no small part of this. Acting through that much prosthetic can't be easy, and she pulled it off with aplomb. I also disagree with you on Spock. In "The Cage," the original Start Trek pilot that is essential to this season, Spock was outwardly emotional. While that's no doubt a result of the fact his character had not yet been fleshed out at that point, his appearance on Discovery between The Cage and the Kirk episodes gives Discovery some creative license in getting him from early Spock to familiar Spock. Beyond that, this show has set up the family rift and Burnham's role in that, so if Spock were going to be emotional about anything, it works for that to be directed at Burnham. The review's comment about near deaths and reversed deaths is accurate, but that's a fault with those earlier episodes, not this one. Overall, I think this one advanced the story and packed a punch.

Well if you think hard (well – not so hard) there is a lot of things that don’t make sense in this episode – even for a scifi-fantasy show. Yes – they never use the transporter if it will mess with the plot – and if it is necessary for the plot it will malfunction. Of course – the transporter taken to its logical conclusion could erase a lot of mistakes. For example in Season 1 Ep. 1 after Georgiou is killed, they could have used her "pattern" in the "buffer" to beam out a slightly younger copy. There is no reason for a “Red Shirt” to die – permanently! Sounds crazy – but considering how the transporter works in Star Trek – its entirely logical and consistent. Same with Airiam. There is also lot of criticism I could make of this episode from a military tactical point-of-view. One: Just because you restored life-support doesn’t mean you should take your helmet off. Two: There was a lot of far more effective weapons then buzz-saw mines in the Reagan “Star Wars” program. Burnham is still not following orders – understandably – but she is a lousy soldier. I’m reminded of the scene from “Master and Commander” where the captain and a sailor must cut the ropes to wreckage which is sinking the ship, but also offers refuge for a man overboard. A man is sacrifice, but the ship saved. Overall, I think it was a OK episode. Still think it be better if the Section 31 part was more discrete – have them infiltrating “Starfleet Intelligence” instead of being Starfleet Intelligence.