‘Star Trek: Discovery’ Season 1, Episode 15: Wrapping Up

For me the core of Star Trek has always been exploring the question of our humanity. What does it mean to be human? Through creative, topical stories and complex often conflicted characters (Spock, Data, 7of 9, Odo etc.) Star Trek has taken a look at who we are and what we do or do not stand for. Discovery has taken baby steps in this direction (genocide, Michael wrestling with discovering who she is etc.) but mostly this central theme has yet to be developed. The show was marked by inconsistencies and absurdities big and small. No reason at all to change how Klingons look. That was arrogance. Michael's mutiny against her captain and long time mentor? No way. And recall her trial was in a dark courtroom reminiscent of a Klingon court not the Federation. L'Rell convincing the house leaders to stop a war they were winning? She wouldn't even get the meeting. The list goes on and on. Yet despite all that I enjoyed the series and am hopeful for its future. Sonequa Martin-Green and Michelle Yeoh were great. Jason Isaacs, Doug Jones and James Frain were very strong. Bringing back the mirror universe and the plot twists it led to inspired. The ending with seeing the NCC-1701 tantalizing. Looking forward to next seaon

Part 3. LORCA was the prime Catalyst of Everything. He made it all happen so in the end, the Federation did not become what he was and from, precisely because what he was and where he was from...and took Discovery so that they would stop what almost happened because of what they saw and how it changed them all Forever. So that they would and could be the ones to not just save the Federation, but to make it what it had to be for everyone. Thanks Lorca!

Part 2. ...What made this all happen and possible was far more than Burnham...the real thanks goes to both Lorca and Evil Georgio being who they are and what they do and how they act...all leading up to to Discovery in the Mirror Universe which by the time the ship returns to their Universe has galvanized not just Burnham but key members of the crew...Tyler is key as is the comatose Engineer and also the death of his lover, as well as meeting his Terran counterpart, the experiences of Burnham's bunk-mate, her saving the Engineer and supporting Burnham's Lover as well as L'Rell's wisdom and understandings as they grow as she helps heal the two beings in one body that she had first promoted as a perfect Spy, the chance given to her by giving her the bomb and even her experience of the evil Georgio...all these and they changed her and her outlook markedly. Then there is the growing understanding of Discovery's "Number One" who becomes a true leader through all this as he begins to trust again and see people for who they are and not by his tendrils flaring up in warning from a long ago past... But above EVERYONE and ALL...it was LORCA that made it all happen, for events to come to pass and ironically, for the very Destiny he thought guided him but in fact he created by his mistaken beliefs and which gave birth to The Federation and by that...ensuring IT'S Destiny would resonate through history to come. TBC in Part 3.

PART 1. I disagree that "Discovery " orbited around Burnham in as much as she was caught in the middle of what becomes the prime pivot point in Federation history...not it's survival but more importantly, what it almost became and in that...a Federation no more, but something far more insidious and as far from Federation ideals as could ever be possible and much, much worse. It wasn't the awakening of the Klingon Race that threatened the Federation's existence but of how it reacted to its first real threat and almost led it to the "Almost Decision" to destroy Kronos that would have changed the Federation as it turned into something very different...more like the Terran Empire if the genocide had proceeded. This was the crux of everything with its outcome clearly seen in the last minutes of the show as we witness the True founding of the Federation and what it now represents and will become. TBC in Part 2

I just binge watched the entire season and loved it.... Keep up the good work....

I'm a huge Star Trek fan, but I found the Klingons in Discovery completely impossible to watch or listen to. I gave up after about four episodes. I liked the Federation story lines, but the Klingons totally ruined it.

I'm not a star trek fan but my husband is. In my non-expert but completely unbiased opinion, the best star trek episode this last year was on black mirror.

They just stuffed too much in there, and it felt too much like GoT and not enough like the optimism, sci fi weirdness and morality of the 60s. Where's the logic and pacifism of the Vulcans? Michael and the Federation displayed none of that, yet Sarek went happily along? Where's the aliens? Where's the bridge crew? Star Trek should be more than someone's idea of 'liberal America' in space. It should be challenging and adventurous. Favorite episode imo was 'Magic to make the sanest man go insane' and, yes, overall it was still entertaining, but for me, it just highlighted how much we have lost in America.

As a big science fiction fan, I think the original Star Trek from the 1960's is by far and away the best of all the Star Trek series. Even though the special effects, make-up and costumes, and the production value of the various sets were low grade compared to what CGI computers can do today. For, me it was how perfectly cast the show was for each role, the chemistry between the actors (especially William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy and DeForest Kelly) and how interesting many of the characters and story lines were, that makes the original Star Trek so good.

This franchise has become such a travesty in comparison to the accidental success of the original series. Each new iteration gets worse and worse. The original show was a hit because no one in charge gave it any attention, the network just really needed a show that could demonstrate the benefits of color television. Hence the bright colors, crazy sets. Now they make these things thinking they are building on some important legacy. It's like someone is pretending a knock-knock joke from sixty years ago was Shakespeare.

The more I think about the less sense the last two episodes make, particularly concerning the Mirror Georgiou. That dramatic seen of Georgiou walking onto the bridge, which was great, but it made no sense… but could have if he character was more developed. Back to my idea of Discovery having been set in a Cold War getting hotter, reduce a lot of the first part and jump to the Mirror Universe sooner, to give more time at the end. Discovery is doing black-ops until Mirror Lorca, who is working for Section 31, betrays them and takes it to the Mirror Universe. When they jump back with Mirror Georgiou, have her do the opposite of Lorca… actually sincerely side with the Federation. Now, she wouldn’t do this because of idealism which she would scoff at, but because of tribalism (Humanity is still her team) and a love for Burnham. She will not be Burnham’s Georgiou… but perhaps we find they are in the end not that different. Have a scene where she earns the trust of Starfleet, were she gains some respect for Saru, and come to regret eating his species. When she walks onto the bridge, she is not their Georgiou, but at least despite some misgivings they have some faith in her. As for Kronos, make it a mission to stop Section 31 from setting off a mega bomb, and idea they get from interrogating Georgiou. If their mission fails, either the Federation has committed genocide, or the Klingons discover the bomb and go to war with the Federation. That makes sense.

I don't disagree that Akiva Goldsman jumped about a bit with this episode, but his helter-skelter directing tried to make counterpoints to scenes in earlier episodes. For example, when Burnham confronts holo-Cornwell, she is building consensus as to the right thing to do, Federation-wise. This scene is the counterpoint to her single-handedly subduing Georgiou in the first episode where she tried to fire on the Klingons (her mutinous act). The crew stands to symbolize that she now has their full backing as opposed to their totally confused looks during the first episode. Could stories have been better told? Sure, there's always room for improvement. But given modern budgets, busy actor schedules, and post-production requirements, I think the team behind Star Trek Discovery did an excellent job bringing a new Trek to television. I thoroughly enjoyed it and look forward to season two.

I hope they develop stories around the bridge crew. I don't know their names, I don't know their assignments. I don't know who outranks who. If they are aliens, do they have any special talents or weaknesses? Is one of them a robot, a hybrid, or something else? There is much to explore right there on the bridge. One of the appealing Trek themes is that self discovery comes from exploring the universe. Challenge strengthens friendships. If I do see another section, I hope I see a bonded crew.

Hmm. What Deb calls "taking a risk" I call "wrecking a good thing". Star Trek was always about exploring new contexts, moral dilemmas, and sci fi what-ifs, with optimism and a sense of compass. Often the resulting tales were campy, which seems to be this generation's allergy. God forbid we oversimplify solutions to moral dilemmas. Rare is the day we do not get yet another cynical realist reworking, making sure to let us know the good guys are, well, just jerks (like the rest of us). I can't think of a better way to turn the very idea and ideals of Star Trek upside down. Worse yet, Star Trek used to be focused on themes of universal ethics: overcoming tribalism in favor of a conception of societies that are good and just for all. This Star Trek is all about identity politics. Each character has a "story" which is essentially their "identity". Green's "identity" is (or was supposed to be) torn between Vulcan and human. In the original Star Trek, Spock's similar dilemma was a sub-theme that provided interesting complications or focal plot material. In Discovery, such themes (my tribe!, my honor!), and the inevitable ugly trade-offs they produce, consistently crowds out every conception of universal ethics once so lovingly explored in the originals. These flips are not "risks", they're wrecking balls. They're violations of the very spirit of the originals. No writer/producers should be spun as heroes for reversing the moral compass of what used to be a gem.

I was considering signing up for yet ANOTHER streaming service but I was not happy that this particular show is exclusively on CBS'. We also have HULU, Netflix and Prime Video. I keep hearing great things about this series and I am generally a pro-Star Trek person, having seen all the versions of this series. So, I wonder if it would be worth it and would the additional money be justified just to see this series?

I agree with Spoan Deb. The cast and visuals give this show a lot of promise. I'd also add that the characters and story lines managed to avoid tired Trek cliches. But what really needs work is the writing and episode development. This last episode was a perfect example. When it allowed itself to breath (basically the first half), the acting and characters came alive. But then, in the second half, it sped through a lot of unnecessary plot devices that brought out the worst in the writing department. Just about every Star Trek cliche was trotted out. I'm hopeful for next season. But let's slow down the over-plotted, under-written episodes and give the cast more to work with.

"She uses that control to unify the Klingon houses and end hostilities. But why? All L’Rell has wanted was to eliminate the Federation at all costs. Why would she be willing to end the war because she is given control of her entire race?" Ummmm, because she is Klingon? She gets to follow in the steps oh Kahless. What more could a Klingon ask for? "Remember how the Ferengi were introduced in “The Battle”?" No, I don't remember how they were introduced in "The Battle." Because they were introduced in an earlier episode, "The Last Outpost." And one burning question has finally been answered - I always wondered what Khan and company subsisted on food-wise on Ceti Alpha V. I mean it was a wasteland. Khan: "Joachim, what are we to eat? Joachim: "Sir, it's fried ceti alpha eel. Tastes like chicken."

Umbrellas! Did anyone else think what I was thinking? Umbrellas in the Trek Universe? What were they thinking? Or were they? They didn't come off as retro-cool to this viewer. Hello! In the original, they went out of their way to make everyday things seem cool. Why not here?

Fine science fiction, just not Star Trek. The series felt like someone from CBS watched The Expanse and said "We should make a show like that." and then someone in marketing suggested using the Star Trek property to give the show an instant fan-base. The show lacks the positive and hopeful mindset that is intrinsic to Roddenberry's vision for Star Trek. The Orville was borderline awful at time, yet somehow managed to be better at capturing the soul of Trek. If CBS had simply made the same show without any Star Trek references, it would have both allowed them more freedom to follow the story line in a more logical manner and potentially created a new franchise instead of damaging a valuable and cherished one.

I found myself watching this whole series in spite of myself, and I'd probably watch next season too. Not because it was good, it wasn't. But it always felt like it was on the verge of being great just never got there. Kept taking wrong turns. I'm with the very beginning of the review: messy plot, bad character development, awful pacing. I'm sorry but the cast and characters just weren't that interesting, with the exceptions of Michelle Yeoh, Jason Isaacs and Doug Jones. The Spore Engine was a ridiculous contrivance to speed up plot. (Which doesn't always work: See last season of Game of Thrones.) Burnham's character is a hot mess, which wouldn't be so bad except she was supposedly raised by Vulcans, but did not seem to get much out of that. They burned two plot lines which each could have lasted a full season on their own if they slowed down- a Klingon War and the Parallel Universe. Needs lots of work! As for the last episode it became a too self righteous and hypocritical. It see the analogy but as the story played out I don't get why it's horrible for the Federation to destroy Chronos to save Earth, but apparently ok to create a Klingon dictatorship based on threat of destruction. Popular Sovereignty and democracy only for humans? Violence is all Klingons understand? Nothing racist there! This wasn't even a negotiated peace! They placed the lives on billions of Terrans in the hope that L'Rell could pull this off. Sorry that's note being principled that's insanity!

I actually really enjoyed it, although I went into it knowing it was going to have some flaws. The first season was a rocky start...but so was Star Trek Next Generation. I can only imagine how bad TNG would of been reviewed if social media was around in 1987. I keep reminding myself that this is a reimagining of the Prime Timeline. Visual cues will be updated and tweaks to the visuals will happen. While overall it was a solid step forward....the writing had got to get better if it is to survive. Finger crossed for Season 2.

Seeing Clint Howard close the circle was awesome fan service. Bravo Mr, Howard if you're reading this.

Burnham's and Tyler's romance seemed flat and lacked chemistry in my (and my gf's) opinion. There were plot holes galore. Some of the violence was depicted far more graphically than necessary to get the point across. Many twists had a bit too much of a deus ex machina about them. Many elements (e.g., the whole spore tech) exist uncomfortably with TOS canon. And yet, I watched the entire series and enjoyed all of it very much. The appearance of NCC-1701 and the use of the TOS closing credits theme provided me a comforting balm of nostalgia (I've been a Trekker since the 60s). I'm looking forward to season 2!

As a writer who worked on STAR TREK for 35 years (animated TV, novels, comics and story tidbits contributed to STAR TREK IV), it became clear to me by midseason DISCOVERY was more a reinvention than a true prequel. I found it enjoyable yet frustrating: the mostly dull, overly made-up Klingons were a misfire (and the actors playing them had a hard time speaking through their facial appliances). Characters and relationships were undercooked, which made key emotional moments fall flat. The season- ending & loose-end-tying seemed rushed. But, yeah, seeing ol' NCC-1701 looking gorgeous gave me a thrill -- and made me look forward to next season. Thanks for these blog recap discussions -- please do them again next season! Now, I may just re-watch season 1 before my All-Access subscription runs out...

I ended up savoring every installment of the show after being skeptical at the beginning. I do have to admit the war and the spore drive ended up as mcguffins. The war couldn't have been *that* bad to have never overshadowed TOS and the movies. But, no, they wanted to really question would push a state founded on idealistic principles to consider abandoning those principles. Every Trek series is a mirror of the times they're made in, not the times they depict.

If the creators and producers of ST: Discovery want to keep this new series in the general conversation and in audience awareness, and build new ST fans, CBS needs to bring it back to broadcast/cable television so the broader population can see it. I watched the first episode, and so wanted to follow the series, other than through written recaps. But, as a matter of principle, I did not subscribe to CBS All Access: I pay enough for cable and access to CBS, and there is no reason why I should also have to pay for a separate CBS streaming service, especially on a limited retirement income. This is a shame, because I have been a big Star Trek fan ever since watching the original episodes when they were first aired, reading novels, and attending a convention in costume. CBS shot themselves in the foot by moving the series to a separate streaming service.

I really hate it, in part because at first, I found it so promising. Mostly I loved the idea of casting a older women, a non-Anglo-Saxon/American Asian as a starship captain, with a young African American women at her side. I thought that was very progressive and so cool! I say this as a white guy. It would have been easier if it started uninteresting characters. Michelle Yeoh was great, a fine actress with the same talent, the same gravitas as Patrick Steward, and a very sexy women despite her age. Her acting through was great, but particularly in the last two episodes. The subtle gestures, eye and facial movements, it was superb and mesmerizing. But unfortunately to me Discovery was interesting plot concept that was sadly well-acted, but poorly was poorly executed concerning its writing and visual design. And the "Mature" rating was a big turn-off, all those exploding heads and cannibalism. Far from enjoyable. I feel like screaming, tearing my hair out... Star Trek is evidently dead for be, at these its future. R-Rated with writing that changes credulity, and very little of the wit and humor that made TOS and TNG. Even the most serious and tragic episodes often had there monuments of levity, think "The Guardian of Forever". Too bad. I loved the first twenty minutes of the first episode... that was Star Trek, at least for me... the rest is just not my taste.

A lot of the reviews and comments on Star Trek Discovery that I read (elsewhere of course) sound like they are written by 14yo children, or 55yo man-childs, I can’t figure out which because they can both sound identical. Tremendous job overall IMO to the production team and actors in delivering the first season of Discovery marked most noticeably by intelligent and thoughtful writing, especially thematically across a broad range of characters. In many ways the season was thematically challenging and driven by that rather than plot driven. It would be astonishingly difficult to launch a full season of new Trek, especially one that attempts a complex full arc of a singular story with so many moving parts needing to be introduced and established, especially aiming for complex character arcs within the overall. Obviously a huge team of real hardworking professionals juggling about 1800 balls at once (which will lead to some inconsistencies) but more or less successfully delivering a cogent, complex and entertaining narrative via some significant risk taking, including twists and turns. There were so many obvious challenges and pressures and they did pretty darn well launching this series. Well done Discovery team, bravo, I look forward to Season 2 and all the best.

I will agree that the last episode was the best, but I don't see how the first season of Discovery fits at all into the existing Star Trek universe timeline. There are serious continuity issues with what comes after in TOS, TNG, and DS9. A mega war with the Klingons that the federation almost loses, and nobody ever mentions it despite the long Cold War seen in TOS and the Original Cast Films, leading up to Star Trek 6: The Undiscovered Country.. It makes no sense, its like if during the real Cold War no one recalled WWII! And that goes for the visual design, obviously you don't want to slavishly reproduced the original series, but Discovery looks totally wrong. JJ Abrams actually got it right with the exterior details and bridge design with the USS Kelvin. I guess to the design artists, customers, and showrunners, none of this mattered. I feel so awful... the new films are dumb "Bro-Trek" with an immature captain while the new TV series is Rated R "Shock-Trek". In fact, Star Trek is now just like Star Wars (I hate those new ones too), just not the good parts. Space now fits in a Hollywood basement, who needs a "spore drive" when even at warp your instantly anywhere... and the cell phone hologram service is instantaneous despite the vast distance of space. OK, the old Trek had issues here too, but now in film or TV they have given up even the allusion of the vastness of the final frontier. What took Janeway so long to get home?

Always entertained to see James Frain, especially to contrast his performance as Sarek with his turn as the unhinged Franklin Mott on True Blood.

How on earth is this the edgiest version of Star Trek when DS9 exists? This show suggests a morally grey character can only come from the evil mirror universe. This show suggests that to win a war involves no sacrifice. DS9 blows this show out of the water when it comes to exploring darkness because it is actually willing to commit to it.

I think this review is pretty accurate. I've enjoyed Discovery, as its something me and my 16 year old daughter watch together, but only because I've been a Trekkie for a long time and because I've learned with some shows you just have to check your brain at the door. The plot is not going to make sense (the Harry Mudd episode convinced me of this). One thing I'd add is that I really do hope that future seasons do not focus so much on Burnham as I think she's one of the weaker characters on the show. I find Saru, Stamets, and Tilly so much more interesting. I'd also love to see a "good universe" Lorca returned.

I have to say i loved this episode. I actually shed some manly tears of joy as soon as I saw NCC-17 on the monitor and saw the enterprise appear (man does that ship look sexy). Even better... the Enterprise theme song in the credits. I can't wait to see season 2. Will I have another moment like when Sisko and Kirk met? As to your comments... 1 Exploration is a pretty standard thing in al shows and I am actually glad they went away from that for the first season. Nothing like a extreme situation to start things off. 2 L'Rell stops the war for now because she believes in certain ideals. Truely a honorable Klingon. A trekkie will now that a true Klingon has strong principles and a deep sense of pride. 3 They stand up as a unified front. Not too hard to see in my opinion. 4 Georgiou was missing for some time and who knows what hard times may have done with her. Her being rude may be a sign of PTSD? 5 Them not going to Tyler first is something I don't really get either. Personal issues I suppose. 6 Dr Culber was honored with a medal which was held by Stamets. Pay attention ;) All in all... I am very happy with Discovery. My Trekgasm has certainly been reached with this last episode.

The thing about STDISCO is that it is occult. The outer story is ST, but inside, barely below the surface, is an alchemical romance between the creators of the show and the viewers who do not understand what is happening to them. Colors, staging, premises, themes, values, relationship, identities (the ubiquity of reversal, of black and white being mixed up) all of these are in symbolic tokens designed to take the viewer on a woven path of storytelling that leaves them confused and befuddled. There are more things in heaven and earth....

You're wrong about Culber. Stamets was holding his Medal of Honor during the ceremony. They may not have said his name (not all of the crew was mentioned by name even though they were all standing there), but he was remembered.

Excellent production values and fine performances by Sonequa Martin-Green and the entire cast can't save a narrative that makes no sense and characters that make inexplicable decisions. It initially seemed that the creative team was taking real chances. There were always indications that Lorca might actually be Mirror Lorca, but I was hoping it wasn't true. It would have been lot more interesting (with a narrative that actually made sense) if viewers had to grapple with a lot of flawed characters. Burnham is certainly flawed, and dealing with a captain even further from an ideal, yet given identifiable reasons for his actions, was uncharted territory. It would have required real nerve and real creativity. Sadly, it is totally lacking. Lorca's long-planned capture of the Terran Empire across multiple universes was a total success! Then failed entirely because he was obsessed with Burnahm. Why? Viewers certainly don't know; it's doubtful the writers know either. It made no sense, so why did we need to watch those 13 episodes of Discovery? To make things even more absurd Mirror Georgiou takes Mirror Lorca's place and Admiral Cornwell becomes as ruthless as any Terran. So, Discovery lacks the real edginess of a radical take on Star Trek, all the virtues of a traditional take, and manages to make no sense whatsoever in the process. This puts it behind every other Trek series, including Enterprise, and there's no Worf (Michael Dorn) waiting in the wings to help it find its footing.

I thought the season was great, just not thrilled with the first and last episodes. Episodes number 1 & 15 each felt forced and clunky. Great acting throughout, just not thrilled at all with the season finale. Boring, but that's more on the writers than the actors.