Star Trek Discovery "Su'Kal" Detailed Analysis & Review

12/27/20 • 24 min

We're in the final 3 episodes of Star Trek Discovery Season 3 now. The crew enter the Verebin Nebula to rescue a Kelpien survivor and learn the source of The Burn. This episode gets a little wacky with the away team, but also gives us some real growth for Tilly as she takes the captain's chair for the first time.

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Transcript

Welcome to Nerd Heaven.

I’m Adam David Collings, the author of Jewel of The Stars

And I am a Nerd

This is episode 48 of the podcast

And today, we’re talking about the Star Trek Discovery episode “Su’kal”

This episode actually came out on the 25th of December in Australia, so I spend my Christmas night watching Star Trek. Not a bad way to round off a happy Christmas actually.

The description of Memory alpha reads

Discovery ventures to the Verubin Nebula, where Burnham, Saru, and Culber make a shocking realization about the origin of The Burn as the rest of the crew faces an unexpected threat.

This episode was written by Anne Cofell Saunders

It was directed by Norma Bailey

And it first aired on the 24th of December 2020

Make it so.

This is a bit of an unusual episode, which took a few unexpected twists and turns, but it was still pretty good. It’s got some thrills near the end, some growth for some of our characters, and some kinda weird but fun stuff with the away team.

We pick up right where we left off last week. Our characters are still at Georgiou’s memorial. Adira is feeling a bit left out. Everyone here seemed to know Georgiou. They’ve all been through so much together. They all came from the 23rd century together. Adira is the odd one out. A native of the 32nd century. Not a Starfleet officer.

Stammets tries to reassure them that they’re still a part of this crew. The crew are all here for you. Culbert and I are here for you.

And then Gray shows up. He hasn’t appeared to Adira in a long time. With no explanation.

I like how Stammets says into the empty air “You’re lucky we’re at a memorial service because otherwise, I’d be giving you a piece of my mind.”

I really like how Stammets just takes this thing at face value, and doesn’t treat Adira like they’re crazy. He can’t see Gray, but he believes he’s there and even addresses him from time to time.

But in hindsight, it’s occurred to me that it may have been a good idea to recommend a medical examination, just in case, to make sure Adira isn’t hallucinating.

I mean, the disembodied soul of a former Trill host appearing in a form only the new host can see is not exactly out of the range of possibility in the Star Trek universe, but it might not be the only explanation.

For all Stammets knows, Adira could have schizophrenia, which is probably not something you want to leave untreated.

I don’t think that’s what is happening here, but it’s probably a good thing to rule out.

Anyway.

Gray explains why he’s been absent. He’s struggling with the whole disoconnected aspect of his existence. He has consciousness. He has emotions. But nobody but Adira can see him. He can’t interact with anybody else. That’s not what life is supposed to be. It’s like he’s stuck in limbo, a ghost that can’t move on.

This is a very believable reaction to his situation. And I’m glad the show is addressing it, allowing Gray to feel this way and struggle with it. That’s some emotional realism right there. The kind that I like characters to have.

He also admits that his struggles are no excuse for simple vanishing without an explanation.

He could have explained this to Adira before he vanished.

Admira promise they’ll work this out together. Somehow.

With this nice little character moment done, we launch right into the main plot of the episode.

they’ve recovered some new data from the Kelpien ship. There’s a life sign.

Saru reverals the Kelpien doctor was pregnant. That’s what the marks on her head were about. Not sure why he kept this to himself but anyway. Her child, now an adult, is still alive on that ship.

So they jump into the Verubin nebula, which looks awesome.

I’ve learned, through a little research while writing Jewel of the Stars book 1, that if you were inside a nebula, it would not look like this. In fact, you’d see nothing. The gass particles are so sparse they’d be essentially invisible. It’s only many lightyears away, where you can see from a vast distance, that the particles appear close enough to actually look like anything.

But I can’t help but forgive Star Trek for getting this wrong, and it’s been getting it wrong since The Wrath of Khan, because it looks so good. And this nebula, with modern CGI, looks like something straight from a Hubble image.

Anyway, the radiation is wreaking havoc on the ship. They’re gonna have to leave the nebula, but Saru is unwilling. Or, at least ...

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Transcript

Welcome to Nerd Heaven.

I’m Adam David Collings, the author of Jewel of The Stars

And I am a Nerd

This is episode 48 of the podcast

And today, we’re talking about the Star Trek Discovery episode “Su’kal”

This episode actually came out on the 25th of December in Australia, so I spend my Christmas night watching Star Trek. Not a bad way to round off a happy Christmas actually.

The description of Memory alpha reads

Discovery ventures to the Verubin Nebula, where Burnham, Saru, and Culber make a shocking realization about the origin of The Burn as the rest of the crew faces an unexpected threat.

This episode was written by Anne Cofell Saunders

It was directed by Norma Bailey

And it first aired on the 24th of December 2020

Make it so.

Stammets tries to reassure them that they’re still a part of this crew. The crew are all here for you. Culbert and I are here for you.

And then Gray shows up. He hasn’t appeared to Adira in a long time. With no explanation.

I like how Stammets says into the empty air “You’re lucky we’re at a memorial service because otherwise, I’d be giving you a piece of my mind.”

But in hindsight, it’s occurred to me that it may have been a good idea to recommend a medical examination, just in case, to make sure Adira isn’t hallucinating.

For all Stammets knows, Adira could have schizophrenia, which is probably not something you want to leave untreated.

I don’t think that’s what is happening here, but it’s probably a good thing to rule out.

Anyway.

He also admits that his struggles are no excuse for simple vanishing without an explanation.

He could have explained this to Adira before he vanished.

Admira promise they’ll work this out together. Somehow.

With this nice little character moment done, we launch right into the main plot of the episode.

they’ve recovered some new data from the Kelpien ship. There’s a life sign.

Saru reverals the Kelpien doctor was pregnant. That’s what the marks on her head were about. Not sure why he kept this to himself but anyway. Her child, now an adult, is still alive on that ship.

So they jump into the Verubin nebula, which looks awesome.

Anyway, the radiation is wreaking havoc on the ship. They’re gonna have to leave the nebula, but Saru is unwilling. Or, at least ...

Previous Episode

Star Trek Discovery "Terra Firma Part 2" - Detailed Analysis and Review

Today we discuss the conclusion to "Terra Firma Part 2" in Star Trek Discovery Season 3. We see the culmination of Georgiou's character arc, which I felt was nicely done. This two-parter has definitely change the way I see Mirror Georgiou and I'm loving it.

So let's dig in and see what we can find to talk about in this episode.

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Transcript

Welcome to Nerd Heaven

I’m Adam David Collings, the author of Jewel of The Stars

And I am a nerd

This is episode 47 of the podcast. Today, we’re talking about Star Trek Discovery “Terra Firma Part 2”

And big news. It’s just been announced that Star Trek Lower Decks has an international distribution deal. It’ll be arriving on Amazon Prime in the U.K., Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, India, and more on the 22nd of January.

This has been a long time coming, but we’re finally going to be able to see it. Of course, at this point, I’ve pretty much had the entire first season spoiled for me, because, you know....I have access to the internet. Still, it’s good news.

So let’s talk about Terra Firma Part 2.

The description on memory alpha reads

Georgiou uncovers the true depths of the plot against her, leading her to a revelation about how deeply her time on the USS Discovery truly changed her.

The teleplay for this episode was written by Kalinda Vazquez

Based on a story by Bo Yeon Kim & Erika Lippoldt & Alan McElroy

It was directed by Chloe Domont

And it first aired on the 17th of December 2020.

Make it so.

We pick up where we left off, in the mirror universe, onboard the ISS Discovery.

We won’t see our prime characters until this whole thing with Georgiou is over.

.Michael is dragged kicking and screaming into the brig. Begging to be killed. That’s the honourable way out for a failed traitor. The Terran empire have a lot in common with the Klingons when you think about it. And that’s nothing new.

Michael says “every moment you keep me alive proves further how weak you’ve become.

We learn the reason Lorca moved against her, the reason he got to Michael is because Mirror Georgiou was already being considered weak. She was losing her harsh edge, even before she met prime Michael. It turns out half of her biography opera was a lie. One thing I forgot to mention last week was how the story portrayed Georgiou as a peasant who rose up the ranks to emperor. I wonder if this part was true or false. This is a fascinating insight into her backstory, and while it may be a little bit of a retcon, it helps to make sense of the arc the character has been on.

Now that she's back in the mirror universe, Georgiou is learning just how much she’s changed. And Micahel is noticing. Rescuing Kelpiens, fretting over artists.

Interestingly, Gorgeous is starting to see what mirror Spock ultimately saw, with a little help from prime Kirk. The Terran Empire is not sustainable. They can’t go on like they are forever. Its downfall is inevitable. She tries to explain this to Michael.

Georgiou is only holding on to her power, at present, because of the loyalty of those who still serve her, like Owo and Killy. But how long will she be able to hold on to their loyalty if she really pursues peace?

Michael mentions an alliance is forming against them. This is the coalition we saw in season 1. Vulcans, Klingons, Andorians, Tellarite. Michael mentions a bunch of other races including the Denobulans, which was cool.

I have to assume the coalition of this time will eventually morph into the alliance that we saw in the mirror universe during Deep Space Nine. At that time, the empire had fallen and the alliance ruled the galaxy with almost as strong a fist as their predecessors. The main powers behind the alliance were the Klingons and the Cardassians.

The first thing Killy asks when she has a minute alone with Georgiou is “Why is Michael Burnham still taking up oxygen on my ship?”

Killy already has her doubts about the emperor. Could Michael be right? Is Georgiou weak?

I’m sure Killy has seen it. She knows Georgiou has changed. The only question she needs to wrestle with now is “what do I do about it?” Which option will best serve Captain Killy? She remains loyal, and I don’t think it’s because of anything Georgiou says here about trying to reforge a broken michael into a loyal subject. It’s because Killy doesn’t currently have the resources she needs to lead a revolution of her own. Terrans don’t really care about loyalty. They look out for number one. And she still thinks it’s in her best interest to support Georgiou.

I also think she is genuinely enamoured with the idea of being given the job of breaking Micahel. That sounds like a fun challenge to her. One she will embrace. Apparently, there is no greater interrogator than Killy. And that scares the hell out of me.

An...

Next Episode

Star Trek Discovery "There is a Tide" Detailed Analysis & Review

The second-last episode of Star Trek Discovery Season 3 "There is a Tide" plays a little like Die Hard in space, but it also adds some serious depth to our villain Osyraa. There is a fantastic negotiation scene between her and Admiral Vance. So let's dig in and talk about it.

Get my space opera book Jewel of The Stars for just 99 cents at books2read.com/jewel

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Transcript

Welcome to Nerd Heaven

I’m Adam David Collings

The author of Jewel of The Stars

And I am a nerd

This is episode 49 of the podcast

Today we’re talking about Star Trek Discovery There Is A Tide.

And Happy New Year.

By now, the whole world has switched over to 2021.

So far it’s been a great year. No major tragedies.

Of course, much of the world is still suffering the effects of that pandemic that turned last year upside down. I’m really lucky here in Tasmania. We don’t have any cases at the moment.

The description on memory alpha reads

After capturing the USS Discovery, Osyraa seeks a meeting with Admiral Vance while Burnham and the crew must overcome unimaginable odds as they attempt to regain command of their ship.

This episode was written by Kenneth Lin

It was directed by Jonathan Frakes

And it first aired on the 31st of December 2020.

Make it so.

After I upload each episode of Nerd Heaven, I go and check out what other youTubers and podcasters are saying about the episode. It’s interesting to compare notes and see where we agree and disagree.

I never watch before I finish my own review because I want to keep my opinions my own - as un-influenced by others as I can.

But I noticed the thumbnail of one last night said (“Die Hard in Space”)

And that’s not a bad way to describe this week’s episode.

It’s an action movie with Michael Burnham trying to rescue the hostage crew of Discovery from terrorists who’ve taken over the ship.

Last week, we learned the cause of the burn was basically a shockwave sent from a Kelpien, genetically modified from living on a radiation-soaked planet, having a tantrum.

The general consensus from people was “Is that it?”

I didn’t really comment too much about it, other than my relief that Michael Burnham wasn’t the cause (although I also saw a thumbnail with a depressing theory that she is indirectly responsible because she freed the Kelpiens from the Ba’ul, but let’s just leave that one aside)

No, I wanted to wait until this week, to learn more, before I said too much about my thoughts on it.

Except we never re-visited the planet in the verubin nebula this entire episode. The whole thing was centred on Discovery and Starfleet headquarters.

I wasn’t expecting that.

So we’ll talk more about the burn next week.

This week, in addition to giving us a pretty cool action thriller, also does some very interesting things with Osyraa’s character, which I’m looking forward to talking about.

But let’s start at the beginning.

Osyraa is playing a dirty trick. She has her own ship, the Veridian, firing on Discovery, to make it look as though the two ships are locked in combat, and that the Discovery crew are still in control of their own ship.

Vance is hesitant to Discovery in through the shields immediately. I guess to lower the shields would be to potentially allow the Veridian in as well.

We actually get a decent amount of Vance this episode. He’s doing more than just giving Discovery their mission. And that was great.

The bridge crew are being held in the mess hall. That seems to be standard procedure when you take over a Starfleet ship. It’s always the mess hall.

Remember Zareh, from episode 2 of this season? He was the thug that broke into the pub and terrorised the local township. The bartender threw him out into the ice, to survive if he could.

Well, turns out he worked for the Emerald Chain, and he survived. He’s here now, Osyraa’s second in command for this mission.

Poor Tilly isn’t happy to see him again.

This episode makes a couple of references to Tilly’s ineptitude which lead to the ship’s capture. A lot of it comes from Zareh, who was already trying to belittle her back at the beginning of the season.

To be honest, this is fair. Don’t get me wrong. Tilly performed admirably for an ensign put into the big chair during a very difficult situation. But I’m sure the chain took over quick and easier than they would have if there had been an experienced captain in charge. No shame against Tilly for that.

For the first time, We actually see some point to this morphing thing that Book’s ship does. They’re travelling through a transwarp conduit, and we finally get an understanding of why they are considered so dangerous. They’re full of debris from other ships. Book’s vessel is constantly morphing into di...