Star Trek - Discovery - 1.07: Magic To Make the Sanest Man Go Mad

[sinister42]

I actually really liked this episode. It felt classic Trek in a way that none of them so far have. I adored the scene between Burnham and Stamets dancing and Stamets telling the story of how he met his partner - wonderful moment. Anthony Rapp is a weird looking man, but he acted the hell out of this episode.

My one complaint, which I've heard from a lot of reviewers, is this show is TOO FAST. They jump from beat to beat so quickly I feel like critical stuff gets missed. Like, we were TOLD about the crew tinkering with the captain's chair at the end - we didn't have time to SEE that happen. SEEING them figure that out would have been much more Trek. Ok, sure, they were going for a "surprise twist" but really, Trek isn't about that as much as it is about an ensemble cast solving a problem - and that would have been great to see. Also, I STILL don't know who the hell half the characters on the bridge are. Who's Daft Punk robot dude? Who's...anyone else besides Saru, Lorca, and Burnham on the bridge?

Did anyone else think Dale Arden? "Tyler, Tyler, I love you, but we only have thirty minutes to save the ship!"

Dispatch war rocket Ajax. To bring back his body.

 

[Khuratokh]

I don't believe the spy thing (the Klingons are playing too many short games to be running such a long game at the same time.)

However, there is something we are not being told about Tyler. He is just too nice; too good. Handsome, loyal, respectful, compassionate, honest, patient, kind, determined, courageous... nobody is that perfect!

Especially after supposed months and months of Klingon torture. I'm reminded of Worf's bachelor party in DS9's "You've been cordially invited". Gruelling physical and mental challenges presented as a fun time out with friends.
I don't want to know what these people consider torture.
(I know these Klingons are different from the ones we know and love, but I couldn't resist)

Tyler and Stamet are both living on borrowed time methinks. There has to be a horrific reason why the spore-drive is no longer used.

Tyler and Michael's romance is a setup by the writers for her's emotional collapse by this season's end, when Tyler inevitably dies.

Mudd is on a consequence free killing spree. Rather like playing GTA.
It's still unnerving how nonchalantly he brutally murders people, though. The many deaths of Lorca (shudders)
Xena did this too, (Yes, almost everyone has done a "groundhog day" too) where she brutally murders her friends, just to spend one time loop taking a nap.

The 21st century pop music didn't bother me that much. At least it wasn't 'Beasty Boys'
It did make me notice that every loop they played a different song.

Spare a thought for the poor "Gormagander" space-whale.
Not only does she have Mudd's shuttle lodged in her gut. She was also put on the deck without adjusting the artificial gravity. Considering beached whales suffer tremendously, in part because they feel their own crushing weight for the first time, imagine a creature having lived it's entire life in zero-g, having to adjust to 1G in the blink of an eye.
"What's got you down?" Burnham asks. If only she knew.

 

[Alexa]

I hope you are not a good fortune-teller !

 

[Khuratokh]

I hope you are not a good fortune-teller !

Oh, I'm desperately hoping I'm wrong about this.