Discovery Review - "Lethe"

[@GScottChaosnaut]

Your Star Trek analysis has become one of my favorite KZbin channels. I"m perplexed with the hate I see towards Discovery online. People are willing to suspend their disbelief for all sorts of nonsense through 50 years of Trek, but can't do the same for Discovery? Thanks for your level-headed and in-depth look at one of the deepest franchises in history.

[@rmeddy]

I really enjoyed that they did some decent character bridge building, this extra wrinkle in Sarek's past really make his relationship with Spock more interesting.

[@Trekspertise]

I agree. Great way to stay inside the lines of canon.

[@solarflare6841]

Didn’t Spock have an older brother, a full Vulcan?

[@rmeddy]

Yeah Sybok

[@jpisello]

Whom we didn't learn about until the 6TH ST movie! Talk about breaking canon....

[@rmeddy]

The 5th movie

[@velvetscrushed]

This is my favorite place to hear reviews on the new episodes and to find insight into older Trek. Thank you :)

[@Trekspertise]

Thank you for watching =)

[@angelaraber]

Trekspertise Likewise.... I love seeing the old clips and I appreciate the way that you connect the dots. 👍👍😄

[@CybershamanX]

I love the old shows as well because they gave us something to think and talk about long afterwards. I have yet to be left with anything worthwhile to ruminate over in Disc. so far. As things stand right now, I actually have to take a break from watching it because I'm just not getting what I've almost always reliably got before. Much like the JJ movies, I highly doubt that we'll be discussing anything in depth years from now, let alone decades, like we have with previous Treks. There's just no "there" there. Sadly, as hammy as it is, I'm enjoying The Orville far more than Disc. in almost every way. You know...anybody can make a show with bitter squabbling characters and flashy space battles. But, if that's all a show is, then that's like eating nothing but fast food. Do you remember any particular good fast food chain meals from a few years ago? Probably not. But, I bet you can remember eating particularly well crafted and delicious, as well as nutritious, meals from finer establishments. Discovery just seems to be empty mental calories to me. So, I guess I'm just going to have to rely on revisiting the rich history of engaging and moving Trek from previous years. But, that just makes me sad. And Trek shouldn't make you feel sad. Vacuous. Empty. Since first starting to watch Trek before the first motion picture, I've stuck by through its many hard times, but I think I've finally reached a point where I just have to let whatever the show is at present...go. Let it go like an old friend who has decided that they want to be liked and popular at any cost. Like I say, at best Disc. is just OK generic sci-fi. Pow, boom, flash, and bitter grumbling tension with fan service nods thrown in almost as an afterthought. But, at its core? It's lost something critical. Something, _crucial_ . So, if it's not going to nourish my mind like it did before, then...well...I guess it's time to find something else to satiate my appetite. :(

[@Alex-nl5cy]

"perhaps I can find a place for her in Starfleet, where requirements are less extreme." Interesting how that quote at the start can be read as an insult to Burnham's qualifications, or as the racial prejudice of the Vulcan Service

[@kirkdarling4120]

Alex--Inasmuch as Burnham was graduated at the top of her class, I immediately assumed Sarek was talking about racial prejudice.

[@jorotroid]

I'm currently going through Enterprise for the first time after avoid the show since it premiere due to bad first impressions. Overall I'm actually enjoying it and finding it to be a welcomed expansion to my Star Trek experience (it helps that I can skip past the theme song now). Anyway, I just saw an episode that had a very similar Vulcan Long-distance Telepathy thing. I think it was season 4 episode 16 Divergence in which T'Pol is meditating and suddenly communicates with Trip who is currently serving on another starship. In a later episode, T'Pol speculates that they were somehow bonded because they mated. Honestly, I still think it's not Star Trek's greatest idea, but I did feel a bit bad for laying the blame all on Discovery when it happened in episode 2.

[@xknoewx]

Fantastic production as always! Thank for your very detailed analysis

[@jshaner26ify]

Well done as always. I look forward to your reviews every week. I love how you calmly analyze every potential cannon wrinkle without freaking out like most of the Discovery review KZbin shows.

[@Trekspertise]

Thanks. And thank you for watching! Canon wrinkle? Or canon opportunity? ;)

[@Ginger_FoxxVT]

*YOU WOULDN'T DOWNLOAD A STARSHIP* If I could... I WOULD

[@enlightedjedi]

He would not download a star-ship, why would God need an Star-ship :)!

[@bigdickpornsuperstar]

But you would download the plans, schematics, and the theoretical & practical research and scientific papers on the construction and operations of a starship. How could the intent of that statement be taken any other way? It was a stupid thing to point out.

[@secularmonk5176]

It's a 15-year-old reference to a PSA placed as an unskippable first track on DVD releases of movies. It had a dated 90s MTV vibe and the message was to discourage illegal downloading. "You wouldn't steal a car ... you wouldn't steal a purse ... so why would you steal a movie?"

[@alexanderwizner6878]

I admire what this channel does. I wish I could give at your Patreon.

[@enlightedjedi]

Yeah, me too :)!

[@iraito8356]

Good sense of humor, thoughtful examination of the narration in relation with the past of the saga and a logical take on why star trek had to take another route in telling a new story. Go on like this, you are truly one of the few channels regarding star trek nowadays that is worthy of being followed.

[@Trekspertise]

Welcome aboard =) Check out our regular video essays.

[@PeterParker-yg6fc]

im glad this channel got so much bigger

[@Trekspertise]

Thank you for watching =) Finally branching out to other sci-fi properties soon.

[@calculon68]

I really enjoy your insight and observations. Hope you'll tackle The Expanse next year.

[@Eurisko__78]

I second this

[@Nathanallenpinard]

Dark Matter?

[@jeffwinslow1535]

Your channel is criminally under subscribed.

[@Trekspertise]

We lament this fact every day =(

[@redshirt0479]

I have to comment that you forgot something, long distance communication in that manner isn't unheard with Vulcans. In the Star Trek episode "The Immunity Syndrome", Spock was able to _feel_ the death of the crew of the USS _Intrepid_ from light years away. Not the same, but similar in some respects.

[@julius-stark]

I actually love the idea of Lorca being the Klingon agent, but you'd think he would have stolen the ship or something by now. I'm honestly not so jazzed about them using the Mirror Universe so soon. The of that is seeing established characters acting totally opposite, where we barely know these characters who all already act like mirror universe characters.

[@enlightedjedi]

This show makes me wonder if we are in the mirror universe of the mirror universe (like the riddle with 3 guys one who lies, one who tells the truth, one who answers randomly) !

[@ghosthead84]

Conspiracy tardigrade is my favourite tardigrade.

[@Trekspertise]

+Edward Howden ConspiraTardi?

[@ghosthead84]

New genus accepted.

[@luckystriker7489]

Good, fair review. None of that nonsensical Orville vs. Trek crap. Thanks!

[@Trekspertise]

Thanks. We will tackle the Orville eventually, once we find something to say.

[@simonneville777]

It's the same old Seth McFarlane lazy low brau humor.

[@angelaraber]

Trekspertise There's plenty of other channels doing that... Not interested... It's a dumb show.

[@Diggnuts]

Right, and STD is a masterpiece.. No fucking way.

[@kspforensic]

I wonder if Sarek’s failure to raise a full-blooded Vulcan son, Sybok, had affected him to try harder with his “not quite Vulcan” children? Or if the council held that against him during his Michael / Spock choice. Not sure how much older Sybok was than Michael or Spock, but it is definitely a possibility.

[@julianbashir8277]

I get it! Its called Discovery because we have to discover the plot!

[@enlightedjedi]

Lorca is a secret Targaryan, he is the mad king son with his mother!

[@Trekspertise]

That's from left field...but...upon reflection, it is interesting =)

[@Vontux]

The irony of showcasing with one exception episodes of the franchise that are pretty much universally accepted as bad when giving examples of ridiculous things working in Star Trek as a way to defend the Katra connection in this episode.....an interesting choice.

[@dottyjyoung]

There was a lot of speculation that "Lethe" was connected to the woman in the episode "Dagger of the Mind." I watched that episode last night, & felt that if there was a connection, it would be to the machine that Dr. Adams invented. The character Lethe was so obscure & small that it's difficult to imagine connecting her to the Admiral. If I'm wrong though, Yay for the writers for making connections, no matter how small.

[@MysteriousMiddleEast]

The best channel I've seen so far on Discovery. All the others are just ill thought through hate with little justification.

[@Trekspertise]

Welcome aboard =) We normally do video essays, not so much reviews. So, do check out one of our recent essays, like "Epic Trek" or "The Serpent's Tooth".

[@MysteriousMiddleEast]

Trekspertise I will most definitely do.

[@cosmictrektv]

Best episode yet, with some cool additions to the existing characters/universe. Some people are wanting to outrage over the "holodeck" (prototype?) and the Katra stuff, while ignoring the fact that there is precedent for both of these things within the franchise. If TOS can get away with God-like beings who summon giant hands into space or countless numbers of absurd Earth-like planets, then DISC can surely get away with adding some interesting elements to the overall franchise.

[@mattrossesq]

Someday we'll find it. . the katra connection. . the Vulcans. . the Humans and yoooooooouuuu!

[@scottmantooth8785]

as always, brilliantly considered and adroitly discussed in a most articulate manner

[@adamrichardson2227]

3:34 A tardigrade with a tin foil hat!? LMFAO!

[@Trekspertise]

Would you like a T-Shirt?

[@adamrichardson2227]

Of course!

[@Trekspertise]

Opening a merch store in just a week or so. Tin foil Tardigrade will be our first offering =)

[@Khaos768]

I'm Greek and the first pronunciation of Lethe was spot on.

[@enlightedjedi]

What that does mean in Greek, i have no idea?

[@CFalcon030]

The act of forgetting. To not remember something or anything. Oblivion

[@Khaos768]

Oblivion. When you forget something (or everything) forever.

[@MagusMarquillin]

It's also one of the mythological rivers in Hades where souls can forget their past lives. Given that Sarek was near death and in denial about his painful memories, it's a pretty apt title.

[@alexchinowsky3567]

In the introduction to the canon book "The Autobiography of James T. Kirk" Spock writes about feeling a light of someone's life and when it goes out after mind melding with them, which could be interpreted as a Katra connection

[@gabeysf]

Another excellent analysis of this episode! One thing to also talk about is whether (as some are speculating) Admiral Cornwell is actually Lethe from TOS! I find that theory to be both plausible and really cool!

[@dgold6891]

Great video! It's helped me digest the Sarek/Burnham parts of "Lethe," which just did not sit well with me.

[@TheBreezus]

Loved the vid as always!

[@vasyear]

The Katra com calls. is from Enterprise, it seen first in "Affliction", "Divergence" and in "Bound" between Trip and T'pol

[@PatriciaCross]

I have been suspected Lorca was an impostor since day one. After the pilot I did some digging for races with light sensitivity that he could be from. The idea of the mirror universe though; that is awesome and I want that to be the answer. It also makes making Tyler his security chief and hiring an ex-mutineer make a lot more sense. Putting together a group who may struggle with the pristine Federation ideals.

[@borg972]

Comparing a key arc in Discovery to the worst episodes in Trek such as Threshold and Spock's brain just says it all.. and Deja Q doesn't fit in that list

[@scottkfilgo]

Excellent as usual and acts as a nice review of Vulcan culture much like your Klingon and Borg episodes. I do wish you had included mention of Sybok and he plays in Sarek's grand human experiment, as that dynamic is being overlooked (so far) by the Disco writers and by the faction of fans who keep asking "where the hell did Burnham come from regarding her link to Spock?" Of course, that answer should be forthcoming in Season 2 this week!

[@dentoncrimescene]

Thank you for the Steven Toast bit, it made my day.

[@westerssss]

This was a great review. Thank you

[@MeirBargeron]

There seems to be a syncing issue, evident during dialogue. Love, love, love your work. Thank you for these!

[@Trekspertise]

It is tough to get good quality footage to use. REAL tough. Another reason we ask for Patreon donations. We'd like to upgrade to a better way of doing that.

[@leonwoodley99]

Really enjoying this show so far.

[@amazedsatsuma]

I completely agree with you about that unlike past Trek, DSC has a clearly planned arc for its first season that has been playing off the last couple of episodes. One of the biggest failings for 1st two seasons of ENT was that they had no clear idea how to handle the temporal cold war...granted that was a corporate mandate, but still a big flaw in how was constructed.

[@bradwolf07]

Sarek...I think he is being portrayed well. A little goes the long way. Lorca is getting more and more interesting to me. I'm glad to see I'm not the only one fascinated by him (and the possibilities with his character)

[@90lancaster]

+9:16 : Nice to see Amanda with her "Other" adopted Daughter ; depending on if one considers the deleted scene explaining her origins is canon on not - as there seems to be some argument about Saavik's Backstory being canon or not or even if she is half Vulcan or Full Vulcan and if she was even ever an Orphan or not . I prefer to think she is as she was in my recollections of her which is she is half Vulcan / Half Romulan she was cared for by Spock for sometime when he rescued her and then she was Transfered to the Care of Amanda and Sarek later when she was safe to be around people. They saw her as part of the family and pretty much adopted her be that in a Parental/Grand-parental or other general kin way. and then in some reports many decades later Spock and Saavik were married and actually had at least 2 Children. So there we go with Spock not mentioning his family much again. After all we know Picard was at Spock's wedding (for some reason) - perhaps he was a guest of the Bride ? But if we can have Burnham plucked from thin air - perhaps one day Spock's Children can be seen too ?

[@marcelodcs1]

hahahahahah I lost my shit at 6:11

[@Trekspertise]

No lie. I would download a starship.

[@enlightedjedi]

Just google it, there is a good chance to get it, oh we have not invented that tech yet :)!

[@dartdukii]

WE DONT TALK ABOUT THRESHOLD, it didnt happen. P.S: Great vid

[@Trekspertise]

+Dart_Dukii THEY TURNED INTO SALAMANDERS, BRENDA. SALAMANDERS.

[@Xandara]

I think not only did he choose Spock because he was blood, but because he had the vulcan appearance and would integrate into the vulcan expeditionary group more easily... whereas Burnham could appear more human with Starfleet. Funny how their personalities and desires are kind of opposite that, though. Oh how different would Star Trek be if the other choice had been made!

[@Xandara]

PS thank you for another great video!!!

[@DrIBeast]

Spock being in every way more Vulcan than Michael in physical sense. Much better at keeping his emotions under the rug. Would likely have fit in better. Picked Spock. Assuming his greater Vulcan nature would have assured his success. Wonder if Spock gets a tie into the series. Even a glimpse at the very young Spock. Might provide insight into Michael

[@JordonVirtue]

It's okay Michael, Starfleet was my safety school too.

[@Trekspertise]

LOL. Yea...mine, too.

[@DJAlisterCrane]

Glad I'm not the only one who watched Toast of London!

[@RipNTara]

During the Enterprise series, T'pol and Trip had a telepathic connection over light-years after boning once. So I buy the Katra being more powerful then that in this universe.

[@lazerlord9324]

This is the most intelligent review I have watched and I have scoured KZbin on this subject.

[@Trekspertise]

Welcome to Trekspertise. Hit the subscribe button and dig into one of our real video essays. Start with "Epic Trek" =)

[@skyeplus]

I didn't realize how good the cast choice for Amanda was. Almost forgot TOS.

[@Nathanallenpinard]

Yeah, it took me a while to recognize Naked Mandy from 24. The most adorable assassin ever.

[@skyeplus]

I remember her from Defiance

[@spike1422]

"Hello Michael? This is Clem Fandango. Can you hear me?"

[@Trekspertise]

Yes, I can hear you Clem Fandango.

[@90lancaster]

The simplest indicator that Ash is Voq is they both have one eye lower then the other (their left). They also have the same scar caused by Burnham trying to poke his eye out under the same lower eye. As to a means of accomplishing the Transformation that is fun to speculate - but I was thinking it might have to do with the real (likely now dead) Ash Tyler having his mind emptied with a Klingon Mind Sifter to get all there was of him out into Voq - though it's also possible that the Klingon Matriarchs could have done the same thing with a Telepath. That he shares a droopy eye and a scar suggest the body was changed rather than part of Voq's mind was put in the real Ash. Other suspicious elements are that everyone who would have known Ash is seemingly dead - his Parents and all his ship mates being the most obvious examples. Add to it other things like his metaphorical talking about family and such being obvious he means T'Kuvma and how he "Fights like a Klingon" as well as the ironic smile on his face when he talks about what it means to be Human. I'm actually really interest to know if he's enjoying himself. And also super interested to see what will happen in the later episode when they are seemingly rescuing Admiral Cornwell where the cards will fall there. As well as all the little things like who knows he's Voq besides the Matriarchs and L'Rell. How will he react when he sees L'Rell or Kol again ? Most of all is he Happy - and if he is will he just stay put & go native ? If he does how will his conscious reward him consorting with the enemy and the killer of his mentor. What is the right thing to do ? From his point of view it would be blowing the Discovery up I guess. But that would be pointless as they have all the data to make more. only the illegality of Genetic engineering prevents the drive's use. and if the Holographic Doctor can make holographic organs couldn't they make a holographic Tardigrade too & use that - Or would that be as bad as the Hirogens hunting holograms for fun ?

[@lexxstrum]

I was thinking about Lorca being Voq; I was wondering if perhaps they played with the timeline (the show creators, not the Klingons), and Voq went to the Matrons BEFORE Discovery, with Lorca being replaced when his ship was destroyed? But it doesn't make sense, since the war is 6 months old, confirmed by Lorca, Voq and Ash. I've seen people asking why the spy doesn't simply take the ship, but I have a theory on that: In Marvel's Secret Invasion comic arc, the Skrulls had agents that were turned both mentally and physically into the hero they were impersonating. For example, there was an imposter Captain America who basically had a mental breakdown when he was revealed to be a Skrull. His last words were something like "I'm Human. I'm Steve Rogers. I AM CAPTAIN AMERICA!!!" What if the Klingon spy at this moment totally believes himself to be human, but will receive a trigger that will wake him up?

[@alastairmciver6220]

There is precident in Canon for Vulcan telepathy to stretch over light-years: Spock felt the death of the crew of the Intrepid, before Enterprise was close enough to confirm what had happened. Also, that the Vulcan telepathic bond knows no limit of distance is well-established in the novels. These are not canon, granted, but when a thing is so well established in so many books, it can't be simply dismissed. Enterprise, on the other hand, can. That embarrassing fan-vid show established a far-out twisting of Vulcan lore which we cannot reasonably accept.

[@Ry9022]

Plus Spock sensed V'ger when he was on Vulcan in TMP

[@DrIBeast]

Tucker and Tpol also share the same connection that Michael and Sarek share. It worked over some distance. So not exactly a new thing

[@pattyjay9999]

There is a previous presidents for the to Telepathy that Michael Barnum and Sarek share. In an episode of Enterprise T'pol and Tripp shared thoughts over distances they were on two different ships.

[@NivCalderon]

your trek videos are amazing and smart.

[@g.waldmeister1851]

Okay, I haven't read this anywhere before but in the opening scene we see two celestial bodies in the sky. One rather small like a moon and one big but farher away, like a planet. So...does Vulcan have a moon now, despite what Spock says in "Man Trap"? Is the world in fact orbiting a planet like TMP suggests and is therefore a moon itself? Or is this simply not set on Vulcan?

[@StevenSmyth]

There's a lot to unpack here. First off, let me say you are the most knowledgeable Trekfan under the age of 40 I've encountered, and from me, that's saying something. I'm 57 years old and have been a fan since day one. I can't believe you can't pronounce or didn't research the title of the episode. Lethe, pronounced lee-thee, is the classical greek word for confusion, forgetfulness. or concealment. Lethe was also the Greek spirit of forgetfulness in their mythology. It was also the name of Doctor Adams' assistant in the TOS episode "Dagger of the Mind". See a pattern? It explains this episode quite well. I think Discovery is keeping up with the Star Trek tradition of over estimating the audience. As far as Lorca is concerned, for now I'm comfortable with him being a "mad captain" in the vein of Matt Decker, Ron Tracey, Rudolph Ranson, Garth of Izar (no, Lorca is not Garth [LORD! Garth!]), etc. He got injured in the battle on his old ship and a screw got knocked loose. I'm also comfortable (for now anyways) going with Ash Tyler as the Klingon spy, but I can buy a shot at redemption for him reminiscent of Seven of Nine and Icheb later on. I would like to tie up this Klingon species thing once and for all. As far as the whole telepathy from afar deal, there is precedence for this in the TOS episode "The Immunity Syndrome". Spock "feels" the death of the USS Intrepid's all Vulcan crew as it is killed by the space faring amoeba; from several light years away. The choosing of Spock over Michael might have some subtext in the real world. After NBC rejected the pilot for Star Trek, "The Cage" they came back to Gene Roddenberry with an offer to make another pilot, providing he got rid of the female first officer and the "guy with the ears". Gene's future wife, Majel Barrett, played Number One in "The Cage" and Gene explained to her that he might be able to save Spock OR Number One, and in the end, he wanted to keep Spock in the cast because he really needed an alien to anchor the show in the future. Is Sarek standing in for Gene and Michael and Spock for Majel and Leonard? Interesting to ponder. The highlight of the episode was the little conversation with Lorca, Stamets and Burnham about a remote mind-meld. Very Trek like. I think that the hallmark of any Trek show is how well the crew interacts. Since this is a long arc instead of contained episodes, we'll get to see more of that, I hope. Good review as usual.

[@Trekspertise]

+Steven Smyth For the record, the Lethe pronounciation thing was a joke :)

[@StevenSmyth]

+Trekspertise I kinda got that. Sometimes in the heat of writing, I get too literal. Maybe I was under Lethe's spell. ;)

[@haitileblanc3075]

Don’t want to spoil it but the reveal for these 2 characters wow

[@HappiestGnome]

Tyler can't reasonably be a Klingon spy unless he has some Matrix-like language brain implant ("I know English! With the appropriate North American accent!") that Lorca's torturer for some reason lacked.

[@RetroBerner]

Nice episode, keep 'em coming!

[@SnarkyPhilo]

awesome as always guys! another thing that might back up the Lorca being a Klingon theory is that we havn't seen the tribble at all yet in the same space as Lorca after return, if the show keeps tribble reactions to Klingons canon.

[@Trekspertise]

The tribble got dissected a few episodes back. It was split open in Lorca's war room =(

[@Nathanallenpinard]

WTF that would make even more sense then. He simply killed it.

[@jeffzcubfan]

I am definitely growing more interested in the possibilities of where this is going and more and more convinced this is not in the Kelvin timeline or the mirror universe, nor do I believe that anyone in this is from the mirror universe. I do think we have a possible Klingon spy on board, but I think it more likely to be the Lt than Lorca. Lorca being a Captain would have access to security codes, etc that the replacement spy would not/could not know.

[@notenoughpaper]

Nice that you got that Lurka is a spy before it was revealed :P

[@dygz]

Lorca dropped his eye device in the shuttlecraft and we haven't seen a replacement. He no longer seems to have a need to adjust to light changes - he walks right up to the bright lights in the middle of the weapons rack. Lethe is the first time we see Lorca sit in the captain's chair. The way he breaks the fortune cookie and savors the taste as if it's new... is a bit odd. And... there is no tribble on his desk. Lorca might not be Voq, but he's probably a Klingon spy.

[@90lancaster]

It would be a bit sick if he had the Tribble on his Desk and then it's later shown dissected _ I can't say I've seen it since Episode 3. If it was still in his ready room then Saru would have seen it. I was thinking he had several and one of them was dissected one wasn't but if it's the same fat - grey one that is living then dead - yes it seems like he may have killed it the - sick sod. But then didn't JJ-Bones Kill a Tribble just to wake it up again with Khan's blood ?

[@dygz]

Tribble is on the desk in Episode 4 but not in episode 5 when Saru is acting-captain. Could be that Saru ate it.

[@winterfire567]

I think what I'd love is, if instead of a Klingon spy, we just get major paranoia that starts to tear the crew apart. Little inconsequential seeds of doubt that wreak havoc. Sometimes what's most terrifying is something that was never there to begin with.

[@Trekspertise]

TNG "The Drumhead" =)

[@octo448]

I love this episode, but I'll be honest and say that I was shocked that anyone even questioned the katra thing after Sarek used it in the other direction in the premier. And on top of that, the precedent was set firmly in ENT and softly in the episode where Spock senses another Vulcan's death at a distance. What I thought was odd was mostly Lorca, as well. I hadn't quite drempt up either of the theories you did, but I noticed that he was different from how he'd been acting from the previous episodes. BUT YOU DIDN'T MENTION CORNWALL GETTING SNATCHED BY THE KLINGONS WTH. Lorca volunteering her for that (obviously suicidal) mission at the PERFECT time to prevent him from losing his command is just a little to prefect, don't you think? I'm skeptical, and I've been saying that Lorca is potentially not a protagonist since he was introduced.

[@SardonicALLY]

My main criticism of STD (yes, it will always be STD) quite apart from it's differences to previous shows that make it seem ''Un-Trek'' ... is that it's about the Klingon war, which has been raging for months, of which the Discovery has been in the vanguard ... yet we have never seen any of that on the show. They are never on the bridge, the captain probably can't find the bridge. Dutch camera angles must make the poor dear dizzy. Oh, and we have only two characters that they are even attempting to develop, the rest of the crew feels like background dressing. It's depressing that I don't care about any of these characters, any one of them could die in the next episode and I would be cheering as hard as I cheered when ''Ms Stupid Security Officer 2256'' died to the Tardigrade.

[@bornadetorres]

OUTSTANDING VIDEO AND CONTENT ANALYSIS. THANK YOU!

[@Trekspertise]

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING!

[@borntolose_livetowin]

haha .. watched this episode and couldn't forget the thought that the one prison guy is maybe a klingon spy and now he becomes security boss ... ohh nooooo

[@rotespapier_real]

What a way more sublte secret Klingon theory. Well done!

[@flaroucheMTL]

Great review. Made me appreciate even more the episode. Thanks!

[@runevi]

I think what they're going for (and what's more interesting, at least to me) is Lorca becoming another Ahab due to his treatment by the klingons, with Klingons being the white whale.

[@MrCaotico666]

Hi! Very good work man! Thank you. I have one doubt regarding Michael. Was it ever mentioned that Spock had a sister? I don't recall anyone saying this

[@braveintofuture]

Great review, thanks!

[@kemit88]

Excellent Video, Great Work!

[@Nathanallenpinard]

Oh another way off the ball theory: The entire federation we've seen is Species 8472.

[@salwilkinson5986]

love your reviews, keep it up!

[@AllenShircliff]

He’s Kung Fu Sarek In Star Trek Timelines guys. I love Suus Mahna Sarek and we call him in Game, Kung Fu Sarek Makes sense since it’s a Kung Fu 🥋 Technique for Discovery and makes him a good fighter in this very violent illogical time. LLAP, Live Long and Prosper 🖖

[@agriperma]

I personally believe Lorca is from the Mirror universe. the fact that he has hand picked a crew of misfits. and seems to be trying to rupture the fabric that separates our two universes. seems to lend merit to that theory. he also sleeps with a weapon under his pillow, and his evil action with the admiral. all seems very Terran to me.

[@greekvvedge]

I am more concerned about the "logic" behind Spock having a human sister we have never heard of before than I am about the further 'Star-Warsification' of Trek through the admittedly absurd Telepathy-over-light-years hand-waivism. The further homogenization of the Star Trek universe timeline through the appearance of holodecks in Discovery is just adding insult to injury, (Yeah yeah, I know some cartoon had them- but if you believe anything Roddenberry says about what TOS was "supposed" to have portrayed, I've got some real estate on Klingon moon Praxis that I'd like to sell you, dear Trekspertise). Oh, and basically the biggest Twitter Generation insult to actual Star Trek fans and a monument to the "Ironification" of Geek culture: Fucking DISCO shirts worn by crew. I am trying to be positive, but it is becoming harder and harder to keep a straight face when each week's mishmash of various disjointed scenes is analyzed as "brilliant" by critics. Star Trek can go lots of places- and it can be and has been both dark and diverse. But it is not and cannot be Game of Thrones or Breaking Bad. Maybe Star Trek's original premise of human exploration and cooperation really is dead. Or perhaps CBS really does deserve its moniker as the most out-of-touch dinosaur in the American pop-cultural landscape.

[@DrIBeast]

Greekvvedge Spock had brother too. Who they didn't show for a long time. Just like Michael, Sybok did something shameful. Michael return to Star Fleet likely wasn't well known at the time. Likely kept on lockdown from the average person. Do you think Spock who never really showed much of his past unless he needed to. Was going to just wildly throw out he happened to have an adopted sister who was Star Fleet's first mutineer. That's bonkers. It's 6 episodes in you given about 0 time to actually explain a serious plot point to the entire series in 6 episodes

[@greekvvedge]

You make a few good points in-universe, and I don't want to completely ignore the possibility that Spock may have chosen to simply never ever mention his human sister during all of his struggles with logic vs. humanity. Yet the fac can''t be ignored that Sybok appears in "The Final Frontier" which is creatively pretty much a steaming pile of Horta droppings and can be completely ignored on the same level as half the TOS films and all the TNG films. We shall see what happens, and maybe I will end up loving the series (after this season). The thing is that it seems to be expected that we accept that Trek has turned into "modern" TV storytelling. Ok- I accept that, fine. I can wait for some plot point to be illuminated 3 years down the line. However, why in the heck do we gain all the bad points from modern so-called "premium" TV storytelling and we are still stuck with the old Star Trek dud of a first season??? I mean, this is the most expensive Star Trek tv series ever by a magnitude of 20, and writers are probably falling over themselves to write an episode, and we are getting an 80 to 20 schlock to quality ratio. (and that's being quite generous). Nothing wrong with the actors themselves either (aside from a few minor quibbles). The show should have been about Captain Georgiou's ship and most of the lame things that fanboys care about ( spore drive, grotesque cannibal klingons, holodeck) would totally be ignored. Let's face it- CBS has no clue what they are doing and it is extremely saddening to know that another Trek series is almost certainly going to be cancelled prematurely. Shit.

[@2wongsdontmakearice588]

I just googled lethe's definition. Im guessing Lorca just wants to forget about what happened.

[@strawhatrore2072]

The bell noise on each point drives me mad haha

[@ricogoldstar]

The only way to explain the continuity errors and inconsistencies in this show, is that it is either NON Canon, or it's NOT ST PRIME UNIVERSE but a different Timeline/Universe. Spock NEVER had an adopted black female sister! Spock never had a SISTER at all.

[@Trekspertise]

It is canon and the prime universe. We will just have to be patient and see how things unfold.

[@ricogoldstar]

Trekspertise Spock NEVER had a Sister, not even in the J.J. version. Non Canon. Watch the Orville, more Trek than Trek.

[@exilestudios9546]

thats because shes not his sister she is a young girl that his family took in when she needed a home

[@ricogoldstar]

Exile Studios Oh I see. Can you provide any tv episode, movie, book, comic, animation or video game that ever says Sarek adopted a Black human female? Can you also show me anywhere that Sarek has the power to telepathically communicate across space?

[@exilestudios9546]

can you provide any that said he didnt? and as for the long distance mind meld no because it was a new creation for the show and in my opinion is just as unrealistic and the idiotic mind meld concept but that said no where in any show, movie or book does it say they can't use their katra in that way so in the end both the long distance mind meld and the adopted daughter are completely safe additions that ultimately change nothing if they drastically changed how the universe was organized or events played out then they would go against canon but they did not and fit perfectly into the events of the 4 years war

[@jati]

One thing hasn’t been addressed I think: The writers make a big point out of the Klingons speaking Klingon with each other, but the Vulcans just speak English.

[@Trekspertise]

+Jan Tißler I think the reasoning s simple. They want the Klingons to feel alien and unfamiliar. And the Vulcans are allies, members of the home team.

[@theyos88]

Unexpected Toast of London was perfect.

[@magicstix0r]

What was out of place with Q's Mariachi celebration? It totally fit with his style...

[@JavierBonilla78]

Looks like this is the best episode yet.

[@bently42]

Wow! Great episode breakdown as always.

[@krymz1]

wow, 10/10!

[@wellingtonsmith4998]

and here it is, you missed it. 4:00 you and i and everyone else was lost as to what was happening. perfect that is how I like my entertainment; honest, confusing, frustrating and very very human

[@permeus2nd]

4:00 so I have a problem with him been a Klingon, how would they know about his past relationships with the admiral that’s one thorough information extraction technician as it dosnt look like it is something that would be on record with star fleet but I could be wrong.

[@Trekspertise]

+permeus2nd Your right. One of these theories about Lorca is a misdirection ;)

[@rotespapier_real]

Also what about Saibok? He's Sareks biological son too, and as that his only pure Vulcan one.

[@Trekspertise]

Really wanted Syvock to appear in Discovery. Not in the cards. Yet...

[@ricecharles]

Don't forget Lord Garth was a shapeshifter... so Lorca as Garth is still in play.

[@jati]

There’s also a scene in the latest episode where someone mentions how tall Tyler is...

[@Trekspertise]

+Jan Tißler More obvious hinting, perhaps.

[@KingOfMadCows]

Logic extremist is such a dumb name. They could have just used "Vulcan isolationist" like in TNG. Some explanation of their philosophy would have been nice. I wasn't a fan of the technobabble about the katra either. One of the most interesting things about the Vulcans is how they have such a logic and science based society but they still have all these mystical beliefs and ancient rituals. The dichotomy within their culture should be explored more. Also, Spock could sense V'Ger from light years away. Tucker and T'Pol had a psychic connection that allowed them to communicate from far away.

[@OtherGonzo]

Also, I'm not sure how far away they were but Spock sensed the destruction of a ship full of Vulcans in The Immunity Syndrome.

[@enlightedjedi]

Don't remember about V'ger :(!

[@djackson4657]

Spock is a very strong telepath

[@Nathanallenpinard]

Tin Man

[@g.waldmeister1851]

Well, it is their enemies that call them "logic extremists" no doubt fully aware of the oxymoron therefore exposing their flawed ideology. At least that is how I reconciled the name with common sense personally.

[@Ken19700]

How is the spoken klingon in this show? Is it better than in TNG or DS9?

[@Trekspertise]

+Ken MacMillan Personally, I think this is the best Klingon we've heard.

[@DrIBeast]

Yeah, best Klingon so far. Seems much more legitimate and less of sore terrible joke like in the past.

[@Ken19700]

I looked it up last night, they hired a Klingon consultant named Robyn Stewart. She's a fluent speaker and even wrote the longest story ever written in Klingon.

[@victormurphy3511]

I got to ask but are they totally ignoring Sybok ?

[@Trekspertise]

Ask Spock. He didn't mention his half-brother to his best friend, Kirk, until Sybock was stealing the Enterprise.

[@victormurphy3511]

Trekspertise I have noticed that too, I'm just wondering are they going to mention Sybock in the future of this show. Oh I'm not trying to stir it up just that it has puzzled me over the last few weeks.

[@mikeonthecomputer]

I would like some confirmation of Sybock outside The Final Frontier. I feel sometimes like I'm the only one to enjoy that movie (I know I'm not). Definitely the weakest of the TOS movies, but I don't feel any of them are outright bad (that dishonor goes to the first and last TNG movies, and Into Darkness... at least in my opinion).

[@jeffwinslow1535]

I love all the Star Trek films up through First Contact. I'm so-so with Insurrection and Nemesis. I have very mixed feelings about the first reboot, and Into Darkness is the only ST film that I hate. What a festering abortion of a movie. Beyond has some good points, but it's not about anything. The Final Frontier is awesome.

[@enlightedjedi]

That is how he became a maniac, poor kid :(. He was probably conceived at the wrong Pon Farr, and that makes me think about vulcan birth control, am I crazy?

[@lud3re384]

l'm really enjoying these. Thanks for the awesome content Trekspertise!

[@Crlarl]

A lethe is a machine that spins material which is cut by a stationary tool. ;-)

[@L0LWTF1337]

I bet the only reason they added the fucking spore Drive in the series is so that they don't have to keep track of where the ship currently is in the Galaxy. What you cant travel from vulcan to Earth in 5 min? Boom! Spore drive.

[@Trekspertise]

Since when did they have to keep track of where they are in the galaxy? Qo'Nos is always 3 minutes away.