[Sagison Brandt]

It looks to me like a riff on the theme of Into Darkness - i.e. Starfleet allegedly needed Khan to think deep thoughts about fighting a war unfettered by morality or Federation strategic culture. In Discovery, Starfleet allegedly needs Emperor Georgiou, someone who will eschew the tactics of "polite scientists" and put into play approaches that have proven effective (in the Mirror Universe) for comprehensively defeating the Klingons.

Admiral Cornwell was pretty clear that Starfleet has reached a desperation point. Not only have Starfleet tactics failed, but Starfleet Command appears to be out of good ideas as to how to adapt. They're in a death spiral. Starfleet truly does not understand the enemy.

As for an attack on Earth and Martok's comments, so far, no attack on Earth has been portrayed. The Starbase One shown on Discovery was located 100 AU from Earth. Admiral Cornwell commented that the Klingons were practically in Earth's backyard, and in her conversation with L'Rell, she doesn't act as if Earth has been attacked; rather, she's truly frightened that her home world is under imminent threat.

[Avenger]

Loved how they waltzed empress Georgiou straight out onto the bridge as Captain, call me naieve but I didn’t see that coming! Thought they were going send her in like a terrorist!

[Adster94]

Meh, it's ok - but this just isn't that great. I think everything moves way too fast, two key "surprises" were revealed within two concurrent episodes leaving no mystery. Not to mention the Empress (not Emperor in my opinion) becoming Captain, it's just stupid how the two universes became so intertwined. It is also blindingly obvious that this spore planet will be destroyed at some point, and explain why the spore drive doesn't exist anywhere else in Star Trek. The series for me is just too predictable, thus boring. I watch it simply because it's Star Trek, but sadly isn't.

I also feel this attack on Qo'Nos isn't really viable from any stand point...if the Klingons have taken as much territory as they are making it out to be, I don't see how any Starfleet taskforce could actually warp to Qo'Nos without being intercepted. Like Earth, it is relatively deep within their territory, especially as they have conquered 20% of Federation territory. It just doesn't make sense how it would logically be possible, this breaks it for me. But, I will keep watching as I don't want Star Trek to die...even in this state...

[Three of Seven]

But somehow, I'm not digging the whole Phillipa Georgio / Terran Captain in Federation arc. How is the Federation even trusting the Emperor and a Conqueror with this ship? She'll just conqueror Starfleet Command at this rate, heck, she's worse that Mirror Lorca. Furthermore, I hate it that with this episode it has been established that Prime Lorca is dead.

Giving her the ship to command is not as bad of a choice as you think, she can't really conquer Stafleet with one ship, unless somehow she managed to get the backing of a lot of the crew and other ships. Currently, she is the best chance Starfleet has of being able to turn the war around, desperate times call for desperate measures.

Also, I don't want to see Lorca back, I am fine with #NoMoreLorca keep him dead! PLZ!

I don't know, it wasn't obvious to me. I was predicting for Saru to become the Captain - if anything. Now that the Emperor commands Discovery though, the only thing I see happening to him is ending up as dinner.

She won't have the Discovery for long, Saru should hopefully still become captain.

Anyway, the episode as a whole was pretty good, I think there were some scenes needlessly dragged out, but there was some real suspense in parts and some feeling, which was good. Also had a very nice soundtrack to it, not sure if anyone else noticed the music!

[Shadowmeph]

the way I am reading this story line is that actually the emperor is going to figure a way back to her universe with Discovery and take revenge she doesn't care about this universe she is just buying time and calculating. at least that is what i would do if I were her.

[Three of Seven]

That makes sense, she is going to want to know what she can do to get revenge in her universe.

Alternatively, because she already sees herself as defeated in her universe, she might try to establish some form of presence in this universe, which may result in her death, thus writing the character out.

[Morris]

I feel similarly to Adster. If I turn off my brain before I watch, I'm fine, but this just doesn't feel like Star Trek to me. This article sums things up fairly well for me: https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2018/...ional-choices/

I don't necessarily agree with every point, but I do find myself agreeing with the author's overall feelings about the show. This is the only Star Trek that we've got right now, but the writing seems to be geared towards ticking the boxes rather than making a compelling narrative. The writing is simple, as if a teenager were writing it...no offense meant towards teenagers! It lacks the sophistication and emotional depth that an established franchise, such as Star Trek, deserves. So, I find myself enjoying Discovery as a shiny new sci-fi show, as long as I don't think about what it's suppose to be. I'm forced to watch it because I want Star Trek to live on, but this first season has been disappointing and I can honestly say that I don't care what happens to any of the characters...except for maybe Saru, and that's only because of the phenomenal job that Doug Jones has done with the character. The writing for Saru isn't especially good, but Doug Jones is!

[Shadowmeph]

I agree it is star trek by name and i myself try not to think about allot of things that aer not correct. but then again how do I know that the Discovery Universe is the same as the the original this is how I am getting through the series I am hoping that it is a close universe but not the same universe

[Bridger]

Did he hint that humans had attacked Qonos when he said this?

Nope

[Sythe]

I fully agree that Michael Burnham will end up betraying Empress Georgiou like she did with Captain Georgiou, after the Klingon was has come to an end. I don't believe they'll stop using the spore drive, but may move to a new timeline using this technology.

[arcanecowboy]

It was a good episode.

But somehow, I'm not digging the whole Phillipa Georgio / Terran Captain in Federation arc. How is the Federation even trusting the Emperor and a Conqueror with this ship? She'll just conqueror Starfleet Command at this rate, heck, she's worse that Mirror Lorca. Furthermore, I hate it that with this episode it has been established that Prime Lorca is dead.

Starfleet has clearly lost more than assets in this war, they've lost brain cells.



I don't know, it wasn't obvious to me. I was predicting for Saru to become the Captain - if anything. Now that the Emperor commands Discovery though, the only thing I see happening to him is ending up as dinner.

No one's dead until you see a body.

- - - Updated - - -

I liked this episode. I love that we are getting character interactions not possible in episodic series. This has far more emotional depth than TNG or Voyager. At least, far more than you can typically get in season one.

I do have to say one thing that's been annoying me in the past couple episodes, and I guess since episode one, is the "The Federation is homogeneous" theme. Was listening to a podcast and someone was sounding off that the Klingons were right. I recall something similar from DS9 and the fizzy soda analogy.

Federation boarding party - Humans, Vulcans, Andorian
Klingon boarding party - Klingons

I suppose this is actually in the previous episode. Anyway, one thing being lost in this series is the strength of the Federation comes from diversity. They are having the Federation called homogeneous by the Federation's enemies - because those enemies can see nothing by their own worldview.

This episode also puts them in a great place to do an ongoing series in the wake of the Klingon war. Cruising the galaxy, waving the flag, and rebuilding the Federation could make for some compelling stories.

- - - Updated - - -

That makes sense, she is going to want to know what she can do to get revenge in her universe.

Alternatively, because she already sees herself as defeated in her universe, she might try to establish some form of presence in this universe, which may result in her death, thus writing the character out.

I expect a return to the Mirrorverse, death of the Emperor, rescue of Lorca.

Captain Lorca alive and well in Prime universe by mid-season two.

Alternatively? Crazy time hijinks rescues Prime-Georgiou and replaces her with the Emperor. Who then gets eaten. Because this show has a thing with cannibalism. Annoying as the setup would be, at least we'd have Captain Georgiou back.

[Trekster]

I don't love everything this show does, but what I do love about it is that they just go for it and do crazy things. Desperation is a powerful motivator, and the situation is so bad they are going to turn things over to the emperor. Her aggressive nature and ways of handling things may be the only way to win the war, and SF has made the deal with the devil, but what after?

I don't see how this can go well. The emperor is who she is...complete with her prejudices and ways of handling things. I don't see how that can mesh with this universe, but we don't know that much about who she was in her universe. Could she change?

Either way, I look forward to this and hope it's not a one or two episode thing. I wasn't able to check the season finale, but I hope to watch it today.