Star Trek: Discovery 3.12 - "There Is A Tide..."

[lizbee]

At least, that might be the title. Wikipedia has not been reliable on this front. Wait, no, TrekCore is with me on this.

Comments

[lizbee]

Last week I was all, "I don't think Osyraa is necessarily interesting, but she's an arrogant pirate queen so I love her." Nope! Turns out she's an INTERESTING arrogant pirate queen, and also a space politician? We could have had internal Emerald Chain politics all this time? Guys. Come on.

Random thoughts:

- It's delightful to see Kenneth Mitchell without make-up, and even more delightful (and regrettably rare) to see a wheelchair user in any SF.
- I am firmly convinced that his character's spouse is Osyraa.
- Just because you have a full-time career as a pirate queen doesn't mean you can't also have a family.
- I completely get why Stamets fights Michael, and agree with it as a narrative choice, but I also think he's wrong, and anyone who tries to villainise Michael over this will get a very stern look through my monitor
- TILLY
- So it turns out you can give the bridge crew character moments, and it's integrated into the plot and not weirdly clumsy? Seems fake, but okay
- Speaking of the bridge crew, is Lt Nilsson okay? First she's just constantly THERE, and now she's constantly GONE
- Her place has been taken by Lt Ina, played by the actress who usually appears under heavy prosthetics as Osnullus
- RIP Ryn the Andorian
- RIP also my Tilly/Ryn shipping
- THEY HAD BETTER NOT HARM A HAIR ON GRUDGE'S HEAD OR ANYWHERE ELSE ON HER BODY
- I'm still trying to decide how I feel about Osyraa's proposed deal, save that I love that Disco dedicated a big chunk of time to letting two guest stars talk about ethics and politics
- and Osyraa's skepticism about the unthreatening nature of generic white human men gives me LIFE

[nonelvis]

I definitely assumed that Aurellio and Osyraa were a couple; she was so much kinder and casual with him than anyone else, and she was planning for him to be the Chain's representative to the Federation, on the grounds that he'd do what she asked.

God, what a great episode. Somehow it managed to have breakneck pacing while also giving the negotiation scenes between Vance and Osyraa enough breathing room, and while I realize everything has to wind up next week, I'm not ready, man! Give me at least one more episode of this!

Also, STAMETS. I felt so awful for him, and I find it hard to believe this won't cause a serious rift between him and Michael once things are resolved.

[strangesistas_writings]

I'm really hoping the EC stuff spills over into s4. Like maybe Osyraa is dealt with but the EC is still out there. And by dealt with I mean imprisoned so she can escape and make more problems in the future.

[nonelvis]

by dealt with I mean imprisoned so she can escape and make more problems in the future

lol, YES :D

It would feel weird to me if they don't keep the Emerald Chain in some form for next season. They're so huge that it feels impossible to me that they'd collapse even if Osyraa goes to prison; they should be a force to be reckoned with regardless, even if they're mostly kept in the background relative to the A storyline.

[strangesistas_writings]

No, it wouldn't quite make sense if The EC were fully resolved in one season. Also, I've seen a few people suggesting Book is an EC spy which doesn't really make sense given his character or anything we've seen about him but it does make sense for there to be a spy, and if it goes over to a 4th season with the acknowledgment that they have among other things a spy they need to find that would make sense.

[mekare]

>> Turns out she's an INTERESTING arrogant pirate queen, and also a space politician?

THIS

Also I agree Michael‘s choice was right.

>> and Osyraa's skepticism about the unthreatening nature of generic white human men gives me LIFE

Yeah that was on point.

[culber]

I've been going by wiki for the titles of upcoming episodes.

[samjohnsson]

That's the title CBS had on the interface. (Given CBS's ability to caption, weight that accordingly.)

Things I loved, no order:
* Osyraa not being one-note. Hell, she was a full symphony here.
* Vance having actual acumen and wisdom.
* The two of them chewing on opposite sides of the table - Kidder and Fehr did so well.
* The showrunners found/made a role - and a _good_ role - for Kenneth Mitchell - and I suspect he'll be pivotal next ep.
* The DOTs. I was wondering why the Sphere Data allowed the ship to be taken over. Apparently, she was playing her own game, and it tied up several Short Treks.
* They're tying up ends, with Vanek (?).
* The pacing on this ep was just.

[mekare]

>> * The two of them chewing on opposite sides of the table - Kidder and Fehr did so well.

So good!

[starlady]

Those scenes with Vance and Osyraa about ethics gave me LIFE. That shit is extremely my jam. Stamets is wrong but it's impossible not to sympathize with him. Also, I guess that's why Saru picked Tilly and not him to be XO.

If Michael's mother brings the Ni'Var cavalry next week I will be so happy.

What do you think of this theory that the current Federation president is the backup of the Doctor who spent all that time in the Delta Quadrant?

[egret]

The Ready Room for this episode discusses the Kenneth Mitchell role and is very touching.

[sabotabby]

• The Vance/Osyraa stuff was so good. And I love that the Big Bad is capitalism.
• At first I was not keen on Aurillio being in a wheelchair because I thought it'd be yet another evil disabled character, but no, he was complex and interesting and I loved his conversation with Stamets.
• Michael is right, but Stamets is right from his perspective, and that scene broke my heart.
• Tilly's leadership skills are improving in leaps and bounds.
• RIP Ryn, though he didn't get much of a character arc, and I was mainly relieved that they didn't kill Book to make Ryn cooperate.
• "You're gonna need more regulators" ahahah I did not expect a badass quip from Michael and I'm so there for it.
• "It's made out of shit." God I love Vance, I hope we get to keep him.
• The robots at the end were out of the Star Wars merchandizing department. Although I appreciated the ridiculousness.
• GRUDGE HAD BETTER BE SAFE YOU MONSTERS

[4thofeleven]

BTW, the actor who plays Aurillio is disabled in real life, so it's neat they worked that into the character.

(He also played Kol back in season one, but has since been diagnosed with ALS.)

[mekare]

Ooh I didn‘t know that!