Reviewed by
Margaretta wa Gacheru (posted 23 April 2018)
The second
season of ‘Star Trek: Discovery’ (STD) just began early this month. But if you
weren’t already a Star Trek fan (meaning a Trekkie), you might not have taken
note that the 15-episode CBS series just wrapped up shortly before season two
got underway.
That
transition was so seamless because of the overwhelmingly positive response that
STD’s initial episodes received in late 2017. It was clear from the outset that
the cast had the chemistry. Plus this prequel to the original Star Trek series (which
resulted in development of a huge TV, film and comic book franchise) satisfied
many unanswered questions about the early life of the classic Star Trek ship,
the USS Enterprise.
The series is
set in the thick of the Federation (meaning the humans)-Klingon intergalactic
war in which the Klingons are hell bent on destroying the human race and of
course, planet Earth. Fortunately, life on the USS Discovery is where most of the
drama unfolds, especially as it develops around the young brilliant Michael
Burnham, a Science specialist (played by the charismatic African American
actress Sonequa Martin-Green).
She’s an
orphan whose parents died in cannibalistic circumstances that traumatized
Michael (who’s intentionally been given a male name). Adopted by a Vulcan
couple whose culture is far more cerebral, less emotional than humans’, Michael
commits a high crime against her commanding officer, Captain Philippi (played
by the Chinese-American actress and former karate superstar (of the Jet Lee
vintage), Michelle Yeoh.
She’s
convicted of murder (although the event was accidental). But because her skills
set, scientific genius and otherwise principled knowledge of Federation law are
unique aboard the STD, her commanding officer, Captain Gabriel Lorca (Jason
Isaacs) keeps her aboard the ship and thus, she plays an invaluable role
despite being on probation.
For those
who love special effects, especially those of an intergalactic kind, STD will
be revelatory. There’s lots of teleporting around the galaxy since STD is a
vanguard scouting ship, the only one remaining since the Federation seems to be
losing the war against the Klingons.
The Klingons
have their own intertribal struggles which lead to conflict between the Unifier
Leader who gets bumped off by one of his megalomaniac generals. Be prepared for
some startling revelations about Klingon spies since there’s at least one
aboard the ship, and he’s the one who Michael falls for since he’s apparently
been held prisoner by the Klingons as was Captain Lorca with whom he somehow escapes.
The other
incredible turn of events that’s mind-boggling is the way the STD finds its way
into an alternative universe in a different galaxy from their own. It’s an
antithetical mirror image of their own. It’s also one run by the tyrannical Terran
Emperor Philippa Georgiou (also played by Michelle Yeoh) who also had an
adopted daughter who happens to look exactly like Michael.
How the STD
gets back home to their Galaxy is whole other fascinating story since the
ingenious method of organic propulsion is developed aboard STD.
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