Here we stand, having reached the midpoint of the final season of "Star Trek: Discovery." Will the intricate plot threads finally converge into a satisfying conclusion? Or will we be treated to yet another intergalactic pursuit of the elusive Progenitors MacGuffin, interspersed with standalone episodes that feel like filler?
Interestingly, a glance at the IMDb's top 10 rated episodes of "Discovery" reveals a startling trend - not a single entry beyond the second season makes the cut. This week's episode, curiously titled "Whistlespeak," seems to hark back to the old-school style of sci-fi storytelling, more reminiscent of something like "Stargate SG-1." In that show, a 10-episode hunt for an alien artifact would have been perfectly acceptable, given that each season typically consisted of 22 episodes.
Unfortunately, this is precisely one of the reasons why "Discovery" has been deteriorating rather than improving. Each season, especially in seasons 3, 4, and 5, seems to adhere to a formulaic approach that is all too familiar. There's always a looming threat to all life in the universe - whether it's killer AI, exploding dilithium, gravity waves, or Progenitor technology - and a series of clues that must be followed, usually leading to a series of standalone adventures before culminating in a disappointing payoff.
Tragically, "Discovery" never quite found its unique identity. It struggled from the outset, as the original concept was not to focus on the captain of a particular starship, but rather the first officer. This, combined with the shift in big-budget TV sci-fi towards shorter seasons with more expensive episodes and narrower storylines, has not been conducive to the show's growth. Just consider what other sci-fi shows have accomplished in five seasons; "Stargate: Atlantis" and "Babylon 5" both had five seasons, "Battlestar Galactica" only had four, and "Stargate: SG-1" boasted 10. (Although, the less said about the convoluted Ori storyline, the better.)
Despite all this, the episode "Whistlespeak" was a quirky and enjoyable installment. It was a breath of fresh air, albeit with a few glaring plot holes and ridiculously convenient technology. Instead of swallowing a pill to temporarily alter your genetics, we're now treated to easy-install "optical tricorders" - yes, you heard that right, the burden of carrying a tricorder is now gone, as they can be worn like contact lenses.
This week, Captain Michael Burnham (played by Sonequa Martin-Green) and Lieutenant Sylvia Tilly (portrayed by Mary Wiseman) descend incognito to the surface of a primitive, pre-warp, pre-industrial world, reminiscent of the familiar Planet Vancouver we've encountered in numerous incarnations of "Stargate." And why, oh why, do these unevolved civilizations always harbor traditions that, at first glance, seem harmless but, upon closer inspection, reveal grisly secrets of decapitation, disembowelment, and countless other agonizing methods of death, all in the name of glorifying some deity or another? Was the human race ever like this...oh, wait, never mind. Damn.
In this particular case, the threat is simply suffocation. Of course, if one were to extinguish the fires that are also blazing in the chamber, consuming the precious air that remains, one might just survive a little longer. But that's probably not covered in the standard Starfleet training manual. Instead, cadets are taught how to rebuild an illudium Q-36 explosive space modulator using only a discarded toothbrush, a clothes peg, an empty bottle of dish soap, and sticky-back plastic.
You also can't help but wonder how the local populace possesses such profound knowledge of the sacrificial chamber if no one ever escapes alive. But we'll overlook that minor detail, just like the writers did. And boy-oh-boy, there's plenty of time to kill before you get killed. On the bright side, the dialogue this week is quite sharp, and despite its flaws, this episode maintains a steady pace. Still, a cliffhanger would be nice at some point before the series wraps up permanently.
All things considered, given the low bar that "Discovery" has sadly set for itself, this episode isn't terrible. In other, somewhat related news, Paramount CEO Bob Bakish has stepped down, and it's rumored that the entertainment giant is planning to establish an "office of the CEO" where a team will make the important decisions instead of a single rich, white man who seems to lack a clear vision. Sounds like a promising plan, doesn't it? Well, wait for it... Instead, three rich, white men will be making all the important decisions: George Cheeks, president and CEO of CBS; Chris McCarthy, president and CEO of Paramount Media Networks; and Brian Robbins, president and CEO of Paramount Pictures.
Undoubtedly, the share value of Paramount has plummeted this week, causing ripples across the industry. While much of this turbulence can be traced back to Paramount Global's challenges, its impact on the future of Paramount Plus is undeniable. Programming decisions, budgetary constraints, and countless other factors that determine the fate of franchises like "Star Trek" are now hanging in the balance.
Let's be honest: the upcoming Section 31 TV series/movie is solely the result of contractual obligations, rather than a vote of confidence in its potential. The fifth and final season of "Star Trek: Discovery," along with nearly every other episode of every "Star Trek" show (excluding the animated series "Star Trek: Prodigy"), currently enjoys exclusive streaming privileges on Paramount Plus in the United States. Meanwhile, "Prodigy" has found a new audience on Netflix.
Internationally, these shows have a widespread reach on Paramount Plus in countries like Australia, Latin America, the UK, and South Korea. Additionally, they are available on Pluto TV's Sci-Fi channel in Austria, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and Switzerland, further extending their global footprint. In Italy, France, Germany, Switzerland, and Austria, they also stream on Paramount Plus. Canadian fans can catch up on Bell Media's CTV Sci-Fi Channel or stream them on Crave.
As we watch these developments unfold, it's clear that the future of "Star Trek" and other Paramount franchises hangs in the balance. Will we continue to see new adventures in the final frontier? Only time will tell, but for now, we can only hope that Paramount Plus will rise to the challenge and deliver quality content that lives up to the legacy of "Star Trek."
