Star Trek Discovery — Episode 14: The War Without, The War Within

7th February, 2018.

OK … The tumble dryer is decidedly on.

But ut’s OK, I can give up using the tumble dryer, anytime I want.

I’ve just got some socks to dry, OK?

Well, I say some … 

~≈ß≈~

OK … 

This post is starting to wander, a little bit, isn’t it?

It wasn’t meant to.

I meant to tell you … 

Well, possibly a lot of things*.

One of which is (possibly) obvious.

I got up seriously early, this morning: for a hospital appointment in Basildon.

I really wish I had, to be frank.

But … ?

Frankly, I’m not getting any younger.

And, equally as frankly?

Chest pains, at my age, and at my sort of weight?

Aren’t something to take lightly.

Up at 5·30am, and off to Basildon it was.

~≈ß≈~

I’m — sort of — glad I did, though.

The actual appointment, with the hospital’s specialist cardiology nurse, went quicker than I expected: even with another ECG examination and a stethoscope.

From what the nurse told me?

I don’t have Angina.

Yet.

But does want me to have a CT scan: to have a seriously good look at my coronary arteries, so we can see if I need a course of statins.

We’ll have to see what happens when I get the appointment.

~≈ß≈~

At any rate … ?

At any rate, I’ve actually had tonight, free.

At least, free to do a few things.

Wash my socks.

Makes some more Teaser videos.

Do some housework.

Eat.

Email my mother.

And?

And catching up on this week’s episode of Star Trek: Discovery.

Twisty is possibly the word.

Especially when you see the look on ‘Captain’ Georgiou’s face … 

~≈ß≈~

Episode 14 — The War Without, the War Within — show us the Discovery returning to home to the ‘normal’ universe.

Only to discover nine months have elapsed since they left, and that the war with the Klingons?   Is going badly for the Federation.

As Admiral Cornwell (Jayne Brook) reminds them?

The war needs Discovery, with it now depleted mycelial drive, to win things.

The only safe option?

Is suggested to Michael (Sonequa Martin-Green), by none other than the Empress Georgiou (Michelle Yeoh).

It’s simple, direct, and efficient.

Attack Qo’noS, the Klingon home-world, itself.

They only need the help of Captain Georgiou to do it … 

~≈ß≈~

Now … 

Given this is the penultimate episode, that events Are galloping to a BIG climax, next week, you’re thinking “Did Paul enjoy this week’s episode?”

I should say so!

It’s got some good character building stuff: seeing Ash (Shazad Latif) and Michael attempting to reconcile, seeing L’Rell (Mary Chieffo) and Cornwell butting heads, and seeing Michelle Yeoh really digging her teeth into the villainous Empress†.

It’s got a plot smoothly setting the scene for next week’s finale.

And?

It’s got possibly the strongest female ensemble cast I’ve seen for some time.

Next week’s episode?

Better be good!

*        Including this Amon Tobin album … 

†      No, really: she eats‡ Kelpians like Saru (Doug Jones) for dinner.

‡        No.   That’s not a euphemism.