Star Trek Discovery — Series 3 Episode 3 — People of Earth — A Review

21st November, 2020.

It’s got to be said, I’m starting this … at the end of a comparatively long day.

Which means?

I’ve got even more excuse to finish what I’m starting, tomorrow.

But, for those of my readings following the story about the laptop I’ve borrowed?

I’ve finally picked it up: from the main Brentwood Post office, in Brentwood High Street.

~≈†≈~

As an extra thought …?   Or maybe question … ?

Have you been watching the animated Daleks series on YouTube?

It’s rather fun!

But I had to laugh, when I saw the second episode, tonight.

That Destroy without Pity acronym they used?

Is a direct lift from an old Dalek annual published in the 1960s!

I should know: I’ve got a copy!

At any rate … ?

I’ll be back later: to tell you about episode three of Star Trek Discovery … !

~≈†≈~

Let’s move on, shall we?

Episode 3 — People of Earth — opens with the now traditional summary of previous episode.

Then shifts: showing us Commander Michael Burnham*’s personal log, up until rejoining the Discovery.

Telling us that she’s been acting as a courier since arriving, a years earlier.

And over-joyed when she is reunited with her crew mates.

She and Saru† … ?   Agree that he, as the more senior in the chain of command, and should take charge.

And admits to her old friend: she feels deeply ambiguous his offer of the First Officer’s post‡.

There’s one final thing.

Commander Burnham’s received a message: from an Admiral Tal.

Asking for help.

And telling them where he can be found.

Earth … 

An Earth that’s no longer a member of the Federation … and — as Captain Ndoye^ of the United Earth Defence Force tells them? — Admiral Senna Tal died several years ago …

There may well be trouble ahead …

~≈†≈~

Now … 

Good, bad, indifferent, chocolate flavoured or what?

I’ll be honest, I don’t think that describing science fiction in terms of chocolate is necessarily relevant.

Or useful, come to that!

Calling People of Earth a Toblerone is not necessarily a thing.

With that out of the way … ?

We’ve got another great episode.

The story itself?   The Discovery heading for a planet, finding it has a problem, then helping solve that problem?

Is pretty much much an old school Star Trek episode: The Devil in the Dark, say, or Captain’s Holiday.   Turn up somewhere, find a problem, then help solve it.

With a twist: finding Admiral Tal unexpectedly alive, and in the sixteen year old form of Adiraª, of UEDF’s investigation team.

She’s human … playing host to a Trill symbiont, in other words.

So there’s that … and other world building bits.

We get more about the Burn, the disaster that’s destroyed the galaxy’s dilithium supply.

More about how Earth’s faring.

We … 

Well … 

I, for one, am impressed by this third season, so far.

Jumping forward in the way it has, Star Trek Discovery, season three, is looking very healthy.

I can only hope Dr Who, when its next series starts?

Looks as good.

*        Sonequa Martin-Green.

†        Doug Jones.

‡        At one point?   Saru says that he need’s Michael as Number One.   The term was the the Enterprise’s first officer in The Cage: the original pilot for Star Trek, and played by Majel Barrett.   The episode is — appropriately enough — directed by Jonathan Frakes: best remember as Commander William River, first officer of the Enterprise D, and usually referred to as Number One by Captain Picard … 

^        Phumzile Sitole.

ª        Blu del Barrio.