Saturday 9 April 2022

Star Trek Discovery — Series 4 Episode 3 — Choose to Live — A Review

8th April, 2022.




It’s Friday: as I think I mentioned in today’s Teaser.

And the end of — for me — what feels like a long week.

Meetings, Zoom calls, more Zoom calls, and trips — however brief — to Chelmsford.

I could’ve done with out the Zoom meeting — an interview — on Monday.

Let’s just say it went badly, and leave it there, shall we … ?

At any rate: it’s Friday.

Which means to things, by now.

Fish and homemade chips.

And Choose to Live: the third episode of Star Trek Discovery’s fourth season.

I’m writing this intro on Friday, 8th April, 2022: and should have the written and video review up by tomorrow night.

Saturday, 9th April, 2022.

Assuming I don’t choke on a chip, or get hit by a car!.


~≈🚀≈~
9th April, 2022.

Episode 3Choose to Live — opens with a brief summary of previous episodes.

Then shifts: to show us the crew of the USS Credence, making a vital delivery of dilithium for an unnamed planet.

Only for armed raiders to arrive, kill the ship’s first officer: and steal the dilithium.

Back at Starfleet Command?

Admiral Vance (Oded Fehr) is leading a dual purpose meeting: with Federation President Rillak (Chelah Horsdal), T’Rina (Tara Roslin) of Ni’Var, Captain Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) … and Captain Burnham’s mother, Dr Gabrielle Burnham (Sonja Sohn) of the Qowat Milat.

President T’Rina is offering help with the Federation help from the Ni’Var Science Institute: in the hope it will ease their entry into the Federation.

Dr Burnham?   Is present on behalf of her order.

As the raider, who’s stolen the dilithium, J’Vini, is a rogue member of the sisterhood.

A rogue member who’s quite prepared to kill to get what she wants.

Captain Burnham and company … ?

Have got a challenge … 

~≈🚀≈~

“Paul,” I hear you ask, “what did you think of Choose to Live?”

“Was it good, bad or indifferent?   Be frank, Paul: was it banana flavoured?”

I think we can rule out the banana flavouring.

My taste in TV shows can be odd: but not necessarily fruity.

On a more serious note … ?

And about that title?

I thought that the episode would focus on more Book’s (David Ajala’s) healing.

Given the title, Choose to Live, and given the past two episodes saw Book’s home world destroyed, can you blame me?

And, yes: the episode does focus on that: to an extent.

Indeed, President T’Rina’s mind meld with† Book — to recover some key evidence — also goes some way towards his healing.


So Choose to Live?   As a title, is very relevant to the both Book: and to Gray, who’s successfully makes the transfer from Adira’s mind, to a new and shiny synth body.

But … ?

It’s ALSO very relevant to J’Vina: the antagonist of the week.

It seem that in situations where a sister of the Qowat Milat‡ are preparing to kill someone … ?

They give them a warning, first: indeed, J’Vini uses it several times.

Effectively?   Choose to live.

You can choose to live.   Choose a different path … one that involves living.   You can choose life.

Or … ?   Or, to coin a phrase … ?

You can choose the other path … 

There’s other stuff going on.

We have the the story with Adira and Gray.

And?

We have something of a subplot with Lieutenant Tilly.   Mary Wiseman’s character has grown over the past few seasons: going from enthusiastic — if slightly bubble headed — space cadet: to a mature young woman having an identity crisis.

I don’t know quite where this is going: but we’ll have to see.

At any rate … ?

In Choose to Live, we have another fine episode.

One that leaves me looking forward to the next episode.

I’ll be watching that — All Is Possible — next Friday, 15th April: and will have my written and video reviews up on 16th April.

I’ll see you then … !
Choose to Live.

★★★☆




*        Remind me to tell Gruntleigh the Ogron this episode isn’t banana flavoured.

        From what I can see?   It’s something of a first for a Star Trek episode: it’s the first time we see a mind meld from the meldee’s viewpoint.

        While we’re talking of the Qowat Milat … ?   I have to admit, I like the new set of robes: more Catholic nun, than Bene Gesserit.   They don’t look as fancy: but do look practical.

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