Star Trek Discovery — Series 5 Episode 7 — “Erigah” — A Review

*Spoilers*

9th May, 2024: an introduction.

Right, then.

It’s officially Thursday.

And frankly?

I can smell the smell of dinner being done!

Yes: I’ve had my blood tests done!

Yes: I’ve posted this morning’s Teaser.

And yes: I’m wondering where I put a lot of old CDs!

I’m just thankful I had some of the missing music on an old computer*!

~≈🖖≈~

At any rate … ?

I’m burbling: not a good thing when potatoes are involved!

I’m going to get off, eat dinner, then watch “Erigah”, the next episode of Star Trek Discovery’s last series.

I’ll see you in the (metaphorical) morning.

~≈🖖≈~

10th May, 2024: “Erigah” — the review.

Episode 7 — “Erigah” — opens with the traditional summary of previous episodes.

Then shifts: to show us the Discovery rendezvousing with the USS Locherer, the Federation ship that is currently holding Moll and L’ak (Eve Harlow and Elias Toufexis).

Captain Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) finds several things.

Firstly?

• That an old friend, and former Discovery crewmate — Commander Nhan (Rachel Acheril) — is able to help.
• That Commander Nhan has managed to recover Doctor Villek’s diary — last seen early in the series — which will help trace the next clue.
• And that the Commander and Book (David Ajala) aren’t exactly friends … !

Book had pointed some very heavy weaponry at Nhan, the last time they’d met.

With feathers calmed?

It’s time for the Captain to meet both L’ak and Moll.

But, as both Dr Culber and Nhan warn the Captain?

This meeting is going to be difficult.

~≈🖖≈~

Now … what did I think of “Erigah”?

Of this episode … ?

It has to be said, sometimes I take to an episode: and sometimes I don’t.

Last week’s episode, “Whistlespeak”?

As good as it was, wasn’t one I was taken with: and, looking back at it now?

I found the ending a touch problematic for my tastes.

“Erigah”, by contrast?

Is less problematic … and gives us a lot.

For starters?

We have an episode that concentrates not on locating a clue, as “Whistlespeak” was, but on a dangerous negotiation.

Federation HQ, itself, is under threat from a Dreadnaught-sized Breen warship: a threat that none but President T’Rina (Tara Rosling) can successfully negotiate, but that still leaves the Federation with an hour to hand over L’ak and Moll.

We get a very tense political drama, in other words: something that’s more to my taste than “Whistlespeak” treasure hunt.

We learn things, as well.

Not least that the very Vulcan T’Rina has an incredibly dry sense of humour, under stress: her line about tribble infestations was well timed.

We also learn that the Breen were — at one point — the occupiers of Kellerun, Rayner’s home world, and that Rayner (Callum Keith Rennie) hates the Breen because of this.

Hates them … but who also knows much of the people who’d conquered his home: something that eventually proves useful for Burnham and the negotiations.

More importantly?   We also learn what’s motivating the Breen’s seeming aggression towards others.

It seems that — since the last Breen emperor has died — there’s a civil war happening: different Breen leaders are struggling to secure the throne for themselves.

Including L’ak’s Uncle, Primarch† Ruhn.

Ruhn, it seems, has something of an advantage.

He’s directly related to the scion, the heir, to the last Emperor

His nephew: L’ak.

An heir who, by the end of the episode?

Is dead.

An heir who leaves his widow, Mol?

Desperate enough position to make a deal with the devil himself!

Should the Breen help her find the Progenitor technology?

There’s good chance L’ak … can be brought back to life.

“Erigah” is a thriller: with a twist.

~≈🖖≈~

There’s a couple of minor points I feel I should mention, before closing.

I mentioned President T’Rina’s line about tribbles, earlier.

I though it was funny: drily funny, but funny, none-the-less.

I’ve come away impressed Tara Rosling’s sympathetic performance: it’s a good piece of work.

No less than Sonequa Martin-Green’s restrained performance as Captain Burnham.

It is, in turns, action packed, joyious and — in this episode — restrained and commanding.

Early on, she gives Commander Rayner his marching orders with one line, and a raised eyebrow, in a way that makes Patrick Steward’s performance as Captain Picard look over done.

It is a shame seasons five is to be Discovery’s last.

We have a Starfleet captain worthy of the rank: and could do with more of her.

~≈🖖≈~

With all that said … ?

What did I make of “Erigah”?

With all that said, I thoroughly enjoyed this episode.

There are times — in earlier episodes —where Star Trek Discovery gives us bloodless talking shops.

“Erigah”, by contrast?   Has given us a tense political drama that’s worth watching: and set up next week’s episode very well

That episode?   Is something I’ll definitely be watching, next week.

I’ll be watching the next episode of Star Trek Discovery — “Labyrinths” — on Thursday, 16th May: and posting my written and video reviews of it on Friday, 17th May.

In between now and then?   I’ll be watching the first two episodes of Dr Who’s new series — “Space Babies” and “The Devil’s Chord” — over the weekend: and will have the written and video reviews up by Tuesday, 14th May, at the very latest.

Hopefully?

I’ll see you then!

“Erigah”.

★★★★

*        The song I couldn’t find, and thankfully did … ?   Was Nicky Moore’s version of “Heartbreak Hotel”.   My gods, but the man could sing.   (It’s only today — the 9th — I found that Nicky had died of Parkinson’s disease in 2022.   He’ll be much missed.)

†        I’ve not seen a definition of the word in either the Oxford English Dictionary, or Webster’s.   But that doesn’t stop me knowing the word refers to a senior leader.   It’s used in a similar manner: for characters in Warhammer 40, 000.   Their Primarchs are the founding fathers, and leaders, of the various space marine chapters.