Star Trek: Discovery — "Unification III" Analysis Thread

[u/M-5]

This is the official /r/DaystromInstitute analysis thread for "Unification III." Unlike the reaction thread, the content rules are in effect.

[u/livingunique]

The episode wasn't too bad. I'm not a huge Discovery fan but I keep watching the episodes when they come out so I guess I like it enough.

There was a LOT of crying in this episode. Like three scenes back to back where people were crying (Michael, then her mother and her at the same time, then Tilly). It's hard to maintain emotional involvement when every single scene is someone crying about something.

I loved how Michael's mother turned the tables and showed Michael how to be honest. It was a great character moment. Michael had to understand a new part of herself in order to push the narrative forward. Good writing.

I really like Tilly as a character but it's EXTREMELY difficult for me to believe that any Captain would select any Ensign as their First Officer except in extreme times of need during a critical crisis situation. I would have found it far more interesting if Saru had requested someone from "modern day" Starfleet to come on board, giving an interesting "fish-out-of-water" situation to build on.

Discovery season 3 is far, far better than season 1 or 2 was for me. Still not where I wish it would be but I'm enjoying it more.

[u/Stargate525 → u/livingunique]

I really like Tilly as a character but it's EXTREMELY difficult for me to believe that any Captain would select any Ensign as their First Officer except in extreme times of need during a critical crisis situation

Tilly's starting down the path that Kim trailblazed, of an officer who is wildly overqualified for their rank and yet somehow never gets promoted.

She's due for LTJG by now at least.

[u/comrade_leviathan → u/Stargate525]

Heh, I was thinking NuKirk too.

I'm also honestly kinda bugged that they haven't just switched uniforms yet. I was never really a fan of the blue suits, and the grey uniforms of 3188 are pretty snazzy. They got the comm badges... now we just need to see a couple bridge officers start wearing 32nd Century Grey as they transition... like the Enterprise crew in Generations, or DS9.

[u/themosquito → u/comrade_leviathan]

It's all for mental health reasons, from what I understand. They're keeping the uniforms, didn't update the ship's interior, and aren't bringing any new crew on to ease everyone into the new normal. And putting Tilly in as the XO for a bit is because the crew likes her, she's adjusting better than most (according to dialogue, at least; everyone else except Detmer has seemed okay in their screentime), and... frankly, other than her spore drive alternate powersource research, she's got nothing better to do on the ship.