Star Trek Discovery: 4x08 (All In)
Feb. 19th, 2022 08:37 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
4thofelevenIn which everything's a gamble.
I wasn't expecting Burnham and Book to have a confrontation this quickly, but I was glad to see them clash without reaching any resolution. Despite a temporary alliance against the Orions, they've both begun to cross lines that will make it hard for any reconciliation, and I'm very engaged by their relationship. Last season, Book felt a little bland; it's good to see him put into conflict with Starfleet and Burnham without painting him as a villain. His motivations remain completely understandable, and Burnham's patronising assumption that he's being manipulated by Tarka has just driven a further wedge between them.
(Not, of course, that I trust Tarka at all – I'm sure there's still a lot he hasn't told anyone. But Book's going into this eyes wide open; as long as Tarka holds up his end of the bargain and helps destroy the DMA, I don't think Book really cares what his true motives are.)
The strongest part of the episode is the back and forth between Burham and Book, as each tries to use their emotional ties and common past both to appeal to each other and to manipulate. It's somewhat reminiscent of Janeway and Kashyk's little dance in Voyager's “Counterpoint”, with each of them wanting to trust without being willing to risk vulnerability by actually being open. Appropriate, then, that we got a brief mention of Devore technology among Mazaro's wares.
Mazaro's little casino was a fun change of venue. It's fun to be reminded of Burnham and Book's past in the first year she spent in the 32nd century, and Mazaro himself makes an entertaining figure – rather than the usual threatening, violent crimelord, he's more like Quark; he expects his debts to be paid, but he also prides himself on being a friendly, personable host, even when he's selling off illegal weapon components.
I could have done without Owo's scenes as a boxer, but that may just be my own dislike of the sport. But it also doesn't really feel like it goes anywhere. It's nice to see someone from the bridge crew get more screen time, but I don't feel like I really learned anything about the character either.
Seeing a changeling was an unexpected surprise, and helps once again emphasise how much time has passed since the 24th century; Book and Tarka, our 32nd century natives aren't surprised at all to run into one. One wonders what's going on with the Great Link in this era – was our Changeling gambler another lost wanderer sent out like Odo, has the Link collapsed, or was this one just a tourist looking for a big score while away from home?
Meanwhile, back on Discovery, Stamets and Culber get only one scene – but it's a good one, continuing the background story of Culber struggling with his stress and his sense of responsibility for the crew and the people in his life. It's been pretty low-key compared to how Discovery normally handles these sort of emotional stories, but it's nice to see the characters who aren't getting as much focus and how they're coping with their stress.
I wasn't expecting Burnham and Book to have a confrontation this quickly, but I was glad to see them clash without reaching any resolution. Despite a temporary alliance against the Orions, they've both begun to cross lines that will make it hard for any reconciliation, and I'm very engaged by their relationship. Last season, Book felt a little bland; it's good to see him put into conflict with Starfleet and Burnham without painting him as a villain. His motivations remain completely understandable, and Burnham's patronising assumption that he's being manipulated by Tarka has just driven a further wedge between them.
(Not, of course, that I trust Tarka at all – I'm sure there's still a lot he hasn't told anyone. But Book's going into this eyes wide open; as long as Tarka holds up his end of the bargain and helps destroy the DMA, I don't think Book really cares what his true motives are.)
The strongest part of the episode is the back and forth between Burham and Book, as each tries to use their emotional ties and common past both to appeal to each other and to manipulate. It's somewhat reminiscent of Janeway and Kashyk's little dance in Voyager's “Counterpoint”, with each of them wanting to trust without being willing to risk vulnerability by actually being open. Appropriate, then, that we got a brief mention of Devore technology among Mazaro's wares.
Mazaro's little casino was a fun change of venue. It's fun to be reminded of Burnham and Book's past in the first year she spent in the 32nd century, and Mazaro himself makes an entertaining figure – rather than the usual threatening, violent crimelord, he's more like Quark; he expects his debts to be paid, but he also prides himself on being a friendly, personable host, even when he's selling off illegal weapon components.
I could have done without Owo's scenes as a boxer, but that may just be my own dislike of the sport. But it also doesn't really feel like it goes anywhere. It's nice to see someone from the bridge crew get more screen time, but I don't feel like I really learned anything about the character either.
Seeing a changeling was an unexpected surprise, and helps once again emphasise how much time has passed since the 24th century; Book and Tarka, our 32nd century natives aren't surprised at all to run into one. One wonders what's going on with the Great Link in this era – was our Changeling gambler another lost wanderer sent out like Odo, has the Link collapsed, or was this one just a tourist looking for a big score while away from home?
Meanwhile, back on Discovery, Stamets and Culber get only one scene – but it's a good one, continuing the background story of Culber struggling with his stress and his sense of responsibility for the crew and the people in his life. It's been pretty low-key compared to how Discovery normally handles these sort of emotional stories, but it's nice to see the characters who aren't getting as much focus and how they're coping with their stress.