Star Trek: Discovery: Season 1, Episode 9 "Into the Forest I Go"

 Star Trek: Discovery: Season 1, Episode 9 "Into the Forest I Go"

November 12, 2017

“Into the Forest I Go” is a very satisfying Star Trek: Discovery episode. In line with the previous episodes, there is hardly any room to breathe. I love this energy! We have space battles, the return of Admiral Cornwell from the presumed dead, a battle between Burnham and General Kol (who was not an entirely interesting character), and Stamets making an incredible 133 spore drive jumps. So buckle in and get ready for the ride! I know that people nitpick the series about certain things. Mine would have to be the characterization, or lack thereof, of the Klingons. L’Rell is seemingly the only semi-interesting Klingon because everyone else just grunts, growls, and double crosses one another. So, I guess it is as good as any time for Kol to meet his demise. The battle was thrilling. There is also some closure in terms of Captain Georgiou whom sadly the show seemed to put on the backburner. Tyler also has plenty to do. He is given a secret mission and it looks like his PTSD will be a factor in episodes to come. One can imagine why after watching that uncomfortable sex scene with L’Rell. And the ending! What are all those destroyed Klingon ships? I cannot wait to find some answers!

In this episode, the crew of the U.S.S Discovery is still trying to understand the invisibility cloak that the Klingons feature. Still at Pahvo, Lorca is given the order to stand down and retreat. Sensing a way to destroy the Klingons once and for all, he refuses the Starfleet orders and plans to use the spore drive, 133 jumps to be precise, to destroy The Sarcophagus. Stamets is at the end of the line as it is clear the spore jumps have been getting to him. Lorca sends Tyler and Burnham to the Klingon’s ship to perform a stealth mission. If all goes well, Lorca’s bold moves will make the Federation victorious.

Relentless is an opportune word to describe the episode. It does not stop. I believe this episode will be the bridge to expand the universe. There is some talk here about how alternate universes exist. Perhaps this is what we see at the end when Stamets dutifully performed his 133 jumps but landed the ship in a floating Klingon ship wreckage? There could have been some more exploration within Tyler’s PTSD battle, but that is just a minor quibble. I am excited for the back half of the season!

My Grade: A-


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