IR TV Review: STAR TREK - DISCOVERY - EPISODE 13 (“Coming Home”) [Paramount+-S4]

Finding reasoning and the hope of family even when it seems all is lost is a hallmark of "Star Trek" but usually it is wrapped in sardonic humor in some cases which allows of release. The aspect that "Discovery" has lost a little bit since the end of the 2nd season is its sense of humor. There is always darkness and a bit of heart but without some better modes of humor it can get downtrodden...and the finale of Season 4 is a good example of that. The issue sometimes with overarching mythology is that it bogs one down whereas with episodics (even if it is just a few episodes doing exploring type things), it allows characters to breathe. It is alot harder for some series now with only 13 episodes versus 22 as recently as "Enterprise". That compression is starting to show itself on "Discovery". While the universe and world it shows is innumerably bigger and its impact is supposed to be moving, it feels overly melodramatic, posturing and the dialogue unduly preachy.

The one who gets what needs to happen is Tig Notaro but one gets the feeling she is ad-libbing a bit which is why she comes off as fresh even as she is serving a plot point. It just seems as we are coming to the edge of a cliff with "Discovery"(whereas for example with Season 4 of "Enterprise" -- despite the Xindi -- the interpersonal elements were just beginning to blossom). With "Discovery", there seems to be the precipice it is teetering on. At one point here, something very drastic happens...and honestly its original intent would have had much more effect if it was allowed to play. Granted this could have changed Burnham in undeniable ways but perhaps that is not the story to the endgame the producers want. The story points can go a different way but a full blown loss in someform has to happen in terms of structure. This can be reflected back to TOS in terms of the movies. Things only become mythic if something is truly lost. Maybe one is expecting too much or "Discovery" is trying to tick off too many boxes now. But that feeling at the end of Season 2 has been lost. The show is still finely scripted and nicely made but it has lost its magic in a way. "Strange New Worlds" will be interesting to see in terms of where it finds its balance in tone. In a way Episode 13: "Coming Home" is supposed to signal a new beginning but the show needs to work its way back to where it came from. C

By Tim Wassberg