Book sends out an SOS to the Discovery, with the lure of a black box which could contain answers about The Burn.

Another episode where the main plot holds all the action and spectacle, but the most relevant developments are happening to the side. Michael yet again disobeys a direct order from Saru, and by going rogue she leaves him with no alternative but to demote her. This has been some time coming, with the ship’s Number One only willing to follow orders when it suits her agenda.

The rapport between Michael and Georgiou continues to be a highlight, with the latter finally having to confess that she’s suffering from a condition which might have had fatal consequences if she hadn’t snapped out of it. And you have to love the moments between Tilly and Book’s monster moggy, Grudge.

The ship graveyard run by the Emerald Chain – the Andorian and Orion syndicate – is well realised, combining both a practical location and CGI augmentation. And when Philippa comes to the rescue in Book’s ship, disintegrating the armed Andorian guards, it’s another reminder that we’re not in ‘set to stun’ territory any more.

The crew are enjoying the retrofit overhaul given to the ship, as well the advanced, adaptive tech at their fingertips. The Discovery is now seen as the jewel in Starfleet’s crown thanks to its spore drive, but Michael is still their weakest link. She finally displays her love for Book while in a turbo lift, but she needs to reassess her priorities if she’s to remain in Starfleet.

Verdict: Boasting some impressive visual effects, this isn’t at the cost of the human drama, delivering a solid episode that keeps pushing things along. 8/10