While undercover in a pre-warp society, Captain Burnham is forced to consider breaking the Prime Directive.

Ah, the good old Prime Directive, Star Trek’s diktat to not interfere with the development of more primitive species by introducing more advanced technology. It’s a solid idea, but you just know it’s going to be broken when it’s the focus of a story – the question is usually ‘when’ rather than ‘if’.

We’re into the second half of this season and all eyes are still on solving the clues that will lead Discovery to the Progenitors’ technology. After a bit of help from the always-welcome David Cronenberg’s Kovich, the next clue is discovered in a building on a primitive planet. Michael and Tilly beam down to recover it, with the latter drawn in to a religious custom with potentially fatal consequences. Will Michael break the Prime Directive to save her friend?

Unfortunately, the resolution feels rushed and predictable, with most of the episode’s interest focused on Culber, who appears to evolving spiritually, and possibly physically. I do wonder how this will resolve itself.

Verdict: The Prime Directive stuff reinforces how recklessly this order is treated – this isn’t the time to cling on to an oft-used Trek trope. 6/10

Nick Joy