The location of the second red star is in the Beta Quadrant – but how can there possibly be Earth people there?

There’s a moment towards the end of this episode when Jeff Russo reprises Alexander Courage’s theme from the original series, and shivers went up my arms on both occasions I’ve watched this episode. It’s the perfect cherry on the top of that scene, part of an episode that feels so like an old-school instalment of The Original Series (had Roddenberry kept with Christopher Pike in the centre seat) yet with the modern sensibilities of Discovery. Sure there’s technobabble – but that’s cut through when Tilly points out that what it all means is that Detmer will be doing a doughnut in a starship… and the look on both characters’ faces reminds you what’s great about Star Trek.

Anson Mount’s Pike has established himself so quickly – and changed the tenor of the bridge so much after Lorca’s hard-ass reign – that it will be a real shame if the Enterprise gets mended too quickly! Mount and Sonequa Martin-Green bounce off each other in a way we glimpsed briefly between the original Captain Georgiou and Michael on board the Shenzhou, and the religion vs. science debate, as well as the Prime Directive (General Order 1) discussion feel as if they’re taking place between two people who can see the other’s viewpoint even if they might, through their own upbringing, treat things differently.

The plot thread aboard Discovery is equally well served, from Tilly and Stamets’ discussion about Hugh to Tilly’s accident in the shuttle bay and all that derives from that. Jonathan Frakes has been directing Star Trek for three decades now, and he knows what lies at the heart of the franchise – it’s the people, the dilemmas they face and how they cope with them that resonates with the viewers, and there are lots of fantastic moments seeded throughout the episode.

When Discovery began, we were told to regard the first two episodes as almost a precursor to the main action in the other 13 episodes. In some ways, I’m looking at that whole first season in that way – enjoyable as it was, the first two episodes of this season have been what I’ve hoped from a new Star Trek show ever since Enterprise flew off into the sunset. Is it totally flawless? Of course not – nothing is. But a second viewing has simply confirmed what I thought the first time around.

Verdict: Being bold. Being courageous. 10/10

Paul Simpson