L’Rell and Tyler face problems in the Klingon Empire as both Michael and Tilly have unexpected guests…

After the strong central focus of the first two episodes of this season, perhaps it’s not too surprising that we need an instalment where certain pieces are brought into play to move the ongoing storylines forward. This is very much a part of a serial story – there’s not really one element that’s “standalone” in the normal sense – and how much you enjoy it will depend on how you like the different threads.

There’s a definite feel with the Klingons that the writers are desperately backing themselves out of the corner they put themselves in at the end of series 1. How on Earth (or indeed any other planet) did anyone (in or out of universe) think that the humiliated Klingons would accept Ash – because that’s how they seem him, they clearly don’t see Voq, and anyway they weren’t too keen on him when he was Voq! – in any form of command over them. Throwing a child into the mix simply complicates things further (even if it did give Michelle Yeoh a chance for a lovely moment towards the end of the episode), and frankly, the solution that we end up with is where we should have started the year. Mary Chieffo in particular does well with what she’s given, and there’s a great fight sequence… but was it all really set up just so “Ash” could create the D7 Klingon cruiser? (And wasn’t there a reference to that last season anyway?) Oh and it seems as if Klingon scenes may be in “English” going forward, which is a definite plus!

The Michael / Amanda storyline works in context – it’s good to see Spock’s mother fleshed out more than we’ve seen outside the novels, and Mia Kershner’s reaction when Amanda realises her foster daughter has done something potentially irreparable is beautifully played. This plotline also gives Anson Mount some fun moments (and explains certain tech things in a nicely throwaway manner).

Then there’s Tilly vs. the  ghost. I’m relieved that the haunting isn’t continuing past this episode (as least so far as we can tell) and Mary Wiseman gives us a much more restrained performance than so far this season, reminding us why we care about this character so much. Quite why the fungus being is so afraid of Stamets though is something we’re going to have to wait to find out.

Verdict: Pieces are being moved into place and sometimes we can see the strings – it’s still an enjoyable hour of TV, but not quite as strong as the opening pair. 8/10

Paul Simpson