When an existential crisis threatens to wipe out a species, a cadet is forced to confront his past and strained relationship with his family.

After the Earth-bound antics of last week’s episode, we’re back among the stars again for this instalment, written by Giai Violo and Eric Anthony Glover. This time the focus is on Klingon Jay-Den Kraag (Karim Diane), his life before enrolling in Starfleet Academy and how he can use his heritage to solve a problem.

For me, this is quintessential Trek. It’s more than an origin story because it takes a sticky moral quandary, throws in some humour and dresses it with contemporary relevance. The story title translates to ‘a voice on high’, that voice here being Starfleet trying to impose its solution to a problem without understanding that it’s not just black and white.

Starfleet is happy to be the saviour, creating asylum without considering the honour of the refugees or what the long-term effects might be. Is it enough to save someone if you crush their spirit at the same time? The resolution is credible and in line with the best Trek outcomes. While it’s ultimately Kraag’s episode, Holly Hunter’s Ake still plays an essential role in the outcome by pulling in a favour from an old friend.

Verdict: Probably the most old-school Trek episode this season, and I’m here for a show that embraces its legacy. 8/10

Nick Joy