One might be pleased to hear that this mid-season finale is somewhat (a big somewhat) akin to classic Trek in that there is no action in the entire episode. Instead, it focuses on most of the Milky Way Galaxy conversing on what action should be taken regarding the DMA: destroy it with the possible consequence of harm to species 10C and damaging warp sub space making warp travel impossible in the immediate area, or, locate species 10C and make first contact. Burnham advocates for peaceful first contact, while Booker moves for destroying the DMA.
There are two plots to the episode, but neither one takes precedence over the other as they both entail the destruction or preservation of the Milky Way Galaxy. The problem with Zora's plot is that it is fine on its own (in fact this is the element which makes the episode feel like classic Trek) but as part of the whole it seems like the writers needed the rest of the cast to do something equally important to the Galactic summit. As a result, this makes the Galactic Summit of HUNDEREDS OF SPECIES DECIDING THEIR OWN FATE feel unimportant: even if they do succeed, there is a chance Zora might still decline and the summit was all for naught. On the other hand, the Galactic summit feels more like a "senate episode" from the CLONE WARS than it does Star Trek. To be honest, the I know the Galaxy is massive, but this meeting of the four quadrants makes the Galaxy feel really, really small. We see multiple representatives from the same species giving different or stacked votes, it doesn't quite make sense. Unless of course that is the other element from classic Trek that is being borrowed... the recycling of props and resources!
The whole episode, in fact, most of the first half of this season goes by really slowly even though there is some action. This could be to build tension, but instead it makes the pacing of the show very slow. "The Examples" was by far the best episode of the season, with not much action, but also playing into the mystery of the DMA. By "...But To Connect" we still don't know a lot about the DMA, and yet the mystery and urgency seems gone. In a serialized show, the lack of action may be to the episode's detriment, as we only see a portion of the story and a partial conclusion. The events of this episode appear to have happened because the writers needed something to happen. We all know the conclusion of the episode before it even happens, but the obstacles for the characters seem a little contrived. There are some good elements to this episode, but overall it is mediocre, similar to the rest of season 4's first half. We shall see how season 4's second half goes, I am excited to uncover the mystery of species 10C!
There are two plots to the episode, but neither one takes precedence over the other as they both entail the destruction or preservation of the Milky Way Galaxy. The problem with Zora's plot is that it is fine on its own (in fact this is the element which makes the episode feel like classic Trek) but as part of the whole it seems like the writers needed the rest of the cast to do something equally important to the Galactic summit. As a result, this makes the Galactic Summit of HUNDEREDS OF SPECIES DECIDING THEIR OWN FATE feel unimportant: even if they do succeed, there is a chance Zora might still decline and the summit was all for naught. On the other hand, the Galactic summit feels more like a "senate episode" from the CLONE WARS than it does Star Trek. To be honest, the I know the Galaxy is massive, but this meeting of the four quadrants makes the Galaxy feel really, really small. We see multiple representatives from the same species giving different or stacked votes, it doesn't quite make sense. Unless of course that is the other element from classic Trek that is being borrowed... the recycling of props and resources!
The whole episode, in fact, most of the first half of this season goes by really slowly even though there is some action. This could be to build tension, but instead it makes the pacing of the show very slow. "The Examples" was by far the best episode of the season, with not much action, but also playing into the mystery of the DMA. By "...But To Connect" we still don't know a lot about the DMA, and yet the mystery and urgency seems gone. In a serialized show, the lack of action may be to the episode's detriment, as we only see a portion of the story and a partial conclusion. The events of this episode appear to have happened because the writers needed something to happen. We all know the conclusion of the episode before it even happens, but the obstacles for the characters seem a little contrived. There are some good elements to this episode, but overall it is mediocre, similar to the rest of season 4's first half. We shall see how season 4's second half goes, I am excited to uncover the mystery of species 10C!