Star Trek Discovery S5E6

[lightofdaye]

This one didn't quite click for me. I watched it short chunks over yesterday evening and this morning because I couldn't stick with it.

Paramount Plus' description is:
"While undercover in a pre-warp society, Captain Burnham is forced to consider breaking the Prime Directive when a local tradition threatens Tilly's life."

Which is... technically accurate but that comes right at the end of the episode and isn't really a big dilemma for her. She breaks the PD to save Tilly (and the local girl she's with) without a second thought. How you feel about that depends on how much you like the prime directive I guess but Discovery's "Who Watches The Watchers" this is not.

It's pretty standard stuff Burnham and Tilly go undercover as locals, and trigger a ceremony to gain access to the water tower that the Denobulan scientist who was a clue leaver and it turns out that oops winning the ceremonial race means, you got locked in the tower when it's switched on and asphyxiated to death as a sacrifice.

Tilly wins the race, while Burnham detoured to fix the place and then convinces the local girl's dad who's the high priest to let her and Tilly out in the nick of time. The clue turns out to be at one of the other towers as well.

It's heavy on plot, enforced by the stupidity of Burnham and Tilly triggering local traditions they don't understand and kind of low on actual dealing with consequences and the moral dilemma of the situation.

Meanwhile Culber's having a spiritual awakening after the zhaintara ritual, which is fine, it leads to some nice friendship moments with him and Book. While Adira is on the bridge the first time while Raynor is a stern but fair mentor.

It's all fine but like I said, didn't click.