Star Trek: Discovery Season 5 Episode 9 Review

As we approached the penultimate episode of Star Trek: Discovery’s fifth season, expectations were tempered by the lack of substantial plot development in preceding episodes. Sadly, Star Trek: Discovery Season 5 Episode 9 continues to disappoint, squandering the cast’s efforts to elevate the material and leaving viewers questioning the direction of the series. Despite the undeniable talent of the ensemble, the writing and plot decisions do little to support their performances.

Star Trek: Discovery Season 5 Episode 9 opens with Saru (Doug Jones) meeting President T’Rina (Tara Rosling) as they prepare for their impending nuptials. It’s a heartwarming moment, particularly given Saru’s sporadic appearances this season.

However, this touching interlude is overshadowed by the news that the Breen Empire is in turmoil following the death of Primarch Ruhn at the hands of Moll in the previous episode. With another Primarch poised to seize power, a potential fleet of Breen now threatens to stand between Discovery and the coveted Progenitor technology.

Quickly, Star Trek: Discovery Season 5 Episode 9 transitions to a damaged USS Discovery, still reeling from their recent escape. The crew’s prowess shines as they avoid certain destruction at the hands of two black holes that protect the Progenitor technology. The sequence showcases the teamwork that has been conspicuously absent this season.

Despite the absence of Detmer (Emily Coutts) and Owosekun (Oyin Oladejo) on the bridge, the crew manages to navigate the situation easily. This brief yet compelling sequence underscores Discovery’s potential when the ensemble works cohesively under Captain Burnham’s command. Further, it offers a glimpse into the capabilities of new crew members who have been sidelined for much of the season.

Just as Star Trek: Discovery Season 5 Episode 9 begins to re-engage viewers with the qualities that make Discovery compelling, it regresses into the season’s recurring pitfalls. As the crew embarks on an ostensibly impossible mission, the narrative is bogged down by forced character moments.

The penultimate episode of the final season should be building momentum, yet it squanders precious time on rushed conversations that feel out of place given the high stakes. This disjointed pacing is further exacerbated by the decision to split the cast once again, subjecting viewers to more of Commander Rayner’s (Callum Keith Rennie) leadership lessons and his reluctance to assume the captain’s chair.

Moll (Eve Harlow)’s one-note nature is a prime example of this reluctance to embrace complexity. Throughout the season, her character has been painted with broad strokes, lacking the depth and nuance necessary to make her compelling. Her motivations are tied almost exclusively to her superficial love for L’ak, a relationship that feels both contrived and unconvincing.

This lack of depth in Moll’s characterization not only drags down her scenes but also undermines the stakes of the central quest. Instead of presenting a multifaceted antagonist whose actions and decisions add layers to the plot, Moll’s predictable and shallow motivations make the overarching conflict feel simplistic and uninspired.

Furthermore, this focus on a contrived romance as the driving force behind Moll’s actions reduces the potential for more engaging and intricate storytelling. It sidelines more profound themes and character developments that could have been explored, such as the political intricacies of the Breen Empire’s power struggle, the ethical implications of using the Progenitor technology, or the personal growth and dynamics within the Discovery crew. These elements could have provided a richer, more textured narrative, allowing the final season to resonate more deeply with its audience.

As the penultimate episode progresses, the plot waits until the last minute to reveal any significant deviations, suggesting that the final season won’t reach its true potential. This choice feels emblematic of a broader reluctance to take risks. Instead of seizing opportunities to innovate and surprise, the series opts to tread familiar ground. This approach avoids major missteps, ensuring a level of consistent quality, but also prevents the show from achieving the kind of bold, defining storytelling that could have elevated it.

Saru’s relationship with President T’Rina epitomizes the season’s narrative shortcomings. What could have been an intriguing subplot is reduced to a series of rehashed conversations. It never fully explores the complexities of their dynamic.

When Saru volunteers for a perilous mission to stall the Breen Primarch, the logic versus emotions conversation is retread, mirroring the treatment of other character arcs this season. This lack of urgency fails to build the necessary momentum leading into the series finale, leaving the audience with muted anticipation rather than the edge-of-the-seat excitement that a well-crafted penultimate episode should evoke.

Star Trek: Discovery Season 5 Episode 9 is a mixed bag. It features flashes of the series’s inherent strengths—compelling characters, intense sequences, and the spirit of exploration—but these are overshadowed by poor pacing, superficial character moments, and an overall lack of narrative coherence.

As the season begins its final journey into the unknown, Star Trek: Discovery’s plot and characters remain largely unchanged. The only discernible difference is the presence of a less likable would-be captain in the command chair, while Captain Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) embarks on a solitary mission to save everyone.

Star Trek: Discovery Season 5 is streaming exclusively on Paramount+.