Star Trek: Discovery Season 4 Episode 9 Evaluation: Rubicon

There’s a model of this story the place Tarka’s predicament is portrayed as deftly and punctiliously as this episode tries to deal with the variations of opinion about Guide’s actions between varied members of the Discovery bridge crew, one which acknowledges the inconceivable scenario he’s discovered himself in and which seemingly units Michael and buddies tackle a mission to assist him discover his method residence by the tip of it. As a substitute, this character is laughably one-note, and his presence is so grating that it virtually undoes all the great work the remainder of the hour manages to realize with this story. Who feels dangerous for this man or is even barely torn on his behalf? And who didn’t see this coming from a mile away? 

Maybe this choice to destroy the DMA would have been extra impactful had Guide truly determined to fireplace on it himself, since we’ve truly spent an entire season watching him grieve and wrestle and tear himself in two over Kweijan’s destiny and what, if something, he might have finished to stop it. It might have been an emotional betrayal of Michael, positive, however it might have additionally been an comprehensible, even defendable choice on his half.

Plus, he would have needed to have taken direct and full duty for no matter occurs afterward, versus now, the place he’s kind of responsible and can clearly really feel dangerous about it however isn’t absolutely accountable as a result of a minimum of he did attempt to do the precise factor ultimately. It smacks a little bit of eager to have it each methods along with his character and as a lot as I really like Guide and Burnham’s relationship, I’d have preferred to see them take a story danger right here. 

At any price, the destroyed DMA is principally instantly changed with a brand new one, as a result of Species 10-C is basically not messing round and I swear if we don’t discover out what sort of beings these are subsequent week I’m going to lose my thoughts. They need to be some extremely highly effective creatures, sure? 

Regardless of ending on an ungainly first contact that undoubtedly might imply conflict with a dramatically extra highly effective alien race, “Rubicon” has a variety of nice moments all through. However as a lot as I preferred the character and was happy to see her again on the canvas, I”m not solely positive Nhan’s presence was solely needed—although the truth that she’s now an official Starfleet safety staff member means a minimum of she might pop again up once more later—if solely as a result of it, as soon as once more, it felt just like the present making an attempt to string the needle in relation to Michael’s informal disregard of primary guidelines and protocols. 

Everyone knows that there was 100% no method she ought to have ever been concerned on this mission in any capability, not to mention left in command for it, and the return of Nhan seems like Discovery making an attempt to a minimum of acknowledge that it is aware of how ridiculous it was that she was allowed to take action. But, although Rachael Ancheril and Sonequa Martin-Inexperienced get to share a number of nice scenes collectively (and I needed extra about Nhan’s discovery of her household!) it by no means seems like there’s any method Nhan will truly override Michael and provides the order to explode Guide and his ship.