Captain’s log: 2257

We’re racing to the conclusion of the second season now. Perpetual Infinity written by Alan McElroy and Brandon Schultz, which first aired on 28 March, 2019, is making sure there are lots of cards on the table to make sure we realise what the game really is.

As Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) deals with the revelation that her mother (Sonja Sohn) is alive, and has been using the Red Angel time suit to try to stop Control from wiping out all sentient life in the universe, Leland (Alan van Sprang) as Control made flesh, begins to move against Burnham and the Discovery, attempting to use Tyler (Shazad Latif) and Georgiou (Michelle Yeoh).

Both of the Section 31 agents realise that Leland may be compromised and begin to work against him.

As Burnham, Spock (Ethan Peck) and Pike (Anson Mount) interact with Dr. Burnham, we see how things played out for her when Burnham was a child, what really happened, and how many times, she has attempted to change the future from the end Control has planned for it.

We learn that the suit has anchored her some nine hundred years in the future, so no matter how many times she attempts to come back, and stay, no matter what she changes, she gets snapped back to the future.

Burnham and the rest come up with a plan to sever the temporal connection, but Leland makes his move. Dr. Burnham is yanked back, even as Leland destroys the suit, separating mother and daughter over a span of centuries, with the fate of the universe hanging in the balance.

There’s a lot going on in this episode, and it’s very fast-paced as we close in on the end of the season. There are tons of great little character beats, even as the stakes continue to get raised.

Captain’s log: stardate 1048.66

Bo Yeon Kim and Erika Lippoldt pen Through the Valley of Shadows, which first aired on 4 April, 2019.

A new signal appears over a Klingon planet, and if Dr. Burnham doesn’t have the suit, who is leaving them? (though as a hint, time travel is fun). Pike goes down to the planet to maintain the safety and secrecy of Tyler and L’Rell’s (Mary Chieffo) hidden child.

He goes to the surface in hopes of claiming a time crystal for the time suit, which Stamets (Anthony Rapp) and Reno (Tig Notaro) are working to restore, though Stamets is distracted by his missing of Culber (Wilson Cruz) something Reno goes to deal with head on.

On the planet, Pike is left with a decision, and a vision of the future which not only defines his character, but his belief in Starfleet. It’s a big moment, and it’s played so well. He also deals with the Klingon who oversees them, and is treated to a revelation about time, choice, and destiny.

Meanwhile, Spock and Burnham go to investigate a Section 31 ship in an attempt to find another solution to the Control problem, only to have a frightening encounter with the artificial intelligence.

The episode ends with a cliffhanger ready to slingshot us into the season finale, even as Discovery prepares to rendezvous with Enterprise in an attempt to outrun Control run Section 31 ships, Pike orders preparations for Discovery’s self-destruct to keep the sphere data out of Control’s hands.

Next week, we finish up with Star Trek: Discovery – Season Two on blu-ray but the Human Adventure will continue to boldly go…