Last Time
When we last left Star Trek Discovery, Ruan Tarka had lied to Book about the likely outcome of what he had planned for stopping the DMA. The resulting implosion would lead to the destruction of the hypersphere, Species 10C, and Discovery. Not to mention that the waste left from the implosion would impact Earth. Destroying it the same way as the DMA would have. Although Book tried to stop him, Tarka’s enhanced security system blasted Book every time he tried. He ended up behind the same force field as Commander Reno. On the plus side, Reno had been able to smuggle a communication chip in with her when Tarka had stunned her. With it, she warned Discovery of what was about to happen with a plea to do whatever was required to stop Tarka. Even if that meant destroying Books ship.
Coming Home
The Episode starts with an old friend. Lt. Sylvia Tilly (Mary Wiseman) is with her Starfleet Cadets. They are assisting the rescue of people on Earth as the DMA’s effects are starting to be felt. She explains what their mission is and tells them that as of this moment, they are no longer cadets. She knows that they will do their duty to the Federation and themselves. Meanwhile, Admiral Vance is coordinating the evacuation between Titan, Earth, and Ni’Var, knowing that despite their best efforts, they will only be able to save a fraction of the population. Regardless, they will get as many out as possible. With hopes that somehow Captain Burnham and Discovery will pull out a miracle last second save.
Seeking an Escape from the Orb
Back on Discovery, Burnham is asking for Commander Stamets to find some way for Discovery to duplicate Book’s escape from the sphere. The difficulty is that because Discovery is so much bigger than Book’s ship, it will take much more power to break it free. Meanwhile, Tarka is closing in on the DMA’s power source. If he is successful, not only will the results be catastrophic here, but it will also make it impossible to resume discussions with Species Ten-C. In order to prevent Tarka from completing his task, the Ten-C has launched more orbs to capture Books ship.
Locked on Mission
On Book’s Ship, Tarka is trying to decipher Book’s flight controls so he can evade the Ten-C’s Orbs. Being locked up with Reno, Book is hesitant to assist Tarka with anything. Which to Tarka’s way of thinking makes no sense. He is STILL doing exactly what they planned. Book reminds him that the results of his actions were NOT mentioned in those plans. He needed to stop what he was doing. But Tarka was steadfast and locked into his decision, as he found the controls he was looking for and evaded the Ten-C’s Orbs. While he was flying the ship, Book found something that might just allow him and Reno to escape their cell.
Finding the Accomplice
Meanwhile, Burnham has gathered the delegates together. She knows that one of them vented the plasma through the ships nacelles to allow Tarka to escape. It is her intention to confine them all to make sure she prevents such collusion from happening again. President Rillak is against this action since she believes it will erode the delegates faith in each other and their mission. However, before Michael can make her proclamation, General Ndoye steps forward and admits that SHE was responsible for venting the plasma. She explained that she believed that they were running out of time for diplomatic solutions and Book and Tarka’s plan would stop the DMA. Burnham had Ndoye confined to her quarters, but Ndoye reiterated that despite her apparent betrayal, she was still there to serve, if needed.
Communication Issues
While this is going on, the Ten-C has answered Discovery’s request for release from their orb. The reply was, that as far as they knew, Discovery was already released, confusing Book’s ship as representing all of them. Burnham asked Zora if she could communicate that Tarka was acting independently of the rest of them. Zora explained that such a message would take time to send in a manner the Ten-C would understand. Ni’var President T’Rina suggests that she might be able to use her abilities to communicate their position. While Mr. Suru is hesitant for her to attempt this, it is a viable alternative, so they agree for her to try. She makes telepathic contact and attempts to communicate the difference between Tarka’s ship and theirs. The link is not without some stress on T’Rina as her nose begins to bleed. Once she breaks contact, she reports that the Ten-C are confused and terrified. In addition, they no longer trust them. They will need to find some way to rectify this. Before it is too late.
Limiting the Brightness
Later in Sickbay, Dr. Culber and his staff are tending to President T’Rina. She is recovering. Michael asks her if she had any other information, she could supply. She informs them that the Ten-C is a community mind. Not like the Borg, but they do not recognize singular existence or at least it is foreign to them. As they contemplate this, Commander Stamets reports that he may have found a way out of the orb. But he warns that it could be, “messy.” Burnham and President Rillak leave to hear Stamets plan leaving Mr. Suru with President T’Rina and the medical staff. Dr. Culber indicates to his team to step out of the room so Suru can talk to T’Rina. He explains that before he leaves to also hear Stamets idea, he wanted to comment on T’Rina’s reluctance to pursue personal relationships. He too has been reluctant in this manner. But he has realized that by doing so, he hasn’t been so much protecting himself but instead, limiting the brightness of his days. He leaves her with that thought.
Gone
Back on Book’s ship, Tarka is nearing the DMA’s power supply, preparing to take it and use it to go “home.” He tells Book that he should go with him. He believes that in the alternate universe he is going to, Kwejian will still be there. He can get his family back. Commander Reno tells him he is wrong. There may be people who look like them, and act like them, but it is not them. All of the people who died in their time are gone. Tarka counters that he knows that it will not be them exactly. But they will still exist where he is going. Book agrees with Reno. As painful as it is to accept, their loved ones are gone. Tarka needs to let Book out so they can stop doing something that Tarka will regret. Once again, Tarka is locked in on his mission. He will not deviate. But he tells Book not to worry. It would all be over soon. As Tarka walks away, Book brings back out his device. He agrees with Tarka about that one thing. It WILL be all over soon.
A Desperate Plan
In Engineering, Stamets is explaining what he and Adira has come up with to free Discovery. To create the power necessary to expel Discovery through the orb, they would have to use the spore drive. By letting the power, it normally uses to propel the ship to build instead of releasing it as momentum, they could use that power to aim at the orb and break free. The negative side of the equation would be that the spore drive would burn out and they would only have warp drive left. It would take them decades to get home using the warp drive. As unappealing as that option is, it is their only alternative. They agree to use Stamet’s plan to free Discovery, despite the consequences. It’s going to be a lonnnng flight home. They prepare to execute the plan, still waiting for a reply to a message to the Ten-C that Discovery was there to help.
As they engage the spore drive, the ship suffers minor hull breaches (is that a thing? MINOR hull breaches?) but nothing serious. Which is more than can be said in Engineering as the spore drive chamber is rocked with an explosion as are parts of the bridge. However, the ship breaks free of the orb with impulse engines coming back online. The warp engines and weapons were going to require some time to bring back. Regardless, they were free, so Burnham ordered Discovery to set a course to Book’s ship. There would be no way for the Ten-C to trust them again unless they stop Tarka.
The Cat’s Door
Meanwhile, Book is finishing his work on the device he found. When Reno asks him what it is, he explains that it is Grunge’s Cat Collar. Grunge despises Holos. So, to help Grunge cope with them, he built in a holo-disrupter into Grunge’s collar. By using it now, Book should be able to give them a means to escape. Especially since their prison is built from Holo-Emitters. While Tarka is still distracted, he activates the device and creates a cat door in the field. Not exactly a wide-open door. But it is a workable solution.
As Tarka prepares to retrieve the DMA power supply, Book approaches him from behind. Tarka raises his shield only for Book to punch right through it, connecting with Tarka and putting him down. Reno immediately starts to work on the control panel, exclaiming that she has a new appreciation for Grunge. However, Tarka has locked them out. It would take more time than they have to override. Book gives Reno his badge, telling her to beam aboard Discovery. He will stay and try to fix the problem. Book also wants Reno to tell Michael he loves her and to do whatever she needs to stop them. It’s Ok.
Suicide Mission
Discovery has come in range of Books ship when they get the signal from Reno. Burnham orders her beamed directly to the Bridge. She explains that ten minutes remain until the DMA power supply is procured. She also mentions Books message to Burnham and that she should do whatever it takes. In the meantime, Reno will try to help to bring Discovery’s weapons online. As they discuss possibilities, President Rillak recommends that they ask General Ndoye. She has a skill for military tactics. Realizing the need for expediency, Burnham agrees.
General Ndoye, assuming that the obvious alternatives have been contemplated, suggests using a shuttle for a targeted strike on Book’s ship. At first, she suggested using an autopilot, but the gravity fluxes would require an actual pilot. Not to mention that it would likely be a suicide mission. At first, it was Lt. Commander Detmer who was prepared to accept the assignment. But instead, General Ndoye stepped up. She was a skilled pilot and felt like after what she had done, she needed to.
The DMA’s Effect has Begun
Back on Earth, Admiral Vance and Lt. Tilly are still trying to coordinate evacuations as the first effects of the DMA are being felt. To accommodate this, Vance orders that the ships continue evacuation while they engage defense measures. But they know they are running out of time. Soon, the rescue phase will have to cease, and they will need to leave the area. But until then, they will use up every last second to save as many people as they can.
As the debris from the DMA starts to intensify, Admiral Vance orders all evacuation efforts to cease and for the remaining vessels to warp to the rendezvous point. He then orders the crew on his ship to abandon ship and transport to the U.S.S. Mitchell. He will stay and provide as much covering fire as he can. Soon, the crew has followed orders and left, all but Tilly. Vance asks Tilly what she thinks she is doing. She replies she is helping him provide covering fire. It would all be for nothing, if the ships they are protecting can’t leave. He reminds her that if she doesn’t leave now, she will have nowhere to go. She acknowledges this but replies that those are her cadets out there. She will do everything in her power to protect them. He silently accepts her assistance.
The Hole Left Behind
On his ship, Book is trying to wake up Tarka to find out how he locked out the ship’s controls. Once he comes to, he refuses to stop what’s coming, still talking about going home. Book tells him once again that Oros won’t be there. Tarka tells him that he doesn’t know that. But Book knows what Tarka is feeling. It hurts. The hole they leave behind. But you cannot let it overwhelm you. Tarka sobs as he tells Book that Oros would be doing the same thing that Book is doing. He would be stopping him. Why isn’t he here to stop him, he queries?
But it’s too late. The encryption he used would take too long to override. They then were informed by the proximity alarm of General Ndoye’s shuttle approach. Burnham had Discovery lock in on Ndoye, ready to transport in a moment’s notice.
A Tragic Loss
Ndoye’s shuttle impacts with Book’s ship, completing its task. Discovery beamed the General straight to sickbay. As for Book and Tarka, they were still somehow alive. But they cannot get a transporter lock and Book’s ship is on a collision course with the hyperfield. As Tarka and Book struggle to their feet, Book expresses the need to transport to Discovery. Tarka explains that there isn’t enough power to do that. But he turns off life support. That way, there will be enough power to transport Book back.
Book refuses to leave Tarka to die. But Tarka says he will be using his transporter system to try to get home…or someplace like it. Maybe he will get there, maybe he won’t. But Book’s life is in this world. With Michael. Before Book can stop him, Tarka engages the transporter. Discovery gets the transporter signal and attempts to beam Book straight to the Bridge. But something interferes as Book’s ship explodes. He is gone.
Successes and Regrets
Back near Earth, all the of the evacuation ships had made it safely to the rendezvous point. However, the weapons that Admiral Vance was using to defend them had ceased to function. Nothing to do now for Vance and Tilly but wait, drink whiskey and consider life’s successes and disappointments. Tilly was fairly pleased how her life had turned out. She had made good friends and enjoyed her career choice. Vance was also pleased but wishes he had spent more time with his daughter. Tilly tells him that if his daughter knew that he loved her, that was the most important thing. Not often you get to have philosophical life discussions with Senior Starfleet Brass.
Explaining Their Situation
As Michael is trying to cope with her loss, another orb is sent from Ten-C. Grief will have to wait. They still have a job to do. The ship is led to an area that is reporting a large number of life forms. They take a shuttle down to investigate with most of the bridge crew coming along. As they advance, a large being emerges. The Ten-C. It starts with asking how many of the Federation’s people are there. How many “ones” are they? President Rillak responds that each of them are an individual one, but they are also part of a whole.
They then ask about the others (Tarka and Book)? Captain Burnham replies that they were once part of them, part of the whole. But then they separated. When asked why, Burnham explained Tarka and Book’s lost loved ones. Their “ones.” Tarka was trying to get back to his, while Book’s were lost when the DMA destroyed his planet. He was trying to prevent that from ever happening again.
Book’s Return
There is a pause, and the Ten-C asks if that is the reason they are there? President Rillak answers yes. That loss of life is about to happen to their planets as well. They need to stop their device, or billions will die. Once again, a brief pause and their reply is sent. Suru, who has been translating, made a brief exhalation. They had agreed to pull the DMA away from its current location. While the Federation party was generally relieved, the Ten-C could still detect Captain Burnham’s sadness. They ask why she is still sad? Her planets are safe.
She explains that one of the two who had separated from the whole, who had died…was her “One.” She loved him very much. At that, a bright light appeared and is a cloud of mist, Book materialized. Burnham is shocked and at first hesitant, wondering if it is truly him. In Book’s case, he is confused about what happened and how he ended up here. Seeing the Ten-C, he asked to speak with them.
Not Good Enough
He inquired how he been brought back. Ten-C explained that they did not understand the meaning of his transporter signal, but they felt like it could be important. Mainly because of its timing. So, they captured his signal and held it in stasis until they understood. Book then asked if the DMA was gone for good. They explained that they would only use it on uninhabited areas of space. Book explained that it was not good enough. The residue left from the DMA’s activities still would put other worlds into jeopardy. They needed to shut it down entirely. As he was speaking, Burnham and Rillak looked on with some alarm. Was Book about to undo all the progress they had made by making even more demands? But as Book continued to speak, his words had an impact on the Ten-C. They realized the harm they had caused and promised to make things right.
The Clean-Up
Soon, the team was back on Discovery. But with the Spore Drive down, they were a long way from their destination. However, Species Ten-C rectified this situation by using the DMA one last time to create a wormhole to take Discovery home. Afterwards, the crew and the Federation celebrated. The danger was past, and Species Ten-C was doing as they promised to clean up their mess. The damage to Earth and Ni’Var was minor in comparison to Titan, but Earth was already working to assist them in their recovery. For the moment, they could all exhale a large breath and enjoy each other’s company and some deserved down time. That included Suru and President T’Rina…or just T’Rina to him. Both of them willing to take a chance on opening themselves up to a relationship. Well played Mr. Suru well played.
Kwakoni Yiquan
As for Book, he was sentenced to serving in the restoration and support of those families who were displaced by the DMA. Considering everything, it was about as best as he could expect. He told Michael that he was not sure when he would see her again, but they would see each other again. But instead of saying goodbye, he referred to it as Kwakoni Yiquan. A Kwejian saying which basically meant, “We’ve parted a hundred times, may we part to rejoin a hundred more.” After a brief teasing of Michael for her pronunciation of the phrase, he left her his jacket and transported to his shuttle. Their paths would cross again someday.
United Earth Rejoins the Federation
Later, Burnham, President Rillak, and the Federation Council greeted the President of United Earth (Stacey Abrams) who had decided that it was time for United Earth to rejoin the Federation. This was an important moment for Burnham and her crew. With United Earth back in the fold, it was slowly getting closer to the Federation Burnham and Discovery had left in the past. Meanwhile, there were still things to discover in space. New planets, new species, all waiting to be explored. So, they might as well get to it.
Thoughts
As long as it took for the DMA and Species Ten-C storyline to take hold, it finally came together in a very “Roddenberrian” way in “Coming Home.” (Not sure that’s a word, but it is now). Wrapping the ongoing theme of unity and family and how solutions are always easier to find together…through communciation. In fact, it was so well tied up in a nice bow that if this WERE the last episode of the series, one might feel pretty good about it. I’m sure it’s not…right? But let’s discuss some of the things that made an impression on me.
Ruan Tarka
Damn Discovery for making feel something about the apparent demise of Ruan Tarka. All the way up till this point, the man proved to be an arrogant, self-absorbed jerk. Brilliant, but a jerk, nonetheless. Leave it the writers to make me feel bad for the man as he wept about how his friend Oros would also have tried to talk Tarka down. His sacrifice to let Book beam to the ship while he faced his fate was so…. un-Tarka like. Kudos to Shawn Doyle for bringing it to make me feel that way.
Gone and Back Again
I am at cross purposes when it comes to the apparent demise and then resurrection of Book. At first glance, it seems to cheapen what was a powerful moment when Michael and the crew thought he was gone. Although, as a comic fan, I am more than used to characters being brought back from the dead in convoluted ways. A transporter beam in stasis is just as good a way as any. Besides, I think a possibility of more David Ajala with Sonequa Martin-Green is as good a reason as any for bringing the character back at some point.
Captain’s Image
Then there is the emotional response of Captain Burnham to Book’s “death.” Some might say that it is inappropriate for a Captain to be seen in such a state by the crew. That might be the “by the book” response but this crew knows Michael better than anyone. They know that even if she lets her emotions show, it will not stop her from completing the mission. So just as Admiral James Kirk pulled himself together after the Klingons killed his son, so did Michael. At least until the Ten-C asked why she was sad. Why did they have to do that? “You’re an Alien, not a psychologist!”
So, another Season has come and went and once again Star Trek Discovery maintains its solid entertainment footing. Are there elements of the Season or the last episode that one might question? Absolutely! But that is what makes a show interesting and fun. Debating the writer’s choices and discussing what might have been. It will be interesting to see what will be coming next. All of Star Trek Discovery’s four seasons can be seen on Paramount Plus.
Before we let you go, we have officially launched our merch store! Check out all of our amazing apparel when you click here and type in GVN15 at checkout for a 15% discount!
Make sure to check out our podcasts each week including Geek Vibes Live, Top 10 with Tia, Wrestling Geeks Alliance and more! For major deals and money off on Amazon, make sure to use our affiliate link!
Senior Writer at GeekVibesNation – I am a 50 something child of the 70’s who admits to being a Star Trek/Star Wars/Comic Book junkie who once dove head first over a cliff (Ok, it was a small hill) to try to rescue his Fantastic Four comic from a watery grave. I am married to a lovely woman who is as crazy as I am and the proud parent of a 18 year old boy with autism. My wife and son are my real heroes.
