Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | RSS | More
While grappling with the fallout of her recent actions, and what her future might hold, Burnham agrees to represent the Federation in an intense debate about the release of politically sensitive – but highly valuable – Burn data. “Unification III” finds Michael Burnham sent back to the planet that was once known as “Vulcan” in order to obtain information about a secret Vulcan project that might have some insight into “The Burn”.
Admiral Vance reveals that the Vulcans left the Federation over a century ago. Perhaps even more surprising to Burnham and Saru is the revelation that the process of “Unification” between the Vulcans and the Romulans has left the planet to share both races and to be the battleground of a mixing pot of different opinions and approaches. The adventures of Spock in the “Unification” two-parter have managed to endure through the centuries and even past The Burn. Spock’s efforts have led to a new culture on Ni’Var (formerly the planet Vulcan) and it’s one that seems to combine the logicial outlook of the Vulcans with the fiery emotions of the Romulans.
Burnham agrees to under go an ancient Vulcan logic ceremony to prove her intentions. She learns that her mother is not lost on Terralysium but has instead joined an ancient order of Romulan warrior nuns! We’d last seen this group in the Picard series – Elnor was a disciple of the group. It’s a strange combination of excellent call back paired with a terrible call back. It’s nice to see the lore of the Picard series carry into Discovery in a believable fashion, but Burnham’s mother being the connection feels absurd.
The logic tournament begins and Discovery writing immediately comes to the fore. The ancient Vulcan logic ritual appears to be purely focused on ad hominem attacks against the person making the claim. It’s a strange, weird, bizarre choice. But that makes it a Discovery episode!
In a small subplot, Saru gives Tilly the role of XO (after he demoted Burnham last episode). Tilly weeps about it, tells Stamets about it, and then weeps with everyone in the engine room at the end of the episode.
In this episode of the podcast, Wes and Clay discuss “Unification III” and why Leonard Nimoy could yell at a grip and it would be provocative television. Plus! The guys discuss Tilly’s very easy promotion, engaging in logic fallacies, and Mrs. Burnham’s career choice.