“The Sanctuary” is the 8th episode of the 3rd season of the TV show “Star Trek: Discovery” and follows “Unification III“.

Note. This article contains spoilers about “The Sanctuary”.

Paul Stamets (Anthony Rapp) and Adira (Blu del Barrio) examine the new data on the Burn and find the first surprises. Book (David Ajala) gets Federation help for his planet, Kwejian, threatened by a species of locust and by Orion leader Osyraa (Janet Kidder), but after 15 years of absence, his relationship with his brother Kyheem (Ache Hernandez) is complicated. Dr. Hugh Culber (Wilson Cruz) takes a few steps forward in his exams of the blackouts experienced by Philippa Georgiou (Michelle Yeoh) even though the patient isn’t cooperative.

Another episode directed by Jonathan Frakes takes us to Book’s homeworld to meet Osyraa, the Orion leader who was already mentioned but hadn’t yet appeared. The fame of the Orions was already remarkable in a negative sense, Osyraa confirms it.

“The Sanctuary” is really packed with contents as the main storyline on Kwejian is intertwined with subplots that are secondary in this episode that carry on other stories in development. In all of this, Ensign Sylvia Tilly (Mary Wiseman) debuts as First Officer of the USS Discovery, but that has only a few moments. There’s a little more room for Lt. Keyla Detmer (Emily Coutts), who has a chance to show her skills as a spaceship pilot.

There are really a lot of events happening at a really fast pace. Despite this, it has the merit of having moments for various characters that are also useful for developing some relationships. Even the relationship between Book and his brother Kyheem, which follows some clichés, works within the episode for what is around them. That part of the plot gives the impression that on the planet Kwejian they live alone. the very few inhabitants who appeared, but perhaps that’s due precisely to the frenzied pace of this episode.

“The Sanctuary” also offers new information on the Burn, Philippa Georgiou’s health, and the availability of dilithium. For these reasons too, it works within the season. Maybe there’s even too much for a single episode, but its contents are useful and well packaged, so I accept them.