“That Hope Is You, Part 2” is the 13th episode of the 3rd season, and the season finale, of the TV show “Star Trek: Discovery” and follows “There Is a Tide…“.
Note. This article contains spoilers about “That Hope Is You, Part 2”.
After the negotiations with the Federation fail, Osyraa (Janet Kidder) wants to take the USS Discovery and the dilithium while the crew members still aboard try to get their starship back. Saru (Doug Jones), Dr. Hugh Culber (Wilson Cruz), and Adira (Blu del Barrio) must help Su’Kal (Bill Irwin) find his way to the outside.
Like in the previous episodes, in this season finale, I found the part set on the USS Discovery the least interesting. If I want to see battles, shootings, chases, and action in general, there are many other shows. There were no real surprises and even Osyraa, who showed a greater depth in the previous episode, in this case regressed to a very stereotypical villain.
The scenes about Su’Kal’s story were definitely more interesting, and I with they were even more important. Of course, Dr. Culber seems to say a few words of genetics a bit at random, but never mind. The important part is about Su’Kal’s fears and Saru’s empathy, which helps him overcome them together with Dr. Culber. The connection among the characters, which includes Adira and Gray (Ian Alexander), gives strength to this subplot. This is why I watch Star Trek!
Overall, I found the third season to be far from exciting. There’s a strong been-there-done-that in a story-arc that, since the announcement of its basic theme, reminded me of “Andromeda”, a show also based on Gene Roddenberry’s ideas, with episodes that have various inspirations, from “Star Wars” to “Die Hard” with lots of usually predictable action.
The protagonist Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) started the show with a mutiny that caused a war and continues undaunted to do what she wants in spite of the orders she receives offering face expressions that perhaps are supposed to cover the little substance. It seems that the end justifies the means. Mind it, James Kirk applied this philosophy many times, but in the classic series action was a means, sometimes used to keep the episodes from becoming too cerebral.
In fact, the producers seem to want to find a link to the origins of the saga with an ending that recalls the values of Star Trek, also with a quote from Gene Roddenberry and the classic series’ theme. Next season will be about rebuilding the Federation, we’ll see if it really explores everything that made Star Trek such a great saga. Honestly, I don’t have high hopes on this point.
