Discovery is back! Episode 10, Despite Yourself, was a roller coaster. David gets excited by the references to the Mirror Universe episodes of Enterprise and the potential to finally see a Constitution class ship on the screen. Zach loved the episode and started buying into Lorca as a “good” Starfleet captain rather than the manipulative leader he has seemed to be in the past. We were both glad to see Captain “Killy” Tilly play such a central role, and finally get some information about Ash/Voq!

There’s just one week to go! David and Zach talk about where the show might go with the open story threads over the remaining six episodes with some absolutely awful personal theories. Is our crew of rulebreakers destined to end up in Federation prison? Are we dealing with a Michael - Ash/Voq - L’Rell love triangle that would make the Twilight trio blush? More seriously, what is Michael’s path to redemption? And what is so dangerous about the Spore Drive that it is never again used in Star Trek?

Still treading water in the Discovery midseason break, Zach and David review the TNG episode “Sarek.” This episode gives a window into the mind of Sarek, and what we see is all the more poignant and/or tragic given what DSC season 1 has revealed about his character. David and Zach also dive deep into the differences in storytelling style, pacing, and character building between older trek, particularly the TNG era, and DSC. Also, spoilers for Game of Thrones season 1.

David and Zach go back to the Original Series to understand the Mirror Universe by reviewing the episode “Mirror, Mirror.” Despite the classic (or some may say, “dated”) visuals and cheesy 60’s style fight scenes, Zach enjoyed the episode a lot. David points out the theme of “noninterference” throughout the episode, which surprisingly parallels Discovery’s Pahvo storyline very well. Afterwards, they discuss the hints in Discovery which point to the MU. David shares his crazy MU theory which came to him in a dream. Zach compares TOS to the Beatles; he’s slowly becoming a Trekkie!

Into the mid-season break, we go. David and Zach reflect fondly on the Chapter 1 finale with discussions about the role of Kol as a cartoon villain, L’rell’s intentions now that she is aboard the Discovery, and the possibility of the spore drive to access other universes. The show is on break, but Why The Trek is not -- stay tuned for the next episode when we review the TOS episode Mirror, Mirror and how it may pertain to the next episode of DSC!

Episode 8, “Si Vis Pacem, Para Bellum” weaves together an A-plot on the surface of the planet Pahvo with B-plot following L’rell’s activities on The Death Ship. David loved the prime-directive implications of the planetary story but had trouble getting into the L’rell scenes. Zach remained lukewarm on the whole episode but hoped this was set up for an epic mid-season finale this week. Towards the end of the recap they discuss the challenge of serialized storytelling on TV and "filler" or "setup" episodes.

Episode 7: “Magic to Make the Sanest Man Go Mad.” Zach’s sanity is not in question, but this episode definitely made him mad. David tries to explain time crystals, which are a real thing, but actually have nothing to do with manipulating time...yet. Time travel episodes are tough to write well, and this one had a few plot holes that Zach and David had to fill in. This episode drew some predictable comparisons to TNG, Doctor Who, and… the band Chiodos? That’s time travel for you.

A Tale of Two ‘Fathers.’ Episode 6, “Lethe” takes us on a journey into the depths of the psyches of Captain Lorca and Sarek. David is unhappy about using the intergalactic mind meld as a plot device, again, but admits the insight gained into the Sarek-Michael-Spock dynamic is worth it. Zach is seeing the darker side of Lorca’s suggestion for the admiral to meet with the Klingon dissidents. Finally, they discuss Lorca’s relationship to Michael -- does the captain truly care for her, maybe like a daughter? Or is she just another tool for Lorca to use?

Episode five, “Choose Your Pain” starts out brutally...with a bludgeoning message of interspecies morality that Zach almost cannot stand. It’s David’s turn this week to mess up not just one, but three names (apologies to Admiral Cornwell, Michelle Forbes, and Michelle Pfeiffer). In the midst of an episode chock full of wonderful character moments and development, David and Zach uncover what looks to be an instance of Klingon subterfuge… or bad writing. Fingers crossed for the former!

Tardigrades, on a spaceship! It’s a new episode which means a new character with an “L” name that Zach struggles to remember (L’Rell). They correct David’s mistake about warp speed from last week in what is certain to be the first of many “corrections” segments. Zach isn’t buying the biological nature of the spore drive or the ineptitude of the Klingon repair efforts, but David tries really hard to find plausible explanations for it all.