Review—Star Trek: Discovery Episode 403, “Choose to Live”

A Federation fleet is attacked and robbed, the best minds of Ni’Var investigate the makings of the Anomaly, and Gray’s new body is at last ready, if only his mind can make the journey. Leaps of faith abound in this latest episode of Star Trek: Discovery, “Choose to Live.”

Things start off hot this episode. We open on a Starfleet ship going about its business when it’s ambushed by ninja-esque mercenaries led by one J’Vini, sister of the Qowat Milat. They kill the crew and steal the ship’s supply of dilithium, despite Starfleet supplying the material to all who request it. Captain Burnham is given the task of both solving this mystery and apprehending J’Vini, joined in this case by her mother and another Qowat sister, Gabrielle Burnham.

That’s the main story this episode, and if I had to sum it up in a word, I’d choose “adequate.” The dynamic between Michael and Gabrielle is good, because there are a lot of strings to pluck; they are mother-daughter, they are in different organizations, and they feel differently about J’Vini. Michael is stern in her view that nothing justifies the murder of a Starfleet member, while Garbrielle — though not seeking to defend the killing — reminds her that context is vital to understanding what happened. These are good ingredients for drama, and the show doesn’t fail to stir the soup.

Plotholes in the latest episode of Star Trek: Discovery

However, the episode left me wondering if events had to go the way they did. For instance, in the opening scene where J’Vini attacks the Starfleet crew, we get some action, and I noticed that one of the mercenaries tries to grab the dilithium. But then when the scene’s over, it turns out they don’t have to touch it at all; they just stand around it and are beamed away. And I wonder, if they can just beam away any object that’s not even on their person, why’d they board the ship anyway? Couldn’t they just beam it out? Maybe there’s some sci-fi logic to it I’m ignorant of, but it had me wondering if the murders were necessary at all.

Towards the end of the episode, it’s revealed that J’Vini actually had a noble cause that drove her  to commit her crimes. However, because of the nature of the cause, she couldn’t tell anyone about it, so she couldn’t request the Federation give her the dilithium she needed because then she’d have to explain herself. And again, I hear this and think, Why did she assume that the Federation would endanger her noble cause? Isn’t the Federation known for being diplomatic and considerate of those in need? I’m pretty sure the problem that J’Vini was seeking to address was not the kind that the Federation would either ignore or try to take advantage of. Maybe there is more of a stigma against them in this show, perhaps because of the events of the Burn that everyone keeps alluding to. But my point is that these holes were getting in the way of swallowing the story.

I won’t rag on this part of the episode too much longer, but I wanted to mention the anticlimax. One scene ends with J’Vini holding Gabrielle hostage and telling Michael she has until a certain amount of time to do the thing that will save the day. The next scene in this storyline is Michael typing at a computer console, and her first line is, “I found the problem,” and that’s it. Dilemma over. Why hype things up to that point if the story isn’t going to end with more drama?

Choose to watch “Choose to Live”

The other storylines in this episode are calmer. Booker and Paul go to this institute on Ni’Var to study the Anomaly; Book must relive his memories of the event to confirm or deny a theory about it. It’s interesting because Booker’s been traumatized since the ending of the season premiere, but revisiting memories of his loved ones is able to gain a sense of closure; not complete closure of course, but at least a step towards it.

In the third storyline, Gray’s new body is finally ready, but he’s warned that the transference of consciousness is not always successful. This is a big concern for Adira. There’s a lot of warmth in this part of the episode.

That’s about all I have to say about “Choose to Live.” Should you choose to watch? Sure. Despite me pulling on the threads, so far overall I’d say that I’m enjoying the show. I think it’s because I’m trying to move away from doomer-ish tendencies, and a show about diplomacy and ideals appeals to me right now. It just needs to deliver on the stories.

On that topic, I think I know what one of the big reveals this season will be. Sorry writers, you telegraphed too much. Now, shall I go on to r/startrek and blow this thing wide open, or will Paramount pay me $23,673.06? They have until the next episode to decide. Until then, live long and prosper.

Grade: C+

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