The Star Trek: Discovery finale made me cry then broke my heart

Ask not for whom the 10-C’s light beams tomes, it tomes for the Discovery. Tarka has taken over Booker’s ship and plans to destroy the DMA, ending all friendly conversation with 10-C. In order to save Earth and Ni’Var, Michael may have to sever ties with Booker permanently. Meanwhile, Tilly reappears besides Fleet Admiral Vance, clearing the debris in the DMA’s wake long enough to minimize the danger to Earth. Star Trek: Discovery season 4 comes to a close in “Coming Home.”

The episode opens on Star Fleet taking defensive position around the moon colony of Titan. Tilly has arrived with the cadets she led in the episode “All is Possible,” who are then promoted and charged with evacuating Titan. Overall it’s a fine B story, but it’s impossible for it to equal the power of the main storyline, especially when we don’t really see the evacuation.

That said, Tilly and Admiral Vance get more screen time and have some good conversations. Tilly’s speech to the cadets was a nice early moment.

Back inside Booker’s ship, he and Reno make little progress in swaying Tarka, who commits to destroying the DMA in hopes of obtaining its power source. This happens while Michael and President Rillak are just getting a foothold on the developing situation. We learn how Booker and Tarka were able to infiltrate the place when Earth Delegate Ndoye confesses to helping them, so now all that’s left is to stop them. At the same time, President T’Rina attempts to reopen the communication channel with 10-C by way of telepathy, and learns grim news: The 10-C are in panic and no longer trust Discovery. Unless Michael can stop Booker’s ship, there will be no hope of calming them.

As you’d expect from a finale, the main story is as focused and exciting as possible. The going-ons within the Discovery and Booker’s ship blend together very well and the stakes are high.

When it looks like Tarka may blow up the DMA controller, Discovery deduces that escaping the resulting blast would wreak the Spore Drive. Discovery would only be able to travel by Warp, meaning it would take an entire season-long homage to Star Trek: Voyager to return home.

Like last episode, this episode had great emotional moments. My favorite was Booker’s last failed attempt to convince Tarka to abandon his course. He tells Tarka that he must accept there is no way to return to Oros, using his own loss as an example. It’s an effective scene and gives Booker the closure for his season arc. He is able to let go and move on from the survival’s guilt that has haunted him and severe the emotional string that Tarka has been pulling.

The downsides of the Star Trek: Discovery season 4 finale

As a whole, I think that this is a pretty satisfying conclusion to the fourth season of Star Trek: Discovery. The climax of the Discovery rushing to communicate with 10-C and stop the destruction of the DMA was worth the buildup, and overall I’m a happy camper. Still, I’ve got gripes, and I must air them. SPOILERS incoming, Captain. 

For starters, a small one: I’m disappointed the show opted to reveal species 10-C so clearly. I would have liked the appearance of 10-C to remain too complex to grasp; for the show to savor that unknowable, eldritch magnitude. Ah well.

But I have bigger concerns with the plot. Some background: Discovery is left with no other choice but to knock Booker’s ship off course by blunt force. Reno is long off the ship at this point, but Booker and Tarka remain. (Minor tangent: I’m not sure why they couldn’t have just beamed back Booker and Tarka the way they beamed back Reno, freeing Michael to blast an empty ship. I think there’s something here I’m missing. Anyway.) After Delegate Ndoye succeeds in this, Discovery is able to safely beam her back, but Tarka’s clocking devices make it difficult for the ship to lock on to him and do the same. Tarka has had a change of heart at this point and channels enough of the ship’s energy for one last beam for Booker. So we assume Booker will make it out okay as we see him beam onto the bridge. However, before he can materialize, his ship hits the hyperfield. Booker does not make it out in time.

Michael is shocked. She begins to cry, and so do I. While that happens, 10-C reopens communications. She recomposes herself, I do not, and they accept.

Now, I thought this was an incredibly brave choice for the story. It was a stark reminder that, even in great victory, the grief that consumed Booker and Tarka will never stop. It’s a cycle controlled by chance and misfortune, and we cannot save everyone.

Then in the next scene, got ya, the 10-C bring Booker back from the dead.

What a horrible, disappointing cop out. Honestly, I went from crying to ranting.

Personally, I much prefer bittersweet conclusions to happy endings. For me, they are more meaningful, complex and brave. But either way, commit to whatever ending you pull the lever on. How could they choose a bait and switch like that? All that does is cheapen the experience and make me feel like I was tricked.

That aside, I don’t dislike Booker’s presence in the final negotiation. I actually think it’s powerful to have him there to speak on behalf of his lost planet. I liked the speech Booker gives; I thought the writing and performance were good. Still, I’ve got this sour taste in my mouth from this garbage plot twist that makes it difficult to truly appreciate.

The verdict on Star Trek: Discovery season 4

It isn’t all bubble gum and pots of gold. Though Booker lives, Michael will find the relationship difficult to maintain now that he faces repercussions from the Federation. But other than that, it’s all roses. Titan is saved, as is Earth and Ni’Var. 10-C vows to decommission the DMA and clean the pockets of waste it has left throughout the Milky Way, the Discovery crew parties it up, and we get an incredible cameo by Stacey Abrams as President of Earth. Apparently she is a huge Trekkie.

And you know what, I think I’ve become one, too. Discovery season 4 was pretty good all things considered. Pros and cons, it got me to start watching The Next Generation, which I think might just cement my entry into the Star Trek Fandom. Nicely done, Discovery.

Grade: B+

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