6 Ups & 5 Downs From Star Trek: Discovery 5.6 — Whistlespeak

Star Trek: Discovery has had problems with intermittent pacing over its season-long arcs before, and Whistlespeak — as well as season five itself — is definitely not as slow a burn as that! Nevertheless, like all those gasping for water in the race to the high summit, this one did feel a bit lagging. Particularly situated as it is, following the stompingly fast and fisticuffs of Mirrors, Whistlespeak is slower and more (self-)contained — a bottle episode right upon an ocean of Breen.

Of course, to critique Star Trek for having a slower, more meditative, and episodic week is a bit like pointing out the live gagh is awfully squirmy. Slow and meditative has been part and parcel of Star Trek since the beginning, and one of the reasons we have loved it so. We have to judge Discovery on its own merits, however, that is to say, as a piece of serialised television (not alien to Star Trek either), even if this season has added a more episodic touch to the programming.

Therein lies the fine balance to be had: the on-going quest for the Progenitors' tech versus the desire to settle into a place and a people for a bit. Perhaps, and especially since the advent of streaming, we've all become a little too impatient to find out what happens next. There's no doubt that this fifth and final season of Discovery has done a brilliant job of keeping us thoroughly hooked on the main intrigue and the fascinating revelations about the Breen. Overall, however, Whistlespeak might have made for a better episode of Star Trek: Lower Decks or Star Trek: Prodigy — two series which can better afford the time to the first (and second) contacts.