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

This week's episode did well to rely on the interplay between various variations on two of Discovery's main characters (and others down on the planet). Communication is in the title, after all. The crew might not have been literally whistling at each other, but, emotionally speaking, they did start out over great distances, only to come closer together through the power of words. Here are just a few examples of the dynamism of duos at play:

Tilly & Burnham

We were reminded back in Face the Strange of just how far this pair of friends and colleagues has come. When Captain Burnham goes to a season one version of Discovery's bridge, she tells Tilly, "You're a cadet who's frightened of rooming with a mutineer. You think I'm gonna knife you in your sleep because of your snoring. I won't, by the way." In classic style, that version of Tilly just replies, "Thank you."

In Whistlespeak, Burnham has gone from potential knife-murderer to mentor as she offers to listen and advise Tilly on the difficulties the now lieutenant is facing as teacher at the Academy.

Culber & Stamets

After the holo-program of his grandmother [abuela] has told him to be a "man of science" and consider the body first, Doctor Culber goes to enlist the help of husband Commander Stamets, because nothing says date night more than a neural scan! Somewhat surprisingly, the once curmudgeonly Stamets agrees without hesitation, but not without concern for his partner.

Rayner & Adira

At first, I had a few moments of hesitation over Ensign Tal's… hesitation. The time bug really wasn't your fault!! It also strikes as a little out of the frying pan, into the warp core, for Commander Rayner to have chosen this mission critical moment for Adira's first day of bridge work experience. Nonetheless, Adira comes through with panache in the end, and Rayner helps them get there with a frank, but true, reminder.

Culber & Booker

First and foremost, we all want some of that mofongo! Replicated or not, it looks delicious! And hang on a minute, was Book playing Asteroids in the shuttle? As tempting as it no doubt was, the pair don't spend the rest of their time playing a low tech video game in one of the most high tech ways possible. Over the mofongo, they settle in for an open and honest conversation.

Now, I might have given a down to what felt like the forced nature of Culber's "spiritual awakening," but that doesn't mean I didn't like its ongoing exploration, and partial resolution, here. The discussion between the two of them, as friends, is genuinely heart-warming, and Book provides some damn good and, ultimately, rather profound advice.