10 Best Time-Loop Sci-Fi TV Episodes
9. Star Trek: Discovery - “Magic To Make The Sanest Man Go Mad”
“Magic To Make The Sanest Man Go Mad” begins somewhat simply with a party. Michael Burnham finds herself trying to overcome her social issues to connect with Ash Tyler when they are called to the bridge. They find an injured gormagander (space whale), and Michael suggests taking it aboard.
As soon as the beast is aboard, a man emerges from its mouth, shooting members of the crew. He hops onto the intercom, saying he "will see you later or, rather, sooner," before blowing up the ship. The scene returns to the party, but only Stamets realizes they are stuck in a temporal loop.
It turns out Harcourt Fenton Mudd was the fellow in the whale, and he placed Discovery inside a 30-minute loop so he could learn the secrets of the Spore Drive. The plan offered infinite chances to do so, but he didn't count on Stamets' unusual properties, thanks to his use of the Drive.
He manages to convince Michael that she's caught in a loop, and over the course of several loops, the crew finally manages to trick Mudd. He's forced to bring the loop to an end, and even though he slaughtered everyone in previous loops, they were all saved when the newest loop finally came to an end.