Star Trek: Discovery 3.1 Review - Ups And Downs From That Hope Is You
6. Faith Restored (Up)
Adil Hussain guest stars in this episode as Aditya Sahil, a lonely believer in the Federation and Starfleet, waiting day after day for signs of other Starfleet ships and survivors. It has been more than 100 years since the collapse and he is keeping the candle that his father and grandfather kept lit. The episode opens with a tease of him looking for signals in space.
However, his true purpose in the episode is not revealed until the very last scene. Book and Burnham, now on much friendlier terms, travel to the Federation Relay station that is Sahil's home, where Book introduces them. The stage is set for a lot of choking up, as Sahil's entire reason to be is given meaning.
Burnham explains who she is and where she is from, all while Hussain fights to keep a steady voice, as his eyes clearly water. It is a quiet, intense and fantastic performance - topped off when Burnham grants him an acting field commission, something he had longed for all of his life. This, followed by the raising of the Federation flag, is one of the most affecting moments of the episode.