Star Trek: Discovery 3.5 Review: Ups And Downs From Die Trying
2. Medical Advancements Or Lack Thereof (DOWN)
This one could go either way. For now, this is a down.
In the nearly one thousand years since Discovery's departure, medical science seems to have almost stagnated. If the cure for the problems that the Keely now face is to source an original copy of a plant, why would a record of every seed and plant not be in Starfleet's databases?
Now, if they must have a hard copy, that is fine. However, going back to the previous point, has replicator technology vanished? We have seen flowers being replicated in The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine and Voyager, so why couldn't they replicate this particular plant here?
The main thrust of sending Discovery seems to hinge on the fact that no one else in Starfleet can get a sample of these plants in time. However, with the knowledge of what happened on the planet lodged firmly in Starfleet's databases, and replication technology still available (check out the cool appearing floor as Vance, Saru and Burnham close out the episode) then, frankly, this entire plot doesn't make sense.
And while Dr. Culber is fantastic and can do no wrong (fight me) it seems very suspect that he is the one to administer the cure to the Keely, despite being as out of time in 3188 as a healer from the 11th century would seem today.
It stands out a little too much here. The crew of the Discovery, while certainly advanced from our 21st century point of view, are walking relics from the 32nd century's point of view.