Star Trek: Discovery 5 Ups & 3 Downs From 'Context Is For Kings'

Downs...

3. The Air Vent Sequence

Despite the fact that Burnham came into her own during Context is for Kings, the scene that was meant to illustrate her combat prowess didn't feel as tense as the build up had implied.

Certainly, the moment the Discovery's crew boarded the Glenn oozed atmosphere, with Tilly, Burnham and the rest all taking the time to witness the horror of an experiment gone awry, but the actual moment the beastie started chasing our heroes didn't seem to convey the same threat.

This wasn't a matter of special effects here either; the creature certainly looked convincing, but the way Burnham and her cohorts interacted with it didn't seem to suggest the same threat. That vent sequence felt extremely derivative from other sci-fi horror classics and, while it was an appropriate way of showing Burnham's tactical nous, it almost seemed to negate the build up we just saw.

Not that it detracts heavily from the episode itself, but it would've been nice if the payoff felt as threatening as the build up did beforehand.