Star Trek: Discovery Episode 3.7 Review: Ups And Downs From Unification III
4. A New (Acting) First Officer (UP)
Mary Wiseman has long been one of the pillars of Star Trek: Discovery. Ensign Tilly has been a stand-in for the audience, sometimes bumbling her way through an interaction, but always delivering when it was important. She has developed strong relationships with the rest of the characters, while remaining a little separate from them as well.
Now, that separation stands to her.
While there will inevitably be some questions about an Ensign serving as First Officer, I believe that this is absolutely the right choice moving forward. Although I don't believe that the show sought to have Burnham be an unlikable character, having her as First Officer didn't sit right this season. Tilly on the other hand, for all of the lack of confidence, seems to absolutely be the right person for the job. She is well respected by both the crew and the captain. She is more than qualified when it comes to her scientific knowledge. She has the discipline to understand whims of the heart without being consumed by them.
In the greatest Star Trek franchise, Chris Pine's Kirk became Captain of a star ship in about twelve minutes, so it's not entirely without precedent. Having Tilly in a position of responsibility and care over the crew will, in my opinion, only serve to strengthen the show going forward.