‘Star Trek: Discovery’ Season 1, Episode 5: Saru’s Moment

What worked

1. Rainn Wilson as Harry Mudd

Roger Carmel’s portrayal of Mudd in the original original series was pretty silly and, seen now, is oddly reminiscent of Wilson’s Dwight Schrute from “The Office.”

But the writers have given Wilson a lot more to work with here. A political ideology, for starters. “I sure as hell understand why the Klingons pushed back. Starfleet arrogance,” says Mudd, suggesting he has interests beyond self-enrichment. This makes him potentially a more potent villain than the one in the original series. Wilson also plays deceit with great skill. I am curious to see what they do with him.

2. Lorca on the Klingon ship

Lorca confesses that he blew up the ship he previously commanded so that he could save his crew from “degradation, torture” and “slow, public death” at the hands of the Klingons. Lorca is one of the show’s more enigmatic characters: confident, cold and calculating. He doesn’t seem to have much of a moral center, which makes him different than previous “Trek” captains.

This story line shows, again, the “Discovery” writers’ willingness to take risks. That Lorca is willing to blow his own crew up gives us a window into his thinking and provides more context for his lack of emotion regarding Landry’s death. And most importantly: We understand why he was eager to have Burnham, Starfleet’s only known mutineer, be part of the ship’s crew.

Near the end of the escape, Tyler tells Lorca what happened when his old ship was destroyed. Lorca responds, “We choose our own pain. Mine helps me remember.” I didn’t quite understand what this exchange meant, but I imagine we’ll find out soon.

What didn’t work

1. The Klingons

Once again, Klingons are painted as a one-dimensional species with no depth or intelligence. How are two Klingons (a warrior race), one armed, overpowered by two weakened prisoners? And how are Lorca and Tyler so easily able to commandeer a shuttle? And how do they escape five Klingon raider ships so easily? (This was an issue in previous “Trek” series as well, but I digress.)

Did you catch that?

1. When Saru asks the computer for decorated Starfleet captains, there are several familiar names on the list: Jonathan Archer, the main character in “Enterprise,” played by Scott Bakula and Christopher Pike, who appeared in both the 2009 reboot of “Star Trek” and the original series. There’s also Matt Decker, who was in the original series episode, “The Doomsday Machine,” and Robert April, who was revealed to be the Enterprise’s first captain in “The Animated Series.” His character was voiced by James Doohan, who of course, played Scotty.

2. When the Discovery bridge crew narrows the search down to three possible locations for Lorca, one of the three listed is Rura Penthe, the penal colony that Kirk and McCoy were sent to in “The Undiscovered Country.”

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