‘Star Trek: Discovery 1×11 – The Wolf Inside’ Review
With the second part of the first season of Star Trek: Discovery, it appears that people who have stuck with the show are being rewarded well. Not only did we have a good episode last week that set Discovery on an interesting course, but this week we finally get some long-awaited answers, as well as another return that some may have seen coming.
With Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) struggling to keep up the façade of being a cold-hearted captain, she struggles to find a way to get information back to her own crew. Lorca (Jason Isaacs) provides much-needed support, but Ash Tyler (Shazad Latif) is struggling with his own dilemmas. Meanwhile Tilly (Mary Wiseman) tries to help Stamets (Anthony Rapp) with seemingly tragic consequences.
While the so called Mirror Universe is definitely making Star Trek: Discovery interesting, all eyes are on Ash Tyler. With a very strong theory hanging around for a while now, people have waited for the truth to be revealed. This week the truth is finally shown, and there are no surprises. In truth though, if it had not gone the way it did I’m sure people would have been disappointed.
Before this revelation took place though, he and Burnham met the Mirror Universe rebels, which was a chance to see the alternative Sarek (James Frain). He plays an important part in Burnham gaining the group’s trust, and may pay off well further into season 1. This is dependant of course on how long Star Trek: Discovery decides to stay in the Mirror Universe. I’ll admit that I’m enjoying the changes it brings, but there is also a feeling that it can’t last for long.
While Stamets’ story has been on the backburner somewhat with him being in an apparent coma, this week we see Tilly try to bring him out of it. While her actions may seem to have made matters worse, in truth it seems to have opened him up to something that may just save the Discovery. What this means for Stamets and his fellow crew members is yet to be seen, especially with the possibilities that the Mirror Universe version of him could bring to his character.
This week is about returning characters though, with Tyler’s real persona making his way to the forefront. It is obvious that now he is found out and is put into the brig, in future episodes the Klingons are going to have an effect on the fate of the Discovery.
The other return (which I won’t spoil here) is the reveal of the Emperor, and again this was somewhat easy to predict, and was a welcome return. For those who weren’t happy with the early days of Star Trek: Discovery, this return should also be good news for them. What it shows though is that the story for season one at least is playing the long game, and sticking it out has a good pay-off in the end.
With the cliff-hanger ending to this weeks Star Trek: Discovery there are a few new story threads open that are keeping this show interesting. With the arrival of the emperor, Tyler’s reveal, the repercussions of the events with the rebels, and of course Stamets, next week’s episode can’t come soon enough.
****½ 4.5/5
Star Trek: Discovery is available in the UK every Monday on Netflix.
