Episode Review – Discovery Season 3 Ep 4 - "Forget Me Not”

Episode Review – Discovery Season 3 Ep 4 – “Forget Me Not”

Woah!

That’s really the first word I can think of to express my feelings on this episode.

Emotional catharsis has always been one of the pros of modern Star Trek, but it has perhaps never been done better than what we see in this episode as we finally take a stock of everyone’s emotional needs and really work through trauma in a realistic and relatable way.

One of my long-held frustrations with past Star Trek has always been the fact that characters go through terrible and traumatic events, yet we rarely see them deal with the emotional fallout and grow from those experiences. Voyager’s crew was flung to the far reaches of another quadrant yet it didn’t take long to go back to business as usual without a trace of the strain it must have had on that crew to be so far away from home. Discovery doesn’t ignore the strains, in fact, the story allows those strains to build, those cracks in the foundation to form until everything reaches a boiling point, and we can finally address the issue.

And who better to address the issue than Dr. Hugh Culber (Wilson Cruz).

Last season when Culber came back from the dead, he felt lost, he felt disconnected, he felt unsure of his place and his own sense of self. It was a long and hard road to get back to a place of stability, but he did it. So, when he looks at the crew, he can see the cracks in their armour, he can see their struggle even if they might not be willing to admit it themselves. As he laments in his logs, they’ve jumped past birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, and funerals, all the things that we as humans hold onto as signposts of life. And when that is gone, it’s easy to disconnect from reality, but as he personally knows, even just surviving can become living again. He also is aware that for a crew of overachievers, admitting that they need help or express vulnerability, is a very difficult thing to do.

(CBS) Culber & Adria In Sickbay

It’s unavoidable how much of what Culber says relates to our current lives in the midst of this pandemic, and for American viewers, we are still held in the throes of an undecided Presidential Election that could determine the fates of many. But such is the magic of Star Trek and its ability to always be prescient to the times that it exists in. In many ways, this episode is like a warm hug to everyone in these stressful times that makes us all feel isolated and alone. One could even go so far as to say it is a warm hug from Culber himself, letting all of us know that things can be okay and that we are not alone, that we are all still connected. And the warmth that exudes from Wilson Cruz’s performance, there is something so healing and so kind. We all need that in these times.

The story of this episode can feel separate, Adira (Blu del Barrio) and Michael (Sonequa Martin-Green) go down to the Trill home planet to get their memories back while Saru (Doug Jones) and Culber tries to help the crew feel better about their struggling circumstances. Yet both story strands are connected by one theme: trauma. And perhaps more importantly, how we cannot move on from trauma if we refuse to confront its existence. After all, pretending something doesn’t exist hardly means that it is not still there.

This is exhibited in the Discovery side of the story by Detmer (Emily Coutts) and Stamets (Anthony Rapp). Detmer has clearly been struggling all season since the Discovery crash-landed. There is guilt, there is pain, there is the self-blame of blood on her hands of dead crew members who did not survive. She’s constantly concerned about people dying, even protesting orders that could result in death. Her fear, her inner-conflict, and her vulnerability are all brilliantly portrayed by Emily Coutts. Stamets is also struggling when Saru brings up the fact that they need alternatives in piloting the spore drive in case he becomes incapacitated again. This strikes a chord in Stamets’ confidence, much like the crash landing did to Detmer. And the insecurity that results from the conversation with Saru leads Stamets to lash out at Tilly (Mary Wiseman) and dismissing her ideas. Anthony Rapp expertly balances the anger that Stamets hides behind but also the pain he feels at knowing that his lashing out is wrong.

(CBS) Saru Attempts To Bring The Crew Closer, Things Do Not Go To Plan

Every bit of anger and frustration boil over at dinner. Saru attempts to gather many of the bridge crew and senior staff to a private meal. Yet what is his desire to help people connect ends up being one of the most awkward family dinners in Trek history. Sure, it starts out well enough, with everyone seemingly enjoying this moment of connection and relaxation. However, as family dinners tend to be, it all goes spectacularly wrong. Georgiou starts a haiku, Culber and Tilly join in and all seems well until it’s Detmer’s turn. She can’t get past the words about Stamets’ blood, nearly laughing hysterically as tension fill up the room. Stamets is now angry, stating that his injury isn’t a joke and that the crew wouldn’t have gotten to Earth without him. This leads to Detmer firing back that she flew Discovery into the future, she is responsible for everyone’s lives, not like Stamets who occasionally comes in to be a superhero so everyone can kiss his ass. They jab at each other in increasingly cruel and ugly ways as Culber and Saru try to calm everyone down and others look on silently and uncomfortably. Even the usually bubbly Tilly raises her voice eventually to admonish both Detmer and Stamets for being assholes and that they are not the only ones in pain, reminding them all that everyone is in this together. Detmer and Stamets both storms out with others following in suit. The only person who seems to find any enjoyment in the chaos is Georgiou (Michelle Yeoh) who leaves with the wine.

However, as awkward and tension-filled as this family dinner may have been. It is also an important turning point. It lanced a boil. It made everyone honest in getting their feelings out and admitting what the problems were. We see exactly what has been plaguing both Detmer and Stamets. Their confidences have been shaken. The things that they had defined themselves with, whether being a good pilot or being a unique spore drive navigator, suddenly have come into conflict with the reality around them, and neither wanted to confront that reality because it is safer to hide. Change can be scary, and when people are scared, they lash out. And Detmer and Stamets were both terrified because admitting there are problems that would make those problems real and unavoidable. But as both Culber and Saru learned last season, not confronting the problems would only hold you back from growth and change that can lead to a new sense of self.

Stamets learns this as he returns to Saru’s ready room, contrite and apologizing to Tilly for lashing out. He admits that his research, everything he’d done would have been impossible without Tilly and he should have let her know that. He even opens up to hearing about her ideas for alternative ways to fly the spore drive. Detmer, in turn, also learns to open up and ask for help. To admit that she is not okay and wanting to take Culber up on that talk. No one is okay, and after everything they had all been through, they couldn’t possibly be okay. Discovery does not hide away from that reality. The show lets us know that it is okay to not be okay. That we can all stop pretending that we’re fine and there is nothing wrong with asking for help. But perhaps more importantly, it shows us that asking for help isn’t the end of the road, but the beginning of a healing process that will need to take time, and that’s okay too. And as the crew gather to watch old Buster Keaton films and share in the laughter and joy, we see hugs and reconciliation, especially with Detmer and Stamets. They can all find the path to recovery together.

(CBS) Zora in “Calypso”

The other interesting thing to note of the Discovery side of the story is the emergence of what is likely to go on to be Zora in the Short Treks episode “Calypso”, once again amazingly voiced by Annabelle Wallis. One might wonder why Saru didn’t seem all that alarmed about the sphere data merging with Discovery’s computer and forming its own desires and wishes. However, we should remember that Saru last season was connected to the feelings and emotions of the sphere as it was dying, he likely already felt a degree of safety with the sphere and that informs how he sees Zora. If Zora is protecting the crew as Saru surmises, then he can work in concert with her knowledge to ensure the best path forward. Saru in this episode lamented that Pike made connecting with the crew so effortless, yet he did not realize that in his attempts to try, and in accepting help and suggestions from Zora, he is following the paths of great leaders who are great because of their capacity to listen. I have no doubt that Pike would have been incredibly proud of how Saru has handled everything.

The story on Discovery was emotional and powerful enough on its own, but what truly brought tears to my eyes and resonated with my soul was Adira’s story on the Trill home planet.

Firstly though, I do want to address the one thing that everyone will be talking about. The fact that the introduction of Gray (Ian Alexander), the first transgender character in Star Trek, was almost immediately followed by his supposed death is very problematic. This is not Discovery’s first time dipping its toes into the “Bury Your Gays” trope with half of an LGBTQ+ couple. The show seems to almost have a pattern of “gay love will pierce through the veil of death and save the day” story tendencies, and I’m honestly not sure how I feel about that. However, I do also want to note that both Gray and Adira’s story will continue as both characters and actors are confirmed to return in Season 4. So, the fact that this is not the end of their story and that their story will remain front and centre for the show is still an important thing for the LGBTQ+ community because visibility on-screen promotes normality and acceptance. But as I am not nonbinary nor transgender, I do not think my views on this issue should overshadow that of any nonbinary and transgender fans. I ask fans to listen to the nonbinary and transgender fans of the Star Trek community and to support their views and concerns, for it is important that we do right by them.

The issue of Gray’s death aside though, Adira’s story and their connection with Gray was simply so beautiful and moving. The chemistry between Blu del Barrio and Ian Alexander just leaps off the screen. You can feel their love for each other, their fondness for each other, and the faith and trust they have for each other. It is the kind of love that anyone would wish to have. In mere simple looks, both actors easily convey their love and just how right it is that they are together.

(CBS) Adria & Gray

And I would be remiss if I didn’t state just how impressed I am with Ian Alexander’s performance as Gray. He imbues Gray with such easy confidence that never strays into arrogance, and there’s always a tinge of love and warmth in everything that he does. The way Gray praises Adira’s art skills, the excitement and happiness over the quilt that represents their story, it all feels so real and relatable. You understand why Adira doesn’t want to think on the dark parts, you understand why admitting the loss of Gray is so terrifying.

But much like the trauma of the Discovery crew, Adira must also learn to confront their trauma and what they fear. They cannot move forward to acceptance if they do not face what is holding them back. I do appreciate that Adira’s struggle with their memories is not because they are human and not Trill but rather because of repressing trauma, because not only does this connect to the Discovery’s side of the story, it proves wrong the prejudices that the Trill leaders exhibit about Adira as an abomination because they are human. In overcoming this repressed trauma, Adira not only brings about healing to themselves but also to the Trill and perhaps the entire galaxy as well. Maybe even to Michael too, who is also struggling to reconcile her year alone without her crew and who she may now be. In a way, it is brilliant of Culber to have Michael go down to Trill with Adira, because it wasn’t just about Michael guiding Adira on the right path, but also Adira giving Michael hope that she is not lost as she might believe.

For all of us to heal, we must first admit what it is hurting us and ask for help, only then can we begin to move forward with trust and love on the path of recovery. And trust is central to this Trill story. As Gray said, the joining of a host and symbiont is based on trust, and only with trust and unity can they all move forward. When Adira finally overcomes her fear and repression of her memories, she is welcomed into the circle, finally joining all the former hosts in trust and unity. And I have to say, the moment when Gray’s blue hair can be seen just behind Senna Tal before Gray steps into view, I started to cry. Because that trauma and fear kept Adira and Gray apart for so long, but now they are finally together. Once Adira excised that darkness from themselves, they could move forward and be with Gray in a different way. I don’t know what the ending scene could mean Gray, whether he is alive or a sentient memory or soul, but to have Adira and Gray on this path of healing and learning together is something that I look very much forward to seeing.

(CBS) Senna Tal (Kenneth Welsh)

And now with Michael and the crew armed with Senna Tal’s message and coordinates to the Federation, another form of healing can also take place on the macro-level for the galaxy. We’ve seen the crew episode by episode bring isolated worlds back into the unity and faith of the Federation. Earth stood alone but now listens with empathy. Trill closed off to protect its decimated population and traditions but now have learned to open up to others for help. We may not know what the state of the Federation is when we find it, but it becomes clear that this crew can give hope to those who’ve lost theirs.

Modern Star Trek has always been able to understand trauma with a level of emotional maturity that past Trek stories often lacked, but this amazing script by Alan McElroy, Chris Silvestri, and Anthony Maranville really delve into its complexities in a whole new way by allowing us to really slow down and take a pause, to acknowledge everyone’s struggles and to say that this is not the ending resolution to the story, but rather the beginning of our collective recovery. The expert direction of Hanelle M. Culpepper and the hauntingly and increasingly brilliant music of Jeff Russo only serve to elevate an already powerful story to new heights.

The future may be wounded, broken, and traumatized from a huge collective traumatic event, much like our real world. But Star Trek Discovery continues to show us that unity and empathy is the way forward, and that it is important to not ignore trauma but to acknowledge it, ask for help, and move towards healing together. The show is telling us, it’s okay to not be okay, it’s okay to feel helpless and vulnerable, but those feelings are not forever. We are not lost. We are not without hope. And we can recover.

This is the Star Trek story we need.

Be sure to tune into season 3 of Star Trek: Discovery  which airs Thursdays on CBS All Access in the USA, CTV Sci-Fi Channel in Canada and on Fridays internationally on Netflix

Join the conversation

Leave A Comment

« Due to GDPR, EU users need to be logged into Facebook to read and leave comments »

Share this post

Facebook
Twitter
Reddit
Email
WhatsApp

Latest From Treksphere