Star Trek: Discovery really knows how to get me, every single week. It’s like the writers really know what’s going to punch me in the feels. One thing that will guarantee me swooning and squeeing in Fangirlish delight is found family. Is this something that gives you big feels too? Here are a few thoughts on the theme of found family in 3×08 of Star Trek: Discovery, “The Sanctuary.”
“Something we said, we felt.”
I fully confess to being utterly smitten with Cleveland Booker, and really, can you blame me? Kind, funny, absurdly handsome, and he LOVES giant cats? Yes, please. But then when he says his brother isn’t biological, but that their sibling relationship is “Something we said, we felt,” well, you might as well grab a mop and a bucket because I’ve turned into a puddle. As someone with friends as close and beloved as siblings, I understand this feeling deeply.
Book’s relationship with his brother, Kyheem is interesting. Despite their differences and their apparent estrangement, Book still comes when his brother needs him. That says much about the kind of person Cleveland Booker is–someone who loves deeply and cares for his family, even if things have been tense.
Bridge Crew Cool Kids Table
The cast of supporting characters on the bridge crew haven’t had as much opportunity to shine as our leads, but that doesn’t make them any less interesting or important to our story. One of the background plots that’s been quite enjoyable to watch this season is the camaraderie between the players on the bridge–Rhys, Detmer, Owosekun, Nilsson, and Bryce. The passing statements made, “The only fail-safe you ever needed was you,” and the lunch banter at what I lovingly refer to as the “Cool Kids Table,” really provides a good feel for the affection among the crew. That affection warms my heart deeply and strengthens the dynamic for the cast in this series.
“Pride. It suits you.”
There are a few little details dropped in “The Sanctuary” that I won’t be surprised to see evolve further in the series. “If I had time, I’d have children!” shouts Culber as he faces down an irritated (and irritating) Georgiou. That’s an interesting response to “If I had time, I’d poison your children.” Then we see Stamets taking on a, dare I say, paternal role to Adira, showing the same kind of affection we would expect to see of a parent finding their child asleep while studying for a test. If that’s not a hint at seeing some babies or at least a new chosen family dynamic among these three by season’s end, I’ll be surprised.
Notes for the Captain’s Log
There are lots of other fun facts and points of note happening in this episode. Here’s a quick list for your reference.
- Ryn is proving to be someone of greater significance than just a guest character in a one-off episode. It will be fascinating to see where the story takes him. It’s also quite fun to note that Ryn is played by Noah Averbach-Katz, Mary Wiseman’s (Sylvia Tilly’s) real-life husband. Their scene together at the end of the episode is especially nice. Noah Averbach-Katz is also a lifelong Trekkie (or Trekker, depending on your preferred nomenclature). Check out this Tweet with a montage of his Trek fanboying.
- Also, can we talk about the rising confidence of Acting First Officer Sylvia Tilly? When she gives Ryn what for when he barges into the ready room and demands to speak to the Captain, “Uh-huh. Try again. This time with the respect the rank deserves.” Get that clap-back, Tilly!
- Getting a bit more insight into Book’s empathic abilities and the kinds of things he can do when teamed up with another empath is incredibly fascinating. No doubt these abilities will come into play again by the end of the season.
- What is going on with Georgiou? She’s been especially prickly this season because of her fear of her own impending doom, but the flashbacks she keeps having about the mysterious San are getting worse and worse. It’s clear she is masking her true feelings with rage, but I don’t think the angry façade can stay up much longer.
- More clues about The Burn–this time beneath the melody that everyone seems to know, but no one knows how they know it. This is like a slightly different and a little more high-brow version of how “All Along the Watchtower” was used in the reboot of Battlestar Galactica. I’m eager to see how this particular season-long mystery unravels.
- We get our first look at Osyraa this episode, played by Janet Kidder. If her name is familiar, it’s because she’s got quite the resume of genre TV roles (The X-Files, Continuum, The Man in the High Castle, Arrow), as well as being the niece of the late, great Margot Kidder, the OG Lois Lane in the 1978 Superman films. The family resemblance is quite striking, even under the green Orion makeup.
What do you think of “The Sanctuary”? Leave a comment and let’s talk Trek.
The next episode of Star Trek: Discovery airs on December 10, 2020 on CBS All Access.