Star Trek Discovery 2.04 'An Obol for Charon' review
An Obol for Charon
The fourth episode of season 2. Discovery is chasing Spock, but an ancient sphere knocks them out of warp... However, as seems to be the theme this season, there is a lot more to the story. Number One visits the ship in a short scene, then the ship goes after Spock. There is the ancient sphere being, the computer troubles the sphere being causes to the Discovery, the Tilly/Fungal symbiote storyline and Saru facing death, with some paralleling occurring with the latter. Most of these work well together.
Do all these come together effectively? See below for the answer. But where to begin? Number One is still mysterious. Although the Enterprise chief engineer's name was referred to, hers wasn't. (And Burnham didn't seem to be curious as to her name either.) Still, her character is consistent with the original portrayal and is fleshed out as 'resourceful'. Discovery pursues Spock and find themselves torn out of warp by an ancient sphere being. Thus begins the main storyline with a sequence where the Universal Translator is malfunctioning.
The linguistic confusion that ensues is portrayed rather well, but isn't the main focus. That would be Saru, and the condition he has come down with. As a result, Burnham has to help him focus to fix the translator, and later to find a way to communicate with the Sphere. It seemed that the Sphere had triggered the final stage in the Kelpian lifecycle in Saru. The scene where Burnham helps him come to terms with the end of his life, was very well written and acted. As is the one where Saru realises that his people's beliefs are a lie (and wants to violate the Prime Directive as a result).
The changes in Saru's characterisation as a result will be interesting to see. That the Sphere isn't malevolent towards Discovery but instead wants to pass on it's knowledge is a great twist. Discovery escaping at the last second was quite well done. I'm certain that this knowledge may play a part in future storylines. However, the episode is brought down by the Tilly storyline, even if Reno and Stamets interact in an interestingly snarky manner. It still isn't concluded. 7.9/10.