Star Trek Discovery 2.06 'The Sound of Thunder' review
The Sound of Thunder
The sixth episode of season 2. A Red Angel leads Discovery to Saru's homeworld of Kaminar, where he wants to go down and tell his people that they had been lied to. This follows up from An Obol of Charon (but also the previous episode with Culbur). The main story is Saru fighting with the Prime Directive in wanting to tell his people that the 'Great Balance' is a lie. But there are other plot threads. The ongoing Red Angel and Section 31 storylines, and the ongoing analysis of the Sphere's knowledge.
The way the changes in Saru's personality are delivered were done very well. The lack of fear has caused aggression in Saru, and this is shown in the early Bridge scenes very well. He barely pays attention to Captain Pike's orders to not talk to the Ba'ul while he is talking to them. (Indeed the entire bridge crew is on edge when Saru is stalking the bridge as they orbited Kaminar.) The establishing scene in Saru's village sets up the situation there very well, showing the pastoral setting very well.
The introduction of Saru's sister, Sirella, as the village's priest was also done very well. It would also be believable that she would be upset that Saru only came back to Kaminar because of the Red Angel. The ensuing events both on Discovery and when Saru gets abducted by the Ba'ul are easy to follow and well presented. (Although would 10 Ba'ul ships really outgun Discovery given that they only attained Warp capability 20 years prior?) In any case the resolution to this climax comes completely out of left field.
But it is an interesting climax (even if the Prime Directive is broken). Information on Kaminar in the Sphere's data leading to forced 'evolution' of the Kelpiens? Certainly an interesting development. But then there is the appearance of the Red Angel on Kaminar as the above is happening. Saru is able to see that it's just a humanoid in a suit (far more advanced than the Federation), nothing divine. (Not that I thought they would be to begin with.) Overall this is a good continuation of the Discovery story.
8.25/10.