Star Trek: Discovery 3.08 The Sanctuary review
The Sanctuary
The Eighth episode of the third season. Book receives a message from his brother, saying that the Emerald Chain is encroaching on their homeworld. They also trace the origin of the Burn to a nebula where a Federation distress signal is coming from. Adira comes out to Stamets (and at least Culber). Culber also tries to find out what is wrong with Georgiou. Is it a disjointed mess? No, but the storylines don't seem to have much to do with each other. But I'm certain it would come together further down the line.
First of all, the storyline with Book and his brother is the main storyline, bringing the threat of the Emerald Chain front and centre. Discovery jumps to the planet to 'observe' the situation. However, as usually happens, things get out of control. Book's brother ambushes Book and Burnham, while Osyraa, the leader of the Emerald Chain, arrives in her warship. She certainly is menacing in an understated way. The scenes with Detmer, Rin and Grudge in Book's ship were done very well. Rin being flummuxed by Grudge was a great moment.
That the Chain is running out of Dilithium isn't that much of a surprise, although it certainly will lead to something down the road. Osyraa's ship being defeated by Book's ship (which needs a name) instead of Discovery) while a resonable development, doesn't stop Osyraa blaming the Federation, which is a good moment. Georgiou seems to be dying, but Culbur isn't able to pinpoint what the problem is, even with the 32nd Century medical technology. But it's almost certainly leading into the next episode.
It's certainly something that will take up some time in that episode (or two). The scene where Adira comes out to Stamets was well written. It certainly gets across that its something very personal, given that they had only previously told Grey. (And based on the real life coming out?) Then there's the usual Culmets sappyness. Don't need too much of it. At least it links into the Burn storyline, given it was Adira writing the algorithm. Overall a good episode. 8.3/10.