The following contains pocket-sized spoilers for season four, episode xiv of ' Star Expedition: Discovery .'

Season four has been an interesting ane for Star Trek: Discovery. The prove finally embraced a more episodic format, only to slide back into an ongoing storyline in the back half of the season. But today'due south finale again promises a return to the things that brand Star Expedition, well, Star Expedition. And, while Discovery besides made those promises at the end of last season, there's more than reason to believe that this time the changes will stick.

It starts with the fact that while the major threat this flavour began as a spatial anomaly (known as the Nighttime Matter Anomaly, or "DMA"), it was discovered to be merely a harvesting tool used by a previously unknown species, 1 the Federation calls the 10C. It may have seemed harmless to the 10C in its office as farmers, simply the Federation found itself in the role of a rabbit in forepart of a plough. The DMA destroyed Kwejian; both Ni'Var (née Vulcan) and Earth were side by side.

The crew of the Discovery on the bridge

CBS

In previous seasons this would have shifted Starfleet into action hero mode, and some characters did advocate for a more assertive and violent approach. But instead of merely jumping into the fray we got lots of… arguing. This may non audio exciting, simply information technology'due south e'er been i of the things Star Trek does all-time: people discussing alien ideas. Some advocated for a peaceful solution and that was ultimately the form decided upon, since information technology was closest to the Federation ethos of peace and exploration. In other series this might seem like a terrible idea, but Trek is supposed to exist, in theory, a utopia. This kind of thinking is one of the cornerstones of the franchise.

At that place are those who disagree, spearheaded by Cleveland Booker and Ruon Tarka. But while their actions turn them into antagonists, they don't go villains. Nosotros've seen this in previous shows like The Adjacent Generation and Voyager, where terrorists like the Maquis were treated with empathy. In Discovery it's even more than at the forefront given Book's status as a main character, but also the series' ethos equally the Star Trek show that'south all near feelings. While the prove sometimes takes flak for all the crying, here the emotional elements experience well balanced, with everyone'southward motives clearly articulated both to each other and to the audience. It'south easy to understand each character even if y'all disagree.

And understanding is the lynchpin of the plot here; the 10C are not carbon-based lifeforms and they don't communicate like humanoids do. It'south a classic Star Expedition problem, as seen in episodes like "Darmok" or "Amok Time." And so last week'due south episode was dedicated to the crew and contrasted ambassadors methodically working through mathematical and chemical solutions to build a working bridge linguistic communication. They managed to establish to the 10C that in that location were problems with the DMA, opening up the door to further negotiation in this week'south episode.

"Coming Home" has a lot of meanings in the context of the actual episode. At that place'southward the threat of the DMA heading toward World, at that place's a number of scenes ready in our solar system involving returning graphic symbol Sylvia Tilly, and reconciliation betwixt Michael Burnham and her lover Cleveland Booker, the person who grounds her in the 32nd century.

President Rillak, Michael Burnham, Adira and Paul Stamets

CBS

But there'due south as well pregnant in that the episode is where Discovery finally reconciles itself every bit a Star Expedition show, making its highest signal of drama not the struggle to evacuate a doomed planet, or the attempts to stop Tarka's plan, but the actual face-to-confront (so to speak) give-and-take with the 10C. It's nil like the activity-based arroyo of the Abrams films or even earlier seasons that dealt with state of war and fourth dimension travel and evil sentient computers. Information technology's diplomacy. It'due south a lot of talking, and sitting around and talking near feelings.

And some of those feelings are what yous'd call… environmentally minded. Information technology isn't enough that the 10C merely stops destroying planets that house sentient life. The fact is, the DMA likewise creates pollution and that needs to be stopped likewise. With Earth in immediate danger it seems similar an unreasonable enquire at the moment, merely information technology's too very much in the ethos of Star Trek to consider ane's general societal and galactic impact as well. The cadre of Star Trek is humanism and social justice, and then many classic episodes deal with issues of identity, civil rights, and environmental issues. Discovery has spent then much time dealing with one huge tearing crisis after another that information technology hasn't had time to exercise simpler humanist metaphors, and bringing that in at the terminate here seems to indicate a desire to deal with those issues more than in upcoming seasons.

The entire denouement makes that promise: The Federation is growing in forcefulness, the Discovery crew is taking some time off for themselves, and a very special guest toward the stop seems to be the bear witness making its politics clear to those segments of the audience who beloved to decry "woke Trek." Star Expedition has always been woke, just Discovery has only dipped its toe into the water in previous seasons. With its fifth flavour on the horizon, it's ready to plunge fully in.