‘Star Trek: Discovery 1×07 – Magic to Make the Sanest Man Go Mad’ Review

Over the last few week’s we’ve been introduced to new friendships in the show, as well as the most important thing in Star Trek: Discovery itself. Now with episode 7 it is time to get a fun episode that brings back an old character we knew would make a return.

Star Trek: Discovery

It’s party time on the U.S.S Discovery, but the fun doesn’t last long as an unwanted visitor makes his way aboard the ship. Looking for the secret to what makes the Discovery so special, he sets up a situation where only Stamets (Anthony Rapp) can save the day.

I’ve already mentioned how good Star Trek: Discovery has been in building up the friendships that are so important to a Star Trek show, and this is an episode where the work comes to fruition. Not only do we see Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) get closer to new guy Ash Tyler (Shazad Latif) but we also see Stamets take centre stage, and steal the show.

We’ve already seen hints that something isn’t right about him, and this week the payoff for this. The fact that he is going head-to-head with a returning Harry Mudd (Rainn Wilson) is just an added bonus.

With the return of Mudd, it is nice to see that the focus isn’t mainly on Burnham in this episode. Yes, she does provide the catalyst to be able to handle Mudd’s takeover of the ship, but the solution is provided all by Stamets and his new abilities. This is an episode where we see more about the character, and just how important he is to the show.

When it comes to Mudd, it seems that in this Star Trek universe, he isn’t just a comedy character who turns up to create mischief. In this episode he is a very real danger, and one that is willing to kill to get his own way. It is fair to say that Captain Lorca (Jason Isaacs) maybe shouldn’t have left him on the Klingon ship, because this is a real case of the past coming back to haunt him.

What this episode of Star Trek: Discovery proves is how good the new crew on the ship works. We see Burnham and Ash work good as a team, and even see hints of a romance blooming. Stamets has already shown he is a standout character for the show, and just proves it more now. For fans of Sylvia Tilly (Mary Wiseman) she also gets her chance to shine, and of course takes it.

In many ways Star Trek shows find success because of the chemistry between the crew, and we are seeing it work well here. While Star Trek: Discovery is still finding its footing as a true Star Trek show, it is fair to say that the cast is definitely helping it along to find its place in the Star Trek universe.

This week’s episode is one of the strongest yet, and that is because of the way it feels more standalone from the rest of the show. Focusing on a richer story, it helps the characters feel more fleshed out, and that feel will be important to Star Trek: Discovery’s success. Hopefully we’ll get more episodes like this one in the future, because it is a good example of where the series will find its strength.

Star Trek: Discovery is available in the UK every Monday on Neflix.

Be sure to like Pissed Off Geek on Facebook and follow them on Twitter to keep up to date with all the news and reviews.

Leave a Reply