In Review: Star Trek: Discovery – The Sounds of Thunder

Synopsis: When a new signal appears over Saru’s home planet, Burnham, Saru and the crew embark on a perilous mission that puts Saru in danger and raises questions about the Red Angel’s intentions. Hugh struggles to come to terms with his new reality.

Review: Having visited Saru’s homeworld in flashbacks in an earlier episode. This episode sees the Starfleet’s only Kelpien return home.

The Story

When the crew of Discovery picks up another signal. The trail leads them to Kaminer, which happens to be Saru’s homeworld.

Acting on orders from Pike. Both Michael and Saru beam down to the planet where Saru is reunited with his sister Siranna, who is happy to see who brother and amazed to learn that there are so many other species in the universe. The reunion is short-lived when the Ba’ul, who have hunted the Kelpien people for centuries learn of Saru’s return and are threatened by the fact that he knows the truth about vahar’ai.

Out of concern for his sister and the Kelpien’s on the planet. Both Saru and Michael make a hasty retreat and beam back to Discovery, which is shortly thereafter hailed by the Ba’ul who demand that Pike hand over Saru to them or they will destroy his village. When hearing this Saru and after being ordered off the bridge. Saru beams himself over to the Ba’ul in order to save his family.

With Saru in the custody of the Ba’ul. Michael with some help from Tilly and Lt. Cmdr. Airiam set about going through the history behind the Ba’ul and Kelpien history in hopes of finding the truth behind why the Kelpien people have been prevented from evolving.

The Acting

This was a great episode for Doug Jones, who makes for a very heroic figure as a less frightened and more enlightened Saru. The scenes where he is reunited with his sister were very well performed. Hannah Spear who played Siranna had solid chemistry with Jones, which made the brother-sister relationship believable.

Overall

This was a really solid story, which gave us a history of the relationship between the Kelpien’s and the Ba’ul and changed the balance in that relationship forever.

We also learn a little more about the Red Angel thanks to the fact that Saru is able to get a good look at the Angel helps his people and it turns out that this Red Angel is a humanoid in a highly advanced suit. But we are still unclear about what its motives are.