Supernatural - "The Rising Son" - Season 13 Episode 2 Recap and Review

By Kaylynn Kasandra

 So it looks like Drexel will have to continue to wait for Lucifer’s return to Hell. And I have to lay it to the kid, he has been pretty optimistic for as many times as he has been choked and put in his place. And it seems as though Asmodeus, one of the Knights of Hell, can be added to list of people who have done so. It seems the word has been spread of Jack’s arrival and it’s not just the demons and Angels who have been tracking him down.

Source: The CW

 Donatello makes his return as it seems that even if his connection to God may be cut off, he can’t help but feel and be pulled to the energy Jack gives off. And it couldn’t have come at a better time. Dean still isn’t sold on thinking Jack isn’t evil, and being the literal spawn of Satan, can you blame him? But, Donatello seems to agree Sam, and doesn’t read Jack as being evil or toxic like his father. Given Sam’s history of being overly sympathetic to dark and evil things it’s hard to trust his judgment, even with Donatello co-signing. After seeing Jack’s failed attempt at getting warding sigil tattoos and the accidental harm he inflicted to the artist in the process, I understand Dean standing firm in his belief too.

Dean is still stuck brooding over the loss of Castiel and Mary which isn’t helping with his disdain toward Jack. And even Sam tried to give him a reality check in regards to dwelling on the bad things. But as always, their personal feelings, inner drama, and arguments between them seem to throw things off track once again.

Source: The CW

They were so distracted that Asmodeus slipped right in under the guise of Donatello and took Jack away to Jasper, WY. It seems as though the Knight of Hell wanted to relive his past once again and release the shedim, the very thing that had once earned him the scar her bares. But he isn’t powerful enough so he has to feed Jack a bunch of lies to get him to open a portal for him. And of course Jack being the naive three days old he is, obliges thinking he is doing the world a favor. Poor kid. Luckily, after being slightly derailed by some demons, the Winchesters with Donatello are right behind Jack and Asmodeus.

Not quite understanding who they were up against Dean made the choice to shoot Asmodeus. In turn this allowed Jack to see for himself he wasn’t Donatello and allow the guys to realize he was actually a Knight of Hell. Before the guys can react Asmodeus had the trio in a choke hold struggling for their lives. Sam and Dean being the only ones there for Jack for his entire short life, this angered him. He lost focus opening the portal just as the shedim were creeping their way out. When Jack demanded Asmodeus leave his friends be Asmodeus disappeared in flash. And if I know anything of this Supernatural universe, I have a feeling he was smart enough to make his exit before Jack could smite him.

Source: The CW

 Speaking of smiting, we did get a few glimpses of Lucifer and Mary back in their alternate reality as Lucifer describes it. It seems as though in true Lucifer fashion he isn’t the greatest at making allies. We see him force Mary to be at his side after saving her from some creep hunter. And we also see him smite a small group of angels before Archangel Michael comes down to confront him. It seems as though Lucifer isn’t the only one to demand help from someone and we see Michael do the same to him. This should be pretty interesting to see play out.

And I can’t say Dean’s threat to Jack ending too well if I am going to be quite honest. I mean, he thinks the kid is evil and he tells him he will kill him if need be. Not really a smart call, but hey, he isn’t the brains so much as the brute in the operation. But, I am glad he took the knife from Jack because, yikes.

Star Trek Discovery - "Choose Your Pain" - A Microcosm of Discovery's Successes and Failures

Source: CBS

Last night's Star Trek Discovery episode, "Choose Your Pain," was a great microcosm of what is good and bad about this show so far. We see a crew of diverse people and cultures working together on a space-ship toward a common goal. We follow along with their adventures and maybe learn something about ourselves and our own present-day society through the veil of great sci-fi story-telling. Just what we loved about all the old Star Trek series right?! Well, the other side of that is all the darkness this show brings with it... The brooding characters, and their anger, sarcasm, bitterness and anxiety. Not to mention the simply darker cinematography and the more blatant backdrop of war. Star Trek Deep Space Nine featured the Dominion war prominently throughout its run, but you could always count on a light-hearted B-story to brighten the mood. So far, in the world of Discovery, there is no light-hearted B-story to take you away from the dire state of the war with the Klingons; only little character moments here and there that may give rise to a smirk or chuckle if you are lucky. 

Source: CBS

From this Trekkie's perspective, I don't mind this dire-Trek. In my mind there is no reason there can't be room for all sorts of genres in the Trek universe: comedy, drama, action, dramedy...avante garde cinema! Give me all of it. This show is undoubtedly a drama. It also portrays characters with conflict and depth of emotions. I don't see this as breaking with Gene Roddenberry's call for all his shipmate characters to always get along and never have any conflict, because "in the future that's the way it will be." I see this as the time period in Trek canon when there has to be conflict. These scientists and explorers are suddenly thrust into a war that they want no part of, but they have to take part in. I see this era of conflict as when the Federation and Starfleet will become the peace-loving, much less militaristic organizations that they are; so that by the time Kirk becomes a captain in 10 short years, the Federation wants nothing to do with war, and will avoid it at all costs. 

Source: CBS

This is the time period where we get to see the loss, pain and trials of the Klingon war, and how Starfleet becomes what it is after it. How exciting! So let these characters brood and fight among themselves! Let the drama unfold and see how it forms the Trek we all love. I loved Star Trek Enterprise, but it showed a budding Starfleet that was already too touchy-feely and Utopian. They hadn't really had time to figure that out and really earn it. Discovery is going to show us how they earn every piece of that fantastical future of a non-conflicting, drama free workplace. 

As for this episode in particular, Captain Lorca is kidnapped by the Klingons and acting Captain Saru must take charge and gethim back. To do this they must use the spore drive, which Michael warns him is killing the creature that runs it. Even after finding proof of this with Doctor Hugh Culber and Chief Engineer Stamets, Saru persists they use the creature to power the drive immediately. They use the drive to get into Klingon space and it nearly kills the creature.

Source: CBS

Meanwhile Captain Lorca becomes acquainted with Harry Mudd in the Klingon prison and befriends Lieutenant Ash Tyler, who has been there for 7 months, even before the war officially started. Turns, out Mudd is helping the Klingons (probably against his will) to gather information from the other prisoners, so Tyler and Lorca make their escape and leave Mudd behind, much to his chagrin. Discovery meets Lorca and Tyler in their stolen Klingon shuttle and jump away with the spore drive...this time secretly powered by Stamets instead of poor Ripper. Michael frees Ripper back into space and then Stamets and Dr. Culber brush their teeth together. They're a couple! But then...Stamets walks away from the mirror, and his reflection stays and smiles. (One of the creepiest things I've seen on Star Trek to be sure...)

Source: CBS

 

As usual, the action was fantastically done, with great special effects, and the Klingon makeup, costumes, and set design was expertly done. (Putting aside all the problems with canon and how they look so different from earlier Trek without explanation [yet] it all looks damn good.) As for our show lead, Michael Burnham, she is starting to take more initiative on the ship, opening up a bit more to her new friend Sylvia Tilly, and had a little spark of something when she meets Ash Tyler at the very end of the episode. Saru is warming up to Burnham again, and the moment when she gives him Captain Georgiou's telescope was a great bonding moment for them. The moment announcing the first openly gay couple in the main cast of a Star Trek TV show was expertly done, with a simple yet intimate scene of the couple brushing their teeth next to each other. 

Source: CBS

 

For me, the introduction of Harry Mudd into this series made sense to me in the context the put it, and was not forced as I feared it might be. I think Rain Wilson did a wonderful job of capturing the essence of the original series Mudd, without going to over the top with impersonation. It would have felt a little out of place if he did in this more grounded series. I'm excited to see where they go with him, as he is slated to be in five episodes this season according to IMDB. 

But the big cliffhanger is Stamets and his mirror buddy! We already heard from the producers that there will be episodes in this first season that deal with the Mirror Universe. Did Stamets inserting himself into the spore drive cause some rift into the Mirror Universe? I think we will soon find out... 

I am excited to see where this show goes, but I do so hope that add just a TAD more levity, which would also help make more of the characters more likeable. As of right now, I would only want to get a beer with Dr. Culber and Cadet Tilly. Everyone else is so darn dour! Tune in next week....