Ep 1. Episode 1

In Star Trek: Discovery season 3 episode 1, we see the crew of the USS Discovery travel to a future far beyond anything they have ever experienced before. The previous season ended with a cliffhanger where the USS Discovery had traveled through a wormhole, leaving them stranded and separated from the rest of the Federation in an unknown time and place. This season opener offers a glimpse into their new reality.

As the episode begins, we see Michael Burnham, the ship's science officer played by Sonequa Martin-Green, floating alone in space. She's been stuck there for over a year, since the wormhole that sent the Discovery through time also separated her from her shipmates. We quickly learn that Burnham has been using her time alone to explore nearby planets, gather resources and learn everything she can about this new universe. Her objectives come into sharper focus when she comes upon a crash-landed Starfleet ship, and Burnham realizes that there may be others out there who need her help.

The episode takes us back to the Discovery as it prepares to make another "time jump." This time, they are hoping to make it back to their own time and place, but their technology is unpredictable and dangerous. Still, the motivated crew knows that it is their best chance of being reunited with their missing friends and colleagues. As they prepare to make the jump, we see the crew grappling with the changes they have already experienced. For one thing, their warp technology no longer works, and they must find a new way to explore the galaxy. We also learn that the Federation that they once served no longer exists in this time, and they are drifting in a universe without allies and support.

When the ship finally does make the jump, the crew finds themselves in an entirely different future than they were expecting. The universe is not only different than the one they left behind, but significantly more dangerous. The first planet they land on, for example, teems with erratic electromagnetic activity – something that has the potential to destroy their ship. This new reality has forced the crew to become experts in dealing with the unexpected and adapting to new situations quickly.

Despite the challenging environment, the crew is united in their desire to find their missing friends and discover what has happened to the Federation. They discover that the universe they now inhabit is much larger than they had realized and that there is a bounty of new species to learn about, resources to be gathered, and life forms to be saved along the way. For the first time in a while, the crew is energized and motivated, ready to face the future head-on with new zeal.

As the episode concludes, the crew finds a lead that could take them to their friends, giving them something to work towards and driving the excitement for the upcoming season. The tone of the episode is one of excitement and adventure, with a sense of danger and urgency that permeates throughout.

Overall, Star Trek: Discovery season 3 episode 1 captures the sense of discovery that makes the show great. The characters are well-developed, making viewers care about their individual struggles and victories. The universe is rich and varied, with new challenges and mysteries waiting to be uncovered around every corner. If this episode is any indication, the rest of the season promises to be a thrilling ride.