History Recap / StarTrekDiscoveryS2E05SaintsOfImperfection

* NecessarilyEvil: Admiral Cornwell raises some salient points about Section 31: namely that, despite Pike's misgivings about working with the organization, they are a sad necessity in a universe that does not share the Federation's ideals. The contrast between Pike's idealism and Leland's realpolitik allows her to drive home the point that each needs the other to keep them in balance, and opens the door to the two radically different commanders working together.

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-->'''Pike:''' Starfleet is a promise. I give my life for you; you give your life for me.

''Discovery'' attempts a risky partial-jump to rescue Tilly from the mycelial network, while Tilly finds out she's been brought there by May in order to destroy a monster that's killing May's species, which turns out to be Culber. Tyler gets assigned by Section 31 as a liaison on ''Discovery'' in the mission to locate Spock.

* AbsenceOfEvidence: Stamets uses the fact there are no human remains of any kind, even on a molecular level, as proof Tilly was taken.

* BackFromTheDead: Culber's mind is rescued from the network and May creates a new body for him in the Prime universe using the organic transporter she abducted Tilly with.
* BaitAndSwitch: This is the second time it looks like Burnham is going to be reunited with Spock, but ends up meeting somebody else. Last time, it was Connelly; this time, it's Mirror Georgiou.

* DramaticGunCock: When Pike, Burnham and a security team arrive at Spock's shuttle, everyone but Pike charges their phaser and points it at the hatch.
* EnemyEatsYourLunch: Mirror-Georgiou casually grabs an apple in Captain Pike's quarters and starts nomming down while he takes a call. A bit of a subverted example given that she is posing as an old friend of his, but is probably aware that he's figured out something is off about her.
* EurekaMoment: Just when it looks like Culber can't cross back, Tilly has a classic one and managed to save the day for everyone on both sides of the network.

* AFormYouAreComfortableWith: May says this verbatim while she is speaking to Tilly in the mycelial network early in the episode.
* TheGadfly: Mirror-Georgiou's actions from the time she arrives on ''Discovery'' to when she leaves are apparently made in large part [[ItAmusedMe simply to annoy Burnham]].
* HeroicSacrifice: Culber deliberately wipes off the toxin protecting him when it seems as if he won't be able to return to ''Discovery'', since he knows Stamets won't leave unless he has no other choice and Culber doesn't want to be responsible for any further damage to the network. Fortunately, they're able to devise a way to save him and the network at the same time.

* TheLadette: Pike claims that back when they were at the Academy, Georgiou could party harder than anyone, typically drinking her fellow cadets under the table. Which is quite the contrast to the restrained though puckish captain we briefly saw in the series pilot.

* NecessarilyEvil: Admiral Cornwell raises some salient points about Section 31: namely that despite Pike's misgivings about working with the organization they are a sad necessity in a universe that does not share the Federation's ideals. The contrast between Pike's idealism and Leland's realpolitik allows her to drive home the point that each needs the other to keep them in balance, and opens the door to the two radically different commanders working together.

* NoOneGetsLeftBehind: Pike makes the quote when informing the crew they're going to attempt to rescue Tilly.

* NotHerself: Pike, an old friend of Captain Georgiou, knows something about her demeanor isn't right. Burnham tries to gloss it over by saying the war changed her. Pike doesn't buy it for a second.

* SillyRabbitIdealismIsForKids: Leland tells Pike that the reason Pike and the rest of Starfleet is able to go around being noble and heroic is because Section 31 works in the shadows.

* TwoLinesNoWaiting: subverted. This is the first episode of the season that has no B-plots; everything (save for a couple bouts of "manlier-than-thou bullshit" between Pike and Leland) focuses on Tilly and the mycelial network.
* WalkingWasteland: Culber is one for the lifeforms in the mycelial network. Justified since he covered himself with toxic bark to avoid being broken down and consumed by the network.

* WhatHappenedToTheMouse: Jett Reno (Creator/TigNotaro) [[DropInCharacter butts in]] on Stamets in Engineering during the previous episode, highlighting how awkward it is that she has simply disappeared for this one -- especially given the implications that there is no TimeSkip between them. (She also reappears in five episodes with no explanation as to where she was.)

'''Georgiou:''' Is that any way to think the savior of the ''Discovery''?\\

* YourApprovalFillsMeWithShame: When Mirror-Georgiou comments she finally sees someone she recognizes in Burnham when the latter is fuming and looks ready to take a swing at her, Burnham restrains herself.
* YourTerroristsAreOurFreedomFighters: May's people (the [=JahSepp=]) see Culber as a monster that's killing them by using a local toxin that makes touching him deadly to them, while he's trying to protect himself against the spores that are trying to break down his body.

* YouOweMe: Burnham knows that Mirror Georgiou expect to be paid back for saving ''Discovery''.

* WhamShot: The creature that's been wreaking havoc throughout the mycelial network is...Hugh Culber.
* WhatHappenedToTheMouse: Jett Reno (Creator/TigNotaro) [[DropInCharacter butts in]] on Stametz in Engineering during the previous episode, highlighting how awkward it is that she has simply disappeared for this one -- especially given the implications that there is no TimeSkip between them. (She also reappears in five episodes with no explanation as to where she was.)

* YourTerroristsAreOurFreedomFighters: May's people see Culber as a monster that's killing them by using a local toxin that makes touching him deadly to them, while he's trying to protect himself against the spores that are trying to break down his body.

* TwoLinesNoWaiting: subverted. This is the first episode of the season that has no B-plots; everything focuses on Tilly and the mycelial network.

* AFormYouAreComfortableWith: May says this verbatim while she is speaking to Tilly in the mycelial network early in the episode.

* NecessarilyEvil: Admiral Cornwell raises some salient points about Section 31: namely that despite Pike's misgivings about working with the organization they are a sad necessity in a universe that does not share the Federation's ideals. The contrast between Pike's idealism and Leland's realpolitk allows her to drive home the point that each needs the other to keep them in balance, and opens the door to the two radically different commanders working together.

* WhatHappenedToTheMouse: Jett Reno (Creator/TigNotaro) butts in on Stametz in Engineering during the previous episode, highlighting how awkward it is that she has simply disappeared for this one -- especially given the implications that there is no TimeSkip between them.

* NecessarilyEvil: Admiral Cornwell raises some salient points about Section 31: namely that despite Starfleet's misgivings about working with the organization they are a sad necessity in a universe that does not share the Federation's ideals. The contrast between Pike's idealism and Leland's realpolitk allows her to drive home the point that each needs the other to keep them in balance, and opens the door to the two radically different commanders working together.

* RetCon: Stamets is alive.

* MythologyGag:
** This certainly isn't the first episode of ''Trek'' dealing with a deadly energetic AdvancingWallOfDoom; see TNG's "[[Recap/StarTrekTheNextGenerationS6E16StarshipMine Starship Mine]]".
** Nor is it the first time that we see a character demonstrate their arrogance by [[TheSnackIsMoreInteresting casually munching on an apple]] [[Film/StarTrekIITheWrathOfKhan at an]] [[Film/StarTrek2009 inappropriate moment]].

* MythologyGag: This certainly isn't the first episode of ''Trek'' dealing with a deadly energetic AdvancingWallOfDoom; see TNG's "[[Recap/StarTrekTheNextGenerationS6E16StarshipMine Starship Mine]]".
** Nor is it the first time that we see a captain demonstrate their arrogance by [[TheSnackIsMoreInteresting casually munching on an apple]] [[Film/StarTrekIITheWrathOfKhan at an]] [[Film/StarTrek2009 inappropriate moment]].

* RetCon: Culber is alive.