Star Trek: Discovery Season 5 Episode 3 Review: Jinaal

Star Trek: Discovery Season 5 Episode 3, “Jinaal,” sends Captain Burnham and her crew to Trill as they embark on a dangerous mission to find the next clue. Unfortunately, the momentum established in the first two episodes hits a roadblock as the outing struggles to balance character work and narrative development. 

Jinaal 

“Jinaal” delves into four different storylines: Burnham/Book/Jinaal, Adira/Gray, Rayner/Tilly, and Saru/T’Rina. While this series is no stranger to serialized storytelling, its weak spots in juggling these character journeys while propelling the overarching plot are glaringly obvious here. 

Thus, the episodic narrative drags a bit, taking too long to hook the audience until about halfway through the episode. 

That’s not to say it’s all bad. The Rayner and Tilly arc is inarguably the strongest story thread. Callum Keith Rennie brings a delightful new dynamic to the Discovery crew with his brusque, curmudgeonly Rayner. Throw in a polar opposite like Tilly, and you get a fun “Odd Couple” vibe that always makes for an entertaining viewing experience regardless of the genre. 

Wilson Cruz gets to stretch his actor wings and showcase his versatility by stepping into Jinaal’s shoes. Cruz tweaks everything from his physicality to the tone of his voice in his portrayal of Jinaal. It’s a solid performance. He and Rennie easily take the acting MVP crown this week. 

The Saru of It All 

It’s strange to see Saru in a separate storyline from his former crew, which contributes to the lack of equilibrium on this week’s Star Trek: Discovery episode. Of course, with this being the final season, it’s only natural for our leading players to exhibit career growth as their stories come to a close. 

However, Burnham and Saru’s dynamic is the beating heart of this series, and the show knows it. “Jinaal” exhibits growing pains as Saru assimilates into his new environment. That said, Saru and T’Rina’s bond is sweet, and seeing him in a loving relationship is nice. 

Connections

“Jinaal” gets a little heavy-handed with the theme of connection, but it’s an essential theme (and a building block of life) nonetheless. Culber and Jinaal connect physically, while Burnham and Book bond with Jinaal. Tilly and Rayner connect as the latter tries (and fails) to find common ground with the crew. Saru and T’Rina grow closer. 

Perhaps the antithesis of this is Adira and Gray’s breakup. Although one could reframe their decision to end their relationship as a metamorphosis into a different type of connection. 

All in all, “Jinaal” is a step down from Season 5’s strong opener. It’s a bit meandering, messy, and devoid of stakes. However, the ending with Moll sets up an intriguing storyline for Adira and the Discovery crew.

This isn’t the first time we’ve endured narrative turbulence while watching Star Trek: Discovery. When this show is great, it’s great, especially with the stellar Sonequa Martin-Green at the helm. Here’s hoping we return to that next week. 

Stray Observations: 

• Tilly sure loves her Slug-o-Cola. We last got some Slug-o-Cola screen time in the delightful Star Trek: Lower Decks‘ “Parth Ferengi’s Heart Place.” 
• Saru’s fear of conflict profoundly resonates with me. For me, it’s challenging not to assume conflict equals aggression. T’Rina is 100 percent correct, though. Conflict is healthy in any relationship. 
• Please give me a Rayner/Tilly odd couple-esque sitcom. I’d watch the hell out of that. 
• I legitimately thought Adira and Gray broke up ages ago. Oops. 
• Jinaal’s remark about Culber working out made me giggle. Wilson Cruz is a good-looking man. 
• What device did Moll attach to Adira’s arm? My guess is it’s a tracking device of sorts. 

What did you think of this episode of Star Trek: Discovery? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

Critic Rating:

User Rating:

 

Star Trek: Discovery drops new episodes every Thursday on Paramount+. 

 Follow us on Twitter and Instagram!

Want more from Tell-Tale TV? Subscribe to our newsletter here!