WHY WE LIKE IT: Interesting culture.
WHY WE DON'T: I get it, but couldn't they have been more bird-like?
REVIEW: Though it's of course part of the larger story arc, Whistlespeak feels like a more traditional standalone Trek episode, which isn't a bad thing at all - first contact with a people who don't realize their world has been manipulated by outsiders (Denobulans, so that's a rare Enterprise reference), and Prime Directive concerns. And on the surface of it, it's a success. The Halem'nites have a well thought-out culture based on cooperation - no classist words, for example - and a faith that's evolved to explain how their water towers (hidden inside rock formations) provide (or once provided) rain. The have an intriguing secondary whistle-based language, which makes you think they'll be avians, but there's no attempt at that. On the one hand, making them more humanish makes you relate to them better (as we have to invest in Ravah's story), but on the other, since there's not much of a plot reason for the whistles, the lack of connective tissue is disappointing.
But then, this is an episode with logical failings when looked at more closely. For example, while the whole thirst ritual/test/race is a great element, why does tech-brained Tilly continue while Burnham - whose first ever scene was desert survival - splits off to fix the tower controls? Well, because Tilly's big heart and teacherly attitude is required to bring Ravah along to the climax, and because Adira, newly assigned to the bridge where Rayner wants them to shake off their guilt from the time bug incident and prove themselves, needs to act as Burnham's tech support. While having a local in the tower turns out to be helpful, it seems an error to have someone in there with you as you look for the clue. Similarly, they don't so much find a way around the Prime Directive as straight up break it, and once broken, KEEP breaking it by beaming people down in full uniform, recommend a paradigm shift to a religious leader, etc. Burnham says she's ready to face the consequences of her actions, but there never are any. Red Directives come with some immunity, it seems. There ARE clues to what's really happening (the surprise sacrifice) when you watch it a second time, but it exposes more plot manipulations than well-laid foreshadowing. And I'll have more cause to talk about this next time, but Burnham REALLY shouldn't be thinking that capturing Moll and L'ak is her mission because it's quite dumb to get those two anywhere near the clues. But the plot wants what the plot wants.
In addition to Adira's bridge angst, Discovery is still a bit too interested in CULBER's angst re: his spiritual awakening. Since Trill, he's been feeling off, but not badly, and he's acting like he'll be rejected by the essentially-atheistic Federation society. He isn't. Paul even finds it kinda groovy. If it IS a Federation thing, I wish they'd just come out and say it. As is, it's not clear why he's so upset, and everyone acts like he's wringing his hands over nothing. And therefore, that's also how I feel. The subplot also includes a nod at therapy A.I. which was obviously written at the height of "A.I. is a cool new toy!" and had badly aged by the time it aired. Booker ALSO has his angst scene, of course over Burnham, but at least we understand that one.
LESSON: Don't be so thirsty.
REWATCHABILITY - Medium: It's a good visit to a pre-industrial culture episode, but look at it too closely, and it starts to fall apart. So don't.
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