Written by longtime Discovery scribe Kirsten Beyer, this week’s “Unification III” lives up to and builds upon its illustrious namesakes — 1991’s Next Generation exploration of Spock’s efforts to reunite the distant Romulan and Vulcan societies — and sees Captain Saru selecting a new acting first officer after demoting Burnham last week.

Working with telemetry data from the three recovered black boxes, Ensign Tilly (Mary Wiseman) and Commander Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) identify a triangular column of space in which The Burn likely originated.

Unfortunately, the area is still impractically large, but a century-old Vulcan experiment (with the very un-Vulcan designation ‘SB-19’) might provide additional data points to help them narrow down a location. Speaking with Admiral Vance (Oded Fehr), Burnham and Saru are shocked to learn that not only is Vulcan no longer a member of the Federation, Vulcan is no longer even “Vulcan.”

Now home to a unified Vulcan/Romulan population, the renamed planet Ni’Var — a Vulcan term meaning “two form” — planet left the Federation shortly after The Burn; their leadership has, to put it lightly, been uninterested in reopening communication with the organization they helped found during Jonathan Archer’s time.

Knowing that Michael is Spock’s sister and that Spock continues to be revered on Ni’Var for his efforts which lead to the successful reunification of the two civilizations, Vance decides that she and she alone might be able to convince the people of that world to part with the scientific data she needs. Burnham is reluctant, but Vance insists.

On the way to Ni’Var, Burnham finally allows herself to look up Spock’s fate — something she’d deliberately avoided doing during her year in the future — which treats us to a genuinely moving moment: her first look at the Leonard Nimoy incarnation of her brother, in a log of him describing his future hopes for a unified Vulcan and Romulus.

The clip is, of course, from “Unification II,” stitched together from two moments of Spock’s discussions with Captain Picard on Romulus (note that Spock’s wardrobe changes mid-recording) — and while it’s not really explained how or why this scene was filmed for the historical record, it’s so nice to see and hear Leonard Nimoy again that I really can’t care.

(The computer notes that the data comes from “the personal files of Admiral Jean-Luc Picard,” so it’s easy enough to consider it a holographic interpretation of Picard’s log of his conversations with Spock, since computer records know what Spock looks and sounds like.)

Once at Ni’Var, the ship is greeted by the planet’s president, T’Rina (Tara Rosling), a woman who is immediately successful at demonstrating the evolution of formerly Vulcan society. Vulcans can be tricky for actors to perform well, but Rosling creates an immediately likeable character without sacrificing the cool formality expected of a Vulcan.

Her wardrobe also provides a quick visual primer for the combined Romulo-Vulcan culture: the overall cut of her robe reads Vulcan, while the sharp shoulders and subdued fabric are Romulan, and her brooch is a clear successor to the Romulan crest, though now much less warlike — including a Vulcan IDIC in its center.

Finally, T’Rina has what is easily the most flattering example of the notoriously severe Vulcan/Romulan pointy bowl cut I have ever seen, so good job on that.

Speaking of Remus, the Remans — seen only in Star Trek: Nemesis and briefly in “United” and “The Aenar” during the fourth season of Enterprise — continue to be notably absent, even in conversation. Given their highly reclusive nature, I suppose it’s reasonable to assume that the supernova that destroyed the Romulan system completely devastated the Reman population… though perhaps Star Trek: Picard may give us more answers on that front at some point in the future.

T’Rina denies Burnham’s request for the SB-19 data, explaining that SB-19 and accusations of being responsible for The Burn are at the core of why Ni’Var withdrew from the Federation — and while Ni’Var society is peaceful but precarious, releasing the data could inflame the old divisions and differences between Vulcans and Romulans that are still present. Instead of taking no for an answer, Burnham uses her alumna status of the Vulcan Science Academy to force a special hearing called the T’Kal-in-ket, in which a petitioner can demand that their scientific argument be heard.

As is traditional, the invoker of the T’Kal-in-ket is assigned an advocate from the Qowat Milat, the Romulan order dedicated to ‘absolute candor’ — and to defending lost causes —  which was introduced in Picard earlier this year.  Michael Burnham’s assigned advocate turns out to be… her long-missing mother, Gabrielle Burnham (Sonja Sohn), last seen as she was sucked into a temporal vortex in “Perpetual Infinity.”

Okay so, it’s pretty convenient and unlikely — but it also turns out to be pretty damn great.

The hearing itself is a fairly standard example of a Star Trek tradition: a handful of random important people make very serious decisions, with planet-wide implications, after only a few minutes of discussion. Burnham begins by stating her case — that the data from SB-19 will help pinpoint the origination of The Burn, which will in turn exonerate Ni’Var — but is immediately interrupted by Vulcan traditionalist V’Kir (Emmanuel Kabongo), a man who makes Tuvok seem downright warm and friendly.

V’Kir moves to dismiss immediately, which rankles the other two members of the panel: N’Raj (Ooliver Becker), a full-blooded Romulan elder pushing for more self-governance, and “Romulo-Vulcan” hybrid Shira (Stephanie Belding), who represents a moderate stance.

When Burnham invoked the T’Kal-in-ket, T’Rina warned that the primary rhetorical strategy employed by the panel would be to discredit the petitioner. It seems odd that an ancient Vulcan debate form — in use since the time of Surak — would boil down to basic ad hominem, but I suppose this isn’t the first time Vulcans have shown themselves to not quite be the logic bros they think they are (kal-if-fee, anyone?).

It’s during the second round of the hearing that the personal attacks on Burnham’s character really begin, and they come from an unexpected source. Despite being her personal advocate, the elder Burnham’s Qowat Milat oath demands that she call out Michael on her truthfulness and motives… and boy, does she.

I suspect the tradition of ad hominem was written into the story, specifically to allow the episode to very-pointedly interrogate Burnham’s existential “Do I belong here?” crisis, as well as her inherent “messianic complex” — which is so obvious that even Book (David Ajala) sees it.

It’s genuinely difficult to watch Burnham’s psyche get methodically shredded by her own mother (and in front of an audience that includes the president of an entire planet), but it’s also a significant moment in the arc of a character who is beginning to recognize that something that can be a strength — her ‘reflexive’ empathy — can also be a serious weakness.

While she’s being emotionally eviscerated, Gabrielle’s words and Michal’s answers — specifically, the question of whether Burnham represents only herself, or also the distrusted Federation — riles up the three panelists, who again bring their political views into the discussion. Seeing that her request could potentially destabilize the fragile union the pointed-eared cousins, and no longer sure of her own interests and intentions, Michael abruptly withdraws her petition, and the T’Kal-in-ket comes to a close.

Given the short montage of wise nods that pass between the panelists and T’Rina, it should come as no surprise that despite their earlier misgivings, Ni’Var does ultimately decide to give Burnham the SB-19 data. It’s a little corny and predictable, but ultimately satisfying.

While all of this has been going on, and between the informal diplomatic talks Captain Saru (Doug Jones) has been having with President T’Rina, Ensign Tilly has been grappling with a difficult and unexpected career decision.

After Burnham’s demotion in the previous episode, Saru needs a new first officer and while he’s deciding on a final replacement, he wants Tilly to act as his ‘Number One.’ She is just as surprised as I think many viewers will be, and immediately points out the various reasons she’s not sure she’s right for the job: she’s only an ensign; she didn’t complete the Command Training Program; and there are plenty of other folks ahead of her in line.

Saru rebuts these misgivings by pointing out that her experiences aboard Discovery have more than made up for her youth and training… which is true, I suppose, but that still doesn’t really make her different from everyone else aboard, who also broadly shared the same experiences.

Eventually, Saru summarizes his choice by saying that he thinks Tilly would put the needs of the Federation above her own personal desires. Obviously a reference to Burnham’s past behavior — but also a nod to the perhaps-overabundant loyalty Saru’s shown to the future Federation in the last few episodes — Tilly pushes back, asking if he’s offering the position because he thinks she’s “qualified or because [she’s] compliant.”

Yeah, Tilly, that’s a good question. Saru doesn’t relent but does give her a day to think about it, and Tilly leaves his ready room looking extremely uncomfortable. There’s believing in someone and encouraging them beyond what they think they can do… but then there’s pressuring them into a job they really aren’t right for yet. Whether or not it was meant to, the scene between Saru and Tilly felt very much to me like the latter.

Seeking advice, Tilly mentions Saru’s offer to Lt. Commander Stamets (Anthony Rapp) who — probably because he’s busy, but also because he can be a real grump sometimes — is exceptionally rude to her. As he works through his surprise at her offer, he rambles out that “the idea of taking orders from you is deeply weird, and a little unsettling,” and then is whisked away from the conversation before a visibly upset Tilly can respond.

Much later at the end of the episode, Stamets reverses course and leads the rest of the bridge crew in an enthusiastic endorsement of Tilly as first officer. It’s nice, but seems abrupt given how unambiguous Stamets’ earlier misgivings were. Burnham also gives her support — “Did I miss the cool ‘Say yes!’ part?!” — and Tilly tearfully accepts.

Discovery is a series that is definitely not afraid to show the emotional landscape of its characters, and that’s not a bad thing! But I find it implausible, at best — and borderline insulting, at worst — that two of the most prominent female characters in the show cry at work…. like, all the time.

Crying in front of the leaders of entire worlds; in front of Starfleet admirals; in front of higher-ranking officers whose command loyalty you’re attempting to gain; in front of their captain. From a real-world workplace perspective, it’s frankly odd — and from a writing perspective it’s becoming repetitive to the point of laziness. There have to be other ways to show that an event or experience is difficult or overwhelming.

(After all, while emotional depth is something that’s always welcome, these characters are supposed to be professional officers, right?)

OTHER OBSERVATIONS

• Ni’Var, the new name for the Vulcan homeworld, is a term which was created by writer Dorothy Jones Heydt for the 1960’s-era fanzine Spockanalia. Introduced in the song The Territory of Rigel, Ni’Var (there “ni var”) literally means “two-form” and is meant to describe the comparing and contrasting of two things (or two aspects of one thing) — an excellent term to describe the new Vulcan + Romulan homeworld.
   
• Additionally, in 1976’s Star Trek: The New Voyages short story collection, Leonard Nimoy himself penned an introduction to a story called Ni Var, writing “I am reliably informed that Ni Var is a Vulcan term dealing with the dualities of things: two who are one, two diversities that are a unity, two halves that come together to make a whole.”
   
• Star Trek: Enterprise featured a Vulcan starship also called Ni’Var in “Shadows of P’Jem.”

• The swirly, scrolly Vulcan calligraphic script introduced in The Next Generation and seen a few times in Discovery survives into the 32nd century; examples can be seen in Admiral Vance’s hologram of planet Ni’Var, and embossed into the ceremonial gong used to open and close the T’Kal-in-ket.
   
• Saru and Burnham are rightfully surprised to learn that Romulans and Vulcans share a common ancestry; the reveal in “Balance of Terror” does not occur until eight years years after Discovery left the 23rd century.
   
• Discovery jumps into Vulcan territory at Ni’Var’s Lagrange-1 point.
   
• Burnham has what appears to be a wreath made of the flight and tail feathers of various birds of prey on the wall in her quarters — whatever it is, it’s beautiful, and I want it!
   
• Vulcan’s sister planet — not its moon! — can be seen in space out of Discovery’s viewports.
   
• The hologram of experiment SB-19 resembles a giant Stargate.

• Thanks to the inclusion of Discovery and Next Generation archival footage, “Unification III” is the first episode to feature the three major prime-timeline Spock actors: Liam Hughes, Ethan Peck, and Leonard Nimoy.
   
• With the now-widespread use of personal transporter devices, what’s the point of a dedicated transporter room — aside from being a lobby to the rest of the ship?
   
• Lt. Detmer (Emily Coutts) refers to the restroom in her quarters as “the ‘fresher,” a term which was used first in Trek — as far as we can tell — by author Diane Duane in her 1980’s Romulan-centric Rihannsu novels My Enemy, My Ally (1984) and The Romulan Way (1987).
   
• The rhree starships named in Tilly’s review of black-box data include the USS Yelchin (presumably named after Kelvin Timeline Star Trek film actor Anton Yelchin, who passed away in 2016), the USS Gav’Nor (possibly a reference to the Tellarate ambassador), and the USS Giacconi, named after astrophysicist Riccardo Giacconi.
   
• Though many centuries have passed, Gabrielle Burnham wears the same navy-blue robes of the Qowat Milat order — and she carries a red-handled sword, just like young Elnor.

I have high hopes that “Unification III” has put Burnham and Tilly on a good path toward greater self-understanding. Burnham’s experience during the T’Kal-in-ket clearly shifted loose some things inside her that build on her character’s previous personal realizations this season, and Tilly’s position as Discovery‘s acting Number One — as unlikely as it might be — will surely help her build confidence in herself and her abilities.

It remains to be seen what conclusions the SB-19 data will lead to about The Burn, but I hope we haven’t seen the last of the Vulcans and Romulans of Ni’Var. With their help, we’re that much closer to solving the season’s big mystery and potentially reshaping the Federation’s future.

Star Trek: Discovery returns Thursday, December 3 with “The Sanctuary” on CBS All Access and CTV Sci-Fi Channel. International viewers get the episode December 4 on Netflix, in all other global regions.