Watching Discovery and Discovering Myself: A First-Person Commentary on "The Vulcan Hello"
I’m not here to write a TV recap. You can get plot summaries anywhere. What I am here to do is dissect Star Trek: Discovery’s premiere through the messy, metaphor-hungry, self-questioning lens of someone who analyzes pop culture like it’s a Rorschach test for the soul.
I was asked to watch the first episode of Star Trek: Discovery and share my thoughts. Knowing very little about the Star Trek universe beyond the iconic Mr. Spock and snippets gleaned from pop culture, what unfolded is less a review of a sci-fi show and more a journey into my own mind, a real-time observation of how external stimuli – a storyline, a character's name, even an intro sequence – can ripple through one's internal landscape, sparking connections to philosophy, psychology, personal growth and spiritual development.
This commentary isn’t as much about Star Trek as it is about the process of watching, reacting, and learning from all our interactions.
First Contact: Opposites, Aesthetics, and a Curious Name
The very beginning caught my attention. The Klingons arrive, declaring war to those who say "We come in peace". My first thought from this introduction is "I love the integration of opposites". The idea of going to war with people who say they come in peace is an interesting premise. I've always been drawn to things that challenge conventional thinking, that push against "common sense". All my successes as an entrepreneur, creator and coach happened because I went against common sense and did things I was told weren’t going to work together. At this stage, with my coaching hat, I’m curious to understand better the Klingons’ motivation, beliefs and way of experiencing life.
Visually, the episode was captivating from the start. During the desert sequence with Captain Georgiou and Commander Michael Burnham, I found myself remarking the stunning scenery and beautiful color palette. This visual richness provided a constant source of joy through visual esthetic.
Then came the first character introduction that made me pause: Commander Michael Burnham. Why call her Michael? I wonder if it’s a marketing ploy to generate controversy, an artistic choice based on a context I’m unaware of, or the seed of a gender related plot to unfold. This episode did not address it so it may not be noteworthy.
Problem-Solving, Simplicity, and Skipping the Intro
The desert scene offered more than just stunning visuals; it presented a classic sci-fi dilemma – lost, stranded, facing impossible odds. The solution, Georgiou leading Burnham in a pattern that formed the Starfleet insignia visible from orbit, delighted me. I love smart solutions to seemingly impossible problems. Simple ways to overcome problems bring me a lot of intellectual joy.
This scene brought to mind a book my father loved by Raymond Smullyan called "What Is the Name of This Book?". It was all about problems of logic that were impossible until the solution was found, at which stage it seemed so simple. I loved that it was most often about going back to simplicity. This resonates with a concept I admire: "simplicity beyond complexity." How often do we overlook elegant, simple solutions because we're too focused on the perceived complexity of the problem?
This appreciation for elegant solutions contrasted sharply with my reaction to the show's opening credits.
"I'm not a big intro person. I don't have patience for intros," I confess, finding it ironic and amusing that I can't stand the 30 seconds of intro given my experience with 10 days of silent meditations. When recording for this article, I spent more time pausing and commenting on my impatience than the length of the intro. "This is fascinating at the human level, about how we process time, priorities and activities”. It also highlights for me the places where we can laugh at ourselves. I praise myself for being very patient, so noticing my impatience in the past would have spiraled me into guilt, shame, or frustration. Today, I learn to see it with humor and as a joyful pointer of where I can grow into being more patient.
The Inner Space: Self-Reflection as the Real Frontier
This observation about myself with the intro sequence became a gateway to a deeper exploration that touches the core of my work and personal practice. I ask questions and see things in a way that always seems to end up somehow revolving back to how whatever happens is a teacher. How did I respond? How did I react? What did it make me feel? What can I learn? What do I do differently now that I’ve meditated on this series of questions?
Skipping the intro, noticing that impulse, and then analyzing it is significant. If we see small subconscious acts as the tip of the iceberg of something profound that could change our lives, they change who we are and how we experience life. This is the essence of exploring synchronicity – looking for meaning in the small, seemingly insignificant moments, the triggers, the reactions that disrupt our sense of calm. I always invite my clients to look at what hidden insights we uncover when we pay more attention to these everyday, normal, mundane reactions.
Chaos, Judgment, and Dueling Perspectives
The episode continued with Burnham's log entry, "A humbling reminder that all life is born from chaos and destruction," which struck a chord. I am very deeply fascinated with the obscure, with chaos, destruction, and traumas because when confronted with love, we find peace and joy in life.
When Science Officer Saru and Burnham detected the unknown object, Saru declared, "It's lurking. The scattering field it's emitting suggests intent." Burnham countered, "We see something we don't understand and instantly cast judgment... Maybe it's lost. Maybe it's afraid to show us its whole self. Hiding."
My analysis focused on parsing the language: "The scattering field it's emitting suggests intent.”
That sounds like observation, while “lurking” is a judgment of the intent. Burnham notes the judgment before casting her own. This is one of the most common aspects of human interaction that causes friction. We get frustrated when someone else does something we blame ourselves for doing. So we judge others. One of my favorite tools to work on this is the “Judge Your Neighbor Worksheet” by Byron Katie.
Captain Georgiou's role often seemed to be mediating these opposing forces. "You're both right," said the Captain when deciding that Burnham should investigate the object. It reminded me of Iain McGilchrist's "The Master and His Emissary," which explores the divided brain. These characters represent different aspects of cognition – the cautious, detail-focused 'emissary' (Saru) and the intuitive, big-picture 'master' (Burnham), with Georgiou as the integrating consciousness. When we learn to integrate these conversations within our inner voices, making decisions and navigating difficult situations becomes a lot easier.
Language, Logic, and Speaking the Other's Tongue
Language is a portal to the soul. Saru's tendency towards technical descriptions ("Object of unknown origin") is a typical example of how people defend their ignorance with the illusion of knowledge. Rather than say, “I don’t know, let’s figure out what it is”, he gives an answer that says, “I’ve got an answer, I know what it is”. This is a beautiful place to reflect on when we all do this. When was the last time you gave an answer that pretended you knew when you could have said, “I don’t know, and I’m willing to learn”?
Later, a flashback introduced Burnham's Vulcan mentor, Sarek. His words, "When emotion brings us ghosts from the past, only logic can root us in the present," resonated strongly. "It's a beautiful sentence. I love it, and in my infinite obsession with details, I question the absolutism because as much as I love logic as a tool to root us in the present, it's not only logic that can root us in the present. Logic is a powerful tool, but not the only tool. This is a widespread error we make as humans (and it seems Vulcans, too), known as falling into absolutism. Looking for absolute answers gives us an illusion of simplicity but fails to prepare us for different situations. I invite you as the reader to reflect on what aspects of your beliefs are absolutist. Take note and ask people to tell you how they see things differently. Be curious and ask questions rather than sharing your thoughts.
For me, the most profound interaction was Burnham's subspace call to Sarek seeking advice on the Klingons. His wisdom felt multi-layered. He noted the Klingons acting against their perceived instincts ("restraint in the face of conflict") and cautioned Burnham, "Be very careful that your past is not driving your assumptions." This exchange is rich with insight about pattern recognition, about seeing the possible within the unusual, and about the skill of seeing outcomes that seem impossible. It mirrored my entrepreneurial and creator process: "I look for patterns and what breaks them.” When you master seeing impossible patterns, you start seeing possibilities where others see despair. To me, that’s one of the most essential skills to learn in life.
Sarek then shares the history of the "Vulcan Hello": "Whenever the Vulcans crossed paths with Klingons, the Klingons fired first. The second time Vulcans crossed paths with Klingons, they fired first. They said hello in a language the Klingons understood. Violence brought respect. Respect brought peace." This concept of meeting others in their language, even if it seems counterintuitive or aggressive, struck me as profoundly insightful. It’s about understanding differences in personality, personal archetypes, intergenerational stories, and differences in life experience. It connects to mirroring techniques in communication and coaching – sometimes, reflecting another's behavior, even if it feels 'wrong' to us, is the key to establishing understanding and respect. Sometimes, if we want the other person to behave like us or like we want, we need first to learn to act like them and like they want. Sometimes, it’s about showing respect not in the way we want but how the other person likes it. Where are you as a reader not showing respect to someone because you refuse to do it the way they like it?
Mutiny, Choice, and Unanswered Questions
This theme of communication and decisive action culminated in the episode's climax. Armed with Sarek's advice, Burnham urged Captain Georgiou to fire first – the "Vulcan Hello." Georgiou refused: "Starfleet doesn't fire first." The tension escalated, leading Burnham to incapacitate her captain and attempt to take command to initiate the preemptive strike.
This idea also brought to mind Malcolm Gladwell's discussion in "Outliers" about the Korean Air crashes due to cultural bias in Korea, where subordinates are hesitant to directly challenge superiors, even in critical situations, which can lead to dangerous outcomes. Gladwell emphasizes the importance of assertive communication, where individuals feel comfortable voicing concerns and challenging decisions, regardless of their position in the hierarchy, especially when safety is at stake. Effective communication requires assertiveness, regardless of hierarchy, especially when stakes are high. Sometimes, it’s better to ask for forgiveness than permission. As readers, we can meditate on when I am not being sufficiently assertive in my communication even though I know I’m right. What do I fear when I don’t speak up or don’t speak directly enough?
The situation then created a fascinating mirror image. Burnham, having defied her superior, now demanded obedience from Saru. She's doing to him what her superior did to her. Saru needs to decide whether he's doing to her what she did to her superior or following her command. This blend of external and internal conflicts perfectly mirrors the internal dilemmas we often face as complex adults. With my coaching hat, I can’t help but see these situations as metaphors of what happens to us internally. One of the tools I most enjoy for managing the voices in our head is called “Voice Dialogue”. If you’re like me and sometimes it feels like there’s too much noise in your head, too many voices with conflicting messages, reach out to a facilitator or read about this because it’s helped so much with finding inner peace.
Just as Saru made his move (presumably to stop Burnham or alert the restored Captain), a fleet of Klingon ships warped in, ending the episode on a massive cliffhanger.
Concluding Thoughts
Watching this episode was a lovely dialogue between the screen and my thoughts, experiences, and frameworks for understanding the world. From the aesthetics to the character dynamics, from philosophical snippets to high-stakes decisions, I see Discovery's premiere as an excellent catalyst for reflection. For those who chose so, it highlights the power of paradox, the importance of self-awareness, the nuances of communication, and the complex interplay between logic, emotion, instinct, and culture. It reinforced my belief in the value of looking inward, of examining our reactions to the world around us as a pathway to deeper self-understanding. I'm left with questions, connections, and a surprising eagerness to see what happens next.
References Mentioned:
- Raymond Smullyan: Logician and author known for books of logic puzzles, such as "What Is the Name of This Book?". More about Smullyan
- "Loving What Is" by Byron Katie: A method of self-inquiry ("The Work") focused on questioning stressful thoughts. The Work of Byron Katie
- "The Master and His Emissary: The Divided Brain and the Making of the Western World" by Iain McGilchrist: Explores the distinct roles of the brain's hemispheres and their impact on culture. Author's Website
- Voice Dialogue: A psychological method Hal and Sidra Stone developed, exploring the various "selves" or subpersonalities within an individual. Voice Dialogue Information (or similar resource)
- "Outliers: The Story of Success" by Malcolm Gladwell: Examines factors contributing to high levels of success, including the discussion on communication and cultural background in aviation. Gladwell Books
- Avatar: The Last Airbender / The Legend of Korra: "Instinct is a lie told by a fearful body hoping to be wrong" is associated with Guru Laghima, quoted by the character Zaheer in The Legend of Korra. Guru Laghima (Avatar Wiki)
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