The Examples
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The Examples
This Story: Season 4 Episode 5 (production code 405)
DSC Overall: Episode 47
Trek Overall: Story 728, Episode 773
Airdate: 16 Dec 2021
Written by Kyle Jarrow
Directed by Lee Rose
Notes
- The third of five episodes of Discovery directed by Lee Rose.
- The first episode where Mary Wiseman is not credited in the opening titles. Additionally, it’s the first episode where Tig Notaro IS credited.
- An obscure race only shown once before makes an appearance – the Akaali. The last time they appeared was in the Star Trek Enterprise episode “Civilization“.
- Several prior races of powerful beings are name checked here as being possibilities for the creation of the season arc “thing”. They are the Q Continuum, the Iconians (DS9’s “To the Death” & TNG’s “Contagion“), The Metrons (TOS’s “Arena” & SNW’s “Terrarium“), and the Nacene (VOY’s “Caretaker” & “Cold Fire“).
- Additionally, it’s stated that the Federation hasn’t had any contact with the Q Continuum in about 600 years.
- The first time we’ve seen a resident of Risa since Enterprise’s “Two Days and Two Nights” (although there was one in the background in a Lower Decks animated episode).
- Felix is played by Michael Greyeyes. He was the voice for the primary character Tommy in the 2006 videogame “Prey” that my former company put out that year.
- There is a background voice that says they’re on the “USS Janeway”, and in the same scene another ship is said to the be the “USS T’Pau”.
- There is a shot showing numerous Federation worlds, and nearly every one of them is a reference to some prior Star Trek episode. That is included in the screenshots for this episode.
- The unknown race behind the DMA is labeled “Species 10-C” for the first time here.
Links
[ Wikipedia | Memory Alpha | IMDB | Amazon US DVD | Amazon US Blu-Ray ]#StarTrekMarathon #StarTrek Discovery Episode 47 - The ExamplesThis ep digs into the arc a bit heavier than the last few - basically them trying to figure out what it is and what it's doing (named the DMA) with a scientist who conflicts with Stamets. Part of this is Discovery evacuating prisoners
— Joe Siegler (@joesiegler.blog) November 11, 2026 at 6:26 PM
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off a threatened planet. The multiple stories balance their screen time well. Some good insight into Culber's head here. When I started this ep, I wasn't looking forward to it, but the prisoner's leaving the prison story was quite compelling. Enjoyed this one a LOT! Easily my fav of S4 so far.
— Joe Siegler (@joesiegler.blog) November 11, 2026 at 6:26 PM
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I have a personal connection to this - one of the guests is Michael Greyeyes. He voiced Tommy in the 2006 videogame Prey, which my former company put out. Here's a picture of him from the episode, and from when he recorded voices for Prey some 15 years prior.
— Joe Siegler (@joesiegler.blog) November 11, 2026 at 6:26 PM
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