Introduction

“The Vulcan Hello” is the first episode of the American television series Star Trek: Discovery, which is set roughly a decade before the events of the original Star Trek series and shows the beginnings of the Federation–Klingon cold war.

The episode was written by Akiva Goldsman and Bryan Fuller, from a story by series’ creators Fuller and Alex Kurtzman, and was directed by David Semel.

Sonequa Martin-Green stars as Michael Burnham, the First Officer of the USS Shenzhou. Series regular Doug Jones also appears in the episode, which serves as the first in the series’ two-part premiere that act as a prologue to the rest of the series. Guest starring for the two-part premiere are Michelle Yeoh as Philippa Georgiou, captain of the Shenzhou, and Chris Obi as the Klingon leader T’Kuvma. Filming took place at Pinewood Toronto Studios, as well as on location in Jordan and at Paramount Studios.

“The Vulcan Hello” aired on CBS on 24 September 2017, in a special preview broadcast, before being released on the streaming service CBS All Access (along with the second episode, and the rest of the series in subsequent weeks). The episode was watched by 9.5 million viewers on CBS, and led to record subscriptions for All Access. It received positive reviews from critics, particularly for Martin-Green’s performance, though some of the writing was criticised.

Outline

A group of Klingons rally around their leader, T’Kuvma, who follows the teachings of the ancient Klingon leader Kahless, and preaches against the actions of the United Federation of Planets. On a relatively primitive planet, Captain Philippa Georgiou and First Officer Michael Burnham of the USS Shenzhou open a well, and enable the planet’s residents to survive a coming 89-year drought.

On Stardate 1207.3 (11 May 2256), the crew of the Shenzhou investigate a damaged interstellar relay in deep space and discover an unidentified object. Without a clear reading of the object, cautious Kelpien Science Officer Saru advises leaving the area. Burnham disagrees, and dons a space suit to investigate in spite of the dangerous radiation from a nearby binary star system. She finds the object to be covered in ancient carvings, and guarded by an armed Klingon. The Klingon attacks, and when she uses her suit to escape she accidentally kills him. Burnham later awakens aboard the Shenzhou being treated for severe radiation sickness.

The Klingons hold a memorial service for their dead comrade, a “Torchbearer”. Burnham warns Georgiou of her encounter with the Klingon, and though Saru suggests that she is confused due to her injuries, Georgiou believes her and locks weaponry on the object. T’Kuvma was expecting this, and reveals their cloaked vessel. The Klingons debate attacking the Federation ship, but T’Kuvma is looking to fulfil an ancient prophecy by having the Torchbearer light a beacon and unite the great Klingon houses. Voq, an outcast with no house of his own, volunteers to be the new Torchbearer, and “lights the beacon”, sending light and signals from the carved object.

Starfleet orders the Shenzhou to wait until reinforcements arrive. Burnham contacts her adoptive father Sarek, who believes that the Klingons must have a new leader who could be looking to bring order to the Klingon Empire, which has been in disarray for centuries. He also explains that his species earned the respect of the Klingons by firing on them first whenever they met. Burnham recommends this action to Georgiou, but the captain refuses. Burnham disables Georgiou with a Vulcan nerve pinch and takes command of the ship, ordering an attack on the Klingon vessel. Georgiou recovers in time to stop the attack, just as several more Klingon vessels arrive.

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Production & Filming Details

• Director(s): David Semel.
• Writer(s): Bryan Fuller and Alex Kurtzman.
• Release Date: 24 September 2017.
• Running Time: 44 minutes.
• Country: US.
• Language: English.