Aliens in science fiction are hard to do well. Most sci-fi franchises avoid the inherent problem of “humanizing” aliens by just not trying. Star Wars and Doctor Who aliens are often just talking animals, while franchises like Dune don’t do aliens at all. Star Trek has always walked a strange line with the idea of “seeking out new life,” because most of the time that new life just looks like humans with bumpy foreheads, wrinkly noses, or pointed ears. But with Star Trek: Discovery Season 4, the franchise is pushing for something that feels new. And in the latest episode, “Rosetta,” Discovery proves that Star Trek can still do big idea sci-fi.
