This episode was weird because it almost felt like the writers were trying to maintain this forced dialogue with my mind.
"Can't you see all those emotions, the drama and the intense score? Why aren't you empathizing?"
"Well, none of the characters really earned my empathy. You wasted two seasons showing the bridge crew as meaningless background props to the Michael Burnham Show and now you wonder why I'm not invested in those people."
"Maybe, but don't you understand the emotional impact this situation is bound to have on them?"
"Sure can....but in a way I remember that the purpose of Star Fleet was 'to boldy go' and face the galaxy. Consequently, I sort of expect Star Fleet officers to be able to handle their emotions in a professional manner. These people are psychological wrecks who have no real idea how to function as an effective crew and I don't think that a lame attempt at a group therapy session is 'leadership' by any definition of that word."
"People are just like that. 'Old' Star Trek was unrealistic in its portrait of the human experience in the face of a complex and imperfect universe."
"Yes.....and no. I just don't think that this problem is going to be resolved by letting the whole range of personality conflicts wash over me in destilled form in the shape of the Discovery crew. You want a Captain full of self doubt? A smart ensign with imposter syndrome? A first officer with a god complex trying to find herself? A navigator with anger management problems and anti-social tendencies? A chief engineer who is so all over the place that he might just have a borderline syndrome? A psychopathic former Empress? The cherry on top is an awkward teenager with suppressed multiple personalities and a post traumatic stress disorder. Is this a Star Fleet ship or a psych ward?"
"Well, those are the people we wrote this show for!"
"Ah, ok, now I get it. Why didn't you say so before?"