Captain Michael Burnham and Cleveland Book travel to the Radvek asteroid belt to evacuate an Akaali colony directly in the DMA's path. They discover a group of prisoners, known as "The Examples," who have been abandoned by the local magistrate.

Season 4, Episode 5, titled " The Examples ," originally aired on December 16, 2021. It centers on an urgent evacuation mission and a deepening investigation into the season's primary threat, the Dark Matter Anomaly (DMA). Plot Summary

While rescuing the prisoners, one inmate named Felix reveals he committed a murder years ago and chooses to stay behind as penance rather than be saved. Burnham is forced to respect his agency, a decision that creates tension with Book.

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On the Discovery , arrogant scientist Ruon Tarka joins Paul Stamets and Saru to study the DMA. Tarka’s risky experiments—creating a localized black hole to model the anomaly—nearly endanger the ship before Saru intervenes.

Dr. Hugh Culber grapples with a "savior complex" during a session with Dr. Kovich, acknowledging the emotional toll of his role as the ship's counselor. Meanwhile, the ship's computer, Zora, begins showing signs of developing human-like emotions. How to Watch

Star Trek: Discovery Season 4 Episode 5 Review: The Examples