Synopsis: After the reunion of Commander Burnham and Discovery, the crew heads for Earth.
This episode can also be seen as illustrations of what Carl (C. G.) Jung called projection, when an individual projects bits of their own unconscious material onto another.
In “People of Earth,” Discovery heads to Earth, looking for answers as to what happened to Starfleet. Commander Saru wants to speak to Commander Michael Burnham about who should be captain, and Burnham tells Saru that it should be him. As the vessel approaches Earth they are confronted by a planetary defense system and a hostile greeting from Captain Ndoye of the United Earth Defense Force. She informs the Discovery crew that they have violated the United Earth Charter and orders them to leave Earth space. Captain Saru tells Ndoye the cover story, that the Discovery crew were the descendants of the original crew and that Discovery had been stranded by the Burn. Ndoye beams aboard with an inspection team. Ndoye tells Saru that Earth has been experiencing dilithium raids led by Wen. After saying this, a group of Wen’s raiding ships confront Discovery. Burnham captures Wen and brings him to Discovery in an effort to have Wen and Ndoye talk out their differences. It turns out that Wen is based on a former Earth colony that had been devastated by an industrial accident and felt abandoned by Earth. Ndoye was unaware of the colony’s dire straits, and now that she is, a trade of information for relief aid is made. Ndoye then allows the Discovery crew to visit Earth.
In this episode, the Discovery crew returns to Earth, believing that they would be welcomed, and instead are met with hostility. The hostility they are met with was from Ndoye perceiving Discovery as a threat. Wen met Ndoye thinking that Earth had abandoned his colony. All these are instances of individuals believing their own feelings, either positive or negative, were shared by another when they were not. This can be analogized to what Jung called projection, when an individual projects bits of unconscious material, such as feelings, onto another. When those projections are removed, then the other individuals can be seen for who they really are, and ideally, the person who did the projecting will realize that what they initially projected onto the other was a bit of their own unconscious material. When this happens, the conscious ego can become stronger and the psyche more whole.
mydailysoultrek 