The search is on. With a reference to Star Trek: The Next Generation. Discovery is looking for the technology of the Progenitors, the ones who created all humanoid life.
As this is the final season. Along for the ride is Book and Tilly. Book is there because he has knowledge of couriers like Mol and L'ak. It turns out that Book's path with Mol crossed some years earlier.
Potentially hopping off is Saru. He is going to get married to T'Rina and take another post away from Starfleet.
This leaves Burnham to look for a new first officer. Saru will leave behind a big uniform to fill.
With an important clue gleaned from the brain of the android. Burnam believes they need to get to the planet Lyrek if they are to find the origin of humanoid life. Where they are attacked by drones emanating from a giant statue.
With the top brains at Discovery all at sea as Burnham is attacked. It is Captain Rayner (Callum Keith Rennie) to the rescue with a forceful suggestion. He is facing early retirement as a reprimand for his previous actions.
With an action packed opener. A lot of the heavy lifting was left for the second episode. Some of it was clunky. I had to scoff when Book was mentioned. He is not even Starfleet.
Of course Rayner was dangled, he is just the gruff older man that could challenge Burnham.