It challenges the typical Federation optimism. Captain Pike represents "the privilege of believing in what’s best in people," while M'Benga represents the "hellfire" where those principles don't always apply.
Reviewers praised Babs Olusanmokun's performance as M'Benga for its "gravitas" and "nuance". However, some critics found the ending—where M'Benga kills Dak'Rah and avoids punishment—to be a "well-intended misstep" that felt too violent for the show's usual tone. Analysis of Discovery [S2E8]: "If Memory Serves" [S2E8] If Memory Serves
The episode uses a malfunctioning biobed as a metaphor for M'Benga’s own fractured mental state and PTSD. It challenges the typical Federation optimism
Analysis of Strange New Worlds [S2E8]: "Under the Cloak of War" However, some critics found the ending—where M'Benga kills
Below is an overview of the key themes and critical reception for both episodes, which you can use as a foundation for a paper or analysis.
A central twist reveals that while Dak'Rah claimed the title "Butcher of J'Gal" to pivot toward a message of peace, M'Benga was the one who actually carried out the killings of the Klingon high command to stop the slaughter of civilians.