The second season finale of Star Trek: Discovery kicks off tonight with the first of two parts – “Such Sweet Sorrow.” We have curated all the pre-episode talk about that as well as some more discussion about last week, all to get you ready for the final stretch.

Finale promises to close the circle with canon

The AV Club just posted a video with members of the cast and crew recorded at PaleyFest two weeks ago, talking about how the show will answer lingering questions about how Discovery fits into Star Trek canon. Co-creator/showrunner (and co-writer of both parts of the finale) Alex Kurtzman assured that the season will end with answers to important questions:

We are totally aware of that and you will see us sync back around to where you expect to be, but not neccessarily in the way you expect it. And for me that is one of things that has been the defining trait of Star Trek. How do you deliver the thing that you expect, that fans love, but how do you keep it fresh by always reinventing it just enough without breaking it. You have to keep making those bold choices to keep it relevent.

Show star Sonequa Martin-Green acknowledged how important canon is to the show and also talked about how things will be resolved:

We will make everything make sense. We are coming from the canon. It is our central nervous system. It is our spine. It is where everything comes from. And we will answer all of those questions…We are tying all of those knots and crossing all of those tees and we will do that.

And Stamets actor – and Trek fan – Anthony Rapp said that the patience of waiting for the season finale will be paid off:

I appreciate that the long-time fans are passionate. What I keep asking from people is patience and trust. And one of the different things about our show is we are telling these long arcs of story. We are not wrapping things up in one episode. So things like the way Spock and Michael’s relationship is part of the fabric and continues to be unfolded in this season and I feel very confident that by the end of this season all of these dangling threads, if we have done our jobs, all the people that still have been a little worried about how it all fits together, I feel like we really close that circle.

You can watch the red carpet clips from AV Club below:

UPDATE: Only one option?

As the finale gets closer, CBS has put up a GIF from the first part which shows Burnham saying “That leaves us only one option.”

Getting ready for the two-part “bananas” finale

Some of the cast and crew have also taken to social media to set the stage for the finale, starting with the official writers’ room Twitter account quoting new showrunner (and also co-writer of both parts of the finale) Michelle Paradise, calling it “bananas.”

Y’all aren’t ready for the two-part finale episodes! In the words of @michelleparadis: “It’s 🍌🍌🍌!” — Star Trek Writers (@StarTrekRoom) April 10, 2019

Young Michael Burnham actress Arita Arhin posted a fun “family” photo to hype tonight’s episode.

Actor Doug Jones notes how the finale is a “thrill ride” for Saru:

With our impending threat, but no ganglia, these final 2 episodes of @startrekcbs are a thrill ride for me as Commander Saru!! What is to become of Starship Discovery and her crew?

Find out more on our all new episode 2.13 TONIGHT!!#startrekdiscovery #startrek pic.twitter.com/Ir1M9fwekK — Doug Jones (@actordougjones) April 11, 2019

Bryce actor Ronnie Rowe gave a shoutout for the bridge crew saying they are ready for the finale:

Designer Timothy Peel showed his enthusiasm for the bridge of the USS Enterprise, which has its Discovery debut tonight.

#startrekdiscovery Next week will have one of my favorite sets I’ve ever worked on! pic.twitter.com/X7YzVLmzfA — Timothy Peel (@timothypeel1) April 8, 2019

Pike actor Anson Mount also showed when he first got to see the bridge thanks to a VR walkthrough of early 3D renderings.

Cast say finale is epic gamechanger

And if you check out today’s @startrekcbs Instagram story you can see clips of the cast at Paleyfest describing the finale in one word. Doug Jones called it “OMG.” Sonequa Martin-Green called it “explosive.” Anthony Rapp called it “epic.” Shazad Latif said “tissues.” Chieffo used “heart-warming.” Wilson Cruz called it a “gamechanger.” And finally Tig Notaro closed out the story with “hot dog.”

Who is the cast cut up?

CBS has released some more video of the cast answering fan questions, starting with Anson Mount revealing how Sonequa Martin-Green is the biggest cut up on set, thanks to her tackle hugs.

Who was the biggest cut up on set? @Steven_Hodges asks the hard hitting question that only @ansonmount can answer. #StarTrekDiscovery pic.twitter.com/cF5Zddo8DC — Star Trek: Discovery (@startrekcbs) April 8, 2019

Mount, Martin-Green and Ethan Peck also talk about being impressed with all the fan art for the show.

What does the #StarTrekDiscovery cast think about your fan art? @RobertQGarza wants to know. pic.twitter.com/qqKkUuxWei — Star Trek: Discovery (@startrekcbs) April 10, 2019

Chieffo reveals cut dialog from last week’s episode

Speaking to SyFy, Mary Chieffo revealed that a line of dialog from “Through the Valley of Shadows” may not have made the final episode, but helped inform her performance and understanding of L’Rell’s journey in season two:

According to Chieffo, L’Rell has embodied the archetype of “mother,” and “she realizes there’s this image that the Klingons need, but she still is trying to create a better empire than what she’s seen before.” She referenced a particular line that was cut from the most recent episode, which used to occur during a moment with she and Captain Pike (Anson Mount) discussing the Klingon War. Pike originally referenced the brutality of Klingons, and L’Rell responded with, “That was before me, Captain, when honor was confused with brutality… and pride with savagery.” For Chieffo, it was great for her “to read that line and think about so much imaginary work between the ‘you may call me mother’ moment to this moment.”

More behind the scenes on “Through the Valley of Shadows”

In the last couple of days, the cast and crew have shared more from the making of last week’s episode, including a full unedited video showing Anson Mount shooting the scene where Pike gets his fateful dose of radiation.

Here’s a little look at the radiation scene unedited. pic.twitter.com/73I6YWeTTj — Anson Mount (@ansonmount) April 9, 2019

Mount also shared a slideshow on Instagram showing how the makeup for his disfigured future self was made.

He also shared a fun moment with scarred Pike and his faithful (sadly now departed) dog Mac.

Prop master Mario Moreira revealed a closer look at Pike’s life support chair.

When I work with concept artists on designs for @startrekcbs I generally start with lots of notes. When I work with @NevillePage I don’t even get in his way, he’s a frigging genius! His design for the #captainpike life support chair is a thing of beauty. pic.twitter.com/uY9pZ1LiOb — Mario Moreira (@Mario_Moreira72) April 9, 2019

The writers for last week’s episode continued to share more about it, including praise for actor Ken Mitchell.

I've been fortunate enough to work on TWO #StarTrekDiscovery episodes with @MrKenMitchell, first as Kol and then as Tenavik. It is always amazing to watch him work, in particular in Through the Valley of Shadows, where he portrayed a different side of the Klingons. pic.twitter.com/F9asPKnxnz — Erika Lippoldt (@gryphonmetal) April 8, 2019

And makeup designer James MacKinnon also showed off how he has transformed Mitchell into three different Klingons.

How to watch “Such Sweet Sorrow”

Star Trek: Discovery is available exclusively in the USA on CBS All Access. It airs in Canada on Space and streams on CraveTV. It is available on Netflix everywhere else.

“Such Sweet Sorrow” will be released on All Access on Thursday, April 11th at 8:30 pm ET/5:30 pm PT. It will air on Space at 8:00 pm ET/5:00 pm PT on the same night. It will be available on Netflix the next morning, Friday, April 12th, 2019.

Keep up with all the Star Trek: Discovery news at TrekMovie.