Star Trek: Discovery returns for its sophomore season this year, and while I’ll stay spoiler-free in this preview of the season premiere, this writer can say without hesitation that “Brother” makes for a very promising start to 2019’s Discovery story.

“Brother” picks up right where “Will You Take My Hand?” left off, just moments after the arrival of the USS Enterprise to the scene. As excited as I was when the Enterprise showed up in the final moments of February’s finale, I was worried at the time that I might end up being more interested in the Enterprise’s story than that of Discovery and her crew — but I’m pleased to say that “Brother” has dispelled me of these concerns.

While I certainly remain interested in whatever stories the Enterprise has to tell, Discovery still feels like Discovery’s show. Even when held up against new characters and a new (for this series) ship, thanks to crisp, smart writing, Discovery’s crew remains vibrant and fresh.

“Brother” writers Gretchen J. Berg, Aaron Harberts, and Ted Sullivan smartly handled the development and growth that the events of Season One have had on the Discovery crew. Not everyone has changed in the same ways or to the same degree, but all of these characters have been touched by loss, bravery, betrayal, and seeing the best and worst of humanity and their fellow crewmates.

All the returning characters we encounter in “Brother” have one thing in common, and it’s a palpable sense of relief. The war is over, Lorca (Jason Isaacs) is gone, the Mirror Universe is behind them, and the tone of the ship – and the show – has shifted to reflect the change of circumstances. As a viewer, I didn’t realize how much anxiety was pervading Discovery until I experienced the show without it. As much as I thoroughly enjoyed Jason Isaacs’ performance last year, I am ready to see the Discovery crew live and work under “normal” Starfleet conditions.

Joining the ship this season is Captain Christopher Pike (Anson Mount) of the Enterprise, and his take on the character is a warm and welcoming leader, a massive departure from the stern and serious Gabriel Lorca.

It’s easy to see where this part of Pike’s life — and his command style — fit in between the burnout he complains of in “The Cage, ” the Original Series pilot episode set three years before the events of this episode, and the quiet loyalty he commands in “The Menagerie,” set several years into Discovery‘s future.

This season of Discovery will surely explore the genesis of Spock’s loyalty to Captain Pike, but even before we learn those insights it’s easy to see why he is such an effective captain. Discovery’s crew is quick to appreciate Pike’s easygoing and open manner and is ready and eager to work with this new commanding officer. Captain Jellico he is not… though Pike is eager to redecorate the captain’s ready room to something more his liking.

In all respects, “Brother” is a well-written and tightly-scripted show, already feeling more cohesive than some of Season One’s outings. Action, humor, and quiet character moments all work well, both on their own and within the larger context and structure of the episode. References to the characters and events of previous series are skillfully written, and add an appropriate sense of interconnectedness without making the universe seem suspiciously small.

(One particular reference near the end of the episode is quite poignant, and feels well earned.)

In addition to Captain Pike, several other new Starfleet officers have been teased for Season Two: Ethan Peck’s Spock; Tig Notaro’s crafty engineer Reno; and Rebecca Romijn’s Number One. While only one of these new characters makes an appearance in the season premiere, I will say that I really hope we haven’t seen the last of them — as with Captain Pike, this character immediately feels like a three-dimensional person, and the actor brings a spark to the role that is vibrant and compelling.

There are no notable changes to the crew of the Discovery, as each member of the ship who was on board in the February finale gets a moment in the spotlight, including Sarek (James Frain) who was tagging along to Vulcan, the original destination of Discovery before the Enterprise interrupted their journey.

(If you’re a viewer still trying to identify the bridge crew characters, there’s a nice reintroduction to the team which seems crafted specifically for you.)

We don’t see much of the Enterprise’s interior, but what we do see is thoughtfully designed and dressed, and eagle-eyed viewers will catch plenty of clever details. Alex Kurtzman, who isn’t someone I tend to think of as a director, did a fine job helming “Brother” — the action is generally easy to follow, there are some welcome surprises in the live-action staging of certain scenes, and there are a few especially nice ship shots.

It should come as no surprise given the impressive visual effects and production design of Discovery’s first season, but “Brother” is gorgeous to look at; from the multitude of Trek-verse costuming that debuts in the episode, to the upgrades to the Discovery sets, at this point the line between television and theatrical production values seems to have all but disappeared for Star Trek.

Overall, I’m very pleased with the tone that “Brother” sets for Discovery’s second season. It’s an episode that, despite setting up a story of quite literally galactic proportions, feels character driven and intimate. After Season One’s twist-heavy storyline, I was hoping for a bit more subtlety and nuance in Season Two, and so far I like what I’ve seen.

We’ll have a lot more to say about “Brother” after it debuts on CBS All Access and Space this Thursday night — as the show moves to a new day and time, Thursdays at 8PM ET (Space) and 8:30PM (CBS All Access), following on Netflix on Fridays.

Be sure and check back then for our full-spoiler review, set to include a segment dedicated to an oddly-anachronistic design choice in the opening moments of the premiere.

What could I possibly be obsessing about? Find out Thursday night!