This weekend brings the mid-season finale for Star Trek: Discovery. “Into the Forest I Go” (co-written by Bo Yeon Kim and Erika Lippoldt) is the ninth episode, with the final six episodes of the first season kicking off in January 2018. During the UK press tour, executive producer and co-showrunner Aaron Harberts preview the fall finale with RadioTimes saying:

“I absolutely adore episode nine. There’s a clash of characters, there are several reckonings that happen. There are a couple of things that I don’t think the audience is going to see coming. The back half of the season is all about dealing with what happens next week. We really put the pedal to the metal.”

And Discovery star Sonequa Martin-Green (Michael Burnham) joined in, adding:

“Things really kick into high gear. They also get very very very emotional as well. I love there’s going to be a bit of a break for everyone to think about things before the punch of the last half of the season.”

Writers join in on the 109 excitement

As noted in our After Trek recap, co-executive producer Ted Sullivan is also talking up “Into the Forest I Go,” describing it as “Balance of Terror good,” referencing the one of the best episodes of The Original Series. TrekMovie sent out a tweet about that quote last night, which solicited some responses from the Trek team, starting with Ted himself calling the work of Kim and Lippoldt “outstanding.”

Obviously my opinion. But one that I think will be shared by many around the world. What these two did (with dir. #ChrisByrne) are nothing short of outstanding #climax — Ted Sullivan (@karterhol) November 8, 2017

He followed up, saying this wasn’t just hype.

I think by this time people can recognize my enthusiasm as authentic vs. hype. If you want to see "hype," peruse past tweets re other shows I worked on ;) — Ted Sullivan (@karterhol) November 8, 2017

And Tyler Dinucci, writing intern for Star Trek: Discovery, backed Ted up saying it was the best of the season.

It’s the best episode so far. — Tyler Dinucci (@TylerDinucci) November 8, 2017

Discovery writer Jordan Nardino also weighed in, noting that while “Lethe” (written by Sullivan and Joe Menosky) is his fave, episode 9 is “zomg.” Interestingly he described it as akin to the first part of classic two-part episodes, indicating it could end on a cliffhanger.

But anyone who is lurking should know 109 is indeed "zomg." It reminds me of the first part of Trek's best two partners while being a damn romp in its own right. — Jordon Nardino (@jnardino) November 8, 2017

As for co-writer Bo Yeon Kim, she offered this ‘spoiler’ for the episode, which she clarified later was “an actual doodle from a #109 VFX storyboarding session.”

Spoilers for the upcoming mid-season finale of #StarTrekDiscovery, written by @gryphonmetal and me! 😬 pic.twitter.com/znwzF9mivH — Bo Yeon Kim (@extspace) November 7, 2017

And her reaction to our “no pressure” tweet was a classic.

Get to know episode 9 writers

The writing team of Bo Yeon Kim and Erika Lippoldt have not done press for Star Trek: Discovery, so not a lot of fans are familiar with them. To learn a bit more, check out this IdeateTV video from the summer of 2016 (before they were on Discovery) where they talk about how they met in college through their shared love of sci-fi and their writing process (at the time the pair were on the CW show Reign). The pair will also be guests on this weekend’s After Trek.

Star Trek: Discovery is available on CBS All Access on in the US and airs in Canada on the Space Channel. It is available on Netflix outside the USA and Canada.

Keep up with all the Star TrekDiscovery news at TrekMovie.