Fans are still absorbing the revealing and still mysterious third episode of Star Trek: Discovery, “Context is For Kings.” So far it has gone over well with critics. As noted in the TrekMovie review, the episode also opened up many questions. Thanks to a round of interviews down by Jason Isaacs who was introduced as Captain Lorca last night, there are now a few answers. We have highlights of those below, plus we have some more official images and a clip from last night’s episode.

Isaacs explains Lorca’s “study room” and gives monster a name

One of the mysteries of “Context is for Kings” was Captain Lorca’s menagerie of (mostly dead) alien creatures. In a post-episode interview with TV Guide, Jason Isaacs provides some more details on what is going on in there, including give the monster beamed aboard a name:

We’re losing this war and I’ve been given license to do whatever the hell is necessary to try and see if I can in any way shift the odds. And so I have in my private study area, anything I want including weapons, gasses, poisons, creatures… Anything that, if examined correctly, might give us an edge because we need something to turn the tide in the war. And that’s why someone like me has been given this ship and given license to go off and — not under the glare of anyone else’s spotlight — see if I can come up with a solution, any kind of creative solutions to this problem of imminent destruction. So the tardigrade might be one, some of the Klingon weapons I’ve got might be it… The spores might be it. I just need something and I need it fast and I need people to help me, and hence, one of the reasons why I get Michael Burnham to be on my team. She is someone who’s prepared to break the rules… Someone who’s really smart strategically and someone who I think will ultimately be loyal to me since I’ve given her a second chance at life.

…also explains what’s up with Lorca and Landry (and how its all about Shatner)

And in another interview with Entertainment Tonight, Isaacs also discussed the relationship with Lorca and Landry (Rekha Sharma) and other women on the Discovery:

I think in this tradition of Star Trek captains and these alpha males who rise to the top, he’s got a taste for the good life and he’s got an eye for his female officers. I don’t know that that’s going to work with Burnham very well, frankly. She doesn’t look like she’s up for that kind of thing, but him and Landry certainly have a relationship that goes beyond, I would think, work. But that’s how I played my scenes with all the women on board, whether or not the writers were on board with that. By the way, that’s my tribute to Shatner. I always thought, as much as the original series was born out of the civil rights struggle and the birth of feminism, some of that was [infused with a feeling of] James Bond. It was clear Captain Kirk had his way with any member of the micro-skirted crew members he wanted, so that was my subtle tribute to him. I’m playing that, even if it’s inside my head. (Laughs.)

…and what about the Discovery and its strange tech?

Speaking to Variety, Isaacs gave a bit more detail on Lorca’s ship, the USS Discovery:

The Discovery is ostensibly a science vessel, but a long way away from everybody’s attention, we are trying to perfect a technology that will allow us to gain the upper hand. And I’ve also been given license by the Federation, who are at a loss for what to do, to do whatever is necessary. So I can hire anyone I want, I can conduct myself in ways that break the rule book, and no one can really call me on it.

And when talking to TVLine, the actor explained how it is possible we never heard of this advanced mushroom-based tech later in Star Trek history:

Well, we’ve got 10 years. The fact that Kirk doesn’t know about it, or that it was buried somewhere in Area 51, or…. There are a lot of storylines to be played out. There are wars and peacetime adventures, characters’ lives and deaths, before you need to worry about where that technology is stored or what memories of it are kept. You know it’s no longer used, but trust me, they knew that before they wrote it. They’re very clear, in not a cop-out way, to both incorporate this stuff which is exciting and very visual, to make sure that it didn’t rankle canon.

Another clip and more official images from “Context Is for Kings”

If you are one of those who hasn’t yet subscribed to a service offering Discovery, there are some more official releases to give you a look at what you are missing. First up is another clip, featuring a boarding party searching the USS Glenn and running into something unexpected.

And here are some more official images.

Star Trek: Discovery is available exclusive in the US on CBS All Access with new episodes released Sundays at 8:30 pm ET. In Canada Star Trek: Discovery airs on the Space Channel at the same time. Discovery is available on Netflix outside the USA and Canada with new episodes made available Monday at 8 am BST.

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