Summary
Throughout its five-season run,Star Trek: Discoveryhas been met with mixed reviews from critics and fans alike, but the series undoubtedly made many positive contributions to theStar Trekfranchise. Created by Bryan Fuller and Alex Kurtzman,Star Trek: Discoverypremiered in 2017 on CBS All Access (now Paramount+) with a dark story set about a decade before the events ofStar Trek: The Original Series.
The series kicks off when Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) commits mutiny and inadvertently sends the Federation into war with the Klingons.The first season then unfolds with complicated Klingon politics, experimental spore drive technology, andMirror Universe shenanigans.Star Trek: Discoverywould go on to reinvent itself every season, eventually making the jump to the 32nd century after the show’s second season. Freed from any obligations to establishedStar Trekcanon,Discoveryfound a new rhythm in exploring what was left of Starfleet and the Federation in the far future.
Not everything aboutDiscoveryworked all the time, but, as with mostStar Trek,when it was good, it was truly great.The USS Discovery established itself as one ofStar Trek’smost unique ships, with a crew of compelling characters, some of whom will join the lists ofStar Trekgreats.DiscoveryintroducedStar Trekto a new generation of fans, and will certainly be looked at as a success.
12 Amazing Characters Discovery Gave Star Trek
Throughout its five seasons on Paramount+, Star Trek: Discovery introduced some truly amazing and unforgettable characters to the Star Trek universe.
8Discovery Brought Star Trek Back To Television & Ushered In A New Trek Era
Modern Star Trek Would Not Exist Without Star Trek: Discovery
After the end ofStar Trek: Enterprisein 2005, no newTrekshows aired on television untilStar Trek: Discovery’spremierein 2017. While J.J. Abrams' commercially successful films proved that audiences were still interested inStar Trek,Discoveryproved that the franchise could continue to flourish in the era of streaming television.With its connections toStar Trek: The Original Series, Discoveryappealed to already establishedTrekfans, but it was also constructed to serve as an entry point for those new to the franchise.
Star Trek: Discoverybecame the most viewed original series on CBS All Access and Paramount+,and this success led to multiple spin-offs and moreStar Trekcontent. WhileStar Trek: Strange New Worldsand the upcomingStar Trek: Starfleet Academyare direct spin-offs ofDiscovery, it’s also likely thatStar Trek: Lower DecksandStar Trek: Prodigywould not have existed hadDiscoverybeen a flop.
7Discovery Offered A Look Into Star Trek’s Far Future
Discovery Ventured Into The 32nd Century — Further Into The Future Than Any Other Star Trek Show
At theend ofStar Trek: Discoveryseason 2, the ship traveled over 900 years into the future to prevent Control from destroying the known universe.This putDiscoveryfurther into the future than any otherStar Trekhad gone before, offering a fascinating glimpse of a very different Federation.This jump allowedDiscoveryto establish its ownStar Trekcanon, without any obligation to match up with what has already been established.
The 32nd-century setting madeDiscoverymore unique and also allowed the show to introduce new aliens and explore more advanced technology. With its journey to the future,Discoveryleaned intoStar Trek’soptimism, showing a Federation that was working to rebuild after the devastation caused by the Burn.The USS Discovery brought hope to the future, helping Starfleet and the Federation reestablish themselves in the 32nd century.
Star Trek: Discovery Season 6 Or Movie - Everything We Know
Star Trek: Discovery season 5 is the final season, but will Captain Burnham and the USS Discovery be back for season 6 or a Paramount+ movie?
6Discovery Gave Star Trek’s Visual Effects A Needed 21st-Century Upgrade
Discovery Includes Some O Star Trek’s Coolest Visuals
Star Trek: The Original Serieshas become known for its low-budget sets and simple alien make-up, but as technology has improved, each subsequentTrekseries has incorporated more complex visuals.While there will always be a certain charm to the outdated visuals of earlyStar Trek, Discoverystepped up the game regarding visual effects.From exotic alien planets to incredibly advanced technology,Discovery’slook really makes it feel like it all takes place in the future.
Discoveryalso produced fewer episodes than any previousStar Trekseries,allowing each episode more time to film, as well as a significantly higher budget.Beginning withStar Trek: Discoveryseason 4, the production team began using a massivestate-of-the-art AR Wallto create stunning alien backdrops that look real.Star Trek: Strange New Worldsalso uses this Wall and will continue to bring both classic and new alien planets to life.
5Discovery Added Cool New Alien Species & Characters To Trek Canon
Kelpians & Kwejians & Non-humanoid Aliens Known As Species 10-C, Oh My!
Although thecast ofStar Trek: Discoveryincluded many members of previously established alien species, the show also introduced some fascinating new aliens toStar Trekcanon.Most notably, Mr. Saru (Doug Jones) introduced viewers to the Kelpians, a humanoid alien species living on Kaminar with the predatory Ba’ul.As the first Kelpian to join Starfleet, Saru single-handedly changed his people’s future, as he also discovered that Kelpians did not have to be prey.
One of the USS Discovery’s bridge officers, Lt. Arav (Avaah Blackwell), was a member of the Osnullus, although little is known about this strange-looking species.After Discovery jumped to the 32nd century, Captain Burnham encountered a Kwejian named Cleveland Booker (David Ajala).Although basically indistinguishable from humans, Book possessed an empathic ability to communicate and influence plants and animals, a trait that was rare even among Kwejians.
InStar Trek: Discoveryseason 4, Burnham and her crew encountered the truly alien Species 10-C, who reside beyond the galactic barrier. As Species 10-C had no spoken language, Discovery’s crew had to devise a unique way to communicate with them using hydrocarbons.
Star Trek: Discovery’s Ending Beautifully Showed Saru Changed For The Better
Star Trek: Discovery’s final episode beautifully proved that Doug Jones' Saru had undergone a major change for the better since season 1.
4Discovery Adapted Star Trek For The Streaming Era With More Serialized Stories
WhenStar Trek: The Original Seriesbegan in 1966, the television landscape was vastly different than it is today.Television shows consisted almost exclusively of standalone episodes that could be watched in any order.Even in the 1980s and 1990s, shows were mostly episodic, with only a few multi-part stories or connective story threads. Today, however, most television shows, particularly those on streaming services, are much more heavily serialized.
From its first season on,Star Trek: Discoverywas more serialized than any previousStar Trekshow, bringing the franchise into the era of streaming television.Although shows likeStar Trek: Strange New Worldsand evenStar Trek: Lower Deckshave a more adventure-of-the-week format, they still contain elements of serialization.Discoveryestablished whatStar Trekwould be in the modern era of television, influencing everyTrekstory that followed.
3Discovery Introduced Anson Mount’s Pike, Ethan Peck’s Spock, & Rebecca Romijn’s Number One
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Wouldn’t Exist Without Discovery
Anson Mount’s Captain Christopher Pike joined the cast ofStar Trek: Discoveryseason 2, becoming so popular that he went on to lead his own spin-off. Following the adventures of Captain Pike and his crew on the USS Enterprise,Star Trek: Strange New Worldsquickly became the most highly praised show of modernTrek.Pike, along with Number One and Spock, leads a phenomenal ensemble cast that includes both classic and new characters.
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Pike, Spock, and Una shoock up the dynamic ofDiscovery,breathing new life into the show for its second season, while also providing more solid connections toStar Trek: The Original Series.Discoveryseason 2 explored Spock’s struggle with his human and Vulcan sides, as well as Pike’s glimpse into his dark future,both of which become major storylines onStrange New Worlds.
In its two seasons so far,Strange New Worldshas produced some of the greatest and most unique stories of modernTrek, includingStar Trek’sfirst musical episode.
2Discovery Included More LGBTQ+ Representation Than Ever
Commander Stamets And Dr. Culber Remain One Of Star Trek’s Best Couples
As a franchise,Star Trekhas always been ahead of its time in terms of social commentary and representation.Discoverycontinued that trend, with its incredibly diverse cast of characters from all walks of life.In particular,Discoveryintroduced several amazing queer characters into the franchise, showing that the 23rd (and 32nd) century has room for all kinds of relationships.
Commander Paul Stamets (Anthony Rapp) and his husband, Dr. Hugh Culber (Wilson Cruz), became one ofStar Trek’sbest couplesand the first established gay couple in the franchise.
After the USS Discovery traveled to the 32nd century,Ensign Adira Tal (Blu del Barrio)joined the crew, eventually revealing that they identified as nonbinary. With their boyfriend, Grey (Ian Sutherland),Adira brought more representation to the cast, becoming another relatable character fans could see themselves in.While all of these characters were unapologetically queer, they were also whole individuals outside of their sexual orientation or gender identity.
1Discovery’s Michael Burnham Continued What Captain Janeway Started
Following in the footsteps ofCaptain (and later, Admiral) Kathryn Janeway(Kate Mulgrew),Sonequa Martin-Green’s Captain Burnham became the second female captain to lead aStar Trekshow and the first Black woman to do so.Women (and in particular Black women) have always been a part ofStar Trek,beginning with Nichelle Nichols' portrayal of Lt. Uhura onTOS,and Burnham got to continue that legacy, eventually rising to become a four-star Admiral inDiscovery’sfinale epilogue.
The cast ofDiscovery’supcoming spin-off,Star Trek: Starfleet Academy,will also be led by a woman. Academy-Award winner Holly Hunter has been tapped to play the show’s lead — the as-yet-unnamed Chancellor of Starfleet Academy.
Michael Burnham’s success as Captain and Martin-Green’s compelling performance opened the door for more strong female characters. OnStar Trek: Lower Decks, the USS Cerritos is also commanded by a strong Black woman in Captain Carol Freeman (Dawnn Lewis), who is consistently the most capable character on the show.
Discoveryalso gaveStar Trekone of its best villains/anti-heroes in Michelle Yeoh’s Emperor Philippa Georgiou, who leads the cast of the upcomingStar Trek: Section 31film. InStar Trek: Discovery,Captain Michael Burnham not only built on the legacy that came before her, but also helped pave the way for those who would come after.
Star Trek: Discovery
Cast
Star Trek: Discovery is an entry in the legendary Sci-Fi franchise, set ten years before the original Star Trek series events. The show centers around Commander Michael Burnham, assigned to the USS Discovery, where the crew attempts to prevent a Klingon war while traveling through the vast reaches of space.
