“Star Trek: Discovery” has concluded its voyage, wrapping up a remarkable five-season run since its debut in 2017. This series not only revitalized the Star Trek franchise on television but also paved the way for other series like “Star Trek: Picard” and “Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.” Its ending marks a bittersweet moment for fans who have followed the crew’s adventures.
In its final episode, “Life, Itself,” Captain Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) embarks on a mission to secure technology created by the Progenitors, an ancient race responsible for seeding the universe with intelligent life. The Discovery crew faces their own challenges: Saru (Doug Jones) has become an ambassador, Hugh Culber (Wilson Cruz) grapples with an out-of-body experience, and Burnham navigates her complex feelings for Book (David Ajala). The episode ties these threads together in a climactic conclusion.
Captain Burnham’s Crucial Decision
“Life, Itself” opens with Burnham and Moll (Eve Harlow) discovering an interface to communicate with the Progenitors. After Moll betrays Burnham, she ends up frozen, leaving Burnham to face the Progenitors alone. Offered the choice to either become the steward of their technology or abandon it, Burnham opts for a third path: using the Discovery’s tractor beam to send the technology into a black hole, ensuring it remains inaccessible. “It’s too powerful for one person or one culture to access or control,” Burnham explains to her crew.
Meanwhile, the Discovery fends off a Breen attack. Commander Rayner (Callum Keith Rennie) uses tactical brilliance to teleport a Breen dreadnought into deep space, and Saru intimidates the Breen primarch into retreating, demonstrating his newfound negotiation prowess. These moments bring their characters full circle, showing Rayner’s growth as a leader and Saru’s ability to handle high-stakes diplomacy.
A Joyous Finale with a Wedding
The series finale also features a heartwarming wedding between Saru and his Vulcan fiancée T’Rina (Tara Rosling), attended by the entire crew. Burnham and Book rekindle their romance, with Burnham musing, “Let’s see what the future holds.” The episode then jumps forward several decades, revealing Burnham as a Starfleet admiral and congratulating her son Leto (Sawandi Wilson) on becoming a captain, suggesting a bright future for their family.
Connecting to Other Star Trek Shows
The finale unveils a major revelation: Dr. Kovich (David Cronenberg) is actually Daniels, a temporal agent from “Star Trek: Enterprise.” Daniels’ mission was to maintain the integrity of the timeline during the “temporal cold war.” His office is filled with artifacts from various points in Star Trek history, including Benjamin Sisko’s baseball from “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine” and Geordi La Forge’s VISOR from “Star Trek: The Next Generation.” This connection enriches the series’ lore and provides a satisfying nod to long-time fans.
Paying Off Long-Running Plot Threads
“Life, Itself” also ties up a loose end from the beginning of “Discovery.” Burnham’s final mission is to place Discovery as a “time capsule” in a remote part of space, setting up the events of the “Star Trek: Short Treks” episode “Calypso.” This episode depicts a future where a human soldier discovers the abandoned Discovery, with only the sentient computer Zora for company. Showrunner Michelle Paradise revealed that this plot thread would have been explored further if the series had continued, highlighting the show’s long-term narrative planning.
The Future of Star Trek
While “Discovery” has ended, its impact on the Star Trek universe continues. Upcoming projects like “Starfleet Academy,” set in the 32nd century, and the “Star Trek: Section 31” movie featuring Philippa Georgiou (Michelle Yeoh) will explore elements introduced in “Discovery.” The series has successfully navigated numerous challenges, leaving a lasting legacy and a solid foundation for future Star Trek stories.
“Star Trek: Discovery” can be streamed on Paramount+ in the U.S.
