star trek discovery cat grudge

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Grudge was a large cat owned by Cleveland Booker in the 3180s and 3190s . According to Booker, her size was due to a thyroid condition.

Booker told Michael Burnham that Grudge was so named "because she's heavy, and all mine."

Booker was defensive of Grudge and her name. When Cosmo Traitt threatened to "roast Grudge and feed her to the starving" (adding that she would feed a planet), Book told Traitt to keep Grudge's name out of his mouth and called Grudge "a queen." ( DIS : " That Hope Is You, Part 1 ") Book apparently called Grudge a queen frequently enough that Burnham teased him about it. ( DIS : " People of Earth ")

Grudge, along with Book and his vessel, traveled to Earth with Discovery and remained in the region afterward. ( DIS : " People of Earth ") About a month later, after Discovery reunited with Starfleet command, Booker's ship arrived unexpectedly with only Grudge aboard. The crew discovered he was exploring a lead on a black box and had set his ship to deliver Grudge to Discovery if he was detained. Burnham left Grudge in her shared quarters with Ensign Sylvia Tilly , who was wary of the animal's size and also claimed to dislike cats in general, yet she still picked Grudge up, before departing on Booker's ship on a rescue mission. Grudge was fitted with a collar with an embedded tracking device . Philippa Georgiou was of the opinion, however, that the cat could never get lost, that she had her own gravitational pull . ( DIS : " Scavengers ")

When Lieutenant Detmer and Ryn took Booker's ship into battle against the Emerald Chain flagship Viridian , Grudge leapt onto Ryn's lap, much to the Andorian 's alarm as he had never seen a cat before. ( DIS : " The Sanctuary ")

Grudge accompanied Booker on his initial exploration of the Verubin Nebula , where they were exposed to significant radiation . After emerging, both were successfully treated with DNA recombination . However, Booker noted that Grudge had been favoring her left front paw, and Dr. Tracy Pollard agreed to examine her further. ( DIS : " Su'Kal ")

Grudge was aboard Booker's ship when he crash landed it into Discovery 's shuttlebay as Osyraa piloted it into the Federation's distortion field. Before he and Burnham left to retake Discovery , Booker noted Grudge was "safe and secure" aboard his ship. ( DIS : " There Is A Tide... ") Later, as Booker and Zareh fought aboard an open turbolift car, Zareh mockingly asked Booker whether he or "that fat cat of yours" would leave a larger stain from a fall. Booker overcame Zareh and threw him to his death instead, shouting after him, "She's… a queen!" ( DIS : " That Hope Is You, Part 2 ")

Grudge had an aversion towards holograms as she could not smell them. ( DIS : " Anomaly (DIS) ")

Appendices [ ]

Background information [ ].

Grudge was created by writer/producer Jenny Lumet . Lumet based Grudge on a Pekingese dog, Nelly, that belonged to her grandmother, Lena Horne . Horne used to keep Nelly in the sleeve of her kimono. According to Lumet, Nelly " never did anything. " [1]

Grudge was portrayed by Maine Coon brothers Leeu and Durban . [2] The Maine Coon is a naturally large breed of cat, whose weight ranges from 13-18 lbs in their adulthood. Leeu weighed about 18lb when filming of season 3 began. [3]

External link [ ]

• Grudge at Memory Beta , the wiki for licensed Star Trek works
• Grudge at X (formerly Twitter)
• 1 Abdullah bin al-Hussein
• 3 John Paul Lona

'Star Trek: Discovery’s Mary Wiseman and David Ajala on Season 4 and Why Grudge the Cat Won’t Be Doing Many Conventions

They also talk about how much of the ship has been built practically, so it feels like you're on a starship when filming.

With Star Trek: Discovery Season 4 starting this Thursday night on Paramount+, I recently got to speak with David Ajala and Mary Wiseman about the upcoming season. During the interview, they revealed why Grudge the Cat won’t be making many convention appearances, what fans would be surprised to learn about the making of Discovery , what Season 4 is about, their favorite part about the series taking place so far in the future, and more.

In Season 4, we find Michael Burnham (Martin-Green) in the Captain’s chair after Saru ( Doug Jones ) decided to help Su'Kal start a new life on Kaminar. Discovery is still located more than nine-hundred years in the future where they are trying to help rebuild the Federation, which includes getting dilithium to the planets that were cut off by the burn. Star Trek: Discovery also stars Wilson Cruz as Dr. Hugh Culber, Anthony Rapp as Lt. Cmdr. Paul Stamets, Tig Notaro as Jett Reno, Blu Del Barrio as Adira, and is produced by CBS Studios in association with Secret Hideout and Roddenberry Entertainment. Alex Kurtzman , Michelle Paradise, Heather Kadin , Aaron Baiers , Olatunde Osunsanmi , Frank Siracusa , John Weber , Rod Roddenberry , and Trevor Roth serve as executive producers.

RELATED: ‘Star Trek: Discovery’s Wilson Cruz, Blu Del Barrio and Anthony Rapp on the New Technology Used on Season 4

Watch what David Ajala and Mary Wiseman had to say in the player above and below is exactly what we talked about.

David Ajala and Mary Wiseman

• Have they thought about doing any conventions with Grudge the cat?
• What would surprise fans of Star Trek to learn about the making of Discovery ?
• What can they tease about the storyline of Season 4?
• What is their favorite part of the series taking place so far in the future?

• The Inventory

Meet the Next Legendary Star Trek Pet: Grudge the Cat

We have breaking news. The upcoming season of Star Trek: Discovery is going to be the best one ever. We know this, for a fact , because it’ll be the first with Grudge the cat.

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Grudge, played by a floofy feline named Leeu (which means “lion” in Afrikaans), was introduced Tuesday as part of the big Star Trek Day event . He’s the best friend of the mysterious new character Book, played by David Ajala.

How Book and Grudge will fit in with Discovery ’s latest adventures, we don’t know. What we do know is the Star Trek team released a behind the scenes video of Grudge, who is an absolute beast, filming his part on the upcoming season. And we’ve rarely seen such professionalism in a Trek actor before. Leonard Nimoy would be proud.

Check it out below.

And yes, you read that right: Grudge has his own official Twitter account . He’s already retweeting this video like crazy. Oh Grudge, you sassy stud you.

We’ll learn more about Grudge soon when Star Trek: Discovery ’s third season begins on CBS All Access October 15 .

For more, make sure you’re following us on our Instagram @ io9dotcom .

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Preview: ‘The Book Of Grudge’ Takes You Inside The World Of A ‘Star Trek: Discovery’ Cat

| December 29, 2021 | By: TrekMovie.com Staff 35 comments so far

Cleveland Booker’s cat companion Grudge was introduced in season three of Star Trek: Discovery, and this queen feline has continued to play an oversized role on the show. Before she gets her own comic book later in 2022, Hero Collector has a new book coming out in January all about Grudge the Cat—and we have a first look preview.

The Book of Grudge

Star Trek: Discovery’s colossal queen of a cat, Grudge, is ready for her closeup in The Book of Grudge . According to Hero Collector, Grudge herself wrote the book with the assistance of human writer Robb Pearlman. The hardcover offers up Grudge’s musings on life, humans, Michael Burnham, dogs and much more.

From The Book of Grudge

In a promotion that appears written by the self-assured cat herself, Hero Collector promises: “Sharper than the sharpest claw and more stunning than a phaser blast, The Book of Grudge delivers not only Grudge’s snarky purr-sonal take on everything from space travel to the proper care and training of various alien species, but also includes Star Trek-inspired quotes, and haiku meditations on her most favorite things, including napping and people (as long as they’re far enough away).”

Caving into demands to offer her wisdom to the world, Grudge turned to dog lover Robb Pearlman, a New York Times bestselling author, for assistance. She was assured by Book and her agent that Robb would be the perfect fit due to his humor as seen in his previous books Fun with Kirk and Spock and Redshirt’s Little Book of Doom .

The Book of Grudge spans 96 pages and includes illustrations and photos of (a very, very impatient) Grudge taken on the Discovery set.

The Book of Grudge will be published on January 4, 2022. It is available “meow” for pre-order at Amazon.com . It’s priced at $14.95 ($19.95 in Canada).

Find more on  Star Trek books at TrekMovie.com .

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Why does Eaglemoss keep putting out crappy cash-grabs lately? They’re better than this.

It’s ‘the Star Trek Money Game.If it wasn’t a cat and instead a tribble on the show, it would be a book about a tribble.

This is not a money grab. It won’t make money. A tribble would have been a better direction to go. They could have given it a personality and had it constantly getting in trouble. This cat story point adds no flavour and is desperately forced. Almost as forced as Grey’s acting. But at least that character got written out tonight. How did he even get a call back for a second audition? Anyways, the Grudge stuff is not even played out because it never really played.

Don’t think we should have to worry about spoilers in a merchandise article!

agreed, UNCOOL!

When has Eaglemoss NOT put out cash-grabs?

It did a great job with both its graphic novels and its ships. They had value and the graphic novels and ship magazines were worth reading. But a book about pictures of Grudge is nonsense.

No. This is too much. First they wanted to make the cat a thing, by calling her a queen… but they did nothing with that in S3. We got nothing for all the hype. Now they’re pushing it even more with a book and what was the last thing, a magazine or something? Get over it. I love cats, but it’s just a cat.

Hate to break it to you but “Queen” is a common term for female cats, particularly breeding ones.

Honestly, the writers didn’t need to do anything beyond calling her a queen. Any cat owner knows that their cat is, by default, either a king or queen. I suppose you could call a bit of an inside joke for cat owners.

Others said it, but I never thought the name Queen was anymore than showing how endearing Book is towards her and that he’ll do anything for her. They made it very clear the guy is a huge animal lover. ;)

I’m not sure what you mean, Silvereyes. It was pretty clear, throughout the season, that the “queen” motif was just to show how much he loved his cat. There was never going to be more to it than that–she’s a cat.

Well maybe I misread this then. Everyone who answered my post seems to think so. Just seemed to me that they wanted to put the cat in the forefront as if to imply she was more than just a cat, like Isis in that TOS episode. I understand how cat owners think their cat is a Queen and how they’re attached to their animal. I own a Queen myself, a 21 year old tough as nails Queen.

Yeah, I absolutely get your idea. I had to think of Isis too and was of the opinion she would turn out to be a shapeshifter of sorts and a hiding alien monarch… Maybe this is still going to happen when least expected…

Grudge takes her place alongside the greats, including the likes of Garfield Arbuckle and Henri le Chat Noir…

Spot got more character development than this cat. Where is her book?

Spot got more character development than this cat.

As did Porthos the beagle. The Discovery production team seems to think that just having a cat and saying “Look, it’s a cat! She’s a cat queen! Isn’t that cool? Look – it’s a cat!” is going to make it a beloved character.

There was an amusing scene where the cat appears on Discovery’s main viewer when it’s on Book’s ship, but that is the only thing I can recall it did anything other than just sit there. I may be forgetting other stuff, but it gets to the point that Grudge really is just background furniture like Picard’s fish was, and not a beloved character like the Trek folks want it to be.

I’m old enough to remember when Linus was going to be a beloved character. Sigh.

I like Linus, but he is used more as a running gag than a recurring character with personality development.

This book is bad idea of marketing a minor character in the show.

$14.95 for a book about a cat? And there wasn’t any other character they couldn’t do a full book about….Owo, Detmer, Rhys, or the random communications guy?

“The book of the random communications Guy’

Oh, thank goodness my compulsiveness stops well short of this…!

Omg, I just realized that it’s a book about Book’s cat. So Book has a cat that has a book. Hilarious. Was that the reason they made this?

I guess they did it after the proposed spin-off show “The Book of Book” didn’t move forward because of Boba Fett :-)

Who cares honestly? It’s just a cat. It doesn’t do anything, it just sits there. It doesn’t even have a personality.

Stop trying to make fetch happen. This is annoying as I suspect that Grudge is only a “thing” in the production teams’ head. It has zero real world traction, it has no spark, there is no charm there. This is not a fan fav cult thing. Crickets. Again, stop trying to make fetch happen.

This book looks like someone’s lame Tumblr but they hit print and now are selling a hard copy.

Wait… 96 pages?! This is a poor man’s attempt to do Grumpy Cat… just 10 years too late and minus a cat that can convey anything funny with just a photo. Even the name “Grudge” is trying to slide into the DMs of the concept of Grump Cat. Just sad. And that they keep going at it. It’s like beating a dead targ. So tone deaf. Read the room… the concept that got a giggle in writers’ meetings when pitched never resonated with the audience. Let it go. You’re embarrassing yourselves. So obtuse.

Some of you really need to get a sense of humour. This is just a light hearted take on a minor character. You’d be all over this if it was Spot and not Grudge…

1) No one here needs to get a sense of humor. Stop gatekeeping. 2) No one would be all over it if this was about Spot. It would still be a cheap cash-grab, and many would still denounce it.

This is STV style of marketing. You are supposed to buy anything anointed with the word Trek.

I can’t believe Zora gave coordinates to Grudge’s home planet!!

It’s silly and cute, and cat-loving Star Trek fans will enjoy it. If you don’t want it, don’t buy it.

Watch it be a hit book.

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Star Trek: Discovery EP Answers Our Burning Questions About Season 3’s Breakout Star: Grudge the Cat

Dave nemetz, west coast bureau chief.

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It’s reassuring to know that, even a thousand years in the future, cats still rule the universe.

Star Trek: Discovery returned for Season 3 this week with a massive time jump that “cat”-apulted Burnham centuries forward into the year 3188, where she met charming smuggler Book… and his beloved cat Grudge. (“She’s heavy… and she’s all mine,” he proudly told Burnham.) As much as we marveled at the 32nd-century technology and all the new gizmos, Grudge was definitely the highlight of the premiere for us — and we’re not alone, apparently.

“Grudge is an absolute hit,” Discovery executive producer and co-showrunner Michelle Paradise tells TVLine with a laugh. “I think Grudge is everyone’s favorite new character… Everyone, of course, wants to be on set on the days when we’re shooting the cat. Including me.”

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“Grudge is Book’s first lady love, and we will be seeing a fair amount of Grudge this season,” Paradise confirms. “We won’t overplay Grudge, but Grudge is an important part of Book’s life, and is with him on his ship. We will be seeing Grudge again.”

The Star Trek universe has a rich history of feline guest stars, of course: Kirk and Spock fended off a shape-shifter that took the form of a black cat in the original Trek series episode “Catspaw,” and Next Generation ‘s android officer Data had a pet cat named Spot. So Grudge is just carrying on the great tradition of Trek cats — and Paradise is ready for an incoming wave of Grudge stans.

“Everyone is going to be overshadowed by Grudge at conventions,” she predicts. “No one’s going to want [series star] Sonequa [Martin-Green] anymore. It’s just going to be, ‘Where’s the cat?'”

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Don’t forget about Gary Seven and his “cat” Isis from TOS Assignment Earth episode.

Beautiful cats…

Are cats raised by blacks predisposed to prison sentences. Are they lieing, stealing, rapists as well. If the relationship trancends species maybe its not systemic racism, maybe its cultural. Someone needs to look into this.

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‘Star Trek: Discovery’ has a cat now!

Meet grudge..

Gavia Baker-Whitelaw

Internet Culture

Posted on Sep 9, 2020   Updated on Sep 9, 2020, 6:30 am CDT

Star Trek: Discovery already announced several important new cast members for season 3. British actor David Ajala is joining the crew as a guy named Cleveland “Book” Booker, ushering us into the show’s new 900-years-in-the-future setting. Ian Alexander and Blu del Barrio will play the franchise’s first trans and nonbinary characters . But somehow, months after filming, CBS managed to keep a lid on another exciting new crewmember: a cat. A cat!

The cat made his debut during Tuesday’s Star Trek Day online convention , where Discovery released a new trailer for season 3. His name is Grudge (amazing name), and David Ajala describes him as the “ride or die” companion of our new human character Book. Played by an enormously fluffy Maine Coon-looking cat called Leeu, you can check out some of his performance in this featurette:

Meet the newest member of the #StarTrekFamily , @Grudge_Cat from #StarTrekDiscovery . #StarTrekDay pic.twitter.com/7K0eVq1BxC — Star Trek on Paramount+ (@StarTrekOnPPlus) September 8, 2020

There’s a long history of cats joining humans for long-distance voyages, traditionally as mousers. In sci-fi, there’s obviously Jonesy the cat from the first two Alien films (iconic!), Data’s pet cat Spot from Star Trek: The Next Generation (adorable!), and the humanoid cat Cat in Red Dwarf . It remains to be seen what Grudge’s role will be in Discovery , but it’s surely going to be delightful. A space cat is exactly what this show needs.

There’s still no news on whether the show will include any of Star Trek’s Caitian cat aliens, though. There’s one in Star Trek: Lower Decks , but that kind of thing is easier with animation than when you have to stick a layer of fur onto an actual human being.

Star Trek: Discovery returns on October 15.

Today’s top stories

Gavia Baker-Whitelaw is a staff writer at the Daily Dot, covering geek culture and fandom. Specializing in sci-fi movies and superheroes, she also appears as a film and TV critic on BBC radio. Elsewhere, she co-hosts the pop culture podcast Overinvested. Follow her on Twitter: @Hello_Tailor

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An exclusive 1st look at 'Star Trek: Discovery – The Book of Grudge' from Hero Collector

"Humans were domesticated by cats millennia ago, so we have, for the most part, a very symbiotic relationship," according to Grudge

Those talented folk at Hero Collector — the same people who make all those incredible models (and accompanying books ) of sci-fi spacecraft — have launched a truly unique book; an extremely colorful and entertaining work based on Grudge the cat's enlightening perspective of all things USS Discovery.

" Star Trek: Discovery - The Book of Grudge " will be published on January 4, 2022, just weeks before the Season 4 finale of "Star Trek: Discovery." It's available meow for pre-order and it will be priced at $14.95 in the US and $19.95 in Canada.

This book contains 96 pages of beautiful artwork by Walter Newton and dazzling photos (of an apparently very impatient Grudge) taken on the "Discovery" set. Needless to say, the book's author and Grudge's interpreter in this venture, Robb Pearlman, is a big fan of "Star Trek."

Star Trek Discovery: The Book of Grudge <a href="https://target.georiot.com/Proxy.ashx?tsid=72128&GR_URL=https%3A%2F%2Famazon.com%2FStar-Trek-Discovery-Grudge-Books%2Fdp%2F1801260478%2F%3Ftag%3Dhawk-future-20%26ascsubtag%3Dhawk-custom-tracking-20" data-link-merchant="Amazon US"" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">$14.95 at Amazon (preorder) You can get up close and personal with Star Trek's latest cat in this new book warping to shelves Jan. 4, 2022.

"I remember, as a young kid, being entranced by the action and the aliens and the tech of the show. Pointed ears? Amazing! Blue skin and antenna? Bring it!" Pearlman told Space.com. "The show played in syndicated reruns on my local New York station, especially over the weekends. And because it was — and is — the kind of show that can be enjoyed by multiple generations, it was usually on when my parents, grandparents, and I were all together."

Born and raised in Brooklyn, Pearlman is a New York Times bestselling author of more than 35 books for grown-ups and kids. He specializes in pop-culture, a field he considers himself fortunate to be able to carve a career out of.

"I was a weird kid," he laughs. "I'm lucky that, to some degree, I can consider channel and internet surfing part of my job! I like to call myself a pop culturist, rather than a critic, because I'm not in this to judge or criticize. Not everything is for me, which is totally fine. There's a lot out there to enjoy."

Book's cat, Grudge is a Maine Coon — the largest domesticated cat breed and one of the oldest bred in North America — and is actually played by two feline film stars, Leeu and Durban, two lookalike brothers who belong to a Palm Springs-based restaurateur named Michelle Smith and take turns playing the part.

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Pearlman was presented with a unique set of problems in trying to understand and accurately interpret this colossal cat from Kwejian. "You're working under the false premise that Grudge is a cat. She is, in fact, a queen," Pearlman laughed.

"Grudge isn't much of a talker and hasn't had a whole lot of screen time on the show...I was able to glean a lot from her body language. A swish of her tail, a sigh, an eye roll. All that speaks volumes if you know how to listen."

This isn't the first collaboration between this sci-fi franchise and the feline kingdom, there's also " Star Trek Cats ," " Star Trek: The Next Generation Cats " and the " Star Trek: Cats of the USS Enterprise 2022 Wall Calendar ." So, clearly there's a connection. In fact, Lt. Cmdr Data (Brent Spiner) was in possession of a pussycat named Spot in "The Next Generation."

"Listen, I don't want to start a catfight here, but I think Spot just never had the opportunity to harness the power of the internet the way Grudge has," Pearlman said.

As the promotional blurb says, Grudge is "sharper than the sharpest claw and more stunning than a phaser blast, [this book] delivers not only Grudge’s snarky purr-sonal take on everything from space travel to the proper care and training of various alien species, but also includes 'Star Trek'-inspired quotes, and haiku meditations on her most favorite things, including napping."

The Book of Grudge will be published on Jan. 4, 2022, just weeks before the Season 4 finale of "Star Trek: Discovery." It's available meow for preorder at Amazon and directly from Penguin Randomhouse Books and it will be priced at $14.95 in the US and $19.95 in Canada.

The first half Season 4 of "Star Trek: Discovery" is available to watch now and subsequent installments will drop every Thursday on Paramount Plus in the US and CTV Sci-Fi or Crave TV in Canada. Countries outside of North America can watch on the Pluto TV Sci-Fi channel. 

Here's how to stream Star Trek: Discovery to catch up on seasons 1-3. Our full streaming guide for Star Trek has tips on how to see the rest of the Trek franchise). 

Follow Scott Snowden on Twitter . Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom and on Facebook . 

Join our Space Forums to keep talking space on the latest missions, night sky and more! And if you have a news tip, correction or comment, let us know at: [email protected].

When Scott's application to the NASA astronaut training program was turned down, he was naturally upset...as any 6-year-old boy would be. He chose instead to write as much as he possibly could about science, technology and space exploration. He graduated from The University of Coventry and received his training on Fleet Street in London. He still hopes to be the first journalist in space.

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‘Star Trek: Discovery’: Meet David Ajala, But More Importantly, Meet His Cat

Where to stream:.

• Star Trek: Discovery

'Star Trek: Strange New Worlds' Renewed For Season 4 At Paramount+

Bill maher applauds william shatner for controversial 'star trek' interracial kiss, patrick stewart was asked to wear a wig at his 'star trek' audition — a wig that flew by itself from heathrow to lax, tom hardy "never said 'good morning'" or "good night" while filming 'star trek: nemesis,' says patrick stewart.

You know, over here at the ‘ol Decider, when a new cast member is added to a continuing series, we notice there’s usually a lot of interest and questions about that cast member. Where have you seen them before? How tall are they? Do they have feet, and can you see their feet? Typical, totally normal questions.

Which is probably why there’s been so much excitement about David Ajala, who has joined  Star Trek: Discovery Season 3 as Cleveland “Book” Booker. Introduced in the season premiere “That Hope Is You,” Book is clearly a major new character this season. But far more important than any old actor is the cat that comes with him.

So with that in mind, let’s find out: who is David Ajala, who plays Book on  Star Trek: Discovery , but also who is his cat?

Who is David Ajala from  Star Trek: Discovery , and also, who is David Ajala’s adorable cat?

David Ajala is a London born actor who has been on stage and screen for a very long time now. He’s performed with the Royal Shakespeare Company, so you know he’s legit. But potentially more important to genre fans, he’s appeared in  Doctor Who as Peter in “The Beast Below,” Jeff in  Black Mirror ‘s “The Waldo Moment,” and more recently on  Supergirl as conflicted villain Manchester Black. He also was on USA’s extremely weird dream-based sci-fi show Falling Water , which once gifted me some crystals and a sleep kit.

But more importantly, who is his cat??? Also introduced in the  Star Trek: Discovery Season 3 premiere, Grudge Cat is described as a big fat Queen with a capital “Q.” This isn’t the first time cats have popped up in  Star Trek , mind you — after all, the franchise takes place in the future of the real world, unlike  Star Wars where chickens exist mostly out of continuity.

Grudge Cat is played by a pair of twin, two-year-old Maine Coons named Leeu and Durban , and in a huge twist they’re actually both boys. Actually not that huge a twist, it’s not like we’re zooming in on the screen to check for cat genitals or anything so who cares. Grudge Cat!

Very briefly, who is Book on Star Trek: Discovery , but perhaps at more length who is Grudge Cat?

Spoilers for the premiere, but Book is a resident of the year 3188. He’s a Courier, meaning he transports goods back and forth in exchange for some of the scant supplies of Dilithium that allow for efficient space travel from planet to planet. He also seemingly has the ability to talk to plants? Maybe? But secretly, he’s no villainous smuggler: he’s actually working to find Transworms, nearly extinct, enormous creatures who were poached from his home planet.

And that’s great and all, but he also has a cat named Grudge Cat on his ship. As mentioned, Grudge Cat is a Queen, though we don’t know how she met Book, or why she’s on the ship. Does Grudge Cat have a secret mission? Is she more than a cat? Is she actually a Queen? What, or who, does she have a grudge about? That last part we know: according to Book, “because she’s heavy, and all mine.” But these are the sorts of mysteries I’m sure Star Trek: Discovery fans are mostly concerned about this season, versus, say, the missing crew of  Discovery or the cause of The Burn, a galaxy wide event that crippled the Federation. No, we want to know what’s up with the cat.

Is David Ajala on Instagram, but actually I’m more interested to know if Grudge Cat is on Instagram?

David Ajala is on Instagram , and in between the requisite celeb inspirational quote posts, he’s putting up a lot of stuff from  Discovery and is very clearly excited to be on the show. He also posted a pic of Book and Grudge Cat , which isn’t his most liked post but it does have a lot more comments than he usually gets. Just saying.

Grudge Cat is  also on Instagram , as well as Twitter . Though everyone’s favorite space feline that isn’t secretly a Flerken tends to use the ol’ bird app to sass people online, true to name, Instagram is relatively unpopulated though does include this adorable pic of Leeu or perhaps Durban in a carriage on set:

View this post on Instagram a queen in her carriage 👑 #StarTrek #StarTrekDiscovery A post shared by Grudge (@grudgecat) on Oct 12, 2020 at 12:40pm PDT

Does David Ajala have a cat in real life? Does Grudge Cat have a human in real life?

Leeu and Durban live with their owner, Michelle Smith, just outside of Toronto where  Star Trek: Discovery is filmed. I, uh, honestly don’t know if Ajala has a cat, let alone any pets. Sorry. However, if you DM me I’m happy to send you some pics of his feet THIS IS A JOKE DO NOT DO THIS.

Star Trek: Discovery streams every Thursday on CBS All Access

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Star Trek: Discovery is cracking open a box Next Gen closed on purpose

The USS Discovery is on a mad chase across the galaxy for one of Star Trek’s biggest secrets

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Calling back to a single 30-year-old episode of television is a time-honored Star Trek tradition , one that’s led the franchise to some of its most fascinating detours. And in its two-episode season premiere, Star Trek: Discovery seems to be kicking off an entire season calling back to one particular episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation .

And not just any episode! The 1993 installment of Next Gen in question delivered a revelation so seemingly earth-shaking that it should have rewritten galactic politics on a massive scale. But then, as was the way in the 1990s era of episodic TV, nobody ever mentioned it again.

At least until now.

[ Ed. note: This piece contains spoilers for the first two episodes of Star Trek: Discovery season 5.]

Writer Michelle Paradise and director Olatunde Osunsanmi lay out the connection at the end of the first of two episodes released this week, “Red Directive.” Discovery’s mission is to follow a series of ancient clues leading to a cache of ancient technology, and to get there before a couple of professional thieves, Moll (Eve Harlow) and L’ak (Elias Toufexis), do.

The technology, as Doctor Kovich (David Cronenberg) explains, belongs to the so-called Progenitors, a barely understood ancient spacefaring species that “created life as we know it […] every humanoid species in the galaxy.” Presumably such tech holds the key to understanding how the Progenitors did that, and how that power could be used again.

The Progenitors are from the Star Trek episode “The Chase”

Kovich also calls up a helpful video presentation of the moment the Progenitors were discovered by an assembled group of Federation, Klingon, Romulan, and Cardassian captains, including Jean-Luc Picard. But you don’t have to be a Star Trek lore nerd to know you’re actually just looking at clips from an episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation .

Specifically, from the 20th episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation ’s sixth season, “The Chase,” in which Picard and crew discover pieces of a computer program hidden inside the DNA of species from dozens of different planets. Questions abound: What does the program do? And what kind of entity could have been so ancient and powerful that it had determined the genetic legacy of most of the known galaxy before sentient life had even evolved here — and then left no trace of its existence except the genetic codes themselves?

In a nutshell, the mysterious death of Captain Picard’s old archeology professor (did you know that if he hadn’t gone into Starfleet, Jean-Luc was studying to be a space archeologist? Well, now you do) sets the captain and the Enterprise on a search for the missing DNA fragments necessary to complete his unfinished work.

The action of the episode becomes a grand chase, as Klingon and Cardassian captains come to believe the program must be a great weapon or dangerous secret. Eventually Picard and his rivals all discover the lonely planet with the final DNA strain — and when they get there, some Romulans who’ve been secretly following all of them show up, too, just to make things even more tense.

In the end, the program isn’t a weapon or a secret, but a message from an ancient race of humanoids that apparently created sentient life in our galaxy as we know it.

Actor Salome Jens appears as a Progenitor hologram, and delivers a speech that’s stirring by any standard of Star Trek monologues, telling the story of a race of sentients that took to the stars and found them empty. They had evolved too early to meet other forms of sentient life, and knew that their time was too limited to ever expect to.

“We knew that one day we would be gone; that nothing of us would survive, so we left you,” Jens’ Progenitor explains. The Progenitors seeded humanoid life across the galaxy in their own image; life that tended to evolve into bipedal, tailless, largely hairless creatures with two eyes and two arms and five fingers on each hand. And they left clues in the genetic signature of their work, broken up among the stars.

Wait, was this really all about lampshading the limits of Star Trek’s alien design?

Kinda, yes! The writers of “The Chase,” Ron Moore and Joe Menosky, were inspired by elements of Carl Sagan’s Contact , but also by Menosky’s pet fascination creating an in-universe explanation for why all the common alien species in Star Trek are basically shaped like humans (albeit with latex on their faces).

In other hands, it would be hokey and trite, but even under heavy makeup, Jens sells the hell out of her single scene on voice and stance alone — it’s no wonder she was asked back to the Trek fold to play a major antagonist role in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine .

“It was our hope that you would have to come together in fellowship and companionship to hear this message, and if you can see and hear me, our hope has been fulfilled,” the Progenitor hologram concludes, with gentle compassion. “You are a monument, not to our greatness, but to our existence. That was our wish: That you, too, would know life. [...] There is something of us in each of you, and so something of you in each other.”

But though “The Chase” carried a sweeping revelation, nothing ever really panned out from it. You’d think that a message of togetherness that fundamentally rewrote the origin of life in the universe would have to have tweaked Star Trek’s galactic politics a bit, right? Seems like this would give the Star Trek setting a radically different understanding of the origins of life than we have in the real world — this is literally intelligent design! At the very least there’d be some other characters talking about how humans and Vulcans, Klingons and Romulans and Ferengi and Cardassians and Trill and Bajorans, all share the same genetic ancestor.

But nope: The Pandora’s box of Progenitor lore remained closed. Gene Roddenberry’s successor and Trek producer Rick Berman seems to have been disenchanted with the episode’s reveal — and you can’t really blame him for not wanting to rock the whole cosmology of Star Trek in an episode that’s mostly about explaining how if you turn the DNA snippets like this they make a cool spiral. Now look at this computer screen with the spiral :

Except now, Star Trek: Discovery is opening the box and rocking the boat. This new mad, puzzle-box chase around the galaxy promises to expand on the Progenitors, an idea so big that not even The Next Generation was willing to touch it. It’s a tall order, but Discovery has never been more free to shake up Star Trek continuity than it is right now — we’ll have to wait for more episodes of the show’s final season to find out how free it intends to be.

Star Trek: Discovery is finally free to do whatever it wants

The 10 horniest episodes of star trek, ranked by cultural impact, the picard legacy collection puts one of the greatest remasters of all time in sprawling context, loading comments....

Why 'Star Trek: Discovery' deserves more credit as a barrier-breaking series

Starship Discovery will soon be ending its mission, and what a journey it's been.

“Star Trek: Discovery,” which premiered in 2017, is entering its fifth and final season Thursday on Paramount+. And you’ll need the Captain’s Log to remember all the twists, turns and transformations the show has gone through since it began.

One thing that hasn’t changed, though, is the hate the series has received from some Trek fans. (“Discovery” has an overall audience score of 37% on Rotten Tomatoes, a stark difference from the 87% critic rating.)

While the show is far from free of legitimate criticism, many of the complaints seem unfairly – though perhaps tellingly – placed on the show’s focus on a Black woman commander, its LGBTQ+ stars and allies and its inclusive storylines. “Woke agenda” and other dog whistles frequently surface on Reddit and social media posts about the series.

That so much of the negativity is rooted in a backlash against inclusivity raises questions. After all, the "Star Trek" franchise has long emphasized and celebrated culture, diversity and humanity coming together and preserving the integrity of beings they meet across the galaxy.

"It doesn't make any sense, because (these fans) say they love this franchise," series star Sonequa Martin-Green says in an interview. The show “has always been about breaking those boundaries. It's always been about diversity and equality. And our world has changed since the last iteration of 'Trek.' We have a responsibility to push that needle forward and to stay true to that."

More: Issa Rae says Hollywood needs to be accountable. Here's why diverse shows are so important

The series is originally set before the events of NBC's original “Star Trek: The Original Series” (later jumping to the future) and follows Michael Burnham (Martin-Green), who became the starship’s captain, and the rest of the crew of the USS Discovery: first officer Saru (Doug Jones), chief engineer Paul Stamets (Anthony Rapp), lieutenant and now Starfleet Academy teacher Sylvia Tilly (Mary Wiseman), medical officer Hugh Culber (Wilson Cruz), courier and Burnham’s love interest Cleveland “Book” Booker (David Ajala) and ensign Adira Tal (Blu del Barrio).

Many more characters have stood on the bridge, battled with Burnham, or otherwise make up the world of "Discovery." The series had some trouble finding the right footing, but it’s always had heart, especially in its recurring theme of redemption. And it deserves more support for what it has meant for the entire "Star Trek" franchise.

Here’s why “Star Trek: Discovery” deserves more credit:

Prioritizing diversity and inclusivity

A Vulcan philosophy (and one espoused by “Star Trek” creator Gene Roddenberry) is IDIC, or “infinite diversity in infinite combinations,” and many of the related series, movies and books underscore this belief. “Discovery” also has diversity at its core: the show focuses on a Black woman who becomes captain. Stamets and Culber are an openly gay couple, and engineer Jett Reno (Tig Notaro) is a lesbian. And the show introduced a few franchise firsts: Adira Tal as the first nonbinary character in "Star Trek ," and their boyfriend, Gray ( Ian Alexander ), is the first transgender character , both introduced in Season 3.

More: 'Star Trek' documentary unveils star Nichelle Nichols' impactful NASA connection

Starting a new age of Star Trek

“Discovery” helped launch the CBS All Access streaming platform, a CBS subscription service that would eventually become Paramount+, as well as a new era of "Star Trek" series including “Lower Decks” and “Picard.” Before “Discovery,” the last Trek series was “Star Trek: Enterprise,” which ended in 2005.

Exploring strange new worlds

The second season of “Discovery” also served as a launching pad for the well-received spinoff, “Star Trek: Strange New Worlds,” which resurfaced popular characters from the original series including Spock (Ethan Peck), Captain Pike (Anson Mount), Uhura (Celia Rose Gooding) and Number One (Rebecca Romijn).

Finding time for the simple things

In a few scenes scattered throughout "Discovery," we see characters like Culber and Stamets sharing a meal or talking about their day while brushing their teeth. It’s almost mundane, but there’s also something so lovely about watching LGBTQ+ characters who rarely are the focus in movies or television simply living their lives, being their whole selves. Burnham rocking braids at the beginning of Season 3 speaks cultural volumes. The subtle amid the big battles and overarching plots do have meaning, especially for those whose voices often go unheard.

Going boldly

The first season of “Discovery” went out of its way to highlight its connections to the original series: Burnham is Spock’s adopted sister, and there's a brief appearance by Spock’s father, Sarek. But it wasn’t always so neatly woven, sometimes seeming more like it was using franchise lore as a crutch. But “Discovery” wasn’t afraid to try new things, turning itself around after an overcomplicated first season and again after a very “TOS”-inspired second, slowly building up its own universe without relying too heavily on the old. 

The first episodes of Season 5 are a little rocky before it settles into a comfortable speed. 

"This time around, we wanted to bring in some levity," Martin-Green says. "But there's a grand sort of epicness to Season 5, even though we didn't know it was our last season when we were shooting it. I think looking back on it, and when we share it with the world, it'll seem that way because the season is so big. So people can expect a lot of fun. They can expect it to go really fast." 

It will be interesting to see if “Discovery” sticks the landing through the remainder of the season.

“The good outweighs the bad,” Burnham says in an upcoming episode about a mission, and that’s also true of “Discovery."

The fifth and final season of "Star Trek: Discovery" (two episodes now streaming, then weekly on Thursdays) streams on Paramount+.

Screen Rant

9 star trek characters who can hide discovery season 5 treasure hunt clues.

The race is on for Star Trek: Discovery season 5's treasure hunt, and the remaining clues could be hiding with characters from Star Trek's past.

• The search for Progenitor technology in Star Trek: Discovery season 5 involves collecting 5 physical clue pieces that form a puzzle.
• The USS Discovery crew already has 2 clues, obtained after proving the 32nd century Federation is ready to wield the technology.
• The answers to the mystery may go beyond the physical clues, found in the very nature of life itself.

WARNING: This article contains SPOILERS for Star Trek: Discovery season 5

Star Trek: Discovery season 5 serves as a season-long sequel to Star Trek: The Next Generation season 6, episode 20, "The Chase", and revisits the concept first that a single ancient humanoid race called the Progenitors seeded life across the Star Trek galaxy. Once discovered in the 24th century, the Federation President secretly gathered a team of scientists to study the Progenitors' technology but deemed it too dangerous for their own time. The team, which included Romulan Dr. Vellek (Michael Copeland), hid a series of clues leading to the Progenitor technology's location , with the hope that future generations would prove worthy enough to wield it.

Dr. Vellek's notes point to Promellian ruins on the planet Lyrek, which reveal a clue pointing to Trill. In Star Trek: Discovery season 5, episode 3 , "Jinaal", the Trill clue was hidden on Trill by Jinaal Bix, a scientist and host of the Bix symbiont who was a colleague of Dr. Vellek's. Just as the structures on Lyrek are guaranteed to last, the Trill symbiont Bix is also still alive after 800 years. The remainder of Star Trek: Discovery season 5's clues need to stand the test of time, and might be found with any number of Star Trek characters who could still be around in the 32nd century.

Star Trek: Discovery Season 5 Returning Cast & New Character Guide

9 zora (annabelle wallis), discovery's computer could answer the mystery of her own sentience..

One of the clues to Progenitor technology may be found aboard the USS Discovery itself, buried deep within its own computer systems. Discovery's computer downloaded a hundred thousand of years of intergalactic data from the Sphere in Star Trek: Discovery season 2, in order to protect the information from the genocidal A.I, called Control. As a result, Discovery's computer develops sentience in Star Trek: Discovery season 3, choosing the name Zora.

The sheer amount of knowledge Zora possesses may lead to one of Star Trek: Discovery 's answers.

With the question of how sentient life is created at the center of Star Trek: Discovery season 5, Zora herself may hold at least part of a clue. Although it's impossible for Zora to be part of the race planned by Dr. Vellek's team in the 24th century, the sheer amount of knowledge Zora possesses may lead to one of Star Trek: Discovery 's answers, whether to the Progenitor technology's location or how it works to imbue life forms with sentience.

8 The Guardian of Forever (Paul Guilfoyle)

A final clue might be in the progenitors' past..

The Guardian of Forever was first seen in Star Trek: The Original Series season 1, episode 28, "The City on the Edge of Forever", as a sentient gateway through time. To obtain the Trill piece of the puzzle in Star Trek: Discovery season 5, Captain Michael Burnham (Sonequa-Martin Green) must pass Jinaal's test to prove that people in the 32nd century are responsible enough to use the Progenitor technology wisely. One way this could happen is if the Guardian of Forever allows Burnham to pass through time to meet the Progenitors themselves, so the creators of all sentient humanoid life can decide for themselves if their own creations are worthy.

There's a precedent for the Guardian of Forever in Star Trek: Discovery 's 32nd century . The Guardian appeared as a human named "Carl" in Star Trek: Discovery season 3, episode 9, "Terra Firma, Part 1", to administer a cosmic test to Emperor Philippa Georgiou (Michelle Yeoh). Upon passing the test, Georgiou was allowed to return to an earlier time by entering the Guardian of Forever's gateway.

Michelle Yeoh will return as Emperor Philippa Georgiou in the upcoming Star Trek: Section 31 made-for-streaming movie on Paramount+.

7 Captain Benjamin Sisko (Avery Brooks)

Time isn't real to the emissary of the bajoran prophets..

At the end of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine , Captain Benjamin Sisko (Avery Brooks) fulfills the duties of the Bajoran Emissary and becomes one with the Prophets, the non-corporeal aliens native to the Bajoran wormhole. Time has no meaning for the Prophets, who exist throughoutwithout a sense of linear progression from past to present to future. As an entity on their level, Sisko also ceases to experience linear time, and can exist at any point in the Star Trek timeline ; as the Prophets' Emissary, Sisko is the one who would speak on their behalf to the corporeal world, but to Bajor in particular.

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine season 3, episode 22, "Explorers", suggests that Cardassians and Bajorans were once one people, just as TNG 's "The Chase" proves that all sentient humanoid life had a single origin with the Progenitors. As one of the species present to hear the Progenitor speak in "The Chase", Cardassians may have had a representative in the 24th-century science team studying the Progenitors' technology . Even if Sisko doesn't return as the Emissary, it would still make sense to link the wormhole aliens in the answer to the question about the origin of life.

The Progenitor hologram revealed the origin of life to the Federation, Klingons, Romulans, and Cardassians in Star Trek: The Next Generation season 6, episode 20, "The Chase".

6 Q (John de Lancie) or Q Junior (Keegan de Lancie)

A game that leads to incredible power is right up q's alley..

The Q Continuum was certainly around at the time the Federation science team needed to disperse their clues to Progenitor technology in the 24th century, and as an immortal being with a vested interest in the worthiness of humanity, John de Lancie's Q might even be interested in being part of the treasure hunt that Vellek and his colleagues designed for the future. Q's apparent demise in Star Trek: Picard season 2 was seemingly negated by Q's Picard season 3 appearance , but Q's son (Keegan de Lancie), from Star Trek: Voyager season 7, episode 18, might take up his father's mantle of poking at the Federation.

The Federation of the 32nd century has had "no contact with the Q Continuum for 600 years."

Although Q is certainly immortal enough to hold one of Star Trek: Discovery season 5's clues, there's the small matter of what happened to Q in Star Trek: Discovery , because the Federation of the 32nd century has had "no contact with the Q Continuum for 600 years," according to Admiral Charles Vance (Oded Fehr) in Star Trek: Discovery season 4, episode 5, "The Examples."

5 Great Lessons Star Trek: Discovery Learned From Picard Season 3

5 soji asha (isa briones), synthetic life forms can live for centuries..

The Progenitor technology creates life, but synthetically created life is already a part of Star Trek , in the form of androids like Star Trek: The Next Generation 's Lt. Commander Data (Brent Spiner), and Star Trek: Picard 's Soji Asha (Isa Briones) . Soji was created by Dr. Bruce Maddox (John Ales) and Dr. Altan Inigo Soong (Brent Spiner), based on the work of Alton's father, Dr. Noonien Soong (Brent Spiner). After Soji declined to join the android colony on Coppelius at the end of Star Trek: Picard season 1, Soji was last seen in Picard season 2, episode 1, "The Stargazer".

Star Trek: Discovery season 5, episode 1, "Red Directive", introduces a 600-year-old synth named Fred (J. Adam Brown), who looks like Data and is based on Alton Soong's work. Unlike Fred, Soji appears human in every conceivable way but is still an android, so unlikely to age like the golems inhabited by Admiral Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) and Discovery 's Gray Tal (Ian Alexander). It's possible Soji could be alive in the 32nd century, like her cousin Fred, and might be connected to the life-giving nature of Progenitor technology.

Isa Briones also played Soji's twin sister Dahj in Star Trek: Picard season 1 and Kore Soong in Star Trek: Picard season 2.

4 A 32nd Century Changeling

There could be a connection between the changelings and the progenitors..

When they take a humanoid shape, the Changelings in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine bear a strong resemblance to the Progenitors, the creators of the powerful technology at the end of Star Trek: Discovery season 5's treasure hunt. Part of this is due to the same actress, Salome Jens, playing both the Progenitor in Star Trek: The Next Generation and DS9 's female Changeling leader, but there may be something more primal at work. Maybe the Changelings' Great Link could contain the basic building blocks of life as it's known in Star Trek , given solid form by the Progenitors' technology.

Star Trek: Picard filled in the gap between what happened with the Changelings between the end of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and Star Trek: Picard season 3, and the appearance of a Changeling in Star Trek: Discovery season 4, episode 8, "All In", proved that Changelings survived through the 24th century and into Star Trek: Discovery 's 32nd century . Not much is known about what happened to the Changelings after the end of Star Trek: Picard , however, so if a Changeling possesses a clue in Discovery season 5, the rest of that story might be told.

Actress Salome Jens plays both the Progenitor in TNG and DS9 's female Changeling leader.

3 The Doctor (Robert Picardo)

Voyager's emh is a likelier candidate than you think..

In Star Trek: Voyager season 4, episode 23, "Living Witness", a backup program of the USS Voyager's Emergency Medical Hologram is reactivated in the 31st century, proving that the Doctor's program can actually last for centuries without degradation. The events of "Living Witness" take place 700 years in Star Trek: Voyager 's future, estimated to be around 3074. Star Trek: Discovery 's Burn happens circa 3069, placing both events in roughly the same time period of the Star Trek timeline .

Through Dr. Hugh Culber (Wilson Cruz), Jinaal explains to Burnham and Cleveland Booker (David Ajala) that Star Trek: Deep Space Nine 's Dominion War was raging while Jinaal's team was studying the Progenitor technology. Although the USS Voyager doesn't return home until after the war, the Doctor makes contact with the Alpha Quadrant prior to the end of the Dominion War. In Star Trek: Voyager season 4, episode 14, "Message in a Bottle", the EMH is sent via subspace to the USS Prometheus, which is being commandeered by Romulans. Could one of those Romulans plant a clue deep within the Doctor's subroutines? It's a stretch, but it's not impossible.

2 Commander Pelia (Carol Kane)

Strange new worlds' lanthanite engineer has been around forever..

As a Lanthanite, Commander Pelia has already lived a long time before becoming the USS Enterprise's Chief Engineer in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 2, and may actually be functionally immortal. After all, Commander Pelia looks pretty much the same age in the 23rd century and in the 21st, when Lt. La'an Noonien-Singh (Christina Chong) meets the younger Pelia in Strange New Worlds season 2, episode 3 , "Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow".

After living for centuries, it's entirely likely that Pelia is still around in Star Trek: Discovery 's 32nd century, and could have even been part of the Federation committee studying Progenitor technology in the 24th century. Even though it'd be a far cry from starship engineering, Pelia's interest in ancient artifacts and long, long memory of the past might make Pelia a prime candidate to possess a link to the search for Progenitor technology in Star Trek: Discovery season 5.

When Star Trek: Discovery Takes Place In Star Trek's Timeline (Every Season)

1 wesley crusher (wil wheaton), the travelers could be the ones guiding the progenitors..

Wesley Crusher appears at the end of Star Trek: Picard season 2 as a Traveler, confirming Wesley's fate at the end of Star Trek: The Next Generation season 7, episode 20, "Journey's End". As an ascended being who exists uncoupled from the constraints of time and space, Wesley's powers as a Traveler could let Wesley appear in Star Trek: Discovery 's 32nd century.

It's likely that the Travelers, and Wesley in particular, could be connected to the origin of life in the galaxy.

The Travelers' mission is never made completely clear during the first Traveler's (Eric Menyuk) appearances in Star Trek: The Next Generation, but Wesley reveals to Kore Soong (Isa Briones) in Star Trek: Picard that the Travelers are committed to ensuring the survival of sentient species, with an added implication that the Travelers have a guiding hand in the development of the universe. With such a strong connection to space-time, and the ability to focus pure thought into creation, it's likely that the Travelers, and Wesley in particular, could be connected to the origin of life in the galaxy.

The Travelers are committed to ensuring the survival of sentient species.

Star Trek: Discovery season 5's search for Progenitor technology involves collecting 5 physical clue pieces that form a puzzle, though a 6th clue could exist if the exterior ring on the puzzle's shape is included. The USS Discovery crew already has 2 clues, obtained after Captain Michael Burnham proved to Romulan and Trill scientists that the 32nd century Federation is ready to be found . The bearers of the remaining clues might require Burnham to pass similar tests, according to their own definitions of ready, but the answers to the mystery of Progenitor technology in Star Trek: Discovery may well be beyond the physical clue pieces, found in the very nature of life itself.

Star Trek: Discovery season 5 streams Thursdays on Paramount+.

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Published Apr 5, 2024

RECAP | Star Trek: Discovery 501 - 'Red Directive'

There's never a dull moment for the U.S.S. Discovery!

SPOILER WARNING: This article contains story details and plot points for Star Trek: Discovery.

StarTrek.com

The fifth and final season of Star Trek: Discovery opens with " Red Directive, " where Captain Burnham and the crew of the U.S.S. Discovery are sent to retrieve a mysterious artifact hidden inside a 800-year-old Romulan vessel – but find that they’re not the only ones on the hunt. Meanwhile, Saru is offered the position of a lifetime.

• Michael Burnham
• Hugh Culber
• Paul Stamets
• Sylvia Tilly
• Laira Rillak
• Charles Vance
• Christopher
• Joann Owosekun
• Keyla Detmer
• Cleveland "Book" Booker

• Federation Headquarters
• U.S.S. Discovery -A
• U.S.S. Antares

As a vessel traverses the stars at high warp, Captain Michael Burnham experiences exhilaration as she clings to its hull in her environmental suit. The captain quips that there’s "never a dull moment" and proceeds to use her phaser in a bid to knock out the starship's engines. Burnham notes that they need to retrieve an item taken from a vault over the comm channel. As her suit advises her that warp bubble stability is declining rapidly, the captain remarks that this is not what she expected to happen when the night started…

"Red Directive"

Four hours earlier, Burnham joyfully converses with Ensign Adira Tal, Lt. Sylvia Tilly, Commander Paul Stamets, and Dr. Hugh Culber at Federation Headquarters, where Cadet Ross introduces them to Tonic 2161 — the official cocktail of the millennium celebration. Though the Federation was founded in 2161, the Burn prevented any widespread festivities when the holiday actually occurred decades before in 3161. Paired with a blue liquid, the beverage’s "floaty bits" — which taste like Bajoran jumja sticks — honor the Federation flag and its starry features.

The captain offers a smile, stating that it’s good to see that the Federation is back and at peace. Stamets nevertheless comes off as melancholic, and Culber discloses that the astromycologist just found out that Starfleet is shuttering the spore drive program. Paul expresses trepidation over his new title of "Scientific Luminary," adding that the Federation’s new Pathway Drive "won out" as the propulsion system of the future. Adira chimes in, remarking that this means the U.S.S. Discovery -A will always be one-of-a-kind, but Stamets replies with skepticism, believing his legacy was destroyed along with Cleveland "Book" Booker’s ship.

Certain he would have figured out the spore drive's navigator problem one day, the scientist emphasizes the potential for rolling out the technology to the whole fleet. His friends exchange concerned glances, but Captain Burnham then assures him that they will all find a new purpose and raises a glass in a toast to change. An aide informs Burnham that her presence has been requested by Federation President Laira Rillak, leaving Stamets to chastise himself for mentioning Book as the captain departs. While Tilly assures him that Burnham has not even talked about Book in months, Culber applies his psychiatric expertise and highlights the significant difference between locking something away and moving on. Tilly notices a fellow officer and goes to visit him, and the rest of the group disperses to "mingle."

On the dance floor, Captain Saru chats softly with Ni'Var's President T'Rina, who recognizes that the Kelpien has news and playfully wonders if she'll be "forced" to mind meld with him in order to learn what has transpired. President Rillak would like Saru to serve as a Federation Ambassador to a coalition of smaller worlds, ensuring that their needs are addressed as the Federation continues to expand. T'Rina appreciates the government’s effort to avoid repeating its past mistakes and observes that the planets’ locations could leave them open to influences from the Tholian Republic or the Breen Imperium.

Saru cites the Federation's need to remain unified, but the post would require that he resign his Starfleet commission. However, as an ambassador, he would be based at Federation HQ, in close proximity to T'Rina and her own duties. Ni'Var's president interrupts her dance partner, stating that — despite their deep love for one another — it is only logical that their relationship not factor into Saru's decision, an observation which seems to unsettle the Kelpien.

Across the room, Admiral Charles Vance approaches Captain Burnham and hands her an infinity-shaped device. The two retreat to a secure location — a featureless, all-white area known as the Infinity Room — and rendezvous with Dr. Kovich, who acknowledges the facility’s over-the-top theatricality. Turning to Burnham, Vance explains that an 800-year old science vessel was just found at the edge of the Beta Quadrant. Discovery needs to jump there immediately, but Kovich will only say that the ship contains "something vital to the security of the Federation." Burnham begins to object, but Kovich silences any disagreement when he reveals that the mission is a Red Directive.

Saru beams into Discovery 's Bridge and receives status reports from Lt. Christopher, Lt. Linus, Lt. Commander Joann Owosekun, Lt. Naya, Lt. Commander Gen Rhys, and Lt. Commander Keyla Detmer. Burnham and Kovich transport aboard and share that the crew will be going on a Red Directive classified mission. Their target? A 24th Century Romulan science vessel that will most certainly attract the attention of scavengers and other nefarious characters. A second Starfleet ship is already en route, but Discovery will arrive first — or so they believe…

Across the quadrant, two helmeted figures pillage the derelict Romulan starship, ultimately removing their protective gear and taking in the ship’s breathable atmosphere. The female — Moll — comments that the U.S.S. Antares is on its way, and her male cohort L’ak sees a second Starfleet ship on their scanners. L’ak believes this means that the Romulan cargo must be "extra shiny," but he suggests they call it a day and enjoy a holodeck for two. Moll asks if L’ak wants "the pebbles or the mountain," convincing her partner to stay the course.

Discovery enters scanning range, and Owosekun detects two lifeforms on the Romulan ship — at least until their lifesigns suddenly vanish. Burnham gathers Owosekun and Rhys for the away team, but Kovich offers some disturbing insight — setting weapons to stun might not be enough, so they are authorized to use lethal force. Shock covers Burnham's face, and Kovich orders her to successfully complete the mission by any means necessary.

The three Starfleet officers beam over to the Romulan vessel's darkened corridors with phasers drawn and begin searching for the trespassers. Aerosolized water droplets notify them that the intruders had not been gone long, and Burnham advises Rhys and Owosekun to keep their phasers on stun. The trio continue on and locate an 800-year old Romulan corpse and an uncloaked — and empty — vault. Realizing the scavengers must be close, the Starfleet officers spin around and open fire. Moll and L'ak materialize in front of them, managing to capture Rhys and Owosekun in containment fields and making their escape.

Captain Burnham pursues, converting her weapon into a phaser rifle and exchanging volleys with her opponents. Moll and L'ak step forward, holding the prize they acquired from the vault and tossing an explosive charge toward the captain. As the intruders beam away, Burnham is tossed through an opening and into space. Fortunately, her programmable matter EV suit automatically activates, and the captain jets toward the outline of Moll and L'ak's ship. Burnham magnetizes her suit as the craft enters warp.

As Burnham works to sabotage the engines, the U.S.S. Antares follows and grabs the ship with a tractor beam. Captain Rayner signals Burnham, who notices the warp bubble has started to collapse and urges the U.S.S. Antares to release its hold on the fleeing vessel. Operating on Burn-era tech and lacking a state-of-the-art Pathway Drive, Rayner knows the Antares can’t pull the enemy craft out of warp. Having previously encountered Moll and L'ak, Rayner is hesitant to let them elude him

Checking in from Discovery 's center seat, Saru informs Burnham — who doesn’t want to miss her upcoming saxophone lesson — that Owosekun and Rhys are being treated in Sickbay. Detmer pilots the Crossfield -class vessel into position and Lt. Gallo prepares to transport the captain to safety. The ride is bumpy, but Kovich resolves to remain on the Bridge until the mission is completed. Burnham repeats her warning to Rayner, advising that the breakup of Moll's ship would also destroy the Antares . Believing that every mission is personal, Rayner pushes back on Burnham's own record, but he eventually concedes.

The three starships, as well as Captain Burnham, drop out of warp. The intruders' vessel spouts numerous probes, and they all leap to warp on different courses. Burnham is beamed right to Discovery 's Bridge, barely able to catch her breath before Rayner's hologram appears to discuss what he describes as the "cherry that they just dropped on our shit sundae." Appearing with a stern face and pointed ears, Rayner states that the probes left behind 20 warp signatures, meaning it will take days to determine which course Moll and L'ak actually took. Kovich voices his displeasure, but Burnham admits she knows someone who can help them find the thieves.

Discovery jumps to a ringed planet, and its captain nervously strolls into the shuttlebay to greet Cleveland "Book" Booker, who beams in and requests permission to come aboard. The somewhat awkward reunion shifts into Discovery 's corridors, where Burnham announces her suspicion that Moll and L'ak used to be couriers. The Federation is expanding and most of the old networks are closed, but Burnham hopes Book's experience, expertise, and insight can assist them in determining the correct warp signature. The two acknowledge that it has been a while since they spoke, and Burnham commends him for the work he has done with the refugees who were affected by the Dark Matter Anomaly. Book is eager to "make things right" in the wake of stealing the experimental spore drive for his own ship.

Burnham and Book confer with Saru, Kovich, Vance, and Rayner in the Ready Room, where the Antares ' captain briefs them on what is known about Moll — a human — and L'ak, a member of an unknown species. The duo, who showed up in the sector approximately two years ago, procured a tan zhekran — a traditional Romulan puzzle box — from the science ship. Kovich claims he is not at liberty to share details about the item and shifts the conversation to Book's detective skills. Factoring in the need to avoid Federation territory and the few fencers who would have interest in a 24th Century haul, Book determines that Moll and L'ak are headed to meet with a broker named Fred — just "Fred" — on Q’Mau. Vance orders Burnham and Rayner to investigate, insisting that they try working together.

The officers begin to walk out, but Saru stays behind to speak with Captain Burnham in private. Noting that a tan zhekran can contain almost anything, including a weapon or a pathogen, the captain is concerned that Kovich won't even tell her the name of the Romulan scientist who owned it. Saru slyly suggests that someone outside of Discovery 's chain of command with access to different databases might be able to assist. Burnham responds with a joyous smile, her expression turning serious as she remembers Saru could soon be leaving for another post.

Back at Federation HQ, Lt. Tilly enters her quarters in the midst of an energetic chat with Lt. Jax. Lamenting over a cadet who refuses to leave the lab during the Academy's Simulation Week, Tilly outlines collaboration's importance to Starfleet's future and — very briefly — ponders whether she could crash every cadet onto an ice moon in order to teach them that lesson. Tilly attributes her talkativeness to the champagne served at the after party, and the two officers exchange flirtatious gazes.

Tilly and Jax — who both love walking and talking — share a clumsy goodbye that nevertheless elicits a smirk from the Academy instructor. Now alone, Tilly orders up a coffee from the replicator. The respite is short-lived, as an incoming communication from Captain Burnham provides another boost to Tilly's energy reserves. Theorizing that Tilly must have had some Andorian champagne, Burnham adopts her "serious voice" and asks Tilly for her help. Always available for her friends, Tilly gleefully responds, "Whatever it is, I’m in."

Discovery arrives at Q’Mau, where Burnham and Book beam down to a small settlement that is surrounded by a desert landscape and rocky outcroppings. Book remarks that it feels like their old courier days, and Burnham asks about Grudge — the Queen is great, she says, "Hi." They disagree about who should have made more of an effort to contact the other, but Rayner's arrival disperses the mounting tension.

Elsewhere in the marketplace, Moll and L'ak are scanned and welcomed into Fred's establishment. Fred, who has the distinctive appearance of a synthetic lifeform, maintains a friendly demeanor, though his guards supply the room with an air of hostility. Fred notices Moll and L'ak's "togetherness," spiritedly contrasting the bilabial nasal of "Moll" with the voiceless velar plosive of "L'ak." The thieves present Fred with their recent finds — isolinear coprocessors, vintage PADDS and tricorders, self-sealing stem bolts, and the mysterious puzzle box.

Intrigued, Fred mentions that he hasn’t encountered such an item in 622.7 years. He unlocks the box by shifting its features into a new configuration, revealing a handwritten diary. The android skims the text, happily offering Moll and L'ak three bars of latinum for the entire lot. The duo replies with a laugh, unsatisfied with the price. Fred refuses to return their items, prompting the pair to burst into hand-to-hand combat with his guards. Moll is struck by an energy blast from the synth’s weapon, and — though her wound is not fatal — L'ak launches into a violent frenzy that results in Fred’s demise.

Book, Burnham, and Rayner locate Fred's lair soon after and confiscate the synth's body so that Discovery can scan his memory. Rayner hurriedly sets off on his own, but Book and Burnham remain to plot their next move. As they realize that Moll and L'ak must have cloaked their ship outside the settlement, Dr. Culber observes Fred's corpse in Sickbay. The android is an old model — dozens of generations before the tech used for Gray’s body — marked with the serial number "AS0572Y." Stamets deduces that the "AS" was intended to honor Altan Soong*, marveling at the 24th Century scientist’s legacy. The astromycologist needs wires to interface with Fred's memory drive, quipping that — luckily — Culber had married a packrat.

Down on the planet's surface, Moll and L'ak speed by Rayner on sand runners — swift transports used by locals to navigate the terrain. Thanks to their patience and foresight, Burnham and Book had anticipated the chase and already rented three of the vehicles. Rayner isn't impressed by Burnham's "strategic advantages," leaving Discovery 's captain to tell Book that she hasn’t disliked someone this much in 930 years.

Meanwhile, at Federation HQ, two security officers burst into Tilly's quarters as the lieutenant prepares to break the shifting fractal encryption which safeguards a secure Federation database. Vance marches in and intervenes, who astonishingly agrees that Captain Burnham deserves to know why her crew is risking their lives for an 800-year old Romulan ship. The admiral says that it is a "shame" he didn't get to stop Tilly in time and allows her to unlock the file. A shaky holo-recording manifests, depicting Doctor Vellek* — the Romulan whose body they had found. The Romulan scientist warns that his knowledge of an ancient technology beyond all comprehension — hidden in the "shadow of twin moons" — must not be lost or fall into the wrong hands.

On Q’Mau, the Starfleet officers close in on Moll and L'ak, but Rayner ventures ahead once again. Book teases Burnham by claiming that Rayner reminds him of another captain he knows, but the situation intensifies once the thieves reach their starship. Moll and L'ak set course for a nearby mountain's tunnel system so as to avoid detection by Discovery and Antares , and sensors detect an explosive charge in one of the tunnel's entrances. Aware that their foes planned ahead to distract their pursuers with an avalanche. According to Saru, Zora estimates there to be a 30% chance that the disaster would decimate the settlement.

Captain Rayner proposes an unorthodox plan — detonate the charge themselves and block Moll and L'ak's escape route. Burnham disagrees, yet her counterpart insists that she is letting stats get in the way of strategy — though possible, an avalanche is unlikely. As Rayner orders Antares to lock phasers on target, Burnham contends that they are on a non-Federation planet and undertaking a classified mission, but Rayner follows through with his plan. Phaser beams strike down from orbit and seal the tunnel, yet Saru confirms that scans show the mountainside remains stable… at least until Moll and L'ak launch a photon torpedo that sends the rattled cliff into a freefall.

Burnham, Book, and Rayner flee from the rising debris cloud on their sand runners, but Zora announces that the avalanche is reaching speeds of 200 kilometers per hour — there is not enough time to evacuate the local encampment. In Engineering, Stamets and Adira run through several solutions, ultimately landing on the idea of combining Discovery and Antares ' shields to serve as a "brake" for the avalanche. Will it work? Stamets thinks — no, hopes — it will work, finally deciding, "Let’s go with 'hope.'"

Captain Saru starts to organize the maneuver, but Rayner does not want Antares to leave orbit and lose track of Moll and L'ak. Burnham emphasizes that the safety of the civilians in the avalanche's path is now their primary mission, and Rayner relents. Discovery and Antares burst through the atmosphere in a tight formation, fusing their shields together and burying their forward saucers into the planet's desert. The avalanche ripples against the energy barrier, but the starships triumphantly hold the line and inspire cheers from the settlement. The relief is lost on Rayner, who watches as Moll and L'ak escape to warp.

Rayner beams back to the Antares , giving Burnham and Book a moment to enjoy each other's company and confess that they both should have called one another. Still bruised from the ordeal, Burnham takes her admission a step further and reveals that she's not sure how to be around him anymore. Book considers the statement, countering that some things are hard to move past. The heart-to-heart is interrupted by a transmission from Tilly, who tells the captain that she has "wild" answers to her pressing questions.

The Discovery -A employs its spore drive to return to Federation Headquarters, where Captain Saru resolves to have his own private conversation with his partner. T'Rina expresses concern over rumors of Saru's eventful mission. The Kelpien reflects on the danger the civilians had faced and recalls something Tilly had once told him — "life is just a blink." Saru struggles to elaborate, aware that fear had constrained him from embracing love while dealing with the cullings of his youth.***

Had he been endangered by the avalanche, Saru would only have been able to think of T'Rina, therefore their relationship must be factored in as he considers his future. T'Rina is his home, his family, and so much more, and he intends to accept the ambassadorship to be alongside her — always. T’Rina welcomes the news, pleasantly surprising Saru when she proposes they "codify" their bond through marriage.

On Discovery , Captain Burnham enters Sickbay to get an update on Fred from Culber and Stamets. They downloaded the last 15 teraquads of data from his ocular processing unit, giving them an extended look at the pages of Vellek's diary. A handwritten diagram depicting the Vileen system's "twin moons" catches the captain's attention, sending her on a mission to meet Kovich on a holographic representation of a barren planetary surface. Kovich admires her tenacity but claims this Red Directive has been classified for centuries. His threat to pass the assignment to another team doesn't phase Burnham, who knows she holds the key to their target's location.

"The Chase"

Kovich lets out a sheepish grin, aware that Tilly and Vance played key parts in briefing the captain. He discontinues the holo, and — as the two stand in his office — he recounts the details. As one of the greatest scientists of his day, Dr. Vellek, was present when a Starfleet captain — Jean-Luc Picard — found a message left by a race of ancient beings — referred to as the "Progenitors" — who created every humanoid species in the galaxy.** Vellek discovered the technology that the Progenitors used to design life itself, but its location was lost when he disappeared 800 years ago.

Now, either Moll and L'ak know where this powerful find is or the diary is the first piece of the puzzle. Starfleet must track down this technology to prevent it from falling into the wrong hands. Burnham divulges that Lyrek, a planet situated in an outer sector of the Beta Quadrant within the Vileen system, has three moons — two of which move in perfect sync. Pleased, Kovich proclaims that the greatest treasure in the known galaxy is out there, lightheartedly asking the captain what she’s waiting for. Burnham flashes a smile and replies, "Let’s fly."

* " Et in Arcadia Ego, Part 1 " — The dealer in Q'Mau, Fred, is a Soong-inspired synthetic possessed a memory drive that had a serial number with an attribution to Altan Soong. The self-described "mad scientist" is the son of Noonien Soong , the creator of Soong-type androids. Altan Soong would continue his work despite the Federation's ban on synths. His work (and Dr. Maddox's research), known as the Soong Method, on transferring sentience into an artificial golem body was what helped create Gray Tal's new synthetic body's design in "Anomaly."

** " The Chase " — This Star Trek: The Next Generation adventure was where Captain Jean-Luc Picard found himself in a race with the Cardassians, Klingons, and Romulans to solve a four billion year old genetic puzzle. The Romulan Dr. Vellek, one of the greatest scientists of his day, was among those present when Picard discovered a message left by a race of ancient beings known as Progenitors, who created life as we know it — every humanoid species in the galaxy.

*** " An Obol for Charon " — Following Saru's survival of Vahar'ai , he discovered that the maturation process didn't signal death. It was in fact a biological event in the Kelpien's evolution that removed their suppression of fear. Concerned with their own survival, the Ba'ul who lived on Kaminar with Kelpiens exploited their binary nature to oppress the later group.

• Written by Michelle Paradise
• Directed by Olatunde Osunsanmi

"Red Directive" features a dedication:

For JP, with love.

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Jay Stobie (he/him) is a freelance writer, author, and consultant who has contributed articles to StarTrek.com, Star Trek Explorer, and Star Trek Magazine, as well as to Star Wars Insider and StarWars.com. Learn more about Jay by visiting JayStobie.com or finding him on Twitter, Instagram, and other social media platforms at @StobiesGalaxy.

Star Trek: Discovery Seasons 1-4 are streaming exclusively on Paramount+ in the U.S., the UK, Canada, Switzerland, South Korea, Latin America, Germany, France, Italy, Australia and Austria. Seasons 2 and 3 also are available on the Pluto TV “Star Trek” channel in Switzerland, Germany and Austria. The series streams on Super Drama in Japan, TVNZ in New Zealand, and SkyShowtime in Spain, Portugal, Poland, The Nordics, The Netherlands, and Central and Eastern Europe and also airs on Cosmote TV in Greece. The series is distributed by Paramount Global Content Distribution.

'Star Trek: Discovery' opens its 5th and final season in unremarkable fashion (Red Directive recap)

Warning: Spoilers ahead for "Star Trek: Discovery" season 5, episode 1

Well, here we are. Again. It's the fifth and final time around for "Star Trek: Discovery" and the single biggest question every sci-fan will be asking themselves is, will this season actually be any good. The tragic thing is, no one can really remember what happened in season 4 and that speaks directly to the fact that "Discovery" is not exactly a high-scoring show when it comes to rewatchability.

It's been two years and two weeks, give or take a day, since we last saw the crew of the USS Discovery risk everything to save all life in the universe, again. During that time, we've seen a lot of sci-fi, both awesome and awful, including two seasons of " Picard " and " Strange New Worlds ," the third and final season of " The Orville ," season 1 of " Andor ," "The Book of Boba Fett," "Ahsoka" and the less said about "Obi-Wan Kenobi," the better. If you're wondering where to see all that Trek, check out our Star Trek streaming guide for Paramount Plus and more.

Not to mention, the vastly underrated second season of "Invasion" and "Halo" seasons 1 and 2, plus, the first mind-blowing season of "Silo" the second and sadly last season of " Avenue 5 " and two seasons of " For All Mankind ." The point is that the standard has, for the most part, been refreshingly high. And frankly before we even get into season 5 of "Discovery," it's worth remembering that what executive producers and showrunners Alex Kurtzman  and Michelle Paradise have given us up until now, has not exactly been a consistently high quality of sci-fi writing. In fact, it's been rather disappointing.

Related: 5 things Star Trek: Discovery season 5 needs to fix

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Are we in-store for another cookie-cutter season of what's-in-the-box plot threads that deliver misdirected build ups with unsatisfying pay offs...you know like we have for the past two seasons plus all three seasons of "Picard"..? Even "Andor," despite its peak and trough-style of repetitive set-piece storytelling, was impressive and that was down to how well those set pieces had been fleshed out along with well written character development and dialogue. Less can very easily be so much more. 

Moreover, now we're in the 32nd century and we've seen that transporter technology can be used to replace stairs and even change outfits, so to be perfectly honest, there really isn't a single story idea that cannot be solved by a simple combination of transporter and replicator technology. Not to mention smartmatter. Ah, hello smartmatter, my old friend. Because this is what happens when you throw three seasons of a "Star Trek" series 1,164 years into the future.

Regardless, it would seem that within the story, between four and six months have passed since the events of last season , where you may remember, the United Federation of Planets was desperately trying to save all life as we know from being accidentally exterminated by species 10-C, all while Ruon Tarka (Shawn Doyle) was still hell bent on using the illudium Q-36 explosive space modulator to destroy the dark matter anomaly. Book (David Ajala) gets killed when his ship explodes then bought back to life before he faces repercussions for siding with Tarka. General Ndoye (Phumzile Sitole) seems to get away scot-free despite sabotaging the Discovery's warp drive and everyone lives happily ever after. 

Coming in at nearly 60 minutes long, the premiere episode is titled "Red Directive" and drops at the same time as the second episode, entitled "Under The Twin Moons." Michelle Paradise wrote the former, which could explain why it's so dull, and Olatunde Osunsanmi directed. The latter was written by Alan B. McElroy and directed by Douglas Aarniokoski, so fingers the second installment might be a bit better. Aarniokoski directed the season 3 premiere episode of "Picard" and while the rest of that was a disappointing, drawn out, nostalgia-fueled, 10-episode long epilogue to another series that ended three decades ago, the premiere installment was actually okay. 

The gang seems mostly all here, including Lt. Tilly (Mary Wiseman) and Adira (Blu del Barrio) and there are some characters who don't seem to have made it back, some of whom will be very much missed, like Grudge, while others won't be. No sign of Zora yet either. It's also entirely likely that the amazing talents of Callum Keith Rennie, who plays a Starfleet Captain named Rayner, will be spectacularly underused, much like Todd Stashwick was in season 3 of "Picard."

Credit to the production team though, as they're are really making the most of their Volume-esque video wall soundstage. There are a couple of interesting choices in terms of editing, much like there were in the second season premiere where Alex Kurtzman showed us what he'd learned in the Vince Gilligan School of Cinematography. It's doubtful we'll ever see them again, just like we didn't before. 

To conclude then, the opening episode of the final season "Star Trek: Discovery" is a far, far cry from strong openings that this show has demonstrated it's capable of in the past. And that's a sentence we've had to write far too many times. The TNG throwback right at the end is...well, disappointing, mostly because of the extent that nostalgic fan service has been dialed up since the first episode of Nu-Trek aired in September 2017. However, it could still provide an interesting story thread — we will just have to wait and see.

The fifth and final season of "Star Trek: Discovery" and every episode of every "Star Trek" show — with the exception of "Star Trek: Prodigy" — currently streams exclusively on Paramount Plus in the US while "Prodigy" has found a new home o n Netflix.  

Internationally, the shows are available on Paramount Plus in Australia, Latin America, the UK and South Korea, as well as on Pluto TV in Austria, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and Switzerland on the Pluto TV Sci-Fi channel. They also stream on Paramount Plus in Italy, France, Germany, Switzerland and Austria. In Canada, they air on Bell Media's CTV Sci-Fi Channel and stream on Crave.