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Inside the ‘Star Trek: Discovery’ Series Finale: The Last-Minute Coda, the Surprise Easter Eggs, and What Season 6 Would Have Been About (EXCLUSIVE)

SPOILER WARNING: This story includes descriptions of major plot developments on the series finale of “ Star Trek : Discovery,” currently streaming on Paramount+.

Watching the fifth and final season of “ Star Trek: Discovery ” has been an exercise in the uncanny. Paramount+ didn’t announce that the show was ending until after the Season 5 finale had wrapped filming — no one involved with the show knew it would be its concluding voyage when they were making it. And yet, the season has unfolded with a pervasive feeling of culmination. 

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“I think there’s more to it than just, ‘Oh, it was a coinkydink!’” the actor says with a laugh, before explaining that she’s thinking more about subtext than direct intent. “I’ve gotta give Michelle her flowers. She has always asked the deeper questions of this story and these characters. Those questions of meaning and purpose led to questions of origin and legacy, and, yes, that is quite culminating.”

Martin-Green and Paradise spoke exclusively with Variety about filming the finale and the coda, including the surprising revelation about the origins of one of “Discovery’s” most memorable characters and what Paradise’s plans for Season 6 would have been.

“It’s the Most Complicated Thing I’ve Ever Seen”

Once the “Discovery” writers’ room decided the season would be organized around a search for the Progenitor’s technology, they also knew that, eventually, Burnham would find it. So then they had to figure out what it would be.

“That was a discussion that evolved over the course of weeks and months,” Paradise says. Rather than focus on communicating the intricate details of how the technology works, they turned their attention to delivering a visual experience commensurate with the enormity and complexity of something that could seed life across the entire galaxy.

“We wanted a sense of a smaller exterior and an infinite interior to help with that sense of power greater than us,” Paradise says. Inspired in part by a drawing by MC Escher, the production created an environment surrounded by towering windows into a seemingly endless procession of alien planets, in which it’s just as easy to walk on the walls as on the floor. That made for a daunting challenge for the show’s producing director, Olatunde “Tunde” Osunsanmi: As Burnham battles with the season’s main antagonist, Mol (Eve Harlow), inside this volume, they fall through different windows into another world, and the laws of gravity keep shifting between their feet.

“It’s the most complicated thing I’ve ever seen, directorially,” Paradise says. “Tunde had a map, in terms of: What did the background look like? And when the cameras this way, what’s over there? It was it was incredibly complex to design and shoot.”

Two of those planets — one in perpetual darkness and rainstorms, another consumed by constant fire — were shot on different parking areas on the Pinewood Toronto studio lot.

“The fire planet was so bright that the fire department got called from someone who had seen the fire,” Paradise says. “It should not be possible to pull those kinds of things off in a television show, even on a bigger budget show, with the time limitations that you have. And yet, every episode of every season, we’re still coming in on time and on budget. The rain planet and the fire planet we shot, I believe, one day after the other.”

Martin-Green jumps in: “Michelle, I think that was actually the same day!”

“It Felt Lifted”

The last time a “Star Trek” captain talked to a being that could be (erroneously) considered God, it was William Shatner’s James T. Kirk in 1989’s “Star Trek: The Final Frontier.” The encounter did not go well.

“I had my own journey with the central storyline of Season 5, just as a believer,” Martin-Green says. “I felt a similar way that Burnham did. They’re in this sort of liminal mind space, and it almost felt that way to me. It felt lifted. It really did feel like she and I were the only two people in this moment.”

It’s in this conversation that Burnham learns that while the Progenitors did create all “humanoid” alien species in the galaxy in their image, they did not create the technology that allowed them to do so. They found it, fully formed, created by beings utterly unknown to them. The revelation was something that Martin-Green discussed with Paradise early on in the planning of Season 5, allowing “Discovery” to leave perhaps the most profound question one could ask — what, or who, came first in the cosmos? — unanswered.

“The progenitor is not be the be all end all of it,” Paradise says. “We’re not saying this is God with a capital ‘G.’”

“There’s Just This Air of Mystery About Him”

Starting on Season 3 of “Discovery,” renowned filmmaker David Cronenberg began moonlighting in a recurring role as Dr. Kovich, a shadowy Federation operative whose backstory has been heretofore undisclosed on the show.

“I love the way he plays Kovich,” Paradise says of Cronenberg. “There’s just this air of mystery about him. We’ve always wanted to know more.” When planning Season 5, one of the writers pitched revealing Kovich’s true identity in the (then-season) finale by harkening back to the “Star Trek” show that preceded “Discovery”: “Enterprise,” which ran on UPN from 2001 to 2005.

In the final episode, when Burnham debriefs her experiences with Kovich, she presses him to tell her who he really is. He reintroduces himself as Agent Daniels, a character first introduced on “Enterprise” as a young man (played by Matt Winston) and a Federation operative in the temporal cold war. 

This is, to be sure, a deep cut even for “Star Trek” fans. (Neither Cronenberg nor Martin-Green, for example, understood the reference.) But Paradise says they were laying the groundwork for the reveal from the beginning of the season. “If you watch Season 5 with that in mind, you can see the a little things that we’ve played with along the way,” she says, including Kovich/Daniels’ penchant for anachonistic throwbacks like real paper and neckties.

“I didn’t know that that was going be there,” Martin-Green says. “My whole childhood came back to me.”

“We Always Knew That We Wanted to Somehow Tie That Back Up”

Originally, Season 5 of “Discovery” ends with Burnham and Book talking on the beach outside the wedding of Saru (Doug Jones) and T’Rina (Tara Rosling) before transporting away to their next adventure. But Paradise understood that the episode needed something more conclusive once it became the series finale. The question was what.

There were some significant guardrails around what they could accomplish. The production team had only eight weeks from when Paramout+ and CBS Studios signed off on the epilogue to when they had to shoot it. Fortunately, the bridge set hadn’t been struck yet (though several standing sets already had been). And the budget allowed only for three days of production.

Then there was “Calypso.” 

To fill up the long stretches between the first three seasons of “Discovery,” CBS Studios and Paramount+ greenlit a series of 10 stand-alone episodes, dubbed “Short Treks,” that covered a wide variety of storylines and topics. The second “Short Trek” — titled “Calypso” and co-written by novelist Michael Chabon — first streamed between Season 1 and 2 in November 2018. It focuses on a single character named Craft (Aldis Hodge), who is rescued by the USS Discovery after the starship — and its now-sentient computer system, Zora (Annabelle Wallis) — has sat totally vacant for 1,000 years in the same fixed point in space. How the Discovery got there, and why it was empty for so long, were left to the viewer’s imagination. 

Still, for a show that had only just started its run, “Calypso” had already made a bold promise for “Discovery’s” endgame — one the producers had every intention of keeping.

“We always knew that we wanted to somehow tie that back up,” says Paradise, who joined the writers’ room in Season 2, and became showrunner starting with Season 3. “We never wanted ‘Calypso’ to be the dangling Chad.”

So much so, in fact, that, as the show began winding down production on Season 5, Paradise had started planning to make “Calypso” the central narrative engine for Season 6. 

“The story, nascent as it was, was eventually going to be tying that thread up and connecting ‘Discovery’ back with ‘Calypso,’” she says.

Once having a sixth season was no longer an option, Paradise knew that resolving the “Calypso” question was non-negotiable. “OK, well, we’re not going to have a season to do that,” she says. “So how do we do that elegantly in this very short period of time?”

“I Feel Like It Ends the Way It Needed to End”

Resolving “Calypso” provided the storytelling foundation for the epilogue, but everything else was about giving its characters one final goodbye.

“We want to know what’s happening to Burnham, first and foremost,” Paradise says. “And we knew we wanted to see the cast again.”

For the latter, Paradise and Jarrow devised a conceit that an older Burnham, seated in the captain’s chair on Discovery, imagines herself surrounded by her crew 30 years prior, so she (and the audience) could connect with them one final time. For the former, the makeup team designed prosthetics to age up Martin-Green and Ajala by 30 years — “I think they were tested as they were running on to the set,” Paradise says with a laugh — to illustrate Burnham and Book’s long and happy marriage together.

Most crucially, Paradise cut a few lines of Burnham’s dialogue with Book from the original Season 5 finale and moved it to a conversation she has with her son in the coda. The scene — which evokes the episode’s title, “Life Itself” — serves as both a culminating statement of purpose for “Discovery” and the overarching compassion and humanity of “Star Trek” as a whole.

To reassure her son about his first command of a starship, Burnham recalls when the ancient Progenitor asked what was most meaningful to her. “Do you know how you would answer that question now?” he asks.

“Yeah, just being here,” Burnham replies. “You know, sometimes life itself is meaning enough, how we choose to spend the time that we have, who we spend it with: You, Book, and the family I found in Starfleet, on Discovery.”

Martin-Green relished the opportunity to revisit the character she’s played for seven years when she’s reached the pinnacle of her life and career. “You just get to see this manifestation of legacy in this beautiful way,” she says. “I will also say that I look a lot like my mom, and that was that was also a gift, to be able to see her.”

Shooting the goodbye with the rest of her cast was emotional, unsurprisingly, but it led Martin-Green to an unexpected understanding. “It actually was so charged that it was probably easier that it was only those three days that we knew it was the end, and not the entirety of season,” she says.

Similarly, Paradise says she’s “not sure” what more she would’ve done had there been more time to shoot the coda. “I truly don’t feel like we missed out on something by not having one more day,” she says. “I feel like it ends the way it needed to end.”

Still, getting everything done in just three days was no small feat, either. “I mean, we worked ’round the clock,” Martin-Green says with a deep laugh. “We were delirious by the end — but man, what a way to end it.”

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‘Star Trek: Discovery’ is over. Now Alex Kurtzman readies for ‘Starfleet Academy’ and ‘Section 31’

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In “Star Trek” terms, and in the real world of “Star Trek” television, Alex Kurtzman, who oversees the 21st century franchise, might be described as the Federation president, from whose offices various series depart on their individual missions. Indeed, to hear him speak of it, the whole enterprise — honestly, no pun intended — seems to run very much on the series’ ethos of individual initiative and group consensus.

The first series to be launched, “ Star Trek: Discovery, ” has come to an end as of Thursday after five seasons on Paramount+. Others in the fleet include the concluded “ Picard, ” which brought “The Next Generation” into a new generation; the ongoing “ Strange New Worlds, ” which precedes the action of what’s now called “The Original Series,” from which it takes its spirit and several characters; “Lower Decks,” a comedy set among Starfleet service workers; and “Prodigy,” in which a collection of teenage aliens go joyriding in a starship. On the horizon are “Starfleet Academy,” with Holly Hunter set to star, and a TV feature, “ Section 31, ” with Michelle Yeoh back as Philippa Georgiou.

I spoke with Kurtzman, whose “Trek” trek began as a writer on the quantum-canonical reboot movies “ Star Trek ” (2009) and “ Star Trek: Into Darkness ” (2013), at Secret Hideout, his appropriately unmarked Santa Monica headquarters. Metro trains glide by his front door unaware. We began the conversation, edited for length and clarity here, with a discussion of his “Trek” universe.

Alex Kurtzman: I liken them to different colors in the rainbow. It makes no sense to me to make one show that’s for everybody; it makes a lot of sense to make a lot of shows individually tailored to a sect of the “Star Trek” audience. It’s a misnomer that there’s a one-size-fits-all Trekkie. And rather than make one show that’s going to please everybody — and will almost certainly please nobody — let’s make an adult drama, an animated comedy, a kids’ comedy, an adventure show and on and on. There’s something quite beautiful about that; it allows each of the stories to bloom in its own unique way.

Do you get pushback from the fans?

Absolutely. In some ways that’s the point. One of the things I learned early on is that to be in love with “Star Trek” is to engage in healthy debate. There is no more vocal fan base. Some people tell you that their favorite is “The Original Series,” some say their favorite is “Voyager” and some say their favorite is “Discovery.” Yet they all come together and talk about what makes something singularly “Trek” — [creator] Gene Roddenberry‘s extraordinarily optimistic vision of the future when all that divides us [gets placed] in the rearview mirror and we get to move on and discover things. Like all great science fiction, you get to pick your allegory to the real world and come up with the science fiction equivalent. And everybody who watches understands what we’re talking about — racism or the Middle East or whatever.

What specific objections did you find to “Discovery”?

I think people felt it was too dark. We really listen to our fans in the writers’ room — everybody will have read a different article or review over the weekend, and we talk about what feels relevant and what feels less relevant. And then we engage in a healthy democratic debate about why and begin to apply that; it seeps into the decisions we make. Season 1 of “Discovery” was always intended to be a journey from darkness into light, and ultimately reinforce Roddenberry’s vision. I think people were just stunned by something that felt darker than any “Trek” had before. But doing a dark “Star Trek” really wasn’t our goal. The show is a mirror that holds itself up to the times, and we were in 2017 — we saw the nation fracture hugely right after the election, and it’s only gotten worse since then. We were interpreting that through science fiction. There were people who appreciated that and others for whom it was just not “Star Trek.” And the result, in Season 2, Capt. [Christopher] Pike showed up, Number One showed up, Spock showed up, and we began to bring in what felt to people more like the “Star Trek” they understood.

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You’re ending the series after five seasons. Was that always a plan?

You know, we were surprised we didn’t continue, and yet it feels now that it was right. One of the things that happened very quickly as streaming took off was that it radically changed watch patterns for viewers. Shows that used to go 10, 12 seasons, people would tap out after two — like, “I got what I want” — so for any show to go five seasons, it’s a miracle. In ways I don’t think we could have predicted, the season from the beginning feels like it’s the last; it just has a sense of finality. The studio was wonderful in that they recognized we needed to put a button on it, we needed a period on the end of the sentence, and so they allowed us to go back, which we did right before the strike, and [film] the coda that wraps up the series.

“Discovery” is a riot of love stories, among both heroes and villains.

There’s certainly a history of that in “Star Trek.” Whether or not characters were engaged in direct relationships, there was always a subtext of the love between them. I believe that’s why we love the bridge crew, because it’s really a love story, everyone’s in a love story, and they all care for each other and fight like family members. But ultimately they’re there to help each other and explore the universe together. If there’s some weird problem, and the answer’s not immediately apparent, each of them brings a different skill set and therefore a different perspective; they clash in their debate on how to proceed and then find some miraculous solution that none of them would have thought of at the outset.

One of the beautiful things about the shows is that you get to spend a long time with them, as opposed to a two-hour movie where you have to get in and out quickly and then wait a couple of years before the next one comes along. To be able to be on their weekly adventures, it affords the storytelling level of depth and complexity a two-hour movie just can’t achieve in that way.

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It’s astonishing how much matter you got into these things. Some storylines that only lasted an episode I remembered as seasonal arcs.

The sheer tonnage of story and character we were able to pack into “Discovery” every episode was kind of incredible. The thing to keep in mind is that “Discovery” was made as streaming was exploding, so what I think you’re also seeing there is a lot of writers who were trained in the network world with an A, B and C story applying it suddenly to a very different kind of storytelling in a much more cinematic medium. And when you have that kind of scope it starts to become really, really big. Sometimes that works really, really well and sometimes it was too much. And we were figuring it out; it was a bunch of people with flashlights in the dark, looking for how to interpret “Star Trek” now, since it had been 12 years since it had been on a television screen.

Are you able to course-correct within a season?

Sure. You get people you really trust in the room. Aaron Baiers, who runs Secret Hideout, is one of my most important early-warning systems; he isn’t necessarily in the room when we’re breaking stories, but he’s the first person who’ll read an outline and he’s the first person who’ll read a script. What I value so much about his perspective is that he’s coming in cold, he’s just like, “I’m the viewer, and I understand this or I don’t understand it, I feel this or I don’t feel it.” The studio executives are very similar. They love “Star Trek,” they’re all die-hard fans and have very strong feelings about what is appropriate. It then goes through a series of artists in every facet, from props to visual effects to production design, and they’re bringing their interpretations and opinions to the story.

Did “Strange New Worlds” come out of the fact that everybody loved seeing Christopher Pike in “Discovery?”

I really have to credit Akiva Goldsman with this. He knew that I was going to bring Pike into the premiere of the second season of “Discovery,” and said, “You know, there’s an incredible show about Capt. Pike and the Enterprise before Kirk takes over; there’s seven years of great storytelling there” — or five years, depending on when you come into the storyline. I said, “We have to cast a successful Pike first, so let’s see if that works. Let’s figure out who’s Number One, and who Spock is,” which are wildly tall orders. I hadn’t seen Anson Mount in other things before [he was cast as Pike], and when he sent in his taped audition it was that wonderful moment where you go, “That’s exactly the person we’re looking for.” Everybody loves Pike because he’s the kind of leader you want, definitive and clear but open to everyone’s perspective and humanistic in his response. And then we had the incredibly tall order of having Ethan [Peck] step into Leonard [Nimoy’s] and [Zachary Quinto’s] shoes.

He’s great.

He’s amazing, just a delight of a human being. And Rebecca Romijn‘s energy, what she brings to Number One is such a contemporary take on a character that was kind of a cipher in “The Original Series.” But she brings a kind of joy, a comedy, a bearing, a gravitas to the character that feels very modern. Thank God the fans responded the way they did and sent that petition [calling for a “Legacy” series], because everybody at CBS got the message very quickly. Jenny Lumet and Akiva and I wrote a pilot, and we were off to the races. Typically it takes fans a minute to adjust to what you’re doing, especially with beloved legacy characters, but the response to “Strange New World” from a critical perspective and fan perspective and just a viewership perspective was so immediate, it really did help us understand what was satisfying fans.

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What can you tell me about “Starfleet Academy?” Is it going to be Earth-based or space-based?

I’m going to say, without giving anything away, both. Right now we’re in the middle of answering the question what does San Francisco, where the academy is, look like in the 32nd century. Our primary set is the biggest we’ve ever built.

So you’re setting this —

In the “Discovery” era. There’s a specific reason for that. As the father of a 17-year-old boy, I see what my son is feeling as he looks at the world and to his future. I see the uncertainty; I see all the things we took for granted as given are not certainties for him. I see him recognizing he’s inheriting an enormous mess to clean up and it’s going to be on his generation to figure out how to do that, and that’s a lot to ask of a kid. My thinking was, if we set “Starfleet Academy” in the halcyon days of the Federation where everything was fine, it’s not going to speak to what kids are going through right now.

It’ll be a nice fantasy, but it’s not really going to be authentic. What’ll be authentic is to set it in the timeline where this is the first class back after over 100 years, and they are coming into a world that is only beginning to recover from a cataclysm — which was the Burn, as established on “Star Trek: Discovery,” where the Federation was greatly diminished. So they’re the first who’ll inherit, who’ll re-inherit, the task of exploration as a primary goal, because there just wasn’t room for that during the Burn — everybody was playing defense. It’s an incredibly optimistic show, an incredibly fun show; it’s a very funny show, and it’s a very emotional show. I think these kids, in different ways, are going to represent what a lot of kids are feeling now.

And I’m very, very , very excited that Holly Hunter is the lead of the show. Honestly, when we were working on the scripts, we wrote it for Holly thinking she’d never do it. And we sent them to her, and to our absolute delight and shock she loved them and signed on right away.

And then you’ve got the “Section 31” movie.

“Section 31” is Michelle Yeoh’s return as Georgiou. A very, very different feeling for “Star Trek.” I will always be so grateful to her, because on the heels of her nomination and then her Oscar win , she just doubled down on coming back to “Star Trek.” She could have easily walked away from it; she had a lot of other opportunities. But she remained steadfast and totally committed. We just wrapped that up and are starting to edit now.

Are you looking past “Starfleet” and “Section 31” to future projects?

There’s always notions and there are a couple of surprises coming up, but I really try to live in the shows that are in front of me in the moment because they’re so all-consuming. I’m directing the first two episodes of “Starfleet Academy,” so right now my brain is just wholly inside that world. But you can tell “Star Trek” stories forever; there’s always more. There’s something in the DNA of its construction that allows you to keep opening different doors. Some of that is science fiction, some of it has to do with the combination of science fiction and the organic embracing of all these other genres that lets you explore new territories. I don’t think it’s ever going to end. I think it’s going to go on for a long, long time. The real question for “Star Trek” is how do you keep innovating, how do you deliver both what people expect and something totally fresh at the same time. Because I think that is actually what people want from “Star Trek.” They want what’s familiar delivered in a way that doesn’t feel familiar.

With all our showrunners — Terry Matalas on “Picard,” the Hagemans on “Prodigy,” Mike McMahan on “Lower Decks,” Michelle Paradise, who has been singlehandedly running “Discovery” for the last two years, and then Akiva and Henry Alonso Myers on “Strange New Worlds” — my feeling is that the best way to protect and preserve “Star Trek” is not to impose my own vision on it but [find people] who meet the criteria of loving “Star Trek,” wanting to do new things with it, understanding how incredibly hard it is to do. And then I’m going to let you do your job. I’ll come in and tell you what I think every once in a while, and I’ll help get the boat off the dock, but once I hand the show over to a creative it has to be their show. And that means you’re going to get a different take every time, and as long as those takes all feel like they can marry into the same rainbow, to get back to the metaphor, that’s the way to keep “Star Trek” fresh.

I take great comfort because “Star Trek” really only belongs to Gene Roddenberry and the fans. We don’t own it. We carry it, we try to evolve it and then we hand it off to the next people. And hopefully they will love it as much as we do.

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Star Trek: Discovery

Ten years before Kirk, Spock, and the Enterprise, the USS Discovery discovers new worlds and lifeforms as one Starfleet officer learns to understand all things alien. Ten years before Kirk, Spock, and the Enterprise, the USS Discovery discovers new worlds and lifeforms as one Starfleet officer learns to understand all things alien. Ten years before Kirk, Spock, and the Enterprise, the USS Discovery discovers new worlds and lifeforms as one Starfleet officer learns to understand all things alien.

• Bryan Fuller
• Alex Kurtzman
• Sonequa Martin-Green
• Anthony Rapp
• 4.5K User reviews
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• 21 wins & 87 nominations total

Episodes 65

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• Michael Burnham …

• Lt. Cmdr. Paul Stamets …

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• Cleveland Booker

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• Trivia The Starfleet vessels seen in the first season, including the Discovery, the Shenzou and the redesigned Enterprise, were all designed by production artist John Eaves. Eaves' work with Star Trek spans three decades. Probably his most notable contribution was the design of the Enterprise-E for Star Trek: First Contact (1996) .
• Goofs With Michael being the adoptive sister of Spock, the series has many flashbacks to their childhood and upbringing on Vulcan. Spock's Vulcan half-brother, Sybok, does not appear nor is mention during these scenes. In Star Trek V: The Final Frontier (1989) , Spock says that he and Sybok grew up together. However, since it's never stated when Sybok joined Sarek's home - only that he did so following his mother's death - or when he was exiled from the family, it's not impossible Sybok moved in after Burnham, and left before she graduated (the two extremes of the flashbacks). Also, since Sybok was never mentioned before Star Trek V, it seems reasonable the family never spoke of him again after his estrangement.
• Alternate versions The serif-font legends and subtitles in the "broadcast" episodes are absent from the DVD versions, where they are replaced with the standard DVD subtitles.
• Connections Featured in MsMojo: Top 10 Female Lead TV Shows You Should Be Watching in 2017 (2017)

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• September 24, 2017 (United States)
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Star Trek: Discoverys Pilot Just Joined Enterprises Legacy

Warning: This Article Contains SPOILERS for Star Trek: Discovery Season 5, Episode 5 - "Mirrors"

• Keyla Detmer piloted the ISS Enterprise in Star TrekL Discovery season 5, joining the ranks of Enterprise helmsman in the process.
• The USS Enterprise has had other notable helmsmen like Sulu and Geordi La Forge across different versions.
• Discovery provided Detmer with the chance to pilot a version of the Enterprise, filmed on the set of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.

Star Trek: Discovery season 5 enabled the show's pilot, Keyla Detmer (Emily Coutts) to join an important legacy for the USS Enterprise. Detmer has been the helmsman of the USS Discovery since season 1, and an integral part of Discovery 's cast of characters up through season 5 . Although she has largely been a supporting character on Discovery , Detmer has still enjoyed some important moments, including a few memorable subplots in both seasons 1 and 3.

Despite Detmer not appearing in Discovery season 5, episode 5 , the show bestowed an important milestone on her off-screen. Episode 5 saw the retrieval of the Mirror Universe's ISS Enterprise after a clue in the search for the Progenitor's technology led Captain Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) and Cleveland Booker (David Ajala) to a heated confrontation with L'ak (Elias Toufexis) and Moll (Eve Harlow) on the abandoned ship. Discovery managed to save the Mirror Enterprise from interdimensional space , and Captain Burham assigned Lieutenant Commander Detmer and Owosekun (Oyin Oladejo) to take it back to Federation Headquarters.

5 Ways Star Trek: Discoverys Mirror Enterprise Is Different From USS Enterprise

Star trek: discoverys pilot commander detmer is the latest enterprise helmsman, detmer flew the iss enterprise in discovery season 5.

Thanks to episode 5, Detmer has joined the ranks of those who had piloted a version of the Enterprise in Star Trek history . Detmer could have had the opportunity to pilot the USS Enterprise during Discovery season 2, especially considering that its Captain Christopher Pike (Anson Mount) , was a main character on the show. Discovery 's time jump to the 32nd century made any further encounters with the Prime Universe's Enterprise impossible, but season 5 finally gave Detmer the chance to be included in the category of legendary Enterprise helmsman.

It seems Discovery has given Detmer the chance to pilot the only Enterprise she will likely ever get to during the rest of the show's run.

Although the ISS Enterprise is different from the Prime Universe's USS Enterprise, the two are similar enough that Discovery filmed episode 5's Enterprise scenes on the set for Star Trek: Strange New Worlds , which is set on the USS Enterprise in Discovery 's old time period, the 23rd century. It seems Discovery has given Detmer the chance to pilot the only Enterprise she will likely ever get to during the rest of the show's run. Of course, Detmer piloting any version of the USS Enterprise is still a huge honor, considering which characters she shares the distinction with.

Star Treks Enterprise Helmsmen Explained

The uss enterprise has had some notable helmsmen.

The various versions of the Enterprise have had some incredible helmsmen, and the ship has the interesting distinction of being piloted by two father-daughter teams at different times . The most famous Enterprise Helmsman is, of course, Hikaru Sulu (George Takei) from Star Trek: The Original Series . Sulu and his other versions, including his Mirror Universe counterpart, faithfully piloted the Enterprise for many years of the franchise's timeline, and Sulu's daughter, Demora (Jacqueline Kim) took on the task years later during Star Trek Generations .

Sulu isn't the only famous character to have been an Enterprise helmsman, however. Geordi La Forge (LeVar Burton) was the initial helmsman for the USS Enterprise-D in Star Trek: The Next Generation , and like Sulu would share the honor with his daughter, Sidney (Ashlei Sharpe Chestnut) who took on the role in Star Trek: Picard season 3. More recently, Strange New Worlds introduced Erica Ortegas (Melissa Navia) as the helmsman under Captain Pike. Ortegas has proved to be one of Star Trek 's best pilots and a memorable addition to the Enterprise pilot ranks , similar to Detmer on Star Trek: Discovery .

New episodes of Star Trek: Discovery season 5 stream Thursdays on Paramount+.

Star Trek: Discovery

Star Trek: Discovery is an entry in the legendary Sci-Fi franchise, set ten years before the original Star Trek series events. The show centers around Commander Michael Burnham, assigned to the USS Discovery, where the crew attempts to prevent a Klingon war while traveling through the vast reaches of space.

Cast Blu del Barrio, Oded Fehr, Anthony Rapp, Sonequa Martin-Green, Doug Jones, Wilson Cruz, Eve Harlow, Mary Wiseman, Callum Keith Rennie

Release Date September 24, 2017

Genres Drama, Sci-Fi, Adventure

Streaming Service(s) Paramount+

Franchise(s) Star Trek

Writers Alex Kurtzman

Directors Jonathan Frakes, Olatunde Osunsanmi

Showrunner Alex Kurtzman

Where To Watch Paramount+

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Hikaru Sulu

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Hikaru Sulu was a secondary protagonist in the original Star Trek series and the various media based on the series.

Sulu was first introduced in the pilot episode Where No Man has Gone Before . At the time he served as the ship's physicist on the Enterprise under the command of James T. Kirk . Following the untimely death of Lee Kelso at the hands of Gary Mitchell , Sulu moved from science over to operations, and became the chief helmsman on the Enterprise .

Over the next five years Sulu served with distinction on the Enterprise , becoming very loyal to Captain Kirk. Sulu became close friends with many of his fellow officers on the Enterprise , including Spock , Leonard McCoy , Montgomery Scott , and Nyota Uhura . He was particularly close to Pavel Chekov , who sat next to him as navigator during the first five year mission.

Sulu would continue to serve under Kirk following the first five year mission. Seeing potential in the young man, Kirk arranged for his field promotion from Lieutenant to Lieutenant Commander. Seeing a strong leader in Sulu, Kirk encouraged him to pursue the command track, and had Sulu serve as his first officer when Spock was absent from the Enterprise .

A chance meeting with a woman named Susan Ling led to Sulu fathering a daughter named Demora Sulu . After Ling died of Sukaro's disease, Demora came to live with Sulu and eventually followed in his footsteps as a Starfleet officer, later becoming Captain of a Federation starship Enterprise .

Sulu as Captain of the Excelsior .

By 2290 Sulu was promoted to Captain and named the commanding officer of the Excelsior after the death of Captain Styles at the hands of the Klingon pirate Qagh . His actions in the immediate aftermath helped cripple Qagh's organization, provide the means to cure the remaining human-like Klingons of the effects of the Qu'vat virus, and give the Klingon government enough advanced warning to greatly reduce the damage that Qagh's bioweapons attack on Qo'noS did to the Klingon people. A good word from Ambassador Kamarag resulted in Starfleet making Sulu's promotion to Captain and commanding officer of the Excelsior permanent.

After a three year mission cataloguing gaseous anomalies in the Beta Quadrant he played a vital role in ensuring the success of the Khitomer Conference between the Federation and Klingon Empire.

Eventually the first officer slot on the USS Excelsior opened up and Commander Chekov was available, so Sulu selected him as first officer. The two friends served together for several years before Chekov was finally promoted to Captain and given command of the USS Undaunted . In 2295 one of Qagh's bioweapons activated, killing the children of Kor , Kang , and Koloth . The three Klingons and Curzon Dax all swore a blood oath to hunt Qagh down and kill him, with Kang declaring he would cut the Albino's heart out and eat it while the dying Albino watched. The bioweapon also targeted Demora Sulu, but as she had been conceived after Sulu had visited Omega IV - which was the source of Qagh's bioweapons - she had some immunity to the weapon and recovered after several days of illness. Even though Demora survived the Klingons invited Sulu to join them in the blood oath. Sulu declined, feeling it was not proper for a Starfleet Captain to swear such an oath, but did promise to help as much as legally possible.

At the close of the 23rd century, Sulu helped Starfleet Intelligence operative Elias Vaughn disrupt a Romulan Tal'Shiar plot to wreck Federation / Klingon relations.

Sulu continued to serve as the Captain of the Excelsior for many years until the ship was decommissioned in 2320. After retiring from Starfleet he would serve as Federation President. In 2344 either Sulu, his daughter, or his grandson sponsored a young man named Chakotay for admission to Starfleet Academy.

• Sources differ on who the Captain Sulu was that Chakotay mentioned in the Voyager episode Tattoo , with some suggesting that it was Hikaru Sulu while others suggest it was Demora Sulu (even though Chakotay referred to Sulu as a he in the episode). The novel Pathways stated it was Sulu's grandson Hiromi who sponsored Chakotay.

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The One Thing Star Trek's George Takei Really Wanted For Sulu But Never Got

In the original "Star Trek," only three actors were credited at the start of the show: William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, and DeForest Kelley. For many watching the series — and for the actors especially — those three were the leads, while the rest of the recurring ensemble were mere supporting players. Shatner, Nimoy, and Kelley certainly had the most screen time on "Star Trek," yet they often advocated for more. Eventually, Shatner and Nimoy became such whiny spotlight hogs that show creator Gene Roddenberry had to write an angry letter , demanding the actors stop whining and get back to work.

Trekkies, however, knew better than Shatner and Nimoy. "Star Trek" was always an ensemble piece about a core cast of multiple characters. In addition to the three "leads," the show also regularly featured chief engineer Scott/Scotty (James Doohan), communications officer Uhura (Nichelle Nichols), Ensign Chekov (Walter Koenig), Yeoman Rand (Grace Lee Whitney), and Nurse Chapel (Majel Barrett). Meanwhile, always sitting at the helm and flying the ship was Lieutenant Sulu (George Takei).

Takei, along with most "Star Trek" viewers, saw the above group as a whole and vitally important senior staff on board the U.S.S. Enterprise. Captain Kirk might have been commanding the ship, but everyone else was just as capable and professional. Indeed, the whole point of "Star Trek" was to depict a future wherein a diverse cross-section of humanity could gather together, work without bickering, and devote themselves collectively to a mission of peaceful exploration.

Back in 2010, Takei was interviewed by StarTrek.com , and the actor admitted that during his tenure playing Sulu, he never got to talk about his family. It wouldn't be until 1994's "Star Trek: Generation" (which Takei wasn't in) that Sulu's family was mentioned.

Sulu finally got a daughter in Star Trek: Generations

Takei recalled his early days on "Star Trek" and the relief he felt in not playing a broad stereotype. Takei was born in Los Angeles to Japanese parents, but when he began acting professionally in the 1950s, roles for Asian and Asian-American men were limited. In his own words:

"From the very beginning I thought it was a breakthrough opportunity. Just to be able to play a member of the leadership team, without an accent, was hugely important. So many Asians back then were, first of all, stereotypes and spoke with a heavy accent. So I thought I could parlay that into something substantial for the character."

Sulu's backstory was never explored in "Star Trek," although the show's writers did think to give him a few iconoclastic hobbies. He was a botany enthusiast for one, and he kept his quarters filled with bizarre alien plants that he tended to closely. Sulu was also a fan of vintage firearms, knowing all about their models and functionality. In the episode "Shore Leave," Sulu fires a classic revolver across a lake, enjoying every shot.

We never learned, however, about Sulu's family, which irked Takei. It wasn't until Demora Sulu (Jacqueline Kim) appeared in "Generations" that Trekkies would learn anything on that front:

"I suggested Sulu having a family that he connects with. I suggested a lot of ideas to develop Sulu that never really happened. It was only after I turned down a role in ['Generations'] that they gave all my lines to a relative that I had lobbied for, my daughter. When the series ended and the films began, I was lobbying for parents, brothers, sisters, lovers, maybe a wife, all of that, but none of it ever happened. I wanted to see Sulu more dimensioned."

It was a missed opportunity.

Star Trek Beyond introduced Sulu's husband

Incidentally, Demora's mother wasn't named until the 1995 "Star Trek" novel "The Captain's Daughter" written by Peter David. That book named Demora's mother as a woman named Susan Ling. She was described as a "freelance adventurer" who had a one-time fling with Sulu while he was on shore leave ... and she was on the run from angry aliens. She had Demora nine months later.

Takei gave the above interview in 2010. It wouldn't be until 2016 that Sulu — this time played by John Cho — would be seen with additional family members. In Justin Lin's "Star Trek Beyond," Sulu discusses how worried he was about his marriage, seeing as he asked his spouse to relocate to a distant space station called Yorktown ( although that scene was cut ). Sulu's husband is a man named Ben (Doug Jung), and he is introduced holding a young Demora. There are no dialogue scenes between Ben and Sulu, but at least audiences saw that he had a family.

Takei, who came out in 2005 and married his longtime partner Brad Altman in 2008, famously objected to "Beyond" making Sulu a queer man. He told The Hollywood Reporter that Sulu was originally envisioned as a straight man and he played the character that way. "I'm delighted that there's a gay character," he explained. "Unfortunately, it's a twisting of Gene [Roddenberry]'s creation, to which he put in so much thought. I think it's really unfortunate."

Takei would have preferred the makers of "Beyond" merely create a new queer character to introduce into "Star Trek" canon, rather than repurposing Sulu's sexuality.

Since then, "Star Trek: Discovery" has introduced numerous queer, trans, and nonbinary characters to "Star Trek,"  which is more in line with what Takei wanted.

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Published May 27, 2024

Patrick Kwok-Choon Reflects on Gen Rhys and Discovery's Groundbreaking Path to the Future

From the series' streaming era launch to its leap into the 32nd Century, the Discovery actor gained a unique perspective across its five-season run.

StarTrek.com

Since Star Trek: Discovery 's very first season, Patrick Kwok-Choon has portrayed Gen Rhys, the U.S.S. Discovery 's devoted and enthusiastic tactical officer. Much like Rhys, the actor has been with Discovery since the beginning and participated in every step of its journey. From launching Star Trek 's streaming era to leaping into the 32nd Century, Kwok-Choon gained a unique perspective on Discovery 's evolution across its five-season run.

With the show's much-anticipated series finale fast approaching, Kwok-Choon sat down with StarTrek.com to discuss his on-set memories, collaborating with Discovery 's cast and crew, the importance of representation, and much more.

"Kobayashi Maru"

StarTrek.com: As someone who loved the franchise well before you landed your role on Discovery , in what ways did the realities of filming a Star Trek series surprise you?

Patrick Kwok-Choon: Well, first off, my first day on the Discovery Bridge was a real surprise. Even though our Bridge is different from others in the canon, it still feels quintessentially Star Trek , and you're just magically in the world. It felt like I was now part of the show's history. It was like walking into old episodes in my mind. It was an out-of-body experience; I was in complete awe of how real everything was. I was touching all the buttons, swiveling, and spinning in my tactical chair. I was in a state of bliss.

I was also surprised with the immense care and detail that goes into every aspect of production when filming. Set builders, art designers, costumes, props, prosthetics, hair & makeup, lighting, camera, sound, VFX [visual effects] — every department's collaborative effort throughout five seasons was truly eye-opening and made me appreciate how much hard work goes into building this world.

"Will You Take My Hand?"

StarTrek.com: Did your familiarity with Star Trek provide you with any "in-universe" insights that you either used yourself or shared with your castmates while you were filming?

Patrick Kwok-Choon: Absolutely. Early on, I found myself sharing various insights about the Star Trek universe with some of my castmates who were less familiar with it. For instance, I'd explain how someone could get trapped in the transporter buffer, delve into the intricacies of the Borg, or clarify references to characters like Zefram Cochrane or Janeway. This season, the Progenitors storyline was particularly exciting to discuss because " The Chase " is one of my all-time favorite Next Gen episodes. Its exploration of the interconnectedness of all species in the galaxy is one of the reasons I love Star Trek . It's just really fun when you can share your passion and bring others along for the ride.

StarTrek.com: Speaking of the cast, the Bridge crew’s on-screen camaraderie continues to be beloved by fans. How was that bond developed, and was it challenging to maintain as the lineup changed over time? 

Patrick Kwok-Choon: Firstly, I have to say, Sonequa Martin-Green was truly the heartbeat of our cast, radiating an energy that united everyone, both cast and crew. She embodies the spirit of a number one [on a call sheet], both on- and off-screen. Now, when it comes to the original Bridge crew — Ronnie Rowe Jr., Emily Coutts, Oyin Oladejo, Sara Mitich, and myself — we all knew each other before joining the show. Spending so much time together on set only solidified our bond. We're a quirky bunch, always up for a bit of fun and mischief. I remember [director] Jonathan Frakes even likening our dynamic to that of his TNG cast, which was high praise indeed.

As new faces joined the lineup over time, maintaining that camaraderie was surprisingly easy. The positive energy that Sonequa brings to the set has a ripple effect, making everyone feel welcomed and valued. It creates an atmosphere where collaboration thrives, and where friendships continue to grow stronger with each passing day.

StarTrek.com: Sonequa Martin-Green has always been Discovery 's lead, but Michael Burnham endured a long road to the captaincy. What did you enjoy most about witnessing that journey?

Patrick Kwok-Choon: As a fan of the franchise, I hold a deep — even a bit crazy — level of respect for that chair. The captain's chair, it's like a symbol of everything Star Trek represents. So, during the entire first season, I didn't even dare to sit in it. I felt like I needed to earn the privilege, to wait until I was actually called to it. You know, it's that whole idea of heavy is the head that wears the crown.

I love that Burnham had to earn her way to be captain. She has an incredible redemption arc, and it's refreshing to see that story unfold. It's different and pushes Star Trek into new territory, with new stories. Unlike previous series, Discovery showcases a lead character's journey from a flawed start to a well-earned captaincy, which is both unique and inspiring for the franchise.

"Labyrinths"

StarTrek.com: In " Labyrinths ," your character had a chance to take command and sit in the captain's chair himself. You recently shared your extraordinary tale of filming that episode with StarTrek.com , but we have one more pivotal question. What do you think Gen Rhys would want his signature captain's phrase to be?

Patrick Kwok-Choon: Given Gen Rhys's years of tactical experience, I think his signature phrase would be "Light it up."

StarTrek.com: In addition to its iconic captain's chairs, Star Trek is also well-known for its wealth of incredible sets and groundbreaking technology. What was your favorite gadget or screen to interact with?

Patrick Kwok-Choon: Man, there are way too many to count! Anytime you get to hold a phaser, it's a great day! But if I had to single out the most impressive, it'd have to be the AR wall. The possibilities it opens up are just mind-blowing. On the flip side, even the simplest things like the tactile buttons on my console had their charm, especially in those early days of the first season. [In " The Sound of Thunder "], I had an "arming all weapons" sequence that made the cut. Someone turned it into a GIF, and I tweeted it awhile back .

StarTrek.com: As you mentioned, the advent of the AR wall supplied yet another boost to the show's ability to explore strange new worlds. What was it like to work with that innovative technology?

Patrick Kwok-Choon: Well, working with the AR wall near the end of [Season 4] was an adventure I won't soon forget. Picture this: the scene is set in the final episode [" Coming Home "], and the entire crew is facing off with Species Ten-C. In reality, we're all gathered in the AR wall studio, staring at this massive screen filled with floating jellyfish-looking blobs gently bobbing up and down.

"Coming Home"

Now, with age, I seem to have developed motion sickness, and let me tell you, those blobs weren't doing me any favors that day. The scene we had to shoot felt like it went on for at least eight minutes, and after the first take, I was feeling queasy. So, I made a beeline to the medic, and they gave me some ginger GRAVOL [motion sickness tablets]. We were back on set 15 minutes later, and while the motion sickness had subsided, mid-scene, my stomach started doing somersaults — waves of discomfort, hot flashes — and out of both embarrassment and stubborn professionalism, I was not willing to call cut.

I remember just having a moment of acceptance; I said to myself, "If nature calls, it calls." Thankfully, I managed to hold it together and made a beeline to the bathroom. But here's the kicker, before we resumed filming, I decided to share my little ordeal with one of my castmates. Turns out, they had taken GRAVOL too but weren't experiencing the same symptoms. Just as we were about to get back into the scene, this actor grabs me by the arm, looks me dead in the eye, and I could tell in that moment it had hit them too.

That's definitely my most memorable AR wall experience!

"Forget Me Not"

StarTrek.com: The last few seasons have supplied an excellent look into Gen Rhys' interests. Do you love Constitution -class starships as much as he does?

Patrick Kwok-Choon: Here's where Gen Rhys and I part ways — he's all about the Constitution -class, but I've got a thing for the D’deridex -class and Borg spheres!

StarTrek.com: In all seriousness, how has your character's journey impressed you? What do you hope comes to mind when Star Trek fans think of Gen Rhys?

Patrick Kwok-Choon: Every actor brings a part of themselves to their role, and my journey parallels Gen Rhys' in many ways. We both began with youthful eagerness and a need to prove ourselves, but first we had to gain experience through challenges, overcoming struggles, and failing repeatedly. It's only through these experiences that we learned to grow, change, and be of service to others effectively. The wisdom both Gen Rhys and I have gained over the course of the five seasons has been enormous.

"There Is A Tide..."

While my character has often played a more tertiary role on Discovery , I believe he has made significant impacts in crucial moments. Over the seasons, Rhys is someone you can count on — he can handle himself in a fight, has your back with a phaser, and is capable in the chair.  At the end of the day, I hope fans see Gen Rhys as a valued part of the team; someone who grew, adapted, and demonstrated his worth as a leader. Though the show has come to an end, I'm grateful for the journey and proud of the character's evolution.

StarTrek.com: May is Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month and Mental Health Awareness Month. What has Discovery ’s effort to pioneer representation both in front of and behind the camera meant to you? 

Patrick Kwok-Choon: Wow, that question covers a lot of ground. Let me try to be concise. Simply being a visible presence on the screen, allowing the AAPI community to feel seen and represented, fills me with profound meaning. While the industry has made strides in recent years, there's still much work to be done to ensure diverse and inclusive representation.

I stand on the shoulders of great pioneers who faced far greater challenges and struggles, including George Takei, Michelle Yeoh, John Cho, Rosalind Chao, Linda Park, and Garrett Wang, to name a few. Their resilience and determination paved the way for actors like myself to have the opportunities we do today. It's important to honor their legacy and continue pushing for progress.

"The Examples"

On the topic of mental health awareness, I've personally been open about my neurodivergency, having been diagnosed with ADHD [attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder] several years ago. Coping with challenges such as executive function, dysregulation, and all-or-nothing thinking has been an ongoing journey. However, being open about my experiences has not only helped me navigate my own struggles, but I've found it's helped others discover their own neurodivergency, as well. By sharing my story, I've been able to make others feel seen and less alone, which is a gift I'm grateful to be able to offer.

Now, Star Trek , as a franchise, has always been at the forefront of advocating for social change and exploring important societal issues. I believe it excels at this because at its helm are so many powerful voices. The list is long but worth mentioning — Sonequa Martin-Green, Mary Wiseman, Anthony Rapp, Wilson Cruz, Blu del Barrio, and Ian Alexander all contribute their own power to the show and influence for the greater good. Additionally, behind-the-scenes changemakers like Michelle Paradise and Olatunde Osunsanmi play a pivotal role, often unnoticed. The time shared with these extraordinary individuals has been enlightening, and I hope to have absorbed enough of their wisdom to effect change in my own way, particularly for the communities that need me most.

"The Hope That is You, Part 2"

StarTrek.com: With Star Trek productions like Discovery , Strange New Worlds , and the upcoming Section 31 film being filmed in Toronto and involving a considerable Canadian presence, how do you feel about Canada's contributions to the Star Trek universe?

Patrick Kwok-Choon: As a proud Canadian, the flourishing of Star Trek productions in Toronto fills me with immense pride. With a significant presence of Canadian actors across these shows and the countless skilled professionals working behind the scenes in every department, it underscores the strength of Canada's entertainment industry and our remarkable contribution to the global Star Trek community. It's a testament to the depth of skill and creativity we possess, showcasing that Canadian talent stands shoulder to shoulder with the best in the world.

StarTrek.com: Before we go, what has been the most special aspect of your Star Trek journey so far?

Patrick Kwok-Choon: Encountering fans at conventions has truly been one of the most memorable parts of this journey. As actors, we don't often get to experience direct feedback from the audience. I vividly remember my first convention; I didn't quite know what to expect. What blew me away was the overwhelming sense of warmth and acceptance from the fans. Time and time again, people would come up to my table and say things like, "Welcome to the family" or "You're with us for life now." It was incredibly moving to feel that sense of belonging and camaraderie within the Star Trek community.

I'd often have people share their personal stories with me — how Star Trek got them through rough times during military service overseas, what it meant for someone to be seen, or how they have fond memories of watching the show with their grandparents or parents, and now they're thrilled to share the new Trek with their own kids. Those moments reminded me of the profound impact Star Trek has had on people's lives and the power of storytelling to connect us all.

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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.

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Star trek’s 8 top gun starship pilots ranked.

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Star Trek Confirms Captain Shaw's Story Isn't Over

Star trek fleet command codes (june 2024), star trek confirms the most feared species in the galaxy & it'll blow your mind.

Star Trek has no lack of hotshot starship helmsmen across its various movies and TV series, but which pilot is Starfleet's true top gun? One of the most important Starfleet Officers serving on a starship's bridge is the helmsman, the person responsible for piloting the ship throughout deep space, in and out of warp speed, and even within a Federation starbase. Some of Star Trek's most beloved characters are the helmsmen of the USS Enterprise or the eponymous starships of Star Trek: Voyager and Star Trek: Discovery .

For a generation, Star Trek's definitive helmsman was Mr. Sulu (George Takei), the legendary pilot of the Starship Enterprise commanded by Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner). Interestingly, perhaps to avoid comparisons to Sulu, Star Trek: The Next Generation did not have a dedicated helmsman after season 1. In the first TNG season, Lt. Geordi La Forge (LeVar Burton) was the Enterprise's pilot, but he was made Chief Engineer in season 2. TNG 's USS Enterprise-D and E rotated pilots, as did the USS Defiant on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine . It wasn't until Star Trek: Voyager introduced its pilot, Lt. Tom Paris (Robert Duncan McNeill), that being a starship helmsman gained cache once again. Here are Star Trek's top starship helmsmen who deserve the bragging rights of being the best of the best.

Available To Stream On Paramount+

8 Demora Sulu, USS Enterprise-B

Ensign Demora Sulu (Jacqueline Kim) was the daughter of Hikaru Sulu. Introduced in the prologue of Star Trek Generations , Demora was the helmsman of the USS Enterprise-B commanded by Captain John Harriman (Alan Ruck). Demora's one known flight as pilot of the Enterprise-B was intended to be a routine hop around the solar system as a publicity stunt, but it ended in what was then believed to be the death of Captain Kirk in 2293. Still, Demora's quick thinking and deft piloting skills helped the Enterprise-B survive contact with the destructive space ribbon called the Nexus, and she no doubt made her father proud.

7 Hikaru Sulu, USS Enterprise Kelvin Timeline

In the alternate Kelvin Timeline of J.J. Abrams' Star Trek movies, Cadet Hikaru Sulu (John Cho) replaced Lieutenant McKenna, who was sick with lungworm, as helmsman of the USS Enterprise commanded by Captain Christopher Pike (Bruce Greenwood). Sulu earned the trust of James T. Kirk (Chris Pine), who inherited the Enterprise's Captaincy from Pike, and Hikaru remained the Enterprise's pilot throughout Star Trek 2009, Star Trek Into Darkness , and Star Trek Beyond . Sulu flew the Enterprise against Romulans from the 24th century, the Dreadnought Class USS Vengeance, and Sulu also piloted the USS Franklin against Krall (Idris Elba) and his Swarm. Although his three movies equal the decades-long career of his Prime Universe counterpart, the Kelvin Timeline's Mr. Sulu never failed to be heroic as a helmsman.

6 Travis Mayweather, NX-01 Enterprise

Ensign Travis Mayweather (Anthony Montgomery) can forever lay claim to being the first helmsman of the first Starship Enterprise. A boomer who was raised in outer space aboard freighters, Mayweather became the pilot of Captain Jonathan Archer's (Scott Bakula) NX-01 Enterprise , the first human starship capable of Warp 5 speeds. Mayweather flew the Enterprise throughout the four seasons of Star Trek: Enterprise and initiated First Contact between humans and numerous species. Mayweather likely remained the NX-01's helmsman for the decade his Enterprise was in service, and Travis can proudly boast he was among the first humans to go where no man has gone before.

5 Sidney La Forge, USS Titan-A/USS Enterprise-G

Ensign Sidney La Forge (Ashlei Sharpe Chestnut) was the helmsman of the USS Titan-A in Star Trek: Picard season 3. Sidney was infamous for crashing a couple of shuttles in Starfleet Academy, which garnered her the nickname "Crash La Forge," but that didn't stop her from being assigned a prime spot on the bridge of the Titan. The daughter of Commodore Geordi La Forge, Sidney bravely flew the Titan against the Shrike controlled by the Changeling Captain Vadic (Amanda Plummer), and La Forge also skillfully piloted the Titan out of the Ryton Nebula. Sidney's valor and impressive skills as a helmsman earned her a promotion to Lieutenant and the coveted role of helmsman of the USS Enterprise-G. Sidney is potentially the finest pilot of her 25th-century generation, which she will hopefully prove if Picard 's spinoff, Star Trek: Legacy , takes flight.

4 Erica Ortegas, USS Enterprise

Lt. Erica Ortegas (Melissa Navia) is the model of the cocksure 23rd-century pilot, and she is no less than the helmsman of the Federation flagship, the USS Enterprise, commanded by Captain Christopher Pike (Anson Mount). In Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 1, Ortegas impressively piloted the Enterprise through a black hole's gravity well in a battle against the Gorn as well as multiple other alien encounters. All the while, Erica never lost her sense of humor and her ability to banter with Captain Pike. Ortegas' backstory will hopefully be told in Strange New Worlds season 2, and her sure-to-be impressive flying may rocket Erica further up the list before she's done.

3 Kayla Detmer, USS Discovery

Star Trek: Discovery 's Lt. Kayla Detmer (Emily Coutts) was the helmsman of the USS Discovery in the 23rd century, and she remains the Disco's pilot as Commander Detmer in the 32nd century. Detmer may be the best helmsman of her two eras; Kayla not only flew Discovery through the Klingon War of 2256/2257 and in a devastating battle against the rogue A.I. called Control, but she piloted her starship through time into the distant future, which left Detmer traumatized. While Detmer has the unfair advantage of being able instantaneously jump Discovery thanks to its spore displacement hub drive , Kayla has also flown the Disco through the Galactic Barrier into another galaxy to make First Contact with Species 10-C. Virtually everything Kayla Detmer has done as helmsman of Discovery is historic, and she deserves her flowers as one of Star Trek's greatest pilots.

2 Tom Paris, USS Voyager

It was Lieutenant Tom Paris who made being a helmsman cool again on Star Trek: Voyager. Sprung from Starfleet prison and handpicked to pilot the USS Voyager by Captain Kathryn Janeway (Kate Mulgrew), Paris' skills as a pilot were truly tested after he and his starship ended up in the Delta Quadrant. For seven years, Paris flew Voyager through regions of space unknown to the Federation, and in battle against countless aliens, including the Kazon, the Borg, and Species 8472. Not content with just piloting Voyager, Paris also constructed the Delta Flyer during their seven-year journey back to Earth. Tom Paris is a pilot of galactic renown, and he undeniably redefined what it means to be a starship helmsman in the late 24th century.

1 Hikaru Sulu, USS Enterprise

Star Trek's Prime Universe Hikaru Sulu, affectionately known as Mr. Sulu, remains the standard by which all starship helmsmen are judged. Sulu piloted Captain Kirk's Starship Enterprise throughout its historic five-year mission. In the Star Trek movies, Sulu flew the Enterprise to encounter V'Ger, battled Khan (Ricardo Montalban) in the Mutara Nebula, and Sulu piloted a Klingon Bird-of-Prey dubbed the HMS Bounty to 1986 and back. Sulu is also the only Enterprise helmsman who flew his starship into the Galactic Barrier that borders the galaxy and through the Great Barrier at the center of the galaxy to find the mythical planet, Sha Ka Ree. Even after he rose to become Captain Sulu of the USS Excelsior, Hikaru's achievements as helmsman of the Enterprise are legendary. Mr. Sulu is Star Trek 's true top gun and the franchise's all-time greatest helmsman.

• Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (2022)
• Star Trek: Picard (2020)

How George Takei of 'Star Trek' faced down discrimination

Playing Sulu on "Star Trek: The Original Series" more than 50 years ago launched George Takei not only out to strange new worlds, but on a journey to explore his sexuality and Japanese heritage.

The 83-year-old Takei, despite being an American citizen born in Los Angeles, spent much of his childhood with his family in U.S. internment camps during World War II because they are of Japanese descent. 

"When I was five years old, I had one of the most egregious failures of our democracy thrown in my face," Takei told an online panel during a recent CBS All Access "Star Trek Day" event on Sept. 8, which celebrated the series' launch date in 1966.

Related: What 'Star Trek' has taught us about diversity

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"My parents got me up together with my brother,  a year younger, and my baby sister was an infant. [They told] my brother and I to go wait in the living room. My parents did some last-minute packing back in the bedroom. So the two of us were just gazing out the living room window at the neighbor's. And suddenly we saw two soldiers marching up my driveway, carrying rifles with shiny bayonets on them. 

"They stopped at the front porch," Takei continued, "and with their fists, began pounding on the door … literally at gunpoint, they ordered us out of our home. As it turned out, it was simply because we look like this."

Takei's family lost everything in being sent to these camps, including his father's business bank account. The rest of his childhood was spent behind barbed wire fences, with machine guns pointed at the camp's residents and search lights illuminating any nighttime activity, even visits to the latrine. 

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After the war ended in 1945, Takei's family was released. But because the ordeal left them impoverished, they lived in a hotel in a low-income neighborhood. Takei said that his sister once even asked to go back "home" to the internment camp when somebody in the neighborhood staggered near the family and threw up on the ground.

"When I became a teenager, I became very curious about our imprisonment," Takei said. "I sat down with my father after dinner to find out more about why we were in prison. My father is my hero, because he could have been embittered or just kind of wallowing in misery. My father was not. He said, 'This is a participatory democracy. We have to participate in a participatory democracy. It's a people's democracy.' 

"One day, my father said, let me show you how our democracy has to work," Takei continued. "He drove me downtown to the lease units for presidential campaign headquarters … to get with other people passionately dedicated to making our democracy work and get this great man, this eloquent man Adlai Stevenson, the governor of Illinois, elected."

While Stevenson lost his 1952 and 1956 bids to be president, Takei said that he remembered one thing: "I understood what our system needs is people participating." He urged voters to remember that in November when the next presidential election takes place.

Takei spent years narrating and playing guest roles or bit parts in Hollywood before meeting Gene Roddenberry, the creator of "Star Trek: The Original Series" (or TOS as it's now known).  With "Star Trek," Takei was excited at the prospect of steady employment, he told the online panel. But there was so much more opportunity than employment if Takei was hired.

"He had an amazing vision," Takei said of Roddenberry. "In listening to him describe my character, I knew this was going to be a breakthrough opportunity, both professionally for me, as well as to help break a lot of the stereotypes that we have in this world and particularly in this business, so I desperately wanted the role."

TOS emphasized diversity from the start. Its starring characters included Takei, Black actor Nichelle Nichols (Uhura) and even a Russian character — Pavel Chekov (played by Walter Koenig), who was portrayed as an ally at the height of  Cold War tensions. Roddenberry could be so daring with this diversity, which was unheard of for the time, because the series was set in space, nearly half a millennium in the future. This allowed the "Star Trek" creator to include metaphors for 1960s American life in a futuristic setting.

Happily, the diversity tradition continues as "Star Trek Discovery" is about to introduce its first transgender and nonbinary characters in October , along with premiering a new Black star. But Takei pointed out it was a long journey to get to this point.

On TOS, Takei is probably best remembered for the episode "The Naked Time," in which the crew is taken over by a virus that removes inhibitions. Famously, his character Sulu rushed onto the Star Trek bridge without a shirt and wielding a fencing sword. Takei said that he was glad to be holding a fencing sword and not a Japanese samurai sword, which broke yet another stereotype. 

As a childhood fan of Errol Flynn's fencing in the "The Adventures of Robin Hood" (1938), Takei accidentally found himself making a connection with the iconic swashbuckling film a generation later. In the Yellow Pages, a print listing of businesses from the pre-Internet era, Takei took fencing lessons for "Star Trek" at a spot on Sunset Boulevard. Upon arriving, Takei discovered his instructor had choreographed the very Robin Hood movie he watched as a kid. "I was blown away," he said.

Roddenberry worked hard to break down a variety of stereotypes on the show, which even featured one of television's first interracial kisses which took place between two stars of TOS — William Shatner (Captain James T. Kirk) and Nichols. NBC executives were afraid that the segregated U.S. south would complain about the kiss, and attempted to make the actors shoot a different version of the scene where they would just embrace. The actors deliberately flubbed the alternate takes, ensuring that the kiss would happen as there was no time to reshoot the footage, according to Insider .

Takei, a closeted gay man, was also afraid to speak out about his sexuality during the conservative time period. He wasn't public about his sexuality throughout the series run but, shortly after TOS was canceled in 1968, Takei bravely discussed his sexuality with Roddenberry during a party, when the two men were by a pool, away from the crowd. Roddenberry acknowledged that sexuality is an important part of diversity, Takei said. However, Roddenberry responded: "I can't deal with it [now] because I have to exist on television," Takei said.

Some say that an Australian soap opera, "Number 96" had the first gay and recurring character on television. But that wasn't until 1972, years after "Star Trek" was off the air. 

As Takei explained in the panel, Roddenberry told him that television is a high-risk business because it is based on advertising, so if sponsors are unhappy, the show could lose funding, threatening its longevity. "I can't deal with that and hope to stay on the air; I'm pushing at the edges already," Takei added of Roddenberry's position in addressing LGBTQIA+ representation on television. 

Twenty years later, "Star Trek: The Next Generation" scriptwriter David Gerrold attempted to create an episode (which would have run while Roddenberry was in charge of the show) to metaphorically address the AIDS and HIV crisis. The episode never went forward and Gerrold quit in protest, StarTrek.com said . 

Gerrold has spoken about the canceled episode at fan conventions, the website added, and Roddenberry received requests for an openly gay "Star Trek" character, in part due to Gerrold's efforts. Roddenberry was said to be considering including a gay character in the show's fifth season, but that never went forward as Roddenberry died in 1991. Shortly before his death, however, Roddenberry said he regretted not taking on LGBTQIA+ rights more seriously. 

"My attitude toward homosexuality has changed," Roddenberry told The Humanist in 1991 . "I came to the conclusion that I was wrong [...] I gave the impression of being thoughtless in these areas. I have, over many years, changed my attitude about gay men and women."

Takei officially came out in 2005. While he remained closeted during the years prior, Takei remained an avid activist, speaking out about electoral politics, civil rights and the peace movement during the divisive Vietnam War of the 1960s and early 1970s. Takei was also a member of a group called the Entertainment Industry for Peace and Justice, he said, working with well-known actors such as Jane Fonda and Donald Sutherland. 

Takei watched other actors take on LGBTQIA+ rights, in many cases giving up their lives, careers and even their families for justice, he said.

"And here I was protecting my career and being closeted, which adds another layer of torture," he recalled. "Some of my colleagues knew. But, they knew if they talked about me, then it would hurt my career and they respected my privacy." Since coming out, Takei has been exceptionally active and vocal in supporting the LGBTQIA+ community.

The first openly gay starring characters on "Star Trek" finally came in 2017, with gay actors Anthony Rapp (Paul Stamets) and Wilson Cruz (Hugh Culber) who played a couple in "Star Trek: Discovery." "I think it's a great advance," Takei said. "I'm glad that we finally got there. I wish we had gotten there sooner."

Follow Elizabeth Howell on Twitter @howellspace. Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom and on Facebook. 

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Elizabeth Howell (she/her), Ph.D., is a staff writer in the spaceflight channel since 2022 covering diversity, education and gaming as well. She was contributing writer for Space.com for 10 years before joining full-time. Elizabeth's reporting includes multiple exclusives with the White House and Office of the Vice-President of the United States, an exclusive conversation with aspiring space tourist (and NSYNC bassist) Lance Bass, speaking several times with the International Space Station, witnessing five human spaceflight launches on two continents, flying parabolic, working inside a spacesuit, and participating in a simulated Mars mission. Her latest book, " Why Am I Taller ?", is co-written with astronaut Dave Williams. Elizabeth holds a Ph.D. and M.Sc. in Space Studies from the University of North Dakota, a Bachelor of Journalism from Canada's Carleton University and a Bachelor of History from Canada's Athabasca University. Elizabeth is also a post-secondary instructor in communications and science at several institutions since 2015; her experience includes developing and teaching an astronomy course at Canada's Algonquin College (with Indigenous content as well) to more than 1,000 students since 2020. Elizabeth first got interested in space after watching the movie Apollo 13 in 1996, and still wants to be an astronaut someday. Mastodon: https://qoto.org/@howellspace

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Den of Geek

Ranking Star Trek Captain Catchphrases

Star Trek: Discovery just added another captain's catchphrase to the mix. We've ranked the catchphrases throughout franchise history, including the latest...

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This Star Trek article contains spoilers for the ending of Discovery Season 3 .

Star Trek: Discovery Season 3 may have taken place in a whole new future for our characters and for us, but it wasn’t afraid to call back to franchise history. One of the most delightful ways we saw this happen in Season 3 was in the discussion of the all important Star Trek captain catchphrase. In “Sanctuary,” Captain Saru and Tilly surreptitiously discuss “the other matter” of figuring out what he should say whenever it’s time to seem like a cool and in control Starfleet captain. This results in Saru hilariously trying to re-appropriate Captain Pike’s “Hit it,” followed by a fairly lukewarm reception of “Execute!” 

The subject comes up again in the Discovery Season 3 finale when Michael Burnham takes the captain chair. Captain Burnham doesn’t seem to have the same level of existential crisis as Saru did figuring out what his captain catchphrase may be (either that or we just don’t get to see the workshop session she has with Tilly), landing on an all-new catchphrase for the episode’s final moments. Now that Burnham has just busted-out her own excellent tag line, it’s time to look best and worst Starfleet catchphrases. It’s warp time!

12. “Execute”

Saru tries this one out in “Sanctuary,” but Captain Kirk actually used “Execute” fairly well! In Star Trek V: The Final Frontier, Kirk says “execute” twice . The more famous version is when he says “Prepare to execute emergency landing plan…b,” which is just Kirk making shit up on the fly. But, in the same movie, he also, very slickly says “Mister Sulu…execute.” Which is some badass Captain Kirk action, even in a fairly underloved Trek movie.

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11. “Get It Done”

Oh goody. Remember your favorite Captain of the USS Enterprise-D ; Edward Jellico? Played by RoboCop baddie Ronny Cox, Jellico liked to tell Riker and Troi to “Get It Done,” like that was something cool to say. In fairness, Jellico wasn’t a terrible Captain, and was partially responsible for Troi getting to wear a regular uniform for the rest of the series, so if he got one thing done , it was (arguably) getting Troi a little more respect. 

10. “Take Us Out”

Can you think of one Starfleet order that elicited a standing ovation for no reason? Yep, it was in Star Trek Generations , when, surrounded by reporters, Kirk said “Take us out.” Everyone went wild and Chekov and Scotty made fun of Kirk when he sat down. The weird thing was, as a 12-year-old- in 1994, I actually kind of thought this might have been a legit catchphrase of Kirk’s, and was confused when I couldn’t find him saying it all the time in old TOS episodes. I mean, in “City on the Edge of Forever,” he does say “Let’s get the hell out of here,” but that hardly counts as a catchphrase. Sure, Kirk said variations of “Take us out of orbit,” or whatever in TOS , but come on.

9. “Just Do IT!”

No, this wasn’t a Star Trek/Nike crossover. Picard said this one time when he was really depressed. Weirdly, this one comes from Generations , too. Does that make Generations like a low-key workshop for new Star Trek catchphrases? Maybe. 

8. “Go!”

This was Captain Lorca’s catchphrase in Star Trek: Discovery Season 1, and it mostly indicated the ship was about to use the Spore Drive. Interestingly, Saru did use “Go” in the Season 1 episode “Choose Your Pain,” the first time he was left in command of the Discovery . Is this really worse than “execute?” 

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7. “punch it”.

Remember when Star Trek ripped-off Han and Lando? In the first Star Trek reboot in 2009, that version of Captain Pike said “Punch it” twice . This was a clear Star Wars nod and, you know what? It worked.

6. “Warp me!” and “It’s Warp Time!”

In Star Trek: Lower Decks , Captain Freeman tries out the phrase “It’s warp time!” in the episode “Envoys.” Later, in a holographic simulation in “Crisis Point,” she says “Warp me!” This one isn’t bad, but considering Saru isn’t really using warp drive anymore, it’s suddenly…outdated!

5. “Hit It”

It’s weird that Anson Mount’s Captain Pike has only been around since 2019, and yet, “Hit It” has already become a huge part of the Trek fandom. Because Pike, Spock and Number One will all be in Strange New Worlds sometime in either 2021 or 2022, expect to be hearing “Hit It” a lot more in the coming years.

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4. “Do It”

While Captain Sisko was never really given a catchphrase, his fellow late-’90s Star Trek star, Captain Janeway, did get one, kind of under the radar. Janeway says “Do it” in a very specific, almost angry way. When Janeway says “do it,” you kind of want to comply right away, but also, kind of figure out what you did wrong. Maybe she needs coffee?

3. “Let’s Fly!”

At the end of “That Hope Is You, Part 2,” Burnham busts-out her personal Starfleet captain catchphrase. Some fans have pointed out that in a sense, Burnham could be riffing on Captain Lorca in Discovery Season 1, when he said “We’re creating a new way to fly,” in reference to the Spore Drive. But, the stranger and extra-fictional deep-cut might have to do those killer Discovery Season 2 trailers that were set to the Lenny Kravitz rock classic, “Fly Away.” Yeah, remember that? I’m not saying “Fly Away” is an official anthem of Discovery , but I’m also not not saying that. 

Regardless of the inspiration, Burnham’s “let’s fly” feels perfect for her captaincy, and it fits well with the mood of Discovery. Too soon to put it this high on the list? Maybe. But it feels right. 

2. “Make It So”

It’s tempting to rank Picard’s “Make it so” ahead of “Engage,” but for some reason, the formality of it makes it closer to a “Manifest” or “Execute.” That said, it’s iconic for a reason. Just never forget that one time, Picard said “Step on it,” when he was still acting like Dixon HIll.

1. “Engage!”

While Picard certainly made “Engage” his own on S tar Trek: The Next Generation , the first Star Trek captain who said “Engage,” was Captain Pike! In the TOS pilot “The Cage,” Jeffrey Hunter’s Pike said “Engage,” which sort of means Anson Mount can bring it back at any time. (Can you imagine Hunter saying “Hit It” in 1964?) Captain Kirk also said “Engage” in the episode “The Corbomite Maneuver.”

Does this mean Saru can use “Engage?” Does he even know about Picard yet? Considering how much time has passed since the era of Picard, Saru could get away with “Enage” in the context of the 32nd Century, but certainly not in the context of fans in 2020. Maybe because the USS Discovery spins around before jumping, there’s an easy answer close at hand. How about Saru just says: “Spin me!” 

Yeah, that one needs a workshop, too.

Star Trek: Discovery — It’s DISCO TIME! — is available to watch on CBS All-Access.

Ryan Britt is a longtime contributor to Den of Geek! He is also the author of three non-fiction books: the Star Trek pop history book PHASERS…

George Takei Dismantles Racist, Sexist Criticism Of 'Star Trek: Discovery'

Senior Reporter, HuffPost

CBS released a trailer earlier this month for its upcoming “Star Trek: Discovery,” the first television series in the franchise since “ Star Trek: Enterprise ” ended in 2005.

The trailer excited many fans, but it also led to a familiar anger, as many people decried the casting of Michelle Yeoh, an Asian woman, as the ship’s captain and Sonequa Martin-Green, a black woman, as the ship’s first officer.

The trailer for “Star Trek: Discovery”

“Enough with your racial and gender quotas Hollywood,” one commenter wrote. Many others wrote similar comments, much of it even more vile.

On Sunday, George Takei, who played the iconic character Hikaru Sulu in the original “Star Trek” series and multiple movies, joined MSNBC ’s “AM Joy” to discuss the views of people who believe the Star Trek franchise is being tainted in an attempt to diversify the cast.

On the show, he quickly and swiftly dismantled the criticisms, exposing the critics as ignorant of the intentions of creator Gene Roddenberry.

“Today in this society we have alien life forms that we call trolls,” he said. “And these trolls carry on without knowing what they’re talking about and knowing even less about the history of what they’re talking about.”

“Now these so-called trolls haven’t seen a single episode of the new series, because it hasn’t been aired,” he continued. “And they don’t know the history of Star Trek [either] … [Star Trek creator] Gene Roddenberry created this with the idea of finding strength in our diversity ― and also the delight of life in diversity.”

He then added: “We had a guiding acronym ― IDIC ― which stood for infinite diversity in infinite combinations. We boldly went where we hadn’t gone before because we were curious about what’s out there. And when you go out into space you are going to have even greater diversity.”

During the interview, Takei also compared the ignorance of these “trolls” to the recent actions of President Donald Trump , whom he described as “ignorant” when it comes to issues of Japanese internment, which affected Takei’s family during WWII.

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See Kelvin Sulu Duel For His Crew In Preview Of ‘Star Trek: Celebrations’ One Shot Comic

| May 28, 2024 | By: TrekMovie.com Staff 1 comments so far

Just in time for Pride Month in June, IDW is releasing Star Trek: Celebrations tomorrow. The one shot anthology comic has five brand-new stories celebrating LGBTQIA+ characters from across the Star Trek universe. We have a preview of the first story and the covers for Celebrations .

Star Trek: Celebrations

“Star Trek was an attempt to say that humanity will reach maturity and wisdom on the day that it begins not just to tolerate but to celebrate differences in ideas and differences in life forms.” -Gene Roddenberry IDW proudly presents a one-shot anthology centering and celebrating LGBTQIA+ characters from across the Star Trek universe! Join legendary heroes from each era of the beloved franchise in stories that showcase the strengths of infinite diversity in infinite combinations, brought to you by a star-studded cast of writers and artists including Vita Ayala, Steve Orlando, Mags Visaggio, and more!

Cover A by Paulina Ganucheau

Cover B by Angel Solorzano

Cover C by Kevin Wada

Credits/Setup: 

Five-page preview from Kelvin Universe story “The Knight Errand” featuring Sulu, written by Steve Olrando with art by Denny More.

The four other stories in Celebrations are…

• Strange New Worlds – “Facemaker” with Christine Chapel, written by Mags Visaggio with art by Trench.  [ SPOILER : story includes a surprise Enterprise cameo)
• Picard –  “Lady Luck” with Seven and Raffi, written by Vita Ayala with art by Liana Kangas.
• Discovery – “Innovation Interruption” with Jett Reno and Paul Stamets, written by Stephanie Williams with art by Denny Minonne.
• Lower Decks –  “Risian Rendevous” with Mariner and Jennifer, written by Hannah Rose May with art by Jack Lawrence. We have three inked pages.

Celebrations arrives on Wednesday…

Star Trek: Celebrations will be released on Wednesday, May 29. You can order it and more Star Trek comics at TFAW . Or pick up individual  digital editions at Amazon/comiXology .

Keep up with all the Star Trek comics news, previews and reviews in  TrekMovie’s comics category .

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This looks like it’ll be fun. A shame they didn’t do a Dax story, since she was the first bisexual character ever portrayed on Star Trek.

George Takei Responds To Star Trek: Discovery's Diversity Controversy

While many are excited for Star Trek: Discovery to air, the series has sparked a bit of controversy with its diverse cast. In what some communities are referring to as "white genocide in space," the supposed lack of white representation in the new show has upset some folks. Star Trek franchise vet George Takei appeared on MSNBC and responded to the diversity controversy:

Now these so-called trolls haven't seen a single episode of the new series, because it hasn't been aired. And they don't know the history of Star Trek [either] ... Gene Roddenberry created this with the idea of finding strength in our diversity -- and also the delight of life in diversity. We had a guiding acronym -- IDIC -- which stood for infinite diversity in infinite combinations. We boldly went where we hadn't gone before because we were curious about what's out there. And when you go out into space, you are going to have even greater diversity.

Indeed, the basis of Star Trek from its very beginnings seems to have been rooted in diversity. Long before Michelle Yeoh or Sonequa Martin-Green joined the cast of Star Trek: Discovery , you had people like Nichelle Nichols and, of course, George Takei paving the way for an evolving sci-fi in the late 1960s. As I'm sure many reading this know, William Shatner and Nichelle Nichols made history in 1968 with television's first interracial kiss . (A disputable issue, but still.)

Going back to Takei's point to MSNBC , those who complain about the lack of diversity in Star Trek are, regardless to whether or not they've been following the new series, perhaps blind to the fact that the series has always embraced diversity. And if they were looking into the current batch of cast members, they would know that the series does feature quite a few white actors and actresses.

The acronym that George Takei mentions as the guiding principle for Star Trek is actually a part of the official lore. Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations is the basis of Vulcan philosophy, and a symbol Spock is seen to wear in the Star Trek series. ( Leonard Nimoy was reportedly not a fan of the symbol and claimed Gene Roddenberry created it as a way to sell more replica merchandise to the fans, though there's no word on how he felt about the concept itself.) If you look around the various Star Trek shows you'll see the IDIC symbol, which looks like a pyramid with a star on top with a larger crescent like circle encompassing it, in various Vulcan scenes.

George Takei, and the rest of the world, will have to keep waiting to see Star Trek: Discovery , as the series has been scheduled for a fall premiere on the streaming platform CBS All Access, with no exact date given. You can sit around and wait for a more official time, or you can kill time with all the new television popping up every day! Check out our summer TV guide to see what's premiering and returning, and also keep tabs on when the show's your watching now will air their finales .

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Mick Joest is a Content Producer for CinemaBlend with his hand in an eclectic mix of television goodness. Star Trek is his main jam, but he also regularly reports on happenings in the world of Star Trek, WWE, Doctor Who, 90 Day Fiancé, Quantum Leap, and Big Brother. He graduated from the University of Southern Indiana with a degree in Journalism and a minor in Radio and Television. He's great at hosting panels and appearing on podcasts if given the chance as well.

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Early life [ ]

Saru in his village on Kaminar

In his youth, Saru lived an agrarian life on his home planet Kaminar , with his sister, Siranna , and father, Aradar . Saru and his family were scared of the Ba'ul 's watchful eye, as it took Kelpiens as they experienced the vahar'ai . ( ST : " The Brightest Star ")

Saru remembered listening to children's stories told by village elders around a fire, including one about a kelp monster . ( DIS : " Su'Kal ")

Though discouraged by his father, Saru contemplated his people's place in the universe and questioned the ritual sacrifice of his people to the Ba'ul. On one occasion, Aradar instructed Saru to dispose of debris fallen from the Ba'ul ship . Saru instead built an interstellar communications device , identified by Lieutenant Philippa Georgiou as the first of his species to show the technical capability of doing so. ( ST : " The Brightest Star ")

Saru follows Georgiou to the stars, expecting to never see his people again.

After corresponding with Saru, Georgiou was given special permission by Starfleet to retrieve Saru. As his people were a pre-warp civilization , Saru accepted the caveat that he could never return (and potentially contaminate his culture) and departed with Georgiou for the USS Archimedes . ( ST : " The Brightest Star "; DIS : " The Sound of Thunder ") He took with him a handful of seeds and a knife that had belonged to his sister. ( DIS : " An Obol for Charon ")

After being granted refugee status by the Federation, Saru was processed at Starbase 7 , where he saw for the first time a diversity of lifeforms . Listening to their stories and aspirations, Saru resolved to join Starfleet to help those in need, as he had been helped. ( DIS : " An Obol for Charon ")

Starfleet career [ ]

Saru was the first Kelpien to join Starfleet. ( DIS : " The Vulcan Hello ") As such, he felt pressured to perform well, which led him to attempt to learn 94 Federation languages to the detriment of his personal health. ( DIS : " New Eden ", " An Obol for Charon ") He had a first contact specialist qualification. ( DIS : " Si Vis Pacem, Para Bellum ")

Science officer of the USS Shenzhou [ ]

Saru at his post aboard the Shenzhou

In 2249 , Saru had obtained the rank of lieutenant and was serving in the sciences division aboard the USS Shenzhou under Captain Philippa Georgiou as a bridge officer . He was present when Michael Burnham arrived on the starship . ( DIS : " Battle at the Binary Stars ")

By 2256 , he had been promoted to lieutenant commander and worked as the ship's chief science officer . ( DIS : " The Vulcan Hello ")

That year, Saru participated in the Battle of the Binary Stars , and later evacuated the Shenzhou with the remaining crew after the death of Captain Georgiou. ( DIS : " Battle at the Binary Stars ")

The Federation-Klingon War [ ]

First officer of the uss discovery [ ].

Saru stands watch on the bridge of Discovery

About six months later, Saru had been promoted to commander , transferred to the command division , and made first officer of the USS Discovery under Gabriel Lorca .

When the prison transport shuttle carrying the disgraced former Starfleet officer Michael Burnham was brought aboard the Discovery for repairs, Saru escorted the former officer to engineering so that she would work as a "data cruncher" under Lieutenant Paul Stamets .

When the USS Glenn , the Discovery 's sister ship , suffered a catastrophe, Saru spoke up in Burnham's defense, describing her as the " smartest Starfleet officer [he] had ever met. " ( DIS : " Context Is for Kings ")

Saru comes in contact with the Pahvans

According to Saru, Kelpiens lived in a state of constant fear from the moment of birth . Saru may have been the first of his species to have this alleviated, as after encountering the native energy lifeforms of Pahvo , he briefly experienced relief from this state while on the planet. He became so desperate to continue experiencing this lack of fear that he proceeded to first deceive, and then attack his fellow officers in an attempt to keep the planet out of the Federation-Klingon war. These actions eventually led to the Pahvans withdrawing their influence on him, as they came to believe it was generating disharmony among their Starfleet guests. ( DIS : " Si Vis Pacem, Para Bellum ")

Mirror universe and captain of USS Discovery [ ]

Following the victory over General Kol and the Sarcophagus ' destruction, Saru confirmed that the spore drive had dropped Discovery into unknown space . After learning that they were in a parallel universe , Saru then helped Cadet Sylvia Tilly to pose as her counterpart after Lorca decided to have Discovery pose as the ISS Discovery . After Lorca and Burnham boarded the ISS Shenzhou , Saru was left in command of the Discovery . ( DIS : " Into the Forest I Go ", " Despite Yourself ")

Saru and Tilly attempt to revive Stamets

Saru, along with Tilly, then found Dr. Culber dead and in the arms of Lieutenant Stamets. With Tilly, Saru agreed to use the mycelium spores to treat and heal him. Saru then had Tyler (who had been revealed to be Klingon sleeper agent Voq ) beamed back aboard the Discovery with information on the USS Defiant 's arrival to the mirror universe. Saru was able to decrypt the information on the Defiant , but much of the information was redacted. When Dr. Pollard and her medical team were unable to help Tyler/Voq, Saru then allowed L'Rell in helping Tyler/Voq in easing his pain. Saru was then contacted by Burnham to come to the ISS Charon . ( DIS : " The Wolf Inside ", " Vaulting Ambition ")

En route to the Charon , Lt. Stamets came to and told Saru of his counterpart 's damage to the mycelial network and the eventual destruction of the entire multiverse . Saru was then contacted by Burnham, who told them that Lorca was really a Terran posing as his counterpart . After this revelation, Saru decided to take command and destroy the Charon before it destroys the entire multiverse. Following Discovery 's arrival at the Charon 's coordinates, Saru then spoke with Lorca, who offered to spare him and Discovery 's crew in exchange for Burnham. At first, Saru agreed. However, when Burnham and Georgiou attacked Lorca, Saru ordered Discovery to open fire.

Discovery was successful in disabling the Charon 's shields. Saru then ordered Burnham beamed aboard prior to destroying the Charon . Following the Charon 's destruction, Saru and the crew then used the destruction's shock wave to return to their universe. ( DIS : " What's Past Is Prologue ")

Return to the War [ ]

Unfortunately, Saru, Stamets, and the crew then discovered that they overshot their return by nine months, by which time the war was going badly. Saru also discovered that Burnham had saved Emperor Georgiou and lied about the mirror universe Kelpiens. Discovery was then boarded by Admirals Shukar , Gorch , and Cornwell, and Ambassador Sarek . At first, Saru demanded to know the reason as to why they boarded. Saru then had mind meld with the ambassador, who learned about Discovery 's trip to a parallel universe, Lorca's true colors and apparent demise. Saru was debriefed on the specifics of the disastrous turn the war had taken since Discovery was seemingly destroyed, and subsequently relinquished command to Cornwell for Discovery 's trip to Starbase 1 . However, he sensed danger on approach, and Starbase 1 immediately turned out to be occupied by the House of D'Ghor . With several Birds-of-Prey converging on Discovery and Cornwell too shocked by this turn of events to give orders, Saru was forced to order a retreat.

Saru became first officer under Emperor Georgiou, posing as her prime counterpart , during a mission that was supposed to map Qo'noS' volcanic system for a future military strike. However, the mission turned out to be the military strike; rather than a mapping drone , Georgiou had brought a hydro bomb , which she intended to detonate in a volcanic vent, producing catastrophic results. After Burnham alerted him to the true mission, Saru contacted Cornwell and threatened to mutiny with Burnham if Starfleet Command did not back down. Burnham was authorized to prevent Georgiou from detonating the bomb, and handed the detonator to L'Rell , who took leadership of the Klingon High Council and rapidly enacted a cease fire . Saru was awarded the Starfleet Medal of Honor for his actions, the first received by a Kelpien. Soon after, Saru led the ship on a voyage to Vulcan to pick up the Discovery 's new commanding officer, but was sidetracked along the way to respond to a distress call from the USS Enterprise . ( DIS : " What's Past Is Prologue ", " The War Without, The War Within ", " Will You Take My Hand? ")

Post War [ ]

The red bursts [ ].

Saru met with the Enterprise 's CO , Captain Christopher Pike , along with Commander Nhan and Lieutenant Evan Connolly . He was told that Pike would be taking command of Discovery under Starfleet Regulation 19, Section C in order to investigate seven red bursts that had appeared. Saru believed the red bursts could be either temporal anomalies or black holes . As the Discovery investigated the first red burst, they found the USS Hiawatha on a interstellar asteroid . Saru kept Discovery 's shields down to ensure that the landing party and the Hiawatha 's crew were able to beam back. After Burnham was beamed back, Saru had piece of the asteroid brought into Discovery 's shuttle bay and Discovery left the system. Saru and Captain Pike agreed to a "joint custody" of Discovery for duration of the investigation. ( DIS : " Brother ")

Saru convinced Pike to use the spore drive to reach the second burst, knowing Starfleet would allow it. Saru was left in command of Discovery as Pike and his landing party investigated a distress signal from a white church at the New Eden colony on Terralysium . During this time, Saru warned Ensign Tilly that her reckless behavior could endanger her position in the Command Training program. ( DIS : " New Eden ")

The Vahar'ai [ ]

As Discovery tracked down Lt. Spock's shuttle, Saru began to feel early effects of Vahar'ai . Saru believed he would need to be killed due to the madness brought on by Vahar'ai. However, after the Sphere died, Saru and Burnham discovered that his threat ganglia had fallen off on its own and that he was not dying. He realized that the Ba'ul had been lying to his people for centures. ( DIS : " An Obol for Charon ")

When a third red burst was found at Kaminar, Saru was eager to tell his people the truth about Vahar'ai, despite Captain Pike's concerns. Saru and Burnham went to the surface to speak with his village priest. Upon his return, Saru found out that his father had died and his sister Siranna had becom their village priest. However, Siranna was upset that he had lived and that he was only interested in finding the Red Angel. When Saru returned to Discovery , the Ba'ul contacted the ship and demanded that Saru be returned in order to maintain the Great Balance. Saru, angered by the Ba'ul's actions, refused to be returned until the Ba'ul threatened his village. Saru, over Burnham and Pike's objections beamed himself down to Kaminar.

Saru was then taken to the Ba'ul's stronghold along with his sister. There, Saru tried to convince the Ba'ul let his sister go to no avail. As the Ba'ul attempted to study and dissect him and his sister, Saru was able to free himself and his sister. This convinced his sister that he had truly survived vahar'ai. Saru was able to contact Discovery , who told him that the Kelpiens were once the Ba'ul's predators. After hearing this, Saru and sister decided to initiate Vahar'ai in all the Kelpiens. Using the Ba'ul's own technology as he did when he contacted Captain Georgiou, Sa'ru and Discovery were able to initiate Vahar'ai in the Kelpiens. However, the Ba'ul attempted to activate their pylon in Kelpien villages in order to stop the Kelpiens from experiencing Vahar'ai. However, the pylons and the Ba'ul's stronghold's shield were de-activated by the Red Angel . Saru and his sister saw that the Angel was a humanoid equiped with advanced suit way beyond current technology. Saru said goodbye to his sister, as she chose to create a new balance with the Ba'ul on Kaminar.( DIS : " The Sound of Thunder ")

Search for the Red Angel [ ]

Saru continued to assist in searching for both Lieutenant Spock and the Red Angel. However, Saru continued to feel the aftereffects of Vahar'ai when he allowed a fight between Dr. Culber and Tyler to continue on. ( DIS : " Light and Shadows ", " If Memory Serves ")

32nd century [ ]

Following the Battle near Xahea , Saru and 88 crewmembers took Discovery through the wormhole. Discovery was able to exit the wormhole in 3189 and crash-landed on The Colony . With Tilly, he was able to get help from the Colonists despite his encounter with the courier Zareh . With Burnham's and the crew's support, he became Discovery 's captain. In that capacity as Captain, Saru was able to help negotiate a truce between United Earth 's Defense Force and Titan 's raiders under Wen . He also allowed Inspector Adira Tal to remain onboard to help them find Federation Headquarters . ( DIS : " Such Sweet Sorrow, Part 2 ", " Far From Home ", " People of Earth ")

When Discovery arrived at Trill , Saru had dinner party for his senior officers. However, dinner was cut short by some harsh remarks by Detmer, Tilly, and Stamets. Despite this, Saru then initiated movie night for the crew in shuttle bay. With Tal's memories, Saru and Discovery were able find Federation Headquarters . Saru, Burnahm and Tal were then brought aboard the USS Federation and met with Starfleet's C-in-C , Fleet Admiral Charles Vance . Following his debriefing about Discovery 's jump from 2258 to 3189, Vance told Saru that despite Kaminar's joining, the Federation went from 350 to 38 member worlds. ( DIS : " Forget Me Not ", " Die Trying ")

Dark Matter Anomaly [ ]

In 3190 , Saru, known as "Great Elder" became a member of his village council. He later spoke with the Ba'ul and Kelpien High Council about returning to the stars to assist the Federation. ( DIS : " Kobayashi Maru ", " Anomaly (DIS) ") Following this and the destruction of Kwejian , Saru returned to Discovery to resume the role of first officer under Captain Michael Burnham , remaining a member of his village council in absentia. He retained the rank of captain but asked to be addressed as simply "Saru," though he acquiesced to Burnham's suggestion of "Mr. Saru." ( DIS : " Anomaly (DIS) ")

Saru worked with Commander Stamets and Dr. Ruon Tarka in studying the Dark Matter Anomaly during Discovery 's evacuation of Radvek V . He allowed Tark to recreate a small version of the DMA but stopped the experiment. ( DIS : " The Examples ")

Resignation from Starfleet [ ]

In 3191 , Saru was offered a position as a Federation Ambassador , although it would require him to resign from Starfleet. In addition, T'Rina proposed to Saru, and they got engaged. Saru embarked upon one final mission with Discovery to Lyrek before officially resigning to assume his new post. Saru was subsequently replaced as first officer by Commander Rayner . ( DIS : " Red Directive ", " Under the Twin Moons ")

Federation Ambassador [ ]

As part of his new duties, Saru attempted to soothe the fears of member worlds due to increased Breen aggression. He also became concerned about the political implications of his engagement to T'Rina, but she alleviated his concerns. ( DIS : " Jinaal ")

Shortly thereafter, Saru -- who was still referred to as Captain Saru by T'Rina despite his resignation -- embarked upon a diplomatic mission near Breen space , sending back a report on the Breen Civil War and the six Primarchs fighting it, helping T'Rina, Admiral Charles Vance , and Discovery 's crew to figure out how to proceed in negotiations with Primarch Ruhn . ( DIS : " Erigah ")

When Saru returned from his mission, T'Rina revealed that Discovery was closing in on the Progenitors ' technology, but so were the Breen. With Moll having killed Ruhn, the other five Primarchs were moving to consolidate their claims to the throne, Tahal in particular who was chasing down Ruhn's dreadnaught with her fleet. Saru warned that this could cause panic in the worlds near Breen space who were already tense. With Tahal not responding to communication attempts and too far away for most of Starfleet to intercept in time, Saru volunteered to take a shuttle equipped with the new pathway drive in an attempt to stall Tahal. Saru cited his tactical and diplomatic experience as well as the fact that Tahal was posing a danger to his friends on board Discovery , but T'Rina was reluctant to let him go out of fear for Saru's safety. ( DIS : " Lagrange Point ")

Accompanied by Commander Nhan , Saru intercepted Tahal and opened diplomacy with her, offering the Primarch a trade route through the L'Tar Nebula in exchange for Tahal standing down. When the Primarch refused, Saru took on a more aggressive approach that impressed Nhan, telling Tahal that as a Kelpien , he was a predator and the Primarch had become his prey. Saru was already well aware that Tahal had bases in the nebula and threatened to use his connections on the worlds in the region to have them assault those bases, costing many lives but weakening Tahal's power. Determining that Saru was apparently not bluffing, Tahal called him insane , but called off her fleet, although the Primarch did leave behind a scout ship to observe matters. As a part of Commander Rayner 's plan, Saru and Nhan lured the scout ship in so that Discovery could use its spore drive to send both Breen vessels to the galactic barrier where they would need decades to return from. Afterwards, Saru boarded Discovery where he took part in the discussion of what to do with the technology that had been found. Although he objected at first, Saru was the first one to agree with Burnham that letting the technology go as it was too dangerous for one person or one culture to have was the right thing to do.

After the conclusion of the mission, Saru returned to Starfleet and was promoted to admiral , although he continued his duties as an ambassador.

Several weeks later, Saru and T'Rina were married in a beach wedding attended by all of their friends. Seeing everyone gathered, Saru was reminded of their shared ancestor in the Progenitors and how everyone was connected in the most fundamental ways. ( DIS : " Life, Itself ")

Personal interests [ ]

Professional development [ ].

As the first and potentially only Kelpien to enter Starfleet, Saru felt pressure to over-perform at Starfleet Academy and in his career. By 2257, he understood 94 languages including English , Mandarin Chinese , Wolof , Spanish , and Russian . ( DIS : " New Eden ", " An Obol for Charon ")

Even while serving aboard the Shenzhou , he imagined a path where First Officer Michael Burnham would be mentored by Captain Georgiou, move on to her own command, and he would take her place as Georgiou's mentee. As first officer aboard Discovery , he sought to emulate the command decisions of Starfleet's most decorated captains, including Georgiou, Pike, Robert April , and Jonathan Archer . ( DIS : " Choose Your Pain ")

In developing his skills, Saru memorized some of the writings of Sun Tzu . ( DIS : " Such Sweet Sorrow, Part 2 ")

Relationships [ ]

Romance [ ].

In 3190 , Saru began a courtship of President T'Rina . Initially both Saru and T'Rina were anxious to allow themselves to be emotionally vulnerable but following advice from friends and colleagues and the events of first contact with Species 10-C , they decided to pursue a closeness with one another. ( DIS : " The Galactic Barrier ", " Species Ten-C ", " Coming Home ")

In 3191 , Saru and T'Rina became engaged, although Saru briefly became concerned about the political implications of their engagement. The two were eventually married. ( DIS : " Under the Twin Moons ", " Jinaal ", " Life, Itself ")

Friendships [ ]

Michael burnham [ ].

Burnham relieved that Saru has survived vahar'ai

Beginning in 2249 , Saru served with Burnham for seven years aboard the Shenzhou . They often disagreed with the handling of various situations, so much so that Captain Georgiou found it remarkable when they did concur. ( DIS : " The Vulcan Hello ") Nevertheless, Saru highly esteemed Burnham's intelligence and skills. He also held a great deal of affection for her, and in fact had come to view her as a surrogate sister. ( DIS : " Context Is for Kings ", " An Obol for Charon ")

Burnham's actions before the Battle of the Binary Stars in 2256 drove a rift between them. Saru had expected that, once Burnham was promoted to her own command, he would then have the opportunity to be mentored by Georgiou as she had been. After Georgiou's death, Saru was resentful of Burnham, which caused him to act coldly toward her when Lorca brought her to the Discovery . The two reconciled once Saru admitted his thoughts to Burnham, and Burnham gifted him Georgiou's telescope . ( DIS : " The Butcher's Knife Cares Not for the Lamb's Cry ", " Choose Your Pain ")

Sylvia Tilly [ ]

Tilly respected Saru as a superior officer, and asked for his recommendation to the Command Training Program . ( DIS : " The Wolf Inside ") Upon acceptance, Tilly often worked with Saru as her CTP director. ( DIS : " New Eden ")

When Tilly tended to get overexcited and ramble informally in tense situations, Saru often advised her to maintain her professionalism. ( DIS : " Light and Shadows ") Though when appropriate, he also allowed her to do so if it helped her remain calm, such as when they hiked together to a settlement on " The Colony " in 3189 . ( DIS : " Far From Home ")

Key dates [ ]

• 2239 : Leaves Kaminar and joins Starfleet.
• 2240s : Assigned to the USS Shenzhou .
• 2250s – 2256 : Chief science officer of the USS Shenzhou .
• Participates in the Battle of the Binary Stars ; abandons the Shenzhou with the remaining crew after the death of Captain Georgiou.
• Is assigned to the USS Discovery as first officer , serving under Captain Gabriel Lorca .
• Participates in helping the Discovery defeat the Klingons during the Attack on Corvan II .
• Takes charge as acting captain of the Discovery after the capture of Captain Lorca until his return.
• Helps the Discovery to win a victory against Kol , destroying the Sarcophagus during the Battle at Pahvo .
• Ends up in the mirror universe after the Discovery 's spore drive appears to malfunction during a jump, though this was a part of Lorca's plan, as he was actually from this universe; once again becomes acting captain of the Discovery .
• Takes over command of the Discovery on a permanent basis when Lorca is exposed as an impostor.
• Led the Discovery on a mission to Qo'noS , which resulted in the end of the war; awarded the Starfleet Medal of Honor for his actions, the first awarded to a Kelpien.
• Continues his command of the Discovery on a voyage to Vulcan to pick up its new commanding officer, but is sidetracked along the way to respond to a distress call from the USS Enterprise , leading to Discovery taking Christopher Pike as interim commanding officer.
• Undergoes vahar'ai , a condition which is supposedly fatal, due to the influence of a living sphere , but survives and realizes that the Great Balance may have been a lie.
• Returns to Kaminar and liberates the Kelpiens from the Ba'ul .
• Takes command of Discovery in the battle against the Section 31 drone fleet.
• Presumed dead by Starfleet after taking Discovery and her crew forward to the 32nd century .
• Officially becomes the captain of the Discovery .
• Goes on sabbatical and returns to Kaminar to support Su'Kal , who spent his entire life in a holoprogram on a derelict science ship , leaving Discovery in Michael Burnham 's command.
• After five months spent on Kaminar assisting Su'Kal, returns to Discovery to serve as Michael Burnham's first officer.
• Resigns from Starfleet in favor of a position as a Federation Ambassador .
• Becomes engaged to President T'Rina of Ni'Var .
• Promoted to admiral
• Marries T'Rina.

Memorable quotes [ ]

" Your world has food chains . Mine does not. Our species map is binary; we are either predator or prey. My people were hunted , bred , farmed … we are your livestock of old. We were biologically determined for one purpose, and one purpose alone – to sense the coming of death . I sense it coming now . "

" It is well known that my species has the ability to sense the coming of death. I do not sense it today. I may not have all the answers; however, I do know that I am surrounded by a team I trust. The finest a captain could ever hope to command. Lorca abused our idealism. And make no mistake, Discovery is no longer Lorca's. She is ours. And today will be her maiden voyage. We have a duty to perform, and we will not accept a no-win scenario. You have your orders. On your way. "

" I saw hope, in the stars. It was stronger than fear. And I went towards it. "

Appendices [ ]

Doug Jones wearing "squinted" contact lenses, discarded during pilot filming

Appearances [ ]

• " The Vulcan Hello "
• " Battle at the Binary Stars "
• " Context Is for Kings "
• " The Butcher's Knife Cares Not for the Lamb's Cry "
• " Choose Your Pain "
• " Magic to Make the Sanest Man Go Mad "
• " Si Vis Pacem, Para Bellum "
• " Into the Forest I Go "
• " Despite Yourself "
• " The Wolf Inside "
• " Vaulting Ambition "
• " What's Past Is Prologue "
• " The War Without, The War Within "
• " Will You Take My Hand? "
• " Brother "
• " New Eden "
• " Point of Light "
• " An Obol for Charon "
• " Saints of Imperfection "
• " The Sound of Thunder "
• " Light and Shadows "
• " If Memory Serves "
• " Project Daedalus "
• " The Red Angel "
• " Perpetual Infinity "
• " Through the Valley of Shadows "
• " Such Sweet Sorrow "
• " Such Sweet Sorrow, Part 2 "
• " Far From Home "
• " People of Earth "
• " Forget Me Not "
• " Die Trying "
• " Scavengers "
• " Unification III "
• " The Sanctuary "
• " Terra Firma, Part 1 "
• " Terra Firma, Part 2 "
• " That Hope Is You, Part 2 "
• " Kobayashi Maru "
• " Anomaly (DIS) "
• " Choose to Live "
• " All Is Possible "
• " The Examples "
• " Stormy Weather "
• " ...But to Connect "
• " Rubicon "
• " The Galactic Barrier "
• " Rosetta "
• " Species Ten-C "
• " Coming Home "
• " Red Directive "
• " Under the Twin Moons "
• " Face the Strange " (archive footage)
• " Lagrange Point "
• " Life, Itself "
• ST : " The Brightest Star "
• " Holiday Party "
• " Holograms All the Way Down " (hologram)
• " Walk, Don't Run " (background only)

Background information [ ]

Saru was played by actor Doug Jones .

Saru and Michael Burnham are the only two characters to appear in every episode of Star Trek: Discovery ' s first two seasons.

Doug Jones did not have to audition for Saru, as the show was pitched to him.

Saru is the second character shown to serve as first officer while holding the rank of Captain, following Spock on the USS Enterprise -A .

Apocrypha [ ]

In the early novel Desperate Hours by David Mack , it is claimed that Saru is from a world called Kelpia and that he was rescued from that world by Starfleet officers. Saru later appears in Fear Itself by James Swallow , where his home planet is instead called Kaminar . The release of the Short Treks episode "The Brightest Star", months later, confirmed the latter name as the name of Saru's planet in canon.

External links [ ]

• Saru at Memory Beta , the wiki for licensed Star Trek works
• 1 Daniels (Crewman)
• 3 Calypso (episode)