Star Trek: Discovery has been set in the 32nd century since season 3, but the series' strengths still come from its connection to its former 23rd-century Star Trek: The Original Series era. In Star Trek: Discovery's fifth and final season, Captain Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) and the USS Discovery embark on a quest to find "the greatest treasure in the known galaxy." Discovery's new mission comes on the heels of back-to-back victories over existential threats to the United Federation of Planets - wins Burnham and her crew achieved because of what Star Trek era they came from.
Star Trek: Discovery was originally a prequel set in the mid-23rd century a decade before Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner) and the USS Enterprise's five-year mission chronicled in TOS. In fact, Michael Burnham's TOS ties run deep: as an orphaned child, Burnham was adopted by Ambassador Sarek (James Frain) and raised on Vulcan alongside her adoptive brother, Spock (Ethan Peck). Burnham joined Starfleet and rose to become First Officer of the USS Shenzhou under Captain Philippa Georgiou (Michelle Yeoh) before Michael's tragic mistake sparked the Klingon War of 2256-2257. Commander Burnham redeemed herself as a crew member of the USS Discovery, and Michael led her starship on a one-way trip 930 years into the future at the end of Star Trek: Discovery season 2.
Discovery's TOS Era Values Are Why Burnham Succeeds In The 32nd Century
When Burnham and the Discovery, all refugees from the 23rd century, arrived in the distant future, they found a Federation broken and hobbled by The Burn, which eliminated warp travel from the galaxy and isolated the alliance of remaining planets for over a century. Michael and her time-tossed crew were treated with skepticism and mistrust by the 32nd-century Starfleet led by Admiral Charles Vance (Oded Fehr). Although the USS Discovery was upgraded with advanced technology like programmable matter, the values and methods of Burnham, Captain Saru (Doug Jones), and their Discovery crew were old school 23rd century Starfleet, and it showed. But Discovery's 23rd-century ways also got results.
Burnham and Discovery crew solved the mystery of The Burn in part because their eponymous starship was empowered by its spore displacement hub drive to go where Starfleet's warp-incapable ships could not. But Burnham's daring and willingness to take risks also solved other problems like Osyraa (Janet Kidder) and the Emerald Chain. Burnham's action-oriented 23rd-century style still made new Federation President Laira Rillak (Chelah Horsdal) nervous when the Dark Matter Anomaly emerged and threatened the galaxy, but the newly-promoted Captain Burnham led Discovery to another galaxy to meet the DMA's creators, Species 10-C. The 32nd century had never encountered anyone like the driven and relentless Michael Burnham and the USS Discovery, but the time-travelers saved the future more than once.
Discovery Is The Best Of Both Star Trek Eras
As Star Trek: Discovery enters season 5, Captain Burnham and her crew have endured the emotional trauma of their temporal displacement, which has pulled them closer together as a family. But Discovery has only been in the 32nd century for a couple of years and, at heart, they remain 23rd-century Starfleet Officers. Burnham excels at the 'gunboat diplomacy' Kirk and Spock (Leonard Nimoy) practiced in their era, and Discovery's crew carries within them the idealism of a younger Starfleet that believes in optimism, altruism, and boldly taking chances together to achieve the impossible. These are qualities the 32nd-century Starfleet lacked after a hundred years of forced isolation.
Yet Discovery's new 32nd-century home has changed Burnham and her people as well. Discovery's new timeline is grittier and even more dangerous than the 'wild west frontier' the galaxy was in the 23rd century, which is why Burnham and the Disco are able to manage this new era so successfully. Captain Burnham balances the righteousness and intrepidity of Captain Kirk with the intellectual curiosity of her brother, Spock. In turn, the USS Discovery's crew matches their Captain's willingness to do whatever is necessary to get the job done. The 32nd century is a lesser place without Star Trek: Discovery bringing 23rd-century values to the distant future.
Star Trek: Discovery Season 5 premieres in 2024 on Paramount+.