star trek discovery review rotten tomatoes

Log in or sign up for Rotten Tomatoes

Trouble logging in?

By continuing, you agree to the Privacy Policy and the Terms and Policies , and to receive email from the Fandango Media Brands .

By creating an account, you agree to the Privacy Policy and the Terms and Policies , and to receive email from Rotten Tomatoes and to receive email from the Fandango Media Brands .

By creating an account, you agree to the Privacy Policy and the Terms and Policies , and to receive email from Rotten Tomatoes.

Email not verified

Let's keep in touch.

Sign up for the Rotten Tomatoes newsletter to get weekly updates on:

• Upcoming Movies and TV shows
• Trivia & Rotten Tomatoes Podcast
• Media News + More

By clicking "Sign Me Up," you are agreeing to receive occasional emails and communications from Fandango Media (Fandango, Vudu, and Rotten Tomatoes) and consenting to Fandango's Privacy Policy and Terms and Policies . Please allow 10 business days for your account to reflect your preferences.

OK, got it!

Movies / TV

No results found.

• What's the Tomatometer®?
• Login/signup

Movies in theaters

• Opening this week
• Top box office
• Coming soon to theaters
• Certified fresh movies

Movies at home

• Fandango at Home
• Netflix streaming
• Prime Video
• Most popular streaming movies
• What to Watch New

Certified fresh picks

• Civil War Link to Civil War
• Monkey Man Link to Monkey Man
• The First Omen Link to The First Omen

New TV Tonight

• Fallout: Season 1
• Chucky: Season 3
• Baby Reindeer: Season 1
• Mr Bates vs The Post Office: Season 1
• Franklin: Season 1
• Dora: Season 1
• Good Times: Season 1
• Beacon 23: Season 2

Most Popular TV on RT

• Ripley: Season 1
• 3 Body Problem: Season 1
• Parasyte: The Grey: Season 1
• Shōgun: Season 1
• Sugar: Season 1
• We Were the Lucky Ones: Season 1
• X-Men '97: Season 1
• A Gentleman in Moscow: Season 1
• Best TV Shows
• Most Popular TV
• TV & Streaming News

Certified fresh pick

• Fallout Link to Fallout
• All-Time Lists
• Binge Guide
• Comics on TV
• Five Favorite Films
• Video Interviews
• Weekend Box Office
• Weekly Ketchup
• What to Watch

Best Movies of 2024: Best New Movies to Watch Now

25 Most Popular TV Shows Right Now: What to Watch on Streaming

What to Watch: In Theaters and On Streaming

Awards Tour

Fallout : What It Gets Right, and What It Gets Wrong

CinemaCon 2024: Day 3 – Disney Previews Deadpool & Wolverine , Moana 2 , Alien: Romulus , and More

• Trending on RT
• Play Movie Trivia
• New on Streaming
• CinemaCon 2024

Season 5 – Star Trek: Discovery

Where to watch, star trek: discovery — season 5.

Watch Star Trek: Discovery — Season 5 with a subscription on Paramount+.

What to Know

Lightening up just in time for one last voyage, Star Trek: Discovery concludes with a quest that sends this particular crew off in rousing fashion.

Audience Reviews

Cast & crew.

Bryan Fuller

Alex Kurtzman

Sonequa Martin-Green

Captain Michael Burnham

Anthony Rapp

Paul Stamets

Mary Wiseman

Sylvia Tilly

Popular TV on Streaming

Critics reviews, season info.

• Action/Adventure
• Children's/Family
• Documentary/Reality
• Amazon Prime Video

More From Decider

'The Golden Bachelor' Stars Gerry Turner And Theresa Nist Divorcing Three...

'The View' Reacts To O.J. Simpson's Death: "The Tragedy Was The...

'The View' Forced To Evacuate Their Studio Before Wednesday's Show After...

'X-Men '97' Gives Gambit a Hero Moment You'll Never Forget

Holly Madison Says She “Tried” Exotic Dancing But Doesn’t Have...

'Captain America: The Winter Soldier' at 10: The Movie That Made (and...

Joy Behar Says She Was "Dragged Into" Controversy Over Beyoncé's 'Jolene'...

Guy Fieri Calls Drew Barrymore "Gangster" For Talking With Her "Mouth Full...

Share this:.

• Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)
• Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
• Click to copy URL

‘Star Trek: Discovery’ Season 4 Leads With Its Heart

Where to stream:.

• Star Trek: Discovery

Patrick Stewart Was Asked To Wear A Wig At His 'Star Trek' Audition — A Wig That Flew By Itself From Heathrow To LAX

Tom hardy "never said 'good morning'" or "good night" while filming 'star trek: nemesis,' says patrick stewart, stream it or skip it: ‘star trek: lower decks’ season 4 on paramount+, featuring the continuing (mis)adventures of starfleet’s proudest platoon members, best star trek gifts for trekkie fans in 2024.

When  Star Trek: Discovery premiered on what was then called CBS All Access, the show was a bold, dark, innovative reinvention of the  Star Trek franchise. Shows, and even some of the movies, had been serialized before. Discovery ‘s willingness, though, to seemingly obliterate its premise every episode led to jaw-dropping moment after jaw-dropping moment. It was purposefully alarming, purposefully divisive, but also helped launch Paramount’s next generation of Star Trek series that now includes  Picard, Lower Decks, Prodigy and the soon to come direct spinoff series  Strange New Worlds .

But on the just debuted fourth season of  Star Trek: Discovery , the series isn’t dropping shocks-a-minute; instead, with the crew established and the characters beloved, the series is now taking the time to lead boldly not with surprises, but with tremendous amounts of heart.

In the new season (the first four episodes were provided for review), the crew of  Discovery is now firmly established in a far-flung future, nearly 1000 years after the events of Seasons 1 and 2. Last season, they figured out what caused The Burn, a massive event that isolated the galaxy and nearly wrecked the Federation. When we pick up in “Kobayashi Maru”, the Federation is slowly rebuilding, the galaxy is reconnecting, and Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) is captain of the ship .

Mind you, that doesn’t mean that Burnham isn’t still going on away missions and saving the day whenever she can. But thanks to the addition of a new character, Chelah Horsdal’s politically inclined Federation President Laira Rillak, she’s being challenged to think about things a different way. How can Burnham lead her crew if she’s also constantly throwing herself in the way of danger? Is making herself the only one who can solve problems a way of choosing the best resource; or is centering the narrative around herself a way of avoiding responsibility, by taking all of it? It’s a fascinating discussion that doesn’t just test Burnham, it also takes to task the rogue adventurer nature of every captain in the Star Trek franchise for the past several decades.

That’s not to say that  Star Trek: Discovery Season 4 is a political clash of ideologies, though that plays heavily into the season as it moves forward. Instead, the promising nature of the rebuilt Federation comes crashing to a halt thanks to the season premiere’s cliffhanger — and  spoilers past this point — which sees the destruction of Cleveland “Book” Booker’s (David Ajala) home planet of Kwejian. This isn’t the first time a planet’s explosion has kicked off a Star Trek plot, most notably the destruction of Vulcan in the 2009  Star Trek film. But here the tragedy isn’t the start of a rollicking adventure, it’s something that all the characters feel; most notably Book, though it touches every corner of the galaxy. And the fight here, at least in the early going, isn’t against some vengeful enemy or mad scientist; it’s a light years wide anomaly , which provides an impossible scientific challenge and stretches every member of the crew to their limits.

If you thought a massive, unknowable force coming for everyone is reminiscent of a certain pandemic we’re still in the middle of? You would be correct. That is, in fact, the direct analogue the show is working with this season, from the strapped scientists trying to solve the problem, to the populace of the galaxy reacting in big ways; some helpful, some extremely combative. But like the best of Star Trek , this season attempts to use COVID as a starting point, versus a one to one analogy. You can see the inspiration, but it’s not distracting.

What  Discovery gets right, though, is the enormous well of emotion that infused everyone, particularly in the early stages of the pandemic. It’s tough to watch at times, particularly when it comes to Ajala’s heartbreaking performance, or Anthony Rapp’s Paul Stamets desperately trying to fix this problem all by himself. But what you get more than anything else is that after fighting the Mirror Universe, villainous AI, and being flung into a future where everyone they knew are all long dead and gone, the crew of  Discovery are now each other’s family. There’s even families in that family, thanks to Adira (Blu del Barrio) and Gray Tal (Ian Alexander), who have essentially been adopted by Stamets and Dr. Hugh Culber (Wilson Cruz). But those bonds extend to the rest of the crew, too, including a more emotionally stable Saru (Doug Jones), and Tilly (Mary Wiseman), who is trying to find her own place during these tumultuous times. Even the rest of the crew on deck gets powerful one on one moments to express their feelings about what’s going on in the universe, to stand up and be counted and make a difference.

Mind you, it’s early going. The first four episodes definitely throw some twists at the crew as they try to figure out what the anomaly is, and how to stop it. And there’s every possibility that a vengeful enemy or mad scientist could be behind it, once the season continues. There also are big changes and shake-ups in store, but even those are treated with more depth of emotion and heart than you might have seen in the cold, combative first season of the show. When  Discovery began, they were at war with an enemy, but also with each other and their basic natures. In Season 4, the crew of  Discovery is united, whole, and providing comfort and hope both to each other, and to a world that needs that right now. Maybe that’s the most radical reinvention of all.

Star Trek: Discovery streams Thursdays on Paramount+.

Where to watch  Star Trek: Discovery

Does 'Yellowstone' Return Tonight? Everything To Know About 'Yellowstone's Season 5, Part 2 Premiere Date

Dwayne Johnson Gets Into Verbal Altercation With WWE Fan: "Watch Your F**king Mouth"

'The View' Reacts To O.J. Simpson's Death: "The Tragedy Was The Injustice" 

Stream It Or Skip It: 'Anthracite' On Netflix, About Four People Trying To Solve A Ritualistic Murder In The French Alps

Where To Watch 'When Calls The Heart' Season 11: Start Time, Streaming Info

R.I.P. Cole Brings Plenty: '1923' Actor Found Dead At 27 After Going Missing

Star Trek: Discovery

Images & screenshots.

Star Trek: Discovery Review - 'That Hope Is You, Part 2'

No Results.

Be the first to rate & review this game!

• International edition
• Australia edition
• Europe edition

Star Trek: Discovery season three review – its most thoughtful series yet

Opening on a broken world where hope seems to be the only thing left, the latest chapter in Trek lore is likely to strike a chord with viewers in 2020

A fter three seasons, Star Trek: Discovery has got around to boldly going where no one had gone before – namely 900 years into the future, far beyond the time periods charted out with extensive lore by other Trek shows.

This decision, and the accompanying hypnotic space worms, disreputable space bazaars and alluring space rogues, comes as a great relief. Discovery has been hemmed in since its inception by everything else bearing the Star Trek name. The show was originally set 10 years before the original series, in a parallel universe populated by the characters of the current Trek movie franchise, also named Kirk and Spock, rather than the versions played by William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy – though not played by the actors in the recent films, either – and if that all sounds confusing, and possibly not worth spelunking through Wikipedia to work out, then good.

Season two had some behind-the-scenes drama: the showrunners left the series after complaints by staff that they were mistreated; now the show is run by Alex Kurtzman and Discovery writers’ room veteran Michelle Paradise, who both wrote this first episode with Jenny Lumet, the author of, among other things, the screenplay to Jonathan Demme’s masterly Rachel Getting Married. So there are reasons to hope, which, incidentally, is also now the theme of the series.

Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) crash-lands on an unfamiliar world after leaping through a temporal wormhole at the end of Discovery’s second season, to defeat an evil artificial intelligence. The friction of the planet’s atmosphere seems to have burned away all the optimism that has always been the most basic atomic unit of Star Trek – when Michael arrives, she immediately stumbles across a piratical “courier” of contraband goods named Book (David Ajala in an enjoyable Han Solo mode) and learns that a huge cataclysm has essentially ended the peace enforced for so many centuries by the omnipresent Federation.

Somehow, this isn’t gloomy. Martin-Green is very funny, and she is, finally, our guide to the secrets of an unknown world. Her boring love interest is gone, her crewmates are awol (though some of them will turn up), and the future is filled with the sort of double-crosses, shootouts and ramshackle spaceships you associate with a Star War, rather than a Trek. The possibility of the network high-fiving itself over references to shows that have been over for decades seems blessedly remote. The result is a far weirder and more eccentric show than Discovery has ever been – one character has a digital alarm parrot in lieu of a clock. There are even signs that it may begin affording its characters the kind of quiet everyday business that will allow the audience to know them as people, rather than as entries in branching wikis of lore.

I reviewed the programme when it began in 2017; I wasn’t a fan of the elongated story arcs or the heavy-handed politics. The sadder-but-wiser show it has become mirrors the toll the past three years have taken on so many of us. It’s a Star Trek that takes place, for the first time, in a broken world where there is no benign bureaucracy that must be saved from space invaders, brightly coloured disasters or a few bad apples. Now, Discovery promises to explore the idea of salvage – how to make the most of what we have, especially when we don’t have enough. In this, as in a few other ways, it seems to take its cues not from the voyages of Captain Cook (who inspired Gene Roddenberry to create the original Trek), but from modern sci-fi writers such as NK Jemisin, who are concerned with how societies can – or can’t – be built to survive hostile worlds.

That requires vigilance, something this opening episode shows us in moving closeup. At the outset, we see a man who is waiting to fulfil his duties as an officer of an institution so thoroughly destroyed that it has been reduced to a mere idea. At the end of the episode, he finally gets to do so, giving meaning to his years of waiting. In our own world, so many public institutions seem to have become only slightly less fictional than Starfleet, and this humble resurrection seems a bit miraculous. Discovery is a show given to histrionics, but stripped of its familiar setting, it now reaches for profundity with a little more assurance.

“Hope is a powerful thing,” muses one character. “Sometimes it’s the only thing,” Michael replies.

Star Trek: Discovery is available on Netflix in the UK and CBS in the US

• US television
• Science fiction TV

Comments (…)

Most viewed.

• Tickets & Showtimes
• Trending on RT

TAGGED AS: CBS , CBS All Access , Sci-Fi , science fiction

(Photo by Paramount+/CBS)

Star Trek TV Shows Ranked by Tomatometer

Updated: September 8, 2023

The Star Trek universe kicked off in 1966 with the original series , created by science fiction visionary Gene Roddenberry , and later exploded into a massive film and TV juggernaut.

While the original series, which starred William Shatner as Captain James T. Kirk and Leonard Nimoy as Mr. Spock, saw only three seasons, it made an indelible impression on the sci-fi genre. Live-action TV follow-up Star Trek: The Next Generation , with  Patrick Stewart as Captain Jean-Luc Picard leading an ensemble cast, captivated viewers from 1987–1994 and inspired three more series that would air within the next decade:  Star Trek: Deep Space Nine ,  Star Trek: Voyager , and  Star Trek: Enterprise .

Starting with 1979’s  Star Trek: The Motion Picture , Paramount Pictures has been regularly cranking out Trek films with the original series and Next Generation casts, as well as a rebooted version in 2009 with Chris Pine as Starfleet Academy cadet James Kirk and Zachary Quinto as young Spock. ( See the Star Trek films ranked here. )

In 2017,  Trek  returned to small screens with season 1 of CBS All Access streaming title  Star Trek: Discovery , set during a tumultuous wartime era about a decade before the original and starring Sonequa Martin-Green . The new series marked a TV franchise reboot by Alex Kurtzman , writer on the 2009 Star Trek film and its sequel  Star Trek Into Darkness .

RELATED: All Star Trek Movies Ranked by Tomatometer

The year 2020 gave fans a celebration of one of its most iconic characters with the premiere of Star Trek: Picard and Stewart reprising his role in the new streaming series that launched its second season in 2022. New live-action series Star Trek: Strange New Worlds was also released in 2022, and its first season was quickly Certified Fresh with a 100% Tomatometer score (it has since dropped to 99% on one review). The show’s second season, released in 2023, was nearly as well received and is Certified Fresh at 97% on the Tomatometer.

The TV franchise has since introduced two animated series Star Trek: Lower Decks , about the misfit support crew on one of Starfleet’s least-important ships, and kid-friendly Star Trek: Prodigy , which tells the story of a diverse group of teens who inadvertently become the crew of a prize starship and learn important lessons in their subsequent adventures. The latter series — No. 3 on our list below — has since been canceled by Paramount+, but a petition to save the show has gathered over 33,000 signatures.

Have a look below to find out which series score highest with critics in our Trek TV by Tomatometer list.

Disagree with the results? Tell us in the comments which series you think should have been ranked higher (or lower).

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (2022) 98%

Star Trek: The Animated Series (1973) 94%

Star Trek: Prodigy (2021) 94%

Star Trek: Lower Decks (2020) 92%

Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987) 92%

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1993) 91%

Star Trek: Picard (2020) 89%

Star Trek: Discovery (2017) 85%

Star Trek (1966) 80%

Star Trek: Voyager (1995) 76%

Star Trek: Enterprise (2001) 56%

Related News

Fallout : What It Gets Right, and What It Gets Wrong

TV Premiere Dates 2024

The Fallout Cast on Easter Eggs and Staying True to the Game

More Movie & TV Scorecards

Marvel TV Ranked by Tomatometer

The Best TV Seasons Certified Fresh at 100%

Best Actor Oscar-Winning Movies, Ranked by Tomatometer

Movie & TV News

Featured on rt.

April 12, 2024

CinemaCon 2024: Day 3 – Disney Previews Deadpool & Wolverine , Moana 2 , Alien: Romulus , and More

April 11, 2024

Renewed and Cancelled TV Shows 2024

Top Headlines

• Best Movies of 2024: Best New Movies to Watch Now –
• 25 Most Popular TV Shows Right Now: What to Watch on Streaming –
• 30 Most Popular Movies Right Now: What to Watch In Theaters and Streaming –
• Best Horror Movies of 2024 Ranked – New Scary Movies to Watch –
• Box Office 2024: Top 10 Movies of the Year –
• Best TV Shows of 2024: Best New Series to Watch Now –

Log in or sign up for Rotten Tomatoes

Trouble logging in?

By continuing, you agree to the Privacy Policy and the Terms and Policies , and to receive email from the Fandango Media Brands .

By creating an account, you agree to the Privacy Policy and the Terms and Policies , and to receive email from Rotten Tomatoes and to receive email from the Fandango Media Brands .

By creating an account, you agree to the Privacy Policy and the Terms and Policies , and to receive email from Rotten Tomatoes.

Email not verified

Let's keep in touch.

Sign up for the Rotten Tomatoes newsletter to get weekly updates on:

• Upcoming Movies and TV shows
• Trivia & Rotten Tomatoes Podcast
• Media News + More

By clicking "Sign Me Up," you are agreeing to receive occasional emails and communications from Fandango Media (Fandango, Vudu, and Rotten Tomatoes) and consenting to Fandango's Privacy Policy and Terms and Policies . Please allow 10 business days for your account to reflect your preferences.

OK, got it!

Movies / TV

No results found.

• What's the Tomatometer®?
• Login/signup

Movies in theaters

• Opening this week
• Top box office
• Coming soon to theaters
• Certified fresh movies

Movies at home

• Fandango at Home
• Netflix streaming
• Prime Video
• Most popular streaming movies
• What to Watch New

Certified fresh picks

• Civil War Link to Civil War
• Monkey Man Link to Monkey Man
• The First Omen Link to The First Omen

New TV Tonight

• Fallout: Season 1
• Chucky: Season 3
• Baby Reindeer: Season 1
• Mr Bates vs The Post Office: Season 1
• Franklin: Season 1
• Dora: Season 1
• Good Times: Season 1
• Beacon 23: Season 2

Most Popular TV on RT

• Ripley: Season 1
• 3 Body Problem: Season 1
• Parasyte: The Grey: Season 1
• Shōgun: Season 1
• Sugar: Season 1
• We Were the Lucky Ones: Season 1
• X-Men '97: Season 1
• A Gentleman in Moscow: Season 1
• Best TV Shows
• Most Popular TV
• TV & Streaming News

Certified fresh pick

• Fallout Link to Fallout
• All-Time Lists
• Binge Guide
• Comics on TV
• Five Favorite Films
• Video Interviews
• Weekend Box Office
• Weekly Ketchup
• What to Watch

Best Movies of 2024: Best New Movies to Watch Now

25 Most Popular TV Shows Right Now: What to Watch on Streaming

What to Watch: In Theaters and On Streaming

Awards Tour

Fallout : What It Gets Right, and What It Gets Wrong

CinemaCon 2024: Day 3 – Disney Previews Deadpool & Wolverine , Moana 2 , Alien: Romulus , and More

• Trending on RT
• Play Movie Trivia
• New on Streaming
• CinemaCon 2024

Star Trek: Discovery – Season 3, Episode 12

There is a tide ..., where to watch, star trek: discovery — season 3, episode 12.

Watch Star Trek: Discovery — Season 3, Episode 12 with a subscription on Paramount+, or buy it on Fandango at Home, Prime Video, Apple TV.

Popular TV on Streaming

Cast & crew.

Sonequa Martin-Green

Michael Burnham

Anthony Rapp

Paul Stamets

Mary Wiseman

Sylvia Tilly

Wilson Cruz

Dr. Hugh Culber

Michelle Yeoh

Philippa Georgiou

Critics Reviews

Episode info.

By providing your information, you agree to our Terms of Use and our Privacy Policy . We use vendors that may also process your information to help provide our services. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA Enterprise and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

‘Star Trek: Discovery’ Review: Season 3 Makes a Satisfying, Emotional Jump to the 32nd Century

Christian blauvelt.

• Share on Facebook
• Share to Flipboard
• Share on LinkedIn
• Show more sharing options
• Submit to Reddit
• Post to Tumblr
• Print This Page
• Share on WhatsApp

Sometimes you just need to get away from it all.

That seems to be the primary motivation for “Star Trek: Discovery” to jump ahead 930 years from its 23rd Century setting all the way to the far-flung year of 3188. And though no one involved in the production has explicitly said so, it seems like this creative choice was fueled by a desire to have a blank slate to do whatever the producers of this CBS All Access show want with this extremely talented cast. Up till now, “Discovery” has been a prequel, set 10 years before “The Original Series” and more than a little bogged down by the limitations involved in having to weave an original story into a time period in which so much franchise mythmaking has already taken place.

Some of the fan quibbles lodged during the show’s first two seasons have been undoubtedly silly. “Why didn’t Spock ever talk about having a sister?” went one, referring to series lead Michael Burnham ( Sonequa Martin-Green ), a human raised by Spock’s parents on Vulcan alongside the future Enterprise science officer. That myopic question was posed by fans who completely forgot that Spock also had a secret brother, revealed in one of the movies. “Why do the Klingons look so different?” went another. CBS All Access wanted to go in a different design direction, okay?

Prequels are fun, but they have the potential to be more about recontextualizing characters and events we already know than in actually breaking new ground for original characters. The remarkable thing is that, through all that franchise red tape, Martin-Green imbued extraordinary life into Michael Burnham — and gave her one of the clearest arcs any “Trek” series lead has ever had, from Vulcan restraint at the beginning to human emotions flowering in full when we last saw her. With a time jump into the 32nd Century at the end of Season 2, she feels truly liberated. How something fits into existing canon no longer matters. All that does matter is good storytelling.

And good storytelling is what we get in the first four episodes of “Season 3” that have been made available for critics to review. Burnham finds herself truly in the unknown. Landing on a desolate, granite-gray planet of high dunes and tranquil seas, she’s all alone. Remember, she had to fly in an Iron Man-type suit through a wormhole in order to blaze the trail for the USS Discovery to follow her into the future and out of the 23rd Century where it had become impossible for them to remain. As Season 3’s first episode, “That Hope Is You,” begins, Burnham and the crew are separated. We won’t reveal for now what actually happened to her starship, but Burnham has to adapt to 3188 largely on her own.

Though that granite-gray planet is some strange alien world in the show, in our world it’s actually Iceland. Along with Jordan in the pilot episode of “Discovery,” this is one of the very few times that any “Star Trek” show has filmed on location outside the U.S. and Canada. And my, does it show. “This Hope Is You” is one of the best-looking episodes of any “Trek” series ever, showing off massive, wide-angle helicopter shots by director Olatunde Osunsanmi, who’s quickly become a “Trek” MVP.

Before she landed, Burnham crashed into a ship piloted by a smuggler, or “courier,” named Book (David Ajala). Sorry to cross-pollinate franchises, but he’s a Han Solo-type, a daring rogue who might betray you at any moment — but who really has a heart of gold, and a deeply felt mission. Han Solo was never a cat person, though. Book is.

It’ll be interesting to see how Book develops over time. His role in the first episode is largely to provide exposition about this strange new galaxy Burnham finds herself in. Apparently, the Federation suffered a cataclysm over a century earlier: suddenly, all over its part of space, dilithium just exploded. For those of you who didn’t keep a “Star Trek: Ships of the Line” calendar on your wall as a kid, dilithium is the crystalline material that allows warp drive to function. This devastating event, known as The Burn, caused space travel to be a possibility for far fewer people. The Federation retreated into a tiny rump state, with barely any of the influence it once had.

Book is joined in later episodes by a couple of other new additions: Blu del Barrio’s Adira and Ian Alexander’s Gray , whose presence is yet another welcome step forward in what’s always been an inclusive franchise, but also provide some of the biggest emotional fireworks of Season 3’s early episodes. Book, Adira, and Gray are all characters who are trying to do the right thing in a universe that’s upside down and in which they may not even know where to begin doing the right thing. Sound familiar?

The expansive visuals of the first episode begin to retreat into more familiar territory, but the emotions end up riding even higher, especially by the end of Episode 4. What’s intriguing about this whole new world of storytelling possibilities is that, unlike “Star Trek: Voyager,” which plunged a Starfleet crew into similarly unknown terrain, these characters aren’t necessarily setting out on “a journey home.” No, they made a choice to be in 3188, and it seems like they’re going to stay there. What matters isn’t going back from whence they came as much as bringing their values with them into this uncertain new present. And that could lead to many more emotional adventures ahead.

“Star Trek: Discovery” Season 3 premieres Thursday, October 15 on CBS All Access.

Most Popular

You may also like.

'Star Trek: Discovery' season 4, episode 11 'Rosetta' has the away team on an acid trip

It's an entertaining, well-written episode, but it's just not particularly memorable

Warning: Spoilers ahead for "Star Trek: Discovery" season 4, episode 11

The first episode of "Star Trek: Picard" dropped on Paramount Plus this week, in an interesting move from the television studio. Perhaps they were hoping "Discovery" would benefit from the enormous publicity campaign that's being adopted for the second season starring Patrick Stewart, otherwise it's entirely possible one might steal more than it's fair share of social media thunder from the other. We'll just have to wait and see.

It's hard to compare the successes and failures in the streaming age as Paramount doesn't release figures for individual shows. What they're interested in is subscriber numbers, generally speaking — and they're increasing . But the fan reaction has been mixed . "Discovery" has a 36% Average Audience Score on Rotten Tomatoes, "Lower Decks" has a 66% and "Picard" boasts a 54% score . Of course, Rotten Tomatoes is not the most accurate way to gauge fan reaction as it's vulnerable to disgruntled fans, just like practically every online user-review system is, but it has attempted to resolve that issue in recent years.

Related: 'Star Trek: Discovery' Season 4, Episode 10 provides Tarka's backstory

That said, according to Paramount's earnings presentation "Clifford" drove more subscriptions than "Star Trek" last year.  If you need to catch up on "Discovery" so far, check out our Star Trek: Discovery streaming guide or our overall Star Trek streaming guide for the full franchise.)

• Want to try Paramount Plus? Here's a free one-month trial
• Subscribe to Paramount Plus for $5.99/month

But with its long overdue expansion into Europe, the streaming network plans to be in 48 markets by the end of 2022, including the UK, Ireland, Italy and France, together with South Korea and the Caribbean. The service is also projected to expand into Asia, Africa, and the Middle East in 2023. Frankly, as long as we have "Star Trek" on our screens, we're happy. We can talk about the high and lows of the story writing for ages afterwards.

So with all that in mind, let's get to "Star Trek: Discovery" season 4, episode 11 "Rosetta."

Get the Space.com Newsletter

Breaking space news, the latest updates on rocket launches, skywatching events and more!

 So, it turns out species 10-C may have lived on the now-dead, rocky core of what was once a gas giant. However, the star that this planet orbits is surrounded by "Dyson rings" made from the same rare material as the DMA controller.

Related: 'Star Trek: Discovery' Episode 9 begins setting up the big season finale

Dyson rings are a variation of what's called a Dyson sphere ; in essence it is a massive megastructure that can only be built by an advanced alien race. It's a concept that offers an explanation as to how a spacefaring civilization would meet its energy requirements once those requirements exceeded what could be generated from the home planet's resources alone. It is an entire structure that encircles a star and would enable a civilization to collect far more energy than would otherwise reaches the surface of any orbiting planet. The concept was popularized by Freeman Dyson in his paper "Search for Artificial Stellar Sources of Infrared Radiation" published in 1960 and has appeared before in "Star Trek" in "The Next Generation" episode " Relics " (S06, E04).

— Star Trek streaming guide: Where to watch the Star Trek movies and TV shows online

— Kirk vs Picard: Who is the best Star Trek captain?

— Best Star Trek: Voyager episodes

Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green), Saru (Doug Jones), Dr. Culber (Wilson Cruz) and Lt. Cmdr. Detmer (Emily Coutts) head down to the planet to see if they can find any evidence of species 10-C. What will they find? Instructions on how to build a weapon? Ancient ruins of some kind? It's a thrilling pre-credit build up and the dialogue is good. Meanwhile, Tarka (Shawn Doyle) and Book (David Ajala) are hot on the heels of the Discovery and have made it safely through the Galactic Barrier and all its bubbles space cells without any incident and even without a mention.

Related: 'Star Trek: Discovery' Season 4, Episode 8: A not-awful installment

One consistent element of this episode is the use of cause and effect interplay throughout and it's extremely effective. Dr. Hirai (Hiro Kanagawa) is used on more than occasion, interacting with both General Ndoye (Phumzile Sitole) and President Laira Rillak (Chelah Horsdal). It's an example of how the smaller details in this show are improving, it's just still being let down by the bigger details. 

Upon landing on the desolate planet, the away team find themselves having a hallucinogenic affair as they suffer from inadvertently interacting with unknown hydrocarbon micro particles. But as they progress further, they all become impaired, with the exception of Lt. Cmdr. Detmer who has a rare moment in the spotlight in this episode and is able to find a solution at the last minute. Proceeding further on the planet and into an ancient alien structure, they find evidence that species 10-C cares for its young and therefore demonstrates emotion and empathy. The planet looks and feels extremely alien as it should and the Discovery environment suits are gorgeous.

Like last season, this one feels like two distinctly different halves rather than a seamless, single season of television. The thing with seasonal story arcs is that the characters haven't noticeably changed very much at the end. In "Star Trek" every character seems to accumulate more emotional baggage and very little else, that way at the beginning of next season, everyone is more or less exactly how we left them, just the way the studio seems to like it. The setting has changed once or twice, but it's not like…say, an individual character going through a radical transformation for some reason. Burnham didn't really change after her whole year spent as a courier before the Discovery arrived and Book's grief for his destroyed homeworld will probably all but disappear by the time Season 5 arrives.

Related: 'Star Trek: Discovery' Episode 7 sets up a mid-season cliffhanger

Unless…the crew of the USS Discovery travels to a new dimension after Tarka connects his interdimensional transporter to the bionic-subsonic-positronic-plasma-field-actuator. Now, that could be interesting.

It's also a wonder how anyone is able to remain so calm during this terrifying crisis, but then we're reminded of that bar aboard the Discovery. With it's warm, orange-colored, low-level lighting and huge, roaring open fire. It feels safe, secure and snug, like it's separated from everything going on. Who wouldn't spend all day every day in there, sipping one whiskey sour after another, watching the stars fly by through one of the many large portholes?

Tarka and Book embark on a mission to…er, beam aboard the Discovery undetected and plant sensor-blocking devices in Engineering that will allow Book's ship to travel, cloaked alongside the Federation starship, enabling them to destroy the DMA control device as soon as they're close enough. It's a ridiculous idea, but it's actually executed quite well. And finally, Cmdr. Jett Reno (Tig Notaro) is used to good effect when she finds Tarka hiding behind a bulkhead. She later uses Tarka to capture Book as well, so their plan has effectively ended. And now Burnham has some common ground – a Rosetta Stone, if you will — to facilitate at least an attempt to communicate with species 10-C.

Related:   'Star Trek: Discovery' Season 4, Episode 6 keeps the tempo up

We've talked before how very "template"-based the last two, even three seasons of "Star Trek: Discovery" have felt and in Tilly's absence Adira (Blu del Barrio) has, to all intents and purposes, stepped directly into the same role, thus replacing Mary Wiseman. Why does Alex Kurtzman/Paramount Plus/the Discovery writer's room [delete as appropriate] feel the need to have the same stencil for each season?

After all the excitement has died down a bit and everyone is either safely back on the bridge or in the brig, Dr. Culber admits to Burnham how he's struggling. Quite why she doesn't suggest he order cocktail and spend some time in Discovery's ski lodge bar is unknown, but I'm willing to wager that would cure it. I'm also willing to wager that the DMA is somehow operating automatically by a civilization in hibernation, or something, and the whole thing is put down to a misunderstanding.

Rating: 7/10

The first 11 episodes of Season 4 of "Star Trek: Discovery" are available to watch now on Paramount+ in the US and CTV Sci-Fi or Crave TV in Canada. Countries outside of North America can watch on the Pluto TV Sci-Fi channel. The first episode of Season 2 of " Star Trek: Picard " is also available and the premiere season of "Strange New Worlds" begins on May 5.

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

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

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

'Beacon 23' series returns to MGM+ on April 7 with glowing blue rocks and alien artifacts

This Week In Space podcast: Episode 105 — Apoc-eclipse 2024!

Why Peter Higgs leaves a massive legacy in the field of physics

Most Popular

By Harry Baker April 10, 2024

By Robert Lea April 10, 2024

By Daisy Dobrijevic April 10, 2024

By Mike Wall April 10, 2024

By Elizabeth Howell April 09, 2024

By Daisy Dobrijevic April 09, 2024

By Robert Lea April 09, 2024

By Josh Dinner April 09, 2024

By Robert Z. Pearlman April 09, 2024

By Mike Wall April 09, 2024

By Keumars Afifi-Sabet April 09, 2024

• 2 See Jupiter close to a crescent moon (Mars near Saturn, too) in the 'View a Planet Day' night sky
• 3 What happened when the moon 'turned itself inside out' billions of years ago?
• 4 Could these big expandable habitats help humanity settle the moon and Mars?
• 5 US needs new space tech or it 'will lose,' Space Force chief says

Star Trek: Discovery's Best Episodes According To IMDb

"Star Trek Discovery" is one of the latest incarnations of Gene Roddenberry's popular sci-fi franchise. Making its debut in 2017, it has been announced that the series will conclude with Season 5, which is slated to premiere in early 2024.

The series has been well-received both by critics and fans, with the former giving the series an 86% approving rating on Rotten Tomatoes and the latter giving it 7.10/10 on IMDb . Like "Star Trek" shows before, and surely the ones that will come after, "Discovery" features a wide range of moments that captivate and stun audiences. Though the final season hasn't aired yet — and this list might change when the last episodes come out — the top three episodes certainly hold their place as some of the best in the series. 

They include: 

• "If Memory Serves"
• "Such Sweet Sorrow, Part 2"
• "Vaulting Ambition"

All of these episodes — and many more — appeal to viewers for a variety of reasons, and prove that "Star Trek: Discovery" is another worthy addition to the franchise that will surely become part of fans' "Star Trek" rewatch list.

Season 2, Episode 8: If Memory Serves

The highest-ranked episode of "Star Trek Discovery" is "If Memory Serves," the eighth episode of Season 2 with an 8.2/10 rating. Not only does it take viewers on an action-packed and suspenseful journey, but it also honors the history of the original "Star Trek" series. Filled with nostalgia, this episode features Spock (Ethan Peck) and Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) on Talos IV. Here, they come across Vina (Melissa George), who crash-landed and met the crew of the  USS Enterprise  during the events of "The Cage" in "The Original Series," an episode that might not have existed without Lucille Ball.  

Fans praised the way the episode melded the two "Star Trek" incarnations and especially loved the reintroduction to Vina and how George captured her loneliness after being left on Talos all those years ago. Though there are plenty of rave reviews, the one that stands out is by  XweAponX , titled "A Flawless Bridge Between 1966 and 2019." Their comments truly capture the masterful way "Discovery" transports fans "back to the very episode where Star Trek started, to the same planet, to the same aliens, to the same characters, to the same illusions, wearing the same 'metal fabric' they wore 54 years ago," while remaining its own and unique series. 

Season 2, Episode 14: Such Sweet Sorrow, Part 2

The Season 2 finale of "Star Trek: Discovery," titled  "Such Sweet Sorrow Part 2," packed an incredible punch that left fans wanting more. With an 8.2/10 rating, it's clear that it deserves its ranking as one of the best episodes — and finales — of the series so far. It gives us an unforgettable battle between the  USS Discovery and Control that may determine the course of the future ( a high-stakes situation that's common to the franchise ). It also showcases the importance of making the right choice, no matter how hard it may be, which is especially true for Burnham. 

"Such Sweet Sorrow" is considered to be a movie-quality episode that highlights everything that audiences love about "Star Trek." From the spectacular visuals to the way the characters go above and beyond — especially Burnham, who jumps into the future with her crew to prevent Control from returning — this episode proves "Star Trek" is about pushing boundaries and doing whatever it takes to fight, protect, and of course, discover. Full of twists — the Klingons end up helping the good guys — turns, and surprises, it's clear that "Such Sweet Sorrow Part 2" deserves its spot as one of the best. 

Season 1, Episode 12: Vaulting Ambition

For some fans, Season 1's  "Vaulting Ambition"  is the moment when the series really begins to take off. No longer relying on what some may consider "fillers," everything that happens in this episode is significant, both to the plot and to the characters' individual stories. Burnham and Captain Gabriel Lorca (Jason Isaacs) venture to the mirror universe's imperial palace to retrieve data on the  USS   Defiant , which crossed over to this alternate reality. Here, Burnham must confront her past when she comes face to face with Philippa Georgiou — played by Michelle Yeoh, who may have a spin-off in the works  — the emperor and the mirror version of Burnham's deceased captain. 

This episode not only gives audiences a more well-rounded side of Burnham, but it also manages to keep them at the edge of their seat. The reveal that the Lorca Burnham travels with is actually from a parallel timeline shocked and thrilled fans, raised the stakes significantly, and showed that nothing is ever quite as it seems, which is pretty on-point for a "Star Trek" series. 

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

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

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

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

Start the day smarter. Get all the news you need in your inbox each morning.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Prioritizing diversity and inclusivity

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

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

Starting a new age of Star Trek

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

Exploring strange new worlds

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

Finding time for the simple things

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

Going boldly

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

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

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

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

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

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

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Why 'Star Trek: Discovery' deserves more credit as a barrier-breaking series

Star Trek: Discovery (2017–2024)

• User Reviews

Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews

• User Ratings
• External Reviews
• Metacritic Reviews
• Full Cast and Crew
• Release Dates
• Official Sites
• Company Credits
• Filming & Production
• Technical Specs
• Plot Summary
• Plot Keywords
• Parents Guide

Did You Know?

• Crazy Credits
• Alternate Versions
• Connections
• Soundtracks

Photo & Video

• Photo Gallery
• Trailers and Videos
• Episode List

Related Items

• External Sites

Related lists from IMDb users

Recently Viewed

• Entertainment
• Rex Reed Reviews
• Awards Shows
• Climate Change
• Restaurants
• Gift Guides
• Business of Art
• Nightlife & Dining
• About Observer
• Advertise With Us

‘Star Trek: Discovery’ S5 Review: Final Season Is Its Best

This season has a brisk pace and the sense of fun that in the past has been crushed under the weight of grave galactic stakes..

Star Trek: Discovery occupies an interesting place in the celebrated franchise. It was the first Trek series of the streaming era, the first to debut behind a paywall, the first produced after J.J. Abrams’ big screen reboot, and the first to put a woman of color in the captain’s chair. Discovery redefined the look and feel of the franchise on television, bringing Trek into the modern world of feature-level photography, effects, and pace of story. It blazed a trail for a new generation of Trek media, like direct spin-off Strange New Worlds and the upcoming Section 31 TV movie. It is also not terribly popular amidst the old guard of Trekkies, nor is it a mainstream hit or a critical darling. Discovery has struggled to find its footing from the very beginning and is still uneven after years of retooling. I do not consider its cancellation after five seasons to be a tragic loss for television. However, Discovery may still have one “first” left to achieve: It may be the first Star Trek series whose final season is its best. 

Sign Up For Our Daily Newsletter

Thank you for signing up!

By clicking submit, you agree to our <a rel="nofollow noreferer" href="http://observermedia.com/terms">terms of service</a> and acknowledge we may use your information to send you emails, product samples, and promotions on this website and other properties. You can opt out anytime.

(A quick personal note to the handful of Trekkies who just clutched their pearls: Season 4 of Enterprise is not better than Season 3, it merely has more familiar stuff for fans to point at with childlike glee. And you’ve likely already read my thoughts on Picard ’s final season .)

Even as a critic of the show, I have to acknowledge that every season of Discovery has started with a bang. It’s the nature of a serialized, season-long story arc to kick off with something resembling the first act of a feature film, and Season 5 is no different. The opening chapter, “Red Directive,” is a fast-paced space adventure packed with flashy action set pieces. The illustrious Captain Michael Burnham ( Sonequa Martin-Green ) and her crew are on the trail of Moll (Eve Harlow) and L’ak (Elias Toufexis), a spacefaring Bonnie and Clyde who have stumbled across a secret with enormous implications for the future of the galaxy. Just like the previous three seasons, this sets Team Disco off on another cosmic scavenger hunt, jumping to a new world each week to find the next clue to the season’s grander mystery. 

Historically, this is where Discovery has run into trouble. While each chapter tends to have its own contained adventure plot or even a classic Trek “message of the week,” they’re rarely that memorable and they advance the season’s overarching storyline without adding much depth. This season, though, has a brisk pace and a sense of fun that, previously, has been crushed under the weight of grave galactic stakes. Paramount has promoted this season as having an Indiana Jones energy to it , and that’s a fair comparison. The characters are enjoying themselves more, and for the first time since Season 2, the story isn’t built around some unfathomable tragedy. T o my best recollection, none of the episodes provided in advance to critics feature any crying. That’s four consecutive episodes, possibly a new track record.

This is not the only way in which Discovery ’s new season throttles back on the show’s occasionally cloying sentimentality. The season premiere introduces a new character, Captain Rayner ( Callum Keith Rennie ), a gruff pragmatist who serves as a contrast to Burnham’s soft-spoken, personable, firmly feminine command style. At first, Rayner appears to be a straw man representing aggro, entitled white male authority, a trope Discovery goes to often. As the season progresses, Rayner acquires some depth and even some likability. It’s fun to watch this grumpy old guy interact with a cast full of characters who are totally in touch with their feelings. Most importantly, Rayner provides something that the series has needed ever since Burnham took command of Discovery: a professional peer with whom to disagree and occasionally compromise. It’s an essential role that her first officer, Saru ( Doug Jones ), has become too adoring and loyal to play. Burnham has earned the devotion of her crew, but watching her gracefully manage dissent only enhances her aura of strength and leadership.

Even though production was wrapped before Discovery was canceled (with additional shooting after that announcement to tie up loose ends), Season Five feels like a finale from the very beginning. A few characters are moving on with their lives, pursuing new interests and relationships. There are more fun, non-intrusive callbacks to Treks past than in the last two seasons, which makes it feel a bit like a victory lap for the streaming era’s flagship show. Above all, there is a sense of ease, as if the cast and crew have finally got their engine running smoothly and can cruise to the finish line. It’s the energy a series possesses at its peak, a point to which fans will often look back and say “They probably should have stopped there.” Barring a significant misstep in its final six episodes, Star Trek: Discovery will never be past its prime, and that’s a distinction its creators can wear with pride. 

• SEE ALSO : How Opera’s Crisis Can Become an Opera Renaissance

We noticed you're using an ad blocker.

We get it: you like to have control of your own internet experience. But advertising revenue helps support our journalism. To read our full stories, please turn off your ad blocker. We'd really appreciate it.

How Do I Whitelist Observer?

Below are steps you can take in order to whitelist Observer.com on your browser:

For Adblock:

Click the AdBlock button on your browser and select Don't run on pages on this domain .

For Adblock Plus on Google Chrome:

Click the AdBlock Plus button on your browser and select Enabled on this site.

For Adblock Plus on Firefox:

Click the AdBlock Plus button on your browser and select Disable on Observer.com.

Screen Rant

Moll & l’ak: star trek discovery actors eve harlow & elias toufexis explained.

Facing off against Captain Burnham and the USS Discovery, Eve Harlow and Elias Toufexis star as Moll and L'ak in Star Trek Discovery season 5.

Warning: SPOILERS for Star Trek: Discovery Season 5

• Eve Harlow and Elias Toufexis play Moll and L'ak, a dangerous duo challenging the crew of the USS Discovery in season 5.
• Moll has unexpected ties to Book's mentor and is determined to achieve her goals.
• Elias Toufexis plays L'ak, Moll's tough and impulsive partner whose origins are a mystery.

Star Trek: Discovery introduces Eve Harlow and Elias Toufexis as Moll and L’ak, mysterious and dangerous lovers who challenge the crew of the USS Discovery. Recurring characters in Discovery’ s fifth and final ten-episode season, Moll and L’ak face off against Starfleet on an epic adventure to find the power to create life itself. Discovery 's wicked new adversaries hide secrets of their own and allude to a greater threat. Formidable and dangerous, Moll and L’ak are partners in crime, desperate to claim the prize for themselves and they will stop at nothing to get it.

Eve Harlow and Elias Toufexis join Callum Keith Rennie as the new faces of the Star Trek: Discovery season 5 cast . Rennie stars as Starfleet Captain Rayner of the USS Antares, while Harlow and Toufexis’ Moll and L’ak build on the show's intricate and developing character relationships and multilayered narrative, adding mysterious and unexpected backstories of their own. The dangerous duo offers an unrepentant ambition and deceptively charismatic intrigue to the interstellar adventure, willing to stop at nothing to get what they want. Here’s a look at Discovery season 5’s nefarious bad guys and the actors behind the characters.

The Complete Star Trek Timeline Explained

Eve harlow plays moll in star trek: discovery season 5, harlow's moll shares a "bonnie and clyde" relationship with elias toufexis' l'ak.

Malinne "Moll" Ravel is one half of the Star Trek: Discovery season 5 antagonistic duo. Moll is a highly intelligent human with strong strategic skills and a sharp wit who can quickly adapt to any situation. Engaged in a romantic and professional partnership with the mysterious and overprotective L'ak, Moll is a former courier turned outlaw with unexpected familial ties to Book's (David Ajala) mentor - Cleveland Booker IV. Confident, bold, and disruptive, Moll is determined to accomplish her goals and enjoy the process. Dangerous, confident, and dramatic, Moll's partnership with L'ak subtly and darkly mirrors the show's earlier relationship dynamics and poses a significant threat to the Federation and the crew of the USS Discovery.

Eve Harlow's casting as the complex and villainous Moll in Star Trek: Discovery season 5 adds another - and significant - franchise to her list of acting credits.

A talented and accomplished Moscow-born Israeli-Canadian actor, Eve Harlow enjoys a growing and diverse list of roles in television and film across various genres. Best recognized for performances in The 100, Next, and Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. , Harlow received several awards for minor, supporting roles, also making appearances in Juno, The Tall Man, Heroes Reborn, DC's Titans, The Tomorrow Man, 12 Monkeys, N.C.I.S., Fargo, Rogue, and The Rookie . Eve Harlow's casting as the complex and villainous Moll in Star Trek: Discovery season 5 adds another - and significant - franchise to her list of acting credits and foreshadows even greater future success.

Elias Toufexis Plays L’ak In Star Trek: Discovery Season 5

Elias toufexis appeared in season 1 and season 5 of star trek: discovery.

The infamous Clyde to Moll's Bonnie, Elias Toufexis' character, L'ak, is tough, impulsive, driven, and fiercely protective of his partner . A brand new and recurring character in Star Trek: Discovery season 5 , L'ak is of unknown alien origin. A mysterious and villainous former courier turned outlaw, like Moll, L'ak's ambition and disregard for consequences make him a dangerous adversary for Captain Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) and the crew of the USS Discovery. Despite his dedication to Moll's safety, L'ak's unpredictable nature and status as a hired gun mark him as a significant, unexpected, and tense villain and push him to ambitious lengths to accomplish his goals.

Elias Toufexis first appeared in Star Trek: Discovery , season 1, episode 3 - "Context Is For Kings."

A talented and versatile Canadian actor, Elias Toufexis has built a film, television, and voice acting career in various video games. Appearing in popular television shows such as The Expanse, Supernatural, and Smallville, Elias Toufexis demonstrates a distinct creative flair and action-oriented dramatic preference through an exploration of complex and interesting characters. Recognized for his roles in Shadowhunters, Blood of Zeus, and The Expanse , Toufexis has also performed in voice acting roles for Deus Ex, Assassin's Creed: Odyssey, Immortals Fenyx Rising, and Star Trek: Resurgence . A diehard Star Trek fan, Elias Toufexis previously appeared in Star Trek: Discovery season 1 as Cold, a human Federation prisoner. Star Trek: Discovery season 5 streams Thursdays on Paramount+