The Final Frontier proved it still has a lot of space that has been left unchartered as the latest dip to the well STAR TREK: DISCOVERY overflows with enthusiasm and an entirely refreshing perspective of popular culture’s longest running space epic.
When CBS announced that it would launch a subscriber based streaming network and that its very cornerstone there would be a brand new Star Trek series, many doubted the relevancy of such a move. Many speculated that the fandom had all but burned out on the vision of the future inspired by Gene Roddenberry and introduced in 1966. Star Trek: The Original Series was cancelled after three seasons, but went on to achieve an entirely new level of success in syndication…the rest is — literally — the history of the future.
The most recent full-length feature film Star Trek Beyond continued the adventures of the crew of the Starship Enterprise from an alternate timeline running concurrently to the adventures of the heroes first introduced in The Original Series. With their sights set on establishing themselves in the subscriber market, CBS turned to the enduring franchise once again and Alex Kurtzman and Bryan Fuller to executive produce the new iteration of the series. With these powerhouse creatives attached many anticipated that the new series would be set outside of established continuity.
Instead Star Trek: Discovery would be clearly foraging its own path, but would venture forth from very familiar territory.
Set 10-years prior to historic first 5-year mission of the Starship Enterprise the new series would depict an era often discussed in Trek lore but hardly illustrated: the Federation/Klingon War has finally come to the small screen. Star Trek: Discovery would trump nearly every trope of its predecessors, introducing not one but two new hero ships to elaborate its narrative and their crew, but also altered the centrifugal view of the storyline from the perspective of its captain, but from a particularly significant crew member.
A New Discovery
Star Trek: Discovery is told from the perspective of the uniquely gifted crewman Michael Burnham (portrayed by Sonequa Martin-Green) who serves as the First Officer of the exploratory vessel the USS Shenzhou under the command of Captain Philippa Georgiou. When their ship comes across a clandestine Klingon ship on the edge of the galaxy, Burnham takes measures that put the Shenzhou and everyone aboard in the crosshairs of the Klingon Empire. It isn’t long before her actions plunge the Federation int a war with the greatest adversaries!
The first three episodes of the premiere season define and set the tempo for the rest of its First Season. “The Vulcan Hello”, “Battle at the Binary Stars”, and “Context Is For Kings” setting a pace that is completely of its own design. Given the circumstances that Burnham finds herself in, Starfleet’s first mutineer, is recruited by captain of the experimental warship USS Discovery Captain Gabriel Lorca to serve aboard the Discovery. Though many are at odds with Burnham and what she represents, it isn’t very long before she proves herself essential to their mission.
For the casual viewer who hasn’t been inducted into Star Trek: Discovery it is worthy of its legacy. The first truly serialized storyline, each episode stands alone, but is interconnected with an overall arc that ultimately leads to one of the most incredible reveals of its initial launch. Star Trek: Discovery did not set about to reinvent the wheel, but it did find a new way of taking its audience on an entirely inspired ride, that is as exploratory as the spirit of Star Trek itself. For those who are still unconvinced, before diving in too deep digest for the first three episodes in the series.
There is much discovery to be had!
Goto cbs.com to check out more details on subscribing to CBS ALL ACCESS and checking out Star Trek: Discovery.