star trek discovery std

No, The Shorthand for Star Trek: Discovery Is Not 'STD'

Yes, it's very funny to refer to Star Trek: Discovery as "STD," but that's not what you should be calling it -- let's go over the proper shorthand.

Whether you love it or hate it, Star Trek: Discovery has taken the Internet by storm this week, spurring all kinds of high-brow conversation about its contemporary allegory and ability to hold its own in the context of a 51-year-old franchise. However, not all the conversation has been so high-brow. There's been some chitter-chatter about the proper shorthand for the series, and a lot of jokesters out there are tempted to go ahead and -- inspired by the ex-term for venerial diseases -- call it STD .

Sorry, you hooligans, but STD is not the shorthand for Star Trek: Discovery , and we will not allow you to corrupt our beloved franchise.

RELATED: Star Trek: Discovery Fueled Massive Increase in CBS Mobile App Downloads

It's DIS, Not That

Back in the '90s, if Trek fans wanted a comprehensive encyclopedia of everything from Tribbles to Talosians, they had to buy nifty CD-ROMs that broke down every bit of Trek history for the overly curious fan. Today, we have the Fandom-run Memory Alpha to provide all the Trek information under the sun(s). And, as indicated on the Holy Grail of Trek websites, Discovery is short-formed "DIS," using the first three letters of the series' subtitle in the tradition of Trek spinoffs Voyager ( VOY ) and Enterprise ( ENT ). Simple enough. So, get the giggles out while you can, because "STD" will not be tolerated (or remembered centuries from now) as the shorthand for Discovery .

The Colon Conundrum

Star Trek and colons have a relationship as fascinating as Riker and Soren's in TNG's "The Outcast." It's... complicated. Typically, Trek spinoffs -- including movies and television series -- include a colon. That was until Mr. J.J. Abrams came along, and with 2013's oh-so-controversial Star Trek Into Darkness ditched the almighty colon, turning Star Trek into... a verb?! He once again shunned the colon with Star Trek Beyond , and while it's likely just an aesthetic choice, it doesn't make a whole lot of sense. Is "Trek" the verb in the context of the title? Then what the heck does "Star" mean?

RELATED: Discovery vs. The Orville: Which Does Star Trek Better?

Anyway...we don't have to worry about the verbiage of "Star Trek" in Star Trek: Discovery because, quite simply, the series does have a colon in its title.

In Conclusion...

It's Star Trek: Discovery , and the shorthand for it is DIS .

Set 10 years before the adventures of Kirk and Spock in Star Trek: The Original Series, Discovery stars Sonequa Martin-Green, Jason Isaacs, Michelle Yeoh, Doug Jones and Anthony Rapp, with Alex Kurtzman, Bryan Fuller, Heather Kadin, Gretchen J. Berg, Aaron Harberts, Akiva Goldsman, Rod Roddenberry and Trevor Roth serving as Executive Producers.

The series is currently streaming on CBS All Access in the United States, Crave TV in Canada, and Netflix internationally; it kicked off on September 24, and will run until November 5 before taking a short break until airing its second half in January 2018.

Inside the Groundbreaking ‘Star Trek: Discovery’ Episode With Trans and Non-Binary Characters

The latest episode of “ Star Trek : Discovery” includes a storyline that viewers have almost certainly never seen before on a major television series: A romance between a non-binary character, a human named Adira, and trans character, a Trill named Gray. What’s more, Adira and Gray are played respectively by the non-binary actor Blu del Barrio and the trans actor Ian Alexander.

It’s hard to overstate how significant of a milestone this is for LGBTQ representation, on TV in general and for “Star Trek” especially. Despite groundbreaking portrayals on shows like “Transparent,” “Orange Is the New Black,” “Pose” and “Billions,” trans and non-binary characters remain quite rare on TV, and there has never been explicitly identified trans and non-binary representation on “Star Trek.”

What makes it all the more remarkable is that this is not only Del Barrio’s first TV role — cast while Del Barrio, now 23, was finishing their final year in drama school — but when they were cast as Adira, Del Barrio had barely started the coming out process themselves as non-binary.

“I understood myself to not be cisgender,” Del Barrio says. “But it was not something that I was talking about with a lot of people, it was definitely still in my own brain. My plan was, like, I’ll graduate, and then I’ll figure all of this out. Instead, this [show] happened, which, in turn, helped me figure this out!”

The third season of “Discovery” jumps the story 930 years further into the future, when the galaxy has been devastated by a cataclysm called the Burn, which seemingly wiped out the Federation and forced many societies to turn inward to survive. Adira, part of the United Earth Defense Force, joins the crew of the Discovery in Episode 3, and reveals they’re carrying a Trill symbiont — a companion alien species that lives through many lifetimes inside different Trill hosts.

(Warning: The rest of this story contains SPOILERS .)

In Episode 4, “Forget Me Not,” we learn Adira cannot remember how they came to have the symbiont inside them, so the Discovery travels to the Trill home world to find answers. Adira eventually remembers that the symbiont once lived inside their boyfriend, Gray. But when an accident fatally injures Gray, Adira chooses to save the symbiont by having it inserted into their body. In an already very “Star Trek” storyline comes one more twist: Once Adira’s memory is unblocked, and they have access to the symbiont’s past lives and memories, Adira is able to see and talk with Gray again.

Fans will get to see their relationship evolve for some time: Along with their season-long run on Season 3, “Discovery” executive producer and co-showrunner Alex Kurtzman tells Variety exclusively that Del Barrio and Alexander will return for Season 4 — which just started production in Toronto.

“It’s a whole long story with them,” he says.

Del Barrio, Alexander, Kurtzman and executive producer and co-showrunner Michelle Paradise all spoke with Variety about how Adira and Gray’s storyline first came about, how the show’s writers worked to reflect Del Barrio and Alexander’s experiences on the show and what it’s been like for the actors to make “Star Trek” history.

The Writers Knew Early on They Wanted Non-Binary and Trans Representation for Season 3

Infinite diversity in infinite combinations has been one of the core values of “Star Trek” ever since creator Gene Roddenberry put a Black woman, Nichelle Nichols’ Uhura, and an Asian man, George Takei’s Sulu, on the bridge of the Enterprise in the original “Star Trek” TV series in 1966.

But until out actors Anthony Rapp and Wilson Cruz were cast on “Discovery” as couple Lt. Stamets and Dr. Culbert, there hadn’t been any LGBTQ representation of any significance on a “Trek” TV series. With “Discovery” jumping so far into the future in its third season, the writers took advantage of the opportunity to further expand the scope of the show’s queer representation.

“We really wanted to look around and see what sorts of new stories we could tell,” says Paradise. “‘Star Trek’ has always represented a myriad of voices. Who are the voices that we are not hearing from? Which are the characters that we are not seeing? Right now, what’s an important voice that we want to hear through these characters?”

“Part of the joy of Star Trek, especially given the state of the world now, is that we get to create the world that we want to see,” adds Kurtzman. “It’s a responsibility that we wanted to take very, very seriously.” Along with expanding the show’s representation of gender identity, Kurtzman says the writers also talked about wanting to tell “a great love story” on Season 3, and the two ideas merged together.

“It just felt like a really interesting way to do it,” he says. “There’s no magic formula for it. A lot of the time, you’re in the writers room, and you’re just sort of following your heart and you’re following your gut, and you’re trying to navigate toward what feels emotionally correct. This felt very emotionally correct.”

Casting the Actors Proved Unexpectedly Easy

Even though Del Barrio had told almost no one about their gender identity, months before the “Discovery” audition was even a possibility, their agent had the presence of mind to ask them if they’d ever want to submit for non-binary roles.

“I took a really long pause before just really quietly being like, ‘Yes, that’s okay. You can do that,'” Del Barrio says. “But I wasn’t expecting to book anything that soon. I think that was the reason why I was comfortable auditioning. I wanted to explore myself within these auditions, but I wasn’t expecting to actually book a job. “

While TV producers cannot outright ask prospective actors about their sexuality or gender identity, they can specify both for the character in question. And when they received Del Barrio’s audition for Adira, it was simply undeniable. “We kind of had this idea of who Adira would be, and then Blu came along,” Paradise says. “And we just thought, Oh, we have to, we have to now tailor this character to this person who’s just so extraordinary.”

Alexander, by contrast, had already played a high-profile trans role on the Netflix series “The OA,” and that was enough to put him at the top of the producers’ list for Gray.

“I loved ‘The OA,'” says Kurtzman. “I’m one of the Save ‘The OA’ people. I was particularly taken by Ian’s performance. And Ian was the first person that we thought of for the part.”

The Trill, Already Avatars for LGBTQ Representation on “Star Trek,” Were the Perfect Vehicle for Adira and Gray’s Story

When they were cast, Del Barrio hadn’t seen any “Star Trek,” and Alexander had only seen a few episodes. But after getting a list of LGBTQ-skewing “Trek” episodes from Nick Adams, director of transgender media and representation for GLAAD, both actors quickly came to understand how the most potent episodes for queer representation on “Trek” have involved the Trill.

First introduced in a 1991 episode of “Star Trek: The Next Generation,” the Trill were most deeply explored on the spinoff series “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine” with the series regular character Jadzia Dax (Terry Farrell). Many of Dax’s previous hosts were men, and on one 1995 episode, Jadzia even briefly rekindles a relationship with the former wife of one of Dax’s previous male hosts.

Needless to say, in the absence of any explicitly queer characters, many LGBTQ “Trek” fans saw the Trill as the next best thing.

“Whether it was canon or not, intentional or not, to anyone who is queer in any way, it’s super noticeable,” says Del Barrio. “It just resonates.”

So when the writers decided to introduce non-binary and trans characters on “Discovery,” it was a no-brainer to do it through the prism of the Trill.

“The beauty of ‘Trek’ has always been that it presents an allegorical mirror to the situations that we are living in modern times,” says Kurtzman. “And what was exciting to us was saying, OK, we’re going to remove it from the level of allegory and we’re going to make it literal. We are absolutely acknowledging that people have interpreted characters like Jadzia as being trans metaphors, but it was never explicitly stated. We just felt we wanted to take it a step further.”

Using the Trill as the lens for Adira and Gray’s story also allowed the writers to skirt one of the most persistent storytelling hurdles for any “Trek” series: How can the show speak to the experience of trans and non-binary people today in a future in which trans and non-binary identity is a fully accepted reality? The answer was to make Adira’s ability to host a Trill symbiont horrifying to many Trill, for whom the privilege of hosting is rare honor.

“The hosts for the symbionts have always been Trill,” Kurtzman says. “The community of Trill has to reckon with the possibility that a host may not be Trill, and what does that mean? In the vein of all ‘Star Trek,’ do you accept what initially is perceived as other, and do you do broaden your horizons?”

The approach feels particularly “Star Trek”-y, allowing for all manner of interpretation. “We’ve made certain things literal and certain things remain very allegorical,” Kurtzman says. “We leave it to you to decide, but you’ll see it as a very contemporary debate. It’s actually the first time that I can remember ever writing anything related to ‘Trek’ that did both of those things at the same time.”

The Actors Were the Show’s Best Resource for Getting Adira and Gray’s Stories Right

Viewers will notice that neither Adira nor Gray’s gender identity are explicitly discussed in “Forget Me Not”; characters even refer to Adira with she/her pronouns instead of they/them. That is by design. With no non-binary or trans writers on staff, the “Discovery” team instead worked with Del Barrio and Alexander — in consultation with GLAAD’s Adams — to make sure Adira and Gray’s experiences on the show authentically reflected how they experienced the world.

“We did not have the non-binary or trans experience,” says Paradise. “It would not have been right for us to write those stories without having someone with that life experience to be able to help us and check us and make sure that these things are feeling authentic. … Our message to [Del Barrio and Alexander] from the very beginning was, ‘We want to follow your lead with all of this. We want to follow it with who you are as a person in the world, and we want to follow it with this character that you play. If you want the character to reflect some of your own experience, we can do that. If you don’t, that’s OK.’ Whatever would make them the most comfortable working on the show and playing that character.”

For Del Barrio — who had not yet come out to their parents as non-binary when they were cast on the show — that meant allowing Adira’s comfort level with sharing their gender identity to evolve very much in parallel with how it was unfolding for them off camera.

“I didn’t feel comfortable immediately playing a character that used they/them pronouns when I wasn’t even out myself,” explains Del Barrio. “I didn’t speak to [my parents] about it for a little while. I didn’t really know what to do. I had a lot of imposter syndrome. My immediate feeling was, like, extreme joy for getting this part. And immediately after came all of the fear of judgment, and all the fear of, maybe it shouldn’t be me, maybe it should be somebody else who’s been out longer and, you know, really understands themselves. So I struggled a lot with that.”

Del Barrio credits Kurtzman, Paradise, Adams and the “Discovery” cast and crew for creating a space that allowed them to work through these issues while also living them out on the show. “They checked with me constantly, throughout the filming of the whole season, which was really helpful because I was going through a lot,” Del Barrio says. (They did eventually come out to their parents before their casting was officially announced. “Immediately, they wanted to support me,” Del Barrio says. “They’re trying their best, and that’s kind of all I could ask for.”)

For Alexander, who had been out for years, the concern was allowing Gray to exist before explicitly stating his gender identity because that’s how it would be in life. “I think that there absolutely should be trans characters that just simply exist, and they don’t necessarily need to explain or come out as trans to the audience,” he says. “I do think there will be at some point in the future a more explicit conversation about Gray’s gender identity and his transition, but that just won’t happen right away.”

While Alexander believes that “any trans storyline should have a trans writer,” he was also thoroughly impressed with the lengths the “Discovery” team went to make sure his voice was heard. “They’re really setting a good foundation for potentially bringing in more [trans] writers in the future,” he says. “I haven’t had any concerns about Gray’s character yet, because it’s just been such a collaborative process from the very beginning. I really do trust Michelle, that she’s putting in the work of being a good trans ally and checking in with me, and also making sure to always include Gray in the storyline in a way that’s not alienating or othering them. They want to have trans characters existing in this universe and to not have to struggle or to suffer. They’re just simply existing.”

As an example of how far the “Discovery” team went to support them, both Del Barrio and Alexander relayed the same story: When Del Barrio asked if they could use a binder under their costume, the costume department just made them one.

“So when I showed up on set, there already was a binder ready to go for me,” Alexander said. “I didn’t even have to ask. It was the first job where I didn’t have to initiate that conversation, or just even wear my own because I felt too awkward to ask for it. As trans talent, you feel like you’re asking for too much: Accommodation for pronouns, being mindful of dysphoria when they’re putting a mic on your chest. You always feel like you’re taking up too much space. But I never felt that way on the set of ‘Star Trek.'”

Del Barrio and Alexander Can’t Quite Believe They Get to Make “Star Trek” and Television History

One of the benefits of participating so extensively in the creation of Adira and Gray is that Del Barrio and Alexander get to help shape directly how audiences will perceive non-binary and trans characters — in some cases, for the first time ever. The opportunity is not lost on either of them.

“It’s really scary,” Del Barrio says with a nervous laugh. “If there had been a character like this for me when I was little, it would have changed my life — but having that knowledge, and thinking that maybe this character could be that to some other person, is sort of terrifying. I’ve had to just try to calm myself down and just make the decision that I’m going to make this character’s lived experience with their gender as close to my own as possible. Because I want it to ring truthfully whatever I may be going through, and you know, if my if my process is challenging and messy, then it’s going to be challenging and messy, and that’s fine.”

What is particularly gratifying is that because they’re both on the show, neither actor has to shoulder the burden of representing the vast scope of gender identity by themselves. “The fact that it there’s me and Ian — we’re very different people, but we’re together on this screen,” Del Barrio says. “That by itself is crazy and wonderful because you are getting to two types of representation. You are getting shown a spectrum.”

“I think trans joy, trans power, and trans love deserves to be in the mainstream, in the spotlight,” Alexander says. “It brings me so much joy to be able to have such a nuanced, strong and confident, and self-assured character. For all the trans teens out there to finally see themselves represented in a franchise is amazing. That’s going to really, really help so many people.”

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Published Apr 2, 2024

What to Expect from The Final Season of Star Trek: Discovery

The cast details everything you need to know to get ready for the Season 5 premiere this week!

Getty Images / StarTrek.com

The highly anticipated fifth and final season of Star Trek: Discovery arrives this week!

This season finds Captain Burnham and the crew of the  U.S.S. Discovery  uncovering a mystery that will send them on an epic adventure across the galaxy to find an ancient power whose very existence has been deliberately hidden for centuries. But there are others on the hunt as well… dangerous foes who are desperate to claim the prize for themselves and will stop at nothing to get it.

Ahead of the premiere, StarTrek.com had the opportunity to speak with series cast Sonequa Martin-Green (Captain Michael Burnham), Doug Jones (Saru), Anthony Rapp (Paul Stamets), Mary Wiseman (Sylvia Tilly), Wilson Cruz (Dr. Hugh Culber), David Ajala (Cleveland "Book" Booker), Blu del Barrio (Adira), along with this season's recurring guest star Eve Harlow (Moll) and executive producer and co-showrunner Michelle Paradise . With their help, here's what you can expect from their characters this season!

In case you need a quick refresher before we dive forward, we've got a handy Where We Left Off guide !

Now let's fly!

Sonequa Martin-Green on Season 5 Stakes and Captain Michael Burnham's Relationship Status

"Red Directive"

StarTrek.com

"This season, we can expect a wild ride," teases Sonequa Martin-Green. "One of the things that they wanted to do was that they wanted to have a tonal shift. They wanted it to be adventurous, they wanted it to be fun, they wanted it to be kind of like the Indiana Jones season. And so we really did that. We really did that. The artistry is on another level."

"In every department, you will see some really incredible things coming to life," continues Martin-Green. "In Season 5, we did some stuff we should not have been able to do; we did some stuff that we've never done before. I'm really proud of every department, of every cast member, of every crew member, every writer, every producer, every post-production coordinator, and supervisor, and worker. We took it to the next level without even knowing that it was our last season. When everyone sees it, I think that they'll see what I'm talking about. It's culminating because of that; it is just on another level. It's a huge, huge season. People have a lot to look forward to."

Addressing where Michael Burnham and Book find themselves at the start of this season, Martin-Green explains, "Book and Burnham, they are the classic, old Facebook status of 'It's complicated.' They've got a lot to work through. That's where we pick up with them, having not been speaking as regularly as they normally do. Of course, we see that he was sent off at the end of Season 4. Now they are back in each other's midst, and they have got a lot to talk about and a lot to wade through. It's very complicated between them. There's obviously still that love, that deep love, that bond, that respect, but they've got a lot to work through."

Doug Jones on Saru's Next Step

"Under the Twin Moons"

Reflecting on Saru's journey across the entire series, Doug Jones reveals, "Saru had been captain of the ship for Season 3. And Season 4, he then kind of took a step to First Officer again, because of his loyalty to Michael Burnham, and the special task we were on throughout the season."

"Well, now he’s [re-evaluating] his purpose there," adds Jones. "Has it run its course? His relationship with President T’Rina, played by the lovely Tara Rosling. She does come into the equation with how he makes his decision."

Anthony Rapp on Paul Stamets' Legacy and Season 5 Baddies

Episode 506

"This season, you can expect a new level of inquiry for Paul about what's next for him in terms of the work that he wants to do," hints Anthony Rapp. "He's an incredibly driven and brilliant human being with this mind, that's some level of genius. You get to see him like stretch himself in new ways."

What does the Discovery crew make of arrival of this season's antagonists — Moll (played by Eve Harlow) and L'ak (played by Elias Toufexis)?

"I really love the description of this kind of Bonnie and Clyde," shares Rapp. "It was fun for us, or for me, I could speak for myself, to have these kind of iconic touchstone archetypes brought into our show. Their energy as people; [Eve Harlow and Elias Toufexis] brought a beautiful energy to the company to being a part of our show and being a part of our story. And then their work was exceptional. To have this, this idea of this kind of like maverick couple that's on the run is a cool one. And there's a reason it's iconic. And I think that the way that our writers threaded it through our story was really well done."

Mary Wiseman on Sylvia Tilly's Career Focus

"Tilly's in a great place," notes Mary Wiseman. "She's found a certain kind of assurance from going off to teach at Starfleet Academy, and coming back feels like coming home. You're a little cooler and a little more adult. And people call you 'Miss.'"

However, that's not without some challenges. "But she kind of also feels stuck with the problem about how to get through to these kids that have grown up in this era where there isn't the sort of interconnectedness, galaxy-wide communication, and transportation possibilities that there were when she was growing up," highlights Wiseman. "And she's kind of noticing it in the kids' behavior, and inability to interact or team build. And so that's something that she kind of wants to work on and figure out how to help them out with that."

Wilson Cruz on Dr. Hugh Culber's New Experiences

Episode 505

"Where we first find Culber in Season 5, he's in a really good place," notes Wilson Cruz. "He's really embodied this new version of himself, and is ready and willing to take on whatever he's confronted with."

Cruz continues, "This season, he is confronted with an experience that forces him to ask even more existential questions that kind of blows his mind. It starts him on knowing about all of the mysteries of the universe. This whole mission really makes him question a lot of things. We see him process a lot of that throughout the season."

David Ajala on Cleveland "Book" Booker's Love for Burnham and Season 5 Action Sequences

Episode 503

Following the events of Season 4, Book must walk away from Burnham. Reflecting on his actions and headspace at the start of this season, David Ajala states, "It's interesting, because, if we're talking about the gift of grace, Book has definitely received grace from Michael Burnham. Even though Book made the decision that he thought was right, it was not even honorable, but he felt duty bound to do what he did. He was still afforded grace by Michael Burnham, to be welcomed back with open arms. The journey of someone like Cleveland Booker, who was very driven by keeping his autonomy, and also serving his purpose on the planet, which was to help endangered species, to be a part of Starfleet, it was never something that was within his remit. But then to come full circle in Season 5, and to see him, organically incorporate himself within that team is a wonderful story."

"Where we left off in Season 4, revisiting and coming back for Season 5, it's a different territory for both of them," explains Ajala. "And yet, they both have to acknowledge that they're in different spaces, but then still show a level of care for one another. This grey area is new territory."

As for the Indiana Jones -level of excitement the series explores this season, Ajala details, "I love action, I love being able to be physical, to express myself. Having said that, I love the way action is used in the right way. And because this is the final season, we could have taken like one to potentially three episodes to kind of warm into it. But with the first episode, we were straight in with high octane, big action sequences, and just a real spectacle to observe."

Blu del Barrio on Adira's Growing Confidence

"Adira starts out in a pretty solid looking place," reveals Blu del Barrio.

"On the outside, they look and seem really good," adds del Barrio. "They have a lot more responsibilities on the ship. And they're taking their work very seriously, and just very happy to be like more integrated. But underneath the surface, they're struggling a little bit more with some emotional stuff and some major personal stuff."

Eve Harlow on the Arrival of Star-Crossed Lovers and Joining the Cast of Discovery

During NYCC 2022 , audiences got to learn about this season's baddies. Moll and L'ak are former couriers turned outlaws. Moll is highly intelligent and dangerous, with an impressive strategic mind and a sharp wit. She goes into every situation with a clear plan and stays focused and clear-headed on her goal, even when things go awry. She’s not easy to intimidate, and will face down anyone who stands in her way in order to get what she wants. Whereas L'ak is tough, impulsive, and fiercely protective of his beloved partner, Moll. So long as he knows she’s safe, he doesn’t care about collateral damage or its consequences — a perspective that makes him very dangerous at times and will put him on the opposite side of Captain Burnham and the crew of the U.S.S. Discovery when they come into conflict.

Speaking directly to StarTrek.com on Star Trek: The Cruise VII, Eve Harlow divulges, "Moll is badass, and she and L’ak are an interspecies couple. It’s kind of breaking all the rules, which is why they’re on the run. It’s very much like Romeo and Juliet or Bonnie and Clyde because they’re star-crossed lovers."

On her experience of joining this series for its fifth season, Harlow offers tons of praises, "These are some of the kindest, just most welcoming people I've ever met. I feel like I just talk about how much I love Sonequa a lot, but I will keep talking about how much I love her. She is the best leader I've ever experienced on set."

"[When I reflected on] who on-set is most like their character in real life. Without skipping a beat, Elias and I, at the same time, were Sonequa. She is that captain, and she treats everyone like an equal. I've just never been on a set where everyone, the crew is so appreciated. She knows everybody's names. She knows what they do. She knows their family life, what's going on with them. She genuinely cares, and being around that, that spirit is infectious. Every single time I was on set. I was so high energy; I was just so happy to be here. And it's because of the people who were working on that show."

Michelle Paradise on Season 5's New Faces

"Elias [Toufexis] and Eve [Harlow] play L’ak and Moll who are our two new bad guys this season," states Michelle Paradise. "We talked about them as kind of a Bonnie and Clyde unit. We hadn't had a couple before as our antagonist. In turn, they're obviously formidable foes for our heroes. But we also really wanted to make sure that they felt well-rounded, and that they weren't just one note, bad guys. We understood the why of what they were doing the depth of their love for one another. People will be surprised that they may start rooting for these bad guys, actually. But they'll never want them to win more than our heroes, of course. It’s a lot of fun to have them."

L'ak and Moll aren't the only new faces this season. Rayner, also previously announced at NYCC 2022, is a gruff, smart Starfleet captain who holds a clear line between commander and crew — he leads, they follow. Rayner’s all about the mission, whatever it may be, and he doesn’t do niceties along the way; his feeling is, you get the job done and apologize later. He has a storied track record of wartime success, but in times of peace, he struggles. Collaboration is not his strong suit. That said, if it serves the greater good he’s willing to learn... but it won’t be easy.

"And then Callum Keith Rennie plays Captain Rayner," elaborates Paradise. "What's interesting about him is that he is going to be a bit of an antagonist, but not in a bad guy way. He's going to push Burnham, and we'll get to see new sides of Burnham and new growth in Burnham because of her interactions with him. It's a really interesting dynamic there. That's one of the things that we always look at, if we're going to bring in any new guest characters, is how can they impact our regulars? And how can they help our regulars grow over the course of the season or change or help us see new sides of them, and these three do that beautifully."

Get ready for Discovery 's final adventure when Season 5 premieres with the first two episodes later this week!

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Christine Dinh (she/her) is the managing editor for StarTrek.com. She’s traded the Multiverse for helming this Federation Starship.

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.

Who Is Callum Keith Rennie? Star Trek: Discovery’s Captain Rayner Actor Explained

Warning: SPOILERS for Star Trek: Discovery Season 5

• Callum Keith Rennie debuts in Star Trek: Discovery as the Kellerun Captain Rayner.
• Known for his role as Leoben Conoy in Battlestar Galactica, Callum Keith Rennie brings depth and experience to Star Trek: Discovery's final season.
• Rennie's role as Captain Rayner adds connection and nostalgia to Star Trek: Discovery, overlapping with Battlestar Galactica

Accomplished actor Callum Keith Rennie joins the fifth and final season of Star Trek: Discovery . Star Trek: Discovery season 5 sends Captain Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) and the USS Discovery on a hunt for an ancient technology with the power to create life itself. Introducing Callum Keith Rennie as Captain Rayner, a strait-laced and commanding character of alien origin , Discovery season 5 sets the stage for a gripping showdown and sends Burnham and the USS Discovery and the USS Antares commander on an epic quest for an ancient treasure.

Perhaps best recognized for his standout roles in Battlestar Galactica and Californication , Callum Keith Rennie joins the Star Trek: Discovery cast for their last adventure, delivering a wealth of experience from earlier genre-defining roles. Rennie’s portrayal of Captain Rayner reportedly promises an intriguing counterpoint to Burnham underscoring Rayner's great potential with a mysterious backstory set to unfold over the course of the show’s fifth season. With the revelatory Captain of the USS Antares looking very much to be a vital – perhaps pivotal – addition to Starfleet’s impressive body of commanding officers, here’s a look at the award-winning Callum Keith Rennie.

Every Upcoming Star Trek Movie & TV Show

Callum keith rennie plays captain rayner in star trek: discovery, captain rayer is callum keith rennie's first appearance in the star trek franchise.

Callum Keith Rennie joins Star Trek: Discovery season 5 as Captain Rayner, the fierce commander of the USS Antares . Driven and dedicated to his mission, Rayner draws distinction between himself and his crew. A member of a little-known species first introduced in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine , Captain Rayner is a Kellerun , and his backstory is crucial to his mission and character. Described as gruff, tough, and intelligent, Rayner is a war hero struggling to acclimate to peace post-Burn, but dedicated to serving the greater good. In search of a hidden, ancient power source, Rayner's challenging and somewhat antagonistic relationship with Captain Burnham echoes a brash, if benevolent, professional demeanor.

Callum Keith Rennie is a UK-born Canadian veteran actor with an impressive 25-year career history in movies and television.

Best known for his roles as Leoben Conoy in Battlestar Galactica and Lew Ashby in Californication , Callum Keith Rennie is a UK-born Canadian veteran actor with an impressive 25-year career history in movies and television. Regularly cast in antagonistic roles, Callum Keith Rennie’s first international recognition came from his casting as Detective Stanley Raymond Kowalski in Due South . Rennie’s varied roles and character portrayals reflect his artistic interests, with the actor also starring in The Umbrella Academy, Marvel's Jessica Jones, The X-Files, Impulse, The Firm, 24, The Butterfly Effect, Jigsaw, Case 39, Memento, Fifty Shades of Grey, and Fifty Shades Freed.

Kelleruns first appeared in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine , season 2, episode 13 - "Armageddon Game."

Callum Keith Rennie In Star Trek: Discovery Is A Battlestar Galactica Crossover

A battlestar galactica miniseries, 4 seasons & a television movie aired between 2003-2009.

Callum Keith Rennie’s casting in Star Trek: Discovery follows his success as the ambiguous, obsessive Leoben Conoy in Syfy's Battlestar Galactica created by Ronald D. Moore. Introduced in the 2003 miniseries as an arms dealer, Rennie’s Conoy was initially a guest character in the show’s first two seasons, graduating to a series regular in the third and fourth. Adeptly portraying multiple iterations of the Cylon model Number Two , Rennie brought a philosophical complexity to the manipulative and important character , in turn posing a significant risk to the Cylon and Human factions. Rennie’s rich performance played with themes of identity and morality, adding layers of exploratory character depth and enigmatic ambiguity to the series.

There is a degree of overlap with Callum Keith Rennie’s compelling casting in both high-profile science fiction shows, echoing multiple crossovers between Star Trek and Battlestar Galactica . Many actors appear across the franchises, inspiring characters, reflecting the longstanding history of similarities originally stemming from showrunner Ronald D. Moore. Recognized for his compelling portrayal of the Cylon model Number Two, Callum Keith Rennie brought nuance and intensity to Battlestar Galactica – traits that also resonate with Star Trek: Discovery 's Captain Rayner. The characters’ similarities underscore the enduring join between the two series , with Rennie’s inclusion in both lending familiarity, nostalgia, and a sense of connection.

Star Trek: Discovery is available for streaming on Paramount+.

Star Trek: Discovery

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

Franchise(s) Star Trek

Showrunner Alex Kurtzman

Battlestar Galactica

Cast Alessandro Juliani, Tahmoh Penikett, Aaron Douglas, Grace Park, Tricia Helfer, Katee Sackhoff, Edward James Olmos, Mary McDonnell, Michael Hogan, Kandyse McClure, Jamie Bamber, James Callis

Release Date October 18, 2004

Franchise(s) Battlestar Galactica

Showrunner Ronald D. Moore

Star Trek: Discovery (2017–2024)

Full cast & crew.

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Early life [ ]

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 ")

Into the Future [ ]

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 ")

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 ")

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 assiting Su'Kal, returns to Discovery to serve as Michael Burnhum's first officer.

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 "
• 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 StarTrek.com
• Saru at Memory Beta , the wiki for licensed Star Trek works
• 3 Ancient humanoid

Wilson Cruz on Learning About ‘Star Trek Discovery’ Ending & Culber’s ‘Epic’ Journey

Where No One Has Gone Before

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After five seasons,  Star Trek: Discovery , the show that launched the new set of shows in the franchise to continue its long legacy, will be ending.

It’s been quite the journey for this crew—especially for Dr. Hugh Culber ( Wilson Cruz ), considering he was killed early on! (Oh, we have never been so glad to be watching a sci-fi show.) Ahead of the final episodes (the first two of which premiere April 4), TV Insider spoke with Cruz and had him look back at Culber’s journey, tease what’s to come in the final season, and talk about what’s next for him.

Culber’s journey has been a wild one. Season 2 alone…

Wilson Cruz: Epic. I didn’t know what I was signing up for because the first season I’m there, Dr. Culber’s definitely on the periphery. If anything, he’s Stamet’s [ Anthony Rapp ] partner. We don’t really get to know him until Season 2, which is due to the fact that he’s killed. [ Laughs ] But welcome to Star Trek ! It was literally a rebirth. What excited me about that was when I tried to find a way in, his entire journey has been about creating the life that he deserves, that he feels he deserves, about coming out from Stamet’s shadow because Stamets is such a genius. He created the spore drive. He’s done this incredible research that is universe-changing to be able to travel within an instant to anywhere in the universe. And so he’s the supportive spouse in many ways.

I think when he’s killed and comes back, it forces him to take ownership of his life and say, “Hey, I’m a genius, too. I have something to offer as well.” So much of it was inspired by people in my own life who in the ‘90s were diagnosed with HIV and AIDS and went out and spent their entire life savings, their life insurance money, and traveled the world because they were told that they were going to die in a few years. Then suddenly these new drugs came out, and they were literally given a second lease on life. Many of them found themselves in a position where they were like, “Oh, I get to live. How much of this life still works for me? Do I love the job that I have? Do I love the person I’m with? Are there things that I always wanted to do that I never thought I could or would have the chance to do that I now should pursue?”

So much about that second season especially was about deciding, “Do I want to continue in this relationship? Do I want to be in the shadow of this amazing man forever? Is this a kind of relationship where I will be allowed to become my best self? Do I want to be a doctor anymore?” Even in Season 3, he decides, “Yeah, I do want to be a doctor, but I also have something else to offer. My experience, my relationship to the crew members actually allows me to be a pretty great counselor. I’m a great listener.” He identifies his strengths and builds on them. He takes more risks. He goes on these missions that really put him out there and test him. That has been really fun to play, this person who is creating his life in the moment.

Michael Gibson/CBS

But everyone on this series has been given in one way or another, a second chance in some way. … The whole series is really about fulfilling your potential, whatever you think that’s supposed to be, not necessarily being dictated by someone else or old plans that you might’ve created for yourself as a young person. It’s about owning yourself. Discovering yourself even. [ Laughs ]

I feel like we’re seeing that in Culber now.

Yeah, I think Season 5 is really — We didn’t know that this was our final season. So it’s also really fascinating to me to think about this in terms of what would’ve happened after this. But this was the final piece for him to finally take real ownership over what he believes. This season is really about asking the biggest question of them all, and it’s existential, and there’s no answer for it. And for a scientist like him, it could be maddening, but being okay with the unknown, being okay with not knowing the answer to everything is the final piece, I think, in his development after the murder and coming back to life. So I think at the end of Season 5, there’s a real sense of wholeness.

You said you didn’t know the series was ending, so how has it been saying goodbye to Culber and the series?

It’s the longest job I’ve ever had. I have been the one-season wonder to the point where I would show up on set, and I’m sure that people would be like, “Ooh, I should start saving my money.” [ Laughs ] But it was hard, I’m not going to lie to you, when we found out. Because we finished filming in November, and I think the call came in January or February. We were all put on a call together, and I lost it. I think I took it the hardest. In that same call, they explained they were going to come back and film some additional scenes that we were fortunate enough to be given the opportunity to do to close the series. But I had already taken a job and it was taking me out of the country to Thailand and they were doing these scenes at the exact same time.

So through the magic of television and special effects, I am at the end. It’s not like Culber doesn’t show up, but I could not be there physically. So all of that to say that my goodbye tour really started when we were all at SXSW to see everybody again. The other thing I should add is I was literally filming in Thailand, sweating. And when they were all in Toronto, I was well aware that those were the dates and I was in between scenes and Sonequa [Martin-Green] and the entire cast called me on FaceTime. They clapped everybody out and they clapped me out on FaceTime. I had just gotten my makeup done for this scene, and between that and all of the humidity and the sweat, I had to go back to makeup. [ Laughs ] But it was really sweet of them. And really, that’s who we are to each other. So I got to say goodbye that way.

And it’s Star Trek , so you never know. The cast of Next Gen just did a whole new season on Picard together. So I have a feeling in some form or another, somewhere down the line, I may see Culber again. I hope and I pray, and maybe as I get older, they’ll loosen the white uniform so that I don’t have to be so body conscious. [ Laughs ]

Marni Grossman / Paramount+

There are still other Star Trek series, which have Discovery to thank because Discovery launched this new set of shows…

You’re welcome.

Is there one that you would want to show up on?

I think everybody wants to be animated. That would be hilarious and fun. There’s a new Starfleet Academy series that’s in development that’s starting soon. So if it’s possible for me to show up on there, I absolutely would do that. Listen, everybody knows I have not made a secret of the fact that I was very upset that Strange New Worlds got to do a musical episode and we didn’t, since we have been begging for that opportunity since day one. I mean, Anthony Rapp and myself?

… So if they’re going to be the musical show, then I would absolutely be happy to be reunited with Anson Mount , who, by the way, when he was the captain of our ship, we actually did one scene together and it never showed up on screen. … Because in Season 2, I had my own [arc]. It’s so great. Someone actually took all of the Culber scenes out of Season 2 and just made one short film out of it. It’s pretty amazing, I have to tell you.

So what was in that scene?

It was him welcoming — Actually, you know what, there is one scene we’re in together, but it’s a group scene. So he was telling me that he needed me to come back sooner than I expected, and I was wrapping my brain around it. I do remember I had that really great blue suit on during the scene.

What kind of role do you want to do next?

I think every actor out there knows right now it’s slim pickings, the pilot season that didn’t happen, so that’s a good question. I want to work. I love an ensemble cast. There is a project that I’m developing on my own. I’m executive producing a documentary series right now about LGBTQ youth.

'Star Trek: Discovery' Stars Tease How Series Ends for Their Characters

But it’s going to be hard to top this because the thing about Discovery was that it was sci-fi, but it was also this ensemble cast. It was emotionally based. It was the kind of sci-fi that really allowed for character development in a way that I can’t remember on sci-fi. So I am open. My career has surprised me at every turn.

I’m also open to coming back to Broadway. I would love to be back on stage. It’s why I’m back in New York. I’ve been looking for the right project to come back with. So I am a free agent and I am open to whatever the universe has prepared for me.

The emotion is what makes Trek stand out from sci-fi shows because it’s so much about heart in all of the characters.

It’s about family, it’s about team building, right? I say this all the time: This series centered characters who in most other series would be on the periphery. We are brown and Black and LGBTQ, and those people never get to be the heroes of their own stories. I think our legacy in the end will be that these amazing, rich, complex characters of color who are queer in some cases got to be in the center of the story, got to be the protagonists, and got to be the heroes that we all are capable of being. And to inspire that in a new generation of young people who can learn how to become part of a team and excel in it and take risks is our legacy.

Would you want to do another multi-season series regular role, like Discovery ?

Absolutely. I love TV. I grew up on it. I’m a fan. I watch a lot of it. My job really is about, for me, not the job that people think they’re giving me, but when I take on a role, when I start that job, I think about where I want them to end up. And so the fun part for me is discovering how I get there. Who do I want this person to be when I’m done? This is one of the few times that I’ve been allowed to really see someone all the way through. I didn’t know that Rickie Vasquez and My So-Called Life was going to be one season. By the way, it was 30 years ago this year. I do think about his trajectory in that one season and how I had kind of planned it out with [creator] Winnie [Holzman]. And I think about Dr. Culber and how far he has come and how they were completely different people when you said goodbye to them than they were when you said hello to them, that they were more complex and different versions of themselves. And that’s my job. TV allows you for that long arc and to do it step by step in a way that a film, which captures a moment, sometimes a brief moment in a person’s life, doesn’t allow.

Star Trek: Discovery , Fifth and Final Season Premiere, Thursday, April 4, Paramount+

Star Trek: Discovery where to stream

Star Trek: Discovery

Wilson cruz.

• Where to watch in the US
• Where to watch in Canada
• Where to watch in New Zealand
• How to watch from anywhere
• How to watch with a VPN

Other Star Trek shows

Where to watch star trek: discovery free — final season is underway.

When you buy through our links, Business Insider may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more

The newest season of Star Trek: Discovery is officially underway. Season 5 marks the final season of the Star Trek spin-off, and it's shaping up to be an action-packed swang song. Whether you're looking to stream the new episodes or get caught up on the past four seasons, we've got everything you need to know about the show, including where to watch Star Trek: Discovery free via a TV channel abroad. 

Star Trek: Discovery premiered in 2017 and follows in the decades-long tradition of Star Trek stories. The series is set about five years before the original Star Trek, which chronicled Captain Kirk's five-year journey. In Star Trek: Discovery, the U.S.S. Discovery travels through space on a mission of exploration. Season 5 sees Captain Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) and the U.S.S. Discovery crew on the hunt for an ancient power that others are also seeking.

The first three episodes are currently streaming. Keep reading to learn how to watch the series no matter where you are in the world.

• Where to watch American Horror Story | Where to watch 9-1-1 | Where to watch Game of Thrones

Where to watch Star Trek: Discovery in the US

New Season 5 episodes of Star Trek: Discovery land on Paramount+ on Thursdays. The premiere week included two episodes, and now one new episode will drop weekly. Episodes should be available starting at about 3 a.m. ET. All four past seasons are available to stream through the service. Subscriptions start at $5.99 a month and come with a one-week free trial.

Paramount Plus' Essential tier is a steal at this price and only has limited ads. It features tons of on-demand content from Paramount, CBS, Nickelodeon, Comedy Central, BET, and MTV. And you get NFL and Champions League soccer live streaming. There's a 7-day free trial, then it's $6 a month or $60 a year. The only way to ditch the ads is by opting for the Showtime bundle.

Where to watch Star Trek: Discovery in Canada

Paramount+ is also the home to Star Trek: Discovery in Canada. Plans start at CAD$6.99 and come with a one-week free trial. All episodes are available to stream here.

Where to watch Star Trek: Discovery in New Zealand

Star Trek: Discovery is available to stream for free on TVNZ+ . You'll need to create a free account to start streaming. In addition to new season 5 episodes, Seasons 1-4 are also streaming on the site. New episodes are available on Thursdays.

How to watch Star Trek: Discovery from anywhere

If you're not in New Zealand at the moment, you can access streams with a VPN (virtual private network). VPNs alter your electronic device's location so you can use websites that might not be available in certain regions. They're also solid ways to boost your online privacy. We recommend ExpressVPN , a user-friendly option with a 30-day money-back guarantee. Check out our ExpressVPN review for additional details and see below to learn how to use a VPN. 

With its consistent performance, reliable security, and expansive global streaming features, ExpressVPN is the best VPN out there, excelling in every spec and offering many advanced features that makes it exceptional. Better yet, you can save up to 49% and get an extra three months for free today.

How to watch Star Trek: Discovery with a VPN

• Sign up for a VPN if you don't have one.
• Install it on the device you're using to watch Star Trek: Discovery.
• Turn it on and set it to New Zealand.
• Go to TVNZ+ and create a log-in profile.
• Watch Star Trek: Discovery.

If you're sad that this is the final season of Star: Trek Discovery and can't get enough of the franchise, there are multiple other series you can check out. Star Trek: Picard wrapped its third and final season in 2023 and Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (a spin-off from Star Trek: Discovery) is slated to release a third season next year. Like Discovery, Picard and Strange New Worlds are Paramount+ originals and are available to watch on the streamer. Paramount+ is also the streaming home to several other older Star Trek series, including the original Star Trek, Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Voyager, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Star Trek: Enterprise, and more. 

Note: The use of VPNs is illegal in certain countries, and using VPNs to access region-locked streaming content might constitute a breach of the terms of use for certain services. Insider does not endorse or condone the illegal use of VPNs.

You can purchase logo and accolade licensing to this story here . Disclosure: Written and researched by the Insider Reviews team. We highlight products and services you might find interesting. If you buy them, we may get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our partners. We may receive products free of charge from manufacturers to test. This does not drive our decision as to whether or not a product is featured or recommended. We operate independently from our advertising team. We welcome your feedback. Email us at [email protected] .

• Main content

Screen Rant

Star trek: discovery introduces its own data .

Star Trek: Discovery season 5 introduces an android who bears a striking resemblance to Star Trek: The Next Generation's Data.

• Discovery season 5 introduces a Soong-type synth similar to Data, connecting to TNG and Picard storylines.
• Fred, a synthetic with ties to Data's creator, Noonien Soong, showcases advanced technology in the 32nd century.
• With themes of humanity and artificial intelligence, Star Trek: Discovery continues to explore interesting connections and mysteries.

Warning: SPOILERS for Star Trek: Discovery Season 5, Episode 1 - "Red Directive"

Star Trek: Discovery season 5's premiere introduced a Soong-type synth who looked a lot like Data (Brent Spiner) from Star Trek: The Next Generation . Throughout TNG , Data became one of Star Trek's most popular characters, with his child-like curiosity and lifelong quest to explore his humanity. Created by cyberneticist Dr. Noonien Soong (Brent Spiner) in the 24th century, Data was the most advanced android of his time. With his enhanced strength and ability to process massive amounts of information in seconds, Data proved invaluable as a crewmember on the USS Enterprise-D.

Star Trek: Discovery season 5 begins with a bang, as Captain Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) and the USS Discovery are thrown into a galactic treasure hunt hundreds of years in the making. In Discovery season 5, episode 1, "Red Directive," Discovery sets out in pursuit of a mysterious Romulan artifact from 800 years ago. When their target is stolen by couriers Moll (Eve Harlow) and L'ak (Elias Toufexis), Michael reaches out to Cleveland Booker (David Ajala) for insight as to where the couriers might try to unload their haul. This leads Discovery to a fence named Fred (J. Adam Brown), a synthetic with the same distinctive pallor and yellow eyes as Data.

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

Star trek: discovery has its own data-like android named fred, in only one episode, discovery season 5 has more connections to tng than any previous season..

Moll and L'ak reach Fred first in Star Trek: Discovery season 5's premiere with their prize of a Romulan puzzle box. When they present the Romulan artifact to Fred, he remarks that he has "not encountered one of these for 622.7 years," revealing a clue about the android's age. Fred makes quick work of the box, as well as the handwritten journal found inside. After reading the entire contents of the book in mere seconds (as Data often did on TNG ), Fred makes an offer that's too low for L'ak and Moll. Sensing Fred's upcoming double-cross, L'ak remarks that "it's been a while since we've seen a synth anxious."

When Fred attempts to keep the book, Moll and L'ak attack, eventually killing the android fence. Michael and Book arrive too late to catch Moll and L'ak, but they beam Fred to Discovery to look through his memories. As Commander Paul Stamets (Anthony Rapp) examines Fred, he discovers the android's serial number to be AS0572Y, remarking that AS must stand for Altan Soong (Brent Spiner) , the son of Data's creator, Noonien Soong. Introduced in Star Trek: Picard season 1, Dr. Altan Inigo Soong created a population of synths on the planet Coppelius, all using one of Data's positronic neurons.

Data returned in Star Trek: Picard season 3, with a newly upgraded synthetic body, as well as the ability to experience organic emotions and physical touch. These upgrades brought Data as close to being human as he could possibly be.

Discovery Already Has A Synthetic Like Picard

Jean-luc picard received a golem body in star trek: picard, as did gray in star trek: discovery..

While it appears that Fred is dead (unless Stamets can find a way to revive him), Star Trek: Discovery already has another, more advanced synthetic in Gray (Ian Alexander). The partner of Ensign Adira Tal (Blu del Barrio), Gray was thought to be dead, but they were later revived when their consciousness was transferred to a synthetic golem body. Gray followed in the footsteps of Admiral Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart), who received the same kind of synthetic body in the final episode of Star Trek: Picard season 1, after succumbing to a terminal brain condition.

Even if Fred remains dead, here's hoping Star Trek: Discovery reveals more information about the intriguing android and his connection to Data.

Even during the 25th century of Star Trek: Picard , synthetic and android technology improved significantly since the creation of Data, although very few beyond the Soong family understood the science behind it. Still, Picard's golem body , like Gray's, was indistinguishable from a human (or a Trill, in Gray's case). It's unclear why and how a synth resembling the earliest version of Soong's androids would exist in the 32nd century, and Fred's admission that he is over 600 years old certainly raises some interesting questions. Even if Fred remains dead, here's hoping Star Trek: Discovery reveals more information about the intriguing android and his connection to Star Trek: The Next Generation's Data.

New episodes of Star Trek: Discovery air Thursdays on Paramount+.

Star Trek: Discovery

Star trek: the next generation.