will michelle yeoh return to star trek discovery

• Search Please fill out this field.
• Newsletters
• Sweepstakes

Michelle Yeoh's Star Trek: Discovery spin-off is now a Section 31 movie event

The Oscar winner is officially returning to Star Trek.

Michelle Yeoh is officially returning to Star Trek for her own spin-off, only it'll be slightly different than what fans were expecting.

In 2019, the olden days when Paramount+ was called CBS All Access, the Trek gate-keepers announced that Yeoh would be returning to the franchise for a Section 31 spin-off series focused on her Star Trek: Discovery character Philippa Georgiou. That project has been in development all this time, but it now stands as a movie event coming to Paramount+.

Philippa Georgiou led multiple lives on Star Trek: Discovery , mainly that of Starfleet captain of the Shenzhou. That version of Philippa was killed off the show, but an alternate universe version of her from the mirror dimension persisted: the emperor of the Terran Empire, who became an immediate fan favorite.

Star Trek: Section 31 will focus on Yeoh's Emperor Philippa Georgiou as she joins a secret division of Starfleet tasked with protecting the United Federation of Planets, while facing the sins of her past. Could a certain bald-headed golden statue have helped make this a reality?

"I'm beyond thrilled to return to my Star Trek family and to the role I've loved for so long," the newly minted Everything Everywhere All at Once Oscar winner says in a statement. " Section 31 has been near and dear to my heart since I began the journey of playing Philippa all the way back when this new golden age of Star Trek launched."

"To see her finally get her moment is a dream come true in a year that's shown me the incredible power of never giving up on your dreams," she continues. "We can't wait to share what's in store for you, and until then: live long and prosper (unless Emperor Georgiou decrees otherwise)!"

Olatunde Osunsanmi, a co-executive producer and director on Star Trek: Discovery , will helm Star Trek: Section 31 , which was written by Craig Sweeny ( Medium ). The project is set to start filming later this year.

"All the way back in 2017, before the first season of Star Trek: Discovery had even aired, Michelle had the idea to do a spin-off for her character, Philippa Georgiou," executive producer Alex Kurtzman says. "She broke new ground as one of the first two women on screen in the pilot to usher in a new age of Trek , and now, six years later, Star Trek: Section 31 finally arrives on the heels of her latest groundbreaking win. Everyone on Team Trek couldn't be more thrilled to have our legendary friend return home to us as we expand our storytelling into new and uncharted corners of the Trekverse. Long live Emperor Georgiou; long live Michelle Yeoh!"

Yeoh costarred with Sonequa Martin-Green on Star Trek: Discovery starting in season 1, which premiered in 2017. The show is now heading into its fifth and final season , set to debut in 2024. Star Trek: Picard , the Patrick Stewart-led offshoot, is also ending with its third season, concluding this week. However, Section 31 joins the Star Trek: Starfleet Academy series in the next phase of Trek.

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds and Star Trek: Lower Decks were also renewed for more seasons.

Sign up for Entertainment Weekly 's free daily newsletter to get breaking TV news, exclusive first looks, recaps, reviews, interviews with your favorite stars, and more.

Related content:

• Star Trek: Starfleet Academy series will beam up a new generation of cadets
• Star Trek: Picard 's latest Next Generation cameo was all about 'doing a paranoia thriller'
• Star Trek: Discovery will end with season 5, Sonequa Martin-Green calls it a 'mind-blowing journey'

Related Articles

• Star Trek /
• Entertainment

Michelle Yeoh is beaming back into Star Trek

The oscar-winning actress is returning for a new film based on her vaguely villainous character from star trek: discovery..

By Alex Cranz , managing editor and co-host of The Vergecast. She oversaw consumer tech coverage at Gizmodo for five years. Her work has also appeared in the WSJ and Wired.

Share this story

Michelle Yeoh just won an Oscar and is now back to making movies. This time, she’ll be returning to her Star Trek: Discovery character for a new film based on the Star Trek black ops organization known as Section 31.

Star Trek: Section 31 follows her character, the Emperor Philippa Georgiou. And if you are not very familiar with Star Trek , you might be confused. There are Emperors? Yes, yes, there are. Settle in, folks, as I explain the history of this character.

Philippa Georgiou was the original captain of the ship Shenzhou but was killed in the pilot episode, and her death creates much of the friction for the surviving characters in the first season. Later in the season, her “evil” Mirrorverse counterpart shows up. The Mirrorverse is a universe like our own, only where people often have questionable facial hair choices and often are the moral opposites of their main universe counterparts.

• You are not prepared for the final season of Star Trek: Picard

So where one Philippa had been a kind and maternal captain who loved her crew dearly, the other was a ruthless (and maternal) Emperor who ate sentient creatures, took slaves, and generally was a terrible human being. The Emperor then found herself stranded in the primary Star Trek universe onboard the Discovery and slowly came around to being less of a monster — but still a prickly character next to the genuinely good and kind crew of the ship.

The reaction to her character was good enough that rumors popped up that Paramount Plus and Yeoh were developing a spinoff series about her character joining Section 31, which is kind of the Star Trek equivalent of the CIA. In 2019, the series was confirmed to be in development . Then there was silence, and with the success of shows like Picard , which are set in a very different time period, it was easy to assume that the series might have died a quiet death in development hell.

But Section 31 is still happening! Only it will be a film instead of a TV series. This will be the first film based on characters from Star Trek: Discovery and the first Star Trek film to be based on a single character rather than an entire crew. While details on the plot are scarce so far, today’s announcement suggests that Yeoh’s Emperor will be reckoning with her villainous past — think Xena in space.

“Section 31 has been near and dear to my heart since I began the journey of playing Philippa all the way back when this new golden age of ‘Star Trek’ launched,” Yeoh said in a press release. “To see her finally get her moment is a dream come true in a year that’s shown me the incredible power of never giving up on your dreams. We can’t wait to share what’s in store for you, and until then: live long and prosper (unless Emperor Georgiou decrees otherwise)!”

Star Trek: Section 31 will appear on Paramount Plus at a later date and begins production later this year.

Correction April 18, 12:25pm ET: An earlier version of this article stated that Philippa Georgiou was the captain of the Discovery, not the Shenzhou. I deeply regret this error.

How Phish turned Las Vegas’ Sphere into the ultimate music visualizer

The little smart home platform that could, the invisible seafaring industry that keeps the internet afloat, tesla recalls all 3,878 cybertrucks over faulty accelerator pedal, you can now buy a refurbished steam deck for just $279.

More from Entertainment

The Nintendo Switch 2 will now reportedly arrive in 2025 instead of 2024

The best Presidents Day deals you can already get

Vudu’s name is changing to ‘Fandango at Home’

Tommy Tallarico’s never-actually-featured-on-MTV-Cribs house is for sale

The Definitive Voice of Entertainment News

Subscribe for full access to The Hollywood Reporter

site categories

‘star trek: section 31’ starring michelle yeoh gets movie order from paramount+.

Yeoh will return as Emperor Philippa Georgiou in a 'Star Trek: Discovery' spinoff.

By James Hibberd

James Hibberd

Writer-at-Large

• Share this article on Facebook
• Share this article on Twitter
• Share this article on Flipboard
• Share this article on Email
• Show additional share options
• Share this article on Linkedin
• Share this article on Pinit
• Share this article on Reddit
• Share this article on Tumblr
• Share this article on Whatsapp
• Share this article on Print
• Share this article on Comment

Star Trek : Section 31 is finally happening, but not as a series (at least, not yet).

Paramount+ has ordered Section 31 as an original movie, with Oscar winner Michelle Yeoh set to reprise her role as Emperor Philippa Georgiou, a character she played in Star Trek: Discovery .

Related Stories

Cannes film festival 2024 poster unveiled, sony pictures classics to re-release 4k version of 'run lola run' for 25th anniversary.

Executive producer Alex Kurtzman said: “All the way back in 2017, before the first season of Star Trek: Discovery had even aired, Michelle had the idea to do a spinoff for her character, Philippa Georgiou. She broke new ground as one of the first two women onscreen in the pilot to usher in a new age of Trek , and now, six years later, Section 31 finally arrives on the heels of her latest groundbreaking win. Everyone on Team Trek couldn’t be more thrilled to have our legendary friend return home to us as we expand our storytelling into new and uncharted corners of the Trekverse. Long live Emperor Georgiou; long live Michelle Yeoh!”

“For years, we’ve been looking forward to Michelle Yeoh one day returning to Star Trek ,” added David Stapf, president of CBS Studios. “Her powerful performance as Captain and Emperor Georgiou was a pivotal moment for the return of the franchise, and her portrayal resonated with fans around the world in a multitude of ways.”

The news is the latest of Paramount+’s recent Star Trek moves. The streamer recently ordered a teen-centric  Star Trek: Starfleet Academy series , as well as ended  Picard  (which airs its series finale this week), and announced  Discovery  will air its fifth and final season next year, while doubling down on more Strange New Worlds  and  Lower Decks  (which were both renewed ahead of their upcoming season premieres).

Produced by CBS Studios, Section 31 will start production later this year.

THR Newsletters

Sign up for THR news straight to your inbox every day

More from The Hollywood Reporter

Ncuti gatwa says while “white mediocrity” gets celebrated, black people must be “flawless” to get half that, ‘bluey’ isn’t done yet: new episode follows “the sign”, bill maher says ‘quiet on set’ made nickelodeon look like “neverland ranch with craft services”, ‘rupaul’s drag race’ crowns winner for season 16, shonda rhimes recalls meeting taylor swift for the first time in her ‘grey’s anatomy’ office, ‘csi: vegas’ and ‘so help me todd’ canceled at cbs.

Michelle Yeoh's Star Trek Movie Will Have An All-New Crew

The cast is new to the final frontier. But what time period are we in?

The emperor of the galaxy is back! Later in 2024, Michelle Yeoh will return to the Star Trek universe as Philippa Georgiou, the former ruler of the Mirror Universe’s Terran Empire , who eventually became the anti-hero of Star Trek: Discovery . Now, in the direct-to-streaming Section 31 movie, Yeoh will star in a unique Star Trek story. As the title suggests, the film will be about Starfleet’s clandestine Section 31, which does the Federation’s dirty work.

But what time period of Trek canon does Section 31 take place in? And who are all these new faces? A new announcement from Paramount+ and CBS Studios reveals that the crew backing up Michelle Yeoh is brand new, which has some intriguing implications.

Originally announced as a Discovery spin-off series in 2019, Section 31 is a movie set somewhere in the Star Trek universe. According to a new press release, Section 31 will be about Georgiou, “who joins a secret division of Starfleet. Tasked with protecting the United Federation of Planets, she also must face the sins of her past.”

Beyond that, we have no idea what the plot of Section 31 is, or when on the timeline it’s set. But we may have some clues based on Georgiou’s history with the organization.

Georgiou previously joined Section 31 in Discovery Season 2.

For Discovery fans, Georgiou joining Section 31 might feel like old hat. In Discovery Season 2, Georgiou worked for Section 31 in the 23rd century. But then, in Season 3, she and the rest of the crew was hurled into the 32nd century. From there, all of Georgiou’s universe and time-skipping literally tore her apart, so the Guardian of Forever sent her back... somewhere. Presumably, wherever and whenever Georgiou would up will constitute Section 31’s setting. Sure, Georgiou will be working for the Space CIA again, but in what era of Trek?

Because the United Federation of Planets is mentioned, that suggests she won’t be working for Section 31 in the Enterprise era, because that would be before the Federation existed. Then again, if this version of Section 31 has access to time travel, she could be protecting the Federation in a non-linear way. While there’s talk of a new Star Trek feature film being an “origin” story, it’s possible Georgiou’s status as both a time and multiverse traveler could put her in all sorts of in-between Trek periods we’ve never seen before. Section 31 could even put her in a new universe. Again.

In addition to the announcement that Section 31 has started filming, it was also revealed that the folks joining Georgiou are all new to the Trek universe. Though we don’t have character names yet, Yeoh’s co-stars will include Omari Hardwick, Kacey Rohl, Sam Richardson, Sven Ruygrok, Robert Kazinsky, Humberly Gonzalez, and James Hiroyuki Liao.

Because none of them have visited the final frontier before, that implies Section 31 will either take place in a new time period, or on a ship or station with people we’ve never seen before. This doesn’t mean Georgiou can’t crossover with any existing Star Trek timelines, but this sea of new faces certainly suggests she’s on a brand new quest. We’ll have to wait a while to see just what that quest involves.

Section 31 is expected to stream on Paramount+ in late 2024.

This article was originally published on Jan. 30, 2024

Follow Polygon online:

• Follow Polygon on Facebook
• Follow Polygon on Youtube
• Follow Polygon on Instagram

Site search

• Dragon’s Dogma 2
• FF7 Rebirth
• Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
• Baldur’s Gate 3
• PlayStation
• Dungeons & Dragons
• Magic: The Gathering
• Board Games
• All Tabletop
• All Entertainment
• What to Watch
• What to Play
• Buyer’s Guides
• Really Bad Chess
• All Puzzles

Filed under:

• Entertainment

Michelle Yeoh officially returns to Star Trek for Section 31 movie

The newly minted Oscar-winner makes good on a lingering promise

Share this story

• Share this on Facebook
• Share this on Reddit
• Share All sharing options

Share All sharing options for: Michelle Yeoh officially returns to Star Trek for Section 31 movie

Season 1 of Star Trek: Discovery cast Michelle Yeoh in a double role: First as Captain Philippa Georgiou, a mentor to the young Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green), and then a fully armored Mirror Universe version of Georgiou who preferred busting skulls over diplomatic negotiations. Since then, Yeoh joined the Marvel universe , shot a few Avatar movies , did a Witcher show , and of course, she won a freakin’ Best Actress Oscar for freakin’ Best Picture winner Everything Everywhere All at Once . Yeoh could (and probably will) cash in the cred to do just about anything next... but for now, her prime directive is returning to Trek.

Paramount announced on Tuesday that Yeoh’s long-gestating Section 31 was officially a go, with production scheduled to begin later in 2023. Section 31 has been a dream of Star Trek franchise overseer Alex Kurtzman since the days of CBS All Access, and was formally announced in 2019 as a Discovery spinoff show. But over time — and maybe thanks to that Oscar in her pocket — the theoretical series has turned into a one-off movie. Still, based on reactions in Paramount’s news release, Yeoh remains pumped.

“I’m beyond thrilled to return to my Star Trek family and to the role I’ve loved for so long,” Yeoh said in a statement. “ Section 31 has been near and dear to my heart since I began the journey of playing Philippa all the way back when this new golden age of Star Trek launched. To see her finally get her moment is a dream come true in a year that’s shown me the incredible power of never giving up on your dreams. We can’t wait to share what’s in store for you, and until then: live long and prosper (unless Emperor Georgiou decrees otherwise)!”

“All the way back in 2017, before the first season of Star Trek: Discovery had even aired, Michelle had the idea to do a spin-off for her character, Philippa Georgiou,” Kurtzman said. “She broke new ground as one of the first two women on screen in the pilot to usher in a new age of Trek, and now, six years later, Star Trek: Section 31 finally arrives on the heels of her latest groundbreaking win. Everyone on Team Trek couldn’t be more thrilled to have our legendary friend return home to us as we expand our storytelling into new and uncharted corners of the Trekverse. Long live Emperor Georgiou; long live Michelle Yeoh!”

The passing years have seen few updates on what Section 31 is actually about, other than the basics: the spinoff would focus on the mysterious Federation organization, which was known for taking a more black-ops approach to keeping the intergalactic peace. “Section 31” refers to the the original Starfleet Charter that gave people like Georgiou Jack Bauer-level authorization to do whatever needs to be done. Music to Mirror Georgiou’s ears, obviously.

The Section 31 announcement arrives on the heels of the final season of Star Trek: Picard , and rumors that Paramount Plus may sunset most of the remaining Trek shows. In February, the streamer announced that Star Trek: Discovery would end after the upcoming fifth season, while the animated series Lower Decks and Prodigy could end after their next seasons. Meanwhile, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds , which has a season 2 in the can and set to premiere in June, was preemptively given the season 3 renewal in March. Paramount Plus also has a few Trek replacements in the works; the company has announced a Starfleet Academy show for 2024, and the team behind Picard has made it clear they want to continue telling stories in that timeline with a proposed Star Trek: Legacy .

But for now, there’s Section 31. The film, written by Craig Sweeny and directed by Olatunde Osunsanmi (both Star Trek: Discovery vets), will bring Yeoh back into the fold for one more adventure. There is no firm release date, but 2024 seems promising. After that, the franchise will boldly go... somewhere else.

Next Up In Star Trek

The next level of puzzles.

Take a break from your day by playing a puzzle or two! We’ve got SpellTower, Typeshift, crosswords, and more.

Sign up for the newsletter Patch Notes

A weekly roundup of the best things from Polygon

Just one more thing!

Please check your email to find a confirmation email, and follow the steps to confirm your humanity.

Oops. Something went wrong. Please enter a valid email and try again.

Loading comments...

Discord wants to void your right to sue them in court — but you can opt out of the practice

The best sci-fi movies to watch on Netflix this April

Pokémon Go Bellsprout Community Day guide

Dune: Part Two, Netflix’s Rebel Moon Part Two, and every new movie to watch at home this weekend

Take-Two wins lawsuit over LeBron James’ tattoos

If you can’t touch grass for Earth Day, a Planet Earth 4K can help

‘Picard’ Stars React to Michelle Yeoh Returning to ‘Star Trek’ Universe: ‘Talk About Badass!’

By Russ Weakland

Russ Weakland

• Eve Hewson Honored as Rising Star at Oscar Wilde Awards, Dad Bono Tears Up Several Times 1 year ago
• Rian Johnson Says ‘Poker Face’ Carries the Legacy of ‘Columbo’ and ‘Quantum Leap’: ‘It Is the Heart of What I Am Trying to Get At’ 1 year ago
• ‘The Last of Us’ Cast on Video Game Adaptation Challenges and Why a TV Series Was Better Than a Film 1 year ago

Just days before the “ Star Trek : Picard” team celebrated its series finale with an FYC red carpet event in Hollywood Wednesday night, Paramount+ announced that Michelle Yeoh will reprise her role of Philippa Georgiou in the upcoming event film, “Star Trek: Section 31.” The announcement had the cast of “Picard” extremely excited for Yeoh’s return and eager to give kudos to the newly minted Oscar winner.

Popular on Variety

In “Star Trek: Section 31,” Philippa Georgiou joins a secret division of Starfleet tasked with protecting the United Federation of Planets and faces the sins of her past.  

Thanks to “Star Trek,” powerful women roles have been seen for decades, which wasn’t lost on Gates Mcfadden, who plays the iconic Dr. Beverly Crusher. “Talk about badass!” she said. “Oh, I’m so happy for her. I’ve been a huge fan of hers. I think she’s fantastic.”

Brent Spiner, who plays the synthetic life form Data, added: “When you look at who’s been in the films, it is a cornucopia of fantastic talent. I feel very lucky to have been a part of it and love seeing people like Michelle returning.”

More From Our Brands

Kevin abstract, lil nas x premiere new song ‘tennessee’ at coachella, inside the hidden world of vip perks at america’s marquee sports arenas, south carolina plans to buy women’s final four center court, be tough on dirt but gentle on your body with the best soaps for sensitive skin, cbs cancels two dramas, including so help me todd, verify it's you, please log in.

site categories

Kevin bacon returns to ‘footloose’ high school on film’s 40th anniversary following student campaign, breaking news.

Michelle Yeoh To Reprise Emperor Philippa Georgiou In ‘Star Trek: Section 31’ Movie For Paramount+

By Lynette Rice

Lynette Rice

Senior TV Writer

More Stories By Lynette

• ‘FBI’ Showrunner Rick Eid Stepping Down; Key Member Of Dick Wolf’s Team Will Remain Executive Producer On CBS Series
• KMR Talent Clients Speak Out About Money Owed: “I’m Not Holding My Breath”
• Daytime Emmy Nominations: ‘African Queens’ & Three Veteran Soaps Tie For Lead – Full List

Academy Award winner Michelle Yeoh is officially returning to Starfleet.

Paramount+ has greenlit Star Trek: Section 31 , an original movie for the streamer. Yeoh will reprise her role as Emperor Philippa Georgiou, a character she first played in Star Trek: Discovery ‘s first season.

Related Stories

2024 Premiere Dates For New & Returning Series On Broadcast, Cable & Streaming

Netflix Co-CEO Greg Peters Says Password-Sharing Crackdown Has Not Hurt Viewership, Citing Internal Data That "Cuts Through The Noise" About The Policy Shift

Production on the movie from CBS Studios will begin later this year.

“I’m beyond thrilled to return to my Star Trek family and to the role I’ve loved for so long,” said Yeoh. “Section 31 has been near and dear to my heart since I began the journey of playing Philippa all the way back when this new golden age of Star Trek launched. To see her finally get her moment is a dream come true in a year that’s shown me the incredible power of never giving up on your dreams. We can’t wait to share what’s in store for you, and until then: live long and prosper (unless Emperor Georgiou decrees otherwise)!”

“All the way back in 2017, before the first season of Star Trek: Discovery had even aired, Michelle had the idea to do a spin-off for her character, Philippa Georgiou,” said executive producer Alex Kurtzman in a statement. “She broke new ground as one of the first two women on screen in the pilot to usher in a new age of Trek, and now, six years later, Star Trek: Section 31 finally arrives on the heels of her latest groundbreaking win. Everyone on Team Trek couldn’t be more thrilled to have our legendary friend return home to us as we expand our storytelling into new and uncharted corners of the Trekverse. Long live Emperor Georgiou. Long live Michelle Yeoh!” 

“For years, we’ve been looking forward to Michelle Yeoh one day returning to Star Trek,” added David Stapf , president of CBS Studios. “Her powerful performance as Captain and Emperor Georgiou was a pivotal moment for the return of the franchise, and her portrayal resonated with fans around the world in a multitude of ways. We couldn’t be prouder to join forces with Michelle once again as we continue to explore the Star Trek universe, celebrate its legacy and chart a course for the future of the franchise.”

Written by Craig Sweeny and directed by Olatunde Osunsanmi, Section 31 is executive produced by Alex Kurtzman, Craig Sweeny, Aaron Baiers, Olatunde Osunsanmi, Frank Siracusa, John Weber, Rod Roddenberry, Trevor Roth and Michelle Yeoh, and is produced by CBS Studios in association with Secret Hideout and Roddenberry Entertainment.

Must Read Stories

‘civil war’ has edge over ‘abigail’ with $11m+ 2nd weekend.

‘Priscilla, Queen Of The Desert’ Sequel In Works With Original Stars

Renewal status report on bubble dramas ‘the cleaning lady’ & ‘alert’, ‘outer range’ showrunner charles murray: the film that lit my fuse.

Subscribe to Deadline Breaking News Alerts and keep your inbox happy.

Read More About:

Deadline is a part of Penske Media Corporation. © 2024 Deadline Hollywood, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

• More to Explore
• Series & Movies

Published Sep 11, 2017

Michelle Yeoh Sheds Light on Captain Georgiou, Discovery

StarTrek.com

“All right,” Michelle Yeoh implored, “Let's rock and roll!”

And, with that energetic greeting, the Malaysian actress and action star spread the good word about the upcoming Star Trek: Discovery as she spoke with a small contingent of journalists – including StarTrek.com – for 20 minutes during a press day in Toronto last month. Yeoh plays Captain Philippa Georgiou, who commands the U.S.S. Shenzhou and shares a tight bond with her first officer, Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green). Here’s what Yeoh – who is best known for Police Story 3: Super Cop, Tomorrow Never Dies, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Strike Back and Marco Polo – had to say about her Trek experience thus far.

StarTrek.com: What, if anything, did you know about Star Trek before you got involved with Discovery ?

Michelle Yeoh: I probably watched it when I was a teenager, way back then. I know Spock really well. He was such a character that stood out. Right? With the pointy ears. And the Vulcan pinch! I think he's cool.

But, I had to revisit again when I knew I was going to do Star Trek and then go... “Oh my God, yes! Then, there's Jean-Luc Picard! Oh my God, that's Captain Janeway! Oh my God, this is...” And suddenly you realize, I'm not going to be able to do all of them because there's like what, almost close to 700 and something episodes? It's over 50 years. That's amazing. They must've been doing something right to keep it going for so long. And then, fortunately, J.J. Abrams came out with the [recent] movies. So that was a blast from the past, right? And it brings back all the memories of the Star Trek series. But if you ask me trivia questions I'm going to leave. [laughs]

How would you say your captain is different from previous captains?

MY: This is a personal thing as an actor. You have to own your character, right? You have to understand what is this role and then after that, you define who is Captain Georgiou. Who is she? Where did she come from? So, I worked very closely with Aaron [Harberts] and Gretchen [Berg], our showrunners, and then with David Semel [who directed the pilot] and some of the writers that were here at that time, and Ted [Sullivan], to get a feel of “When you wrote this character, what were you thinking? Is she married? Does she have family? Does she have that?” Because it forms who she is.

So, I know that she is a war veteran. She has seen the horrors of war because it comes out in the dialogue as well. But she is a very compassionate person. As I look into her, she is an explorer at heart. She loved the universe. She loved the ability and the possibility of seeing new stars, new [stars] being born. She's always awed by that. That's what I love about this character. She's not cynical. She's not jaded by all the things. She firmly believes in the hope and the goodness of humanity. It's very pure to play a character like that, to bring her to the fore, but she's also very smart. Otherwise, she would've been dead a long time ago. [laughs] Space is quite a dangerous place.

What kind of a relationship does she have with Burnham? Is she a mother figure for her?

MY: Yeah. She is definitely a mentor; even at the prelude you already know that they've been together for seven years. She's obviously the one who's been teaching her, trying to guide her on the right path. But [Burnham’s] background makes it so interesting because she's the only human. She forgot she was human because she was growing up in the Vulcan world. She was becoming more Vulcan than Vulcan itself. She beat herself up to even more than that. And, it's brutal. I don't know how anybody can survive, unless you are a Vulcan, the kind of training you have to get through so that you are so in control and everything becomes about logic and clear cut and things like that.

Sarek, Spock's dad, is a dear friend of Captain Georgiou and he truly believed that Captain Georgiou would be able to instill the good human qualities back into her, because fundamentally she's a human being, right? You cannot deny yourself what you are. So, it's not just about discovery into space and finding new friends and new cultures, species, but it's self-discovery. And, especially for Sonequa's character because when she comes, she is like, "I am the Vulcan of the Vulcans, man." Captain Georgiou's looking at her, "Oh really? We'll see about that.” But it's not about breaking her spirit. She worked so hard to be who she was seven years ago. But it's about putting back, instilling [her human spirit]. “What is love? What is compassion? What is empathy?” Because, if you don't have that, you will make the wrong choices.

Michael Burnham looked at Captain Georgiou first with disdain. Like, "Really? Uh..." But she begins to respect this woman. She understood and began to understand where she came from, what she was trying to teach her, and then that bond was solidified. So much so, it was like a proud parent saying, "You know, I think you're ready to have your own wings. To fly your own ship." And that's a big deal. So that was the special bond that we had, and Sonequa's such an amazing actress. I think it's not easy, the nuances, to keep it in check but still feel all those different emotions, but still no emotions. It's more difficult than being just a Vulcan, in that sense. So, she just nails it. And we have fun. We have so much fun, it's almost incredible.

Can you tell us about the two ships, two captains and what the show runners called a second pilot? They repeated the phrase that there will be a second pilot inside the season…

MY: The second story was just as important, so we started to call it the second pilot as well. It's hard because the series is not episodic stories right? It's a story that's evolving and it's growing and it's changing. So, we don't just need one species and “OK, bye-bye, we move on to the next one and find another…” I think it's an interesting and new way of storytelling for Star Trek . It's quite brilliant in that sense because I hope it will be something new.

Shenzhou is an older ship. Discovery is a new ship. I am not ready to relinquish my ship because it's Old Faithful. You don't just say, "Oh, I have a new car, bye!" Right?

You’ve done a bit of TV, including Strike Back and Marco Polo , but nothing like this on an extended weekly basis. What's it like been for you to do a TV series?

MY: Well, the good thing is I had a little taste of it when I did Strike Back , and that was fun. That was their final episode. So, it was a wrap-up, a big wah-hah! And then I did Marco Polo, too, which was set in our world and it was a big story. So, at least I had that taste, because otherwise it would've been very tough [to do Discovery] because it's a very different of style of filming. The first time I'm like, "How many directors do I have? I just got used to you. [laughs] . “David and now it's Adam? Who else is new in the show, you know?"

It's challenging. It's really challenging, but I do love it. I do enjoy it because you get to develop the characters in a much more in-depth way than you would in a movie because in a movie you film it in two months. Then that's it. Here, it does evolve. It does change because, as we're filming, we still don't know what's going to happen in the next episode and what we're going to gain and what we're going to lose. So, we're kept on our toes, like you.

Star Trek has hardcore fans that...

MY: Oh yes! I heard about that! (laughs)

They really love the franchise. They're very…

MY: Very protective of it.

And they also go to conventions and write fan fiction and the list goes on. How ready are you to deal with all that?

MY: I know that Sonequa and Jason [Isaacs], Mary [Chieffo], everybody has been going to Comic-Con and they've been doing things. And I've been like going, " Nope ." I have stage fright and I'm like, “Everybody's just gonna throw things at me because I will just say all the wrong things.”

But, I just want the fans to know, I'm not just going to be good at it, I'm gonna be the best at it for you guys. It's like, “Expect something different, please. Think that we are going to give you something that you do not... be ready to embrace the diversity and whatever we throw at you because that's the world of Star Trek , isn't it?”

It's like everything; you have to enter and be brave. You just have to accept there is diversity and new things that come out. So, I think that we have been a little bit smart. It's like, we're 10 years before Captain Kirk and all that. The Prime Directive and all these different rules are not in place, and we are figuring it out. So, in that way, I think it's a little... not easier, but a little bit more flexible in a sense. And this time the story comes from Number One. It's not from the captain's chair, right? From the captain's chair, it's like, "You do what I want because I am the captain." You see it from a different perspective, which I think is very refreshing. And you're not always stuck at the bridge with the captain or in his captain's log.

Captain Georgiou is very diplomatic, even in dealing with the Klingons. Why?

MY: She is because she really, truly believes in cooperation, like the first thing that should come out is a gesture of friendship. Not anything else. Because shoot first and ask questions later just simply means, “Let's fight.” That's not Captain Georgiou. That's why Sarek brought Michael Burnham to her, so that she could help to instill these qualities in Michael Burnham, because Michael Burnham would be very cold and logical. Burnham had very bad memories of the Klingons as well, because that's how her parents died. So, for her, it's like, "No! We have to fight them first. Just shoot them, because that's all they understand." That is the direct (opposite) of Starfleet's principles. Never shoot first. Just don't shoot first, right?

You've been on big movies before. How immersive, how huge are these sets?

MY: Oh, my God! When we started, I was going, "We're shooting a movie here, right?" Marco Polo had amazing sets as well, but they were fixed sets. The dojo, the throne room, they would use them over and over again. You could expect that they would be much more intricate in that sense. Strike Back never had sets. Strike Back just went out on the road, then shot everybody. Then, with this, I was blown away. When you walk into the [ Shenzhou] bridge, [you'll say] “Oh, my God.” The floor is all glass. So, you see the universe below your feet and it's all around you. And, of course, there's the captain's chair. It's like everybody dives into that chair until… When I'm there, nobody dares to touch it. [laughs]

But the Klingon ship. Oh my God! Oh my God! You walk in and it's like walking into a cathedral. The details. I'm going, "Excuse me, it's underneath? Who's gonna see that?" So, once you light it, it's like a Goth cathedral. It's just amazing. The quality and look of our costumes… We have our little Starfleet emblems all down our sides. Color is one thing, but that attention to detail, you only do it in the film because you're on the big screen and every little detail sticks out. Normally, you think, “Oh, it's more bark. Nobody will see it.” And you go, "Wow! Really? This long?” It's stunning. It really is.

Get Updates By Email

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.

• April 19, 2024 | Exclusive First Look At Artwork From ‘Star Trek: Celebrations’ – IDW’s One Shot Comic For Pride Month
• April 19, 2024 | Podcast: All Access Faces The Strange On ‘Star Trek: Discovery’
• April 18, 2024 | Lost Original USS Enterprise Model From ‘Star Trek’ Returned To Gene Roddenberry’s Son
• April 18, 2024 | Recap/Review: ‘Star Trek: Discovery’ Gets The Timing Right In “Face The Strange”
• April 17, 2024 | Watch: Things Get “Odd” In ‘Star Trek: Discovery’ Trailer And Clip From “Face The Strange”

Michelle Yeoh Talks Prepping For ‘Star Trek: Section 31’ Movie

| December 19, 2023 | By: TrekMovie.com Staff 79 comments so far

Michelle Yeoh is following up her Academy Award win from earlier this year by reprising her Star Trek: Discovery role as Emperor Georgiou in a made-for-streaming movie: Star Trek: Section 31 . Last week we reported Paramount+ is getting ready to start shooting in January and now the star is talking about her return to Star Trek.

Prepping something “very special”

The latest comes from Collider , who spoke to Yeoh about her upcoming Netflix series The Brothers Sun and asked for an update on her next project. Yeoh confirmed that she has already started prepping for Section 31 :

“I just came back from Toronto, and what does that tell you? We are definitely prepping. We are definitely going full steam ahead. And thank you. Section 31 is very special to me, and I’m so happy we’re doing it.”

This new comment from Yeoh confirms our reporting based on industry sources that the Section 31 project, which was initially planned for production this fall but was delayed due to the double strikes, is back on track and readying for production. According to those sources, Star Trek: Section 31 will begin filming on Monday, January 29th. The production is scheduled to last six weeks, wrapping up on March 13. The streaming movie was written by Craig Sweeny and is being directed by Olatunde Osunsanmi.

The Section 31 movie will be shot in parallel with season 3 of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, which began production last week in Toronto. Section 31 is being shot at Toronto’s Pinewood Studios on the former Star Trek: Discovery stages. Strange New Worlds is shot at CBS Stages Canada in Mississauga, Ontario, but both productions share some assets including the Pixomondo AR Wall Stage in Toronto.

Michelle Yeoh in Discovery “Die Trying” (Paramount+)

Yeoh mentioning how Section 31 is “very special” to her picks up on what executive producer Alex Kurtzman said at NYCC in October, when he said the actress used her new clout as an Academy Award winner to ensure the project didn’t get derailed by the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Kurtzman told the NYCC crowd:

“So we are back on our feet after the strike with  Section 31 . It is happening. Michelle [Yeoh] is just the most extraordinary person on every level. She had one of one of the most unbelievable years that anybody could ever have in the history of ever, and she had a million opportunities to hit the jackpot on it and do other things. And what she did with all of the power she had accrued is make sure that  Section 31  was moving forward.”

So far the only cast member confirmed for Section 31 is Michelle Yeoh. The official Section 31 movie announcement from April did include a statement from Yeoh:

“I’m beyond thrilled to return to my ‘Star Trek’ family and to the role I’ve loved for so long. Section 31 has been near and dear to my heart since I began the journey of playing Philippa all the way back when this new golden age of ‘Star Trek’ launched. To see her finally get her moment is a dream come true in a year that’s shown me the incredible power of never giving up on your dreams. We can’t wait to share what’s in store for you, and until then: live long and prosper (unless Emperor Georgiou decrees otherwise)!”

Yeoh has described the Section 31 movie as “ Mission: Impossible meets Guardians of the Galaxy .” The Paramount+ announcement included this synopsis:

In  Star Trek: Section 31 , Emperor Philippa Georgiou, joins a secret division of Starfleet tasked with protecting the United Federation of Planets and faces the sins of her past.

Hopefully, as the project gets closer to production we will get more details.

This is a developing story, so stay tuned to TrekMovie for more updates on Star Trek: Section 31 and other Trek projects in development.

Keep up with news for the Star Trek Universe at TrekMovie.com .

Related Articles

‘Section 31’ Movie Director Says It’s A “Different” Star Trek + New Character Details Revealed

All Access Star Trek Podcast , Discovery , Section 31 , Star Trek 4 , Starfleet Academy , Strange New Worlds , Upcoming movies

Podcast: All Access Goes To The ‘Star Trek: Discovery’ Season 5 Junket And Breaks Down That ‘Variety’ Article

Section 31 , Star Trek: Legacy , Starfleet Academy

‘Star Trek: Section 31’ First Look Revealed With ‘Academy’ Details, Plus Glimmer Of ‘Legacy’ Hope

Filming On The ‘Star Trek: Section 31’ Streaming Movie Has Wrapped

I sure hope this is watchable.

Me, too. Georgiou is just not that interesting a character.

I feel the opposite. Love Georgiou and Yeoh, and hope this does well.

she and yeoh own the screen every time they appear

I would honestly prefer an S31 movie starring Julian Bashir. I loved to watch the S31 episodes in DS9 and it surely would be interesting to see Bashir going against this organisation. Maybe he could infiltrate them and so on… But that’s just wishful thinking.  

However, I still think Georgiou is one of the more interesting characters on Discovery, so it could be worse. In general, Discovery only has a few interesting characters, for most of the cast I don’t really care. 

helpful lol

I can’t wait to see this. Discovery S5 and the Section 31 movie are my most anticipated new Trek content for next year.

I very much doubt that you’ll see this next year, it’s possible but I don’t think post production will complete in time. Next year you’ll get discovery s5, lower decks, and maybe prodigy. That’s all.

I’m wondering the opposite. They may not want Disco to be the only live action trek in ‘24, and it’s unlikely SNW 3 will be ready.

But the S31 movie isn’t a typical blockbuster affair: it’s much more like a double length episode of Discovery than a huge movie that needs a year in post production. No reason they can’t have it ready by November. The question is whether they want it for ‘24 or save it for early ‘25.

I suspect we’ll also get some major announcements later in 24 about new shows— whether it’s a Picard spinoff, or something entirely fresh.

I think Academy is still on target to start production in mid-2024, so 2025 is likely to start with SNW S3 (though I’d be really happy if that was able to start in late ’24), then LDS S6 (assuming it’s renewed) in the summer, and followed by the first season of Academy in the fall.

If filming starts in January like it’s supposed to, and is done within six weeks it should be possible to see this movie in late 2024. SNW will likely be early 2025, even if all of post production work is completed before 2024 is over, but I can’t imagine they will sit on this movie until 2025 if it’s ready and can stream around the holiday season.

I know many are not fans of the Section 31 and Emperor Georgiou storyline, but IMHO there is sooooo much potential for the S31 movie. And to have a global star like Michelle Yeoh involved, I can’t wait to see what the writers have come up with.

As for Discovery, after an abominable first half of S1, the show did get better until a very up and very down inconsistent S3. S4 was not bad, but not good either, just meh. Let’s hope S5 can salvage what at least has been a series that helped spawn Short Treks, SNW, Picard, LDs, Prodigy and now Section 31.

See, and I thought the first half of S1, problems and all, was the most interesting Discovery has ever been. I still wish we could have seen the show that Fuller had envisioned.

Very much agree; I actually thought the pilot and several shows that followed were pretty good. Bringing it into the MU was a creative disaster.

It was reported back then that Fuller had planned to go to the mirror universe even earlier during the season. However, it’s unclear If he intended to do the same story we got or something else.

You know in retrospect, I think the first 6 episodes had some good plot elements and I think they could have made some minor tweaks that would have made the story quite palpable for most Trek fans. But the complete transformation of the appearance of the Klingons was a little tough to take and Burnham’s complete disregard for orders which eventually led to the death of Captain Georgiou really disengaged many legacy fans.

Looking forward to this. Fans should want this to do well, it may nudge along a future feature for the big scree….

Even if we don’t get a big screen feature anytime soon, a guaranteed annual streaming movie or two would be great too. Completely agree: If we want to see more streaming film events, fans absolutely need to support this and not criticise before even a frame of footage has been shot.

So it is fans duty to praise and serve?

I don’t think so…

Missing my point. Fans can complain and vent all they want once the final product has been delivered and seen. Then that’s an informed opinion.

But to complain and judge a production, sometimes even harshly, when it hasn’t even begun shooting yet, makes zero sense at all.

Support and encourage the fact that we’re finally getting ‘TV movies,’ watch it on release day, then decide afterwards whether it was good or not.

As a fan, I approach everything excited and planning to love it! Sometimes I am disappointed, but I always want to love anything we get.

I have a bad feeling about this…

Oh, joy…

I don’t.

The “facing the sins of her past” focus just might be the saving grace of this venture.

There’s not enough pain receptors in her body to make that a satisfying reckoning.

At first I wasn’t on board for a 31 series, and still aren’t. But a movie on the other hand I am absolutely on board for! Same with Starfleet Academy, maybe a couple movies or feature length episodes would fare better.

Since time travel is an element in the Section 31 movie, it can literally take place at any time during the ENT, TOS/TAS, and TNG/DS9/VOY eras.

My preference would be for it to take place during the Enterprise era.

Narratively it makes the most sense because it sends Georgiou as far back in time to when the Mirror and Prime Universes were closets together while still allowing to take place during a recognized era of Star Trek.

How awesome would be if it took place 20-odd years after Mirror Hoshi established herself as the first Empress of the Terran Empire?

Hoshi versus Georgiou would be fantastic.

I want Sloan back from the 24th century

That would be cool too.

Well said my friend, well said! 😎👍

Would love if she bumped into Sloan.

Maybe she goes back in time to revisit various key events in Trek canon via the Guardian (anniversary film like Trials&Tribulations)

That would be awesome.

Secret Hideout is really in their prime. The company’s already making the greatest Star Trek shows of all-time ( Strange New Worlds & Lower Decks ) and now it has the chance to make the greatest Trek movie ever.

I can’t wait to see where Carl pops her out at. I’m guessing back to the 23rd century so her molecules don’t fly apart.

My hope is that by doing it as a movie they’ve condensed down whatever “good idea” they had for the Section 31 series they were planning, and instead of that idea being stretched over 10 episodes with a whole lot of boring filler in-between, they can basically hit all of the big moments to make a watchable movie.

I watched 3 seasons of Discovery before deciding it wasn’t my thing. I’m hoping for the best and I’m willing to give this a chance too.

I will probably watch this because:

1. Michelle Yeoh is one of my favorite actresses ever.

2. I’m hoping they bring back the world of Disco S1/2. I want to see L’rell and Ash Tyler again. I liked that era. I hated the jump 900 years into the future, especially since they didn’t do anything new story wise.

Actually I would like to see Tyler and L’Rell again too. I don’t get why they don’t show up on SNW?

Fingers crossed we get to see them at some point. Both Tyler and L’Rell had interesting interactions with Captain Pike.

I hope it does well for the sake of the franchise.

There’s a little more noninformation about the QT Trek on variety’s site right now.

When the writer sez ‘hard r’ but not much swearing, I’m thinking it is like holding somebody’s hand in a transporter beam to cut it off, and then spraying blood all over the chamber.

Isn’t there a Monty Python sketch like that? People getting body parts injured or chopped off and explosively bleeding? I remember a piano player getting his hands severed at the wrist when the keyboard cover falls on his wrists and the fountain of blood…

And Michael Ironside def needs more than just a hand up after Arnold cuts him off in total recall.

Wow, a verhoeven trek, that’d be going a bridge too far, wouldn’t it?

Picard S1 almost crossed that bridge didn’t it.

That was an eyeful, wasn’t it? (could also be used in any James Bond movie where an Eiffel Tower memento gets stuck in a baddie’s peeper.)

I predict a fleet battle at the end. Because every new Trek thing needs to finish with an over the top, fleet stand-off/battle.

Lol, you are probably right

As long as the good guys win let’s do it!

You don’t think it’s a bit silly that at the end of almost every season of new Trek there’s a big fleet battle/face-off?

Maybe there is, never really noticed. Maybe that’s because I like starship battles. There were so few in TOS. But to your point for those who don’t I can see why this would be eye-rolling. Anything overdone looses its appeal.

As usual, agree bro! 👍

You’re a man of taste and distinction.

I can very well say the same to you good sir!

There is still time to not make this thing

I don’t give two bars of gold pressed latinum about Adolf but this could turn out to be decent. I’m more positive about it that it’s just a TV movie and maybe we will get more if this one is successful like a Janeway or Legacy movie!

I’m really hoping other characters show up too! Trip or Worf would be a dream. Not counting on it but anything is possible in Star Trek!

At least bring back Carl!!!

Legacy characters. Of course.

I agree with the others you just got too annoying and just say the same thing over and over again. I can’t block you here so I’m asking you to just ignore me from now on.

Assuming Georgiou stays in the prime universe *please, fingers crossed* there’s a lot of opportunity. I’d like to see her jump around a bit. It would be a good opportunity to correct a couple of mistakes ENT made when it ended … perhaps we could learn that Trip is still alive, and he and Malcolm Reed are Section 31 agents in their later years. Or she could visit somewhere in the time after the Enterprise-B was launched, and meet Sulu and Chekov (that would be a blast), and then end up where she started, where DSC began … it would be nice to see Ash Tyler and Chancellor L’Rell again … the movie could conclude with Georgiou helping Tyler start to make Section 31 the top secret (not known to everyone) organization it’s supposed to be.

I love all these ideas! 😄

I would love to see Trip and Malcom working together and they pull in Georgiou for some secret mission in the 22nd century. I also want to see L’Rell and Tyler back too and she obviously has a relationship with them.

The best idea someone mentioned would be to do a multi era story and pull in legacy characters from different time periods with the help of Carl. Now THAT would make it feel like a real event movie and even get fans who isn’t excited about it more interested. I’m not holding my breath but it would be mega cool! 😎

And I’m OK with going back to the mirror universe but I really want the main story to stay in prime. But they probably will show more of her past life too so it would have to be in the MU.

They can do some great things with this concept.

Now you’re just coming off bitter.

Leave me alone.

BTW are you the same iMike from Trekcore? I assume you are and just changed your handle a bit. If so always happy to see you my friend! 🙂

I am … always great to see you too … I enjoy engaging with you even when we disagree on something. I know you aren’t really a fan of Georgiou, but I’m happy that you are open to the possibilities of this movie event.

OK I thought so! We talk a here a lot these days but just wanted to make sure. Sadly more than we do on Trekcore lately. ☹️

And you know how much I love talking to you too. I’m happy we can be good friends here even if we don’t always agree on everything. You don’t get triggered unlike some people lol. I love talking to Amirami and he hates both Captain Janeway and VOY and as you know that’s one of my favorite show too but I love talking to that guy. And they are just TV shows, it’s not that serious. He’s actually a big reason I started posting here. I’m glad to see more of my favorites from Trekcore here like you and a few others! 😄

Discovery writers and directors are involved so I don’t expect a quality product but I’ll watch it because Michelle Yeoh is always fun.

Yes, I have similar feelings. But I think that it’ll be watchable. ;-) I Mean, I’m not a big Discovery fan either, but the show is at least ok.

I am so freaking excited for this!!! I know there’s a lot of distaste among many for the character of Mirror Georgiou, but she’s fun to watch and Michelle Yeoh is a bonafide star. My one hope is that they keep her in the prime universe … other than that I’m excited to see what the writers have come up with, what possible points in the timeline Georgiou can play in, and the unique casting opportunities that may pop up.

Mississauga is not Toronto

To everyone except Mississaugans it is.

So excited for this!!

Hope she shows up on Strange New Worlds as a guest. That show really needs some interesting people on it.

I’m glad she has stuck with this, and even used her clout to push for it, given some of the mess Trek has been in the last year with the strikes. If it’s good, then brilliant. If it’s not, well at least they tried something out of the box.

I’d love to see them take more of a risk with stand-alone TV movies, if the costs allow.

I’m actually excited about this now. Hopefully it will be good.

“ Mission: Impossible  meets  Guardians of the Galaxy .” 

Uh, not that I don’t like the two film series, but it has little to do with Star Trek. Well, despite all that, I can imagine that I will like the film, I even like the Kelvin trilogy. With the emphasis on LIKE; it’s not like I could / would watch those films umpteen times. (That’s different with the old Trek series, of course. 😉)

But let’s wait and see. 

Michelle Yeoh Breaks Down Star Trek: Discovery 's Latest Time Travel Twists

Philippa Georgiou went back in time and across universes to keep herself together.

Major spoilers ahead for Star Trek: Discovery episode "Terra Firma, Part 2." Michelle Yeoh has been a staple on Star Trek: Discovery since the series premiered in 2017. But at the end of the most recent episode, "Terra Firma, Part 2," Philippa Georgiou, suffering from temporal displacement that would soon kill her, walked through a time portal and left Michael Burnham and the Discovery crew behind for good. The move wasn't entirely surprising considering a new Star Trek series starring Yeoh is in the works , but it was a moving sendoff for the character nonetheless. "There are so many stories to tell of her," Yeoh tells Bustle, assuring me that Georgiou is not gone for good from the Star Trek universe. "I know for a fact that if we are not giving up on her, we're not going to put her on the shelf."

In Season 1 of Discovery , Yeoh played Captain Philippa Georgiou, mentor to the series lead, Commander Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green). After her untimely death due to Burnham's mutiny, it was thought that Yeoh was off the show for good — that is, until Discovery ventured to the Mirror Universe and found out that their version of Philippa Georgiou was the ruthless Emperor of the Terran Empire. By the end of Season 1, Emperor Georgiou was reluctantly dragged into the Prime Universe, and Season 2 found her joining the Federation's mysterious, covert Section 31. In Season 3, flung almost 1,000 years into the future along with the rest of the Discovery crew , Georgiou began suffering from an unknown ailment.

In "Terra Firma, Part 1," it was discovered that, because Georgiou had both traveled 1,000 years into the future and across universes, her body was literally splitting apart. But since her crossing, the two universes had traveled too far apart, and the Prime hadn't even heard from the Mirror in 500 years, so sending her over wasn't an option. In order to find a cure, she and Burnham headed to an icy planet and encountered a man in a bowler hat named Carl, who urged Georgiou to step through his mysterious door. When she did, Georgiou found herself back in the Mirror Universe, still the Emperor of a violent and hateful place, and yet she realized that she no longer belonged in that world.

"She's definitely had a change of heart," Yeoh tells Bustle of Georgiou's time spent with the Federation. "She had an awakening in the sense that she realized yes, you could rule with fear and tyranny, but only for a short period. This was what she learned from being in the Prime Universe. It's about compassion, about hope. It's about when people have nothing to lose, then they don't care anymore. And when you don't care, you don't have a future."

Georgiou's time spent with the utopian Federation in the Prime Universe was enlightening, Yeoh says. "She was learning [the whole time]... and she never revealed to anybody else that she was learning because that would be a sign of weakness. But she listened, and she understood, and she saw how [the Federation] integrated, how they came together, how they trusted and they believed in each other. And I think that was what she came away with, [an] understanding to be a good ruler not just by fear. Before you realize that you can be better, you need to be better. Otherwise, there's just no way out of it."

In the most recent episode, "Terra Firma, Part 2," Georgiou shows the Mirror version of Michael Burnham the mercy that she neglected previously to and tries to instill in her that they can change, their world doesn't have to be the violent, ruthless, world of killers that they all know. But her Burnham still betrays her in the end, and they both die in a brutal fight.

That's when Georgiou is yanked back through the doorway onto the snowy planet with Carl and Michael Prime. Carl reveals himself to be "The Guardian of Forever," a mysterious figure from the Star Trek: The Original Series episode "The City on the Edge of Forever." In that old episode, Bones, Spock, and Kirk travel back to 1930s Earth and learn that even the smallest actions in the past can reverberate throughout the future.

At the end of the episode, seeing that she had changed and learned from her past mistakes, the Guardian invites Georgiou to travel back through the time portal back to a time when the Prime and Mirror universes were closer together, thus curing her ailment. It's unclear when or where Georgiou will next appear, but Yeoh is excited about the possibilities.

"Maybe one of the reasons why she is not in this timeline is to be able to go on more of her own adventures, more of her stories, more of the things that she has to live through."

Fans have been speculating that in order for Yeoh to star in a series about Section 31 , she'd have to somehow leave the 32nd century and go back in time. But Georgiou traveling back doesn't necessarily mean that the new series will involve a lot of time travel. "The time travel has to stop at a certain point because you know, when you've traveled through time you change the past and you change the future, that's not so much fun anymore, but you have to get to a point in time where you can make a difference."

But Georgiou's foray into the 32nd century just might give her an advantage. "She's spent some time in the future, and that, for me, I think that's very delicious," Yeoh says. "I'm sure she's armed with some knowledge."

What her Imperial Majesty, Mother of the Fatherland, Overlord of Vulcan, Dominus of Kronos, Regina Andor, Philippa Georgiou Augustus Iaponius Centarius will do with that knowledge back in the past of the Prime Universe, however, only time will tell.

Join or Sign In

Sign in to customize your TV listings

By joining TV Guide, you agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy .

Star Trek: Discovery Producer Confirms Michelle Yeoh Will Return

"You will see more of this woman on the show"

The cast of Star Trek: Discovery dropped new details about Captain Georgiou ( Michelle Yeoh ) at New York Comic Con on Saturday.

Executive producer Gretchen J.Berg confirmed that we haven't seen the last of the Federation captain, who was killed in the second half of the two-hour premiere, "The Battle of the Binary Stars." "You will see more of this woman on the show," she said.

Yeoh made a surprise appearance, posing as a fan in a mask asking a question before revealing her true identity. After joining the cast on stage, she had harsh words for Jason Isaacs' Captain Lorca. "I'm telling you Captain Gabriel Lorca," she began, "if you don't look after my baby girl I'm going to kick your ass."

The panel also offered up a sneak preview at the rest of the series which finds Michael Burnham ( Sonequa Martin-Green ) haunted by the death of Captain Georgiou.

Taking place a decade before the events of the original Star Trek series, this latest iteration centers on Burnham who, after being ousted from the Federation for committing mutiny, joins the USS Discovery as Captain Gabriel Lorca's ( Jason Isaacs ) First Officer. She does so at a tumultuous time when the human-led Federation is in the middle of a Cold War with the often antagonistic Klingons and tensions are brewing.

How Does Star Trek: Discovery's Lorca Compare to Other Captains?

The new series also stars Doug Jones as Saru, the Discovery 's science officer and a new alien species called Kelpian; plus Anthony Rapp and Wilson Cruz as Paul Stamets and Hugh Culber who make history as the first openly gay couple in the Star Trek's universe (known as the Prime timeline which exists outside the J.J. Abrams reboots).

New episodes of Star Trek: Discovery stream Sundays at 8:30/7:30c exclusively on CBS All Access .

(Full Disclosure: TV Guide is owned by CBS. )

Michelle Yeoh to reprise role in upcoming Star Trek film

Paramount+  is officially moving forward on a “ Star Trek : Section 31” project starring  Michelle Yeoh , but it will now be an event film instead of a series, Variety has learned.

It was first reported that a Section 31 series with Yeoh was in development  back in 2019 . In the film, Yeoh will reprise the role of Emperor Philippa Georgiou, whom she began playing during Season 1 of “Star Trek: Discovery.”

Per the official logline, “Emperor Philippa Georgiou joins a secret division of Starfleet tasked with protecting the United Federation of Planets and faces the sins of her past.” Rumors of a Yeoh-led Section 31 project began upon the conclusion of Season 1 of “Discovery,” after a deleted scene revealed Georgiou being approached by a member of the shadowy intelligence organization on the Klingon homeworld.

“I’m beyond thrilled to return to my ‘Star Trek’ family and to the role I’ve loved for so long,” said Yeoh. “Section 31 has been near and dear to my heart since I began the journey of playing Philippa all the way back when this new golden age of ‘Star Trek’ launched. To see her finally get her moment is a dream come true in a year that’s shown me the incredible power of never giving up on your dreams. We can’t wait to share what’s in store for you, and until then: live long and prosper (unless Emperor Georgiou decrees otherwise)!”

Production will begin on the film later this year.

The news comes about a month after  Yeoh won the Academy Award  for best actress for “Everything Everywhere All at Once,” making her the first Asian person to win the award. She also picked up wins at the SAG Awards, Independent Spirit Awards, and the Golden Globes for her work in the film. She is also known for her roles in films like “Crazy Rich Asians,” “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon 1 & 2,” “Memoirs Of A Geisha,” the James Bond film “Tomorrow Never Dies,” and “Sunshine.”

She is repped by Artist International Group and Cohen & Gardner.

“All the way back in 2017, before the first season of ‘Star Trek: Discovery’ had even aired, Michelle had the idea to do a spin-off for her character, Philippa Georgiou,” said executive producer Alex Kurtzman. “She broke new ground as one of the first two women on screen in the pilot to usher in a new age of ‘Trek,’ and now, six years later, ‘Star Trek: Section 31’ finally arrives on the heels of her latest groundbreaking win. Everyone on Team ‘Trek’ couldn’t be more thrilled to have our legendary friend return home to us as we expand our storytelling into new and uncharted corners of the Trekverse. Long live Emperor Georgiou; long live Michelle Yeoh!”

Craig Sweeny (“Limitless,” “Medium”) serves as writer and executive producer on “Star Trek: Section 31.” Olatunde Osunsanmi (“Star Trek: Discovery,” “The Man Who Fell to Earth”) will direct and executive produce. Yeoh will executive produce in addition to starring. Alex Kurtzman and Aaron Baiers executive produce via Secret Hideout. Rod Rodenberry and Trevor Roth of Rodenberry Entertainment also executive produce along with Frank Siracusa and John Weber. CBS Studios will produce. Sweeny, Osunsanmi, and Kurtzman are all currently under overall deals at CBS Studios.

“For years, we’ve been looking forward to Michelle Yeoh one day returning to ‘Star Trek,’” said David Stapf, president of CBS Studios. “Her powerful performance as Captain and Emperor Georgiou was a pivotal moment for the return of the franchise, and her portrayal resonated with fans around the world in a multitude of ways. We couldn’t be prouder to join forces with Michelle once again as we continue to explore the ‘Star Trek’ universe, celebrate its legacy and chart a course for the future of the franchise.”

Section 31 was first introduced in the “Star Trek” series “Deep Space Nine.” The organization has since been featured in the “Star Trek” shows “Enterprise,” “Discovery,” “Lower Decks,” and “Picard,” as well as the film “Into Darkness.”

“We’re thrilled that ‘Star Trek: Section 31’ will be the next title in our ‘Star Trek’ universe,” said Domenic DiMeglio, chief marketing officer and head of data at Paramount Streaming. “Michelle Yeoh is an incomparable talent — she brought Emperor Georgiou to life in such an incredibly fun and nuanced way that the character immediately became a fan favorite. We’re so thrilled to welcome Michelle back to the ‘Star Trek’ and Paramount+ family and can’t wait for fans to see what this special movie event has in store.”

The film is the latest development of the next generation of the revamped “Star Trek” era at Paramount+. The series finale of “Star Trek: Picard” is set to debut on the streamer this week, with the main cast of “Next Generation” reuniting for the show’s third and final season. It was announced in March that a  Starfleet Academy show  has been ordered to series.

Beyond that, it was announced that both “Star Trek: Strange New Worlds” and “Star Trek: Lower Decks” had been  renewed ahead of their new season premieres  and that “Star Trek: Discovery”  will end with its fifth season in 2024 .

Michelle Yeoh will boldly go back to ‘Star Trek’ after her historic Oscars win

So where does Michelle Yeoh go after making history at the Oscars? Back to space: the final frontier.

The “Everything Everywhere All at Once” star, who became the first Asian performer to win the Oscar for lead actress in March, will return to the world of “Star Trek,” Paramount+ announced Tuesday.

Yeoh will reprise the role of Emperor Philippa Georgiou in the streaming film “Star Trek: Section 31.” She first appeared as Starfleet Captain Philippa Georgiou in Season 1 of “Star Trek: Discovery” and conceived the idea for a spinoff before the series even aired in 2017. (Season 5 will begin streaming next year.)

“Star Trek: 31” will follow Yeoh’s Philippa as she “joins a secret division of Starfleet tasked with protecting the United Federation of Planets and faces the sins of her past,” according to Paramount+.

“Section 31 has been near and dear to my heart since I began the journey of playing Philippa all the way back when this new golden age of ‘Star Trek’ launched,” Yeoh said in a statement. “To see her finally get her moment is a dream come true in a year that’s shown me the incredible power of never giving up on your dreams.”

A “Star Trek” spinoff featuring the “Crazy Rich Asians” star has been in the works since 2018, Deadline reported. Yeoh confirmed its development in in 2019.

Yeoh will serve as an executive producer on “Station 31,” which will begin production later this year.

The “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” actor departed “Star Trek: Discovery” in December 2020. Yeoh’s final episode showed her character getting a second chance at life in the Mirror Universe, leaving the Discovery crew behind.

“Discovery” is one in a handful of “Star Trek” projects at Paramount+. The streamer also touts “Picard,” starring Patrick Stewart, and the animated series “Lower Decks.”

Yeoh won her first Oscar for her work in the multiverse-hopping “Everything Everywhere All at Once” at the Academy Awards last month. The A24 film swept the awards show, winning seven prizes including the marquee best picture award.

“We need this because there’s so many who have felt unseen, unheard. It’s not just the Asian community,” Yeoh said of her win in the Oscars press room. “We deserve to be heard. We deserve to be seen. We deserve to have equal opportunity so we can have a seat at the table. That’s all we’re asking for. Give us that opportunity. Let us prove we are worthy.”

Last week, Yeoh brought her Oscar, which she named “Mr. O,” home to her mother in Malaysia. She shared photos Wednesday on Instagram showing the golden trophy in her mother’s embrace and in front of her father’s grave.

“Without my parents love and trust and support…I wouldn’t be here today…love so much,” Yeoh captioned the photos.

‘Star Trek: Discovery’ Spinoff With Michelle Yeoh Still in Development at Paramount+

Where No One Has Gone Before

For exclusive news and updates, subscribe to our star trek: discovery newsletter :.

Despite Michelle Yeoh ‘s growing awards season buzz for her turn in Everything Everywhere All at Once , she’s not shutting the door on TV as plans for a Star Trek: Discovery spinoff are still moving forward at Paramount+ .

The previously reported spinoff would center around Starfleet’s top-secret division, Section 31, which was introduced in the Deep Space Nine TV series. According to TV Line , progress is moving forward despite minimal updates on the project in the four years since its announcement.

As Trekkies may recall, Yeoh’s Philippa Georgiou was recruited to join the division during a deleted scene from Star Trek: Discovery ‘s Season 1 finale episode. Originally, this series was meant to land on CBS All Access, but in the years that followed, the streamer has since become Paramount+.

(Credit: Michael Gibson/CBS)

Since the show’s announcement, Yeoh’s taken on roles in films like Everything Everywhere All at Once , Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings , and Netflix ‘s The School for Good and Evil , as well as roles in shows like the upcoming Disney+ title American Born Chinese and The Witcher: Blood Origin .

“It’s still in development,” chief programming officer of Paramount Streaming, Tanya Giles, told TV Line , adding that there are “conversations” about the Section 31 series.

'Star Trek: Picard': Patrick Stewart Says Third Season May Not Be Final One After All

A “mirror,” Yeoh’s Philippa Georgiou was introduced in Star Trek: Discovery as captain of the USS Discovery. Killed off early on, she was later reintroduced to the show as her mirror-universe counterpart Emporer Georgiou who wound up becoming involved with Starfleet’s Section 31, which played a covert role through Season 2.

Should the series move forward, it will join a hefty lineup of Star Trek titles, including Discovery , Star Trek: Picard , Star Trek: Strange New Worlds , and the animated Star Trek: Lower Decks . Stay tuned for possible updates regarding this long-talked-about series’ future as development continues to take place at Paramount+.

Star Trek Section 31 Series, TBD, Paramount+

Star Trek: Discovery where to stream

Star Trek: Discovery

Michelle yeoh.

‘Star Trek: Discovery’ Producer Confirms Michelle Yeoh’s Character Will Return

• Happening Now
• San Francisco
• Los Angeles
• Orange County
• About NextShark
• AAPI Resources

Subscribe to NextShark's Newsletter

Star Trek: Discovery Ending Is a Blessing in Disguise

• Star Trek: Discovery Season 5 is the final outing for the crew that brought the universe back to television, and it's a mixed blessing.
• Season 5 will allow the crew of the USS Discovery to end their mission on a high note, leaving the door open for a return.
• Star Trek characters can return to their roles even decades after they're over, and Paramount is going through big changes right now.

After a dozen years away from television, Star Trek: Discovery brought Gene Roddenberry's universe back to television in 2017. Like every other new series before it, the show was met with suspicion and backlash from passionate fans averse to change. In 2024, Discovery is ending with Season 5, which is a blessing in disguise for Star Trek fans who love the universe and these specific characters. Ironically, Season 5 wasn't originally meant to be the last.

Paramount surprised Discovery's producers that Season 5 was the end . After learning this, production briefly resumed to shoot an epilogue that provides a better sense of closure for the crew of the USS Discovery. This means Discovery joins the likes of Star Trek: The Original Series and Star Trek: Enterprise in the club of series that ended early. Still, the fact it's getting an epilogue at all makes Discovery ending with Season 5 bittersweet. Additionally, an epilogue can do more than just properly conclude a series. It can also establish storylines for future spinoffs to pick up, effectively creating new opportunities for these beloved characters to return. After all, if there's one thing 60 years of Star Trek taught fans, it's that the end is almost never truly "the end."

Why Season 5 Ends Star Trek: Discovery on a High Note

Star trek: discovery's alex kurtzman & michelle paradise talk final season.

When the producers decided to bring back Star Trek , they took a page from Gene Roddenberry's approach to making TNG . When the Great Bird of the Galaxy was poised to bring back Star Trek for a new audience in the 1980s, he wanted The Next Generation to be different from The Original Series . This was the approach Bryan Fuller, Alex Kurtzman, their fellow producers and the rest of the crew took when setting up Star Trek: Discovery . The biggest difference came via the series' characters, who were deeply flawed Starfleet figures unlike the Star Trek heroes fans are used to meeting in their shows.

In Season 5, the crew of the USS Discovery feels much more like traditional Starfleet figures from the past. Yet, instead of meeting them fully-formed and already upstanding and idealistic, viewers got to watch this journey unfold over four seasons spread across two millennia. In promoting this season, those involved say Discovery's final season is pure fun and adventure . Had producers known this was their final season to tell stories with these characters in this way, they might have chosen a more "final" approach. If the season ends with the crew still together and Burnham still their captain, they can have countless more adventures in fans' imaginations, just like Kirk, Spock and McCoy.

Without getting into spoilers, Discovery Season 5 connects to Star Trek: TNG in a very profound way. The mystery they uncover is also one that can work best as an idea. The execution of how the galactic discovery brings everyone together is a risky proposition, so going out with this particular adventure feels fitting. Bittersweet though it may be, it's always preferable for a story and its characters to go out at the top of their game . If this is the last time Star Trek fans get to spend with the USS Discovery crew, it's a celebration, not a funeral. Yet, one thing that makes Star Trek unique is that it doesn't ever truly end.

Star Trek: Discovery Is Going to Go Away, but That Doesn't Mean It Can't Come Back

Star trek: discovery actors doug jones & david ajala prepare for their last adventure.

Very soon, Oscar-winner Michelle Yeoh will front the first Star Trek movie since 2016's Star Trek Beyond after the largest feature film drought since they started making them. This film -- which is for streaming only -- follows the blueprint that worked for Star Trek for so many years. Her character first debuted in Discovery , and the best Star Trek movies follow a TV series or character. Since Season 1, creatives at Paramount and Secret Hideout wanted to give Yeoh's Phillippa Georgiou her own story, first as a series and now a film. However, if Season 5 ends Discovery with fans wanting more, it makes it all the easier for them to come back .

It just makes sense for Michael Burnham to get a Star Trek movie , and to bring her ship and crew along with her. That a film isn't planned right away is perhaps a good thing, too. When The Next Generation ended, the cast and crew immediately went into production on Star Trek: Generations . They then followed up with three more films that -- to fans riding the height of the universe's second wave -- felt inevitable. On the other hand, The Original Series cast spent ten years away from their characters. While the show thrived in syndication and in animation, audiences desperately wanted more. They say absence makes the heart grow fonder, so a little absence from the characters in Star Trek: Discovery may be a good thing.

At the time of Star Trek's second wave, shows like Deep Space Nine , Voyager and Enterprise were given similar treatment to Discovery . Fans said it "wasn't Star Trek " and had countless other criticisms of how the producers were getting things "wrong." Yet, once those series ended, audiences rediscovered them on streaming and developed a new appreciation for them. As a complete series, more people who love Star Trek and even those who may not can follow these characters from their humble beginnings to the heights of Starfleet heroism . It's the perfect way to build an audience that will show up for an eventual movie.

Big Changes at Paramount Could Threaten Star Trek's Future

Star trek: discovery's sonequa martin-green embarks on one final voyage.

While Star Trek fans are naturally optimistic people, there's potentially bad news on the horizon for the universe. Of all the suitors, the merger between Paramount and Skydance Media is likely a good thing. Box office disappointments from Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves to Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning left the studio in financial trouble. Despite steadily growing subscriber numbers, Paramount+ is still not profitable . Once the "I's" are dotted and the "T's" crossed in whatever new deal comes their way, post-merger belt-tightening is a possibility. This means that Star Trek: Discovery may have still been canceled as a cost-saving measure while a season was in development or production.

Instead of getting an incomplete story, Season 5 of Discovery gives fans a fun, thrilling adventure with an epilogue that will give viewers some closure. While it's a little sad to see the USS Discovery crew go away just as they were coming into their "hero era," it would have been much worse to not see that because the series was canceled unceremoniously . There are more Star Trek series in production now than ever before in its 60-year history -- specifically shows that cast a wide net to catch as many new fans as possible. Yet, the real joy of Star Trek is diving into the completed series, and Discovery joins Picard as representatives of the modern era in the way the legacy shows are not.

The other good thing about Paramount merging with Skydance is the latter company is one that makes movies and shows. That may seem obvious, but other great studios have been taken over by reality-television types who see no distinction between art and content. Once the dust settles and their coffers are again full, they will be looking for new legacy projects to appeal to longtime Star Trek fans. While that might mean a Janeway series or some sort of Deep Space Nine sequel, it could also mean revisiting Discovery with specials, films or other appearances in shows like Starfleet Academy . Ending this particular series is just another way to open the door for these characters to explore new and dynamic storytelling. It's hard to say "goodbye" to a show or characters fans love, but with Star Trek it's always more like "see you soon."

Star Trek: Discovery debuts new episodes of its final season Thursdays on Paramount+ .

Star Trek: Discovery

Star Trek: Discovery follows Michael Burnham on her journay from a mutineer in the 23rd Century to Starfleet captain in the 32nd. With its one-of-a-kind spore drive, the USS Discovery is a ship unlike any other, with a crew to match.

Release Date September 24, 2017

Cast Oyin Oladejo, Emily Coutts, Anthony Rapp, Sonequa Martin-Green, Doug Jones, Mary Wiseman

Main Genre Sci-Fi

Genres Drama, Sci-Fi, Action, Adventure

Rating TV-14

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

More From Decider

Bill Maher Compares Nickelodeon To Neverland Ranch After Watching 'Quiet...

Woody Allen in Exile: 'Coup De Chance' Finally Arrives On Streaming, Where...

Donald Trump Once Invited 'The View's Joy Behar To Be On 'The Apprentice'...

'Bob Hearts Abishola's Billy Gardell Tells ‘Live’ About His Bariatric...

'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

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’ Says Goodbye to an Original Cast Member

Where to stream:.

• Star Trek: Discovery

Spoilers for  Star Trek: Discovery Season 3, Episode 10, “Terra Firma, Part 2” past this point.

Star Trek: Discovery hasn’t been a show big on goodbyes. We’ve seen villains like Lorca (Jason Isaacs) kick the bucket, and guest stars like Captain Pike (Anson Mount) and Spock (Ethan Peck) pop in for their one-season long arcs. Ash Tyler (Shazad Latif), a cast-member since Season 1, just sort of disappeared at the end of Season 2, after deciding not to accompany the crew of Discovery on their trip 930 years into the future. And Hugh Culber (Wilson Cruz) “died,” only to come back the next season.

So yeah, relatively perfunctory by modern dramatic TV standards. That is, until this week’s Discovery , which saw a big, blown-out, two-episode long goodbye tour for Michelle Yeoh’s Emperor Philippa Georgiou.

Georgiou has been important to the series since the first episode, the mentor to Sonequa Martin-Green’s Michael Burnham, and de facto mother figure. But as part of one of the many huge twists and swerves Discovery dropped during Season 1, the captain of the USS Shenzhou died at the end of the series’ second episode, “The Battle of the Binary Stars.” It was shocking not just because of the whiplash from establishing the  Shenzhou for two episodes, only to essentially repilot the series with the Discovery in Episode 3. It was also the absolute gall to kill off a living legend like Yeoh.

But that was all a set up to another twist. Just as Burnham was starting to feel at home on the Discovery , the crew was thrust into the evil Mirror Universe (later revealed to be the machinations of Lorca); a dimension whose Terran Empire was ruled mercilessly over by none other than… Philippa Georgiou. Naturally this led to a lot of soul searching from Burnham, and the ultimate decision to pull the Emperor out of the Mirror Universe, and into the regular  Star Trek universe.

This version of Georgiou is admittedly evil and vicious, but she also has a severe soft spot for Burnham. It’s something that’s been teased and discussed since Philippa 2.0 was introduced, but thanks to Mirror Burnham dying before Season 1, we never got to see what made that relationship tick. Enter the two-part “Terra Firma,” which thanks to a Guardian of Forever named Carl (Paul Guilfoyle) allowed Georgiou to reverse- It’s A Wonderful Life her time in the Mirror Universe in order to see what would have happened if she hadn’t executed her own Burnham.

Long story short, it doesn’t go very well. But in the process, this version of Georgiou learns that unlike her fellow Mirror Universe brethren, she has the ability to change. She isn’t good, necessarily, but as Carl explains: she’s trying to do better, and that’s important, too.

That doesn’t address the initial problem that drew Georgiou to Carl the Giant Rock Ring, though: due to the Mirror Universe and the regular universe drifting apart, she is being ripped into pieces at a molecular level. In order to save her, and because she has shown a willingness to change, Carl allows her to step through the rock ring and head to an unspecified time in the past when the two universes were closer together.

…And that’s a series wrap on Michelle Yeoh, but it definitely doesn’t mean she’s done with  Star Trek . After a lengthy goodbye from the crew, we don’t find out any further information on where Georgiou ended up (and a press rep for CBS All Access confirmed to Decider that this is, in fact, Michelle Yeoh’s final episode of Discovery ). It’s fair to speculate, though, that she’s heading directly into the long in development Section 31 series. First announced back in 2019, the  Star Trek franchise’s black ops unit played a big role in  Discovery Season 2, and Georgiou was a large part of that.

'Star Trek: Strange New Worlds' Renewed For Season 4 At Paramount+

Bill maher applauds william shatner for controversial 'star trek' interracial kiss, 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.

The question, then, is whether she’s headed back to Discovery ‘s old timeline, to go and pick up Ash Tyler (who was also part of Section 31)? Or could she potentially make her way over to Star Trek: Strange New Worlds , which is reportedly filming starting in February, before going over to the as-yet unnamed Section 31 show.

Or: given the time period wasn’t specified by Carl, she could being going somewhere else entirely. We’ve certainly seen enough of the pre- The Original Series timeline where Discovery (and Strange New Worlds ) is set, and the Next Generation time period, thanks to Voyager, Deep Space Nine and more. What if instead, Georgiou is plopped somewhere between the two? Or hey, maybe she could head to a third Star Trek universe (though that might defeat the point of making sure her molecules hold together by sending her somewhere safe).

Whatever is next for Georgiou, it won’t be on  Star Trek: Discovery . Terra firma!

Star Trek: Discovery streams Thursdays on CBS All Access.

Where to watch  Star Trek: Discovery

• CBS All Access

Does 'Yellowstone' Return Tonight? 'Yellowstone' Season 5, Part 2 Premiere Date, Kevin Costner Updates, And More

'Dune: Part Two' Comes to Digital, But When Will 'Dune 2' Stream on Max?

Are 'Chicago Med,' 'Chicago Fire' and 'Chicago P.D.' New Tonight? Here's When 'One Chicago' Returns to NBC With New Episodes

Is 'Grey's Anatomy' New Tonight? Here's When The Next Episode of 'Grey's Anatomy' Is On ABC And Hulu 

'Bob Hearts Abishola's Billy Gardell Tells ‘Live’ About His Bariatric Surgery and 170 Lb Weight Loss: "I Went From A Young Jackie Gleason To An Old Paul Newman"

Does Mariko Die in 'Shōgun'? Anna Sawai Explains the One Big Difference Between the Book and Episode 9 "Crimson Sky"

Hi, what are you looking for?

TREKNEWS.NET | Your daily dose of Star Trek news and opinion

New photos from Star Trek: Discovery Season 5 Episode 4 “Face the Strange”

Star Trek: Discovery “Under the Twin Moons” Review: Clues among the moons

New photos from the first two episodes of Star Trek: Discovery season 5

First Photo from Star Trek: Section 31 revealed, legacy character confirmed

New Star Trek: Discovery posters revealed ahead of final season premiere

Star Trek: Discovery “Face the Strange” Review: Embarking on a Temporal Odyssey

Star Trek: Discovery “Jinaal” Review: One step forward, two steps back

Star Trek: Picard — Firewall Review: The Renaissance of Seven of Nine

Star Trek: Discovery Season 5 premiere “Red Directive” Review: In Pursuit of Legacies

Strange New Worlds director Jordan Canning talks “Charades,” the versatility of the series & Star Trek fandom

‘Star Trek Online’ lead designer talks the game’s longevity, honoring the franchise, and seeing his work come to life in ‘Picard’

Gates McFadden talks Star Trek: Picard, reuniting with her TNG castmates, InvestiGates, and the Human Condition

Connor Trinneer and Dominic Keating talk ‘Enterprise’, their relationship with Star Trek in 2023 and their first live ‘Shuttlepod Show’

John Billingsley discusses what he’d want in a fifth season of Enterprise, playing Phlox and this weekend’s Trek Talks 2 event

57-Year Mission set to beam 160+ Star Trek guests down to Las Vegas

Veteran Star Trek director David Livingston looks back on his legendary career ahead of Trek Talks 2 event

ReedPop’s Star Trek: Mission Seattle convention has been cancelled

56-Year Mission Preview: More than 130 Star Trek guests set to beam down to Las Vegas convention

7 new photos from Star Trek: Discovery Season 5 Episode 3 “Jinaal”

2023: A banner year for Star Trek — here’s why [Op-Ed]

‘Making It So’ Review: Patrick Stewart’s journey from stage to starship

54-Disc Picard Legacy Collection, Star Trek: Picard Season 3, Complete Series Blu-ray box sets announced

Star Trek: Picard series finale “The Last Generation” Review: A perfect sendoff to an unforgettable crew

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds arrives on Blu-ray, 4K UHD and DVD this December

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds “Hegemony” Review: An underwhelming end to the series’ sophomore season

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 2 finale “Hegemony” preview + new photos

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds 209 “Subspace Rhapsody” Review: All systems stable… but why are we singing?

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds “Subspace Rhapsody” preview + new photos

Star Trek Day 2021 to Celebrate 55th Anniversary of the Franchise on September 8 with Live Panels and Reveals

Paramount+ Launches with 1-Month Free Trial, Streaming Every Star Trek Episode

Paramount+ to Officially Launch March 4, Taking Place of CBS All Access

STAR TREK: SHORT TREKS Season 2 Now Streaming For Free (in the U.S.)

[REVIEW] STAR TREK: SHORT TREKS “Children of Mars”: All Hands… Battle Stations

‘U.S.S. Cerritos Crew Handbook’ Review: A must-read Star Trek: Lower Decks fans

New photos from this week’s Star Trek: Lower Decks season 4 finale

Star Trek: Lower Decks “The Inner Fight” Review: Lost stars and hidden battles

New photos from this week’s episode of Star Trek: Lower Decks

Star Trek: Prodigy begins streaming December 25th on Netflix

Star Trek: Prodigy lands at Netflix, season 2 coming in 2024

Star Trek: Prodigy Season 2 sneak peek reveals the surprise return of a Voyager castmember

Star Trek: Prodigy canceled, first season to be removed from Paramount+

Revisiting “Star Trek: Legacies – Captain to Captain” Retro Review

The Wrath of Khan – The Making of the Classic Film Review: A gem for your Star Trek reference collection

The events of Star Trek: The Motion Picture to continue in new IDW miniseries “Echoes”

Star Trek: The Original Series “Harm’s Way” Book Review

William Shatner’s New Book ‘Boldly Go: Reflections on a Life of Awe and Wonder’ Review: More of a good thing

Star Trek: Infinite release date + details on Lower Decks­-themed pre-order bonuses

‘Star Trek: Infinite’ strategy game revealed, set to be released this fall

‘The Next Generation’ cast is back on the bridge of the Enterprise-D in new ‘Star Trek: Picard’ photo gallery

Hero Collector Revisits The Classics in New Starfleet Starships Essentials Collection

New Star Trek Docuseries ‘The Center Seat’ Announced, Coming This Fall

Star Trek Designing Starships: Deep Space Nine & Beyond Review: a Deep Dive Into Shuttlecraft of the Gamma Quadrant

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Illustrated Handbook Review: Terok Nor Deconstructed in Amazing Detail

Robert Beltran Is Officially Returning to Star Trek as Chakotay on ‘Prodigy’ + More Casting News

Robert Beltran Says He’s Returning to Star Trek in ‘Prodigy’

John Billingsley Talks Life Since Star Trek: Enterprise, Going to Space and Turning Down Lunch with Shatner and Nimoy

Star Trek: Enterprise Star John Billingsley Talks Charity Work, Upcoming TREK*Talks Event

Star Trek: Discovery Season 5 Episode 4 “Face the Strange”

Star Trek: Discovery takes a break from the hunt for the Progenitors’ tech to deliver audiences a competent, entertaining time travel episode that serves as a neat retrospective on this show and its characters.

The device Moll ( Eve Harlow ) left on Adira ( Blu del Barrio ) on Trill, which we assumed was a tracker of some sort, was actually far more lethal and debilitating. The spider-like device is a temporal weapon – a tool from the Temporal War that took place before Discovery ’s jump to the future – capable of freezing a ship in time. It’s the perfect instrument to let the criminal pair get the upper hand on Discovery . Luckily for Captain Michael Burnham ( Sonequa Martin-Green ) and Commander Rayner ( Callum Keith Rennie ), they are spared the time-freezing effects of the time bug because they both were transporting around the ship at the exact time the bug activated itself.

“I think they are too familiar, too comfortable with each other, and frankly, with you.” “That familiarity helped us save the Federation, the galaxy, and you.” – Rayner and Burnham, about Discovery ’s crew.

The command duo were in the middle of a heated discussion about how the commander should interact with Burnham’s crew, a lesson he started to wise up to in the last episode. After calling out a member of the bridge crew for what he thought was an unnecessary and ill-prepared comment about the chase for Moll and L’ak ( Elias Toufexis ), Rayner is taken to task by Burnham, who insists Rayner adopt a more personal, diplomatic tone with her crew. His half-hearted attempt to connect with his subordinates in the last episode just doesn’t cut it with Burnham, but before the pair can finish their conversation, all temporal hell breaks loose.

Burnham and Rayner find themselves traveling across the timeline, always landing in Burnham’s ready room but in a different year, and never for very long before the next jump. Burnham quickly realizes Paul Stamets ( Anthony Rapp ) should be able to help rectify the time issue, as he exists outside of time thanks to his tardigrade DNA. Ultimately, we see Burnham, Rayner, and Stamets visit events from Discovery ’s past and future, such as:

• The climactic battle with Control in the season two finale .
• The Discovery as it was under the command of Gabrial Lorca in season one.
• The Discovery as it was jumping to the 32nd century following the Red Angel.
• The ship as it was being constructed in drydock in San Francisco, a previously unseen part of the vessel’s history.
• Osyraa’s attack on Discovery , as seen in “ There is a Tide… ”
• A future where Moll’s time bug was successful in stopping Discovery ’s search for the Progenitors’ tech. The Federation was destroyed in this time, and the Discovery ’s crew was killed, which gives Burnham and Rayner a look at what the stakes are should they fail in restoring Discovery to the present. Zora ( Annabelle Wallis ), lonely on Discovery , helps her former captain predict the pattern of time jumps.
• Using the time bug as reasoning to jump across the timeline in this way is a neat excuse to revisit major moments from the show’s past.

“You have to be the only person in Starfleet to captain a ship that you first boarded as a prisoner. How’d you do it?” “Never give up.” – Rayner and Burnham.

Thirty-second-century Burnham encounters her first-season self on the Lorca-era Discovery, which offers the audience a neat illustration of how her character has changed across the five seasons. The younger Burnham is more hardened, aggressive, and a bit darker than the captain she would blossom to be, a transformation that isn’t lost on current-day Burnham.

Likewise, Stamets remembers how cranky and irritable he was back in season one – before the tardigrade DNA drastically improved his mien – and uses that to his advantage to help keep his mission to save the ship clear of any unwitting witnesses. He also reflects on this gradual shift toward a more collaborative approach with his crewmembers as the years went on, instead of trying to tackle all problems himself.

The solution to our heroes’ time-jumping escapades is to get Discovery to full warp, and then shut down the warp bubble – a plan concocted with no small amount of Star Trek ian technobabble. But that’s much easier said than done, as it would require the crew of season one-era Discovery to trust current-day Burnham’s plan; remember, the ship’s crew still knows Burnham as an untrustworthy mutineer. However, Burnham, ever the persuasive one, presents herself to the crew outright as a future version of the Burnham they know and uses her knowledge of these people to persuade them she is legit.

One of the people she has to convince to get on board with her plan is the human cyborg Airiam, the ill-fated science officer who heroically met her end in 2019’s “Project Daedalus.” Airiam is played here by Hannah Cheesman, who is reprising her role from Discovery’s earlier seasons. It’s a wonderful surprise seeing Airiam back on screen, and a reminder of how her death impacted Discovery’s crew, especially Burnham. Burnham must convince the lieutenant commander, who sits in the center chair while Lorca and Saru are away on a mission, to follow her plan. She does so by sharing the intimate details of the cyborg’s future death and asserts she died for the crew – a rationale Airiam believes.

With Discovery ’s bridge crew on board with Burnham’s warp bubble idea, it’s up to Rayner and Stamets in engineering to trigger the plan. But young Burnham and young Gen Rhys ( Patrick Kwok-Choon ) confront the pair, leaving the plan in a precarious place.

Rayner takes a page from his captain’s book and tries to connect with the younger, angrier Burnham, and uses intimate knowledge of Burnham’s backstory and motivations to dissuade the younger Burnham from stopping them. For good measure, Rayner also appeals to what he knows about Rhys – that the man’s favorite starship is the 23 rd -century Constitution -class, a sentiment with which Rayner agrees. Really, who doesn’t like the Constitution ’s ample curves?

With all obstacles cleared, the warp bubble plan is successful, and “Fear the Strange” smacks the ole’ reset button as Rayner and Burnham find themselves in Burnham’s ready room once again, safe and sound in the 32 nd century with no changes to the timeline. With a mere six hours lost due to the ship’s entrapment in the time field, the crew can continue their hunt for Moll and L’ak, who are nearby as they also search for the next clue in the Progenitor puzzle.

This episode was smart, and we appreciated the retrospective on Discovery ’s history – a welcome topic considering this is the last season of the show. Seeing the two Burnhams interact was a tour de force for Martin-Green, who has gradually and organically shifted away from her character’s markedly different season-one-era personality to the aspirational, emotionally intelligent, jack-of-all-trades captain we know and love. The message at the heart of Burnham’s experiences in the time bubble is striking: change, while hard, can be a driving force for good. Burnham turned herself into the change she wanted to see in the galaxy, and we have a renewed appreciation for her character arc after examining it in “Face the Strange.”

Revisiting season one-era Discovery was a nostalgic affair, and makes us want to go back and rewatch that long-ago adventure, an exciting time when Star Trek just came back to the small screen and the franchise was brimming with possibilities – possibilities that have since manifested in the current smorgasbord of television shows. Although we will ding one facet of Burnham’s journey to the past: it sure would have been killer if Jason Isaacs was able to reprise his role as the memorable villain Mirror Lorca. What a missed opportunity to bring back, however briefly, a key part of Discovery ’s initial success!

As it stands, “Face the Strange” is a much more entertaining entry in this season than its predecessor , and thanks to its retrospective nature, occasional hits of humor, solid sci-fi concept, and heartful message, make it one of the most memorable entries of this show in recent years. Kudos to writer Sean Cochran. We didn’t mind the break from the season’s overarching plot, nor did we mind the confined nature of this bottle show, as the result was a competent time-travel story that deserves a place near the top of the franchise’s best time travel-focused episodes.

Stray Thoughts:

• Writer Sean Cochran has five Star Trek credits to his name, including the memorable Short Trek “ Calypso ,” which “Face the Strange” ever so gently alludes to when Burnham and Rayner visit the crippled Discovery .
• It’s quite the bit of fortune that Stamets saw the time bug in engineering at all, let alone enter the panel behind which the bug would wreak temporal havoc.
• A 32 nd -century Breen ship makes an appearance in this episode, barely visible outside Discovery during Burnham and Rayner’s visit to the future. This is just one of a few references to the Breen in this season, which makes us think they will play a larger role at some point.
• Why does Burnham suggest to Stamets and Rayner that they meet on deck 13 after each reset? Is there something special about that deck that ensures the trio has privacy?
• This episode suggests Burnham still harbors strong feelings for Cleveland Booker ( David Ajala ), after having to pretend to be with him in one of her time jumps. Let’s see how awkward Burnham is around Book the next time she sees him.
• This episode shows how Moll and L’ak obtained the time bug device. They murdered a trader who used to sell poison to the Emerald Chain, which the organization then used on “people like” Moll.  They grabbed the bug from the trader and reasserted to themselves how they would soon be free from being chased.
• Why didn’t Airiam tell Burnham and Rhys to stand down from holding up Rayner and Stamets? We know Rayner needed an opportunity to connect with people but come on.

New episodes of Star Trek: Discovery stream Thursdays on Paramount+ , this season stars 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) and Callum Keith Rennie (Rayner). Season five also features recurring guest stars Elias Toufexis (L’ak) and Eve Harlow (Moll).

Stay tuned to TrekNews.net for all the latest news on Star Trek: Discovery , Star Trek: Prodigy , Star Trek: Strange New Worlds , Star Trek

Kyle Hadyniak has been a lifelong Star Trek fan, and isn't ashamed to admit that Star Trek V: The Final Frontier and Star Trek: Nemesis are his favorite Star Trek movies. You can follow Kyle on Twitter @khady93 .

April 18, 2024 at 8:56 pm

It was a great episode, but the idea of breaking the warp bubble to solve a temporal problem was already done on The Orville, in the episode “Twice in a Lifetime.”

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Trending Articles

Review: Star Trek: Picard – Firewall Seven of Nine, a heroine who has resurged in popularity thanks to Jeri Ryan’s return to the franchise...

An article celebrating the longevity of the Star Trek franchise has given us our first look at Michelle Yeoh’s upcoming Star Trek: Section 31...

Star Trek: Discovery Season 5 stumbles with “Jinaal” Discovery’s voyage to the ultimate treasure brings Captain Michael Burnham and her crew to Trill, where...

Star Trek: Discovery Season 5 trailer teases Burnham & crew’s final mission

With the launch of the final season of Star Trek: Discovery right around the corner, Paramount+ has released an official trailer for the series’...

"Star Trek: Discovery" makes a case for Michael Burnham as the last great Starfleet captain

Our "discovery" protagonist was never going to have it easy. the start of her last run solidifies her greatness, by melanie mcfarland.

Michael Burnham's " Star Trek " journey was destined to be among the franchise's toughest and most complex. Some of us knew this from the moment Sonequa Martin-Green was cast to play her, especially Black women who are sci-fi geeks. We have never been few, but until recently, we were far less visible than we are now.

To some, this visibility symbolizes everything that has supposedly gone wrong with this franchise and others. The reach of " Star Trek: Discovery " goes even further by assembling a truly inclusive cast that blew apart the original series' longstanding heteronormativity.

All this further angered culture war trolls and self-appointed arbiters of what is so-called "real" "Star Trek." These people have a vested interest in downvoting any such divergences from what has gone before.

Mainly it was — as it continues to be — the purists who wrote off "Discovery" as "not Trek" during  its first season in 2017 . Looking back from its final season — and from the perspective of Burnham's 900-year journey — we can say that despite how its thematic shading looked to us then , "Discovery" never abandoned Gene Roddenberry's optimism . It has simply evolved its interpretation.

In the first season, not even Burnham would believe this to hold true. A human raised on Vulcan by Spock's  father, Sarek, and as his sister, Burnham earns her first officer role through superior conduct and logic, divorcing herself from sentiment.

Burnham's smug sense of rectitude gets her superior officer killed. She is charged with mutiny, stripped of her rank and sentenced to life in prison.

From there, she stops a rogue galactic A.I. from annihilating the Federation and leaps nine centuries into the future (thereby largely freeing herself and the show from restrictive canon) to find a universe where Starfleet as it used to be is a dream, and the Federation and its ideals are broken.

"Discovery's" swansong season finds Burnham in the year 3191, with enough of the Federation's trust to take on a highly classified mission alongside Captain Rayner (Callum Keith Rennie), who has already earned the same commendations as Kirk and Picard. His reputation precedes him, in other words. Their quest relates to a Picard-era discovery that Starfleet fears can be used to eradicate all humanoid life in the universe.

"Discovery" never abandoned Gene Roddenberry's optimism. It has simply evolved its interpretation. 

Their success should place her on par with the greats, an honor that showrunner Michelle Paradise and the show's co-creator Alex Kurtzman have been driving toward all this time.

Some indicators of that goal aren't as obvious as others, like the sequence in which Rayner defies Burnham during an away mission, trusting in his overconfidence instead of her strategic acumen. His snap judgment endangers a planet's civilian population, leaving her to fix the crisis he has created.

Women watching this — especially Black women, I would wager — might have experienced a slight rage triggering in their soul that was mollified by Burnham pulling the very Obama-esque move of asking Rayner to replace her trusted friend Saru (Doug Jones) as her first officer. (The job was coming open, anyway; Saru is shifting into diplomacy mode and getting married.)

This is the move of a great leader. Then again, like Kate Mulgrew's long underappreciated Captain Janeway, it may not be appreciated by the fandom for many, many years.

Burnham's arc contradicts what we know about the great Starfleet captains profiled in this franchise, most of whom are white and male.

Burnham's arc contradicts what we know about the great Starfleet captains profiled in this franchise, most of whom are white and male, though if that were the extent of what differentiates her from the rest, it would barely be worth mentioning.

Records of their histories come to us as snippets of dialogue from secondary characters or contextualizing conversations from what the official logs have to say about past missions. We hear about who served under whom, granting legitimacy to the likes of, say, Christopher Pike to claim the captain's chair long before Anson Mount made us ecstatic to see that happen.

Burnham's path to the helm's command begins with what should be a life- and career-ending mistake. It's constantly defined by humility and doubt. No one is harder on Burnham than she is on herself — and nobody takes as many risks with their career or reputation to keep their crew alive. Her optimism is one guided by the hope that all obstacles can be overcome and all outcomes are possible, including for herself.

Despite all of this, it will take a lot of convincing for some people to consider Burnham among the top ranks of Starfleet captains in those occasional fan polls that tend to place Jean-Luc Picard or James T. Kirk in the top positions, though Captain Pike has offered stiff competition since "Strange New Worlds" first aired.

But our relatively newfound love of Pike and that show wouldn't be possible without "Discovery" venturing into the unmapped asteroid field that is the public's willingness to boldly go back to a dormant franchise in a wildly disunified era.

This doesn't merely refer to the role of "Discovery" introducing Mount's Pike, in addition to launching every other new "Trek" spinoff along with the streaming service currently known as Paramount+ . It did all this along with shouldering the more precarious mission of serving as the franchise's vanguard in a cynical age.

If you love "Lower Decks" and "Strange New Worlds," this is in part due to the producers' listening to the fandom's programming desires accordingly. Notice, for example, how unlike the first season of "Picard"  is from the third . Initially, "Picard" tried to do something different with the beloved character. It ended his adventures by reassembling the band for the spectacular last ride their films denied them. The new "Star Trek" series have a goal of delivering something for everyone, including kids. "Discovery" helped its custodians figure that out.

We need your help to stay independent

And if you love "Discovery," its devotion to showcasing those who long felt unseen in this franchise may kindle that affection. "Discovery" gave us an Asian woman as a Starship captain in Michelle Yeoh's Philippa Georgiou and a happily married duo to root for in Wilson Cruz's Dr. Hugh Culber in Anthony Rapp's Paul Stamets.

It introduced Tig Notaro in its second season as Jett Reno, a decision for which everyone should be grateful. The third gave us the franchise's first transgender and non-binary characters in Ian Alexander's Trill Gray and Blu del Barrio's Adira Tal.

Through it all, we have also entirely fallen for Mary Wiseman's Sylvia Tilly, a woman who also knew a few things about self-doubt and, therefore, values being understood.

What some would cite as humanizing traits, others might write off as maudlin, along with the fact that Burnham was able to experience a fully realized love affair that began with a partnership of equals with a courier named Booker (David Ajala).

Want a daily wrap-up of all the news and commentary Salon has to offer? Subscribe to our morning newsletter , Crash Course.

It's only one of the many ways that "Discovery" is consciously disparate from "Star Trek" as we have long known it, daring to change everything from the look of the Klingons to its star character's role in igniting a war between them and the United Federation of Planets.

That was then. Hundreds of years after that moment, Captain Burnham has figured herself out, proving to the many who doubted her that she deserves to be there.

She has traveled the longest road through imposter syndrome of any Starfleet captain — most of a millennium, actually — and we have witnessed every major moment that forged her. Burnham may never win the major "Star Trek" popularity contests for favorite captains, but without a doubt, she's the last great one we may ride with in this universe.

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

stories about "Star Trek"

• "Star Trek: Strange New Worlds" considers the weight of Khan's wrathful legacy
• How "Strange New Worlds" uses Rebecca Romijn's Number One to place prejudice on trial
• "Pike made jambalaya": How "Strange New Worlds" Captain Pike expresses care and diplomacy with food

Melanie McFarland is Salon's award-winning senior culture critic. Follow her on Twitter: @McTelevision

Related Topics ------------------------------------------

Related articles.

Screen Rant

Star trek may be returning to rick berman’s era in 1 big way.

The future of Star Trek programming looks set to return to a familiar 1990s pattern, focusing on fewer shows accompanied by scheduled movies.

• Alex Kurtzman's Star Trek era may be returning to a pattern resembling the 1990s Star Trek franchise executive produced by Rick Berman.
• Star Trek on Paramount+ looks to have two live-action shows and a movie every 2-3 years.
• This is similar to how Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and Voyager were on TV while The Next Generation released theatrical movies in the 1990s.

The modern Alex Kurtzman era of Star Trek seems to be set to follow a familiar programming pattern established by the show's former showrunner, Rick Berman . Changes in technology and the way audiences consume media have shifted the approach to creating and releasing Star Trek content. Throughout Star Trek' s history, control of the series and movies has changed hands multiple times, leading to variations in programming styles and episode lengths. The traditional seven-season runs with over 20 episodes each, as seen in the previous Star Trek series in the 1990s, are now less common due to budget constraints and evolving viewing habits.

Star Trek: Lower Decks and Star Trek: Discovery are set to end after their fifth seasons, in contrast to the longer runs of Rick Berman's Star Trek shows . From 1987 to 2005, Berman oversaw Star Trek: The Next Generation , Star Trek: Deep Space Nine , Star Trek: Voyager , and Star Trek: Enterprise , which expanded the Star Trek universe and created beloved characters and storylines. However, franchise fatigue and internal management issues ultimately led to Star Trek' s decline. Since taking over in 2017, Alex Kurtzman has brought a new vision to the franchise, with some of the newer Star Trek series sparking mixed reactions among fans but still marking a fresh chapter in the iconic show's legacy. Despite the changes resulting from Star Trek becoming a streaming franchise, recent developments suggest a return to the programming patterns established during Berman's tenure .

The Complete Star Trek Timeline Explained

Star trek on paramount plus may return to rick berman’s 1990s era, star trek: strange new worlds has been renewed for a fourth season, with season 3 due for release in 2025..

Star Trek: Discovery concluding with its fifth and final season and the recent announcement that Star Trek: Lower Decks will not be renewed after season 5 marks a departure from the recent trend of multiple concurrent Star Trek shows. The forthcoming Star Trek: Starfleet Academy series will continue the franchise’s modern storytelling approach under Alex Kurtzman’s guidance, exploring new perspectives within the Star Trek universe. With Star Trek: Prodigy having moved to Netflix, Paramount is poised to enter 2025 with a focus on only two live-action shows – Starfleet Academy and Star Trek: Strange New Worlds – and plans for TV movies every 2 years.

Star Trek: Section 31 , Paramount+'s first upcoming streaming movie, stars Michelle Yeoh as Emperor Philippa Georgiou from Star Trek: Discovery .

This schedule is a nostalgic nod to the successful formula of Star Trek ’s Rick Berman era in the 1990s , with Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and Star Trek: Voyager on television, with Star Trek: The Next Generation movies releasing every few years. This strategic shift not only harkens back to a proven business model, perhaps more sustainable for Paramount+ than multiple high-budget multiple-season series, but it also sets the stage for a successful new modern approach to the beloved Star Trek franchise by catering to both existing fans and potential new audiences seeking consistent content and ensuring a cohesive storytelling experience.

Why 5 Star Trek Shows At The Same Time Won’t Happen Again

Star trek: discovery & star trek: lower decks will air their final seasons in 2024.

The modern era of Star Trek has seen a resurgence with a plethora of new series and characters readily available to fans. However, the landscape of on-demand streaming is constantly evolving, reshaping how audiences interact with content as streaming services continuously adapt to meet viewer expectations. Paramount+ has positioned itself as the go-to platform for Star Trek content, but a focus on subscriptions over user experience has resulted in the temporary leasing of some Star Trek shows to other providers. The potential sale or merger of Paramount raises questions about the future of the platform and its commitment to long-term plans for established franchises like Star Trek .

Looking ahead, it seems unlikely that Paramount will invest in developing multiple simultaneous new Star Trek shows, opting instead to focus on quality over quantity. The emphasis will likely be on maintaining a smaller number of current shows, TV movies, and access to the extensive Star Trek back catalog . While the Star Trek franchise remains a valuable asset for Paramount, the days of having five Star Trek shows airing concurrently like in 2022 may be a thing of the past. Although Star Trek is secure in its place at Paramount , the focus seems to have shifted towards financial considerations rather than expanding the franchise with multiple new shows.

All Star Trek shows (except Prodigy) are available to stream on Paramount+.

Star Trek: Starfleet Academy

Star trek: strange new worlds, star trek: voyager, star trek: deep space nine.

Den of Geek

Discovery Season 5 Episode 4 Easter Eggs Dig Up Classic Star Trek Time Travel Canon

From the moment the titular starship was built, to at least one possible future, Burnham has gone back to the past of the future. Again. Here are this week's best Star Trek: Discovery easter eggs!

• Share on Facebook (opens in a new tab)
• Share on Twitter (opens in a new tab)
• Share on Linkedin (opens in a new tab)
• Share on email (opens in a new tab)

This Star Trek: Discovery article contains spoilers.

In terms of individual episodes, Star Trek: Discovery does not hold any kind of Star Trek record for more time travel stories. But, it’s also the Trek series in which time travel is the most integral to the stories, characters, and themes. In season 1, Trek canon introduced “time crystals” and by season 2, the entire crew became unstuck in time forever.

Now, in the fourth episode of its final season, Discovery is revisiting some of its timey-wimey themes, with a time loop-ish episode centered on Captain Burnham and our new favorite grouchy first officer, Commander Rayner. And, throughout this surprisingly tender episode, Discovery drops some very deep cut references not only to its own history but the larger Trek tapestry as well. Here are the biggest, and coolest easter eggs in “Face the Strange.”  

The Red Angel

Right away, just before the opening credits, Burnham and Rayner find themselves on a damaged version of Discovery stuck in a wormhole. Burnham points out the person in the space suit, flying ahead of them is “the Red Angel,” which was also her. This reveals a moment in between the season 2 finale “Such Sweet Sorrow Part 2” and the season 3 premiere, “That Hope Is You, Part 1.” So, while this is a flashback for Burnham, it’s also, technically, something we never saw in the timeline of the show. And, as the time jumps continue throughout the episode, this becomes a running theme: A jump to a familiar time, but not into an exact episode moment from the past.

Ad – content continues below

San Francisco Fleet Yards

When Burnham and Rayner find themselves looking out the window and seeing the Golden Gate Bridge, Burnham says “we’re in drydock.” This means they’re standing in the ship before the ship was even launched. Whether they’re standing in a completed version of Discovery, or just part of the ship is unclear. A huge portion of Trek starships were built in the “San Francisco Fleet Yards,” though generally, that’s considered to be an orbital facility. That said, the Trek 2009 reboot movie floated the idea that some parts of starships could be built on the ground. It would appear that this was the case with Discovery, too, since the ready room at this moment is incomplete. 

The USS Discovery was first launched sometime in 2256, so this moment has to be during that year or earlier. In terms of the ship’s timeline, this is the earliest moment in history we’ve glimpsed for the USS Discovery.

Battle with Control

Rayner and Burnham soon jump back to a similar moment in time that they visited before — the battle with Control. This references the events of the season 2 finale again, “Such Sweet Sorrow Part 2,” in which the Discovery and the Enterprise joined forces to fight off the Section 31 fleet that had been possessed by the AI known as Control. This moment was also the same moment that sparked the events of the very first episode of Strange New Worlds , since these events were glimpsed by a neighboring, pre-warp planet.

The Time Bug

Rayner realizes that the reason he and Burnham are cycling through time is because of a weapon called a “Time Bug.” Rayner says it’s also called a “Krenim chronophage,” which references the alien species the Krenim from the famous Voyager two-parter “Year of Hell.” In that episode, the Krenim were using a temporal weapon to wipe out entire planets from the timeline. Rayner also mentions that the “time bugs” are “left over from the temporal war.” This references Star Trek: Enterprise , and the temporal war waged by Daniels and others. Most people aware of the temporal war were from the 30th century, about two hundred years before the events of Discovery Season 3.

Stamets’ Tardigrade DNA

Burnham knows that Stamets will also be aware of the time shifts because “he lives outside of time because of his Tardigrade DNA.” This references Discovery season 1, specifically the episodes “Choose Your Pain” and “Magic to Make the Sanest Man Go Mad.” In “Choose Your Pain,” Stamets injects himself with Tardigrade DNA after he and Burnham realize that using their own overgrown Tardigrade, named “Ripper,” to navigate the Spore jumps is killing the creature. In “Magic to Make the Sanest Man Go Mad,” Burnham is stuck in a different time loop, and only Stamets is aware that it’s happening.

Reno’s Vesper Martini

During the next jump, Rayner and Burnham are on Discovery during the moment that Osyraa attacks the ship. This references the season 3 finale “That Hope Is You, Part 2,” in which the crew had to fight Emerald Chain forces to take back the ship. Reno is fighting off a few baddies, and Rayner has to pretend like he’s a crewmember from a different ship. Reno asks him to buy her a “vesper martini, ice cold” when everything is back to normal. A Vesper martini was popularized by Ian Fleming in 1953, in the first James Bond novel Casino Royale . 

Based on a recipe suggested to him by his friend Ivar Bryce, in the novel, the drink was named for Vesper Lynd, Bond’s famous paramore in the book and the 2006 film of the same name. Interestingly, in real life, a true 1950s Vesper is hard to make because the ingredient of Kina Lillet went out of production in the 1980s. Generally, bartenders today use substitutes like Lillet Blanc in its place, but, because of replicator technology in Star Trek , it’s very possible that Reno’s Vesper martini is more accurate to Fleming’s than anything we can drink today.

Get the best of Den of Geek delivered right to your inbox!

Zora and the Future

When Burnham and Rayner jump 30 years into a possible future, they find the ship abandoned and Zora, the ship’s friendly AI, playing music for herself. Zora mentions that she thinks seeing Captain Burnham again is “another dream.” This isn’t the first time we’ve seen a possible future in which Zora is running the ship alone, listening to old music. In the 2018 Short Treks episode “Calypso,” a man called Craft boards a version of the Discovery in the distant future, even beyond the 32nd century setting we’ve seen in the show recently. This was the first episode that revealed Zora’s evolution, and whether or not it’s still the real destiny of the ship remains to be seen.

Warp Bubble’s Purpose

When Rayner, Stamets, and Burnham decide to break the ship’s warp bubble to stop the time bug, Burnham mentions that the warp bubble “is what protects us from the effects of relativity.” This very neatly explains that warp speed in Star Trek , is, in a sense, a form of time travel, since traveling faster than the speed of light, bends the regular way time is experienced. In the first 1964 Original Series pilot “The Cage,” Enterprise navigator Tyler even says “the time barrier has been broken,” and Captain Pike refers to warp factors as “time warp factors.” Everything in Star Trek is kinda time travel, but the warp bubble prevents it from getting too confusing.

Burnham vs. Burnham in Early Season 1

The final stop in the time jumps puts everyone back to a very, very early point in season 1. Here, Lorca is still in command of the ship, but on an “away” mission with Saru and Landry.” Because Landry is still alive, we’re directly between the events of “Context is For Kings” and “The Butcher’s Knife Cares Not for the Lamb’s Cry.” This is why the Burnham from this timeline is still known as “Specialist Burnham,” and why most of the crew hates her. From their point of view, she’s a mutineer, who only recently was allowed back in uniform.

When Burnham has to fight herself, we see Sonequa Martin-Green revert back to a version of her season 1 hairstyle, a fact which Tilly comments on when seeing the future Burnham. During the Burnham-on-Burnham fight, both employ the Vulcan martial art Suus Mahna, which originated in the series Enterprise . However, we saw Burnham and Sarek fight using Suus Mahna in the Discovery season 1 episode “Lethe,” and it’s been a staple of Burnham’s defensive style ever since.

And in the ultimate callback to her upbringing on Vulcan — and to the beginning of Discovery itself — Burnham uses the Vulcan nerve pinch on her younger self. Interestingly, the nerve pinch was invented by Leonard Nimoy for the TOS episode “The Enemy Within.” And, just like in that episode, the nerve pinch was used on a duplicate of the captain; in that case, on the “evil” Captain Kirk. 

Burnham using the nerve pinch is also the action that got her busted in the first place. Back in “The Vulcan Hello,” she used it on Captain Georgiou (Michelle Yeoh) which put her on the path that resulted in the entire story of Star Trek: Discovery . The Vulcan nerve pinch might be a small Trekkie plot device, but its impact is clearly bigger than a little tap on the shoulder.

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

• The Original Series
• The Animated Series
• The Next Generation
• Deep Space Nine
• Strange New Worlds
• Lower Decks
• Star Trek Movies
• TrekCore on Twitter
• TrekCore on Facebook

Or, they try to. And okay, it turns out the gratuitous beaming was for good reason, story-wise, because in the instant that the pair attempt to beam back to the bridge, Discovery plunges through time, and only their mid-transport timing protects them from the ship’s time-hopping. Everyone else aboard Discovery is experiencing “regular” time travel, as it were, unaware of their movement and remaining “of the time” they jump to.

Everyone, that is, except for Paul Stamets (Anthony Rapp), who thanks to his tardigrade DNA infusion all the way back in Season 1, the scientist is bouncing through time like the rest of the crew — but he’s mentally aware of the jumping remains “himself” like Burnham and Rayner.

Like “Magic to Make the Sanest Man Go Mad,” this is another episode about time shenanigans centering on Stamets and Burnham (and now also Rayner), but it doesn’t feel like a repeat of the same story so much as a deliberate permutation on a theme. Discovery , the show, is revisiting its past just the same way Burnham revisits her past self here; in both cases, the future versions have grown and changed in ways their past selves could never have imagined.

Who could have guessed, watching the series’ seventh episode, that original showrunner and creator Bryan Fuller would leave after just one season and a majority of the show would end up taking place in 32nd century? Not me, that’s for sure.

(As a side note, I was hoping one of the pasts they visited would be the “Magic” situation, just because come on, who doesn’t want to see what a time loop within a time loop looks like?)

It takes them all a few time jumps to figure out what’s going on, and a few more after that for all three of them to rendezvous. The second jump takes them back to Discovery mid-construction, sitting in dry dock at the San Francisco Fleet Yards, the Golden Gate Bridge framed nicely in a missing bulkhead section. (Both Star Trek and The Room have one rule: If you’re in San Francisco, the Golden Gate Bridge must be visible at all times!)

Next jump is to the Season 2-ending battle with Control, and finally with three jumps there’s enough of a pattern visible for Rayner to identify what’s going on and what, exactly, is causing it. First, each time they jump Burnham and Rayner always return to the ready room – the place where they beamed themselves out of time — and second, that little mechanical spider that’s been crawling around the ship since it first detached itself from Adira’s uniform is a Krenim chronophage (yes, those Krenim ) left over from more lawless times  when paralyzing a ship by having it randomly cycle through time was a thing that apparently people did.

After a few more jumps, including one where a past version of Jett Reno (Tig Notaro) happens to save Rayner’s hide, he and Burnham land on an empty, dusty Discovery , abandoned by everyone except the one person who can’t leave: Zora (Annabelle Wallace). Listening to “Que Sera, Sera” and convinced that she’s dreaming, Zora explains that in this future, Discovery remained stuck in its time paralysis long enough for the Breen to get their hands on the Progenitor’s technology.

It’s a bleak future to visit, but it’s also very fortuitous that they did, because Zora is able to quickly do the math necessary for Stamets — who they finally meet up with in the next time jump –to figure out how to get them out of this. Just build a chroniton stabilizer and squish the bug with it, easy peasy!

And all Burnham has to do is get a component for it from her quarters without being seen. Not so easy as it turns out, as she runs into Book (David Ajala) who is very much in love with Burnham during this time period — and keen to show it. And she, as we all probably suspected, is still very much in love with him and gives herself a brief moment to indulge in that fact.

In their final final jump — this time to early in Lorca’s captaincy — Burnham runs into her much angrier and more jaded younger self; a Michael Burnham who is so barely out of prison that she still doesn’t even have a combadge and who flat-out does not believe this woman in a strange red uniform who claims to be her. Why? Because there’s no way anyone would ever make Michael Burnham a captain .

After a fight in a thankfully empty corridor, our Burnham ends up victorious and heads to the bridge… where she needs to convince everyone that they should listen to her and do something you never really want to do with a warp engine going at maximum speed: intentionally break the warp bubble and slam yourself back into the effects of general relativity.

Flashbacks are a tried and true way for shows to bring back departed characters, so the choice to include Airiam (Hanna Spear) on the bridge makes sense and is nice for audience members who miss her. What doesn’t really make a whole lot of sense to me is how her presence is used (which is a bit of an unfortunate parallel to her death for me – or at least the impact it was supposed to have).

Burnham knows she needs to convince the crew that she really is herself and that she really is from the future, but instead of, I don’t know, showing them her combadge which is full of 32nd century bells and whistles and exotic alloys that haven’t been invented yet she… convinces Airiam that they know each other because Burnham knows Airiam would sacrifice her life to save the ship? Then someone blurts out a “No she wouldn’t!” like that’s not the first thing any appropriately heroic Starfleet officer would do?

This scene is the one fumble in an otherwise great episode. Two minutes after this weird “I know you and here’s a generic hypothetical that applies to most people in Starfleet to prove it,” Airiam sees Burnham’s fancy holographic combadge and openly gawks at it. See, easily convinced! That would have worked and it wouldn’t have required the show to reexamine the hollowness of Airiam’s death without correcting its mistake.

The fact that Burnham doesn’t have anything better or more personal to say to or about Airiam except “You died, sorry that happened,” underscores just how undeveloped she was as a character. Why bring that up again? But hey, Burnham’s tactic works, and I suppose that’s what really matters here.

Meanwhile, past-Burnham and her era’s Rhys (Patrick Kwok-Choon) show up in engineering, phasers drawn, to try and stop Stamets and this weird guy they’ve never seen before from doing whatever it is that they’re trying to do to the ship. Rayner, solidifying himself as a solid gold example of a favorite character trope of mine — Grumpy Guy who’s a Secret Softie — defuses the situation by being brave as hell (he walks right into Burnham’s drawn phaser) but also emotionally astute.

He doesn’t just tell Burnham personal facts he couldn’t have known if he were really a stranger, he tells her with conviction that she really does deserve to be here on Discovery…  something that sinks to the core of who she is and what she’s battling in this moment in time.

The plan succeeds: the time bug is proverbially squished, and Discovery and her crew are all right back where they belong, minus the six hours they lost during all the jumping. Unfortunately, those six hours were long enough for Moll and L’ak to catch up with them and leave again. Did they find anything, or did they get sick of looking at seemingly empty space and leave? We don’t know yet, so tune in next week.

Which brings us to the beginning of “Face the Strange” — see, I can jump through time too! — when we see Moll (Eve Harlow) and L’ak (Elias Toufexis) acquiring the bug in the first place. While the Progenitors’ technology is enormous in its power and implications and Moll and L’ak are willing to do just about anything to find it, their motivations seem strictly personal.

Sure, if the way Moll takes revenge on the guy who sells her the chronophage is any indication, they’ll get some personal satisfaction out of seeing the Federation burn, but more than anything they’re in it for their freedom. Freedom from someone or something, certainly – though who or what we still don’t know – but, given the themes in “Face the Strange”, I’d guess freedom from their pasts might be the real goal.

OBSERVATION LOUNGE

• “Face the Strange” is a reference to the David Bowie classic “Changes.”
• This episode is a spiritual sequel to Star Trek: Voyager’s “Shattered,” a similar final-season tale which saw Chakotay bouncing through different eras of Voyager adventures.
• Discovery’s time jumps include visits to the ship’s transit through the Red Angel wormhole (leading to the ship’s crash-landing in “Far From Home” ), a time when the starship was under construction in the San Francisco Fleet Yards, the battle with Control ( “Such Sweet Sorrow, Part 2” ), Stardate 865422.4 (during Osyyra’s takover in “There Is A Tide…” ), an unknown date nearly 30 years into the future, a period in early Season 2 (shortly after Jett Reno’s rescue in “Brother” ), a point ahead of the Season 4 premiere after Burnham was promoted to captai), and the encounter with past-Burnham which takes place just ahead of “The Butcher’s Knife Cares Not for the Lamb’s Cry” (denoted by the reference to a still-alive Ellen Landry ).

• Retrofit into corridor after Season 2’s set updates, the passage to the left-rear of Discovery’s command chair returns to its Season 1 “blue blinkies” configuration.
• Captain Pike’s broken wood-and-glass conference table returns to the ready room set during the first time jump, a good touch from the set decoration department.
• We’ve seen the San Francisco bay many times in Star Trek history… so just where in the heck was Discovery’s dry dock located?
• A Krenim chronophage — or “time bug” — snared Discovery in a time bubble, from the species behind Star Trek: Voyager’s “Year of Hell.”
• Season 3-era Reno’s drink of choice is a Vesper martini, served ice cold — and she tells Rayner that he can buy her a drink “at Red’s,” the onboard bar and lounge set added to Discovery during its 32nd century upgrades (though not introduced until Season 4).
• While the ready room set was not built for Discovery until Season 2, the second time jump confirms the room existed as part of the ship’s original construction… but in a continuity goof, the 32nd century version of the Starfleet emblem remains on the Discovery ready room floor in each different time period, instead of the old version seen in Seasons 1 and 2.

• Burnham gives a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it nostalgic smile when Stamets hands her a 23rd century Starfleet communicator, retired after the crew upgraded to 32nd tricombadges in Season 3’s “Scavengers.”
• Saurian officer Linus (David Benjamin Tomlinson) appears in the Season 1 time period, indicating he boarded Discovery long before his first actual appearance in Season 2’s “Brothers.”
• Former Discovery cast members Hannah Cheesman and Ronnie Rowe, Jr. return as Airiam and Bryce, Julianne Grossman returns as the original voice of Discovery’s computer. (While Cheesman portrayed Airiam in Season 2, the role was actually portrayed by Sara Mitich in Discovery’s first season.)
• I forgot just how much Airiam moves like C-3PO. Might have toned down that arm placement there in that wide shot if it were me, yikes.
• Discovery’s viewscreen may be an open window to space, but it features blast doors which can be closed as necessary.
• The future time period Burnham and Rayner visit is reminiscent of the alternate future setting in “Calypso,” where Zora and Discovery sat abandoned for nearly 1000 years. Zora even believes she’s having “another dream” when the officers arrive, perhaps hinting that the events of “Calypso” may have been one of Zora’s dreams — as the “Zora-point-of-view” shots mirror moments from that  Short Trek  tale.

• This episode marks the first time we’ve seen Discovery’s original hull and nacelle configuration since its big 32nd century upgrade in “Scavengers.”
• Even living “outside of time,” it’s curious that Stamets can jump back to a time period before his tardigrade DNA injection occurred.
• Stamets’ tactics for clearing engineering get less and less sophisticated as the episode proceeds — going from making up specific problems with the spore drive containment field to just shouting “I’m grumpy!” It works.
• “Hey Paul, let’s show ‘em how a couple of old dogs still know the best tricks!” Whoever gave Rayner a used copy of a dictionary of idioms from 1962, I thank you for your service.
• Rayner’s hand gets the “Timescape” treatment, aging uncomfortably fast while he squashes the time bug — though thankfully avoiding those awful long fingernails.
• Rayner surmises that Burnham must be the first person in Starfleet to captain a ship she first boarded as a prisoner. He’s probably right, but if we allow for a few technicalities I’d put Seven of Nine in that rare club as well: she’s imprisoned very quickly after boarding Voyager , and while she doesn’t hold a Starfleet rank at the time, she does command that vessel for over a month during the events of “One”.

Even with all the time jumping and the temporal-relativity-heavy plot, “Face the Strange” is a straightforward hour of television that confidently knows exactly what it wants to do – both in terms of the story and the characters. There are almost no extraneous moments, but the episode doesn’t feel rushed or overly full. The pacing is great: quick enough that we get to jump through a lot of different time periods, but relaxed enough that there’s room for smaller moments of comedy and character work.

The pacing and placement of the more emotional moments is especially effective, with characters examining and confronting their past and present selves in a way that’s emotionally resonant but also truly moves the story forward both at the episode and season levels.

A frequent frustration I have with Discovery is that the emotional beats and plot beats feel like they’re competing with each other for the same space, but with “Face the Strange” it feels like the show has finally figured out a way to have them work together and compliment one another.

Star Trek: Discovery Season 5 returns with “Mirrors” on Thursday, April 25.

• DSC Season 5
• Face the Strange
• Star Trek: Discovery

Related Stories

Interview — sonequa martin-green on burnham’s “face the strange” encounter, star trek: discovery review — “jinaal”, new star trek: discovery photos — “jinaal”, search news archives, new & upcoming releases, featured stories, lost-for-decades original star trek uss enterprise model returned to roddenberry family, star trek: lower decks cancelled; strange new worlds renewed for season 4, our star trek: discovery season 5 spoiler-free review.

TrekCore.com is not endorsed, sponsored or affiliated with Paramount, CBS Studios, or the Star Trek franchise. All Star Trek images, trademarks and logos are owned by CBS Studios Inc. and/or Paramount. All original TrekCore.com content and the WeeklyTrek podcast (c) 2024 Trapezoid Media, LLC. · Terms & Conditions