Exploring the Stars
I was extremely hesitant about Discovery when it was announced. Star Trek was a core pillar of my childhood that I didn’t want tampered with. I was worried what this new series would be like. I’d heard it was set pre-OS, which set alarm bells off in my head because, well, let’s face it, Enterprise was mostly a hot mess. The trailers didn’t convince because they looked so different from what I expected of Star Trek. I wasn’t excited for Discovery and at first I didn’t watch it.
Star Trek’s ideals helped form me. The idea of ‘boldly going’ to unknown places in the stars was exactly what inspired 16 year old me to study astronomy. Stories of strange planets, weird space phenomena, and intriguing alien lifeforms were exactly what drew me to studying the vast expanse beyond Earth. Of course, most of astronomy is not like Star Trek at all, but the driving force to explore is still there at the core of both. So, if I had to blame something for my astronomy degree, I’d blame Star Trek.
I was extremely hesitant about Discovery when it was announced. Star Trek was a core pillar of my childhood that I didn’t want tampered with. I was worried what this new series would be like. I’d heard it was set pre-OS, which set alarm bells off in my head because, well, let’s face it, Enterprise was mostly a hot mess. The trailers didn’t convince because they looked so different from what I expected of Star Trek. I wasn’t excited for Discovery and at first I didn’t watch it.
Then, despite my hesitance, I actually watched Discovery. I loved it. The show holds true to the heart of Star Trek. It managed to introduce new material without distorting previous canon, enriching the world of Star Trek. Discovery also has a cast of characters I adore and, after the first two seasons, I was certain I could not love the show more. What I fool I was!
All rights to CBS. Image found at https://www.cbs.com/shows/star-trek-discovery/about/
A Season of Exploration
Season 3 of Discovery was brilliant from the start. The Star Trek world redesigned for a far future century was breathtaking. The technology of a new time built upon previous Star Trek staples in a logical manner and the design of new interfaces and gadgets was coherent and pleasing. I love the sets of this new age of Star Trek, with their mix of clean, futuristic white locations and dark, almost diesel-punk scenes. I particularly enjoyed marketplace of episode one, with it’s combination of high-tech and seedy-ness, the saloon like set on episode two, and the federation headquarters from the later episodes. The design of Book’s ship, both on the outside and interior, was great as well, particularly since some much of Star Trek takes place on massive ships, built to be home to numerous crew members. To see such a small ship was an interesting change.
“The world of Star Trek Discovery in the latest season felt new and familiar all at once and I can’t wait to explore it further next season.”
Micheal’s introduction to this new universe was exciting, sometimes funny, and sometimes heartbreaking. The mystery of where was Discovery in the first episode left me on the edge of my seat and the fate of the federation seemed more unclear than ever. The show portrayed the fall of an empire, destroyed by the Burn, which I find to be compelling. The world of Star Trek Discovery in the latest season felt new and familiar all at once and I can’t wait to explore it further next season.
True Character
What truly made season 3 a masterpiece, though, was the characters. Micheal, always a great protagonist, is even better, changed by her time in the future. She makes mistakes and wrong turns, but through it all I felt like she’d come into her own. Michael seems to fit better here, far in the future, than she did back in her native time. Tilly had so many amazing moments and isn’t stunning to compare who she is now to who she was back in season 1. Character development is a wonderful thing. Tilly proved herself to be a good leader and I we’ll get to see more of that in the future. Saru sort of backslid over the season and I was confused about why he was suddenly less talented at leading the crew, but in the end of the season I understood their direction a bit more. The bridge still had stars, though, as the crew got more time in the limelight and each excelled in turn, particularly in the last couple episodes. Detmer did some great flying, Owosekun was talented as always, and the crew’s teamwork kicks some serious ass in the final episodes of the season. Season 3’s new characters took the cake, though.
Book’s got depths we’ve only begun to see. I always like a character on who’s willing to bend a few laws to do what’s right and Book is a particularly good example of that archetype. I’d love to know more of what happen in the time between Michael’s and Discovery’s arrivals in the future, because Michael clearly knows more about Book and the workings of the new century than the audience ever got to see. Their references to past shared adventures makes me hope for future media to flesh out those tidbits. With Book, of course, comes Grudge. Or maybe I should say the opposite since Grudge is a queen. Grudge scenes never failed to make me smile.
This season’s opposing leaders had some great scenes together. I look forward to seeing what Admiral Vance is doing next season.
Image belongs to CBS. Image found at TrekMovie.com.
The two new leaders introduced were both fascinating new characters. Osyraa ticked all the boxes for a good villain: Ruthless, moral grayness, clever, and powerful. Even with her meeting her demise, I’d bet fragments of the Chain will carrying on her legacy in the coming season. Osyraa has left a mark on the Federation’s future. On the side of the Federation, we have Admiral Vance, who I think showed his best qualities when facing Osyraa. He’s a cautious leader and, while I was initially suspicious of the Federation of the new era, I think he genuinely means well. (Watch him be revealed as a secret conspirator in some evil plot now that I’ve said that.) I hope we get to see more of the Federation’s leadership, including Admiral Vance, between what diplomatic missions Discovery has to rebuild the Federation in season 4.
“I don’t think I could be more the target audience of Adira’s story if I tried.”
Of all of the awesome characters introduced in season 3, Adira Tal was the life-changer for me. I don’t think I could be more the target audience of Adira’s story if I tried. A too smart, 16 year old kid, who doesn’t feel like a ‘she’, in over their head and trying to be an adult about it? I fit that description not long ago, when I was starting college as a high school drop out, two years early. I was determined to study some stars and prove anyone who underestimated me wrong. Adira’s story spoke to me. You ever watch a scene and feel that prickle on your skin like eyes are watching you because you see so much of yourself on screen? It’s uncomfortable and cathartic and consoling all at once. I felt that a lot watching Discovery Season 3. All of the scenes with Adira, Gray, Paul, and Hugh, hit me hard. There’s nothing I could write to explain how I adore these characters, but I’m sure I’ll have a whole post about it in the future.
I could say a whole lot more (there’s a bunch I love about this season I haven’t even mentioned), but the short version is I love Star Trek Discovery. Expect this blog to have many entries on this show. If you haven’t watched it, you should. Discovery holds a special place in my heart not just because it is Star Trek, but because it dares explore the Star Trek universe and tell new stories. Season 3 takes this even exploration further than previous seasons and that’s what makes it shine.