Star Trek Discovery
The show that brought Trek back to television. For all of its creative writing, wonderful cast, and imaginative storytelling, Star Trek Discovery couldn’t win over audiences. Starring the amazing Sonequa Martin-Geeen as Commander, later Captain, Michael Burnham, Star Trek Discovery was set in between Star Trek: Enterprise and Star Trek The Original Series, Discovery was, for all intents and purposes, a way to “revamp” Trek without retconning it as the J.J. Abrams movies did. Fans did not seem to react positively to the numerous changes and apparent inaccuracies in the show, and it didn’t gain the following later shows would. However, we did get an amazing performance by Anson Mount as Captain Pike in Season 2, which, with many fans’ input, brought us the Pike-led Star Trek Strange New Worlds. Disco had a lot of things going for and against it, and it seems people reacted more towards its cons than its pros, and sadly, its fifth season will be its last.
According to www.startrek.com, “The fifth and final season of Star Trek: Discovery, premiering in 2024, will find Captain Burnham and the crew of the U.S.S. Discovery uncovering a mystery that will send them on an epic adventure across the galaxy to find an ancient power whose very existence has been deliberately hidden for centuries. But there are others on the hunt as well… dangerous foes who are desperate to claim the prize for themselves and will stop at nothing to get it.”
Star Trek Lower Decks
The animated Trek, most of us didn’t know we needed and don’t ever want to end. Like many others, Star Trek: Lower Decks took me by surprise. I was expecting a 24-minute animated sitcom, basically The Office in Space, and while that is technically an apt description of the show, it doesn’t do it an iota of justice. Every episode, including the fantastic crossover episode with the live-action Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, is filled to the absolute brim with easter eggs and nods to previous entries in the series. The writing is, in my opinion, some of the best in the entire franchise.
Season Three of Lower Decks ended with the introduction of a new character to the group: Provisional Ensign T’Lyn, a Vulcan that was recently transferred to the U.S.S. Cerritos. According to www.startrek.com, “In Season 4 of Star Trek: Lower Decks, an unknown force is destroying starships and threatening galactic peace. Luckily, the crew of the U.S.S. Cerritos isn’t important enough for stuff like that! Instead, Ensigns Mariner, Boimler, Tendi, Rutherford, and Provisional Ensign T’Lyn are keeping up with their Starfleet duties, avoiding malevolent computers and getting stuck in a couple of caves – all while encountering new and classic aliens along the way.” Personally, I’m very excited about the continuing missions of the Cerritos and her crew!
Star Trek Strange New Worlds
We finally come to the flagship series of the new Era of Star Trek! Strange New Worlds picks up the story of Captain Pike and the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise shortly after the second season finale of Star Trek Discovery. Set roughly ten years before the events of Star Trek The Original Series, S.N.W. shows us how certain Starfleet officers got as far in their respective lives as they were when we first met them in T.O.S., juxtaposed with that are many character-focused plot-of-the-week episodes that let us get to know the new characters created for this show. According to www.startrek.com
“In Season 2 of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise, under the command of Captain Christopher Pike, confronts increasingly dangerous stakes, explores uncharted territories, and encounters new life and civilizations. The crew will also embark on personal journeys that will continue to test their resolve and redefine their destinies. Facing friends and enemies both new and familiar, their adventures will unfold in surprising ways never seen before on any Star Trek series.
The series stars Anson Mount as Christopher Pike, Rebecca Romijn as Una Chin-Riley, Ethan Peck as Spock, Jess Bush as Christine Chapel, Christina Chong as La’An Noonien-Singh, Celia Rose Gooding as Nyota Uhura, Melissa Navia as Erica Ortegas and Babs Olusanmokun as Joseph M’Benga. Season two also features the return of special guest star Paul Wesley as James T. Kirk and new addition Carol Kane in a recurring role as Pelia.”
