10 Reasons to Watch 'Star Trek: Discovery'

Star Trek had been off-air since Enterprise ended in 2005, but in late 2017, a new series launched on CBS and Netflix—Star Trek: Discovery. After a decade spent following the big screen adventures of the Kirk and Spock of an alternate universe, a crew of all new characters are set to embark on a voyage aboard the Discovery to boldly go where no one has gone before.

It isn't your parents' Star Trek, but here are ten reasons why you should give it a watch.

Michael Burnham

Discovery's protagonist is almost the opposite of what you’d expect from a primary Star Trek character. She isn't the captain of a Starfleet vessel or even (officially) a Starfleet officer. Burnham was introduced as the half-vulcan First Officer of the USS Shenzhou, which lasted until the vessel came into contact with the Klingons for the first time in a century—an event which led her to become the only Starfleet officer to mutiny, and ignited the Federation-Klingon war.

Burnham was given the chance to redeem herself by the USS Discovery's Captain Lorca, making use of the "anything goes" nature of the vessel’s mission and kickstarting Burnham's personal journey to re-discover a sense of purpose, make peace with her past, find a balance between logic and emotion, and form new relationships. Compared to the overly calm, collected demeanor of previous Star Trek leads, Burnham's a relatable mess.

Klingons

Klingons are one of the most recognisable alien species from Star Trek’s 50 year history, with their masses of hair, goatees, and forehead ridges. Not that they’ve always looked that way—the Klingons of Star Trek: The Original Series were no more than fake-tanned humans with styled facial hair. The Klingons of Star Trek: Discovery have once again changed cosmetically, keeping their forehead ridges, but undergoing a species-wide waxing.

Throughout their history, the Klingons have predominantly been portrayed as a stoic warrior race to which honour is everything. They've been both friends and foes to the Federation. During the voyages of the USS Discovery, they're the latter. They remain a warrior race, but the arrival of an outcast 25th Klingon House led by T’Kuvma, a religious zealot, motivated by hatred for other species to unite the Klingon Empire, added a new perspective, as did the complicated and obviously doomed romance of L’Rell and Voq.

Character Conflict

Previous Star Trek series have focused on crews that unite for the common good. They may have had doubts about a captain’s plan, but in the end, they compromise and congratulate one another with rounds of applause at the end of another successful mission. But onboard the Discovery, conflict isn't vanquished so easily; Michael is constantly in conflict with herself, trying to reconcile her reputation as a mutineer with her want to be redeemed; Lt Tyler struggles with PTSD; Lt Stamets attempts to hide the effects of spore drive, and everyone gets on the wrong side of or is manipulated by Lorca. Who needs Klingons when there are so many complex crewmates without scruples?

Throwbacks

Unsurprisingly, Star Trek: Discovery is chock full of references to previous series. Some are small and only exist to make fans squeal with joy, like: a Gorn skeleton, the Tribble on Lorca’s desk, and name-dropping Christopher Pike (the USS Enterprise's captain prior to one James Tiberius Kirk).

Whilst others are more than tidbits of nostalgia and have a place in the series overall story. Chief amongst them is Michael Burnham being the never-before-heard-of foster sister of Spock, and her complicated relationship with foster father Sarek. The crew of the Discovery also cross paths with another character from the original series—Harry Mudd in his fledgling years as a con man and killer. Not forgetting the multiple references to the Mirror Universe, a place much darker than Trek's prime universe, and the Discovery's eventual trip down the rabbit hole.

Story Arc

Unlike most of its predecessors, Star Trek: Discovery foregoes an episodic structure in favour of a series-long story arc: the Federation-Klingon War. The Discovery's primary mission to perfect the spore drive is uniquely connected to the war; it's Starfleet's way to win. Not that it's the sole driving force of the series. The Discovery's mission comes second to that of its characters: Michael's redemption, Lorca's machinations, L’Rell and Voq’s plot, and Stamets's experimentation. It’s those stories that have the most impact.

Technology

Star Trek: Discovery is filled with never-before-seen technology used by Starfleet. The most important is the spore drive, an organic propulsion system onboard the Discovery that allows it to jump across space via the mycelial network (an ecosystem spread across the spaceway, leading anywhere). At first, the crew need a tardigrade that communicates with the spores to be able to navigate effectively, but Lt Stamets’s experiments allow him to take control. The spore drive isn't anywhere in Starfleet's future, hinting that, in its early days, something goes catastrophically wrong.

The spore drive isn't the only technology unique to the Discovery, there's also a holosuite (hundred years before it's time in Trek continuity), sleek technological accessories (in the time period they should be bulkier), and a lack of colourful, pointlessly flashing buttons on the bridge. USS Discovery is way ahead of the curve.

Time Period

Despite rumours that the voyages of the Discovery would take place after the destruction of Romulus. Discovery is instead set ten years prior to the USS Enterprise's five year mission; an unexplored time period, but one where things happen that have never, ever been mentioned in Trek continuity. No USS Discovery, no spore drive experiments, no Federation-Klingon War. Once Discovery ends, the Federation will have rewritten their history or suffered a collective memory lapse.

Darker Starfleet

In Star Trek series past, the Federation has had an almost too-good-to-be-true image, with the development of its people and its own advancement being its only reward. There have been captains or admirals who would seek to destabilise it, and a barely glimpsed dark underbelly in the form of Section 31. But in Discovery, the wartime Federation is desperate to win, and not above the odd questionable decision or three. In their mission to develop the spore drive, the Federation planned to exploit tardigrades, Lorca took on a mutineer, and the quick-not-too-thorough vetting of Lt. Ash Tyler. If nothing else, the Federation learned to keep to their best practices and define their HR policy in later days.

Action

If you were born in the 21st century or living in seclusion until the turn of the century, your only knowledge of Star Trek may come from the action-heavy JJ Abrams blockbusters. Discovery aims to balance action with the spirit of exploration the TV franchise is devoted to. There are explosions, space battles, fist fights, and torture. Violence isn't only included for effect or cinematic visuals, it’s there to show that the consequence of the Federation and Klingons war is the loss of life. In the end, both sides lose.

Relevant

Most of all, Star Trek: Discovery is relevant to the challenges and opportunities of today. The hatred of T’Kuvma’s House towards the Federation and other species, and their mantra of "Remain Klingon" reflects the rise of right-wing populism in politics. Life aboard the Discovery is more complex than holding hands and singing "we are the world" whilst saving the day. Each character has their own goal, often an ulterior motive, and the Federation-Klingon War heralds questionable decisions. Still, the underlying message of the series is one of hope. Hope that, through collective unity and facing individual demons, adversity can be overcome to achieve a common good.