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Chemical Makeup of Cordrazine

Cordrazine was a strong chemical stimulant created on Earth in 1987 . It is classified as a "autonomic nervous system stimulant" by Starfleet Medical .

It was originally used in cryogenic laboratories to stimulate production of epinephrine and norepinephrine in the Human brain , allowing nerve transmission to be restored to the frozen body. ( TOS reference : Star Fleet Medical Reference Manual )

By the 24th century , a more potent form of cordrazine had been developed, tricordrazine . ( TNG episode : " Ethics ")

• 2.1 Background
• 2.2 References
• 2.3 External link

Effect on Body [ ]

It creates an increase in myocardial contraction due to an influx of calcium into the fibers, resulting in a more complete emptying of the ventricles and an increase in cardiac work plus oxygen consumption. It also stimulates the production of natural occuring epinephrine and norepinephrine at the myoneural junctions and autonomic synapses in the brain.

It is specifically used for:

• Reviving nerve impulse transmission in the brain
• Increasing myocardial contraction, Purkinje fiber effect , speeding up the heart in times of heart failure or heart flutter.

The standard dosage for Humans is 0.25 cc . Taking it also comes with a number of side effects, including: elevated blood pressure, dry mouth, tachycardia , restlessness, insomnia, irritability, increased anxiety, paranoia, and death if overdosed. ( TOS reference : Star Fleet Medical Reference Manual )

Despite these effects, it was used by Starfleet doctors in the 23rd century during emergency medical situations, primarily to stimulate the heart during cardiac arrest.

Prior to the late 23rd century, there had been a number of incidents involving the usage of cordrazine. In Stockholm , Sweden , a researcher accidentally ingested large quantities of the drug and immediately began to feel his was under attack. He barricaded himself in his laboratory, and when colleagues were able to force their way in, they discovered that a chemically explosive trap had been set for them, resulting in the death of seven, and injuries to twenty-three others.

In another episode, a disturbed individual took a quantity of cordrazine to commit suicide, but instead of dying he found he had lost the memory of anybody he had ever known. He was eventually found dead a few weeks later after killing himself with a phaser .

In a further case, a physician from the University of Alpha Centauri had become subjected to a high dosage of cordrazine in unknown circumstances. She was found unconscious by colleagues and taken to a nearby hospital, from where she subsequently vanished. Five months later, her body was found in a public bar in the city of Englantine on Stygian III .

Another case saw a cabaret dancer from Rigel II being found dead in a dressing room, after a jealous patron injected her with a large dosage of cordrazine. A criminal trial later saw the murderer being sent to prison.

In the 2250s , a landing party from the USS Farragut had to take a three-day hike across a mountainous region on an unspecified planet. Part way into the hike and older officer suffered a heart attack, and the medical technician present saw no choice but to inject the officer with a minute dose. Unfortunately, the officer died instantly. ( TOS - Crucible novel : The Fire and the Rose )

Dr. McCoy after injecting himself with cordrazine

One example of excessive amounts of cordrazine being known to cause temporary dementia and violent paranoia was in 2267 , when Dr. Leonard McCoy had been summoned to the bridge after a short circuit at the helm console injured Lt. Hikaru Sulu . McCoy decided to risk a few drops of cordrazine, despite Captain Kirk's concerns that it was "tricky stuff." After reviving Sulu with a couple drops of cordrazine, McCoy was standing at the helm console, checking his hypospray when the ship was hit by a shock wave. Trying to hold himself steady, McCoy accidentally pushed the hypospray into his mid-section, and injected himself with all the cordrazine remaining in the hypospray. After waking up in an agitated state, he immediately suspected that his crewmates were trying to kill him, and escaped to the planet Gateway . ( TOS episode : " The City on the Edge of Forever "; TOS novel : The Klingon Gambit )

In 2268 , Ensign Rizzo lay in critical condition in sickbay aboard the USS Enterprise following an attack by a dikironium cloud creature . James T. Kirk asked Leonard McCoy to revive the dying officer for a moment to confirm suspicions about the cloud. McCoy ordered Christine Chapel to inject 1 cc of cordrazine into him, which woke him up for a minute . ( TOS episode & Star Trek 9 novelization : Obsession )

Doctor Sarjenka once joked that she used a cordrazine to help wake herself up mornings. ( CoE eBook : Troubleshooting )

Appendices [ ]

Background [ ].

The invention date of 1987 comes from the 1977 reference book Star Fleet Medical Reference Manual. As of this writing, no such chemical has in fact been developed, and the provided structure would require many atoms to bond with far more other atoms than they're typically capable of, and would thus almost certainly be extremely unstable if it could be produced at all. Cordrazine was also referenced (as a real chemical) in the TV series Mission: Impossible .

References [ ]

• TOS comic : " We Are Dying, Egypt, Dying! " (misspelled cordazine)

External link [ ]

• Cordrazine article at Memory Alpha , the wiki for canon Star Trek .
• 1 USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-B)
• 2 Ferengi Rules of Acquisition
• 3 USS Voyager (NCC-74656-A)

Tricordrazine

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Tricordrazine was a potent stimulant , originally derived from cordrazine , and commonly used in resuscitation in the 24th century . The drug was highly potent: 25 ccs of the drug was enough to kill a Klingon . It was also used as an anti- seizure medication. ( TNG : " Ethics ", " Shades of Gray ")

In 2365 , Doctor Katherine Pulaski administered five milligrams of tricordrazine to William T. Riker , followed by another dose when his life signs were failing fast. ( TNG : " Shades of Gray ")

In 2366 , Doctor Beverly Crusher treated Mary Warren with tricordrazine after she was injured on Mintaka III , and later gave instructions for increased levels to be administered. ( TNG : " Who Watches The Watchers ")

Similarly, in an alternate timeline that same year, Captain Rachel Garrett was treated with tricordrazine and Crusher ordered the levels to be boosted. ( TNG : " Yesterday's Enterprise ")

In 2368 , Crusher attempted to use tricordrazine to revive Worf after he experienced heart failure, following a risky surgery using the genetronic replicator to repair his damaged spinal column . ( TNG : " Ethics ")

External link [ ]

• Tricordrazine at Memory Beta , the wiki for licensed Star Trek works
• 2 USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-G)
• 3 Star Trek: The Next Generation

Cordrazine is a strong chemical stimulant useful for emergency medical treatment. It is primarily used to stimulate the heart during cardiac arrest. The drug is a red liquid and is injected with a hypospray. In 2267, Captain Kirk noted that cordrazine was "tricky stuff," (TOS: "The City on the Edge of Forever") but by the 24th century, it had become ubiquitous and was being used by physicians in much higher doses than in Kirk's day.

History [ edit ]

Hikaru Sulu, suffering from heart flutter after being shocked by the bridge console while passing through a time displacement, was revived by a few drops of cordrazine. Dr. Leonard McCoy then suffered an extreme overdose when he accidentally injected an excessive amount of the chemical into his body. (TOS: "The City on the Edge of Forever")

Dr. McCoy also used one cc of cordrazine to revive Rizzo to consciousness. (TOS: "Obsession")

A more potent form of cordrazine, called tricordrazine, is commonly used in resuscitation in the 24th century. Dr. Beverly Crusher attempted to use tricordrazine to revive Worf after he went into heart failure, following a risky surgery using the genitronic replicator to repair his damaged spinal column. (TNG: "Ethics")

In 2371, Bareil Antos was given two ccs of cordrazine by Julian Bashir and Jabara. Bashir himself was given four ccs of cordrazine several weeks later, after being placed in a coma following Altovar's attack. (DS9: "Life Support", "Distant Voices")

The Doctor used two ccs of cordrazine to revive Harry Kim after he was killed by a Vhnori cenotaph. (VOY: "Emanations")

In 2376, The Doctor used twenty milligrams of cordrazine during an emergency resuscitation to revive B'Elanna Torres from an induced catatonic state, to which she did not respond. (VOY: "Barge of the Dead")

The Doctor used fifty milligrams of cordrazine to stabilize Tuvok when a gaseous anomaly unearthed repressed memories in Tuvok. (VOY: "Flashback") Since cordrazine is usually measured in ccs (equivalent to milliliters), it is hard to make a relative comparison of this amount. However, it is five times what Bashir used on Luther Sloan, a Human. This suggests that Vulcans may require higher doses of this medicine than Humans.

Bashir gave cordrazine to several Teplans in 2372, hoping to alleviate the pain caused by the Dominion's Teplan blight. Epran and Ekoria were among those given the drug, although the former had stopped responding to it before he died. (DS9: "The Quickening")

In late 2375, Bashir gave ten milligrams of cordrazine to Section 31's Luther Sloan who had attempted suicide, although only as part of a mental simulation created by the multitronic engrammatic interpreter. (DS9: "Extreme Measures")

Since the amounts used range from one to four ccs and ten to fifty milligrams, it is reasonable to expect that cordrazine is significantly more dense than water (which has a density of 1 mg/cc).

Overdose [ edit ]

Excessive amounts of this drug produce temporary dementia with violent behavior, as the recipient enters into frenzies of extreme paranoia. This includes inability to recognize acquaintances and the fear of mortal danger. Those suffering from an overdose may experience occasional loss of consciousness and exhibit pale green and red mottled skin. (TOS: "The City on the Edge of Forever") 25 ccs of tricordrazine is enough to kill a Klingon. (TNG: "Ethics")

Background [ edit ]

Cordrazine was mentioned as a (possibly fictional) drug in the 1968 Mission: Impossible episode "The Freeze". While trying to convince a bank robber that he has been cryogenically frozen and revived eleven years later, IMF agent Rollin Hand poses as a doctor and asks the nurse to give the patient "five ccs of cordrazine". Mission: Impossible was filmed on the same lot as Star Trek. Alexander Singer, who directed "The Freeze", went on in later years to also direct many episodes of The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine and Voyager.

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Fabiana, the Cordrazine leader, with her Owlwok slaves

Cordrazine are a race of vain molluscs native to Cordron Ot in the Cordron System. Their empire is called the Cordrazine Collective . The Owlwoks are a race native to Cordron Ot who have been enslaved by the Cordrazine.

• 1 Description
• 2 Racial traits
• 3 Personality
• 4 Notable Cordrazine
• 5.1 Combat hulls
• 5.2 Non combat hulls

Description [ | ]

Cordrazine are very large molluscs who possess a soft inner body surrounded by a hard outer shell. They have a single large eye in the front-center of their bodies. Cordrazine are totally immobile and as such are reliant on their strong mind control pheremones to force enslaved races to do their bidding. Cordrazine appear to be extremely vain and self-centered, moreso than even the Chukk. The chief slave race of the Cordrazine are the Owlwoks, who are native to the Cordrazine homeworld and are hopelessly enslaved. Owlwoks do virtually all work in Cordrazine society, including farming, manufacturing, research, fighting, flying and espionage.

Racial traits [ | ]

The default racial traits for Cordrazine are:

Fabulo, another Cordrazine

• Agriculturally Inclined
• Inspired Workers
• Slow Breeders
• Adept Slavers

Personality [ | ]

The Cordrazine AI personality is randomised from the following traits:

• Technologists
• Expansionists

Notable Cordrazine [ | ]

• Fabiana , leader of the Cordrazine Collective.
• Fabulo , Vain Slavemaster.

Ships [ | ]

Cordrazine ships are angular and bird-shaped, with sharp angles.

Combat hulls [ | ]

• ??? (Fighter)
• Litving (Corvette)
• Metving (Frigate)
• Storving (Cruiser)
• Dodaving (Battleship)
• Mordaving (Titan)

Non combat hulls [ | ]

• Colony Ship
• Construction ship

Trivia [ | ]

• Cordrazine was a medicine used in Star Trek Voyager , Season 1 Episode 8, "Emanations" to revive Ensign Kim. Time index 40:57. It also was used in The Next Generation , Season 3 Episode 16, "Ethics" to revive Lieutenant Worf. Time index 38:04. Both times to stimulate brain activity, ironically the exact opposite affect of the chemical used by the Cordrazine race.

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Star Trek: The Original Series episode 28 review

Mark goes back to the 60s for his latest Star Trek look-back, hoping that the journey won’t create a time paradox...

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Episode: 28 Title: The City On The Edge Of Forever Star Date: 3134.0 Writer: D.C. Fontana and Harlan Ellison First Shown: 6th April 1967

I’ve looked at a dozen top ten original series episodes, and they all agree that this is the best story by a country mile. Being the penultimate episode of the first season the show had now entirely shed any perception that it was ‘ Wagon Train to the stars’ and this is a full-on science fiction adventure. Here two of the giants of modern science fiction combined their writing abilities to deliver a milestone in fantasy TV production, and it won D.C. Fontana and Harlan Ellison a Hugo Award.

The Enterprise is investigating a temporal phenomenon emanating from a nearby planet, waves of which are impacting on the ship as they approach.

Sulu is hurt when his console explodes, and McCoy injects him with a cordrazine shot to stabilise his heartbeat. Unfortunately, this leaves Bones with a hypo-spray loaded with a powerful drug, which, at the next jolt, he accidentally injects into himself. The result is that he becomes completely irrational and beams himself down to the planet’s surface.

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Kirk, Spock, Scotty, Uhura and two security guards follow him to the ruins of an ancient civilisation and they discover the Guardian of Tomorrow. This appears to be a sentient machine that presents the fast-forward portal to the events of the past and future, and before anyone can stop him, the crazed Bones appears and leaps through it into the time vortex. At the very moment this happens the Enterprise disappears, as clearly something McCoy does in the past alters the timeline. Why all the other landing party doesn’t also cease to exist isn’t explained, but I’ll go with the First Contact excuse which is that they’re caught in a temporal wake.

Realising that their only chance of escaping the planet is to stop McCoy, Spock and Kirk wait for the same events to be portrayed in the time vortex and leap through into the nineteen-thirties New York of the Depression. Not knowing when McCoy will appear, they set about trying to work out what he might alter and how they can stop him. Having no money or food, they hide in the basement of a building, where they’re found by Edith Keeler (Joan Collins), and assuming they’re destitute, she offers them work and somewhere to stay.

Spock is able to construct a system from valves and other basic electronics to analyse the data he collected from the time vortex, and it reveals that before McCoy jumped through, Edith dies, but after he jumped, she survives and her anti-war protests alter the events of World War II. The knock-on effect of that is that the Enterprise no longer exists in that timeline, disturbingly.

Unbeknownst to Spock and Kirk, McCoy comes through the portal and is also befriended by Edith. It’s the ultimate meeting between them all, and Edith stepping into the path of a truck when she sees them across the street is the inescapable resolution for everyone. After that happens they are able to go back through the portal, and the timeline and Enterprise are duly restored.

My feelings about The City On The Edge Of Forever are that it demonstrates the deeper maturity of the Star Trek concept beyond what the studios thought it might become. It’s brave enough to present a tragedy without a convenient get out of jail card, and gives the proceedings an added edge by letting Kirk get involved with Edith.

This isn’t the typical Kirk soft-focus relationship that has the women swooning at his first signs of interest. It’s actually a more believable transit from friendship to something greater. When Edith dies, as she must, his reaction is therefore entirely believable. There is no moment of triumph – he just snaps “Let’s get the hell out of here!” In an era where most shows left the audience on an upbeat moment, the ability to contradict this ethos is what makes Star Trek stand proud from its contemporaries.

Recently there has been an ongoing dispute between CBS Paramount TV and Harlan Ellison, who claims not to have received what he was due from the income made since the episode was made. This isn’t the only controversy surrounding this story; another details that Harlan’s original script wasn’t short enough to film, and as such, various Star Trek insiders contributed to the final form including Steven W. Carabatsos, Gene L. Coon, D. C. Fontana and the show’s creator Gene Roddenberry.

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Whatever the truth about the process that created this story, many consider this to the pinnacle of Star Trek ‘s creativity, and worthy of many of the accolades it’s generated over the years.

The next review is sadly the final one of the first season, a quiet and peace-loving story called Operation: Annihilate!

Mark Pickavance

Cordrazine Hypo

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Cordrazine Hypos are single-use devices that provide a quick burst of healing, remove holds and stuns, and temporarily increase a player's maximum health. Usage prevents the use of an additional Hypo or a Shield Charge for several seconds.

Cordrazine Hypos can be found as random loot from killed Borg in all ground Special Task Force missions.

External links [ | ]

• Cordrazine at Memory Alpha , the Star Trek Wiki.
• Hypospray at Memory Alpha , the Star Trek Wiki.
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The city on the edge of forever (1967).

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Cordrazine Hallucinations is a gen Star Trek: TNG and Star Trek: TOS club zine anthology featuring artwork by STARFLEET members.

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'Star Trek: Discovery' concludes Georgiou's journey in 'Terra Firma, Part 2'

Let's face facts, Carl could really only have been one of two things.

Shaka, when the spoilers came. What an amazing week it's been for sci-fi aficionado. The first three episodes of Season 5 of " The Expanse " have arrived on Amazon Prime, the second season finale of " The Mandalorian " airs on Friday and the "Terra Firma" two-part "Star Trek: Discovery" episode has concluded on CBS All Access . So, sit back, sup some Earl Grey tea or even a glass of Bloodwine and soak up some of the best sci-fi TV currently has to offer.

Every "Discovery" devotee had a theory about who the mysterious Carl (Paul Guilfoyle) on Dannus V would turn out to be; some believed he might be a member of the Q Continuum, others suggested he might even the Guardian of Forever from the "Original Series" episode "The City on the Edge of Forever" (S01, E28) written by Harlan Ellison and widely regarded as one of the best episodes of any incarnation of "Star Trek." And we will of course get to all that shortly. 

We start straightaway in the Mirror Universe onboard the ISS Discovery and we get a super-quick glimpse of one of those nonsensical VFX shots that show the supposedly vast space inbetween decks. We haven't seen one of those since the second season . It's purpose is to set up a tracking shot through the actual corridors of the ship, ending up in the brig, which is where Mirror Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) is being thrown. It actually works very effectively, except for the utterly absurd representation of Discovery's infrastructure.   

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We pick up more or less right where we left off last week. Burnham is begging Emperor Georgiou (Michelle Yeoh) for the right to have an honorable death, but Her Most Imperial Majesty isn't having a bean of it; oh no, she's still trying to "save" her daughter. The dialogue is almost Shakespearean and the performances are very theatrical, darling, which is fun every now and again — and a trip to the Mirror Universe is always good excuse to indulge in such overacting —  but "Discovery" is beginning to make a habit of it and we're not in the 1960s anymore. 

Georgiou has Burnham thrown into an agonizer booth and tries to pass off her decision to re-forge her into a loyal subject as a greater sign of strength rather than just killing her. She hands the job of interrogating Burnham to Captain Sylvia Tilly (Mary Wiseman), who is probably the single best character in the "Discovery" Mirror Universe. Also known as "The Slayer of Sorna Prime," "The Witch of Wurna Minor" and "Captain Killy," she delights at the prospect of the task ahead of her. Roll opening credits … which are interesting this week.

The color has been switched out to a royal navy blue and many of the graphic animations are either upside-down, reversed or inverted, all of which is meant to represent the opposite nature of the Mirror Universe. And while not as much effort has been made as with the Mirror-opening credits on the "Enterprise" two-part episode " In a Mirror, Darkly " (S04, E18 & 19) at least some effort has been made.  

The torture continues, but this is the Terran universe, so it's not exactly subtle. It's a far cry from the excellent "Babylon 5" episode " Intersections in Real Time " (S04, E18) when John Sheridan is interrogated or the outstanding and often-quoted "Next Generation" two-part episode " Chain of Command " (S06, E10 & 11) where Jean-Luc Picard is almost broken or even "Battlestar Galactica" where both Saul Tigh and Kara Thrace are tortured in very different ways on New Caprica in the "Exodus" two-parter (S03, E03 & 4). No, this is much more moustache-twirling villainy. 

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Mirror Keyla Detmer (Emily Coutts) visits Burnham in the brig and begs her to give in to Georgiou's demand for unconditional allegiance. Georgiou herself later visits while Burnham is asleep and softly regales a story from her childhood about how fireflies at night used to comfort her. Then she places a globe full of fireflies gently next to the bruised and battered Burnham and leaves the cell. She's clearly going to put quite a lot of effort here to turn her adopted daughter to her side, will it be enough though?

It appears that it might be as the next thing we see is Burnham being escorted into the royal chamber and kneeling before her Emperor. As proof of her newfound loyalty she must hunt down and execute all those co-conspirators involved in Captain Lorca's coup d'etat. Even poor Commander Landry's (Rekha Sharma) script notes just read, "Run down corridor. Get shot in back."

Burnham tosses the Terran Empire badges of all those she has killed onto the dining table as Georgiou is enjoying an apéritif with Tilly and Joann Owosekun (Oyin Oladejo). She then turns and stabs Detmer as well to be thorough. Afterwards, mother and daughter, who have an increasingly Freudian relationship, sit down for dinner and everything seems to be just fine. Kelpien ganglia is off the menu though, permanently it seems; turns out it's stringy and high in cholesterol anyway.

Post dinner, the Emperor confides in Saru (Doug Jones) who tells her that his Vahar'ai is coming, which prior to the events in the episode " An Obol for Charon " (S2, E04) had been lethal to the Kelpiens. Georgiou was on Discovery at this point, so she knows and indeed explains to Saru that it need not mean the end, he can survive it. Watching the relationship between Georgiou and Saru grow in the Mirror Universe has definitely been a highlight of this two-parter. 

In order to well and truly quash this uprising, it's necessary to find Lorca, so after having tracked some coded transmissions that he apparently sent, they set off in the ISS Discovery to find him. Instead they find one of Lorca's associates, a man named Duggan (Daniel Kash) in a shuttlecraft, which they quickly disable. They beam him directly into the brig and begin to question him when Burnham pulls out her phaser, shoots him in the head and then points it at Georgiou. It seems the Emperor's efforts weren't enough after all.

A squad of Imperial Guards enters the brig, all of its members pointing their phasers at Georgiou. Burnham begins her maniacal monologue about saving the Empire and how they'll sing songs about her, when Tilly and a small number of crewmembers (are there any left?) loyal to Georgiou burst in and a firefight begins. But what's really cool is that a handful of Kelpiens, including Saru, pour into the room and join the fight on Georgiou's side. 

As a result, the Emperor's forces quickly gain the upper hand and now it's just down to a one-on-one between mother and daughter. However, even that doesn't last too long as Burnham only has a dagger and Georgiou has that big, bad sword she used to lance Lorca in the episode "What's Past Is Prologue" (S01, E13) . It's not long before Burnham meets a similar end and she too is skewered. 

Speaking of Lorca, it seems all that hype about Jason Isaacs briefly reprising his role was just a lot of plasma exhaust. Despite being mentioned by name so prominently in both episodes and even featuring in Georgiou's nightmarish flashbacks in previous episodes, Mr. Isaacs was a no-show. And frankly, that's a disappointment. 

Unfortunately for Georgiou, she picked up a wound herself in the duel with her daughter and Saru rushes to her side, reassuring her that medics are coming, but she begins to slip away, finally waking up back in the snow, in the Prime Universe, with Carl and Burnham. For them, she's been "gone" for less than a minute, but for Georgiou, she's been gone for considerably longer.

Was this the real Mirror Universe we saw in the first season of "Discovery" or a construct of sorts created by Carl? Saru's last words as Georgiou slips away from the Mirror Universe might seem to suggest that. On the flipside, her biosensor wristband that Dr. Culber (Wilson Cruz) gave her last week has accumulated over three months' worth of data. 

And then comes the big reveal, Carl is the Guardian of Forever. 

It's a call back to an Original Series episode where, while in orbit around an unexplored planet, the USS Enterprise under the command of Captain Kirk (William Shatner) passes through some peculiar time waves and wreaks havoc with the ship's systems. In a freak mishap, Dr. McCoy (DeForest Kelley) accidently stabs himself with a hyposyringe full of a potent stimulant called cordrazine . He goes a bit bonkers and beams down to the surface of the planet. Kirk, Mr. Spock (Leonard Nimoy) et al follow him down and find a strange, sentient spacetime portal that calls itself the Guardian of Forever. McCoy leaps out from behind a rock and jumps through the portal and instantly history is changed. The away team is now stranded because the Enterprise is no longer in orbit, because the Federation no longer exists. 

Following the Guardian's instructions, Kirk and Spock carefully time their own jump through and end up back on Earth, in New York City, circa 1930 and must undo the damage done by McCoy. Joan Collins also stars and this is widely regarded as one of the best episodes of "Star Trek" ever.

According to the Guardian, he is in hiding, nowhere near his original location and has been since the Temporal Wars. Georgiou was sent to Dannus IV and subsequently tested to see if she was worthy of using the spacetime portal. Turns out, she is and the only way for her to survive is to be sent back in time to an undisclosed place, when the two parallel universes were aligned, so that her molecules might not fly part. A long, drawn-out farewell follows as you'd expect and through the portal she steps. 

Meanwhile, back to the story arc onboard the Discovery, Lieutenant Stamets (Anthony Rapp), Adira (Blu del Barrio) and Commander Jett Reno (Tig Notaro) are trying to hack the systems of the KSF Khi'eth that was detected last week in the Verubin nebula. Book (David Ajala) comes along and offers to help by using Emerald Chain technology to boost their signal. Data begins to download, but we don't get to see any of that yet. Instead, Admiral Vance (Oded Fehr) struggles to find a reason to slap Saru on the wrists for using Emerald Chain tech, but he doesn't really have a legitimate reason 

Burnham returns to the ship alone and is immediately comforted by Book, before being debriefed by Saru. Finally, everyone gathers in the mess hall to hold a wake in memory of Georgiou.

But some interesting questions about the Guardian remain. Did he let himself get used in the Temporal War? He says, "Back in the day it used to be, 'Sure, come through. Just don't screw up history or you'll have to fix it.' And then the Temporal Wars happened, and everyone was killing everyone else and trying to use me to do it." 

But if he's a master of time, how did he not know about the Temporal Wars? Maybe the Temporal Wars have to happen to teach the younger races in the galaxy the dangers of time travel. Maybe the Guardian is the last of a really, really old race, like an Ancient from "Stargate SG1" or a First One from "Babylon 5"? Maybe … he's a Time Lord. Don't laugh, plans for a "Dr. Who/Star Trek" crossover were once considered .

"I would have loved to have done a 'Star Trek' crossover. The very first year, we talked about it. Then 'Star Trek' finally went off air. Landing the Tardis on board the Enterprise would have been magnificent," Russell T. Davies told The Times in 2009 .

This episode would've succeeded had "Discovery" been following an episodic structure, but it isn't. The concluding installment actually makes the first part work much better, but when there are only 13 episodes in this third season with just three remaining and it's following a seasonal story arc, it might have been nice to have some more of the plot. 

While trips to the Mirror Universe are almost always entertaining, this wasn't the best. That accolade goes to the afore-mentioned "Enterprise" two-part episode "In a Mirror, Darkly" (S04, E18 & 19). In essence, the primary purpose of this two-part episode was to set up the forthcoming spin-off that may or may not be called "Section 31" and that's about it. And it feels like we've been shortchanged. However, since it was a launch vehicle for Georgiou's next chapter, Yeoh was naturally a centerpiece and in that respect, she carried both episodes well.

"Star Trek" needs to reinvent itself. It's an unpleasant fact staring every fan in the face. And no doubt many will disagree, but what cannot be argued is that the unmatched high quality of the first three episodes (and we can tell you, the rest of them too) of the fifth season of "The Expanse" shows what can be achieved with a well-written, well-managed sci-fi drama…and the old formula of "Star Trek" is looking tired. We've said it –  I've said it before, I'd like to see "Star Trek" move away from the nostalgia-driven mentality dominating the writer's room. A little bit here and there is fine, but let's cut the umbilical cord now. It's really not necessary to drag us all through the Good Old Days again, we did them once already. Times have changed.

"The Expanse" has earned itself a place on the highest podium of science fiction drama, along with "Babylon 5" and "Battlestar Galactica." Even the team behind "Stargate" tried to very bravely reinvent that franchise in an attempt to remain fresh. The result — "Stargate Universe" — was a new spin-off totally unlike any other incarnation of the show and it was brilliant. Had it not suffered from the same bureaucratic shortsightedness that tragically killed so many other burgeoning shows, it could've taken the story into some extremely interesting places.

No other successful sci-fi dramas rely quite so heavily on technobabble or smart-matter or super-convenient plot devices that can permit a solution to any potential problem, like the spore drive or the sphere data that now make the USS Discovery a miracle-like addition to the Federation. (If it gets unexpectedly blown up, like the Razor Crest, then I'll happily take all of this back.)

Rating: 7 out of 10

 Decompress the shuttle bay ✓

•  This would've worked if "Discovery" was following an episodic story arc. 
•  Georgiou's character is so much better suited to the Mirror Universe. 
•  Watching the relationship between Georgiou and Saru grow is a highlight. 
•  Tilly's glee at being able to torture Burnham was thoroughly entertaining. 
•  The Guardian reveal was fun and the use of the original voice was great. 

 Use the tractor beam ✗

•  Alas Rekha Sharma didn't get any lines in this two-parter, not one . 
•  All the Lorca hype went nowhere, a cameo from Issacs would've been cool. 
•  How the blazes did the Guardian let itself get used in the Temporal Wars? 
•  Saru is thinking more like Burnham, will he apologize for demoting her? 
•  When is the Discovery crew going to get around to changing their uniforms? 

CBS All Access is the home of "Star Trek: Picard," "Star Trek: Discovery," "Star Trek: Lower Decks" and a host of other original and archival CBS television shows. Subscriptions start at $5.99 a month. You can try CBS All Access for a week free here . 

Follow Scott Snowden on Twitter @lorumipsum. Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom and on Facebook.

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When Scott's application to the NASA astronaut training program was turned down, he was naturally upset...as any 6-year-old boy would be. He chose instead to write as much as he possibly could about science, technology and space exploration. He graduated from The University of Coventry and received his training on Fleet Street in London. He still hopes to be the first journalist in space.

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William Shatner At 93: 10 Greatest Star Trek Moments

• William Shatner's Captain James T. Kirk exemplified courage, loyalty, and originality, leading to significant and memorable Star Trek moments.
• Kirk's adaptability, quick thinking, sacrifice, and moral compass are clearly seen through iconic episodes like "Arena" and "Amok Time."
• Shatner's nuanced portrayal of Kirk showcases the character's remarkable dedication, strategic genius, and deep bonds with the crew.

William Shatner, who plays the iconic Captain James T. Kirk in Star Trek: The Original Series , celebrates turning 93 on March 22, 2024. The actor behind the franchise’s most famous captain, William Shatner, was born in Montreal on March 22, 1931. A classically trained Shakespearean actor, Shatner enjoyed a number of small stage, movie, and television roles before being cast as the compassionate, intrepid Captain of the USS Enterprise. Shatner’s Kirk led audiences on a five-year mission of adventure, amity, and collaboration to push the boundaries of scientific and academic accomplishment and boldly go among the stars.

Captain Kirk’s complex character exhibited courage, daring, passion, measure, loyalty, verve, and heart. Leading the cast of Star Trek: The Original Series alongside Mr. Spock (Leonard Nimoy) and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Leonard “Bones” McCoy (DeForest Kelley), Kirk’s USS Enterprise command triumvirate was a significant and positive force of power, logic, and morality that – literally – saved worlds. Airing 3 seasons between 1966 and 1969, Star Trek: The Original Series showcased many significant moments and paved the way for multiple movies and subsequent Star Trek series. In celebration of William Shatner’s 93rd birthday, here’s a look at the legendary actor’s greatest Star Trek moments.

Among other franchise credits, William Shatner starred in 3 seasons of Star Trek: The Original Series , 1 season of Star Trek: The Animated Series , and 7 feature film Star Trek movies.

How To Watch All Star Trek TV Shows In Timeline Order

Star trek: the original series, season 2, episode 20 - "a piece of the action", captain james t. kirk invents the game "fizzbin" to escape capture..

Captain Kirk and a small away team visit Sigma Iotia II, a remote planet affected by accidental cultural contamination one hundred years earlier. Assigned by Starfleet to collect the offending artifact – a book on Earth’s 1920s Chicago mobsters – the Enterprise landing party quickly learns that the planet has developed a gangster-style culture with warring families. Tossed between the opposing factions, Kirk finds himself a pawn in the deadly competitive rivalry .

Captured to extort a supply of phasers from Captain Kirk's Enterprise , Kirk demonstrates originality, creativity, and quick thinking to stage an escape. As their guards pass time with card games, Kirk subtly diverts them with Fizzbin, a card game with complex, meandering rules to bamboozle and confound . Kirk and his friends are quickly able to overcome the distracted guards and escape. Though amusing and somewhat incidental, Kirk’s Fizzbin is an excellent example of the Captain’s adaptable and innovative nature and a delightfully memorable, original, and quirky character highlight.

Star Trek: The Original Series, Season 2, Episode 13 - "The Trouble With Tribbles"

On space station k-7, captain kirk becomes buried in a pile of tribbles..

In this fun Star Trek classic episode, Captain Kirk faces challenges from multiple directions with the USS Enterprise assigned to aid in a diplomatic project over claim of a disputed planet. With tensions high between the Klingon and Enterprise crews attending shore leave on space station K-7 , demanding Federation bureaucrats making threats and misusing priority communications, and Tribbles multiplying at a fantastic rate across the ship and space station , Captain Kirk becomes increasingly fraught and frustrated.

William Shatner effortlessly communicates Kirk's professionalism, curiosity, gentility, and exasperation.

Realizing that the Tribbles are in the ventilation ducts, Kirk and Spock rush to protect the Federation’s quadrotriticale. When Kirk opens K-7’s access hatch, he is quickly buried in a huge heap of Tribbles – all engorged on the grain. This absurd image is simultaneously adorable and entertaining yet increasingly disturbing and revealing of Kirk’s patience, self-control, and level-headedness. William Shatner effortlessly communicates Kirk's professionalism, curiosity, gentility, and exasperation. The episode is a favorite among fans, and the image of Kirk in Tribbles is weird, warm, informative, and memorable .

Star Trek: The Original Series, Season 2, Episode 6 - "The Doomsday Machine"

Captain kirk risks his life to destroy the planet killer..

When Captain Kirk and the crew of the Enterprise find a distress signal from the USS Constellation in the wake of a trail of ruined worlds, they embark on a deadly quest of sacrifice and survival. Commodore Matt Decker (William Windom), Kirk’s friend, alone on the wrecked starship, is the sole survivor of an encounter with a planet-destroying ancient doomsday device .

"The Doomsday Machine" offers an important glimpse at Kirk’s multifaceted and commendable psyche.

Decker’s foiled attempt to take the Enterprise into the machine’s maw leads to a mildly successful but self-sacrificial run with an Enterprise shuttle and prompts Kirk to make a similar attempt on a grander scale with the rigged-to-explode devastated USS Constellation. Kirk’s obvious dedication and unfaltering commitment to the safety and welfare of others in this episode reveals a courageous willingness to take great risks alongside tactical and technical acumen and a steady nerve. "The Doomsday Machine" offers an important glimpse at Kirk’s multifaceted and commendable psyche.

Star Trek: The Original Series, Season 1, Episode 19 - "Arena"

Captain kirk fights the gorn..

Invited to a colony on Cestus III, Captain Kirk's landing party is greeted with the revelation that the message they received had been faked and the colony destroyed. Under attack, Kirk suspects a prelude to invasion. The battle quickly moves back to the ship as the Enterprise pursues the enemy vessel at high speed into Metron space. Objecting to the conflict, the Metrons remove Kirk and the enemy captain – a Gorn – to the surface of a suitable world for them to settle their differences.

Engaged in a personal battle for survival, Kirk learns that the Gorn regarded Cestus III as their territory and were repelling invaders – that, potentially, Starfleet had been at fault. Kirk balances intellect, speed, and flexibility against the Gorn’s superior strength and stamina to triumph, ultimately refusing to meet the life-or-death terms of the engagement set by the Metrons. "Arena" is an instructive moment for Kirk, who demonstrates an openness befitting his role when confronted with the possibility of guilt and wrongdoing. It’s also an iconic, much-loved moment as Captain Kirk battles the ruthless Gorn captain .

Complete History Of The Gorn In Star Trek

Star trek: the original series, season 1, episode 2 - "the corbomite maneuver" & season 2, episode 11 - "the deadly years", kirk saves the enterprise with a skillful bluff..

When the USS Enterprise encounters the Fesarius in “The Corbomite Maneuver,” Kirk is locked in a pattern of escalating diversions and ruses with the clock counting down to the destruction of the Enterprise. Kirk is increasingly stymied until a chance mention of chess and bluffing leads to the realization of a large-scale poker match. Feigning impatience, Kirk raises the stakes with a bluff about a defensive corbomite device installed on the ship that results in the destruction of any attacking ships and ultimately cultivates a first contact and friendly exchange scheme with the Fesarius’ commander, Balok (Clint Howard) .

In “The Deadly Years,” a rapidly aging Captain Kirk is removed from command, with Commodore Stocker (Charles Drake) taking over in his stead. Stocker quickly has the Enterprise violating the Neutral Zone and under attack. When the virus’ potential remedy “ could cure or kill ,” Kirk doesn’t hesitate to receive the first dose. Recovered, he returns to the bridge and broadcasts a bluff over a coded channel known to be broken by the Romulans, allowing for the Enterprise’s escape. These episodes highlight Kirk’s quick thinking, command experience, and dedication to the security and well-being of his crew , even in the face of emotional loss and personal suffering.

Star Trek: The Original Series, Season 1, Episode 24 - "Space Seed" & Star Trek II: The Wrath Of Khan

Captain kirk fought & defeated khan noonien singh.

Star Trek: The Original Series introduces the franchise’s greatest villain in the season 1 episode, “Space Seed.” Awoken from suspended animation, Khan Noonien Singh (Ricardo Montalban) and his crew of genetically advanced augments scheme to take over the Enterprise through a campaign of influence, violence, and deliberate cunning. A later appearance in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan sees Khan acting on a personal vendetta against William Shatner’s multi-faceted Admiral Kirk.

Outmuscled and outmaneuvered, Kirk must employ originality and lateral thinking in both instances in order to defeat his greatest foe. Spanning multiple levels of emotional manipulation, control, and physical threat, the shared respect, intellectual struggle, and balance of skill between these two heavyweight characters is a thrilling and weighty ride that continues to influence the franchise’s many characters and series. A reflection of each other’s limits and vulnerabilities, Kirk and Khan are opposing characters that occupy a revealingly similar space .

Star Trek: The Original Series, Season 2, Episode 5 - "Amok Time"

Kirk fights spock in a battle of life and death..

When Spock enters pon farr (the Vulcan time of mating), and Kirk is selected as the opposing champion for Kal-if-fee (challenge) , the two close friends and crewmates must fight each other in ritual combat. Desperate to save his friend, driven crazed by blood fever, and awed by the presence of T’Pau (Celia Lovsky) – whom Kirk considered to be “ all of Vulcan in one package ,” Kirk is hindered by a different atmosphere, superior Vulcan strength, and limited understanding of (secretive) Vulcan customs.

With Star Trek ’s two most iconic figures pitted against each other in a battle for survival, this episode – and fight scene – marks a significant moment for Captain James T. Kirk, carefully navigating a sensitive cultural ritual and now facing a personal no-win scenario. As Kirk struggles between the choice of killing Spock or being killed by Spock, it’s Dr. McCoy who ultimately saves both parties. Kirk’s willingness to defy orders and accept risk and sacrifice is again showcased here, alongside an exploration of Vulcan culture, friendship, and morality.

Star Trek: The Original Series, Season X, Episode X - "Balance of Terror"

Captain kirk faces off against a formidable romulan enemy..

A mysterious, unidentified vessel attacks multiple Starfleet outposts along the Neutral Zone. The attacker is soon identified as a Romulan ship capable of cloaking, and Kirk and the crew of the USS Enterprise embark on a deadly battle of nerve and tactical mastery . Identified as one of Star Trek: The Original Series and Captain Kirk's best episodes , “Balance of Terror” showcases Kirk’s ingenuity and strategic genius to great effect.

William Shatner’s performance as Kirk is skillful and measured here, allowing for an unusual insight into the character’s thinking processes, morality, and tactical genius. At all times, he’s considered, sensitive, responsible, commanding, and capable. Offering a unique perspective on the progression between Human and Romulan relations and a valuable understanding of Captain Kirk’s balance of instinct, analysis, and control, this episode absolutely deserves mention among his greatest moments.

Everything Pike Changed From TOS' "Balance Of Terror" In Strange New Worlds

Star trek: the original series, season 1, episode 28 - "city on the edge of forever", back in time to save dr. mccoy, captain kirk embarks on a tragic love story..

When Dr. McCoy accidentally injects himself with a large dose of cordrazine, he becomes hysterical and inadvertently alters the timeline when he jumps through the Guardian of Forever and loses himself in the past. To save their friend and recover their timeline, Kirk and Spock follow McCoy on an unusual journey to America’s Depression. Kirk meets and falls in love with the community-minded and visionary Edith Keeler (Joan Collins) , Captain Kirk's best known love interest , but the fate of everything pivots on her unfortunate demise.

Alongside impressive performances from the whole cast, William Shatner convincingly communicates the tender, heartfelt romance and savagery of the choice he is ultimately forced to endure . Considered one of Star Trek ’s all-time best episodes for good reason, this deep and resonating story expertly weaves a multi-layered, thought-provoking, and tragic tale of friendship, selflessness, sacrifice, and love.

Star Trek III: The Search For Spock

Kirk steals the uss enterprise..

Star Trek III: The Search For Spock sees Kirk returning to the now off-limits Genesis Planet to save both of his closest friends. Directed by Leonard Nimoy, this emotionally courageous and thrilling movie follows a wayward Admiral Kirk and the Enterprise command crew sacrificing everything they have for the sake of friendship and family. Kirk disobeys direct orders and commits multiple crimes , engineering the theft of the USS Enterprise and setting a course for Spock.

Star Trek III is raw, dramatic, and emotionally intense, with Star Trek ’s iconic heroes giving up everything to save their friends. Kirk’s close bond with Spock and the ailing Dr. McCoy sets the stakes as incredibly personal and of the utmost importance, later intimately compounded by the murder of Kirk’s son David Marcus (Merritt Butrick) and the destruction of the USS Enterprise on Kirk’s command – an unthinkable act in any other circumstance. This movie vitally enhances Kirk’s established character , his raw emotions conflicting with the morality of his Starfleet vow, originating a later uncharacteristic resentment against the Klingons and fracturing a carefully cultivated façade.

Stretched to his limits, Kirk’s many sacrifices are borne of desperation and attachment – contrasting a lifetime of sacrificial moments stemming from responsibility and inner strength. Over the course of Kirk’s multi-decade adventures, many moments of significance and valor demonstrate the character’s deepest motives, fond charm, and giant heart. Shatner’s excellent and nuanced portrayal of Star Trek ’s most famous captain cements a legacy of exceptional standout moments. Happy Birthday, William Shatner!

Star Trek: The Original Series is available to stream on Paramount+.

Star Trek movies I-X are available to stream on Max.

Star Trek: The Original Series

Star Trek: The Original Series follows the exploits of the crew of the USS Enterprise. On a five-year mission to explore uncharted space, Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner) must trust his crew - Spock (Leonard Nimoy), Dr. Leonard "Bones" McCoy (Forest DeKelley), Montgomery "Scotty" Scott (James Doohan), Uhura (Nichelle Nichols), Chekov (Walter Koenig) and Sulu (George Takei) - with his life. Facing previously undiscovered life forms and civilizations and representing humanity among the stars on behalf of Starfleet and the United Federation of Planets, the Enterprise regularly comes up against impossible odds and diplomatic dilemmas.

Release Date September 8, 1966

Streaming Service(s) Paramount+

Franchise(s) Star Trek

Directors Gene Roddenberry

Screen Rant

Star trek teases a dark fate for an original series god-like species.

As IDW's Star Trek title hits the mid-way point on its second year, it teases a dark fate for a powerful god-like species from the Original Series.

• The last Organian comes to Sisko for help in fixing a crisis in the Pleroma, or the Realm of the Gods.
• T’Lir reveals their true identity as an Organian, setting the stage for a big mission in the Pleroma
• Kahless's attack on the Organians may have personal roots due to their history of enforcing peace, and curbing Klingon aggression.

Warning: contains spoilers for Star Trek #18!

Star Trek has teased a dark fate for a god-like species from the Original Series. Captain Kirk and company met a number of god-like beings and races during the original Star Trek run, and these same entities have been on alert since Kahless declared war on them all. Now, in issue 18, the sole survivor of one of these races comes to Sisko with a desperate plea for help.

Star Trek #18 is written by Jackson Lanzing and Collin Kelly and drawn by Marcus To. After being chewed out by Starfleet for his actions on the Tzenkethi homeworld, Captain Sisko is paid a visit by T’Lir, his former science officer. T’Lir was reassigned shortly after the Klingon uprising, and they tell Sisko “the veil is starting to thin.” T’Lir explains that the Pleroma, the Realm of the Gods, is in serious trouble.

T’Lir then identifies themselves as the last of the Organians, and that they and Sisko must “help fix the wound at the center of all things.”

The Organians Have a Long History in the Star Trek Universe

They were responsible for enforcing peace on the federation and the klingons.

This revelation put to bed T’Lir’s secret identity. Since issue one, Lanzing and Kelly had been hinting there was more to T’Lir than met the eye, and they were a god-like being themselves. T’Lir has been absent from the book for several months, but has now returned to take Sisko on what might be their biggest mission yet– to the mysterious Pleroma , which has been teased in past issues. This “Realm of the Gods” is under siege from Kahless and his god-killer. Judging from T’Lir’s remarks, Kahless has already made short work of the Organians.

The last of my people. The only living thing left to call Organia home.-T'Lir

The Organians were one of the first such races encountered in the Star Trek universe. Introduced in the first season episode “An Errand of Mercy,” the Organians used their vast power to impose a peace treaty on both the Klingons and the Federation. Outwardly, the Organians resembled primitive humans, and seemed to lack any kind of technology, but this was just a ruse. The Organians made one more on-screen appearance, in the fourth season of Star Trek: Enterprise , in the episode “The Observer Effect.” They have been depicted as beings of great power, yet they have been reduced to one.

Kahless Had Good Reason to Attack the Organians

Kahless' crusade just became personal.

The Organians' past actions may explain why Kahless attacked them. Kahless declared war on the universe’s god-like beings in order to fulfill the mandate of his namesake, but the Organians may occupy a special place for him. After the Organian peace treaty, the Federation and the Klingons never went to war again, and indeed the treaty can be viewed as the end of Klingon aggression. Kahless preached a message of Klingon renewal, and his attack on Organia could have been personal. The ultra-powerful Organians are now an endangered species in the Star Trek universe.

Star Trek #18 is on sale now from IDW Publishing!

This New 'Star Trek: Discovery' Character Is a Deep-Cut 'Deep Space Nine' Reference

Callum Keith Rennie's Captain Rayner is not Vulcan or Romulan after all.

The Big Picture

• Callum Keith Rennie joins Star Trek: Discovery as Kellerun Captain Rayner, revealing the obscure species from Deep Space Nine .
• Rayner's Kellerun backstory is crucial to Rayner's characterization and mission, with the showrunner promising a focus on his personal history.
• Discovery continues the tradition of exploring one-off alien races with new characters, adding depth and diversity to the final season.

Veteran actor Callum Keith Rennie will join the cast of the final season of Star Trek: Discovery as the alien Captain Rayner, and now we know what species he is. Fans have speculated that Rayner's pointed ears mark him as a Vulcan or a Romulan, but a new interview reveals that he is a member of the Kellerun, an obscure species from Star Trek: Deep Space Nine . TrekCore.com has the details from SFX Magazine's feature on Discovery 's upcoming fifth season , which will premiere on Paramount+ early next month.

Rayner's species will apparently be important to his characterization and the mysterious mission he joins the USS Discovery crew for, as they race against time in the show's final bow. Says showrunner Michelle Paradise , "He’s Kellerun, which is a minor planet mentioned in one of the other iterations… we learn more about his personal backstory and how that plays into who he is, and why he is how he is. We learn about that as the season goes on, and the planet he’s from has a lot to do with that." It won't be the first time an important character on Discovery comes from a one-off alien race; Commander Nhan ( Rachael Ancheril ), who debuted in the series' second season, is a Barzan, a race that had up to that point only appeared in the third-season Next Generation episode "The Price".

Who Are the Kellerun?

The Kellerun made their first and (so far) only appearance in "Armageddon Game", which first aired in 1994 as part of Deep Space Nine 's second season. A species with distinctive large, pointed ears, they had been at war for centuries with their neighbors, the T'Lani, in a conflict that utilized the Harvesters, deadly biological weapons. After the two races made peace with each other, Starfleet sent in Deep Space Nine crew members Dr. Julian Bashir ( Alexander Siddig ) and Miles O'Brien ( Colm Meany ) to help dismantle the remaining Harvesters. However, the Kellerun and T'Lani insist that all knowledge pertaining to the Harvesters must be destroyed - which means killing Bashir and O'Brien, too. The two have to make a desperate race for survival as their friends try to save them from the two alien species.

Although the Kellerun did not appear on the series again, the episode established Bashir and O'Brien's friendship, which endured for the rest of the show's run. Canadian actor Callum Keith Rennie is a veteran of science fiction productions, having starred in Battlestar Galactica , Impulse , The X-Files , Jessica Jones , and The Umbrella Academy . Discovery will be his first Star Trek appearance.

Star Trek: Discovery 's fifth and final season will premiere April 4, 2024 on Paramount+ , wehere past seasons are also streaming. Stay tuned to Collider for future updates, and watch the trailer for Discovery 's fifth season below.

Star Trek: Discovery

Taking place almost a decade before Captain Kirk's Enterprise, the USS Discovery charts a course to uncover new worlds and life forms.

Watch on Paramount+

Star Trek: Discovery's Michael Burnham: 5 Times The Starfleet Captain Was Inspiring

She's one of the best to ever do it.

Star Trek: Discovery is headed into the final season, but the legacy of its characters will live on. Much of that is because of its strong lead protagonist played by Sonequa Martin-Green, the unflappable Michael Burnham. From her unfortunate beginnings in the series to her evolution into Starfleet Captain of the future, Burnham has found ways to inspire her crew and viewers in many different ways. 

Michael Burnham is an inspiration, and if you don't believe that, you clearly haven't been watching. As we prepare to stream Discovery 's final season with our Paramount+ subscriptions , Womens' History Month feels like the ideal time to explore the character and some of her best moments as a member of Starfleet. Of course, nothing will be featured from Season 5 just yet, though anyone curious can check out my spoiler-free review on the first four episodes . 

Surviving Her Escape From The Brig

Michael Burnham has had some close calls in her Starfleet career, but I don't think any of them measure up to how she narrowly escaped dying when the USS Shenzhou was split due to a Klingon attack. For those who don't remember, Michael was in the brig during the attack, having been put there for mutiny after overriding Starfleet orders and attacking the Klingon ship. 

With only a force field separating her from the cold vacuum of space, Burnham is in a tight spot. After a brief pep talk with Sarek (via mind meld and use of katra), Burnham was able to convince an officer to open a hole in the force field, which propelled her to an adjacent compartment and got her to safety. It was a bold gambit, but the kind of inspirational move that makes you love her and her drive. 

Traveling Alone To The Future As The Red Angel

Traveling deep into the future was a perilous journey with plenty of unknowns, and I'd like to think if the literal fate of the universe wasn't at stake, no one on Discovery would've signed on for it. Doing it in a ship was wild enough, but what about traveling to the future in nothing but a time-travel suit? That just sounds bonkers, but Michael didn't think twice about it. 

To take it further, how horrifying must it have been to arrive on the other side and not have the rest of the crew right behind in the ship? A year doesn't sound like a long time, but that's quite a lot to go in a new time period, not knowing exactly when everyone you knew before will emerge on the other side. The upside is that it gave her some quality time with Cleveland Booker, whom we will see reunite with Michael in the final season . 

Turning Emperor Georgiou Into One Of The Heroes

Terran Emperor Georgiou was trapped in the prime timeline and, with little ability to return, was forced to assume the identity of her dead counterpart, Starfleet Captain Phillipa Georgiou. Initially, she seemed to be more or less committed to being the person she was in the Mirror Universe, yet slowly, but surely, Michael Burnham changed her. 

She did have an advantage in that Georgiou also had a soft spot for the Terran Michael. Even so, the two Michaels were incredibly different, and it's safe to say that the more time Georgiou watched Michael be better, she also worked to be a better person. Or at least, as good as a Terran raised in violence and responsible for an untold number of deaths can be. We'll see how well her will to do good sticks in the upcoming Star Trek: Section 31 movie . 

Convincing The Federation Not To Attack The DMA

Always count on a Starfleet captain when it comes to inspiring speeches, but it's truly impressive what Michael pulled off in Discovery Season 4. Imagine finding the source of a threat that's indiscriminately destroying entire planets, and better yet, there's a scientist capable of developing the exact weapon that could severely harm that species, if not eradicate them. 

In our real life, modern times, you'd have to think our world leaders would've unanimously voted to attack without question. The new Federation, which was still getting its legs, definitely had the temptation to do the same. It took an impassioned speech from Michael Burnham to swing the majority of votes to attempt to contact the species and get an explanation behind why this was happening, though her efforts were thwarted when Book and Ruon Tarka tried to use the weapon anyway. 

Gaining Saru's Respect And Friendship

The friendship Saru and Michael have toward the end of Star Trek: Discovery is not even close to that at the beginning of the series. Saru has absolute disdain for Michael due to her actions on the Shenzhou , and it didn't seem like anything she could do would ever be able to win his trust back. In his defense, Michael was the first person in Starfleet history to be charged with mutiny, so it's not like he didn't have valid reasons to distrust her. 

Doug Jones shared his honest thoughts about Discovery 's final scene. 

As the seasons went on, Saru's relationship with Michael grew, and they became friends. He trusted her enough by Season 3 to make her his Number One, and by the end of the season, he trusted his friend to take over the captaincy of Discovery . He was, to use the word of the feature again, "inspired" by Michael's journey and all he'd been through with her over the years. Saru is one of Star Trek 's best characters , so I'm inclined to believe that if you can inspire him to have faith in you after all that, you're an inspiring leader overall. 

Is Star Trek: Discovery 's Michael Burnham the only inspiring woman of the franchise? Absolutely not. Star Trek, as a whole, is loaded with strong women, and you'll find far more of them by watching any of the shows. With that said, there have only been two female characters who've led a Trek series, and I'd say Michael Burnham is just as inspiring as Janeway, if not a little more. 

Star Trek: Discovery 's final season begins on Paramount+ on Thursday, April 4th. Be prepared for an epic adventure and ten more episodes with the inspiring Michael Burnham, and hopefully, an ending that will set the stage for more adventures for the crew I hope we see in upcoming Star Trek shows . 

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Mick Joest is a Content Producer for CinemaBlend with his hand in an eclectic mix of television goodness. Star Trek is his main jam, but he also regularly reports on happenings in the world of Star Trek, WWE, Doctor Who, 90 Day Fiancé, Quantum Leap, and Big Brother. He graduated from the University of Southern Indiana with a degree in Journalism and a minor in Radio and Television. He's great at hosting panels and appearing on podcasts if given the chance as well.

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