star trek discovery young michael

Arista Arhin

Her performance in the first season of Discovery landed her two industry award nominations, folllowed by three subsequent ones for season two , none of which she won.

Prior to Star Trek , Arhin appeared in an episode of The Mystery Files (2017) and had a recurring role as Ozlyn in Odd Squad (2017). Since 2018, she has portrayed series regular Alicia Windsor in Bajillionnaires .

Star Trek appearances [ ]

• " The Vulcan Hello "
• " Battle at the Binary Stars "
• " Brother "
• " Light and Shadows "
• " If Memory Serves "
• " Project Daedalus "
• " Perpetual Infinity "
• " Unification III " (archive footage)
• " Life, Itself " (archive footage)

External links [ ]

• Arista Arhin at the Internet Movie Database
• Arista Arhin at X (formerly Twitter)
• Arista Arhin at Facebook
• Arista Arhin at Instagram
• Interview with Arista Arhin at HarltonEmpire.com
• 1 Bell Riots
• 3 Christopher Russell

• August 22, 2024 | Exclusive: ‘Star Trek: Khan – Ceti Alpha V’ Audio Drama Podcast Is Currently Casting
• August 21, 2024 | Paramount Extends Skydance Merger Deal Date To Consider Competing Bid [UPDATED: Skydance Responds]
• August 20, 2024 | ‘Star Trek: Strange New Worlds’ Showrunners Talk “Crazier” Season 3, Plans To “Drive Right Into” TOS
• August 20, 2024 | Details Revealed For ‘Star Trek: Prodigy’ Season 2 Blu-Ray/DVD, Arriving In November
• August 20, 2024 | See Sisko Face Lore The “Godkiller” In Preview Of ‘Star Trek’ #23

‘Star Trek: Discovery’ Analysis: Everything We Know About Michael Burnham

| August 16, 2017 | By: Matt Wright 36 comments so far

There has been a flurry of activity over the last month in regards to Star Trek: Discovery . A new trailer was released along with several official images. There were panels at San Diego Comic-Con, Star Trek Las Vegas and the TCA Summer Tour. There have also been a number of interviews with cast and crew. It is a lot to take in so today TrekMovie begins a series of articles trying to put all the pieces together to take a look at what we know (or think we know) about the show, starting with the show’s star and primary focus. SPOILER WARNING, obviously this article will delve into as many details as we can find.

Star Trek: Discovery ‘s main character Michael Burnham (played by Sonequa Martin-Green) is a unique character for a Star Trek lead; she’s not the captain, and while she appears to be well-meaning and passionate, she certainly does not seem perfect. Burnham is the Discovery character we know the most about so far, so let’s see what we can piece together about her from the trailers and interviews, as we anxiously await the September premiere.

Burnham orphaned by Klingon attack

Possible aftermath of the Klingon attack on Vulcan

As a young girl, Michael Burnham and her parents were visiting Vulcan at the invitation of Ambassador Sarek when Burnham’s parents were killed in a Klingon attack. Sarek felt responsible for Michael, so he took her in and raised her as part of his family.

Young Michael Burnham is rescued by Sarek

As a human in a Vulcan world she struggled to be accepted. She was the only human to attend the Vulcan Learning Center as a child and then the Vulcan Science Academy as a young adult. Her specialty is xenoanthropology, which includes making first contact with new species.

Burnham the promising young officer

When she applied to Starfleet, Sarek personally vouched for her and asked Captain Georgiou to mentor her. In the pilot episode, we find her as second-in-command under Captain Georgiou on the USS Shenzhou .

The USS Shenzhou

The bridge crew of the Shenzhou

And even on her new assignment, Burnham maintains a relationship with Sarek, albeit now via long distance hologram.

Burnham keeps in touch with Sarek

While visiting an alien planet Georgiou notes that Burnham has served under her for seven years, and tells her it’s time for her own command.

Georgiou and Burnham exploring a desert world

A principled and passionate person, Burnham struggles with the conflict between her Vulcan upbringing and her human nature. Martin-Green describes this inner conflict:

As Michael Burnham, I’m a principled woman. The ideologies of Starfleet are emblematic to my personality, for sure… but I also have this Vulcan indoctrination. So, you’re seeing all of that clash.

Georgiou and Burnham discuss their next actions

The Klingon incident

Sometime during the pilot the Shenzhou encounters what at first is an “object of unknown origin,” but is revealed to be of Klingon origin.

An unknown object on the scanners

Burnham, the curious explorer, goes to investigate

Burnham meets The Torchbearer on top of the Obelisk

A better view of the Obelisk, note the tiny figure (Burnham) floating away from it

Burnham, faceplate cracked, floats away from the Obelisk

At some point (possibly before Burnham’s spacewalk) a decision  is made for Capt. Georgiou and Burnham to beam over to the Klingon ship.

Georgiou and Burnham beam onto Klingon ship

Burnham is attacked on the Klingon ship

A fateful decision leads to a fall from grace

At some point she makes a decision during the encounter with the Klingons that almost certainly goes against orders. This is the difficult choice showrunner Aaron Harberts talked about back in June :

Burnham’s choice that we’re alluding to is the most difficult choice you can make – it affects her, affects Starfleet, affects the Federation; it affects the entire universe.

Whatever specific actions get her in trouble, the heated debate we saw in the May trailer is likely part of it.

Heated debate with Georgiou

Michael Burnham gets taken off the bridge by guards

Meanwhile, all hell breaks loose with the Klingons. The Shenzhou is nearly destroyed by the Klingons, the crew evacuates in escape pods.

Escape pods jettison

Down in the brig, emergency force fields go up around Burnham as the hull is ripped away.

Michael Burnham in the brig

She escapes the wreck of the Shenzhou.

Burnham leaps through destroyed section of hull

An offer for a chance at redemption

After some time passes Burnham undergoes some changes. Notably in the Comic-Con trailer she can be seen with a different haircut and she’s now in a civilian yellow shirt. This implies that she was either temporarily relieved of duty for her actions or perhaps even court-martialed. Captain Lorca comes to talk to her while she’s behind a force field (possibly because she’s serving a stint in the brig for her actions).  

Note the reflection of Burnham in yellow shirt on the forcefield

“You helped start a war…”

“…don’t you want to help me end it?”

She’s recruited to join Lorca’s team on the new vessel the USS Discovery — possibly as a civilian adviser, as she still has the yellow shirt on for now.

The USS Discovery

Burnham, in yellow shirt, rooms with Cadet Tilly

There is some weirdness going on the U.S.S. Discovery

Changes in hair – on the Shenzhou versus later on the Discovery

A daring mission

She and her new crewmates appear to go back to the wreck of the Shenzhou ;  we assume that there is something important left behind that will help with the Klingon war.

Running through the dark corridors of the Shenzhou

Tilly, Stamets, and Landry (phaser rifle drawn) anxiously await Burnham in a shuttle

Burnham drops in on shuttle crew, in full superhero landing.

Return to service

We assume that during the retrieval mission she proves herself worthy, and is allowed to keep her new post on the Discovery. She’s now an officer in the sciences division (silver), rather than command (gold). This makes her a bit more like her adoptive brother Spock, in that she’s both second-in-command and (now) a science officer.

We don’t see her rank in the Comic-Con trailer once she’s part of the Discovery crew, but she may have had a rank reduction from full Commander to Lieutenant Commander as a reprimand, this would fit with the “Lt. Commander with caveats” that Fuller described a year ago .

Burnham now in science silver

We’re looking forward to learning more about the complex character of Michael Burnham and seeing how accurate what we’ve pieced together here turns out to be.

Keep checking TrekMovie for upcoming companion articles about the other Starfleet and Klingon characters, ships and equipment of Star Trek: Discovery .

Star Trek: Discovery   premieres on September 24th  on CBS with all subsequent episodes on  CBS All Access  in the US.  In Canada  Star Trek: Discovery  will premiere  on Bell Media’s CTV and the Space Channel on the same night. Netflix will launch  Star Trek: Discovery  on Monday, September 25 to countries outside of the U.S. and Canada.

Related Articles

Celebrity , Discovery , Interview , Starfleet Academy

Interview: Doug Jones On His Surprise ‘Star Trek: Discovery’ Evolution And Ideas For Saru On ‘Academy’

Discovery , Star Trek: Prodigy

‘Star Trek: Prodigy’ Season 2 Hits Netflix Top 10 Internationally, ‘Discovery’ Season 5 On Nielsen Top 10

Discovery , DVD/Blu-ray/Streaming

‘Star Trek: Discovery’ Season 5 And Complete Series Box Sets Coming To Blu-ray And DVD In August

Discovery , Interview

Interview: Doug Jones On ‘Star Trek: Discovery’ Finale, Saru’s Happy Ending, And If He Was Ready For More

Great analysis from Trekmovie – you’ve thought of things here I never even gleamed from the trailers.

I also get the feeling that whilst Captain Georgiou is a mentor to Burnham, their disagreement about how to deal with the imminent Klingon attack ( which may lead to Burnham being thrown in the brig ), will lead to Captain Georgiou’s death ( where we see the bridge of the Shenzhou explode in front of Georgiou in the trailer ).

Burnham will feel guilty and bear a sense of responsibility for the loss of her mentor, ( especially if she was sitting helpless in the brig at the time ) which will add even more to her sense of finding redemption.

I was also wondering what happened to the rest of the crew of the Shenzou? We’re they allowed to make it back to Federation space? Or were they captured and made POWs like Lt. Tyler? On the entertainment weekly cover he appears with Captains Georgiou and Lorca. While Burnham appears with the rest of the Discovery crew and by herself. I am wondering if it’s a hint to his status. He served with Georgiou but after everything that happened he like Burnham switched to Lorca’s Discovery.

As for Burnham’s gold shirt. It’s interesting that they chose to put her in a command color. Assuming the shirt is civilian and not a uniform one would wear while in the brig. Maybe it’s designed to give people a visual reminder she use to be in command before the incident that landed her in trouble happened.

Some terrific thoughts here Steph.

I wonder if that pale looking Klingon in the image entitled “Burnham is attacked on the Klingon ship” is VOQ, who has been teased in one of the promo the posters?

“Titled,” not “entitled.” They have very different meanings.

Why do so many people make this mistake?

According to the Oxford Dictionary, one meaning of ‘to entitle’ would be “Give (something) a particular title.” Example: ‘a satire entitled ‘The Rise of the Meritocracy’’. Therefore this use of the word ‘entitled’ is not incorrect, but merely equivocal.

PS: I guess the 100% unequivocal choice of words here would actually be ‘captioned’.

I hope Michelle Yeoh remains on the cast after her ship is destroyed. It would suck if she’s only in the first few episodes. I liked that there was an Asian woman as Captain. And she’s a very good actress, and adds gravitas to the show.

Yep, I am a huge fan of Michelle Yeoh, and STAR TREK is all the more richer for having her ( and Jsson Isaacs, Doug Jones – all of the movie stars ) on the show. That said, I have a feeling that Yeoh’s Captain Georgiou will die in the opening episode ( I see no way she could escape from that explosion – but who knows? ), and her tragic loss may be what spurs on Burnham’s character

A recent photo from a producer seems to suggest that Michelle is still in Toronto.

Ah, very interesting, thank you. I wonder if this means Georgiou is still alive, or is she now going to appear regularly, but in flashback? Intriguing nonetheless.

You assume that it’s recent ;-)

Ted has said on Twitter that he’s been holding on to various behind the scenes photos, because he wasn’t allowed to share them until now.

That same photo includes the name of the director, and if you follow the breadcrumbs online, that’s the director for the second episode (2nd half of pilot), so it’s not a recent photo.

But Lt. Saru is also on Shenzhou, and don’t we know that he joins Discovery, too? So it seems like a lot of Shenzhou’s crew does survive. Plus, if the Discovery crew returns to Shenzhou to retrieve MacGuffin X, that implies the explosion didn’t destroy the whole ship.

I too hope Yeoh continues and plays a role like Erika Hernandez did.

Agreed! Here here. Michelle Yeoh is a fantastic actress and looks the part. I think no coincidence that Crouching Dragon Hidden Tiger was in a way Wagon Train in China.. easy to see her playing into Wagon Train to the Stars!

Love that scene in CTHD where she basically takes out that entire restaurant/inn.

IMDB shows her appearing in 15 episodes. Might not be right but other characters are listed from 1 to 15 episodes.

I wouldn’t trust that though. They probably do that to a lot of shows to throw off any surprises. That said, it doesn’t mean they are wrong.

Thanks for putting this together, some great detective work! Can’t wait to see how accurate your conclusions are, getting more excited the closer the launch date comes.

Agreed, while I haven’t really been working very hard to figure this all out, I’m extremely impressed with the investigative deductions from the assembly of clip snippets. Very well done!

I’m going to go out on a limb, based on no information whatsoever, and predict that Captain Georgiou is seemingly killed in the destruction of the Shenzou, but is unbeknownst to us captured by the Klingons, and needs to be rescued by Burnham later in the season, making her available for Season Two. Pure speculation, and maybe a dab of hope…

Very possible.

Wow. Super excited. Can’t wait until September.

Lovely analysis!

You contrast Michael Burnham with the leads of other Star Trek series and say that she doesn’t seem to be perfect. Surely you don’t mean to say that all of Star Trek’s captains are perfect? Even Kirk would admit that he’s imperfect, and Archer is really, REALLY imperfect. :-)

Picard is really the only perfect one.

Picard isn’t perfect at all.

The “perfect” thing was shorthand really. She seems more like a Ro Laren, and less of a Kirk, Spock, Picard, Riker, etc. type is all. None of the Trek characters are actually perfect.

Spock is perfect in my eyes. :-)

Archer was the first captain. There was no precedent or rulebook. There wasn’t even a prime directive.

EXTREMELY excited for this!

A 1 season war arc isn’t long. DS9 took its time with their war arc over a span of more episodes and that was a really good storyline IMO

Half-step-sister to Sybok whom he doesn’t remember. But then again, each man hides a secret pain. He never shared it with me though.

Reminder to all to stay on topic. Please do not use these comment sections to try to derail discussions, especially into politics and other such things.

Also if there is something you feel TrekMovie would be interested in, please send it to tips at trekmovie dot com.

Any questions or comments: https://trekmovie.com/about/feedback-2/

I always say every time someone does one of these ‘analysis’ I’m going to go back later after it aired and see how right they were. This time I plan to do it but yeah it all sounds reasonable at least to me.

Hoping for a two hour premiere.

Star Trek: Discovery (2017–2024)

Full cast & crew.

Series Directed by 

Series writing credits  , series cast  , series produced by , series music by , series cinematography by , series editing by , series casting by , series production design by , series art direction by , series set decoration by , series costume design by , series makeup department , series production management , series second unit director or assistant director , series art department , series sound department , series special effects by , series visual effects by , series stunts , series camera and electrical department , series animation department , series casting department , series costume and wardrobe department , series editorial department , series location management , series music department , series script and continuity department , series transportation department , series additional crew , series thanks .

Release Dates | Official Sites | Company Credits | Filming & Production | Technical Specs

Contribute to This Page

• Full Cast and Crew
• Release Dates
• Official Sites
• Company Credits
• Filming & Production
• Technical Specs
• Plot Summary
• Plot Keywords
• Parents Guide

Did You Know?

• Crazy Credits
• Alternate Versions
• Connections
• Soundtracks

Photo & Video

• Photo Gallery
• Trailers and Videos
• User Reviews
• User Ratings
• External Reviews
• Metacritic Reviews
• Episode List

Related Items

• External Sites

Related lists from IMDb users

Recently Viewed

The Entire Star Trek: Discovery Timeline Explained

For a series ostensibly about exploring the galaxy and meeting new lifeforms in the hopes of sharing knowledge and resources, there sure is a lot of time travel in "Star Trek." It's been present from the very beginning, as even Kirk and crew visited the past multiple times . Two of those adventures resulted in the iconic episode "The City on the Edge of Forever" and "Star Trek 4: The Adventure Home."

Modern "Star Trek" adventures have embraced this aspect of the universe, as time travel was also the direct cause of the Kelvin Timeline featured in the 2009 "Star Trek" film and its sequels. When the Romulan Nero traveled back in time and destroyed the USS Kelvin, killing James Kirk's father, he accidentally contributed to the creation of a new universe running parallel to the prime timeline. Ultimately, time travel has become every bit as important to "Star Trek" as exploration.

"Star Trek: Discovery" is no exception to this. Initially a prequel series set ten years before the original series, it soon became a sequel set further into the future than any other "Star Trek" installment. Time travel tends to muddy the narrative progression of a story, so we will be looking at where "Star Trek: Discovery" started to shed some light on where it ended up. Here is the entire "Star Trek: Discovery" timeline explained.

A visit to Talos

"Star Trek: Discovery" is set ten years before what is now referred to as "Star Trek: The Original Series." However, one episode of "The Original Series" actually occurs before "Discovery." In many ways, it is the beginning of the entire "Star Trek" franchise. While most viewers back in the late '60s probably remember it as the story told in the exciting two-parter "The Menagerie," which reuses the footage captured for the original "Star Trek" pilot called "The Cage."

We have to begin here because these events play a crucial role in "Star Trek: Discovery" Season 2. "The Cage" sees the Enterprise crew, led by Captain Christopher Pike, visiting Talos IV, encountering a strange alien race. These are the Talosians, telepaths who experience life by manipulating beings they keep in their menagerie. By forcing Captain Pike to endure multiple illusions of their creations, they hope to understand love, anger, fear, excitement, and other emotions they forfeited by choosing to further develop their mental abilities.

Years later, after Captain Pike temporarily assumes command of the USS Discovery, he is forced to revisit Talos IV to cure Spock of his current mental disorder. Not only is it a chance to save Spock's life, but it also allows Pike to seek out closure regarding his past experiences on the planet.

The Battle at the Binary Stars

"Star Trek: Discovery" officially begins with a huge two-part story called "The Vulcan Hello" and "The Battle at the Binary Stars." This is where we meet the star of the show, Commander Michael Burnham, the first officer of the USS Shenzhou. While most "Star Trek" shows tend to be ensemble pieces, "Discovery" belongs to Burnham and it is her arc that we follow.

This opening episode sees Starfleet encountering Klingons for the first time in about a century. An extremist group of Klingons led by the xenophobic T'Kuvma engaged in a devastating battle with the USS Shenzhou after an altercation with Burnham resulted in the death of one of their own. This opening battle becomes a war between the Federation and the Klingons, the effects of which are still being felt during "The Original Series" and the six original "Star Trek" movies .

Following this battle, Michael Burnham is stripped of her rank and sentenced to life in prison — which leads to the true beginning of the show.

Six months later

Following Michael's sentencing, the show jumps ahead six months. While being transferred to a new prison, there's an emergency and the Discovery arrives to save her. While on the ship she meets its captain, a dark and elusive man named Gabriel Lorca, and its crew. She also reunites with her old friend from the Shenzhou, Commander Saru. Healing their relationship following her mutiny is a major part of the first two seasons of "Star Trek: Discovery." 

Lorca believes that Michael's knowledge and experience could be of some use to them on the Discovery, so he invites her to unofficially join them as a specialist. The reasons behind Lorca's decision to go out of his way to save her, and why he wants her working with him on the Discovery, is another major element to the first season. His character comes off as a little strange right away, as Starfleet captains tend to be fairly approachable and diplomatic. However, Lorca is intimidating, conniving, and a little too adept at war to fit the typical captain archetype.

Taking Control

To correctly understand the timeline of "Star Trek: Discovery," we next need to dive into some events that are revealed during Season 2 but take place in Season 1. 

Section 31 is the secret Black Ops division of the United Federation of Planets . They operate in the shadows, carrying out missions the Federation doesn't want to be made public. They feature heavily in "Star Trek: Discovery" and its second season. Following the events of "The Battle at the Binary Stars," Section 31 starts using a threat assessment artificial intelligence called Control in the hopes of preventing wars.

The idea is the Federation would give Control information regarding potential threats, and Control would then provide suggestions on how to proceed. As often happens in science fiction when artificial intelligence is involved, things go haywire when Control decides it no longer needs human beings to implement its suggestions. Instead, it assumes "control" of human beings to enact its agenda. This leads to the massive time jump the USS Discovery would take into the future during the end of Season 2.

Into the Mirror Universe

The USS Discovery has an experimental new system called a spore drive. It allows the Discovery to travel along a microscopic network spread throughout the universe, effectively making instant travel possible. It's an incredibly complex system, one that Forbes notes was inspired by a real-life mycologist, which can be used to break the barriers between realities.

The idea is proposed to astromycologist Commander Paul Stamets by Captain Gabriel Lorca. Stamets is considering leaving Starfleet, but Lorca convinces him to stay on to try one final experiment to see if it truly is possible to visit alternate realities. The experiment works, and the entire crew of the USS Discovery is transported into the classic evil dimension of the "Star Trek" universe — the Mirror Universe .

In the "Star Trek" Mirror Universe the heroes are villains and the villains are heroes, and it is soon revealed that this is where Lorca is from. He arrived in the prime timeline, took over the original Gabriel Lorca's life, and orchestrated events to unite with Michael Burnham — who was his lover in the mirror universe — and use the spore drive to return to his universe and overthrow Emperor Georgiou.

While the time the crew spends in the mirror universe might seem brief, it turns out that nine months pass during that time. 

Nine months later

When Gabriel Lorca dies in the mirror universe, the crew of the USS Discovery returns to their native universe — but they've brought the emperor with them. 

One of Michael Burnham's defining character traits is parental issues. She lost her human parents at a very young age. She was then adopted by the Vulcan Sarek and his human wife, Amanda. They raised her on Vulcan with their son Spock, effectively making her Spock's human step-sister .

Although she tried to live like a Vulcan, her human emotions were far too powerful. As a result, when she joined Starfleet and was assigned to serve on the USS Shenzhou, she gravitated to its human captain Phillipa Georgiou, seeing her as a maternal figure. Tragically, Georgiou died in the Battle of the Binary Stars, and the guilt of her loss has tortured Burnham ever since. Upon arriving in the mirror universe and finding another Georgiou, she can't help but try and bring her back to the prime timeline, hoping to correct her biggest regret.

Back in the prime timeline, they discover that nine months have passed and the war has not been going well. Discovery is boarded by Sarek and Admiral Cornwell, who informs the recently-returned crew that the Klingons have almost won the war.

The mystery of the Red Angel

By the end of Season One, the Klingon War is over, and there is an uneasy peace between the two sides. However, the crew of the Discovery doesn't have long to reflect on these events, as they soon encounter the Enterprise and are boarded by Captain Christopher Pike. Pike has been directed to temporarily assume command of the Discovery to research red burst anomalies that have been popping up all over the galaxy.

The red bursts are caused by an entity referred to as the Red Angel. The identity of this entity and the reasons for its actions are complex but intimately related to Michael. It turns out that there are two Red Angels — one is Michael Burnham's mother, Gabrielle, and the other is Michael herself. The form of the angel is actually a suit capable of traveling through time developed by Michael's parents as a project for Section 31.

At some point, Gabrielle decides to use the suit to escape an attack from Klingons but winds up in the distant future. She sees that the AI system Control has taken over the galaxy, so she uses her suit to jump around in time in the hopes of preventing Control from evolving and spreading across the galaxy. Michael then uses the suit to send signals that appear as red bursts for the crew of the Discovery to follow, defeat Control, and travel to the future.

The all-knowing Sphere

Season 2 of "Star Trek: Discovery" is full of big, wild ideas that could serve as the basis for a film or an entire series. The first, of course, is the threat of Control. The second is the Red Angel. The third is a sentient, planet-sized lifeform called the Sphere.

This Sphere has spent hundreds of thousands of years exploring the galaxy, collecting information and experiences. It has existed for such a long time that it is now dying. With such a wealth of knowledge and experience, it doesn't want to be forgotten, so it transfers its memory to the Discovery's computers.

As wonderful a find as this is, it is also incredibly dangerous. When Airiam, a cybernetic member of the Discovery crew, is infected by a future version of Control, she is directed to transfer all the sphere data on artificial intelligence to the current form of Control. With that information, Control will be able to gain full sentience and take over the galaxy — just as seen in Spock's vision from the Red Angel.

Defeating Control

For any "Star Trek" fans upset that "Star Trek: Discovery"  takes place 10 years before "The Original Series" but the technology is significantly more advanced — or that Spock never mentioned having a human step-sister — their fears were partially quelled when the ship made the jump ahead almost one thousand years.

By the end of Season 2, Control was defeated, the mystery of the Red Angel was solved, and the need to get the sphere data to a safer time period arose. With the data merging to Discovery's computers, the decision was made not to try and delete the data but take it into the future. Using the Red Angel suit, Michael Burnham drags the USS Discovery into a time in a future not yet explored by the "Star Trek" franchise .

Once Discovery is gone, the Federation decides to clear the ship's existence from all Starfleet records and never speak of it, the crew, or its mission again. Thus, Michael Burnham is never mentioned, nor is the Discovery or its experimental spore drive. 

The future of Starfleet and the Federation

The jump to the future is successful, but Michael arrives there alone. Since she was towing the ship, not riding in it, the trip was different for her. Immediately upon arriving, she rams into a ship piloted by Cleveland Booker before being pulled in by a nearby planet's gravity, regaining control of the Red Angel suit only seconds before splattering on its surface.

At first, she is panicked that Discovery won't answer her call but is soon thrilled by the knowledge that there is life on this planet. She eventually meets Cleveland Booker and discovers that the Federation barely exists anymore. The reason for its diminished size and influence was something called the Burn. In the 31st century, nearly every warp core installed in Federation ships exploded, wiping out swaths of life and nearly destroying the Federation. Exactly what caused this "burn" is the central mystery of Season 3. 

One year later

In this new world, where dilithium is more precious than ever, Michael travels the galaxy, trading it for goods and services. She spends an entire year recording her experiences and searching for any sign of the Discovery. Finally, her search efforts pay off, and she is reunited with her crew. In a completely new headspace, Michael isn't sure about serving on the Discovery any longer. True, she earned back her respect and rank but is she is more interested in solving the mystery of the Burn and restoring the Federation rather than limiting herself to a single ship.

By the end of Season 3, the mystery surrounding the Burn is solved, the Federation is in the early stages of reconnecting with its lost members, and Michael joins the crew of the Discovery again. This time, however, she isn't a specialist or a first officer — she is the captain. 

Season 4 is still set in the 32nd century and Michael is now known as Captain Michael Burnham. Her arc mirrors the real-life arc of the show. She started as a first officer who lost everything and worked her way back to a command position, while "Star Trek: Discovery" began life as a prequel with a dubious connection to canon and became a sequel that takes the franchise to brand new heights.

• More to Explore
• Series & Movies

Published Apr 25, 2024

WARP FIVE: Sonequa Martin-Green on the Gift of Michael Burnham

The Star Trek: Discovery actress walks us through 'Face the Strange,' her love of the franchise, fandom, and more!

SPOILER WARNING: This article contains story details and plot points for the fifth season of Star Trek: Discovery.

Getty Images / StarTrek.com

For the fifth and final season of Star Trek: Discovery , Michael Burnham finally gets to settle in and soak in the thrill of an epic chase with the galaxy’s biggest threat (the Dark Matter Anomaly) behind her.

Ahead of season’s premiere, StarTrek.com sat down for an intimate conversation with series star and executive producer Sonequa Martin-Green where we discussed what the franchise means to her, being surrounded by the fandom, the first half of the final season, and more!

Facing Michael Burnham’s Legacy

"Face the Strange"

StarTrek.com

In the latest episode, " Face the Strange ," Michael Burnham, Rayner, and Paul Stamets are stuck in a time loop after fugitives Moll and L'ak plant a time bug on the U.S.S. Discovery . The episode allows fans to revisit pivotal moments across the series' first four seasons and Captain Burnham to face herself, literally, as she stands before the mutineer who was offered a second chance to serve the Federation.

Burnham reflects on that moment in the episode telling her first officer, "The first time I walked onto this bridge, it took every ounce of strength I had not to turn around and run right back off. I respected Starfleet too much to believe I deserved to be here after what I had done." As Rayner notes, Burnham has to be "the only person in Starfleet to ever captain a ship that [they] first boarded as a prisoner."

"That’s one of my favorite episodes of the entire show," Martin-Green shares. "We get to see old Burnham, and that interaction, I feel that it was a gift. It was a gift that the writers gave me, and it was a gift that they gave Burnham. It really means a lot to me because you see this woman falling forward, you see this woman going through the necessary trouble to grow. And you can almost forget where Burnham started, when you look at where Burnham ended, when you look at where I ended up as Michael."

"That right there, that episode gives context," states Martin-Green. "For me, doing it, and then being able to see it in Post, you see it. You see the progression right there in front of your face. That was just one of the best gifts that we could have given to Michael Burnham. It champions the permanent change that is a tenet to our story because every character can do that. Every character could look back and see who they were in Season 1 and see the growth, see the distance that they’ve traveled. It was representative of one of our cornerstones."

The Changing of the XO Guard

"Under the Twin Moons"

Following Discovery 's first run-in with Moll and L'ak on Q’Mau in " Red Directive ," Saru steps down as Burnham’s first officer in " Under the Twin Moons ," allowing the captain to extend a second chance to the gruff Antares captain, Rayner .

Reflecting on Burnham’s relationship with Saru, who served alongside her on the Shenzhou , before their history aboard Discovery , and his decision to take a new position with the Federation, Martin-Green says, "That was such a heartbreaking moment for Burnham."

"The relationship between Burnham and Saru is just one of my favorite things about Star Trek: Discovery ," she continues. "That brother and sister, they will always be unified. Their relationship was refined with fire and carved in stone, if you will. Him going off to fulfill his own destiny is necessary, honestly, for Burnham's development and maturation. Having him as a guide, a shepherd, and a big brother in a lot of ways gave me as Burnham a sense of security and a sense of peace. And so those things are going to have to be found from within. It's that process of growth. Saru has also, he's matured to that place. He has transformed. He has morphed into this confident, fearless leader and legend with his people. It’s really beautiful because you see these people actualizing. You see these people literally stepping into who they were meant to be and doing it together. They couldn't have done it without each other."

Ushering in a New Era

With the conclusion of Star Trek: Discovery , the series star has had ample time to reflect on the journey these past seven years. As Michael Burnham took us to the 32nd Century, Sonequa Martin-Green took Star Trek to uncharted territory ushering a new modern era for the franchise when Star Trek: Discovery debuted in 2017, 12 years after Star Trek: Enterprise went off air.

Looking holistically, Martin-Green imparts, "We all knew that this franchise has made an impact on our society. We knew that we needed to do it justice, and we were all passionate about that and there was no ego. We knew that we had a great responsibility and a great duty ahead us. And so it is thrilling."

"It's thrilling to be able to be a part of something that has already made an impact, that's already solidified in the consciousness of society," she adds. "It's also great to play these characters, to bring these characters to life that are brand new and fresh. It was great and fulfilling to be able to tell a serialized story, to be able to be the most diverse Trek ever, and to be able to go beyond where any Trek had gone before, even from a timeline perspective. It's really thrilling and fulfilling as an artist, as an actor, as a human being, for me as a Black woman. Also, to be brutally honest, as a Christian, as a wife and mother. It's been a blessing."

What Star Trek Means to Sonequa Martin-Green

"Jinaal"

Executive producer and showrunner Alex Kurtzman, speaking exclusively to StarTrek.com , shared that in the run up to the production of the series, they were lucky to come across Martin-Green, "It's that beautiful thing. We had been looking for so long for the right Michael Burnham. And it's that miracle moment that you always wait for when you're in a casting process where just the right person shows up and starts saying the lines, and you go, 'That's my Michael Burnham.' That's what we got with her just out of the gate."

On taking on the role, Martin-Green recalls, “I remember saying really early on that, to me, Star Trek was a call to rise. And I still feel that way.”

“Now here we are almost seven years later after I first said that,” Martin-Green concludes. “And I can attest that it has been true. It has allowed me to grow in my own understanding of who I am. It's emboldened me to express myself more authentically. It's encouraged me to understand my worth and my value and that it is intrinsic. It's inherent. It's not something I need to fight for. All of those things have really deepened in me from being a part of this. And I've heard countless stories. I've had the blessing of hearing countless stories of people saying a version of that as well because of this franchise and because of Discovery specifically. So to me, it's still that call to rise, even if that rise is rising to who you really are and what you're really here to do.”

The Beauty of Her Fandom Experience

Star Trek: The Cruise

As Discovery readies itself for its final journey, Martin-Green sees the Discovery family extending beyond the cast and crew, to the fandom.

"It's really transcendent, honestly, being a part of the franchise," she shares. "And I had an interesting experience because when I came into the franchise, I knew of it peripherally, but I didn't know it intimately. And we were a family on Discovery ."

"And then over the years, I've come to understand all the different families that make up the franchise, the audience being part of it, being the extended family," notes Martin-Green. “And now here on [ Star Trek: The Cruise VII], my first time doing the full cruise. And now that we're done with Discovery , I feel like now I can see it more clearly. Hindsight is 20/20, and I feel that I have a more objective point of view now and I'm getting to understand these families that make up the franchise in a brand-new way. It's almost like being separated from it is allowing me to be a part of it like never before. In a weird way. It's kind of beautiful though."

Get Updates By Email

Christine Dinh (she/her) is the managing editor for StarTrek.com. She’s traded the Multiverse for helming this Federation Starship.

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.

Why Star Trek: Discovery's Series Finale Mainly Focuses On Michael Burnham And Not The Crew, According To The Showrunner

It's good to hear her perspective.

Star Trek: Discovery is over and, unsurprisingly, there's been plenty of debate over how the series ultimately concluded. The coda scenes addressed what was happening with Michael Burnham and resolved the long-standing mystery of "Calypso." However, some fans wondered why the rest of the main cast didn't receve more of the spotlight. Well, wonder no longer, as Michelle Paradise shared with CinemaBlend just why the ending was so Michael-centric. 

Michelle Paradise was gracious enough to carve out some time to speak to me ahead of the finale. During our chat, we talked about the various ins and outs of the series capper, which is now available to stream with a Paramount+ subscription . When asked about the coda scenes and the heavy emphasis on Michael compared to moments that included Saru, Tilly, Stamets, Culber, Adira, or others, the showrunner had this to say: 

Burnham is the heart of our show, and it just felt so important to us that we find out what happened to her and that we know that she and Book are together. They have Leto, of course, named after Book's [nephew], and it’s just wrapping up their story by knowing where they went and what happened to them. She's an Admiral now, and they're happy, like It felt like the right way to end it, ending it on her.

The answer isn't entirely surprising, considering Michael Burnham is the central figure in Star Trek: Discovery . While it's true that many other characters had meaningful arcs, she's the lead, and it was important for the staff to give her a happy ending with Booker and show their son, Leto, who is now a Captain in Starfleet as well. 

While some might've liked to see Tilly in Starfleet Academy or maybe have seen how Adira's promising Starfleet career evolved, this has always been about Michael Burnham. Her journey from convicted mutineer to one of the most respected Starfleet Captains of the 32nd century is a arc, and she deserved a happy ending after experiencing so many personal and professional obstacles. 

Here's what's up next. 

While not every Star Trek fan may be a fan of how Discovery concluded, it's worth noting that the crew didn't really have a ton of time to film the finale. The series was cancelled after production wrapped , and Sonequa Martin-Green confirmed to CinemaBlend that it was a tenuous process to get the extra scenes filmed . We could've gotten no coda at all, which would've robbed fans of the confirmation that Michael went on to lead a happy life. 

Fortunately, the story in Star Trek is never really over for any crew. There will be plenty of opportunities for novels, spinoffs and comics that will revisit the stories of the Discovery crew. I would love to see any of the actors reprise their roles, playing substitute teachers at Starfleet Academy and helping the recently cast star Holly Hunter learn the finer details of starring in a Trek series behind the scenes. More immediately though, I'm just glad that Michael received the conclusion she deserved.

You can currently stream all five seasons of Star Trek: Discovery now on Paramount+. While it's sad the series is over, at least we now have yet another complete series of the new era to revisit and enjoy at any time.

CINEMABLEND NEWSLETTER

Your Daily Blend of Entertainment News

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.

Channing Tatum And Naomi Ackie Open Up About That Big Blink Twice Twist Ending

‘That’s The Cajun Right There’: X-Men 97’s Director Breaks Down The Gambit Scene That Went Through Multiple Revisions Before They Got It Perfect

Deadpool And Wolverine Concept Art Gave Jennifer Garner A Comic Book Accurate Elektra Costume, And I’ve Got FOMO

Most Popular

• 2 Big Brother 26 Is Headed Into Week 6, And I'm Shocked By Two Big Things
• 3 Rings Of Power Season 2 Will Feature Two Actors Playing Sauron, And I Have Complex Feelings About It
• 4 Channing Tatum And Naomi Ackie Open Up About That Big Blink Twice Twist Ending
• 5 One TV Fan Just Went Off About All The Recent Cancellations, And I’ve Never Felt More Seen

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 .

Here's Why Star Trek: Discovery's Female Lead Is Named Michael

There's a very good reason

Star Trek: Discovery 's Sonequa Martin-Green is the first woman of color, not to mention first non-captain character, to lead a Star Trek series and -- no, your ears are not deceiving you -- she's got a typically male name: Michael Burnham.

That was no accident. It was former showrunner Bryan Fuller 's idea, following in his long tradition of giving his female protagonists masculine names. See: Dead Like Me 's George ( Ellen Muth ); Pushing Daisies ' Chuck ( Anna Friel ); and Wonderfalls ' unisex Jaye ( Caroline Dhavernas ).

"We've worked on many shows with Bryan and it's a motif. It's his signature move to name his lead women with names that would typically be associated as male," executive producer Aaron Harberts said at the Television Critics Association summer press tour last month. Sonequa Martin-Green Reveals the Emotional Moment Nichelle Nichols Passed the Star Trek Torch

After tossing around a couple of options, the writers eventually landed on Michael for the first officer of the USS Shenzhou . "I have known of, I think, two [female] Michaels: Michael Sneed, [who] was a gossip columnist for the Chicago Sun‑Times and Michael Steele who played the bass for The Bangles. That's a deep dive on female Michaels," Harberts said. "And we talked about it in the entire room. It was just like, 'This is a really, really interesting name.' And, of course, an archangel is named Michael as well, and it just had a lot of potency for us." And lest we forget, there are some female Michaels associated with TV: four-time Emmy winner Michael Learned of The Waltons and Michael Michele from ER .

Sonequa Martin-Green, Star Trek: Discovery

Martin-Green was on board with the moniker twist from the beginning, which she calls a "lovely symbol," as it not only helped her understand her character's backstory -- a human raised by a Vulcan ( James Frain ) -- but is in line with the franchise's message of open-mindedness and diversity, and a future with more gender fluidity.

"I appreciated the statement it makes all on its own to have this woman with this male name, just speaking of the amelioration of how we see men and women in the future," she said at TCA. "But I also just decided for my creation and for my background and whatnot that I was named after my father. And so, we get a little bit of exploration of the father‑daughter dynamic."

Michael certainly wouldn't be the first female TV character named after a father, if that in fact becomes canon: How I Met Your Mother 's Robin ( Cobie Smulders ) was born Robin Charles Scherbatsky Jr. because her father had wanted a son.

"I think it's a really cool name," Harberts told StarTrek.com , "and maybe we'll see some more women Michaels. Who knows?" Star Trek: Discovery premieres Sunday at 8:30/7:30c on CBS. Episode 2 will be available on CBS All Access immediately after the CBS broadcast premiere. Future episodes will be released every Sunday on CBS All Access. (Full disclosure: TV Guide is owned by CBS.)

Young Spock Will Appear In 'Star Trek: Discovery' Season 2

After rumors swirled for weeks,  Star Trek: Discovery has now confirmed that a young Spock will appear in the CBS All Access show. Just not in the way you'd expect.

Everyone's favorite Vulcan will appear in the second episode of the upcoming season of  Star Trek: Discovery , according to Jonathan Frakes , the veteran Star Trek actor who directed an episode of  Discovery in the first season and is returning for season 2. But Spock — who at the time of  Discovery would be a young science officer living and working on board the Enterprise before Captain James T. Kirk enters his life — won't appear in the way you would expect. Instead, the  Star Trek: Discovery version will appear in flashbacks alongside his adopted sister and  Discovery  protagonist, Michael Burnham ( Sonequa Martin-Green ).

This news was confirmed by Frakes at El Paso Comic Con, in El Paso, Texas (via io9 ). He also revealed that he would return to direct episodes two and 10 of  Star Trek: Discovery season 2.

Spock will be the second familiar  Star Trek  character to appear in the second season of  Discovery , after Anson Mount 's Captain Pike . But it was only a matter of time until a young Spock made his  Star Trek: Discovery debut, considering the familial connection he shares with the show's lead character, Michael Burnham. Spock had been alluded to throughout the first season, leading some  Star Trek fans to wonder when the show would finally bring the character on board. While season 1 was Spock-free, it did feature several appearances by Spock's father, Sarek, played by actor James Frain.

There's no word on who will play Spock or if Zachary Quinto would return to play the young version of the character that he took on in the J.J. Abrams movies (unlikely, since the rebooted movies take place in a separate timeline than the shows). However, since his appearance will mostly play in flashback, it's likely they'll cast an entirely new actor to play the iconic Vulcan.

Star Trek: Discovery season 2 is currently filming in Toronto. It will reportedly debut either in  fall   2018 or early 2019 .

8 Most Unexpected Actors Cast In Modern Star Trek

• Star Trek franchise attracts Hollywood megastars, A-list actors, and Academy Award winners to deliver top-tier performances.
• Many actors were fans of Star Trek, while others were newcomers to the franchise, all helping establish modern Star Trek as must-watch television.
• Talented actors like Michelle Yeoh, Jason Isaacs, David Cronenberg, Alison Pill, Carol Kane, Holly Hunter, and Paul Giamatti have elevated Star Trek to modern prestige television.

With its long and rich history, the Star Trek franchise has attracted some surprising actors. Many stars, like William Shatner and Patrick Stewart, skyrocketed to fame after appearing in Star Trek, going on to have lengthy and successful careers. But modern Star Trek has managed to nab several Hollywood megastars and Academy Award-winning actors who became household names long before they journeyed to the final frontier. Most of these actors are not known for starring in science fiction projects, but they nevertheless bring their A-game to their Star Trek performances.

Several of these actors were Star Trek fans and relished the chance to appear in the franchise. Others may not have known much about the adventures of the Starship Enterprise , but they still jumped at the chance to be a part of a franchise as beloved as Star Trek, especially since Star Trek on Paramount+ has several A-list, Top 10 streaming shows. Actors like Michelle Yeoh and Carol Kane have helped to establish modern Star Trek as television that's worth watching for fans and newcomers to Trek . And for those long-term Trekkies, it's always great to see such incredible actors pop up in our favorite franchise.

10 Actors Who Appeared In Star Trek Before Getting Cast In Iconic Roles

Several actors have popped up in Star Trek as minor characters before they took on their most well-known Trek roles in the iconic franchise.

Michelle Yeoh

Emperor philippa georgiou & captain philippa georgiou in star trek: discovery.

Michelle Yeoh rose to fame in the 1980s and 1990s starring and performing her own stunts in Hong Kong action films. Upon moving to the United States, Yeoh gained international fame after appearing in the James Bond film Tomorrow Never Dies in 1997, as well as Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon in 2000. More recently, she appeared in Crazy Rich Asians and Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. Yeoh won the Academy Award for Best Actress in 2023 for her starring role in Everything Everywhere All at Once .

Michelle Yeoh may have won her first Academy Award after joining the cast of Star Trek: Discovery, but she was already an accomplished actress in both China and the United States. Yeoh headlined the cast of Star Trek: Discovery upon its 2017 premiere as Captain Philippa Georgiou and her Mirror Universe counterpart, Emperor Georgiou. Although Captain Georgiou met an untimely death at the hands of the Klingons, Emperor Georgiou went on to become one of Star Trek: Discovery's best characters .

Michelle Yeoh will reprise the role of Emperor Georgiou as the star of the upcoming made-for-streaming film, Star Trek: Section 31 .

Jason Isaacs

Captain gabriel lorca in star trek: discovery.

Jason Isaacs appeared in several films prior to 2000, and his breakout role was as Colonel William Tavington in The Patriot . Isaacs also appeared in Black Hawk Down and Resident Evil , but Jason is likely most remembered for his portrayal of Lucius Malfoy in six of the Harry Potter films. Isaacs also portrayed Captain Hook in 2003's live-action adaptation of Peter Pan and most recently starred as Cary Grant in the 2023 British series, Archie ​​​​​.

Jason Isaacs 10 Best Acting Roles (Including Star Trek: Discoverys Lorca)

Jason Isaacs has given incredible performances on film and TV, from Harry Potter to Cary Grant via an unforgettable Star Trek: Discovery role.

Jason Isaacs starred in Star Trek: Discovery season 1 as Captain Gabriel Lorca, the first commanding officer of the USS Discovery. Star Trek: Discovery season 1's big twist revealed that this Lorca was actually from the Mirror Universe and replaced his Prime Universe counterpart. Lorca deceived and manipulated Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) and the Discovery's crew, eventually taking the ship back to the Mirror Universe to attempt another coup against Emperor Georgiou. Lorca perished in the Mirror Universe.

David Cronenberg

Dr. kovich in star trek: discovery.

David Cronenberg is internationally renowned as a director of sci-fi horror films, such as Scanners, Videodrome, The Dead Zone, and The Fly, becoming a pioneer in the body horror genre. Cronenberg has also appeared as an actor in numerous films, most often in cameo or supporting roles. He has popped up in films such as Into the Night, Nightbreed, To Die For, and Jason X . Cronenberg also appeared in two episodes of Alias and six episodes of Netflix's Alias Grace.

Kovich revealed his real name to be Agent Daniels.

David Cronenberg portrayed the mysterious Dr. Kovich in ten episodes in Star Trek: Discovery's final three seasons. Kovich's exact position within the United Federation of Planets in the 32nd century was never made clear, but he seemed to have a hand in many of the Federation's most secret missions. In Star Trek: Discovery's fifth and final season, Kovich revealed his real name to be Agent Daniels, the temporal agent first introduced in Star Trek: Enterprise .

Admiral Charles Vance In Star Trek: Discovery

Israeli actor Oded Fehr may be most recognizable for his role as Ardeth Bay in 1999's The Mummy and its 2001 sequel, The Mummy Returns . He also portrayed Carlos Olivera in the Resident Evil film franchise and appeared in seven episodes of Charmed as the demon Zankou. Fehr has appeared in episodes of Burn Notice, V, NCIS, Once Upon a Time, and The Blacklist .

Oded Fehr joined the cast of Star Trek: Discovery season 3 as Admiral Charles Vance, ultimately appearing in 21 episodes of the series. As the Commander in Chief of Starfleet in the 32nd century, Admiral Vance worked closely with Captain Michael Burnham and her crew as they investigated the Burn and later, the Dark Matter Anomaly. In Star Trek: Discovery's final season , Vance helped brief Burnham about the Red Directive mission and aided in negotiations with the Breen.

Oded Fehr will reprise the role of Admiral Vance in the upcoming Discovery spin-off, Star Trek: Starfleet Academy.

Star Trek: Discovery

Cast Blu del Barrio, Oded Fehr, Anthony Rapp, Sonequa Martin-Green, Doug Jones, Wilson Cruz, Eve Harlow, Mary Wiseman, Callum Keith Rennie

Release Date September 24, 2017

Showrunner Alex Kurtzman

Allison Pill

Dr. agnes jurati in star trek: picard.

Canadian actress Alison Pill began her acting career at age 12, appearing in numerous films and television series. As an adult, Pill appeared in episodes of The Book of Daniel, CSI, In Treatment, and The Pillars of the Earth . She is perhaps most known for portraying Kim Pine in Scott Pilgrim vs. the World , Zelda Fitzgerald in Midnight in Paris, and Maggie Jordan in HBO's The Newsroom. Pill is also making a name for herself in the horror genre, appearing in American Horror Story and M. Night Shyamalan's 2024 film, Trap .

Jurati was assimilated by the Borg and eventually became a benevolent Borg Queen.

Alison Pill portrayed the brilliant cyberneticist Dr. Agnes Jurati in Star Trek: Picard's first two seasons. She worked with Dr. Bruce Maddox (John Ales) at the Daystrom Institute, attempting to recreate an android as advanced as Lt. Commander Data (Brent Spiner). Jurati later joined Admiral Picard on his mission to locate Soji Asha (Isa Briones) in Picard season 1 and accompanied him to the past in Picard season 2. While in the 21st century, Jurati was assimilated by the Borg and eventually became a benevolent Borg Queen to a new kind of Borg Collective.

Star Trek: Picard

Cast Orla Brady, Michael Dorn, LeVar Burton, Brent Spiner, Jonathan Frakes, Jeri Ryan, Patrick Stewart, Alison Pill, Isa Briones, Evan Evagora, Marina Sirtis, Amanda Plummer, Whoopi Goldberg, Gates McFadden, Todd Stashwick, Santiago Cabrera, Michelle Hurd, John de Lancie, Ed Speleers

Release Date January 23, 2020

Showrunner Akiva Goldsman, Terry Matalas, Michael Chabon

Commander Pelia In Star Trek: Strange New Worlds

Carol Kane began acting in the 1970s and gained recognition for her role as Gitl in Hester Street, which earned her an Academy Award nomination. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Kane appeared in Annie Hall, The Muppet Movie, When a Stranger Calls, The Princess Bride, and Scrooged . Kane has had numerous roles on television, as well, appearing in shows such as Taxi, Cheers, Pearl, Law & Order: SVU, Gotham , and Hunters . Kane also starred in all 51 episodes of Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt as Lillian Kaushtupper​​​​​.

It was a genuine surprise that Carol Kane joined the cast of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 2 as Commander Pelia, an engineer and member of the Lanthanite species . After the death of Lt. Hemmer (Bruce Horack) in Strange New Worlds season 1, Pelia took over as the Chief Engineer of the USS Enterprise under the command of Captain Christopher Pike (Anson Mount). As a Lanthanite, Pelia has an extremely long lifespan, meaning she could appear in various projects throughout the Star Trek timeline.

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds

Cast Bruce Horak, Celia Rose Gooding, Jess Bush, Melissa Navia, Ethan Peck, Babs Olusanmokun, Rebecca Romijn, Paul Wesley, Christina Chong, Anson Mount

Release Date May 5, 2022

Showrunner Akiva Goldsman, Henry Alonso Myers

Where To Watch Paramount+

Holly Hunter

Unnamed chancellor of starfleet academy in star trek: starfleet academy.

Holly Hunter made her acting debut in 1981 and earned an Academy Award nomination not long after, for her performance as Jane Craig in Broadcast News in 1987. Hunter won the Academy Award for Best Actress in 1993 for her portrayal of Ada McGrath in The Piano and earned nominations for The Firm in 1993 and Thirteen in 2003. Hunter appeared in the film O Brother, Where Art Thou? and voiced Helen Parr (aka Elastagirl) in The Incredibles . She also starred in the TNT show Saving Grace and appeared as Senator Finch in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice .

Star Trek: Starfleet Academy - Cast, Story & Everything We Know

Exploring another corner of the Star Trek universe, the upcoming series Star Trek: Starfleet Academy is a brand-new take on the classic franchise.

While very little has been revealed about the character Holly Hunter will be playing in Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, the show will be set in the far future of Star Trek: Discovery's later seasons. Following a new cast of young Starfleet cadets , Starfleet Academy will be the first Star Trek show geared toward young adults. Hunter will portray the Chancellor of the recently reopened Starfleet Academy.

Paul Giamatti

Unnamed villain in star trek: starfleet academy.

Since beginning his acting career in the 1990s, Paul Giamatti has appeared in numerous box office hits and award-winning films. After supporting roles in films such as My Best Friend's Wedding and Saving Private Ryan , Giamatti landed a starring role in 2003's American Splendor and 2004's Sideways. Giamatti has also appeared in Planet of the Apes, Big Fat Liar, Fred Claus, 12 Years a Slave, and The Amazing Spider-Man 2 . Most recently, he starred as Chuck Rhoades Jr. in Showtime's Billions and as Paul Hunham in The Holdovers.

Paul Giamatti has been nominated for two Academy Awards, won one Emmy, and won three Golden Globes.

Like Holly Hunter's Starfleet Chancellor, little is known about the character Paul Giamatti will be playing in Star Trek: Starfleet Academy . It has been confirmed that Giamatti will be portraying a villain, but it remains unknown whether he will be human or a member of an alien species. Several Star Trek legacy characters return in Starfleet Academy , including Commander Jett Reno (Tig Notaro), Lt. Sylvia Tilly (Mary Wiseman), and The Doctor (Robert Picardo). With their impressive film and television careers, the actors on the above list have helped elevate Star Trek to the level of modern prestige television.

Star Trek: Starfleet Academy

Cast Paul Giamatti, Holly Hunter

Showrunner Noga Landau, Alex Kurtzman

Screen Rant

Star wars: young jedi adventures cast & character guide.

Your changes have been saved

Email is sent

Email has already been sent

Please verify your email address.

You’ve reached your account maximum for followed topics.

Star Wars Movies In Order: How To Watch Release Order, Chronologically & With The TV Shows

David tennant's new show gets release date as the wait for good omens season 3 continues, john grisham series adds lincoln lawyer star as series regular.

• Young Jedi Adventures is an animated kids' show set in the Star Wars High Republic Era.
• The Disney Jr. show is similar to Marvel's Spidey and his Amazing Friends, geared towards younger preschool and grade school viewers.
• The cast of Jedi youngworkss work together, learning the ways of the Force, and are guided by Yoda and their instructors.

Here's everything you need to know about the cast and characters of Young Jedi Adventures . An animated kids' show set during the High Republic Era , the Star Wars galaxy is an edge of peace and prosperity for both the Republic and the Jedi Order. To that end, it's the perfect time for the show's trio of Jedi younglings to learn the ways of the Force with guidance from their instructors and Grandmaster Yoda himself.

Currently in its second season, Young Jedi Adventures on Disney+ is a lot like Marvel's Spidey and his Amazing Friends . Geared towards preschool and early grade school viewers as well as their families, this new Star Wars show is the first of its kind, while also being part of the galaxy's official Star Wars canon . The show also boasts a fan cast of voice actors. Here's everything you need to know about the cast and characters of Young Jedi Adventures .

What's the best way to watch Star Wars? Here's everything you need to know to watch in release or timeline order, and how to include the TV shows.

7 Kai Brightstar

Voiced by jamaal avery jr. and jecobi swain.

Kai Brightstar has largely been voiced by Jamaal Avery Jr. Born in 2009, Young Jedi Adventures was very much a breakout role for the young actor. However, he has also been featured in recent features such as The Color Purple and No Right Way .

That said, the voice of Kai Brightstar currently comes from actor Jecobi Swain as seen in Young Jedi Adventures' second season. Interestingly enough, Swain had prior experience with the Star Wars galaxy before voicing Kai, having had a small role as "Jayco" in Obi-Wan Kenobi . Swain coincidentally had a one-episode on the ABC series Abbott Elementary as well (just like Jamaal Avery Jr.).

Character: Kai Brightstar is one of Young Jedi Adventures' leading trio of younglings. Training with his friends on the jungle forest planet of Tenoo, Kai wielded a blue training saber before he ultimately lost it. It was then replaced by Grandmaster Yoda's old training saber (with a green blade).

6 Lys Solay

Voiced by juliet donenfeld.

Lys Solay is voiced by Juliet Donenfeld. Known for her few appearances as Kaylee in Better Call Saul and various voice roles in Kitty's Dollhouse , Young Jedi Adventures is also a breakout recurring role for the young actress (also born in 2009). However, she also recently voiced "Carrie" in Amazon's Batman: Caped Crusader series.

Character: A friend to Kai Brightstar and Nubs, Lys Solay is a Pantoran who's also training to be a Jedi at the temple on Tenoo. She's also a lover of animals and all the various species she and her friends encounter while exploring the jungle forest planet and beyond. Lys' Jedi training lightsaber has a purple blade (matching her hair).

Voiced by Dee Bradley Baker

Dee Bradley Baker is an extremely accomplished voice actor, having been featured in a plethora of animated movies, shows, games, and more. However, Baker is best known for voicing all the various clone troopers in Lucasfilm's The Clone Wars , Star Wars Rebels , and The Bad Batch , both named and unnamed, including Clone Force 99 . However, he's now also the voice of the adorable Nubs in Young Jedi Adventures, providing all of his cute growls.

Character: Nubs is a Pooba, a blue-furred bear-like species that possesses incredible strength far surpassing humans. Incredibly loyal, Nubs is best friends with Kai and Lys as they work to learn the ways of the Force on Tenoo. Nubs also wields a blue-bladed training lightsaber.

4 Nash Durango

Voiced by emma berman.

Nash Durango is voiced by Emma Berman. Berman is best known for her role as Giulia in Pixar's Luca as well as her various roles in Disney Jr.'s Superkitties . She's also voiced Squirrel Girl in Spidey and his Amazing Friends , the Marvel equivalent to Young Jedi Adventures .

Character: Nash Durango is a gifted young pilot who becomes good friends with Kai, Lys, and Nubs. Serving as their primary mode of transportation working for her parents' shuttle company, Nash is the captain of The Crimson Firehawk . She's also often accompanied by her droid companion RJ-83 (voiced by Jonathan Lipow).

3 Grandmaster Yoda

Voiced by piotr michael.

While he doesn't appear in every episode of Young Jedi Adventures , Grandmaster Yoda does make trips to Tenoo from time to time during the High Republic show to help train the temple's younglings. Yoda is voiced by Piotr Michael, an accomplished voice actor who has joined the ranks of other notable actors who've brought Yoda's iconic voice to life such as Frank Oz in the Star Wars movies as well as Tom Kane who voiced the Jedi Grandmaster in many animated features.

2 Jedi Master Zia Zanna

Voiced by nasim pedrad.

Nasim Pedrad provides the voice for Jedi Master Zia Zaldor Zanna. Best known for her five years as a cast member on SNL , Pedrad has also lent her voice to several animated features and shows. She was also most recently in Netflix's Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F .

Character: Zia Zanna was the Jedi Master stationed at the Tenoo Jedi Temple, tasked with training younglings. This notably includes Kai, Lys, and Nubs, though Zanna was every so often aided by Grandmaster Yoda himself. Incredibly patient and kind to her students, Zia is featured in Young Jedi Adventures wielding a blue-bladed lightsaber.

Voiced by Trey Diaz Murphy

One of Young Jedi Adventures' primary antagonists is Taborr Val-Dorn, a young pirate who enjoys causing mischief on Tenoo and its residents who live near the Jedi Temple. Taborr is voiced by Trey Diaz Murphy, a young actor born in 2008. While Young Jedi Adventures is similarly a breakout role for Murphey, he was most recently in 2024's Guns of Moses and voiced the character Bunce in 2022's Wingfeather Saga .

Character: Taborr Val-Dorn leads a small gang of pirates of Tenoo, often causing problems for the townspeople. As such, he and his gang often clash with Kai, Lys, and Nubs. However, Taborr is secretly leading a double life as well, one that's eventually revealed at the end of Young Jedi Adventures' first season.

Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures

Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures is a children's educational sci-fi series based on the world of Star Wars. Set during the High Republic era, the show centers around a group of younglings on their way to becoming Jedi Knights. The show will focus on entertaining and educating children as the first of its kind in the Star Wars franchise, helping children learn lessons such as team work, patience, and compassion.