WARNING: Contains SPOILERS for the Star Trek: Discovery series finale, “Life, Itself”
Summary
With the conclusion ofStar Trek: Discovery’s fifth and final season, a clear quality ranking of all the show’s seasons emerges.Discoverywas the firstStar TrekTV showto air on Paramount+ starting in 2017, and has accomplished a lot for the franchise in the seven years it has been on the air. As the first modernStar Trekseries since the end ofStar Trek: Enterprisein 2005,Discoverybegan a new era for the franchise, making it possible for other shows likeStar Trek: Strange New WorldsorStar Trek: Picardto even exist.
AlthoughDiscoveryexperienced ups and downs, it was able to churn out a creditable five seasons in seven years. Many of the additionsDiscoverymade to the franchise, such as new technology like the spore drive, or the half-dozen explicitly LGBTQ+ characters the series created, haveunequivocally madeStar Treka richer, more interesting universe. However, like allStar TrekTV shows and movies, some aspects ofDiscoverywere better than others, something that is even more clear now that season 5 has completed its run.
Star Trek: Discovery Season 5 Finale Ending & Shocking Epilogue Explained
Star Trek: Discovery comes to an end with season 5’s finale wrapping up the Progenitors treasure hunt and an epilogue concluding the entire series.
5Season 4
“Love always ends in grief, but we can’t let the pain do this to us.”
Partially through no fault of its own,Discoveryseason 4 didn’t reach the same caliber as some of the show’s other seasons.On paper, season 4’s premise was interesting, as Captain Micahel Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) and the crew of the USS Discovery worked to find out the origins of the DMA. This massive dark matter anomaly seemed to have no conscious will and was systematically destroying Federation planets. The destruction of Cleveland Booker’s (David Ajala) home planet Kwejan served as the season’s biggest emotional gut punch, and season 4 introduced some interesting characters like Ruon Tarka (Shawn Doyle).
However, the story overall wasn’t cohesive, thanks to the fact that season 4 was filmed at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. An interrupted run and COVID set protocols necessitated some changes to the season, butDiscovery’s decision to make season 4’s villain a metaphor for the pandemic didn’t pay off the way the show had hoped. The subtext was at times a little heavy-handed, and the reveal of the DMA’s operators, Species 10-C, fell a bit flat. The species themselves have enormous potential, but they weren’t introduced until much too late in the season and then never explored again.
4Season 1
“A year ago, I stood alone. I believed that our survival was more important than our principles. I was wrong.”
As the show’s kick-off,Discoveryseason 1 delivered in some areas, but not in others. The series began with a bang when then-Commander Burnham ignited the Federation-Klingon War with her mutiny against Captain Georgiou (Michelle Yeoh). However,the plot quickly got convoluted as it delved into Michael’s reassignment on Discoveryand then took a hard turn in the latter half of the season into the Mirror Universe. AlthoughDiscoveryexpanded both Klingon and Mirror Universe lore extensively, the season effectively felt like two separate shows after the jump.
AlthoughDiscoveryseason 1 was a rocky start, the season deserves another look now that the series is concluded.
As a counterpoint, however,Discoveryseason 1 is unequivocally a season that gets better upon rewatch. What was confusing on first viewing becomes clearer when the story is already understood, and it is easier to pick out the Easter eggs the show presents in earlier episodes for things that will come up later. For example, knowing thatCaptain Lorca (Jason Isaacs)is from the Mirror Universe gives a whole new meaning to his actions during the first half of the season. AlthoughDiscoveryseason 1 was a rocky start, the season deserves another look now that the series is concluded.
3Season 5
“Last time, then. Let’s fly.”
AlthoughDiscovery’s final season contained some stellar episodes, the fact that season 5 was never meant to be the show’s last tempered its ability to create a good ending. The search for the Progenitor’s technology provided an action-packed A-story, butthere were moments whereDiscoverycould have taken things further given that they would not have another chance to. For example,the absence of Saru (Doug Jones)for most of the season, and the missed opportunity to bring back Lorca in season 5’s time-travel episode stood out as reminders thatDiscoverywas canceled rather than ending on its own.
AlthoughDiscoverynever reached seven seasons, it was still on the air for seven years, matching the record that was first set byStar Trek: The Next Generationand continued with shows likeDeep Space NineandVoyager.
Fortunately, these missteps were bracketed by some wonderful storytelling. Using the final season to search for the answer to the creation of life helpedDiscoverysoar to new dramatic heights, providing a suitably impressive arc for the crew’s last mission together. Episodes like “Face the Strange” or “Whistlespeak” were some of the best of the season, if not the whole series, andthe epilogue at the end ofDiscovery’s series finale was a moving tribute to the show that tied up loose ends. Although it could have done more, season 5 ofDiscoverywas effective for what it was.
2Season 3
“Disconnection. That’s how this future began.”
Discoverymade some huge shifts in season 3, but ultimately hit its stride with the 32nd century time jump.Discoveryleft its status as a prequel toStar Trek: The Original Seriesbehind at the end of season 2, beginning season 3 by going farther forward than any other franchise show. With the introduction of incredible new characters like Cleveland Booker and the enticing mystery of the Burn, the show broke the mold and broke it well.Despite its disappointing ending, season 3 laid the groundwork for a newDiscoverythat could have been a disaster if not done correctly.
With its strong ties toTOSin season 2,Discoverycould have been hurt by not sticking to the brand the show had cultivated. However,the 32nd century turned out to be ripe territory forDiscoveryto explore. Pushing things so far forward meant bringing in aspects of the franchise thatDiscoverypreviously had no access to, and allowed the show to delve into new characters, alien races, and advancements in technology beyond anything the franchise had seen previously. It may not have been perfect, but season 3 shiftedDiscoveryin the right direction.
A Great Discovery Season 3 Scene Made The Star Trek Show Better
Captain Saru hosted a fateful dinner in Star Trek: Discovery season 3, episode 4 that had a profound effect on the show going forward.
1Season 2
“Sometimes, in war, the terrible choice is the only choice.”
Ultimately, Star Trek: Discoveryseason 2 stands out as the series' best for several reasons. The complex, action-packed plot was designed to hook viewers from the very beginning, especially with the introduction of bothCaptain Christopher Pike (Anson Mount)and Spock (Ethan Peck) to the narrative.The exploration of Michael’s relationship with Spock was a wonderful arcthat came full circle by season 2’s finale, andDiscoverylaid the groundwork for both Pike and Spock to return inStar Trek: Strange New Worlds, which almost immediately became one of the most popular newStar Trekshows with its first season.
Overall,Star Trek: Discoveryseason 2 was ultimately the show’s most cohesive, well-executed season
Beyond the character aspects,Discoveryseason 2’s storyline was incredibly crafted from start to finish.The Red Angel mystery ended up becoming one of the most impressive season-long problemsDiscoverydealt with, and luckily never became too convoluted or confusing, even though it had the potential to be. It also provided a near-perfect explanation for the absence of the USS Discovery and her crew during the events ofTOS, something viewers had been wondering about since season 1. Overall,Star Trek: Discoveryseason 2 was ultimately the show’s most cohesive, well-executed season.
Star Trek: Discovery
Cast
Star Trek: Discovery is an entry in the legendary Sci-Fi franchise, set ten years before the original Star Trek series events. The show centers around Commander Michael Burnham, assigned to the USS Discovery, where the crew attempts to prevent a Klingon war while traveling through the vast reaches of space.
