star trek generations film locations

Where Was the Star Trek Movie Generations Filmed?

Are you a fan of the Star Trek franchise and wondering where the movie Generations was filmed? Look no further, as we take a closer look at the filming locations for this epic sci-fi adventure.

The Plot of Star Trek: Generations

Released in 1994, Star Trek: Generations marked the first time that two legendary captains – Captain Kirk and Captain Picard – appeared on screen together. The plot revolves around an evil scientist named Dr. Soran who is determined to enter a mystical energy ribbon known as the Nexus, no matter what the cost.

The Filming Locations for Star Trek: Generations

The majority of Star Trek: Generations was filmed on location in California, specifically in and around Los Angeles. The production team also used sound stages at Paramount Studios to create some of the film’s more elaborate sets.

1. El Capitan Canyon

One of the notable locations used in the movie was El Capitan Canyon, a picturesque camping ground located in Santa Barbara County. This location was used to film several scenes that took place on a distant planet where Captain Picard first encounters Dr. Soran.

2. Bronson Canyon

Another location used for filming was Bronson Canyon, located in Griffith Park near Hollywood. This iconic spot has been featured in countless movies and TV shows over the years thanks to its unique rock formations and easy accessibility.

In Star Trek: Generations, Bronson Canyon was used as a stand-in for a rocky alien planet where Captain Kirk meets his untimely demise.

3. Lone Pine, California

The town of Lone Pine, California also served as one of the primary filming locations for Star Trek: Generations. Located approximately 200 miles north of Los Angeles, this small town provided an ideal backdrop for several key scenes including the iconic crash of the USS Enterprise-D.

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Combined Shape .st0{fill-rule:evenodd;clip-rule:evenodd;fill:#fff} .st0{fill-rule:evenodd;clip-rule:evenodd;fill:#fff} SMS Main navigation Things to Do Attractions & Tours Arts & Culture Outdoors & Wellness Shopping Budget Family Hidden Gems Luxury Pet-Friendly Eat & Drink Bars Clubs Dine LA Restaurant Week Restaurants Business Spotlight Find Events Itineraries Where to Stay Celebrate LA Heritage AAPI Heritage Black LA Latino Heritage LGBTQ+ Tourist Information Meetings About LA Tourism Travel Trade Membership Business Spotlight Media Research Careers Today's must read Hidden Gems of Los Angeles Log in Search Search Things to Do Arts & Culture Go On Location: Star Trek Filming Locations in Los Angeles by Discover Los Angeles   Mar 13, 2019 Donald C. Tillman Water Reclamation Plant | Photo by Lindsay Blake Share My Next Trip Login Register TV Tours Star Trek is turning 50! The franchise’s first export, The Original Series (TOS) , first hit the small screen on Thursday, Sept. 8, 1966. It continued for three seasons, airing 79 episodes, before proceeding to launch a prolific legacy that includes six spin-offs (the latest, Star Trek: Discovery , premieres in 2017) and 13 feature films, most of which were shot in and around Los Angeles. Read on for a list of ten spots from the franchise, all of them tourist-friendly, easily accessible and inviting you to boldly go where Star Trek crews have gone before.

Vasquez Rocks Natural Area Park

One the franchise’s most oft-used locales, the 932-acre Vasquez Rocks Natural Area Park  masqueraded as everything from the mysterious mind-reading planet on The Original Series to a moon on Voyager to Mintaka III on The Next Generation to planet Vulcan in both Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home and the 2009 J.J. Abrams-directed Star Trek . Located in the Sierra Pelona Mountains, the otherworldly site, which consists of 150-foot-tall jagged rock formations that jut from the earth at 50-degree angles, was named for Tiburcio Vasquez, an infamous outlaw who pillaged up and down the coast of California during the 1800s and used the rocks as a regular hideout from authorities. The park is one of L.A. County’s most picturesque spots and has become extremely popular with location scouts, playing host to more than 200 shoots each year.

Arguably, Vasquez Rocks’ most memorable Star Trek appearance was as the barren planet where Captain Kirk (William Shatner) famously battles a Gorn in TOS’ Season 1 episode, "Arena." The 2001 comedy Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back paid homage to that episode by setting a scene at the park, complete with a fake café named “Arena Diner” that was installed onsite for the shoot. Vasquez Rocks is open daily from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. and is easily accessible with plenty of parking. The site offers hiking (ranging from easy to difficult), photo-taking opportunities, and fabulous views. The area’s striking rocks are also visible from Escondido Canyon Road and the Antelope Valley Freeway, and were depicted in a driving scene in the 2006 comedy Little Miss Sunshine .

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Star Trek Generations

Captains Kirk and Picard meet in a strange "Nexus" that defies time and unites forces to save a planet from destruction.

47 Facts About The Movie Star Trek: Generations

Written by Janice Dugger

Modified & Updated: 04 Mar 2024

Reviewed by Jessica Corbett

Star Trek: Generations, the seventh installment in the iconic Star Trek film franchise, has captivated audiences since its release in 1994. Directed by David Carson and written by Ronald D. Moore and Brannon Braga, this epic science fiction film served as a bridge between the original Star Trek series and the Next Generation era. Packed with action, adventure, and an intriguing storyline, Star Trek: Generations brought together the beloved characters from both generations of the Star Trek universe – Captain James T. Kirk and Captain Jean-Luc Picard.

In this article, we will delve into 47 fascinating facts about Star Trek: Generations, from behind-the-scenes trivia to memorable moments on screen. Prepare to beam up as we explore the making of this interstellar adventure and the impact it has had on the Star Trek franchise as a whole.

Key Takeaways:

• Star Trek: Generations, released in 1994, unites the original and Next Generation casts in a thrilling adventure, exploring themes of sacrifice, leadership, and the passage of time.
• The movie showcases stunning visuals, impressive space battles, and emotional depth, leaving audiences pondering the nature of existence and the impact of choices.

The movie Star Trek: Generations was released in 1994 as the seventh installment in the Star Trek film series.

This fact establishes the release year of the movie Star Trek: Generations, which was Fans eagerly anticipated this seventh installment in the popular Star Trek series.

Star Trek: Generations is a crossover film featuring both the original Star Trek cast and the cast of Star Trek: The Next Generation.

Star Trek: Generations brought together the beloved characters from the original Star Trek series, including Captain James T. Kirk, and the crew from Star Trek: The Next Generation, led by Captain Jean-Luc Picard.

The movie was directed by David Carson, making it his first feature film as a director.

David Carson stepped into the director’s chair for Star Trek: Generations and successfully brought his unique vision to the franchise. This marked his inaugural venture into feature film directing.

The screenplay for Star Trek: Generations was written by Ronald D. Moore and Brannon Braga.

Ronald D. Moore and Brannon Braga collaborated on the screenplay for Star Trek: Generations. Their combined writing expertise ensured that the story was engaging and true to the spirit of Star Trek.

The movie’s plot revolves around Captain Picard’s efforts to prevent a mad scientist named Dr. Tolian Soran from destroying entire star systems.

The central conflict in Star Trek: Generations centers around Captain Jean-Luc Picard’s mission to stop the nefarious Dr. Tolian Soran, who plans to use a destructive device known as the Nexus to annihilate entire star systems.

Star Trek: Generations features the final appearance of Captain James T. Kirk, portrayed by William Shatner.

After decades of captaining the USS Enterprise, Star Trek: Generations marks the emotional farewell of Captain James T. Kirk, portrayed by the iconic William Shatner . This marked the end of an era in the Star Trek universe.

The movie explores the theme of mortality and the passing of the torch from one generation to the next.

Star Trek: Generations delves into deeper themes of life and death, highlighting the struggle of Captain Picard and his crew to accept the inevitable passage of time and the passing of the torch to the next generation.

The unforgettable scene where the USS Enterprise-D crashes onto the planet Veridian III was achieved through groundbreaking visual effects.

The spectacular scene depicting the crash of the USS Enterprise-D onto Veridian III showcases the remarkable advancements in visual effects, creating a truly awe-inspiring cinematic moment for viewers.

The movie received mixed reviews from critics, but was a box office success, grossing over $120 million worldwide.

Despite receiving mixed reviews from critics, Star Trek: Generations struck a chord with audiences and performed well at the box office, earning over $120 million globally. It demonstrated the enduring popularity of the Star Trek franchise.

The soundtrack for Star Trek: Generations was composed by Dennis McCarthy, who created a beautiful and powerful musical score for the film.

Renowned composer Dennis McCarthy crafted a captivating and emotionally charged soundtrack for Star Trek: Generations, complementing the on-screen action and adding depth to the storytelling.

The movie showcases stunning locations, including the El Mirage Dry Lake in California and the Vasquez Rocks Natural Area Park.

Star Trek: Generations takes advantage of the breathtaking natural beauty of real locations, with scenes filmed at the El Mirage Dry Lake in California and the Vasquez Rocks Natural Area Park, adding authenticity to the film.

The Enterprise-B, which appears at the beginning of the movie, is a variant of the original USS Enterprise from Star Trek: The Original Series.

In the opening scenes of Star Trek: Generations, the USS Enterprise-B makes an appearance. This starship is a variant of the original USS Enterprise from the beloved Star Trek: The Original Series.

The memorable “Picard maneuver” is referenced in the movie, showcasing Captain Picard’s tactical brilliance.

Star Trek: Generations pays homage to Captain Picard’s tactical expertise by referencing the famous “Picard maneuver,” a clever maneuver executed in battle by Picard to outmaneuver his opponents.

Malcolm McDowell delivers a chilling and compelling performance as the movie’s antagonist, Dr. Tolian Soran.

English actor Malcolm McDowell brings his formidable talent to the role of Dr. Tolian Soran, infusing the character with a captivating blend of charm and menace.

The movie features impressive space battles and action sequences, showcasing the technological prowess of the Star Trek universe.

Star Trek: Generations delivers thrilling space battles and action sequences, showcasing the advanced technology and impressive firepower of the starships in the Star Trek universe.

The movie pays homage to the original Star Trek series by including a cameo appearance by the television character Montgomery “Scotty” Scott, portrayed by James Doohan.

Star Trek: Generations acknowledges the legacy of the original Star Trek series by featuring a cameo appearance by James Doohan as Montgomery “Scotty” Scott, delighting fans with a nostalgic moment.

The role of Data, the android officer, is played by Brent Spiner, who delivers a memorable performance in the film.

Brent Spiner brings his exceptional talent to the role of Data, the beloved android officer, imbuing the character with a unique blend of curiosity and childlike wonder.

The movie explores the concept of time travel, a recurring theme in the Star Trek franchise.

Star Trek: Generations delves into the concept of time travel, adding an intriguing layer to the story and allowing for the convergence of the original and Next Generation casts.

The movie received an Academy Award nomination for Best Makeup, highlighting the incredible visual effects used to transform the actors into various alien species.

The outstanding makeup work in Star Trek: Generations earned the film an Academy Award nomination for Best Makeup, recognizing the incredible skill and creativity involved in bringing the diverse alien species to life.

The movie features a touching scene where Captain Picard visits the Nexus, a realm of pure joy and happiness.

Star Trek: Generations presents a poignant moment when Captain Picard experiences the Nexus, a place of ultimate bliss. This scene resonates with themes of longing and the human desire for happiness.

The movie’s opening sequence takes place during the maiden voyage of the USS Enterprise-B, captained by John Harriman, played by Alan Ruck.

Star Trek: Generations begins with the maiden voyage of the USS Enterprise-B, helmed by Captain John Harriman, portrayed by the talented Alan Ruck .

The character of Guinan, played by Whoopi Goldberg, makes a significant appearance in the movie, providing sage advice to Captain Picard.

Whoopi Goldberg’s character, Guinan, plays a crucial role in Star Trek: Generations, providing Captain Picard with invaluable wisdom and guidance throughout the film.

The movie explores the relationship between fathers and sons, as Captain Picard and Dr. Soran both experience the loss of family members.

Star Trek: Generations delves into the complex dynamics of father-son relationships, as both Captain Picard and Dr. Soran grapple with the pain of losing loved ones.

The movie features impressive stunts and practical effects, including breathtaking space jumps and daring escapes.

Star Trek: Generations showcases jaw-dropping stunts and practical effects, heightening the excitement and adding a sense of realism to the action-packed sequences.

The score for Star Trek: Generations incorporates the iconic Star Trek theme composed by Alexander Courage.

The musical score for Star Trek: Generations includes the beloved Star Trek theme originally composed by Alexander Courage, further connecting the film to the rich legacy of the Star Trek franchise.

The movie’s climax takes place on the mysterious planet Veridian III, adding an air of mystery and intrigue to the story.

Star Trek: Generations reaches its thrilling climax on the enigmatic planet Veridian III, where the fate of the galaxy hangs in the balance.

The movie explores the theme of sacrifice, as the characters must make difficult choices to save others and preserve the future.

Star Trek: Generations delves into the profound theme of sacrifice, highlighting the selflessness of the characters as they face impossible decisions to protect those they care about.

The movie features impressive cinematography, capturing the vastness of space and the beauty of the Star Trek universe.

Star Trek: Generations showcases breathtaking cinematography, enveloping viewers in the expansive and visually stunning world of Star Trek.

The movie’s iconic line, “Time is the fire in which we burn,” captures the existential struggle faced by the characters.

The memorable line, “Time is the fire in which we burn,” encapsulates the philosophical quandary at the heart of Star Trek: Generations, emphasizing the fleeting nature of existence.

The movie explores the concept of parallel universes, adding an extra layer of intrigue to the storyline.

Star Trek: Generations introduces the fascinating concept of parallel universes, delving into the possibility of alternate realities and the impact they have on the characters and their choices.

The movie showcases the bond between Captain Picard and his crew, highlighting the strength of camaraderie and loyalty.

Star Trek: Generations emphasizes the unwavering bond between Captain Picard and his crew, demonstrating the power of friendship and the importance of teamwork in overcoming challenges.

The character of Captain Jean-Luc Picard exhibits strong leadership qualities, inspiring his crew and guiding them through adversity.

Captain Jean-Luc Picard, portrayed by the talented Patrick Stewart , exemplifies exceptional leadership qualities, earning the admiration and trust of his crew as they navigate dangerous situations.

The spaceship battles in Star Trek: Generations showcase the impressive arsenal and battle tactics of the Federation.

Star Trek: Generations depicts thrilling spaceship battles that highlight the advanced weaponry and strategic capabilities of the Federation, showcasing their formidable strength in combat.

The movie’s cinematography expertly captures the unique lighting and ambiance of the various starships and alien worlds.

Through masterful cinematography, Star Trek: Generations transports viewers to stunning starships and alien worlds, immersing them in a richly detailed and visually captivating universe.

The movie explores the concept of destiny, as the characters’ paths intertwine to fulfill a greater purpose.

Star Trek: Generations delves into the concept of destiny, exploring how the characters’ lives are intertwined and how their choices ultimately shape the course of events.

The movie’s action sequences are expertly choreographed and executed, delivering pulse-pounding excitement.

Star Trek: Generations showcases meticulously choreographed action sequences that keep viewers on the edge of their seats, as the characters face intense situations with bravery and skill.

The movie’s impressive production design brings the futuristic world of Star Trek to life, with intricate sets and stunning visual details.

Star Trek: Generations boasts exceptional production design, immersing viewers in a meticulously crafted futuristic world, replete with detailed sets and visually striking elements.

The movie explores the concept of regret and the search for redemption, as characters grapple with past mistakes.

Star Trek: Generations delves into the theme of regret and the pursuit of redemption, as characters strive to make amends for past actions and find solace in a better future.

The movie includes intense emotional moments, eliciting a range of feelings from joy to sorrow in the audience.

Star Trek: Generations skillfully navigates between moments of joy and sorrow, evoking powerful emotions from the audience and forming a deep connection between viewers and the characters.

The movie’s costume design showcases the unique uniforms and attire of the various Starfleet officers and alien species.

Star Trek: Generations boasts exceptional costume design, with each character donning distinctive uniforms that reflect their respective roles within Starfleet and highlight the diversity of alien cultures in the Star Trek universe.

The movie delves into the existential question of what it means to truly live, as characters grapple with mortality and the pursuit of a meaningful existence.

Star Trek: Generations poses thought-provoking questions about the nature of life and the quest for fulfillment, inviting viewers to reflect on their own existence and purpose.

The movie’s visual effects were ahead of their time, pushing the boundaries of what was possible in the realm of space-oriented storytelling.

Star Trek: Generations showcases groundbreaking visual effects that were revolutionary for their time, elevating the cinematic experience by immersing viewers in the awe-inspiring vastness of space.

The character of Data provides moments of levity through his quest for understanding humor, showcasing the integration of comedy within the broader narrative.

Data, the android officer, injects well-timed humor into Star Trek: Generations as he explores the intricacies of humor, juxtaposing light-hearted moments with the film’s more serious themes.

The movie’s exploration of the “Nexus” concept adds a metaphysical element to the story, blurring the lines between reality and dreams.

Star Trek: Generations introduces the enigmatic concept of the Nexus, blurring the boundaries between reality and dreams, challenging characters to grapple with their deepest desires and longings.

The movie’s special effects team utilized innovative techniques to create compelling visual sequences, capturing the imagination of audiences.

Star Trek: Generations features visually stunning sequences that push the boundaries of special effects, showcasing the creativity and technical prowess of the film’s special effects team.

The movie’s exploration of the origins and legacy of Starfleet adds depth to the overarching Star Trek mythos.

Star Trek: Generations delves into the origins and legacy of Starfleet, unraveling the rich history of the organization and adding depth to the expansive Star Trek universe.

The movie’s thought-provoking ending leaves audiences contemplating the nature of existence, the passage of time, and the impact of choices.

Star Trek: Generations concludes with a profound and thought-provoking ending that lingers in the minds of viewers, prompting introspection and philosophical contemplation long after the credits roll.

Star Trek: Generations is a captivating movie that blends the beloved original series with the next generation in a thrilling adventure through time and space. With an intriguing storyline, memorable characters, and stunning visual effects, this film offers an entertaining experience for both longtime fans of the franchise and newcomers alike. The seamless transition between the iconic Captain Kirk and the enigmatic Captain Picard creates a dynamic narrative that explores the themes of legacy, sacrifice, and the ever-changing nature of time. Star Trek: Generations delivers a compelling blend of action, exploration, and thought-provoking storytelling, making it a must-watch for any science-fiction enthusiast. So, gather your friends and embark on this thrilling cinematic journey through the vast expanses of the Star Trek universe.

Q: Who directed Star Trek: Generations?

A: Star Trek: Generations was directed by David Carson. It marked his first feature film in the Star Trek franchise.

Q: When was Star Trek: Generations released?

A: Star Trek: Generations was released on November 17, 1994.

Q: Can I watch Star Trek: Generations without having seen the previous Star Trek movies?

A: While it is helpful to have some familiarity with the Star Trek universe, Star Trek: Generations can still be enjoyed as a standalone film. The movie provides enough context and exposition to allow newcomers to follow the storyline.

Q: Are the original cast members from the Star Trek series featured in Star Trek: Generations?

A: Yes, several original cast members, including William Shatner as Captain James T. Kirk and Leonard Nimoy as Spock, make appearances in the film alongside the cast of Star Trek: The Next Generation.

Q: Does Star Trek: Generations have any notable special effects?

A: Yes, Star Trek: Generations features impressive special effects for its time, including breathtaking space battles and scenes set in the mysterious Nexus, a realm beyond time and space.

Q: Is Star Trek: Generations suitable for children?

A: Star Trek: Generations is generally suitable for older children and teenagers. It contains some intense action sequences and mild violence, but overall, it is a family-friendly film.

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Vasquez Rocks

• View history

Vasquez Rocks was a location on the planet Earth .

In 2399 , Raffaela Musiker was living there when Jean-Luc Picard came to pay her a visit. ( PIC : " Maps and Legends ", " The End is the Beginning ")

• 1.1.1 History
• 1.1.2 Star Trek
• 1.1.3 Appearances in Star Trek
• 1.1.4 Other related appearances
• 1.2 External links

Appendices [ ]

Background information [ ].

Vasquez Rocks in southern California

Vasquez Rocks Natural Area Park is a county park in Agua Dulce, California, roughly thirty miles north of Los Angeles. The area has been used in the filming of numerous Star Trek productions, including at least ten television episodes and two movies.

History [ ]

The familiar jagged rock face from "Arena", where Captain Kirk fought the Gorn

Vasquez rocks in "The Alternative Factor"

Filming "Who Watches The Watchers" at Vasquez Rocks

Vasquez Rocks is named after notorious bandit Tiburcio Vásquez , who used the rocky region to elude capture from California law enforcement in 1873 and 1874. On the television series Stories of the Century , Vasquez was portrayed by Anthony Caruso . Since 1928, nearly two hundred other film and television productions have been shot at Vasquez Rocks, including many westerns. The park was acquired by Los Angeles County in 1970.

Classic television shows such as Gunsmoke , Maverick , Bonanza , The Wild Wild West , and Kung Fu have all utilized Vasquez Rocks for filming, as have more contemporary hit shows like Airwolf , Alien Nation , Sliders , Buffy the Vampire Slayer , Mighty Morphin Power Rangers (the rocks were used for the location of the Power Rangers' Command Center, which was in fact the House of the Book at the Brandeis-Bardin Institute used for Camp Khitomer in Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country ), Roswell , 24 , and CSI .

Films that have been shot at the region include the 1931 classic Dracula , Blazing Saddles (1974), Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey (1991), Army of Darkness' (1992), Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery (1997), Planet of the Apes , and Alpha Dog (2006).

Star Trek [ ]

The first episode to be partially filmed at Vasquez was " Shore Leave " (in which it depicted the Shore Leave Planet along with, Africa, USA ), spending two and half days on location, on Monday 24 October 1966 , Tuesday 25 October 1966 and Wednesday 26 October 1966 . In the next month, another two Star Trek episodes were shot there, " Arena ", spending two days at Vasquez, on Wednesday 9 November 1966 and Thursday 10 November 1966 , and " The Alternative Factor ". The latter also spent two days filming on location, on Tuesday 22 November 1966 and Wednesday 23 November 1966 . Star Trek returned to Vasquez for the second season , to film " Friday's Child ", which also spent two days on location, on Wednesday 24 May 1967 and Thursday 25 May 1967 .

For " Arena ", the destroyed colony at Cestus III was also filmed near Vasquez, at an outdoor fortress set, originally built by Screen Gems for the series Tales of the 77th Bengal Lancers . Filming there took place on Friday 11 November 1966 .

Vasquez was seen again almost twenty years later in Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home , when some of the Vulcan scenes were filmed there. Three years later, in August 1989 , the Star Trek: The Next Generation third season episode " Who Watches The Watchers " was also located at Vasquez. Star Trek: Voyager also filmed scenes at Vasquez, including the barren moon surface for " Initiations " in July 1995 and the desert for " Gravity " in September 1998 . In late- July 2001 , Vasquez portrayed the Xyrillian homeworld in the Star Trek: Enterprise first season episode " Unexpected ".

In late- 2007 , director J.J. Abrams shot the Vulcan scenes of 2009 's Star Trek at Vasquez Rocks as an homage to its use in previous Trek productions. [1]

In January 2012 , Abrams filmed some scenes at Vasquez for Star Trek Into Darkness . [2]

Star Trek: Picard also used Vasquez as a location, filming the exteriors of Raffi Musiker 's home there for " Maps and Legends " and " The End is the Beginning " in early- May 2019 . For the first time, the Vasquez Rocks were portrayed as themselves instead of as a stand-in for a different location.

Appearances in Star Trek [ ]

• " Shore Leave " (as the Shore Leave Planet )
• " Arena " as (as the Metron planet )
• " The Alternative Factor " (as Lazarus' planet )
• " Friday's Child " (as Capella IV )
• " Who Watches The Watchers " (as Mintaka III )
• " Initiations " (as Tarok )
• " Gravity " (as Subspace sinkhole planet)
• " Unexpected " (as Xyrillian homeworld )
• Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (as Vulcan )
• Star Trek (as Vulcan)
• Star Trek Into Darkness
• " Maps and Legends " (as Vasquez Rocks, Earth )
• " The End is the Beginning " (as Vasquez Rocks, Earth)

Other related appearances [ ]

• Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey
• Free Enterprise
• Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back (A diner in a scene filmed at the location was named "The Arena Diner", as an homage to the episode "Arena").
• Brandeis-Bardin Institute's House of the Book, digitally edited atop, to create the Command Center/Power Chamber for the first five seasons of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers
• The Big Bang Theory , Episode "The Bakersfield Expedition".
• Monk , Episode "Mr. Monk and the UFO".
• Bring Back... Star Trek
• How William Shatner Changed the World
• Star Trek: Of Gods and Men

External links [ ]

• Vasquez Rocks at SantaClaritaGuide.com
• Vasquez Rocks at Wikipedia
• Re-Uses of the Vasquez Rocks Location  at Ex Astris Scientia
• List of productions filmed at Vasquez Rocks at the Internet Movie Database
• 2 ISS Enterprise (NCC-1701)

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Star Trek Generations

Where to watch.

Watch Star Trek Generations with a subscription on Max, rent on Fandango at Home, Prime Video, or buy on Fandango at Home, Prime Video.

What to Know

Generations stands as a mediocre changing of the guard for crews of the Enterprise, with a dull plot that sometimes seems like an expanded episode of the television series.

Audience Reviews

Cast & crew.

David Carson

Patrick Stewart

William Shatner

Malcolm McDowell

Jonathan Frakes

Brent Spiner

Movie Clips

More like this, movie news & guides, this movie is featured in the following articles., critics reviews.

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Home > Films > S > Star Trek

Saturday May 4th 2024

Star Trek | 2009

• Locations |
• Los Angeles , California
• Chris Pine,
• Zachary Quinto,
• Leonard Nimoy,
• Simon Pegg,
• Karl Urban,
• Zoe Saldana,
• Anton Yelchin,
• Bruce Greenwood,
• Winona Ryder,
• Chris Hemsworth,
• Jennifer Morrison,
• Tyler Perry,
• Rachel Nichols,
• Clifton Collins Jr

JJ Abrams pulled off the unlikely feat of pleasing critics, audiences and diehard Trekkies rebooting the Star Trek franchise.

The surface of ‘Vulcan’ – as it was for Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home – is the 745-acre Vasquez Rocks Natural Area Park , 10700 West Escondido Canyon Road , near Agua Dulce Springs , about an hour north of Los Angeles .

This is a sly nod to the original TV series which, although largely studio-based, several 1960s episodes – including Shore Leave and Arena – ventured out to find alien landscapes among the awesome rock formations. Named after the 19th century outlaw Tiburcio Vasquez , who hid out here, this outburst of the San Andreas Fault has been used in hundreds of Westerns and sci-fi movies, pop videos and photoshoots – see it in Apache , Alpha Dog , Starship Troopers and as far back as 1935 in Werewolf Of London .

The park is in the high desert north of Los Angeles , between Newhall and Acton, off Route 14.

For the 'Starfleet Academy', digital technology moves the Oviatt Library at Cal-State University, Northridge in Los Angeles ' San Fernando Valley , to sit alongside San Francisco ’s Golden Gate Bridge .

The library had previously featured (as the superhero school) in Sky High and, more down to earth, in Legally Blonde 2 and Lindsay Lohan - Jane Fonda misfire Georgia Rule . On the small screen, sci-fi buffs might have seen it in Star Trek Voyager , Roswell and Battlestar Galactica .

It’s in the circular council chamber of Long Beach City Hall , 333 West Ocean Boulevard , alongside Lincoln Park, that Kirk and Spock initially face off when Kirk is accused of cheating in the Kobayashi Maru (the supposedly unwinnable Starfleet training exercise), but are finally decorated after defeating he Romulan attack, and Kirk is appointed captain of the Enterprise ( Los Angeles Metro, Blue Line ).

More mundanely, 'Delta Vega', the ice planet was recreated in the parking lot of the Dodger Stadium , 1000 Vin Scully Avenue , downtown Los Angeles , home of the Los Angeles Dodgers (the car park is where Brian O'Conner ( Paul Walker ) is giving his car a workout at the opening of The Fast and The Furious ).

The USS Enterprise 's gleaming engine room, where the young Scotty ( Simon Pegg ) gets beamed into a cooling pipe, is the Budweiser Brewery Anheuser-Busch Inc, 15800 Roscoe Boulevard , just west of the San Diego Freeway (I-405) in Van Nuys in the San Fernando Valley, while the recently restored 1930s Long Beach Generating Station on Terminal Island became the engine room of the USS Kelvin , aboard which Kirk is born (you can see the plant pre-restoration in Michael Bay ’s The Island , with Ewan McGregor and Scarlett Johansson ) and Next with Nicolas Cage .

Visit The Film Locations

Visit: California

Visit: Vasquez Rocks Natural Area Park , 10700 Escondido Canyon Road, Santa Clarita, CA 91390 ( tel: 661.268.0840 )

California | Los Angeles

Visit: Los Angeles

Flights: Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) , 1 World Way, Los Angeles, CA 90045 ( tel: 424.646.5252 )

Travelling around: Los Angeles Metro

Visit: the Dodger Stadium , 1000 Vin Scully Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90012 ( tel: 866.363.4377 )

Where Was Star Trek Filmed?

The 11th feature film in the ‘Star Trek’ universe, the 2009 film is an eponymous iteration of the beloved franchise’s cinematic offerings and follows an alternate timeline that introduces different versions of the franchise’s original characters like Captain Kirk and Spock. The iconic sci-fi saga also delves into Kirk’s childhood as well as the crew’s student days at the Starfleet Academy, making the film’s scale truly grand.

From the rural farmlands of Earth where Kirk grew up to the desolate ice fields of the planet Delta Vega, and everything in between, the film’s roster of different worlds and settings can naturally make you wonder where it was filmed. Let’s take a look at the locations that were used to bring ‘Star Trek’ to life.

Star Trek Filming Locations

Apart from taking place largely in space, ‘Star Trek’ also follows the story of Kirk’s younger days on Earth. Filming for the movie was done in California, Utah, Vermont, and Alaska. The stark natural landscapes found in these states were also used to depict other planets visited by the film’s characters. Unlike many sci-fi and space-centric movies, director J. J. Abrams chose to minimize the use of green and blue screens, preferring to film largely on location instead.

The film’s lengthy production was shrouded in secrecy, with the project given the fake working title ‘Corporate Headquarters.’ Many members of the supporting cast only got to see their lines, as opposed to the entire script, to keep the storyline a secret. Principal photography for the movie commenced on November 11, 2007, and wrapped up on March 27, 2008. Second unit filming was then briefly undertaken in California in April 2008. Let’s take a closer look at the film’s specific filming locations.

Los Angeles County, California

‘Star Trek’ was filmed extensively in and around the city of Los Angeles in Los Angeles County, California. A parking lot near the Dodger Stadium, located at 1000 Vin Scully Avenue, Chavez Ravine in Elysian Park was used to depict a Romulan drilling rig on the planet Vulcan. Scenes of the ice-covered planet Delta Vega were also filmed in the parking lot, using a mixture of real and digital snow. A portion of the filming also took place at California State University Northridge, which can be found at 18111 Nordhoff Street, Northridge.

Exterior shots of the Delmar T. Oviatt Library building and its courtyard were used to depict the Starfleet Academy. The Starfleet Academy assembly hall used the City Hall in Long Beach, located at 333 West Ocean Boulevard, as a stand-in. Scenes showing the highly complex mechanical engine room on the Enterprise starship used the Anheuser-Busch Budweiser Brewery at 15800 Roscoe Boulevard in Van Nuys for filming. Kelvin’s engine room used a power station in Long Beach as a backdrop to achieve its look.

The Vasquez Rocks located at 10700 West Escondido Canyon Road in Agua Dulce have been used in multiple productions of the ‘Star Trek’ franchise and were used to depict the planet Vulcan in the 2009 film. The Vulcan council chamber, as well as other scenes featuring the Vulcan administration, were filmed at Skyrose Chapel at 3888 Workman Mill Road in Whittier in Los Angeles County. The shuttlecraft hangar where the forces congregate is actually the Marine Corps Air Station in Tustin in Orange County, a 40-minute drive from Los Angeles.

The private clubhouse of the Hollywood Post 43 chapter of The American Legion, a veterans organization, was used to depict a dive bar in Iowa. The chapter is located at 2035 North Highland Avenue in the city of Los Angeles. Additional studio filming was undertaken at Paramount Studios, which is located at 5555 Melrose Avenue in Hollywood.

Kern County, California

The second unit filming of the movie, which took place in April 2008, included shooting scenes of Kirk’s childhood. The town of Bakersfield in Kern County, with its wide-open flatlands and farms, made for an effective stand-in for the state of Iowa where Kirk grew up. The Pastoria Energy Facility in Lebec in southwest Kern County was also used for filming scenes of the riverside shipyard.

Barre, Vermont

The Smith Quarry, which belongs to the Rock of Ages Corporation and is located at 772 Graniteville Road in the town of Barre in Vermont, was used to film the scene where a young Kirk narrowly escapes falling down a sheer cliff while driving his father’s car.

Emery County, Utah

The San Rafael Swell, located in the Colorado Plateau in Utah, was also used for filming a few scenes in the film. The peculiar geological structure looks particularly otherworldly and was used to depict the surface of the planet Vulcan.

The stark landscapes of Alaska have been used for other ‘Star Trek’ iterations and were used in this production as well, most likely to further depict the icy world of Delta Vega. A glacier near Anchorage in Alaska served as a filming site for ‘Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country.’

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Decades ago, for instance, there were plans to build a spectacular Hollywood museum across from the Hollywood Bowl . They even bought up the land and tore down the houses of angry residents to make way for the proposed project. Yet those plans fell through, and that land still sits empty - except for the small DeMille barn where " The Squaw Man " was filmed.

But at long last, Hollywood finally has a museum. It's called the Hollywood Entertainment Museum, and it opened in late 1996, right on Hollywood Blvd .

Unfortunately, this isn't quite what we were hoping for. This is a small, fairly modest museum, with a few intriguing exhibits, but a far cry from the grand Hollywood Museum we would all like to see. But it will do until something better comes along.

Actually, there has been a recent surge of new Tinseltown museums going up around town. Besides this Hollywood Entertainment Museum, there's the Museum of Television & Radio , the new Warner Bros Museum , the old Hollywood Studio Museum , and the soon-to-open Hollywood History Museum at the Max Factor Building. Now if only they could consolidate those various venues into one single, spectacular space...

This museum's main drawback is the building that houses it. Although it's situated just a block west of the famous Chinese Theatre (a seemingly ideal location), it's located in the basement floor of the modern Galaxy Center - you have to take an elevator down to the museum entrance and inside the space is relatively small and office-sterile.

The museum's main strengths are two large-scale sets from " Cheers " and " Star Trek " - more about those later.

Towering over it all, in the center of the room, you'll find a " Goddess of Entertainment " statue (which, unfortunately, does not live up to its billing.)

Nearby, there's a fascinating, large scale model of the city of Hollywood as it looked during its prime, called "Hollywood in Miniature". You can walk on top of the glass which covers this one-quarter-inch scale city, and peer down at the Lilliputian buildings around Hollywood & Vine. A timeline lists important dates in the history of Hollywood.

A few steps away, you'll find another display, this one with telephone receivers. Pick one up, push a button, and you can listen to Hollywood legends discussing the industry: Orson Wells talking about money, Walt Disney talking about animation, Jimmy Stewart talking about acting, etc.

There's a tiny collection of movie memorabilia, most notably the grotesque head of " Dorian Gray " (from the movie of the same name), and the webbed foot of the Gill Man from " The Creature From the Black Lagoon ."

There are three women's costumes on display - dresses worn in the movies by actresses including Marilyn Monroe . You'll also find some camera equipment, and a few video monitors which (at the push of a button) will screen film & TV clips related to newspaper headlines posted in the area.

Unfortunately, the biggest drawback to this museum may be its relatively small size - all of the exhibits I just listed are crammed into the fairly small space of the Rotunda.

Eventually, a tour guide will round up the people in the main room and begin one of two brief tours.

The tour of the "east wing" consists of a screening a short movie and a visit to the foley room. The "movie" is nothing more than 20 one-minute commercials from the L.A. Times , featuring insightful looks behind the scenes of movie-making; the very same ads we've all seen shown during the coming-attractions trailers before movies. They didn't even bother to edit out the Times tagline at the end of each brief episode. And it's shown via a video projection system, so the picture quality is less than ideal.

The Foley room has promise, but doesn't quite live up to it. First, visitors see a brief film about the nature of the "foley" process, in which experts use various props to add sounds to movies. Then guests are led into another tiny room where they are encouraged to try their hand at doing the same - adding sounds to a short silent film (called " The Chicken Detectives ") as it plays on a video monitor. Visitors walk on various surfaces, pick up phones, ring doorbells, and otherwise try to match the sounds they make to what's happening on the screen. Afterward, they get to watch their efforts played back to them on a monitor. It's fun, but the results would be more satisfying if the final movie mixed dialog and music into the finished product. Instead, volunteers are rewarded only with the sounds they produced themselves, which sound rather artificial standing alone.

The tour of the "west wing" saves the best for last.

But first, you have to go through three tiny rooms containing assorted props and costumes. Alas, the props are (for the most part) very minor, and the clothing is locked behind glass, still on hangers. It has all the impact of looking into one's own closet. (Although the odd-shaped helmets from "The Coneheads" are an amusing exception.) They should either eliminate these cramped rooms from the tour or improve the quality of the items on display.

Finally, it's on to the good stuff: some major sets from well-known TV productions.

You can actually sit in Picard’s Captain's chair, check out the bridge control panel, take in the engineering compartments (featuring some small jokes worked into the details), and take a close-up look at Picard's desk (not to mention that round aquarium that was always featured in the Captain's quarters.)

In the adjacent room is an area devoted to large set pieces from the alien worlds of ST. Klingon items include masks and the giant Klingon statues (actually made of Styrofoam) that were featured in the DS9 episode where Worf travelled to his homeworld and exposed a shape-shifter posing as a Klingon leader. Nearby are towering statues of the "Prophets," and an incense-burning Bajoran altar. On one wall are the original artist renderings of the same set pieces.

Considering that the active " Star Trek " sets at Paramount Studios are off-limits to tour guests, this may be your only chance to visit an actual Trek set.

On your way out, you walk through Sam's office and into a standard gift shop before exiting.

(I understand that they have now added a " Star Wares " outlet to the gift shop. Star Wares sells clothing and other memorabilia owned by celebrities.)

Since I last took the tour, they have added yet another well-known set from a popuar TV show.

This time, it's the set which served as Agent Fox Mulder’s chaotic office from " The X-Files ". The set was struck from the studio’s Century City lot and transported to the Museum, where it has been faithfully reconstructed with all of its original set dressing.

The Museum also hosts temporary exhibits: here is a list of their upcoming exhibit schedule:

The Entertainment Museum is smaller than you might think, and all in all, it is a lot less than one might hope for. But it's still well worth seeing, if only for the " Cheers " and " Star Trek " sets. But you might want to hurry, I've heard reports that those classic sets won't stay at the museum forever... Parking : Secured underground parking off Sycamore: $2.00 with museum validation.

Hours : Thursday - Sunday: 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.). In the Summer months, the Museum is open daily (10 a.m. - 6 p.m.). The Museum is closed Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Year's Day. Prices : General admission is $12 for adults, $10 for seniors, $5 for students. Children 5 and under are free. Museum members are free.

[For more information on this subject, you can access the Museum's official website at: http://www.hollywoodmuseum.com .]  

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Screen Rant

Star trek: discovery’s 5 tng progenitors scientists & clues meanings explained.

Star Trek: Discovery revealed the five scientists who hid clues to the Progenitors' treasure, and they all have links to Star Trek's legacy.

Warning: SPOILERS for Star Trek: Discovery Season 5, Episode 6 - "Whistlespeak"

• Star Trek: Discovery season 5 creates a treasure hunt with moral and ethical lessons for Captain Burnham.
• Hidden clues from the Progenitors' treasure left by a team of scientists challenge the USS Discovery crew's respect and compassion.
• The final clue from Betazoid scientist Marina Derex may teach empathy from whoever possesses the galaxy's greatest treasure.

Star Trek: Discovery season 5 revealed the identities of the 24th century scientists who hid the clues to the ancient treasure of the Progenitors, and here are the dots that Captain Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) and the USS Discovery have connected and what they mean. Written by Kenneth Lin and Brandon Schultz and directed by Chris Byrne, Star Trek: Discovery season 5, episode 6, "Whistlespeak", contains a huge breakthrough as Dr. Kovich (David Cronenberg) reveals the identities of the scientists to Captain Burnham. The names of the scientists were purged from United Federation of Planets databases in the 24th century to protect the Progenitors' treasure.

Star Trek: Discovery season 5 is a sequel to Star Trek: The Next Generation season 6's "The Chase", which introduced the ancient humanoids who seeded the galaxy and created humanoid life billions of years ago. In the 24th century, the Progenitors' wondrous but dangerous technology was found by a team of scientists assembled in secret by the President of the United Federation of Planets. There were originally six scientists who found the Progenitors' treasure, but one died horribly when they tried to activate it. The remaining five scientists hid the technology and left various secret clues behind that came with moral and ethical lessons in the hopes that only someone truly worthy would find the greatest treasure in the known galaxy.

Star Trek: Discovery Season 5 Returning Cast & New Character Guide

5 doctor vellek, romulan scientist hid his clue on lyrek.

Star Trek: Discovery season 5 retconned Dr. Vellek (Michael Copeman) as one of the Romulan scientists who first learned about the Progenitors along with Cardassians, Klingons, and Starfleet Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) and the USS Enterprise-D in Star Trek: The Next Generation 's "The Chase." Vellek kept a detailed diary of his findings about the Progenitors, which led to the first clue to the Progenitors' treasure. Vellek hid his clue on Lyrek, a necropolis planet heavily guarded by deadly ancient technology.

Moll (Eve Harlow) and L'ak (Elias Toufexis) arrived on Lyrek first but left empty-handed.

On their final away mission together as USS Discovery crew mates, Captain Michael Bunham and Captain Saru (Doug Jones) survived the necropolis planet and acquired the first clue beneath a burial structure. What Burnham and Saru learned on Lyrek was the importance of cultural context as they strove to maintain the ancient grave site despite weapons trying to kill them. Since the Progenitors created countless different species, the lesson is respect for other cultures, which Burnham and Saru proved they possess.

4 Jinaal Bix

Joined trill scientist hid his clue on trill.

Dr. Vellek's clue led the USS Discovery to Trill in Star Trek: Discovery season 5, episode 3, "Jinaal" . Trill scientist Jinaal Bix hid his clue on his homeworld, and his symbiont is miraculously still alive. Temporarily joining with and possessing Dr. Hugh Culber (Wilson Cruz), Jinaal led Captain Burnham and Cleveland Booker (David Ajala) into a canyon near the Caves of Mak'ala, which were the nesting grounds of huge creatures who can cloak called itronoks. It was a test by Jinaal to see how Burnham and Book would deal with the itronoks .

Jinaal was suitably impressed at the compassion shown by Burnham and Booker.

Captain Burnham and Cleveland Booker proved their respect for lifeforms other than themselves . Rather than kill the itronoks, Michael and Book realized the itronoks were merely protecting their young. Even after Booker was injured by the creatures, he and Burnham found a non-violent solution. Jinaal was suitably impressed at the compassion shown by Burnham and Booker and willingly surrendered his clue, confident that the USS Discovery would treat other lifeforms with respect if they find the Progenitors' treasure.

The experience of bonding with Jinaal through the Trill zhian'tara left Dr. Hugh Culber with a new sense of spirituality.

3 Carmen Cho

Terran scientist hid her clue on iss enterprise.

Jinaal's clue leads the USS Discovery to the Tzenkethi system where a wormhole leading to interdimensional space is hidden. In Star Trek: Discovery season 5, episode 5, "Mirrors", Captain Burnham and Cleveland Booker entered interdimensional space and found the derelict ISS Enterprise from the Mirror Universe, where the third clue was hidden and found by Moll and L'ak. Burnham and Book eventually acquired the clue and piloted the ISS Enterprise into Star Trek' s Prime Universe , although Moll and L'ak escaped.

The refugees aboard the ISS Enterprise left a plaque behind with new details of the history of the Mirror Universe .

The third clue was a vial of distilled water hidden by Dr. Carmen Cho, who was a member of the Terran Empire and the junior Science Officer of the ISS Enterprise. Cho was among the refugees who fled the Mirror Universe aboard the Enterprise and escaped to the Prime Universe. Cho joined Starfleet, became a branch Admiral and one of the Progenitors' science team, and returned to the ISS Enterprise to hide her clue. The lesson Burnham learned was to have the courage to overcome impossible odds to shape your future for the better.

When assembled, the five clues will create a map to the Progenitors' treasure. Commander Paul Stamets (Anthony Rapp) learned that replicating the clue pieces doesn't work, and it has to be the real thing.

2 Hitoroshi Kreel

Denobulan scientist hid his clue on halem'no.

The fourth clue, a vial of distilled water, pointed to Dr. Hitoroshi Kreel, a Denobulan scientist, who hid his clue on the planet Halem'no. In Star Trek: Discovery season 5, episode 6 , "Whistlespeak", Captain Burnham and Lt. Sylvia Tilly (Mary Wiseman) infiltrate Halem'no's pre-warp civilization to gain access to the disguised, artificial weather tower where the Denobulan Dr. Kreel stashed his clue. Tilly ultimately learns that Kreel's clue is located in the fifth of five weather towers built by the Denobulans to bring rain to the arid planet.

4 of the 5 Denobulan weather towers failed over time, and the remaining Halem'nites created a religion of sacrificing themselves to their gods so that it might rain.

Clue number 4 had a metal card attached with a Betazoid inscription, pointing to the final scientist and clue. In their time living among the Halem'nites, Burnham and Tilly realized the lesson was what a massive responsibility technology is , and that whoever wields the Progenitors' power to create life (and possibly resurrect the dead) has to be extremely careful how they use it.

Dr. Vellek and Jinaal Bix are the only scientists who 'appear' in Star Trek: Discovery season 5 (so far), and the remaining scientists (so far) are only spoken of.

1 Marina Derex

Betazoid scientist hid the final clue yet to be found.

Star Trek: Discovery season 5, episode 7, "Erigah," takes a detour from the treasure hunt to deal with the captured Moll and L'ak. This means a short break before the USS Discovery pursues the final clue hidden by Betazoid scientist Marina Derex. Commander Paul Stamets was still analyzing Dr. Kreel's fourth clue from Halem'no at the end of Star Trek: Discovery season 5, episode 6, "Whistlespeak," so it's unclear where Captain Burnham's final stop for the fifth and final clue will be, or what lesson will accompany it.

Perhaps the lesson Captain Burnham must learn from the final clue is empathy, either for others or for oneself.

The fact that Dr. Marina Derex is Betazoid may be a clue unto itself. The Betazoids are known for their empathic abilities, especially Star Trek 's most famous Betazoid, Counselor Deanna Troi (Marina Sirtis) from Star Trek: The Next Generation . The name Marina Derex seems to be a direct nod to the beloved actress who plays Deanna Troi. Perhaps the lesson Captain Burnham must learn from the final clue is empathy, either for others or for oneself, in order to find the Progenitors' treasure in Star Trek: Discovery season 5.

New episodes of Star Trek: Discovery season 5 stream Thursdays on Paramount+

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After several days of subjecting the vial found in “Mirrors” to every scientific test imaginable, the Discovery crew is no closer to figuring out what it could possibly indicate; all tests show that it contains nothing but pure, distilled water. Just when they’ve exhausted all options, Captain Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) gets a “call” from Kovich (David Cronenberg), who’s able to provide her with a bit more information: the names and planets of origin of all five of the clue-giving scientists.

(She finds one of his infinity room keys in her pocket; I guess he just beams those onto people?)

Adding to the pile of eccentricity and mystery, Kovich gives this information to Burnham handwritten, on a yellow legal pad. Genuine, of course; none of this replicated nonsense. Why? Because he loves the feel of paper. I like that Kovich is a mystery — and I don’t think I want to know so much about him that he ceases to be one — but I do hope we get a little something more before the series is up. Without that, as time goes on I’m afraid he’ll be reduced to “That time David Cronenberg was on Star Trek for some reason” instead of remembered as a full character.

With Kovich’s intel, Burnham and the team are able to pinpoint planet Halem’no as the location of the next clue. It’s an arid, storm-tossed place where, 800 years ago, the Denobulan scientist on Kovich’s list surreptitiously built five huge rain generators. Disguised as naturally occurring towering rock formations, only one of them remains in operation, and the planet’s entire population lives in its vicinity.

Before Burnham and Tilly (Mary Wiseman) beam down to find the clue, Burnham spends some time listening in on the Halem’nites. They have a typical phonetic language used for everyday communication, but they also have something called whistlespeak — which sounds much more like multi-tonal birdsong than human whistling — and is used for communication across great distances.

Burnham gets very excited about this, not just from a linguistic and anthropological perspective, but also from a metaphorical one; the idea of people coming together from across the vastness of space or across cultural divides is understandably thrilling to her.

Unfortunately, beyond Burnham and Tilly hearing a bit of it once they beam down to the surface, no one actually uses whistlespeak to communicate in the episode! Even when the emotional power of song becomes integral to the episode’s climax, the tune is merely hummed. Communicating across distances — whether across interpersonal divides, divides of time and space, or across the cypher of clue and solution — has been a primary theme of this season of Discovery . I don’t know that I see how the introduction of the linguistic phenomenon of whistlespeak really helps that though, given that it goes virtually unused and, other than Burnham’s explanation of it to Tilly, unmentioned.

Burnham and Tilly join up with a band of pilgrims known as ‘compeers’ — an ancient word meaning ‘companions’ —  who are on their way to the rain generator, known to them as the High Summit… and the home of a temple to their gods. One of the pilgrims is sick from dust inhalation, and is cured by the local leader, Ohvahz (Alfredo Narciso), through some sort of sonic healing ritual using musical bowls.

Talk about a missed opportunity for some of that whistlespeak, right?

Burnham learns afterwards that access to the temple inside the tower is restricted to those people who have completed the Journey of the Mother Compeer, a ritual that proves worthiness to the gods and entices them to bring rain. Burnham asks to perform this ritual, and the next morning she, Tilly, and a host of other pilgrims including Ohvahz’s child Ravah (June Laporte) are lined up and ready to prove themselves.

Multiple people, including the dust-sick woman, urge Burnham to reconsider her enthusiasm for running the Journey and entering the temple. Ohvahz also tries to convince Ravah not to run, but they insist, seeing it as an opportunity to prove themselves. It’s a little ominous, but Burnham’s got to get that clue so, off she goes.

Maybe I’ve just seen Altered States too many times but when I saw that running the Journey started by ingesting a tab of mystery substance I thought the trip was going to turn out to be a psychedelic one. I’m a little disappointed to have to report that nope, it’s just a footrace. More of a leisurely jog really, but one that’s done while very, very thirsty.

Participants drop out along the route, tempted by the bowls of water placed here and there, and Burnham eventually drops out too — deliberately, tempted by something else. Noticing that some moss in a particular area is yellow instead of green, she surmises that the color change is being caused by hypothetical radiation leakage from a hypothetical broken console.

As far as hunches go it’s paper thin, but it does turn out to be correct.

While Tilly continues to run the race to access the tower the traditional way, Burnham contacts Discovery to get a walk-through on how to repair the console. Adira (Blu del Barrio) stumbles their way through for a while before telling Rayner (Callum Keith Rennie) that they think someone else ought to take over. “Yes,” I said to myself while watching, “Good thinking Adira, you’re right, they probably should get an expert on 800-year-old Denobulan technology.”

But actually the problem is just that Adira is feeling too flustered and awkward to want to continue, so Rayner declines their request. And why is Adira feeling flustered and awkward? Because Tilly isn’t the awkward one anymore, and Discovery apparently requires that one of them always be fumbling and bumbling their way through a mission at any given time.

Adira and Burnham are successful, and rewiring just that one console is all it takes to repair the rain generator. Tilly, for her part, has made it almost to the finish line alongside Ravah. They’ve each been given a bowl of water to carry across the line as one last temptation, but also one last challenge… as it’s kind of hard to run and not spill water. Ravah trips, their water spilling, and they’re out.

Instead of finishing the race on her own, Tilly returns to Ravah and pours some of her water into Ravah’s bowl. They cross together in a moment that surely was not intended to invoke the ending of perennial elementary school reading list title and book-that-traumatized-me-in-front-of-my-entire-4 th -grade-class Stone Fox , but did.

It’s a nice moment seeing them persevere together (and one with fewer sudden dog deaths than Stone Fox , so I appreciate that), but one’s that’s immediately tempered by the fact that their reward for winning is ritual sacrifice. Oops.

Burnham can’t beam into the “temple”, Tilly and Ravah can’t beam out (or leave any other way), and the rain generator is well on its way to causing the “sacrifice” conditions — which turns out to be a vacuum forming inside the chamber where Tilly and Ravah are trapped during rain generation.

Prime Directive be damned, Burnham beams into the nearby chamber where Ohvahz remains, not wanting his child to die alone. He is understandably freaked when she materializes beside him, and it takes a while to convince him that she’s real and that her explanation, which sounds like something straight out of Ancient Aliens on The History Channel, is legitimate.

Even with that done, there’s still the issue of Ohvahz’s fervent belief that the gods and the very rain itself require the sacrifice. Burnham finally gets through to him by humming a tune she hears Ravah humming to Tilly over an open comm line, and he opens the chamber. Everyone is saved and it rains, hooray.

Star Trek does love its “ritual sacrifices that power ancient machinery” storylines, and over the decades they’ve changed just how “set straight” the alien of the week is in the end, but I’m not sure they’ve ever had one that’s quite as gentle  as this one. Burnham explains the rain generators and their origin to Ohvahz, which leads to him asking some understandable questions about the nature and reality of his gods, which Burnham deftly deflects.

He then — and this is where my bewilderment sets in — casually and almost sadly wonders aloud if they really have to stop the sacrifices, because doing so would be a lot of work. I understand Ohvahz’s concern about the social upheaval of this change (not to mention that they never really needed to have happened in the first place, can you imagine when that gets out?) — but yes, guy, you definitely have to stop sacrificing people.

Oh, and this whole time? The next clue was actually in one of the other rain generators. Welp!

OBSERVATION LOUNGE

• Saru (Doug Jones) is once again absent from this week’s episode — and will be out of sight for at least two more weeks (we’ve seen up through episode 508). On social media this week, Doug Jones shared that his temporary exit from the season was a result of his commitments to the Disney sequel Hocus Pocus 2 .
• The clue registered a lifesign in “Mirrors” despite being nothing but inert water, artificially generated by one of the planet’s rain generators. Pretty lucky that Zora (Annabelle Wallis) knew about this charity project, huh?
• Tricorder contact lenses? One please!

• he console Burnham repairs is only the second instance of Denobulan computer interfaces seen in the franchise; the circle-based interface is in line with the control room of the Denobulan ship seen in “Cold Station 12.”
• Burnham showing Ohvahz his planet from orbit after breaking the Prime Directive and being mistaken for a god is reminiscent of a very similar moment between Picard and Nuria in The Next Generation ’s “Who Watches the Watchers”.
• The five scientists who worked to hide the Progenitor technology are Dr. Vellek of Romulas, Jinaal Bix (a Trill), Carmen Cho (a Terran), Marina Derex from Betazed, and Hitoroshi Kreel (this week’s charitable Denobulan).

While Burnham and Tilly are down on the surface, Culber (Wilson Cruz) has been continuing to interrogate his new feelings and experiences. We see him consulting his abuela — or at least an experimental holographic AI of her created from his brain waves, as a “grief alleviation therapeutic” — seeking advice on her spirituality in life… and also a recipe.

She declines to give him spiritual advice, suggesting that he’s jumped the gun a little by not ruling out physical causes for his symptoms, and also the recipe because it turns out she wasn’t actually that great a cook and was secretly replicating his favorite meal behind his back.

(How a program made from Culber’s own memories could know a secret she’d kept from him, I don’t know. Either AI in the 32 nd century is psychic or it still has the pesky 21 st century habit of making up whatever it thinks will satisfy a prompt, accurate or not.)

Also, come on now — I thought Star Trek had already clearly stated its position on how creepy and invasive holographic representations of real people are almost certain to be. Just this morning I saw an ad for an AI that claims to let you speak with exes or deceased loved ones, accompanied by the comment “Absolutely the fuck not.” I do not disagree, and neither, I suspect, does Leah Brahms. Or Kira Nerys, or Deanna Troi, or Chakotay, or…

Reluctant for the help — but also energized by the possibility that this might all just be physiological — Culber opens up to Stamets (Anthony Rapp) and asks for his help and support with a full neurological workup. When no anomalies are found, Culber seems almost disappointed, which Stamets picks up on. Even though it’s a small scene, this moment with Stamets is the one thing in the episode’s exploration of religion and spirituality that I connected with and really appreciated.

Stamets is not a religious or spiritual person, something that Culber is concerned will color his reaction to Culber’s “awakening.” But instead, he’s fine with it, even if he’s not invested on a personal level. His is a “You’re healthy and you’re happy, so I’m happy” philosophy, which seems to me to be the most respectful possible way to approach this type of issue, one that allows both parties to hold and live by their own respective beliefs.

It’s interesting, then, that Culber closes the episode quietly disappointed with this. And Book (David Ajala), who’s had a hard time keeping his own perspective this season, is right on when he gently calls Culber out: “It’s an odd quirk, really, this human tendency to consider something less meaningful if it’s just for yourself.” Stamets doesn’t need to share in this with Culber, he just needs to be there for him, and he is.

Next week: the Breen are back!

Star Trek: Discovery Season 5 continues on Paramount+ May 9 with “Erigah,” followed the next day on SkyShowtime in other regions.

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