star trek discovery vulcan president actress

EXCLUSIVE: Actress Tara Rosling on T’Rina, Vulcans, and Discovery’s Season 4

Tara Rosling says that this is the way it works for her: She gets a small part on a project, and the producers like what they see, and she gets called back for more.

She cites the science fiction show, Impulse , which she appeared on once during the first season. And, as usual, they liked Rosling’s performance so much, that she was invited to return for Season 2 of the show.

“They kept rewriting my character and they asked me to come back as a regular for Season 2,” says Rosling. The Esther Miller character did play a bigger role on Impulse .

This is familiar territory for the actress. For decades, theater fans across Canada have come to recognize Rosling. Her resume on television and animated projects is impressive, too. But it was thanks to her spot on Impulse , she was able to appear as the president of Ni’Var, on Star Trek: Discovery ’s Season 3 episode, “ Unification III .”

“I was working on Season 2 of Impulse, and the editor, whose name is Jon Dudkowski was asked to direct on Star Trek ,” says Rosling. She said that she had no idea things were in motion to bring her to Trek.

“I didn’t even know it was Star Trek — because it all goes under some mystery name,” says Rosling. She said that they liked her audition enough that the casting team asked her to return for a prosthetics test. They must have liked Rosling in her pointy ears, because she landed the role.

“It was at the table read that Jon came up to me and said that ‘I am one of the editors on Impulse and I really love your work, and I wanted you to audition for this part’,” says Rosling.

She isn’t sure how much “sway” Dudkowski had with her getting the role, but he was certainly the connection for her and Trek.

Rosling has been involved with science fiction shows before, but Trek is different. She says that her role on The Expanse was “very brief.” She did appear on William Shatner’s TekWar series , but did not meet ‘Captain Kirk’ on set. But the part of TekWar was significant for Rosling, as it was her first major part on a television series.

However, she says that when it finally came time to take her place at the Discovery soundstage in Toronto, she was terrified.

“I guess that’s part of the actor’s life, where its equal parts excitement and terror,” says Rosling. “That’s kind of the place where we relish. When you’re really, really excited to do something — then the terror and the adrenaline. It gives you the energy to perform.”

She says that the set is “impressive” and the fact that the crew had three cameras filming at all times can also be intimidating. But the moment when she met the cast, she felt welcomed and reassured.

“I have to say that family of actors and crew are some of the nicest people I’ve ever met,” says Rosling. “Even with your face mask on, or shield on, or even if you have to stand six feet apart… that’s what makes it bearable.”

“Sonequa is one of the most beautiful people I’ve ever met. A truly, extraordinary human,” she says. “They are such generous [people]. You’re walking on the set of this very big show… but he made me feel so at home. Really, really lovely people.”

Rosling says that the bond between all the actors who spend time getting their masks and ears added to their faces is made better by the great Doug Jones .

“He’s got a heart of gold — he’s very generous with his time,” says Rosling. “And there’s no weird status with him. If you’re in the prosthetics truck, when he steps on, he puts everybody in stiches. And the guy is in a rubber mask for 16-hour days. He has to eat smoothies and he could be really cranky if he wanted to.”

“Both Sonequa and Doug are so generous in welcoming everybody to the set.”

Rosling says that she does not have a tremendous history of Star Trek beyond Discovery , other than watching an odd episode here or there. But she says that she has started going back into previous episodes to get a feel for why Trek is so important as a franchise and why it means so much to so many.

“[To me it’s] about moving peacefully forward, with compassion and understanding in this huge universe,” says Rosling. “I love thematically what [Star Trek] brings to the table.”

Her character, T’Rina, was supposed to be composed and dignified. She was the leader of the combined Vulcan and Romulan people, and must have had the weight of two worlds on her shoulders. T’Rina appeared when the Federation was reaching back out to the Vulcans after many years of separation.

That being said, the producers of Discovery did not require her know how Leonard Nimoy or Mark Lenard would have handled a scene, especially if there was some kind of emotion required. They gave her latitude to figure this out on her own, and a special term when she was veering into “human” territory.

“By nature, I’m a tremendously emotional human being,” says Rosling. “And they cast me in this part, that is, driven by the mind.”

“But what is interesting, and what is written into the scripts and, I like following this particular line — it’s not that they don’t have emotions,” Rosling says. “They’ve cultivated the ability to override emotion and move to logic.”

“I see it almost as practicing Buddhism,” she says. “It’s detaching from the things that cause you to have an emotional reaction. I can process things that way, because I don’t think that I would ever be able to turn off my emotions. In the season, T’Rina and the Vulcans appear in a state of meditation.”

“And because T’Rina has more human in her, it’s a nice fine line,” says Rosling. “Although I will tell you that the most frequent direction that I get on set is ‘vulcanize it.’ That means take a little more emotion out.”

Rosling says that fans should expect to see T’Rina more this in Season 4.

“[T’Rina will be on screen] more than I would have anticipated!” she says. “I was barely in two episodes [in Season 3]. They had me in one and had me back in the finale . So, it’s a really nice surprise that they decided to continue this character.”

Even though Rosling has appeared in so many television shows in her time, she feels very much attached to the theater. Interestingly, it was a few early television jobs which helped her get started as an actress in live theater. She says that going from one medium to the other is not easy.

“It’s very difficult to balance the two worlds,” says Rosling. “If you’re doing theater, you can only do so much TV in the off season, which is October to February. If you’re doing film and TV, it’s difficult to take two months off to say you’re going to do a play.”

Like so much changed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the world of live performance has virtually ceased. This is not different in the Toronto area, where Rosling works and lives. Even the set of Discovery was hit by a recent COVID-related shut down.

“It’s just a hiatus,” says Rosling. “We are planning to go back to camera on May 2 — I think. There have been a bunch of hiatuses, because that’s what happens when you shoot in a pandemic.”

“Of course they are doing their best to keep everyone safe,” she says. “There’s an actual COVID testing station on the lot. And everybody gets tested; like cast and crew and admin[istration] are tested three times a week. But even still, there are positive cases and production has to pivot around that.”

“Currently, we’re working on 409, and I think they’ve missed days on five of those so far,” says Rosling. ‘409’ refers to Episode 9 of Season 4. “There’s a lot to catch up on because COVID has really slowed everything down.”

Rosling has not met Jonathan Frakes yet. If she had, he probably would have welcomed her to the Star Trek family, and that this show will change her life. This is standard procedure for the ‘William T. Riker’ actor and frequent Trek director, as detailed by Dominic Burress .

Though she hasn’t received this welcome, she is aware that she can no longer ‘fly under the radar,’ now that she’s attached to such a gigantic franchise.

She will likely be recognized in the Toronto area pumping gas or at the grocery store. Her daughter may have to start binging past Trek seasons in order to understand why ‘mom has pointed ears on TV,’ and Rosling’s own environmentally friendly side hustle might get a few more customers.

“It all sounds surreal,” she says. Rosling signed with a management and PR company, Coolwaters Productions in anticipation of this sort of attention. She and Coolwaters’ Derek Maki have talked about her possibly appearing at conventions in the future, in a post-COVID world.

“I’m up for the adventure,” says Rosling. “This all, to me, seems very much to be an adventure and I’m willing to try it out. I have no idea what it will be like.”

“If people decide that they dig T’Rina, and they are excited to meet me, that’s fantastic,” she says. “I embrace the notion that things are going to radically change. If they do, then I will jump on board at the time.

“We’re in the middle of a pandemic now so to stretch my mind makes me… but if I get to hang out with Doug Jones and Sonequa and sign some autographs and meet some cool people? I’m totally up for the ride!”

Star Trek: Discovery Season 4 Is Bringing Back A Key Character For The Final Weeks Of Filming

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Star Trek: Discovery started production on Season 4 some time ago, but it sounds like some time is still needed to put the final touches on filming the latest from the Paramount+ series. While many main cast members have posted wrap photos on social media, fans recently found out that one key actor, Tara Rosling, has had to return to set recently to shoot more scenes.

Rosling, who played Vulcan President of Ni'Var T'Rina in Season 3, has been called back to the set to film more material for Star Trek: Discovery . Fans discovered this during the 55-Year Mission convention in Las Vegas, in which anyone who hoped to meet Rosling was met with a sign (via TrekMovie.com ) at her booth that said the following:

Tara was called back to set by CBS (YES filming more Discovery).

Obviously the sign didn't say exactly what Tara Rosling was filming on the Star Trek: Discovery set. The assumption, however, would be that some plans changed, and she was pulled from her previously scheduled commitment in order to reshoot or film some new scenes that involve T'Rina. It's been noted that other Discovery castmembers like Sonequa Martin-Green weren't pulled from the conventions, so the scenes would seemingly be specific to T'Rina.

Star Trek: Discovery fans who may not remember Tara Rosling's T'Rina shouldn't feel too bad. The character made her debut in the Season 3 episode "Unification III" and was the President that Saru attempted to coax into rejoining The Federation. She later returned in "That Hope Is You, Part 2," with more serious consideration in joining Ni'Var in The Federation. Rosling revealed she would return in Season 4 back in May to Trek Report and noted she'd get more screen time than she would've thought given Season 3.

[T’Rina will be on screen] more than I would have anticipated! I was barely in two episodes [in Season 3]. They had me in one and had me back in the finale. So, it’s a really nice surprise that they decided to continue this character.

T'Rina's significance in Season 4 remains to be seen, but it wouldn't be surprising to see her have some more interaction with Michael Burnham. After all, the only reason Starfleet received an audience with Ni'Var for its data on The Burn was due to her status as Spock's adopted sister . Surely Michael could seek counsel for T'Rina for a dose of Vulcan wisdom she can't get from her brother, or her adopted father Sarek now that she's 1000 years in the future.

Star Trek: Discovery Season 4 is still in the works, but it's been said it will premiere on Paramount+ in late 2021. Stick with us to see if that date gets pushed back, and read up on another new Trek series that's still not confirmed but allegedly in the works.

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

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Q: How do you feel about Saru’s journey over the course of the series?

DOUG JONES: Saru has been on quite a journey over the course of the series. Starting very fearful, climbing the ranks as the first Kelpien in Starfleet needing to prove himself — but now we’re in a place for Season 5 where he has proven himself, time and again. He’s risen in rank and title, and become more of an empathic character to the younger crew members; more of a parental figure and a mentor guiding them along as they make their decisions.

I like being the older gentleman in the crew that can be that parental figure; it’s been great for Saru, and I felt like his storyline in Season 5 felt like, “This could be a good finale for him,” even before I knew it was  Discovery’s finale. So when I heard about the show ending, I was like, “Well, that almost makes sense,” for my character, selfishly.

We had the luxury of going back and filming a little coda, we’re calling it, that they will tack onto the last episode to give the audience a sense of closure for the whole series.

Q: how do you feel about Saru’s relationship with Michael Burnham?

JONES: Saru and Burnham are very much like siblings who have gone through the phases of competition, and then growing into “Oh, we’ve been through life and death together.” We’ve had disagreements —  she’s made decisions he maybe wouldn’t have done, and he’s had to reprimand her when he outranked her — we’ve had “break up” scenes and “make up” scenes and have gone through an awful lot together.

So where change might be afoot for Saru in Season 5 with an opportunity coming, what does he do with that? She really is his tether to the starship Discovery, and a moment comes where he expresses a sense of family with her by touching foreheads with her. It’s something that we Kelpiens do — I did it with my sister Siranna, and with my protégé Su’Kal. It’s not a romantic thing, it’s a family thing.

So there’s a moment with Burnham and Saru where I guide her into a forehead touch that was really, really quite touching for both of us.

Q: Saru gets a bit of action this season — was it a challenge to run around in the woods in full Kelpien prosthetics? 

JONES: When we filmed the away mission on that planet, it was outdoors in the forest where there was sunshine, but it was really quite cool and lovely, so I wasn’t facing any discomfort with the Saru prosthetics that I wouldn’t have on a regular set. But when you’re wearing hoof boots in a high-heel position — with no heel — out into the woods with sticks, rocks, uneven terrain… there’s a lot at stake!

So I want to give credit where it’s due, to my stunt double Bauston Camilleri. He’s 25 years younger than me — a tall, skinny guy who can take a hit and live through it. God bless him, he has saved my life so many times. He was my stunt double for The Shape of Water , and for What We Do In the Shadows , and for all five seasons of Star Trek.

I want to bow to him, and other stunt people like him, who save us actors and keep all of our limbs in one place. He took over a lot for the forest action Saru scenes — he did a lot of the work for me. As a 63-year-old skinny guy, I am happy to let a young person go do that! I’ll stay over here and keep my hips together.

Q: What can you tell us about Saru’s relationship with Vulcan President T’Rina?

JONES: The love story between Saru and T’Rina has meant the world to me. That’s the one with I’ve had for Saru throughout this entire series… “Can he find love?” [Laughs] When you’re playing an alien, a non-human species, it’s nice to have a love story. It’s more rare. Coupling him with a Vulcan? Perfection.

They’re both very diplomatic, they’re both very poised and proper — and he wants to be protective of her, but she’s adamant that she does not need his protection. T’Rina takes the lead often because she knows better than Saru does in many, many situations.

This interview has been edited for clarity and length.

We’ll be back tomorrow with our final Discovery interview of the week — with the one and only Captain Burnham herself, series lead Sonequa Martin-Green.

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How ‘Star Trek: Discovery’ Cast Stacey Abrams as United Earth’s President

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[Editor’s Note: The piece below shares major spoilers for the “Star Trek: Discovery” Season 4 finale, including its ending.]

She’s one of the most prominent “Star Trek” fans in the public eye. She’s spoken at length about how much she reveres Kathryn Janeway and that “Voyager” is her favorite “Trek” show. She co-hosted, with Pete Buttigieg and Andrew Yang, the “Trek the Vote to Victory” online fundraising drive for Joe Biden in 2020. And now she’s gone where few political figures have gone before: actually acting in a “Star Trek” show. Stacey Abrams appeared in the Season 4 finale of “Star Trek: Discovery” as the president of United Earth.

How did the producers of “Star Trek: Discovery” pull this off?

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In an interview with IndieWire, showrunner Michelle Paradise revealed she can hardly believe it herself: “Honestly, the number of times I’ve seen the episode, every time I see her face, I’m like, ‘Wow, that really happened. That’s awesome.'”

It’s a cameo appearance for sure, but one on which the entire season ends and resolves itself. And Abrams has lines — she is a SAG-AFTRA cardholder and previously narrated an episode of “Black-ish.” Whether we’ll see her again is another matter. “Oh my gosh, I would love that,” Paradise said. “I mean, I have no idea. She’s certainly busy doing other things.” Abrams is running for governor in Georgia in 2022, so she will have a lot on her plate indeed.

She’s certainly not the first politician to dabble in acting while still being engaged in politics: former Senator Fred Dalton Thompson was a series regular on “Law & Order” for a time and sitting Senator Pat Leahy has appeared in multiple “Batman” movies. And there have been all manner of cameos in “Star Trek” specifically: King Abdullah of Jordan even popped up as a crewmember on “Voyager,” but did not say a line (no SAG card in his case). But Abrams is a particularly inspiring figure, for her advocacy for voting rights and access, and someone whose values line up particularly well with those of “Trek”. In the finale a character talks about the ideals the Federation holds dear: the right to pursue happiness, freedom, equality, diversity, participation. Abrams channels those like few political figures today.

And that’s why, for Paradise, she made perfect sense to cap off a two-season-long meta arc about how the Federation comes back together in the far-distant future of the 32nd Century, after Earth had left the interstellar government following a cataclysm known as The Burn.

“We knew, coming into season three, that bringing the Federation back together again would be a two season arc,” Paradise said. “And in the third episode of Season 3, we go to Earth and we find out that Earth is no longer a member. So we were teeing up that Earth equals the Federation coming back together again. So we knew that, by the end of season four, we would need to focus on Earth.

“And as we got into season four and got halfway through breaking it, we realized: We need a person to represent Earth. And then the question became: who should that person be? I don’t remember where the idea came from, honestly. But I texted Alex to say, ‘What do you think of Stacey Abrams?’ Immediately, [he sent] exclamation points. And he said, ‘Let’s set up a meeting. Let’s talk to her. Let’s see.’ So we did. And she was so kind. And we got on Zoom with her, and we pitched her where we were for the season and who this character was and what this character would represent. And asked if she would be a part of this with us. Honestly, I can’t think of anyone better to represent the president of Earth in all of that.”

Abrams had a role in shaping her character too.

“When she saw the script and we started talking about costumes and stuff like that, it was just really wanting her input on those things,” Paradise said. “It’s a character that she needs to embody. She’s so collaborative and was really just wonderful about all of it. It really was just such a treat to have her there and get to have her in Toronto on set.”

While some other franchises have turned being apolitical and “playing it safe” into an art form, it’s remarkable to see “Star Trek” wear its values on its sleeve like this and take a stand. But if “boldly going” isn’t what “Star Trek” is all about, then what is?

“Star Trek: Discovery” is now streaming on Paramount+. 

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Interview: Sonequa Martin-Green On Facing Her Past On ‘Star Trek: Discovery’ And Her Hopes For The Future

| April 21, 2024 | By: Laurie Ulster 25 comments so far

TrekMovie talked to star Sonequa Martin-Green about the latest episode of  Star Trek: Discovery (“ Face the Strange “) and how things have changed in season 5 for both the series and for Captain Burnham herself. The SPOILERS interview talks about Trek lore in season 5, how jumping back through time gave her the chance to come face-to-face with her own character evolution across the series. We also talked about her hopes for the future after the show wraps up.

This season is so steeped in Star Trek lore, starting with picking up on the story from “The Chase.” Did you have to steep yourself in some of that stuff to prepare?

Yeah. We always love being able to connect us back. And I remember when I was choosing the furniture for Burnham’s quarters, and I wanted to make sure I got a stool for my Vulcan meditation, because even though I had come out of that and had really gotten comfortable with my humanity, and we had jumped to the future away from Spock, and all of that good stuff, I wanted to keep that. Anytime we could point to iterations that come before us, we would celebrate, it would be so exciting. I knew what it was just because it was it was a it was already encapsulated in the story itself. So we were able to connect to what it was before from just connecting to what it was right then because we just sort of picked it up from where they left it off.

These early season 5 episodes show great immediate chemistry with Burnham and Rayner. As an executive producer, were you involved in the casting and can you talk about how you developed that chemistry?

Thank you for that. Well, Callum Keith Rennie is brilliant, right? The casting for this show is just one of the reasons why we’ve been so successful. I could speak about all the people that have come and gone and left a mark on our show, that’ll never be erased. Callum came into our family, we welcomed him with open arms, just like we welcomed Eve Harlow and Elias Toufexis, who play really huge roles in the final season. We hit the ground running, and I’m so grateful that you see that because chemistry is not something you can force. It’s not something you can predict, either. You have no idea if you’re going have it or not. But he’s such he’s such a brilliant actor and I’ve had the blessing to work with so many brilliant actors on this show. So as a producer, I actually was not a part of his casting. I have been a part of casting before I played a small part in the casting of David Ajala… I love him so much.

Looking at the relationship with Rayner and Burnham, it’s very unusual in the show to see a younger black woman leading an older white man, teaching him something, and I’m wondering if you had thoughts on that?

Oh, I loved that. That’s something that we talked about, me and the other producers and Michelle Paradise, our showrunner, and Alex Kurtzman as well. We felt that we had reached a point where it was time for Burnham to be the mentor. Saru leaving and going off to fulfill his own destiny, his own purpose, had a lot to do with that because he was a sort of guide and a voice of reason in that way. And his exit marked the beginning of Burnham being ready to be someone else’s guide, someone else’s mentor. And being able to give Captain Rayner a second chance was huge. That’s a big part of why Burnham is able to lead from the center out, and why she’s able to nurture people to be their best selves, because of everything that she’s been through, because of the mistakes and the moral failures and the victories as well. And so I really loved that we’ve sort of flipped it on its head and earned it at the same time. We didn’t just do it to do it, we earned it. And Burnham saw herself in Rayner even though he was this older white man, and he struggled to listen, but he was humbled through the experience as well, which could be a path that people could see moving forward.

L-R Sonequa Martin-Green as Burnham and Callum Keith Rennie as Rayner in “Face the Strange” (Marni Grossman /Paramount+)

  For episode 4 with the two Burnhams, did you go back and watch earlier episodes to prepare?

I actually did go back in a couple of ways. I went back and watched a little bit. I went back and read a little bit from some of the earlier scripts. And I went back into my journal as the character, because I had a sort of stream-of-consciousness journal that I would keep, and I went back to that too. And man, I didn’t even know what it was going to seem like. I could hear what everybody was saying as I was shooting it, because of course, I’m looking at a double and. But once I was able to look at it in post, it’s like, “Oh, man, you really can see this.” It almost makes me want to cry right now. You really can see the growth that this character went through. What a what a gift that they gave me, that they gave Burnham, that they gave the audience, to be able to see this kind of growth. And then you can imagine it with all of the characters. I mean, think about how far Saru came. He was a completely different Kelpien from where he is now after he went through his transformation. And Culber went from death to life, literally. And we see Tilly as this sort of scared girl who becomes this leader, this woman. We see the journey that Adira takes. We see the journey that Stamets takes from this critical person to this beautiful sensitive scientist. Oh, gosh, it’s one of my favorite things about Discovery . And I just feel so blessed that I was able to watch these artists create, and that I was able to create what I what I did.

What was shooting the fight between the Burnhams like?

I love that we get to see these fighting styles against each other because it’s one of the major reasons why present-day Burnham defeats past Burnham. Because now there’s a freedom and there’s a security, and you can see it in the fight. We wanted to make sure that we did that. I got to big up to Chris McGuire, our stunt coordinator, for doing that, and our director Lee Rose. Because it was important for us to showcase that contrast, that growth, that evolution in the fight as well in the physical performance.

You do a lot of stunts this season. I know there are stunt people but you also do your own. Since becoming a mom, has your attitude changed towards the stunt work?

That’s a really good question. I do love stunt work. Being a mom, I think there’s some physical things, like as our bodies change as we grow older and as I get more comfortable with my femininity, I find my relationships to stunt work and combat and whatnot changing. I still think it’s fun. I would still do it. But I don’t approach it in exactly the same way as I used to, especially now that I don’t just have a son, I have a daughter now. So it’s interesting because I’ve had to sort of look at my own womanhood and my own femininity and my own matriarchal leadership in my family. And so I think I have pulled back from it a little bit because I think there was a time where I would look at combat and things like that as a way to sort of put on a masculine shield if I’m being honest. But that’s where I was then, and that’s okay. We’re all on a journey of growth, right? And I’ve grown and evolved a lot because of Michael Burnham, because of Captain Burnham, especially.

Sonequa Martin-Green as Burnhams (Paramount+)

After the fight, there is a moment where present Michael is giving advice to past (unconscious) Michael. So for Sonequa, what advice would you give your past self at that moment, back when you were starting a Star Trek series that launched a whole new era for the franchise?  

That’s a beautiful question. I would tell myself to trust God more. And to give myself more grace.

So in episode four, you guys got to work with Hannah Cheesman (Airiam) again. Was that emotional for everybody?

It was emotional. We miss her. Anytime people can come back, it means a lot. We haven’t had lots of folks come back, we’ve had some. We’ve had some we had Ali [Momen] from season 1, episode one come back later. And you know, Elias Toufexis who plays L’ak in season 5, he had been in episode three of season 1. We always love it when our show family members can come back. And it was emotional, but It was also celebratory. It was like, “Ah, Hannah, what’s up?” And the subject matter of the episode especially is what made it emotional. So yeah, that was a really good time. I’m grateful we had that.

In that episode, we kept expecting Lorca to show up at some point…

Oh, I know! I know.

So, was that under consideration, or were other people under consideration too?

The thing is, no, because we didn’t know it was our last season. It was just what it was. It was this big grand adventurous, fun season with the biggest existential questions there are to ask. And that’s what we were focused on. I wonder if we were to do it again if we would be able to do something like that? But yeah, we weren’t thinking in that way at the time.

Hannah Cheesman as Airiam and Sonequa Martin-Green as Burnham in “Face the Strange”

There has been talk about a lot of Star Trek movies and one of the ones apparently is still in development is written by a former Discovery writer, Kalinda Vasquez . Do you know anything about that?

No, I wish I did. I wish I did! We talk about movie opportunities a lot. We talk about possible crossover opportunities. It’s tough because where we ended up was further beyond where any Trek is gone. I think we ended in 3191. So there’s very little we can do in terms of just not breaking too many rules because when we jumped to the future, that was our last shot. But I think that there are some crossover opportunities coming up with maybe Starfleet Academy . It would be a lot of fun to do a movie. I haven’t heard anything about it, but it could be a lot of fun.

The fifth and final season of  Discovery debuted with two episodes on Thursday, April 4 exclusively on Paramount+  in the U.S., the UK, Switzerland, South Korea, Latin America, Germany, France, Italy, Australia, and Austria.  Discovery also premiered on April 4 on Paramount+ in Canada and will be broadcast on Bell Media’s CTV Sci-Fi Channel in Canada. The rest of the 10-episode final season is available to stream weekly on Thursdays. Season 5 debuted on SkyShowtime in select European countries on April 5.

Note: The interview has  been edited for brevity and clarity.  

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Recap/Review: ‘Star Trek: Discovery’ Gets The Timing Right In “Face The Strange”

This show finally won me over in season 4, and I think season 5 is off to a great start.

This season is great in spite of SMG’s presence. She’s just not a good actor. So. Much. Whispering… So. Much. Melodrama… So. Much. Overacting… Discovery has a lot to enjoy, but Michael Burnham has never been one of those things. Her character arc (imprisoned mutineer to revered captain in a short span of time) is ridiculous, and none of it was earned. I’d love to see Reno get her own show, on which she does nothing but say snarky things to Stamets, and then Book and Culber come in and act all Booky and Culbery. Sign me up! But more Burnham? Good god, no. I’d rather they started focusing on the good characters and the good actors instead.

Dude, buy a q-tip a clean out your ears if you can’t hear.

Dude, go away.

I’m glad you are enjoying the final season, but I have to disagree with your take on SMG. I think she’s a wildly talented actress who has been a real shining light during what has been an (at times) uneven Star Trek show. I think the idea that she whispers all the time is overblown. I don’t have difficulty hearing her and I don’t think she’s quiet at all. But I recognise that it is all subjective and everyone is entitled to their opinions.

I find her character can be enjoyable on rare occasions, but her arc is so uneven (like the whole show) it’s hard to take her seriously.

The focus on Burnham is also really annoying. Old Trek would give entire episodes to specific members of the crew, but on Discovery, the only one who got an episode like that was Airiam, far too late, and that’s literally it. So basically, Burnham has to save the galaxy on her own again and again.

I haven’t always been wild about Sonequa Martin-Green’s performances, but I thought she did a fabulous job playing both S1 Burnham and S5 Burnham!

one thing that they kinda got rid of quickly with her was that she was raised by vulcans. her character completely forgets that after season 2

Yes, and it’s annoying. The writing has been all over the place, which has been so cringey to watch. She goes from being the perfect Vulcan to crying every episode.

They actually explained all that nicely. She arrived in the future and spent a year with Book when she hadn’t yet found the rest of the Discovery crew. That was a big year, and changed her in a ot of ways. It’s all right there in the show.

I did think they should have eased her back into her Starfleet mold a bit more gradually. She’s delightful as the free and uninhibited version we see in the season 3 premiere, but she reverts pretty fast. Apart from sparring with some authority figures and letting her hair down, the effect of that year was a little too muted for my taste.

She was already overtly emotional before season three, so that doesn’t explain it.

I guess this wouldn’t be the first iteration of Trek to succumb to the “telling instead of showing” trope. That’s the frustrating thing about Discovery in general, so many great ideas and potential but wasting it all with the warp speed exposition dumps and character “development” while spending huge amounts of time on scenes which don’t add much to the experience.

Still can’t understand why Lorca isn’t back. These flashback type episodes are perfect for this opportunity. Maybe Jason Isaacs is too expensive for a single episode.

It would’ve been too big. A reappearance of Lorca would’ve overshadowed the episode. His return should come with an episode of its own, not be shoehorned into an episode that was going a different direction imo. If they’d have included him here, it would’ve pulled away from other things. Don’t get me wrong, I want to see Lorca too, but maybe a future streaming Disco movie would be a better place for it!

Good questions.

I thought she was just fine in TWD but couldn’t stand her in DSC. Badly written all around. Just my opinion. Cheers to her fans and fans of the show. She seems to be a nice person.

Looking at the relationship with Rayner and Burnham, it’s very unusual in the show to see a younger black woman leading an older white man, teaching him something, and I’m wondering if you had thoughts on that?

I hate when anyone brings up race it makes absolutely no difference what the colour is of anyone’s skin, this is something that was handled so well in earlier versions of Trek and handled so badly in later versions.

In TV interviews with SMG, she seems very happy. I wonder if she’s glad it’s over. Spending six months in Canada, away from family, may be challenging for her as a mother. Look, DSC is what it is. Burnham whispers; she cries sometimes. I turn up the volume on my center speaker. She finally seems believable when she’s in a fight scene. She’s more comfortable with it. A young family lives down the road from me. The father is white, and the mother is black. Their daughter loves Captain Burnham. I’m glad she gets to see herself on screen, and it inspired her imagination. That’s what Trek does. It inspires one’s imagination. My role models are Kirk/Pike/Picard/Sisko. Seeing young ladies cos-playing as Burnham and Tilly makes me happy. They get to participate in Trek. My brother is gay. He’s happy that he sees himself as normal on TV. Do I wish there were strong male characters on DSC? Of course, I do. I’ve come to terms with DSC, which wasn’t made with me in mind, but I enjoy it nonetheless.

I’m pretty sure she brought her family with her! I think Anson does the same.

I know Anson’s family comes back and forth. I don’t think his daughter is school-age yet. That, and his wife is Canadian. At least she was living in Canada when they met.

Yes, his daughter is very young! I think they live in Connecticut, though.

Yes, that’s their family home. When Anson was filming Hell On Wheels, he met his wife there (IIRC). That makes me think she might be Canadian or a landed immigrant.

I help a vendor at various Trek conventions throughout the year. I met his wife briefly in the UK. She was very friendly to me, as Anson always is.

Screen Rant

Star trek: discovery season 5, episode 3 ending explained.

Star Trek: Discovery season 5's treasure hunt brings the USS Discovery to Trill for the next clue, but Moll and L'ak may be one step ahead of Burnham.

Warning: SPOILERS for Star Trek: Discovery Season 5, Episode 3 - "Jinaal"

• Moll and L'ak are setting a trap on the USS Discovery - Adira may be in danger.
• The Progenitors' treasure was safeguarded by six secret scientists in the 24th century.
• Commander Rayner struggles to connect with the crew - Burnham seeks answers beyond the treasure.

Star Trek: Discovery season 5, episode 3, "Jinaal", brings Captain Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) and the USS Discovery one step closer to finding the Progenitors' treasure, but little do they know Moll (Eve Harlow) and L'ak (Elias Toufexis) are making insidious moves against them. Written by Kyle Jarrow and Lauren Wilkinson and directed by Andi Armaganian, the third episode of Star Trek: Discovery season 5 splits the action between the planet Trill and Commander Rayner (Callum Keith Renne) and Ambassador Saru (Doug Jones) having difficulty adjusting to their new assignments.

Captain Burnham and Cleveland Booker (David Ajala) pass a test created by Jinaal (Wilson Cruz) with flying colors. Jinaal was the host of a Trill symbiont who was alive in the 24th century, and he was part of a coalition of scientists, which included the Romulan Doctor Vellek (Michael Copeman) who hid the Progenitors' technology to protect the galaxy. A Trill ritual allowed Jinaal to occupy the body of Dr. Hugh Culber (Wilson Cruz), and the Trill took steps to ensure Burnham and Book were "worthy" of finding the Progenitors' treasure. However, Discovery's crew may unwittingly be walking into a trap set up by Moll and L'ak.

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

What did moll attach to adira at the end of star trek: discovery season 5, episode 3, moll and l'ak are making a move on the uss discovery.

After Jinaal departed Dr. Culber's body and he, Captain Burnham, and Cleveland Booker beamed back aboard the USS Discovery, Moll secretly placed a device on the arm of Ensign Adira Tal (Blu del Barrio). The Trills were warned by Burnham that Moll and L'ak would come seeking the clue hidden on Trill, but Guardian Xi (Andreas Apergis) was certain Trill would withstand any aggressive act. But what the Trill didn't anticipate was Moll, who is human, infiltrating the Trill during their ritual and planting something on Discovery's young Ensign.

32nd-century technology in Star Trek: Discovery is made of programmable matter, which explains why Moll's device disappeared.

The tiny device Moll hid on Adira's arm quickly vanished, but there are a few possibilities for what the tech could be. The device could be a tracker of some sort ; since Moll knows Burnham found the clue on Trill, she could be ensuring that she and her lover, L'ak, will be able to follow the USS Discovery wherever it jumps to next. The device could also be some kind of communicator or a weapon that could incapacitate Adira. It may also be a tiny transporter that would allow Adira to be beamed to L'ak's ship where they could be held hostage.

Moll, who likely was incognito in the Trill caves for the duration of Star Trek: Discovery, probably overheard Adira's conversations with their love interest, Gray Tal (Ian Alexander), and their decision to break up. Adira, who is young and inexperienced, is the ideal target for Moll and L'ak to plant a device on. This may be the end of Adira and Gray's Star Trek: Discovery love story . Their breakup is also an interesting juxtaposition to Moll and L'ak, who are lovers themselves but are committed to each other and are on the same journey, unlike the young Trill and Ensign.

Everything Star Trek: Discovery Season 5, Episode 3 Revealed About The Progenitors' Treasure

Great steps were taken to protect the ancient power to create life.

Jinaal provided a wealth of new information about what happened to the Progenitors' treasure after the events of Star Trek: The Next Generation 's "The Chase." According to Jinaal, in the 24th century, the President of the United Federation of Planets - possibly Jaresh-Inyo (Herschel Sparber) from Star Trek: Deep Space Nine - secretly assembled a team of 6 Federation and non-Federation scientists , including Jinaal and Dr. Vellek. After years of researching the Progenitors' message, they found the ancient technology in a sector of deep space. One of the scientists died horribly when they tried to activate it.

The scientists made it their life's work to safeguard the Progenitors' technology.

The scientists decided to hide the Progenitors' treasure instead of turning it over to the Federation. At this point, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine 's Dominion War engulfed the Alpha Quadrant, and anyone could be a Changeling. Jinaal and his colleagues made a pact and lied to the Federation about the treasure while redacting themselves from every database. The scientists made it their life's work to safeguard the Progenitors' technology, eventually creating a series of clues which they determined would deem whoever could find the treasure "worthy" of having it.

Meanwhile, on the USS Discovery, Commander Paul Stamets (Anthony Rapp) decoded Dr. Vellek's Romulant tricorder and learned more about the Progenitors' treasure. Stamets was excited about the applications of the Progenitors' technology, which is billions of years old. The Progenitors could "design new lifeforms, accelerate evolution, modify ecosystems." Stamets added, "If it can create life, then, in theory, it might also be possible to re-animate dead organisms."

The Progenitors' technology sounds like the Genesis Device from Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan but with even more potential to create - or destroy - life.

Saru Made A Faux Pas About Announcing His Wedding To T'Rina

Saru has a lot to learn about love and politics.

The newly-minted Ambassador Saru performed well in his first delegation meeting about the rising threat of the Breen , but he made a faux pas when it came to announcing his engagement to President T'Rina (Tara Rosling). T'Rina's political aide, Duvin (Victor Andres Trelles Turgeon), became concerned about the optics of the President of Ni'Var siding with the Kelpien Ambassador, especially when the news of their engagement becomes public. Saru listened to Duvin and got cold feet about announcing his engagement to T'Rina.

Duvin feared T'Rina's Presidential power weakening among Vulcan purists if she marries an offworlder.

Ultimately, T'Rina made Saru realize that making a public announcement is better than news of their engagement leaking out, which would make it seem like the couple were hiding something scandalous. Saru confessed his inexperience in romance and politics, but T'Rina has enough savviness for them both. Saru and T'Rina's wedding is on, and will likely take place sometime during Star Trek: Discovery season 5.

Commander Rayner Will Have Trouble Fitting In With The USS Discovery Crew

Rayner's not looking to connect and make friends on discovery.

Now demoted to Commander as the new First Officer of the USS Discovery, Rayner was ordered by Captain Burnham to meet with and forge connections with the USS Discovery's crew. But Rayner was more interested in hunting Moll and L'ak , and he only met with Discovery's crew members for brief, unfriendly intervals, to the disgust of Lieutenant Sylvia Tilly (Mary Wiseman). Rayner made no real inroads in connecting with Discovery's personnel, although he paid attention and made insightful observations about each Starfleet Officer.

Commander Rayner not immediately fitting in on Discovery is more realistic.

Tilly was right that Commander Rayner, who was on a new ship after an embarrassing demotion, compensated by acting boorishly to hide how difficult it was for him. To Star Trek: Discovery season 5's credit, Commander Rayner not immediately fitting in on Discovery is more realistic than the Kellerun Starfleet Officer being welcomed with open arms. Rayner will have a long road to earning the respect of the USS Discovery's crew, and vice versa, although Captain Burnham may not be pleased with how her new Number One alienated himself from her friends and family aboard the Disco.

Rayner explained he purposely kept a professional distance from his crew when he was Captain of the USS Antares.

Captain Burnham Is Searching For Something Bigger Than The Progenitors' Treasure

Michael has big questions she needs answered.

At the start of Star Trek: Discovery season 5, episode 2 , "Under the Twin Moons," Captain Burnham confessed that she used to find purpose in her missions, but now she is searching for something more. A greater meaning. Jinaal assessed this about Burnham on Trill, and Michael related the same to Dr. Hugh Culber. For Burnham, the Progenitors' treasure isn't just technology that can alter the destiny of the Federation, but it could mean answers Michael is seeking about the meaning of life, itself.

Captain Burnham's quest may reflect Star Trek: Discovery looking inward for something more profound.

Interestingly, Captain Burnham's spiritual journey in Star Trek: Discovery season 5 loosely echoes someone from her adoptive Vulcan family: Sybok (Lawrence Luckinbill). In Star Trek V: The Final Frontier, Spock's criminal older half-brother sought God in the mythical world of Sha Ka Ree. Sybok's quest was fueled by his own hubris, but the Vulcan truly did want to see and gain answers from the divine. Michael wants different answers than Sybok did, and Captain Burnham's quest may reflect Star Trek: Discovery looking inward for something more profound than its nature as an action-adventure Star Trek series.

Where The Next Clue To The Progenitors' Treasure Will Take Discovery

Discovery may take a pause in the treasure hunt.

Interestingly, Star Trek: Discovery season 5, episode 3's ending, doesn't directly lead to the USS Discovery's next destination after they depart Trill. Captain Burnham told Dr. Culber that the clue Jinaal gave them was being analyzed, but leads to the Tzenkethi system . However, Discovery is stymied by red tape as diplomats sort out the legalities of entering the Tzenkethi system. This could indicate a pause in Star Trek: Discovery season 5's treasure hunt in episode 4, "Face the Strange."

The Tzenkethi were a race that was never seen but was mentioned as enemies of the Federation on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine , furthering Star Trek: Discovery 's DS9 connections.

However, it's a safe bet whatever Moll planted on Adira will lead to the next crisis Captain Burnham will have to contend with . With three more pieces needed to complete the map to the Progenitors' treasure and 7 more episodes to go in Star Trek: Discovery season 5, Captain Burnham's hunt may take its first, strange detour.

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Chelah Horsdal

• View history

She is best known for her regular roles on the television series When Calls the Heart , Hell on Wheels (co-starring Anson Mount , Colm Meaney , Christopher Heyerdahl , and Jake Weber ), and The Man in the High Castle (co-starring Cary-Hiroyuki and Rick Worthy ). She also had recurring roles on Stargate SG-1 (with Ronny Cox and Joey Aresco ), The L Word (with Mia Kirshner ), Level Up , and Arrow .

She guested on shows such as Gene Roddenberry and Robert Hewitt Wolfe 's Andromeda , Tru Calling , The Dead Zone (starring Nicole de Boer and David Ogden Stiers , developed by Michael Piller and Shawn Piller ), The 4400 (with Charles Napier and Jeffrey Combs ), Criminal Minds , Smallville (with John Glover , Kenneth Welsh , and Alisen Down ), Psych (with Corbin Bernsen , Thomas Kopache , directed by James L. Conway ), Ronald D. Moore 's Battlestar Galactica (with Rekha Sharma and Mark A. Sheppard ), Stargate: Atlantis (with Robert Picardo ), Supernatural , Falling Skies (with Doug Jones , directed by Jonathan Frakes ), The Good Doctor (with Tamlyn Tomita ), and The 100 .

Her feature film credits include The Pink Panther (2006), X-Men: The Last Stand (2006, with Patrick Stewart , Famke Janssen , Rebecca Romijn , and Shohreh Aghdashloo ), Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem (2007, with Robert Joy ), The Cabin in the Woods (2011, with Chris Hemsworth and Tim de Zarn ), and Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011, with Jay Caputo ).

Star Trek appearances [ ]

• " Kobayashi Maru "
• " Anomaly (DIS) "
• " Choose to Live "
• " All Is Possible "
• " ...But to Connect "
• " The Galactic Barrier "
• " Rosetta "
• " Species Ten-C "
• " Coming Home "
• " Under the Twin Moons "

External links [ ]

• Chelah Horsdal at Wikipedia
• Chelah Horsdal at the Internet Movie Database
• Chelah Horsdal at X (formerly Twitter)
• Chelah Horsdal  at Instagram
• Chelah Horsdal  at Facebook

Who Was Airiam? Star Trek: Discovery’s Tragic Cyborg Officer Explained

Warning: This Article Contains SPOILERS For Star Trek: Discovery Season 5, Episode 4, "Face the Strange".

• Star Trek: Discovery season 5 episode 4 brought back Lt. Commander Airiam, who died in season 2.
• Airiam was an augmented human USS Discovery officer who was taken over by the enemy A.I. Control.
• Airiam was played by Sara Mitich in Discovery season 1 and Hannah Cheesman in season 2; Cheesman returned as Aiiam in season 5.

Star Trek: Discovery shockingly brings back Lt. Commander Airiam (Hannah Cheesman) in Star Trek: Discovery season 5, episode 4 , "Face the Strange", written by Sean Cochran and directed by Lee Rose. Captain Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green), Commander Rayner (Keith Callum Rennie), and Commander Paul Stamets (Anthony Rapp) are forced to hop through different eras of the USS Discovery's past and future. Their time travel puzzle places the trio back in Star Trek: Discovery season 1, when the USS Discovery was commanded by Captain Gabriel Lorca (Jason Isaacs). Instead of Lorca, however, Burnham finds that Airiam is in command, a year before Airiam's death in Star Trek: Discovery season 2.

The cyborg Airiam's unique appearance stands out among the mostly human characters in Star Trek: Discovery , inviting curiosity as to Airiam's origin. With striking blue eyes and facial features divided into pale white and silver chrome segments, Airiam could have been a member of an alien species new to Star Trek: Discovery , like the Kelpien Commander Saru (Doug Jones), or a 23rd-century synthetic life form, like a precursor to Star Trek: The Next Generation 's Lt. Commander Data (Brent Spiner). Neither an alien nor an early android, Lt. Commander Airiam was an augmented human, enhanced with cybernetic parts after a shuttle accident that left Airiam in critical condition and killed Airiam's new husband.

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

Who was airiam & how did she die in star trek: discovery, airiam sacrificed herself to protect the future of sentient life..

Lt. Commander Airiam was a cyborg science officer who served on the USS Discovery in Star Trek: Discovery seasons 1 & 2, and often took command of Discovery when the Captain and First Officer were not available. As the spore drive operations officer, Airiam worked as a liaison between Discovery's command crew on the bridge and Lt. Commander Paul Stamets in engineering. Airiam was close with the rest of the USS Discovery's bridge crew, and counted Ensign Sylvia Tilly (Mary Wiseman), Lt. Joann Owosekun (Oyin Oladejo), and Lt. Keyla Detmer (Emily Coutts) as some of her closest friends. Burnham didn't know Airiam well then, but would soon.

Airiam's enhancements were sometimes a boon, like when processing 10,000 years of data from the Sphere, but also ultimately led to Airiam's death in Star Trek: Discovery season 2, episode 9, "Project Daedalus". Control, the threat assessment A.I. developed by Starfleet's Section 31, hijacked Airiam through her cybernetic augmentation to get to the Sphere data, with the goal of becoming sentient and wiping out sentient life. Control managed to get 25% of the Sphere data before Airiam realized her death would be the only way to stop Control. Airiam pleaded with Burnham and Lieutenant D. Nhan (Rachael Ancheril) to release Airiam from an airlock, and Nhan ultimately complied.

In Star Trek: Discovery season 3, Lt. Nhan stays on the USS Discovery in the 32nd century to honor Lt. Commander Airiam's sacrifice.

2 Actors Played Airiam In Star Trek: Discovery

Sara mitich and hannah cheesman both played lt. commander airiam..

Star Trek: Discovery 's Lt. Commander Airiam was played by two different actors, starting with Sara Mitich playing Airiam in Star Trek: Discovery season 1. Mitich may have had an allergic reaction to the cyborg makeup, which would prevent her continued performance as Airiam after Star Trek: Discovery season 1. Instead of leaving, Airiam's original actress played Lt. Nilsson , a new human character, beginning in Star Trek: Discovery season 2. After Airiam's death, Nilsson took over the role of spore drive ops officer, and stayed on the USS Discovery in the 32nd century until Star Trek: Discovery season 5, when Nilsson transferred to the USS Voyager-J.

Hannah Cheesman took over the role of Lt. Commander Airiam in Star Trek: Discovery season 2, and played Airiam again in Star Trek: Discovery season 5, episode 4, "Face the Strange". Although the episode revisited Discovery season 1, when Sara Mitich played Airiam, it made sense that Airiam's second actress, Hannah Cheesman, returned to Star Trek: Discovery . The story relies on having a consistent through line from the connection between Cheesman's Airiam and Michael Burnham before Airiam's tragic death in Star Trek: Discovery season 2, episode 9, "Project Daedalus", and Airiam and Burnham meeting in Discovery season 5, episode 4, "Face the Strange".

Hannah Cheesman also plays a fully human version of Airiam seen in flashback recordings from before Airiam's accident in Star Trek: Discovery season 2, episode 9, "Project Daedalus".

Why Airiam Was Key To Star Trek: Discovery Season 5’s Time Travel

Burnham's knowledge of airiam's death proved valuable..

Lt. Commander Airiam was the key to solving the time travel problem in Star Trek: Discovery season 5, episode 4, "Face the Strange". Stamets' plan to contain the time bug by breaking Discovery's warp bubble required cooperation from Discovery's bridge crew in order to work, an impossible task to achieve at a time when Discovery's captain was Captain Gabriel Lorca (Jason Isaacs) and Michael Burnham was considered an untrustworthy mutineer. Fortunately, the duty roster revealed Lorca was not on the USS Discovery , and Airiam was in command, so Captain Burnham's job of convincing the bridge crew to help was downgraded from impossible to merely difficult.

Although Burnham wasn't particularly close to Lt. Commander Airiam, Michael was present when Airiam died, and privy to all the pain of Airiam's last moments. Burnham's testimony of Airiam's death was met with protest from Detmer and Owosekun but unlocked a solemn understanding from Airiam herself. Airiam knew herself, and what she would do, far better than even her friends did. Convinced that Burnham was telling the truth about being from the future, Airiam allowed the plan to proceed, and helped get the USS Discovery out of its time loop. Just like in Discovery season 2, Lt. Commander Airiam's trust saved the future in Star Trek: Discovery season 5.

Star Trek: Discovery streams Thursdays on Paramount+.

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

Genres Drama, Sci-Fi, Adventure

Streaming Service(s) Paramount+

Franchise(s) Star Trek

Writers Alex Kurtzman

Directors Jonathan Frakes, Olatunde Osunsanmi

Showrunner Alex Kurtzman

Where To Watch Paramount+

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Published Apr 16, 2024

WARP FIVE: Callum Keith Rennie on Discovery's Gruff First Officer

The Star Trek: Discovery actor talks Rayner's second chance, command style, and more!

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

Getty Images / StarTrek.com

Welcome to Warp Five, StarTrek.com's five question post-mortem with your favorite featured talent from the latest Star Trek episodes.

We're only three episodes into Star Trek: Discovery 's final season, but the stakes could not be higher. Not long after saving the entire galaxy from the Dark Matter Anomaly, Captain Michael Burnham and the crew of the U.S.S. Discovery is handed a Red Directive mission from Dr. Kovich.

An 800-year-old science vessel was found on the edge of the Beta Quadrant. Aboard that ship is "something vital to the security of the Federation." They are to retrieve that artifact; however, they're not the only ones on the hunt for the artifact's ancient power. While chasing two criminals in the fifth season opener, " Red Directive ," Burnham comes across Captain Rayner and the U.S.S. Antares who is also hot on their trail and unwilling to let Moll and L'ak go as easily as the Discovery captain.

StarTrek.com had the opportunity to speak with actor Callum Keith Rennie on making first contact with Star Trek , demotions and second chances, his approach to Discovery 's newest distinguished yet gruff first officer, and more.

Point of First Contact

"Under the Twin Moons"

StarTrek.com

Like many others, Rennie was first introduced to the franchise with The Original Series in his youth.

"My first contact with Star Trek was watching it on TV with the original," remembers Rennie. "That's the one that I always reference. If it comes on, I watch it still. For me, I did see all of those other variations as they came out, but I held onto my Spock and my Jim Kirk."

For the Love of the Federation

"Red Directive"

In "Red Directive," as Burnham and Discovery is in hot pursuit of this season's main antagonists, Moll and L'ak, they soon learn that the Antares captain has been pursuing them for quite some time, and he refuses to let the slippery pair go each time they're within grasp.

When asked how big of a threat Moll and L'ak, as well as the Progenitor tech, pose to the Federation? Rennie teases that more will be revealed in time, "He has a history [with them] that will be explained later."

Speaking on the choices we've seen Rayner make in response to the two criminals, he shares, "That's Rayner's style of command. His is, 'We're to get those people; we're not to make concessions.' There's no other way outside of what he wants to do. His drive is to succeed; 'Pick a thing, I'll go do it.' That's what he knows how to do."

The distinction is clear; Rayner is a gruff, smart Starfleet captain who holds a clear line between commander and crew — he leads, they follow. His approach is, you get the job done and apologize later.

In an earlier discussion with StarTrek.com , executive producer and co-showrunner Michelle Paradise noted, "What's interesting about [Captain Rayner] is that he is going to be a bit of an antagonist, but not in a bad guy way. He's going to push Burnham, and we'll get to see new sides of Burnham and new growth in Burnham because of her interactions with him."

He has a storied track record of wartime success. In " Under the Twin Moons ," Federation president Rillak has to remind him that times have changed and they're no longer at war. However, the Antares captain sees threats everywhere, arguing that the Breens are in-fighting, the Orions are regrouping, and war is always a possibility. Not only that, Moll and L'ak now have a head start at retrieving a piece of technology with unbelievable power. He wants everyone to stop living in a "candy-colored holo fantasy."

The Fallout of Q'Mau

During Burnham and Rayner's first run-in, while Discovery 's captain sabotages the fleeing thieves' ship while on the hull of their ship, she tells the Antares captain to release its tractor beam hold as the enemy vessel's warp bubble is starting to collapse and her ship can't beam her out to safety while she's in the diminishing bubble. Then, while on Q'Mau together, Rayner continues to pursue Moll and L'ak on his own leaving Burnham and Cleveland 'Book' Booker behind; stating he doesn't have time for their "strategic advantages." Rayner plans to thwart their getaway by detonating the explosive charges hidden in a mountain's entrance, risking the potential of harming those living on the settlement of Q'Mau. Burnham reminds him they're on a non-Federation planet undertaking a highly sensitive and classified mission. When the detonation spirals into a fast-moving avalanche that would decimate the local inhabitants, Discovery requests Antares aid them in creating a shield to block the avalanche as there is not enough time to evacuate. However, Rayner holds off on letting Antares leave orbit at the risk of allowing the two thieves to evade them again.

When Rayner is held accountable for his actions as Federation Headquarters holds an inquiry to the events on Q'Mau. Despite his commendable 30 years of service to Starfleet, and his longstanding friendship with Admiral Vance, the Antares captain was forced to take an early retirement.

"Here's a guy who's been in command for 30 years," Rennie distills. "He goes in to help Burnham and her crew, and then the next thing you know, he's dismissed. So, all of that is bad. If he didn't show up to participate in any of that, he would still just be running his own crew and doing his own thing. He'd be happy on the Antares until the end of time. But he went to help, he made a decision that caused a problem, and then he was fired, sent out to pasture, and he has to make a decision to go, 'Am I done or am I not done?'"

Second Chances and Second Contacts

"Jinaal"

Valuing Rayner's aid he provided her crew while she was on Lyrek, Captain Burnham tells Rayner she'd like for him to be part of her crew — her first officer position has opened up — and she knows he's not ready to end his Starfleet career here. After all, no one understands the value of a second chance more than Burnham herself.

Reflecting on the opportunity presented to his character Rayner, Rennie notes, "He wants to try to be a better person. He's looking at his stuff going, acknowledging at times that he's been too impulsive and doing the the thing that he shouldn't have done, and but doing it anyway."

On his second chance, Rennie adds, "Does he want to be retired or does he still want to be part of the Federation and Starfleet? And he makes that choice, believing, 'What's the worst that can happen? They'll fire me again.'"

An important component of modern Star Trek has been to show the many facets of Starfleet and the Federation. It's not a monolithic institution incapable of faults.

"You do the best job you can at the given moment, and sometimes that works out and sometimes that doesn't," reflects Rennie. "You have to be, 'Well, let's take that risk.' From a commander standpoint, nothing's infallible. There's certain missions that only certain people will be assigned to because of their style. He's the man for the job," before teasing, "You'll soon discover why he's a little harsh at times."

In " Jinaal ," while Burnham heads to the surface of Trill to unlock their latest crew, Rayner is tasked with getting to know the senior crew better. While his first impression wasn't great, he now has the opportunity to make a second first impression. Unfortunately for him, his second contact isn't off to a great start when he offers the crew 20 words to provide him insight into them.

It's not going to be an overnight scenario for Rayner to change his ways. "He doesn't want to participate with the Discovery crew the way Burnham wants him to be a team player," he explains. "He's not in that space yet. He's not good at, 'Let's all be friends.' It's not his style."

Joining the Discovery Family

Rennie's experience joining a series in its final season mirrors Rayner's experience joining a tight-knit crew.

"Coming into a show, you're a new kid in school, you don't know who you're going to be friends with," states Rennie. "You don't know if you're going to get along with anybody. Much like Rayner is there to do his work, I'm there to do my work. But, my [personal] experience was fun. Episode to episode, time spent with everyone, you warm up. There's a warmth that just grows as you move along [with Sonequa Martin-Green and this cast], and you've become part of something."

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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.