star trek continues episode 1

The Original Science Fiction Podcast

Fan Film Review: Star Trek Continues Episode 1, “Pilgrim of Eternity”

• June 3, 2013
• [ 1307 words ]
• Posted by Josh Roseman

Despite the furor over the reboot universe and the sci-fi landscape’s love for the later iterations of Star Trek, there’s still something about The Original Series that keeps bringing people back. And one way they come back is with fan films.

One such venture is Star Trek Continues , produced by Farragut Films and DracoGen Strategic Investments. It aims to pick up, in their words, “right where the original left off” with their first episode, “Pilgrim of Eternity”.

The thing is, after what they went through last time with him, Captain Kirk and Mr. Scott are not at all sanguine about his request — and when Apollo uses his powers against the crew, their fears are borne out. At least, until Apollo himself suggests a radical way to convince the captain to trust him.

The original cast is rounded out by:

• Grant Imahara ( Mythbusters ) as Sulu — I don’t watch his show, but while his acting was pretty good (except for when he yelled “Simone!” — I can’t see Takei-of-old doing that either, though), his voice seemed incongruous.
• Kim Stinger as Uhura — she also appeared on Star Trek Phase 2 , which to my mind is the gold standard in TOS fan-films, and she brings the same strong performances to “Pilgrim of Eternity”.
• Wyatt Lenhart as Chekov — He only had one or two lines, and he delivered them fine. I’d have to see him act more to make a better analysis of his work.

There are also quite a few big-name guest stars, including Jamie Bamber ( Battlestar Galactica ) as Mr. Simone, Marina Sirtis as the computer voice, and I could swear I saw Amanda Foreman (Crewman Hannity in the reboot universe) but she wasn’t credited so I could be wrong.

With the exception of the compositing of Imahara and Bamber in their spacesuits and the explosion of the anomaly, the effects (both interior and exterior) were quite good. There weren’t a ton of special-effects shots actually needed for this episode, since the sets are pretty comprehensive. I don’t know if they used the same sets as Phase 2 , since that one’s shot in upstate New York and (according to IMDB) this one was shot in Kingsland, Ga., but kudos go to whoever put these sets together. Same for the costuming, which is… well, I mean, it’s not that complicated, but it’s also easy to screw up because Star Trek fans are looking for mistakes anywhere they can find them.

“Pilgrim of Eternity” can be seen on Vimeo and YouTube. I prefer the latter because it has captions.

Note to Parents: This show contains some non-sexual mature themes, but no nudity, violence, or adult language. Captain Kirk and Apollo appear shirtless once apiece in the presentation. This should be safe for any child who can watch actual TOS episodes. Of course, you should use your own best judgment when it comes to your children.

* Funny story: when I was working at the University of Central Florida, my office manager’s name was Elise McKenna. She too had red hair. Coincidence? Probably.

About the Author

Josh Roseman (not the trombonist; the other one) lives in Georgia. His fiction has appeared in Asimov’s , Escape Pod , and the Crossed Genres anthology Fat Girl in a Strange Land . His voice has been heard around the fiction podosphere as well, including here on Escape Pod . Find him online at roseplusman.com , or on Twitter @listener42 .

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• Star Trek Continues

Pilgrim of Eternity

Star trek continues  - s1  - e1.

Apollo returns to wreak havoc on the Enterprise in the first episode of the new series. FAN NOTE: This is a follow up episode to "Who Mourns for Adonais?" (s2e02) from the original series.

Star Trek Continues: Season 1 - 11 Episode s

1x1 - pilgrim of eternity.

May 24, 2013

1x2 - Lolani

February 8, 2014

A survivor from a distressed Tellarite vessel pulls Captain Kirk and his crew into a moral quandary over her sovereignty. FAN NOTE: Orion slave girls were first introduced in "The Cage", the original pilot for the original series.

1x3 - Fairest of Them All

June 15, 2014

In the Mirror Universe, Spock faces a choice that determines the future of the Terran Empire. FAN NOTE: This is a follow up episode to "Mirror, Mirror" (s2e04) from the original series.

1x4 - The White Iris

June 20, 2015

Captain Kirk finds himself haunted by guilt from his past as the fate of an alien world hangs in the balance. FAN NOTE: This episode involves original series character story lines: Rayna from "Requiem for Methuselah" (s3e19), Miramanee from "The Paradise Syndrome" (s3e03), and Edith Keeler from "The City on the Edge of Forever" (s1e28).

1x5 - Divided We Stand

September 26, 2015

Kirk and McCoy are trapped in time while an alien infestation threatens the Enterprise.

1x6 - Come Not Between the Dragons

May 28, 2016

A troubled creature pierces the Enterprise hull, pitting the crew against a pursuer that threatens to tear them apart.

1x7 - Embracing the Winds

September 3, 2016

While the Enterprise is sent on a seemingly routine mission, Kirk is recalled to starbase where he faces an ethical dilemma that challenges the very core of Starfleet Command.

1x8 - Still Treads the Shadow

April 2, 2017

The Enterprise discovers a lost starship... with an unlikely passenger. FAN NOTE: This is a follow up episode to "The Tholian Web" (s3e09) from the original series.

1x9 - What Ships Are For

July 30, 2017

Kirk struggles with aiding a society whose inhabitants view their isolated world in a very unique way.

1x10 - To Boldly Go: Part I

October 18, 2017

To solve the ultimate mystery, the Enterprise must return to where Kirk's five-year mission began. FAN NOTE: This is a follow up episode to "Where No Man Has Gone Before" (s1e03), the second pilot for the original series. This episode has characters called "espers". In the original series pilot, Mitchell said, "Man cannot survive if a race of true espers is born." FAN NOTE: The Romulan Commander character was introduced in the original series episode "The Enterprise Incident" (s3e02). The actress who played that role in the original series is the mother of the actress playing the Romulan Commander in this episode.

1x11 - To Boldly Go: Part II

November 13, 2017

The iconic mission of the U.S.S. Enterprise comes to an end, as Kirk and his crew battle the ultimate adversary.

Star Trek Continues: All seasons

S1: Season 1

11 Episode s

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Star Trek Continues

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The STAR TREK CONTINUES webseries boldly completes the original five-year mission. Below, you can find all of our episodes, vignettes, and other content — including behind-the-scenes videos, set walk-throughs, and much more.

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Star Trek Continues: The episode guide, ratings and all 11 full episodes

If you’re binging the Star Trek universe or merely hankering for some Original Series -type science-fiction, Star Trek Guide strongly recommends that you make the episodes of Continues part of your viewing. This truly professional-level fan production is not only 11 quality stories in the ST fan, STC wraps up many plotlines the TOS and its general lack of continuity (hey, it was 1960s network TV), ties in the prequel series Enterprise , bridges TOS nicely into Star Trek: The Motion Picture , and retroactively foreshadows certain elements of the Next Generation era.

1. Pilgrim of Eternity – In a sequel to “ Who Mourns for Adonais ?”, the mighty Apollo returns to the Enterprise and wreaks some serious havoc while taking a little time to philosophize about mortality. ***

2. Lolani – The Orion Slave Girls finally get more flashed out (so to speak) as characters when the title character is inspired to lead her peers to emancipation. ****

3. Fairest of Them All – And speaking of emancipation, check out this continuation of TOS’ “Mirror, Mirror” in which mirror-universe Spock begins the quadrant-wide revolt against the oppressive human overlords. Quite possibly the finest mirror universe episode of them all, really. ****

4. The White Iris – Head trip for Kirk, as he madly hallucinates old flames met on previous missions: Rayna, Miramanee and Joan Collins – i mean, Edith Keeler. (What, only three?) In a guest-starring role, Colin Baker demonstrates the acting chops that helped get Doctor Who taken off the air for 16 years. ***

5. Divided we Stand – Head trip (and time travel of a sort) for Kirk and McCoy: An on-board accident knocks the two buddies into unconsciouness, whereupon they mutually dream their way through an incident in the American Civil War. ***

6. Come Not Between the Dragons – The Enterprise invaded by a mysterious alien on the run from forces powerful enough to be capable of destroying the ship in classic TOS fashion. ***

7. Embracing the Winds – The overriding theme of emancipation continues, as Starfleet inner workings and a mysterious near-conspiracy are merely window dressing to retcon a bit of TOS continuity that doesn’t sit well with modern sensibility. To wit: Why the lack of female starship captains in the supposedly enlightened TOS era? ****

8. Still Treads the Shadow – Ready for some insane time paradox/head trip stuff? In something of a TNG-influenced episode, “Still Treads” has the Enterprise coming across the starship Defiant (!), possibly have journeyed into a parallel universe, whereupon a single occupant – an aged James T. Kirk himself – is cryogenically frozen. ****

9. What Ships are For – Some great character interplay in the cold open leads to a surreal plot involving an isolated, nigh-xenophobic colony inhabiting an asteroid whereupon no color exists – and John de Lancie is a mere mortal community leader. Traditional Star Trek themes, an excellent twist and the arresting black-and-white look make this one episode of STC that the TOS producers certainly wished they’d had the special effects to make an episode like this. ****

10-11. To Boldly Go, parts 1 & 2 – The Enterprise crew revisits the scene of " Where No Man Has Gone Before ", where one crew member must make the proverbial ultimate sadrifice. To Boldly Go tightly wraps us the remaiing plot threads from both TOS and Continues and sets the table nicely for the crew’s reunion in The Motion Picture. What a way for STC to go out – with everyone wanting more... *****

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Star Trek: Discovery Season 5 Episode 1 and 2 Review – Burnham’s Red Directive

Star Trek: Discovery season 5 kicks off with a pair of episodes that set up one last high stakes adventure for Michael Burnham and her crew.

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This Star Trek: Discovery review contains spoilers.

Star Trek: Discovery Season 5 Episode 1 and 2

The final voyage of Star Trek: Discovery is upon us, and it’s officially the end of an era—albeit one that will likely be met with plenty of mixed emotions. After all, no matter how you feel about the show itself, Discovery brought Star Trek back to television after a decade-plus absence, and played a key role in launching the larger franchise universe we’re all enjoying today. For that alone, we owe it a debt, and a resounding thank you. But it also must be said that Discovery hasn’t always been the easiest Trek installment to watch —or love. 

The show struggled to find a coherent identity in its early seasons. A series that originally began as a fairly bleak Star Trek: The Original Series prequel about the Klingon War, Discovery drastically shifted its gears in season 2, morphing into something that felt like an overt nostalgia fest—though it did sow the seeds that would become Star Trek: Strange New Worlds . By the time its third season rolled around, the show had completely reinvented itself once again, launching its characters into the far future of the 32nd century where literally anything felt possible and narrative rules like “established canon” didn’t apply. Now, in its fifth and final season, it appears that Discovery has finally managed to reconcile (most) of its myriad identities with one another, and the end result is something that feels freer and more fun than it ever has before.

To be fair, if you’ve never been particularly fond of Discovery , the first two episodes of season 5 are unlikely to change your mind about the show’s storytelling or overall quality. But if you’ve ever enjoyed these characters or the old-fashioned space explorer vibes this show has embraced in the last few seasons, there’s plenty to enjoy about this return, from its more overtly adventure-style feel to the intriguing character dynamics at work between many of our faves. 

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Unlike season 4, which saw Captain Michael Burnham and her crew tasked with helping to rebuild the Federation and deal with the existential threat of a dark matter anomaly capable of ripping worlds apart, this final outing has a much lighter and more expansive vibe from its first moments. The Discovery fam seems to have finally settled into the 32nd century: Tilly’s teaching at Starfleet Academy, Saru and T’rina’s adorably weird interspecies romance seems solid and happy, Adira is more confident and settled than we’ve ever seen them, and though Stamets is clearly feeling a bit directionless thanks to the closure of the spore drive program, he’s also determined to find a new purpose. Burnham is equally determined not to mention Book, the light treason he committed last season, or the hole his absence has left in her life, but it turns out he’s doing solid good work helping refugees. Everything seems to be going well—so, naturally, that means it can’t possibly last. 

The Discovery crew is immediately assigned to a top-secret “Red Directive” mission, charged with finding a specific object aboard an abandoned 800-year-old Romulan science vessel recently discovered on the edge of space. But once they arrive, they discover a pair of scavengers has reached the ship already and is determined to snag this artifact the Federation wants so badly for themselves. What follows is a dramatic, very expensive-looking chase sequence involving a warp bubble, a tractor beam, and a second Starfleet ship, all of which the scavengers—a couple named L’ak and Moll—still manage to escape, which means that there’s a genuine reason for Book to get involved, given that he spent a lot of time fencing illegal items and has a pretty good idea of where they’ll have to head to unload their valuable cargo. The chase, as they say, is on. 

The Final Days of Star Trek Discovery: What to Expect From Season 5 and Beyond

Star Trek: Discovery’s Sonequa Martin-Green on the Past and Future of Michael Burnham

Paramount+ chose to launch Discovery’s final season with a pair of episodes—”Red Directive” and “Under the Twin Moons”—rather than a single premiere, and it’s a move that largely makes sense, given that these two installments are pretty much all about moving various characters into place and laying the narrative groundwork for the rest of the season. What starts as a trip to the desert world of Q’Mau to retrieve a stolen object becomes an Indiana Jones – style quest across multiple worlds, as Burnham and her team must locate a series of puzzle pieces that will somehow unlock an ancient technology. As space McGuffins go, this is all pretty standard, save for the fact that the likely season-long treasure hunt calls directly back to the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode “The Chase,” an origin story of sorts for why so many alien species seem to look so much like humans. The answer: a race of ancient aliens the Federation refers to as the Progenitors , who essentially created humanoid life as we know it. Somehow, a Romulan scientist found their technology, which can essentially create life, and now Captain Burnham and company must track it down before it falls into the wrong hands. 

This journey takes them to Lyrek, a lush jungle planet that serves as a necropolis for an extinct alien race, and presumably will carry them to many more far-flung locations over the episodes to come. (Including Trill, which we appear set to return to next week.) But, while the hunt for the Progenitors’ secrets is the plot engine meant to drive season 5, the most interesting developments in its first two episodes are character-driven ones. Saru resigns his Starfleet commission in favor of becoming a Federation ambassador to a small coterie of planets, choosing to stay and build a future with T’Rina. (They’re engaged! It’s very adorable!) Tilly returns as a science specialist because the mission is apparently important enough for the Academy to give her some time off. And Book officially rejoins the Discovery crew in an advisory capacity in the hopes his shady past will continue to come in handy during their search for L’ak and Moll, and he turns out to have a deeply personal connection to one of them. (Don’t worry, Grudge is back, too.) 

The premiere also introduces a key new character in Callum Keith Rennie’s Captain Rayner, a Kellerun who walks a fine line between belligerently antagonistic and determinedly, even admirably stoic. His outlook on everything from mission tactics to the likelihood of war runs almost completely counter to Michael’s, and he’s got a fairly successful history as captain in his own right. (Even if he also seems to be a bit of a jerk.) That Burnham chooses him to take over as her Number One after he’s forced into retirement due to his actions during their desert chase on Q’Mau is both wildly implausible—seriously, all it took was one pep talk from Saru about second chances?—and incredibly convenient. But, Rayner is an interesting enough character (not to mention a man who very much goes against the larger “talk it out” emotional ethos of this show) that I’m willing to see where it goes. 

Sure, most of Discovery season 5’s first two episodes are essentially table-setting and the overarching quest may be pointlessly convoluted, but this is still the most fun the show’s been to watch in ages, and, as final laps go, you can’t ask for a lot more than one big, sprawling adventure, one last time. Let’s fly. 

Lacy Baugher

Lacy Baugher is a digital producer by day, but a television enthusiast pretty much all the time. Her writing has been featured in Paste Magazine, Collider,…

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Every Soong Character Brent Spiner Plays In Star Trek

Star trek guest star had 1 big problem with cardassian role on ds9, a ds9 classic sisko episode owes a weird debt to batman.

• The best Star Trek episodes balance social messaging with entertaining genres like comedy, horror, and romance.
• "Far Beyond the Stars" reflects on Star Trek's power to change societal attitudes about racial equality.
• "Darmok" is a profound story about communication and cultural connection.

With hundreds of episodes across 11 different TV shows, it's a tall order to pick just 20 of the best Star Trek episodes of all time. For almost 60 years, the Star Trek franchise has held a mirror to contemporary society with powerful stories that challenge audiences to do better. While that approach can sometimes run the risk of being too worthy, the best episodes of every Star Trek TV show strike a perfect balance between social messaging and populist entertainment.

Indeed, the Star Trek franchise's secret weapon is that the format enables writers to tell stories from a variety of genres, which is one of many reasons why Gene Roddenberry's vision endures to this day. The best episodes of Star Trek can be mini-movies, outlandish comedies, horror stories, or doomed romances. Across all these disparate genres, Star Trek 's best episodes are defined by a hopeful vision for the future, and a message of peace, love, and understanding between alien cultures.

The Complete Star Trek Timeline Explained

From James T. Kirk to Jean-Luc Picard, from Kathryn Janeway to Michael Burnham, we're breaking down the full chronological timeline of Star Trek.

20 "Species Ten-C"

Star trek: discovery, season 4, episode 12.

Star Trek: Discovery often struggled to live up to its potential, but "Species Ten-C" is one of its finest hours . Star Trek is at its best when it's about the lead characters trying to form a connection with strange new life. This is particularly apparent in "Species Ten-C" in which the USS Discovery go beyond the Galactic Barrier to negotiate with the enigmatic aliens behind the Dark Matter Anomaly. Heavily riffing on Denis Villeneuve's 2016 movie Arrival , the scenes where Captain Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) try to piece together the mystery of Species Ten-C are compuslive viewing.

Star Trek: Discovery

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Star Trek: Discovery is an entry in the legendary Sci-Fi franchise, set ten years before the original Star Trek series events. The show centers around Commander Michael Burnham, assigned to the USS Discovery, where the crew attempts to prevent a Klingon war while traveling through the vast reaches of space.

Star Trek: Discovery was never tired of telling people to " connect " with each other, but it has actual meaning in "Species Ten-C". It's only by finding a common language that the USS Discovery crew can avert a catastrophe. As an hour of TV, "Species Ten-C" is the perfect distillation of Discovery 's strengths, and adds one of the strangest ever alien creations to the Star Trek canon.

19 "Year of Hell"

Star trek: voyager, season 4, episodes 8 & 9.

"Year of Hell" puts the crew of the USS Voyager through the wringer in ways that the franchise had never done before . Pitted against the tyrannical temporal scientist Anorax (one of Kurtwood Smith's four Star Trek roles ), Captain Kathryn Janeway (Kate Mulgrew) and the crew of Voyager are pushed to the very brink. The time travel elements of "Year of Hell" mean that audiences know none of the damage done to characters like Lt. Tuvok (Tim Russ) will be permanent, but the strength of the performances means that the anguish still feels real.

Star Trek: Voyager

The fifth entry in the Star Trek franchise, Star Trek: Voyager, is a sci-fi series that sees the crew of the USS Voyager on a long journey back to their home after finding themselves stranded at the far ends of the Milky Way Galaxy. Led by Captain Kathryn Janeway, the series follows the crew as they embark through truly uncharted areas of space, with new species, friends, foes, and mysteries to solve as they wrestle with the politics of a crew in a situation they've never faced before. 

"Year of Hell" is a grueling Star Trek: Voyager movie that gets to answer the question of what happens when our heroes lose. With such a high death toll, and impossibly high stakes for the entire space-time continuum, it's one of the more ambitious of Voyager 's two-parters. It's not the sort of thing that fans want from a Star Trek show every week, but for a two-part epic, it really works and gives the Voyager cast a chance to flex their acting muscles.

18 "Those Old Scientists"

Star trek: strange new worlds, season 2, episode 7.

At its core, "Those Old Scientists" is a joyous celebration of what it means to be a Star Trek fan . Transporting Ensigns Boimler (Jack Quaid) and Mariner (Tawny Newsome) to the 23rd century version of the starship Enterprise allows Star Trek: Strange New Worlds to explore the idea of fandom and legacy. In the wrong hands, Boimler and Mariner's hero worship of Captain Christopher Pike (Anson Mount) and his crew would be grating, but writers Bill Wolkoff and Kathryn Lyn never lose sight of how that impacts the Strange New Worlds characters.

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds

A spin-off of Star Trek: Discovery, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds is a television series that takes place before the events of the original series and follows Captain Christopher Pike as he mans the helm of the U.S.S. Enterprise. The show focuses on this previous crew of the Enterprise as they explore the galaxy with returning characters from Discovery.

"Those Old Scientists" is a warm and funny treatise on what it means to meet one's heroes. One of the best scenes in the episode is the Star Trek: Strange New Worlds characters' recognizing their own heroes, a joyous way to honor the legacy of previous Starfleet legends. "Those Old Scientists" is warm, funny, and has a touching story to tell about legacy and the pressures of living up to the expectations of others. It's also packed full of jokes that reward multiple rewatches, making it an instant classic.

17 "The Trouble With Tribbles"

Star trek: the original series, season 2, episode 15.

Occasionally, and generally to its detriment, Star Trek forgets that it's allowed to be funny. There's a long tradition of the Star Trek comedy episode that begins with David Gerrold's "The Trouble With Tribbles" back in 1967. The classic Star Trek: The Original Series episode finds Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner) dealing with a grain crisis. While that sounds painfully dull, Gerrold's script introduces the Tribbles, cute fluffy aliens that breed incessantly. So embedded in the cultural zeitgeist is "The Trouble with Tribbles" that it surely inspired the plot of Joe Dante's Gremlins .

Star Trek: The Original Series

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

"The Trouble With Tribbles" doesn't have the thematic heft or dramatic stakes of other classic Star Trek episodes, but its cultural impact transcends all of that. David Gerrold's classic comedy is one of a handful of Star Trek episodes that has entered the popular imagination , breaking through into wider cultural conversations. Almost everyone knows what a Tribble is, even if they couldn't point to Sherman's planet on a star chart.

Star Trek: Discovery Explains Season 5’s Tribble Is Not A Threat

A Tribble was sighted aboard the USS Discovery, which should be alarming, but Star Trek: Discovery season 5 explains this Tribble is no trouble.

16 "Lower Decks"

Star trek: the next generation, season 7, episode 15.

"Lower Decks" is one of the standout episodes in Star Trek: The Next Generation 's final season . As well as inspiring Mike McMahan's Star Trek: Lower Decks , the episode also provides a new perspective on TNG 's cast of characters , courtesy of the USS Enterprise-D's lower deckers. Centering on a group of lowly ensigns, "Lower Decks" reveals the harsh realities of what it means to be a Starfleet officer. By allowing an audience to get to know Ensign Sito Jaxa (Shannon Fill) before she is brutally killed by the Cardassians, TNG puts the old redshirt trope to bed once and for all.

Star Trek: The Next Generation

Star Trek: The Next Generation is the third installment in the sci-fi franchise and follows the adventures of Captain Jean-Luc Picard and the crew members of the USS Enterprise. Set around one hundred years after the original series, Picard and his crew travel through the galaxy in largely self-contained episodes exploring the crew dynamics and their own political discourse. The series also had several overarching plots that would develop over the course of the isolated episodes, with four films released in tandem with the series to further some of these story elements.

The lack of the series regulars in "Lower Decks" may put people off, but in reducing their presence, the episode gets to provide an outsider's perspective . Audiences love Commander William T. Riker (Jonathan Frakes) but to the officers that serve under him, he can sometimes be a cruel taskmaster. Lt. Worf (Michael Dorn) may be a stoic Klingon warrior, but his mentorship of Ensign Sito allows him to show his vulnerable side. The final scene where Worf lets his guard down and shares a drink with the Lower Deckers is profoundly moving. It's the perfect way to keep the characters fresh in TNG 's home stretch.

15 "Scorpion"

Star trek: voyager, season 3, episode 26 & season 4, episode 1.

There are a lot better Star Trek episodes that deal with the difficult decisions faced by a Starfleet captain than "Scorpion". However, Star Trek: Voyager 's season 3 finale is the closest the show ever got to recapturing the thrill of watching Star Trek: The Next Generation 's "The Best of Both Worlds" . "Scorpion" is a hugely important two-parter in the development of Voyager , as it introduces the groundbreaking Species 8472 villains and debuted Jeri Ryan as Seven of Nine. While Seven would endure far longer than Species 8472, they were still a landmark Star Trek creation.

"Scorpion" is a great Star Trek episode because it reveals that the franchise's heroes are fallible and capable of making mistakes . Captain Kathryn Janeway (Kate Mulgrew) makes a deal with the Borg Collective, because she understandably believes that Species 8472 pose a huge threat to the galaxy. The rug pull that Species 8472 were simply defending themselves is devastating and defines Janeway's mission going forward, as she seeks to atone for her mistake by ultimately bringing the Borg Collective to their knees.

9 Versions Of The Borg In Star Trek

So many versions of the Borg Collective exist in Star Trek, from TNG's original cybernetic villains to Voyager's offshoots and Picard's revivals.

14 "The Last Generation"

Star trek: picard, season 3, episode 10.

Star Trek: Picard 's finale was the final Star Trek: The Next Generation movie that the cast deserved, a fitting send-off that brought their characters' stories to a satisfying conclusion. "The Last Generation" is bigger than any Star Trek finale before or since ; an apocalyptic battle for survival that ultimately boils down to a father's love for his son. While Admiral Janeway weakened the Borg in the Star Trek: Voyager finale, it's only right that Admiral Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) gets to finish the job, resolving his decades-old trauma in the process.

Star Trek: Picard

After starring in Star Trek: The Next Generation for seven seasons and various other Star Trek projects, Patrick Stewart is back as Jean-Luc Picard. Star Trek: Picard focuses on a retired Picard who is living on his family vineyard as he struggles to cope with the death of Data and the destruction of Romulus. But before too long, Picard is pulled back into the action. The series also brings back fan-favorite characters from the Star Trek franchise, such as Seven of Nine (Jeri Ryan), Geordi La Forge (LeVar Burton), Worf (Michael Dorn), and William Riker (Jonathan Frakes).

"The Last Generation" is everything fans could want from a final Star Trek: The Next Generation movie . There's the strong familial bond between Picard and his crew, thrilling action sequences such as the Enterprise's flight through an exploding Borg Cube, bags of humor and wit, and a handover to the Next Generation 's next generation. The only reason that Star Trek: Picard 's finale isn't higher on the list is that, as the conclusion of a ten-part story, it lacks the standalone appeal of other classic Star Trek episodes.

13 "Living Witness"

Star trek: voyager, season 4, episode 23.

"Living Witness" is an inventive episode of Star Trek: Voyager that brilliantly questions the role of Starfleet in the Delta Quadrant . Awakening in a museum in the far-future, the Doctor (Robert Picardo) is horrified to discover that the history of Voyager doesn't reflect his own experiences. "Living Witness" is an incredibly smart Star Trek episode about how unreliable narrators shape our understanding of history. Although "Living Witness" is a star vehicle for Robert Picardo, the rest of the Star Trek: Voyager cast also get their chances to shine.

"Living Witness" was the only episode of Star Trek: Voyager to be directed by Tuvok actor Tim Russ.

Star Trek: Voyager could sometimes take itself too seriously, so it's refreshing to see the cast let their hair down and play exaggerated versions of their characters. The comedy inherent in these exaggerations helps to emphasize the inaccuracies created by a lack of rigorous historical research. "Living Witness" is a classic Star Trek episode that uses a brilliant sci-fi concept - the futuristic museum - to discuss a huge philosophical point about understanding the past.

Star Trek: Voyager’s 15 Best Doctor Episodes

Star Trek: Voyager's holographic Doctor was one of the series' most popular characters, with a cadre of stellar episodes focusing on him.

12 "The Devil in the Dark"

Star trek: the original series, season 1, episode 25.

Nothing quite sums up the core ethos of Gene Roddenberry's vision like Star Trek: The Original Series season 1, episode 25, "The Devil in the Dark." An episode about the importance of not judging other species by appearances, "The Devil in the Dark" is remarkable for making an audience care about a pile of rocks. It's testament to the power of Leonard Nimoy's performance as Spock that the scene where he mind melds with the Horta doesn't feel remotely ridiculous .

"The Devil in the Dark" has the dubious honor of being the only Star Trek episode that has no female speaking parts, something that Gene Roddenberry noted in a letter to writer Gene Coon after he reviewed the episode.

"The Devil in the Dark" establishes many elements that would go on to become Star Trek tropes in the decades that followed. From setting the framework for Star Trek episodes set in caves to the central idea of seeing beyond appearances to discover the emotional truth of apparent foes, "The Devil in the Dark" cements much of the franchise's core ethos. It's also a tremendous showcase for William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, and DeForest Kelley as Kirk, Spock, and McCoy.

11 "The Measure Of A Man"

Star trek: the next generation, season 2, episode 9.

After a bumpy first season, "The Measure of a Man" is when Star Trek: The Next Generation starts to come into its own. An early showcase of Brent Spiner's abilities as an actor, "The Measure of a Man" puts the focus on Data, as he's forced to fight for his individuality. A hugely influential episode, Data's fight for his rights would later be echoed in the struggle of Star Trek: Voyager 's Doctor and Seven of Nine's battle to be accepted by Starfleet. Tackling huge themes like individuality, and what it means to be human, "The Measure of a Man" is a classic Star Trek morality play .

Writer Melinda Snodgrass was an attorney, and she used her experiences in the legal profession to write "The Measure of a Man".

Fighting Starfleet's desire to study Data's android body in more detail is Captain Picard, which gives Patrick Stewart an incredible opportunity. The courtroom setting is perfect for Stewart's background on the stage, and he appears to relish the opportunity to deliver big speeches about humanity. The central performances and philosophical questions are just two of many reasons that "The Measure of a Man" continues to be so influential on Star Trek .

Besides playing Data and all of his siblings in Star Trek, Brent Spiner portrayed the android's creator as well as various other Soongs in history.

10 "Balance of Terror"

Star trek: the original series, season 1, episode 14.

Another hugely influential Star Trek episode is "Balance of Terror", which had a considerable bearing on Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 1. One of Captain Kirk's best episodes , "Balance of Terror" depicts a Starfleet vessel facing off against a Romulan Bird-of-Prey for the first time in a century. While "Balance of Terror" rightly gets plaudits for its tense submarine movie-style atmosphere, there's also much richer material in this classic Star Trek episode.

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds ' season 1 finale, "A Quality of Mercy" replayed the events of "Balance of Terror" but with Captain Pike in command of the USS Enterprise.

"Balance of Terror" also has an astute point to make about prejudice and racism, as some Enterprise crew members let their historic hatred of Romulans impact their relationship with Spock. This would have been particularly pertinent in the decades following World War 2, and is still relevant now. Not only that, but while Star Trek: The Original Series had a reputation for its disposable "redshirt" characters, "Balance of Terror" kills off a minor character and gives the death some genuine dramatic heft.

9 "Duet"

Star trek: deep space nine, season 1, episode 19.

An early indicator of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine 's promise, "Duet" is a powerful two-hander between Major Kira Nerys (Nana Visitor) and a suspected Cardassian war criminal, played by Harris Yulin. Kira's determination to prove that Aamin Marritza is actually Gul Darhe'el is compellingly played by Nana Visitor, and Harris Yulin proves to be an incredible foil. The moment where he tells Major Kira that for him, genocide is " a day's work " is utterly chilling.

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, also known as DS9, is the fourth series in the long-running Sci-Fi franchise, Star Trek. DS9 was created by Rick Berman and Michael Piller, and stars Avery Brooks, René Auberjonois, Terry Farrell, and Cirroc Lofton. This particular series follows a group of individuals in a space station near a planet called Bajor.

"Duet" is one of Major Kira's best DS9 episodes , but it's also demonstrable of what made Star Trek: Deep Space Nine so unique. There was a darker tone to DS9 's treatment of morality, and Marritza's motivations for pretending to be Gul Darhee'l are fascinating to pick apart. "Duet" is a powerful statement about the need to punish war criminals, and whether true justice can ever be found for historical horrors.

Harris Yulin played Cardassian Aamin Marritza in one of DS9's best early episodes, "Duet", but there was 1 problem Yulin had with his Star Trek role.

8 "Yesterday's Enterprise"

Star trek: the next generation, season 3, episode 15.

"Yesterday's Enterprise" is an incredible episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation that takes place in an alternate timeline where the Federation is still at war with the Klingon Empire. TNG never did a Mirror Universe episode , so this is the closest that they come to giving audiences the USS Enterprise-D's darkest timeline. The cause of the timeline being changed is the disappearance of the USS Enterprise-C, commanded by Captain Rachel Garrett (Tricia O'Neill). The Enterprise-C was supposed to be destroyed above a Klingon colony, proving to the Empire that the Federation fought with honor.

A younger Rachel Garrett, played by Kacey Rohl, will appear in the upcoming Star Trek: Section 31 movie on Paramount+.

"Yesterday's Enterprise" is an episode about destiny and personal sacrifice that also gives Denise Crosby's Lt. Tasha Yar a more meaningful death . By accepting their fate and returning through the temporal anomaly, the crew of the USS Enterprise-C sacrifice themselves for the future peace of the galaxy. Sacrificing the needs of the one for the needs of the many; there's nothing more Star Trek than that.

7 "The Best of Both Worlds"

Star trek: the next generation, season 3, episode 26 & season 4, episode 1.

"The Best of Both Worlds" is the gold standard of Star Trek 's season finales, ending on the greatest cliffhanger of all time. Revealing the full extent of the Borg threat. "The Best of Both Worlds" assimilated Captain Jean-Luc Picard and turned him against his former crew. "The Best of Both Worlds" is widely regarded as the moment when Star Trek: The Next Generation finally escaped the shadow of TOS , and it's easy to see why. The blockbuster stakes are like nothing that Star Trek: The Original Series could have achieved .

Between parts 1 and 2, rumors emerged that Patrick Stewart would be leaving Star Trek: The Next Generation , which only helped to promote TNG 's season 4 premiere even further.

By establishing the high-stakes season finale, "The Best of Both Worlds" changed the game for the Star Trek franchise. While the resolution may not live up to the set-up of the first episode, the assimilation of Picard, and the Battle of Wolf 359 had a lasting impact on the Star Trek universe. The iconic cliffhanger ending, where Riker orders the Enterprise to fire on its former captain, continues to be influential to this day.

6 "In The Pale Moonlight"

Star trek: deep space nine, season 6, episode 19.

Some of the best episodes of Star Trek question the cost of maintaining the utopian ideals of Starfleet and the Federation . This is best realized in the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episode "In the Pale Moonlight", which forces Captain Benjamin Sisko (Avery Brooks) to make a very tough call. At the height of DS9 's Dominion War , Sisko realizes that the Federation needs an ally like the Romulan Star Empire, and he'll stop at nothing to convince them to join the war effort.

"In the Pale Moonlight" was named after the quote from Tim Burton's Batman movie.

Sisko breaks several Starfleet regulations and actively engages in criminality in his attempts to convince the Romulans to join the Federation Alliance. However, Sisko's actions are done in pursuit of the greater good, proving that Gene Roddenberry's binary vision of a peaceful utopia is a great idea in theory, but doesn't always hold in practice. By upturning Star Trek 's core ethos, "In the Pale Moonlight" demonstrated how important it was to preserve Roddenberry's utopia by whatever means necessary .

One of the greatest Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episodes, "In The Pale Moonlight," owes its title to Tim Burton's 1989 Batman movie.

5 "The Visitor"

Star trek: deep space nine, season 4, episode 3.

More than any other Star Trek show, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine explored the realities of balancing family duty with a commitment to Starfleet. The most powerful depiction of family and fatherhood in all of Star Trek is "The Visitor" , which depicts an entire alternate timeline in which Jake Sisko (Cirroc Lofton) loses his father. While there's a strong sci-fi idea at its heart; a man scattered across time due to a temporal accident, "The Visitor" is really about the way that grief can take over our lives.

The balance of high-concept sci-fi with emotional realism in "The Visitor" is something that all the best Star Trek episodes aspire to, but rarely achieve.

Jake Sisko's obsession with answering the question of what happened to his father completely changes the course of his life. Jake turns his back on a promising career as a writer to pursue his father across time, building to a devastating sacrifice. The older Jake Sisko is the best of Tony Todd's Star Trek roles , as the actor responds beautifully to the script. The balance of high-concept sci-fi with emotional realism in "The Visitor" is something that all the best Star Trek episodes aspire to, but rarely achieve.

4 "The Inner Light"

Star trek: the next generation, season 5, episode 25.

"The Inner Light" is another Star Trek episode that beautifully balances a high-concept sci-fi idea with something deeply profound and human. Captain Picard's encounter with an alien probe allows him to live through the dying days of an extinct civilization as Kamin, a humble iron weaver on the planet Kataan. It's never made clear whether Kamin was a real person, or if he was an amalgam of experiences assigned to Picard. Whatever the truth, Picard's experiences as Kamin have a profound effect on him, represented by his Ressikan flute.

"The Inner Light" has so many layers to it, making it one of the most thematically rich episodes of Star Trek ​​​​​​​ of all time.

Kamin's ambiguity gets more compelling when rewatching "The Inner Light", because it casts doubts on Picard's assertions that he never wanted a family. If Kamin is a simulation specifically designed for Picard, then the iron weaver's loving family reflects something Jean-Luc felt he could never have . "The Inner Light" has so many layers to it, making it one of the most thematically rich episodes of Star Trek of all time.

3 "City on the Edge of Forever"

Star trek: the original series, season 1, episode 28.

"City on the Edge of Forever" is an astonishing episode of Star Trek: The Original Series that still holds up nearly 60 years later. It's a classic butterfly effect conundrum, with Kirk and Spock traveling back to 1930s America to stop Dr. McCoy changing the course of history. However, "City on the Edge of Forever" is so much deeper than that, as it quickly becomes a romantic tragedy. Joan Collins' Edith Keeler is the most important of Captain Kirk's love interests , because you genuinely believe in their romance.

"City on the Edge of Forever" is a romantic tragedy that taps into the unique responsibilities of being a Starfleet officer to heartbreaking effect.

So it's devastating when it becomes apparent that Kirk's love interest and the march of history are on a collision course with each other. The climax of "City on the Edge of Forever", when Kirk is forced to stop Bones from saving Edith's life, is devastating. Kirk's inability to look at the accident is an astute acting choice by William Shatner, who turns in one of his finest Star Trek performances. "City on the Edge of Forever" is a romantic tragedy that taps into the unique responsibilities of being a Starfleet officer to heartbreaking effect.

2 "Far Beyond The Stars"

Star trek: deep space nine, season 6, episode 13.

"Far Beyond the Stars" is a powerful depiction of racism that doesn't rely on the usual Star Trek allegories. Directed by Avery Brooks , Star Trek: Deep Space Nine 's finest hour reflects on how far society has come since TOS tried to depict a racially diverse future, and how far it still needs to go to achieve it. "Far Beyond the Stars" doesn't shy away from racial slurs, or gut-wrenching violence to make the point that the dark days of segregation may be gone, but racist attitudes still persist.

It's often said that the past is another country, but in Star Trek terms, the racist 1950s are another planet for Captain Sisko.

In 2024, "Far Beyond the Stars" has lost none of its power, which says a lot about how far from reach Gene Roddenberry's utopia still is . It's often said that the past is another country, but in Star Trek terms, the racist 1950s are another planet for Captain Sisko. "Far Beyond the Stars" dispenses with the sci-fi allegories to give us an unblinking representation of racist violence in America's recent history, which proves that Star Trek 's message of acceptance and understanding is still as vital as ever.

1 "Darmok"

Star trek: the next generation, season 5, episode 2.

"Darmok" is the greatest episode of Star Trek of all time, because it's a profound mediation on communication and commonality. While it's technically a remake of Star Trek: The Original Series ' "Arena", retooled for Shakespearian actor Patrick Stewart, "Darmok" has much more to say about the need to find common ground. Star Trek always relies heavily on the universal translator technology, so "Darmok" flips that on its head by introducing the Tamarians, an alien species whose language doesn't reflect the universal dominance of American English .

The quest for deeper cultural understanding and relating to species that are unlike our own is pure Star Trek...

It's revealed that Star Trek 's Tamarians communicate via culturally specific metaphors. Therefore, Picard, Data, and Counselor Troi have to properly understand Tamarian culture to translate their language. The quest for deeper cultural understanding and relating to species that are unlike our own is pure Star Trek , which is why "Darmok" represents the franchise's finest hour in its near-60 year history.

All episodes of Star Trek are available to stream on Paramount+.

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds

When one of Captain Pike's officers goes missing during a secret mission for Starfleet, Pike is forced to emerge from his self-imposed exile.

While on a survey mission, the U.S.S. Enterprise discovers a comet is going to strike an inhabited planet. They try to re-route the comet, only to find that an ancient alien relic buried on the comet's icy surface is somehow stopping them.

The U.S.S. Enterprise encounters a contagion that ravages the ship. One by one, the entire crew is incapacitated except for Number One, Una Chin-Riley, who must now confront a secret she's been hiding as she races to find a cure.

While on a routine supply mission to a colony planet, the U.S.S. Enterprise comes under an attack from an unknown malevolent force. Pike brings all his heart and experience to bear in facing the crisis, but the security officer warns him that the enemy cannot be dealt with by conventional Starfleet means.

It's a comedy of manners when Spock has a personal visit in the middle of Spock and Captain Pike's crucial negotiations with an unusual alien species.

A threat to an idyllic planet reunites Captain Pike with the lost love of his life. To protect her and a scientific holy child from a conspiracy, Pike offers his help and is forced to face unresolved feelings of his past.

Bonus Content

Cast & crew.

Anson Mount

Captain Christopher Pike

Rebecca Romijn

Number One/Una Chin-Riley

Science Officer Spock

Nurse Christine Chapel

Christina Chong

La'an Noonien-Singh

Prequel is fun, light, classic sci-fi; some violence, sex.

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Susan Oliver: Star Treks First Captain Love Interest Explained

• Susan Oliver's role as Vina in Star Trek's unaired pilot led to a love story with Captain Pike in "The Menagerie".
• Vina and Pike's storyline in "The Cage" was canonized by "The Menagerie", paving the way for future Star Trek series.
• Susan Oliver, who played Vina, had a successful career in TV and film, with a late career connection to Star Trek: TNG.

Susan Oliver played Star Trek 's first ever captain's love interest in the unaired Star Trek: The Original Series pilot, "The Cage". Rejected by the network for being too cerebral, "The Cage" saw Captain Christopher Pike (Jeffrey Hunter) get captured by the Talosians, who believed that he could be a worthy mate for Vina, and tested the couple in a variety of scenarios. Pike's resistance convinced the Talosians that he and Vina would not repopulate their planet after all. After Lucille Ball saved Star Trek by convincing the network to give it another chance, "The Cage" was repurposed for "The Menagerie", which gave Pike and Vina their happy ending .

If production on Star Trek: The Original Series season 1 hadn't fallen behind, then it's possible that Vina and Pike's Enterprise crew could have been lost to time. Because "The Menagerie" canonized Star Trek 's unaired pilot , it allowed Star Trek: Discovery to reintroduce Captain Pike (Anson Mount), Number One (Rebecca Romijn) and even Vina (Melissa George). This led to Star Trek: Strange New Worlds being commissioned, which now bridges the gap between the events of "The Cage", the second TOS pilot and Pike's happy ending with his first Star Trek love interest.

Captain Pike's 3 Strange New Worlds Love Interests Explained

Captain Christopher Pike may not be the sort of infamous lothario that Captain James T. Kirk was, but hes had a few important romantic relationships.

Susan Oliver Played Vina In Star Treks Original Pilot The Cage

In Star Trek 's original pilot, "The Cage", Vina was the sole human inhabitant of Talos IV, following the crash of the SS Columbus in 2236 . The Talosians were able to bring the ailing Vina back to life. However, the Talosians' lack of knowledge about human physiology meant that, while physically healthy, her body was scarred and misshapen. Because of this, Vina opted to remain on Talos IV instead of leaving with Captain Pike, because she wanted to keep her illusion of youthful beauty. She would later be joined by the critically wounded Fleet Captain Pike (Sean Kenney) at the end of "The Menagerie".

Susan Oliver was the stage name of the actress Charlotte Gercke.

Susan Oliver was cast as Vina at the suggestion of studio executive Oscar Katz, who became the subject of an on-set joke due to his " religious " avoidance of set visits. Susan Oliver carried around a sign which read " Oscar, Where Are You? " which appeared in several set photos. Oliver had a prolific career as a TV guest actor , becoming one of many Star Trek actors in The Twilight Zone , when she played a Martian in "People Are Alike All Over". Susan Oliver was also a pilot, and was nominated for an Emmy for playing 'Snookie' in the 1976 NBC TV movie, Amelia Earheart .

The 2014 documentary The Green Girl was a feature-length tribute to Susan Oliver's life and work, which contained a surprising revelation about a late career connection to Star Trek: The Next Generation . In the 1980s, Susan Oliver tried her hand at directing television , with one episode of M.A.S.H and another of Trapper John, M.D. on her list of credits. When TNG entered production in the late 1980s, Oliver offered to direct an episode, but was rejected due to her inexperience with visual effects.

Vina Returned In Star Trek: Discovery

Discovery season 2, episode 8, "if memory serves"..

Over 50 years after Susan Oliver's portrayal of Vina in "The Cage", Melissa George played Vina in Star Trek: Discovery season 2, episode 8, "If Memory Serves". Set three years after the events of "The Cage", Captain Pike returned to Talos IV to seek the Talosians' help with restoring the damaged mind of Spock (Ethan Peck). Vina aided Pike, Spock and Commander Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) in evading Section 31 operatives . Pike traveling to Talos IV to save Spock ultimately set up the Vulcan's own mission to return to the planet to save his former captain in Star Trek: The Original Series , reuniting Pike and Vina for good.

Star Trek: The Original Series

Cast Nichelle Nichols, Walter Koenig, William Shatner, George Takei, Leonard Nimoy, Deforest Kelley, James Doohan

Release Date September 8, 1966

Genres Sci-Fi, Action, Adventure, Fantasy

Network NBC

Streaming Service(s) Paramount+

Franchise(s) Star Trek

Writers Gene Roddenberry

Showrunner Gene Roddenberry

Where To Watch Paramount+

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What ultimately happened to the USS Discovery in the 'Star Trek: Discovery' series finale?

Strangely, the Star Trek: Discovery ship's far-future fate was revealed in 2018 'Short Trek' episode 'Calypso'.

What happens to Discovery at the end of season 5?

How is the uss discovery sentient.

• What happens next?
• What is Zora's final mission?

Over five seasons of "Star Trek: Discoverywe got to know Michael Burnham and the crew of the USS Discovery, but the show's final scene is reserved for its eponymous starship. In the series finale " Life, Itself ", self-aware computer Zora fires up the spore drive for the final time to embark on one last mission. 

We still have no idea why she's given a top-secret Red Directive to wait indefinitely at these particular coordinates, but a 2018 " Short Trek " episode "Calypso" has already revealed the next stage of her journey. Here's what's in store for Zora and Discovery a millennium down the line — watch out for spoilers. (And if you need a refresher on all things Trek, check out our Star Trek streaming guide for how to watch nearly every series on Paramount Plus .)

Paramount+ Essential (ads): $5.99 /mo Paramount+ with SHOWTIME (no ads): $11.99 /mo

Catch up on the adventures of Michael Burnham and the crew of the Discovery on Paramount+. As the home of Star Trek, signing up means you'll also get access to an enormous library of other Star Trek shows and movies.

Several decades after the Discovery crew tracked down the Progenitor technology — long enough for Admiral Michael Burnham and Cleveland Booker to see their son, Leto, rise to the rank of Starfleet captain — the ship is assigned one final mission.

Burnham arrives on the bridge to give the ship's sentient computer, Zora (voiced by Annabelle Wallis), her briefing. "I'm going to bring you to a set of coordinates in deep space," explains the admiral. "Then me and your crew will leave. After that, you wait."

"For what?" Zora asks, but she doesn't get a definitive answer. 

"This is a Red Directive; we both know how transparent those are," replies Burnham, referring to the beyond-classified instructions that have become the mysterious Dr. Kovich's stock-in-trade. "I did hear a word in passing," the admiral adds. "'Craft'. I'm not sure if that's a person or a vessel or…"

That word will prove to be important, but as Burnham correctly predicts, she'll be long gone when Zora finds out what it means.

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After this emotional farewell, Discovery is waved off by an armada of Starfleet vessels and a few bars of Alexander Courage's iconic " Star Trek " theme. Then, Zora fires up the spore drive and jumps away to her mystery destination. 

Related: Star Trek: Discovery is at an end: Here are 5 things season 5 needed to fix

Starships often come to feel like characters in their own right, but never has this been as true as it is for Discovery.

Zora is much more than some glorified Siri or Alexa substitute, thanks to Discovery's 23rd century computer merging with hundreds of thousands of years of data collected by an ancient alien Sphere. Discovery was protecting this precious information when it jumped forward to 3189. 

The newly created super-computer gradually develops sentience, emotions and a personality, and decides to name herself Zora (which means "dawn" in several Alpha Quadrant languages). She's eventually recognized as a lifeform in her own right, and awarded the rank of Specialist by Starfleet.

What happens next? And what does it have to do with 'craft'?

Not a lot. For around 1,000 years, Zora sits and waits at the designated coordinates, getting some "alone time" inside some kind of interstellar storm cloud. Then she runs into an escape pod with a sole occupant — a man who calls himself Craft. 

This "reluctant" soldier (played by Aldis Hodge) hails from Alcor IV, and has spent the last decade at war with the V'draysh, which — based on comments from criminal boss Zareh in " Discovery" season 3 — appears to be a Pidgin word for the Federation. (This may explain why the enemy vessel Craft has commandeered contains an extensive collection of Earth cartoons from "the long ago".)

During their time together, Zora introduces Craft to tacos, the concept of Tuesday, and her favorite movie, 1957 Audrey Hepburn/Fred Astaire rom-com "Funny Face." She falls in love with the visitor, but he ultimately departs in the hope of finding his wife and son. She refuses to give him a lift home in Discovery, however, reasoning that she has to maintain position to complete her mission.

All this was revealed in 2018 "Short Trek" episode "Calypso", though back then — before season 2 had aired — we had no idea that Discovery would depart for the 32nd century, that the Sphere data would help Discovery's computer evolve into Zora, or that Burnham (then a science officer) would be promoted to captain. These days "Calypso" makes a lot more sense. 

So what exactly is Zora's final mission?

Beyond waiting for a long, long time, that remains unclear. But, seeing as her mission has top secret Red Directive status, it's pretty much certain that Dr Kovich — now revealed to be Temporal Agent Daniels of " Star Trek: Enterprise " fame — has a plan for Zora, and that her bumping into Craft is no accident. 

But whoever she encounters next, it's sure to have major ramifications for the galaxy — and perhaps beyond. Burnham promised a "new beginning" for Zora when she eventually comes back. Who knows what that might mean…

All five seasons of 'Star Trek: Discovery' and the 'Calypso' 'Short Trek' are now available to stream on Paramount Plus. To find out where to stream every other Star Trek movie and show, check out our Star Trek streaming guide .

Join our Space Forums to keep talking space on the latest missions, night sky and more! And if you have a news tip, correction or comment, let us know at: [email protected].

Richard's love affair with outer space started when he saw the original "Star Wars" on TV aged four, and he spent much of the ’90s watching "Star Trek”, "Babylon 5” and “The X-Files" with his mum. After studying physics at university, he became a journalist, swapped science fact for science fiction, and hit the jackpot when he joined the team at SFX, the UK's biggest sci-fi and fantasy magazine. He liked it so much he stayed there for 12 years, four of them as editor. 

He's since gone freelance and passes his time writing about "Star Wars", "Star Trek" and superheroes for the likes of SFX, Total Film, TechRadar and GamesRadar+. He has met five Doctors, two Starfleet captains and one Luke Skywalker, and once sat in the cockpit of "Red Dwarf"'s Starbug.  

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