It is with a sense of wistfulness that fans reflect on the finale of Star Trek: Discovery, envisioned by executive producers Alex Kurtzman and Michelle Paradise. The popular series on Paramount+ concluded in May 2024 after a five-season journey. The announcement of its termination came in March 2023, yet the streaming service greenlit three extra days of filming to incorporate a climactic ending into the series finale, titled “Life Itself.”
Season 5: A Daring Intergalactic Quest
Season 5 of Star Trek: Discovery took audiences on an exhilarating treasure hunt across the stars. Captain Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) embarked on an epic race against the criminal duo Moll (Eve Harlow) and L’ak (Elias Toufexis) in search of the Progenitors’ ancient technology. This season served as a sequel to the classic Star Trek: The Next Generation episode, “The Chase,”which explored the seeding of humanoid life throughout the galaxy. It also concluded with the wedding of Ambassador Saru (Doug Jones) and Ni’Var President T’Rina (Tara Rosling), adding a sentimental touch to the adventure.
Unrealized Ambitions for the Series Finale
Initially, season 5 was not intended to wrap up the series, with plans for a sixth season underway. Despite the challenges, both Kurtzman and Paradise, along with lead actress Sonequa Martin-Green, conveyed their gratitude for the extra filming opportunity but lamented the limitations imposed on their creative vision. They longed for a more ambitious farewell to Star Trek: Discovery, a sentiment echoed by fans who hoped for an epic conclusion.
Behind the Scenes: Insights from Sonequa Martin-Green
At Trek Talks 4, an annual fundraising event, an enlightening panel featured 11 cast members from Star Trek: Discovery. Sonequa Martin-Green shared insights into the behind-the-scenes discussions surrounding the finale. The creative team had ambitions for a full-length episode or even a special two-hour movie finale, but ultimately settled for a 12-minute coda. In her words:
I remember from the moment we found out the show was going to be ending, and we were in talks with Paramount+ about how we were gonna wrap the show up. And what [Alex Kurtzman and Michelle Paradise] wanted [was] an additional episode to really be able to touch everyone’s stories, to really be able to close this thing out. We were not able to be afforded that. They said, ‘It’s not gonna be an additional episode, it’s not gonna be’ – I think what Alex and Michelle originally wanted was a full 2-hour movie finale kind of thing…
Martin-Green expressed her vision for the finale, depicting a dream-like conversation among the cast that would reveal untold stories. Clearly, the creative team had grand ambitions for a fitting conclusion, but they were ultimately restricted to the concise 12-minute ending we witnessed.
Paramount+’s Strategic Shift and the Cancellation
The decision to conclude Star Trek: Discovery with its fifth season stemmed from a broader downsizing strategy at Paramount+, which had previously leveraged the success of the show to expand its Star Trek portfolio to five series by 2022. However, evolving dynamics within the streaming industry, compounded by Paramount’s impending sale to Skydance, resulted in tough budget cuts.
In 2023, Paramount+ also canceled Star Trek: Prodigy, only for a dedicated fan campaign to revive it on Netflix. As of now, only Star Trek: Strange New Worlds and Starfleet Academy remain active within the franchise, with the overall future for new content still uncertain. While new seasons are confirmed through 2026, what lies beyond that remains to be seen.
A Fond Farewell: Discovering the Coda’s Significance
Despite the unfulfilled potential for a grander ending, Star Trek: Discovery successfully delivered an emotional and poignant conclusion. The finale coda masterfully leaped forward decades, presenting Admiral Michael Burnham and Book as a married couple with a son, Captain Leto Burnham-Booker (Sawandi Wilson). In an unexpected connection to the episode “Calypso,”the coda left viewers with Burnham sending USS Discovery’s sentient A.I. Zora (Annabelle Wallis) on a pivotal journey.
Is There Hope for the Return of Star Trek: Discovery?
At present, Star Trek: Discovery is firmly closed. There are no plans for the USS Discovery crew to reunite, and the main cast has dispersed to pursue different projects. However, characters from the series live on in Starfleet Academy, with familiar faces like Lt. Sylvia Tilly (Mary Wiseman) making recurring appearances. Future crossovers or a reunion film could provide a chance for fans to revisit the beloved crew in new escapades.
As the legacy of Star Trek: Discovery endures, its impact on the franchise will continue to evolve, attracting new fans and inspiring future projects. Perhaps a reunion movie can one day fulfill the grand vision that eluded the series finale.
Source: Trek Talks 4