Watercooler Pick
Star Trek: Discovery
- Series
- Where to Find It: CBS All Access (soon to be Paramount+)
- Rating: TV-14
- Release Date: 2017
- Seasons: 2
- Episodes : 12
- Length: One hour
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Three years to the day after its initial premiere on CBS All Access, soon to be rebranded as Paramount+, the entire first season of Star Trek: Discovery is finally arriving on broadcast TV. If you missed it the first time around, now is a great time to check out this darker, more morally nuanced take on the Trek-verse, no subscription required.
Set about a decade before the events of the original series, Star Trek: Discovery introduces new ships and a diverse cast of characters in the midst of a war between the newly united Klingons and the Federation. Breakout star Sonequa Martin-Green earned critical praise in the lead role of Michael Burnham, a science officer turned mutineer, who becomes a pivotal figure in the conflict.
Discovery stands out from other Trek series by embracing a more serialized storytelling model and incorporating mature themes like the harm of colonialism and the tension between the pursuit of science and the promotion of militarism within the Federation itself.
In further good news for fans, those who do have All Access/Paramount+ will be getting a third season this fall, premiering exclusively on the streaming service beginning Oct. 15.
Headed by showrunners Bryan Fuller, the creative force behind some of TV’s most imaginative series (Pushing Daisies, Hannibal), and Star Trek (the film) screenwriter Alex Kurtzman, this incarnation continues the trend of the last decade to make the franchise more relevant to modern audiences.
The first season was especially characterized by shocking twists, including a wild trip to the original series’ infamous Mirror Universe, which have made for fun post-episode deconstruction among fans and casual viewers alike.
Star Trek the franchise is now 54 years old, which means it’s left its mark on every single living generation. So find someone who remembers the earlier versions from their youth, or if that’s you, someone watching it for the first time. Its worth it to see just how much the Trek-verse has transformed—and stayed the same.
- Moods: enlighten me
- Interests: future and sci-fi
Cindy White
