Unveiling the Extraordinary: How Discovery Revolutionized Star Trek

Summary

Star Trek: Discovery revitalized the franchise, paving the way for multiple new TV series and cultivating a new era of inclusiveness.

The show revolutionized the industry with its cinematic approach, transforming every episode into a captivating mini-movie and establishing itself among the elite of serialized TV shows.

Although Discovery is set to conclude after its fifth season, its triumph has laid a solid groundwork for upcoming Star Trek series, such as Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, as well as potential spinoffs and movies.

Star Trek: Discovery revolutionized the Star Trek franchise, ensuring its survival. In 2024, after five impactful seasons, Discovery will bid farewell with its final season. But before Captain Michael Burnham embarks on her ultimate journey, let us acknowledge the immense contributions of Star Trek: Discovery. This remarkable series rekindled the passion for Star Trek, paving the way for the modern franchise. In 2022, Paramount+ delighted fans with a new Star Trek episode every Thursday, courtesy of five different TV series. Despite the uncertainties plaguing the film and TV industry, Star Trek: Discovery season 5 stands as a beacon of hope for the beloved franchise.

Although often the subject of controversy and misinterpretation, Star Trek: Discovery garners profound appreciation from its loyal fanbase. Originating as an anthology concept under the creative guidance of Bryan Fuller, the series encountered setbacks due to diverging visions. Fuller's departure was followed by the exit of season 1's showrunners. Thankfully, co-showrunners Alex Kurtzman and Michelle Paradise took the reins, reaffirming the series' direction. Paradise, in particular, led the charge as Discovery departed from its problematic mid-23rd century setting, boldly venturing into the uncharted 32nd century. This monumental leap marked the furthest exploration within the Star Trek franchise. Moreover, Discovery made significant strides in fostering inclusivity by featuring LGBTQIA+ characters and relationships, propelling Star Trek's commitment to diversity. While other Trek TV series and films were produced since 2000, it is arguable that Star Trek truly embraced the 21st century with the arrival of Star Trek: Discovery.

The State Of Star Trek Before Discovery Saved The Franchise

Star Trek: Discovery's launch in September 2017 marked a turning point for the Star Trek franchise on television. Prior to this, Star Trek had been struggling, with its final series, Star Trek: Enterprise, ending in 2005 due to network changes and a lack of interest from fans. Despite having a talented cast and an engaging storyline about the early space exploration of Starfleet leading to the formation of the United Federation of Planets, Enterprise was prematurely cancelled, leaving many disappointed. It took 12 years for Star Trek to make a comeback on TV with Discovery.

However, starting in 2009, J.J. Abrams' trilogy of Star Trek movies injected new life into the franchise. Abrams successfully revitalized the series by presenting iconic characters like Captain James T. Kirk and Mr. Spock in a fresh and younger form, a tactic that Discovery also found success with in its second season. Importantly, Abrams brought Star Trek up to speed with high-budget visual effects, departing from the low-quality visuals associated with made-for-TV productions. Although Abrams' movies may have sacrificed some of the thought-provoking moral dilemmas that made the best Star Trek TV episodes memorable, they made up for it with an unprecedented level of excitement and intense action. This revitalization captured the attention of a new audience, but unfortunately, Abrams' movie series came to an end after Star Trek Beyond in 2016.

Star Trek: Discovery Reinvented Star Trek TV

Star Trek: Discovery debuted in 2017, introducing unique and daring concepts that required some adjustment. While certain ideas, such as the redesigned Klingons, didn't resonate, other groundbreaking elements of Discovery triumphed. At the core of the series was Michael Burnham, a brilliant yet flawed protagonist who committed a grave transgression with dire consequences for both herself and the galaxy. However, Burnham embarked on a journey of redemption, allowing Star Trek: Discovery to reevaluate the timeless principles of the Star Trek universe and establish a renewed significance for a new era. Seasons 1 and 2 of Discovery focused on relearning and embodying Starfleet's loftiest ideals, serving as a guiding beacon for the fractured 32nd century Federation in seasons 3 and 4.

Throughout its trajectory, Star Trek: Discovery shattered and rebuilt the established Star Trek mold. The show infused J.J. Abrams' cinematic flair into the television format, transforming each episode into its own cinematic experience. Debuting during the peak of streaming TV's popularity, alongside shows like Game of Thrones and The Walking Dead, Discovery propelled Star Trek to the forefront of exceptional serialized television. Its success played a pivotal role in elevating the nascent CBS All-Access streaming service, which later revamped into Paramount+ with Star Trek: Discovery as a flagship series. Despite encountering some challenges and creative missteps, the achievements of Discovery revitalized Star Trek as a formidable television franchise. Moreover, the areas in which Discovery fell short paved the way for new Star Trek shows to fill those gaps.

Star Trek Remains Strong Despite Discovery Ending

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Star Trek: Strange New Worlds owes its existence to Star Trek: Discovery. Anson Mount's portrayal of Captain Christopher Pike in season 2 of Discovery inspired fans to demand a spinoff series. Unlike the somber and conflicted tone of Discovery, Strange New Worlds is a remarkable and bold success, set to become the flagship Star Trek series on Paramount+ in place of Discovery. Following in Discovery's footsteps, Star Trek: Picard embraced serialization and told the story of Admiral Jean-Luc Picard's return to saving the galaxy. This culminated in the highly successful reunion of the cast from Star Trek: The Next Generation in season 3 of Picard.

Thanks to Star Trek: Discovery, a whole new universe of Star Trek series now exists, catering to every type of fan. From the fast-paced and comedic Star Trek: Lower Decks to the captivating and family-friendly Star Trek: Prodigy, there is a show for everyone. Furthermore, Discovery's conclusion paves the way for made-for-streaming movies like Star Trek: Section 31, featuring the talented Michelle Yeoh, and the potential continuation of Discovery's 32nd-century era in Star Trek: Starfleet Academy. Even the potential Picard continuation, Star Trek: Legacy, is indebted to Discovery. By boldly venturing first and weathering criticism, Star Trek: Discovery revitalized the franchise and made Star Trek more relevant than it has been since the 1990s. Thanks to Star Trek: Discovery, there is a promising future ahead for the Star Trek universe.