“This is who we are.”

If you’re a Star Trek fan – and particularly if you’re a Star Trek fan who’s felt that Star Trek: Discovery has not lived up to the ideals of the universe that Gene Roddenberry created – then you need to watch this season finale for Discovery.

For those who have seen it, or who don’t mind being spoiled:

This is what we’ve been waiting for – solutions to problems being found through communication, and a firm belief that without principles, what is Starfleet actually fighting for? There’s a certain inevitability about the scene where the bridge crew of the Discovery join Michael Burnham in opposing Admiral Cornwell’s plan, and it’s so absolutely appropriate that it’s Captain Saru who stands first to show his support. The relationship between Burnham and Saru has been one of the most important of this first season, underpinning the journey from the Battle of the Binary Stars to QonoS.

Another key relationship gets – I suspect, temporary – closure as Ash Tyler heads off with L’Rell rather than stay with Burnham. The scene between them gets the necessary space in amongst everything else going on. The growth of Cadet – now Ensign – Tilly is also maintained (with a lovely scene with original series guest star Clint Howard as an Orion), and although he doesn’t get a lot of time, Stamets demonstrates just how far he’s come across the season.

The solution to the UFP-Klingon War is neat, and not for one second do I believe that’s the last we’ve seen of Mirror Georgiou – the dynamic between her and Burnham is just too good to lose, particularly if Jason Isaacs’ Lorca won’t be around in future. The scenes in the UFP headquarters in Paris make it clear just why we’ve taken the long way round to reach this point: Starfleet has to come close to negating its own ideals before being pulled back from the edge by its own people, and we have to know those people, for good and ill, before we believe they’ll do it.

And as for that cliffhanger – well, we know from David Mack’s novel something about the relationship between Spock and Burnham, but it’ll be good to see it play out on screen (and before people moan, there’s nothing at all against Sarek and Spock meeting – Journey to Babel notes that it’s four years since Spock last came home to Vulcan – but they can’t speak directly). There are comics still to come (one showing Stamets’ discovery of the spore drive) and at least one more novel, focusing on Saru, but I’m already looking forward to hearing Jeff Russo’s Discovery theme in front of a new episode next year!

Verdict: A fitting end to Discovery’s maiden voyage. 9/10

Paul Simpson