Warning: This list contains SPOILERS for Star Trek: Discovery Season 5
Summary
Star Trek: Discoveryadded some truly amazing characters to theStar Trekuniverse. Over the course of its five seasons,Discoveryhas been many different shows, from a dark and complex drama to an Indiana Jones-style adventure.But at its heart, it’s always been the story of Captain Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) and the people around her.Burnham has changed perhaps more than any other character onStar Trek: Discovery, going from Starfleet’s first mutineer toCaptain of the USS Discovery.
Since the premiere ofStar Trek: The Original Seriesin 1966, theStar Trekfranchise has always excelled at creating compelling and likable characters, andStar Trek: Discoveryis no exception. While it can be argued thatDiscovery’s plotlines have been relentlessly paced and action-oriented,Disco’s endearing characters have kept the show going.Captain Burnham wasStar Trek: Discovery’sheart, but the show wouldn’t have worked without all of the wonderful characters around her.The crew members of the USS Discovery have been through a lot in the show’s five seasons, and hopefully, some of their stories will continue in futureStar Trekprojects.
Not only didStar Trek:Discoveryintroduce incredible new characters, but the show also reinvented classic characters like Captain Christopher Pike (Anson Mount), Lt. Spock (Ethan Peck), and Number One (Rebecca Romijn), with pitch-perfect casting.
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12Eve Harlow as Moll
“I don’t need you or your Federation.”
Renegade courier Moll made quite an impression asStar Trek: Discovery’slatest villain, and she became a thorn in Discovery’s side in their search for the Progenitors' technology.Along with her Breen lover and partner in crime, L’ak (Elias Toufexis), Moll caused numerous problems for Discovery— includingtrapping the ship in a time loop— but she was ultimately just trying to build a life with the man she loved.
It remains to be seen what Moll’sStar Trekfuture holds.
After L’ak’s tragic death, Moll tried desperately to resurrect him, but even the Progenitors' technology was not capable of that. By the end ofDiscoveryseason 5, Moll has lost her beloved husband and is preparing to spend time in a Federation prison.Dr. Kovich (David Cronenberg), however, has other plans for her,which are all the more interesting considering Kovich’s true identity as Temporal Agent Daniels. It remains to be seen what Moll’sStar Trekfuture holds, but the character could certainly have more stories to tell.
11Callum Keith Rennie as Captain/Commander Rayner
“Oh, come on. Spare me the ‘I get you’ bull****.”
Captain Rayner joined the USS Discovery’s crew inStar Trek: Discoveryseason 5, andhis"crabby"personality contrasted sharply with most of the other characters.For most of his Starfleet career, Rayner had been serving during wartime, and he found it hard to adjust to the Federation’s new way of doing things in the post-Burn galaxy. While Burnham was friends with most of Discovery’s crew members and always valued their input, Rayner wanted to remain at a distance and do things by the book.
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Still, Rayner was a good man and a great Starfleet officer, and his gruff attitude warmed up over time, as he and Discovery’s crew developed a mutual respect for one another.Rayner brought new energy toStar Trek: Discovery,which worked well when paired with more energetic and optimistic characters like Lt. Sylvia Tilly (Mary Wiseman). Like Moll, Rayner’sStar Trekjourney seems far from over, and he will hopefully pop up in a futureStar Trekproject.
10Jason Isaacs as Captain Gabriel Lorca
“I have been to another universe and back. You think I’d come all this way without a plan?”
Despite being from the Mirror Universe, Captain Gabriel Lorca was able to pass as his Prime Universe self long enough to bring the USS Discovery back to the Mirror Universe.The reveal that Lorca was from this evil parallel universe was one ofStar Trek: Discovery’sbest twists,and Jason Isaacs made the character incredibly compelling. Although Lorca only survived for one season, he remains one ofStar Trek: Discovery’sbest villains.
Michael Burnham and the rest of the USS Discovery’s crew were deeply affected by Lorca’s betrayal and his later death at the hands of Emperor Philippa Georgiou (Michelle Yeoh).The fate of the Prime Universe Lorca remains unknown,although some speculated that it would have been extremely difficult for him to have survived long in the brutal Mirror Universe. Still, anything is possible inStar Trek,and it would be fun to see Isaacs return as any version of Lorca.
9Tig Notaro as Commander Jett Reno
“I can fix stuff with duct tape, if you want.”
With a fascinating backstory and a delightfully cynical personality,Commander Jett Renobecame one ofStar Trek:Discovery’sbest recurring characters. As an engineer on the USS Discovery, Reno helped Commander Paul Stamets (Anthony Rapp) keep the starship running and proved invaluable on numerous missions.Reno never failed to remain calm during a crisis and was always ready with a sarcastic remarkto cut through the tension.
Like Rayner, Reno’s no-nonsense attitude helped balance out the more openly emotional members of Discovery’s crew.Jett may not have had much screen time, but she made the most of what she had,establishing herself as one ofDiscovery’smost memorable characters in her every scene. From her dysfunctional friendship with Stamets to her colorful career history, Jett Reno’s hilarious commentary will surely be missed.
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8Blu del Barrio as Adira Tal
“Everyone always picks on the ensign.”
Star Trek: Discoveryhas added to the richness of theStar Trekuniverse with its diverse cast, andBlu del Barrio’s Adira Talis a major part of that. With their genius-level intellect and general enthusiasm,Adira became an invaluable member of the USS Discovery’s crew.Commander Stamets and his husband, Dr. Hugh Culber (Wilson Cruz), became surrogate parents for Adira, as they struggled to find their place aboard Discovery.
Adira would make a great addition toStar Trek: Starfleet Academy.
Lt. Sylvia Tilly also became a mentor for Adira, helping the young Ensign work through their social awkwardness and lack of confidence.Adira stepped up inStar Trek:Discoveryseason 5, working on the bridge and aiding in the search for the Progenitors' technology.With their experience and relatability, Adira would make a great addition toStar Trek: Starfleet Academy, but it remains to be seen whether theirStar Trekstory will continue.
7David Ajala as Cleveland Booker
“Love always ends in grief, but we can’t let the pain do this to us.”
Cleveland Booker was the first person Commander Michael Burnham met upon arriving in the 32nd century, and Book became Michael’s partner in love and life.A courier from the planet Kwejian, Book spent his days ferrying goods and helping endangered species across the galaxy.After their meet-cute,Book and Burnham continued working together for about a year before the USS Discovery finally arrived through the wormhole into the 32nd century.
Although not officially a member of the USS Discovery’s crew, Book helped Starfleet investigate the Burn and the Dark Matter Anomaly.After the DMA destroyed his homeworld, Booker rebelled against the Federation, seeking revenge on the dangerous anomalyand the species that created it.Booker’sStar Trekjourneyhas had its fair share of ups and downs, but in the end, he made amends with the Federation and, most importantly, with Michael Burnham, his eventual wife.
In the future glimpsed in the epilogue at the end ofStar Trek: Discoveryseason 5, Burnham and Book have spent their lives together and have a son named Leto (Sawandi Wilson), who serves as a Starfleet Captain.
6Mary Wiseman as Lt. Sylvia Tilly
“I love feeling feelings.”
When Michael Burnham first met her new roommate, Ensign Sylvia Tilly, it was immediately apparent that the two could not be more different. Still, Tilly and Burnham helped each other throughoutStar Trek: Discovery’searly daysand eventually became best friends.With her enthusiastic and optimistic approach to life, Tilly could find the silver lining in almost any situation,but she also had a brilliant scientific mind. Despite her occasional awkwardness in social situations, Tilly (often with help from Commander Stamets) could find and implement a solution to almost any problem.
Although Tilly initially wanted to pursue a command position,after the USS Discovery traveled to the 32nd century, she found new meaning as an instructor at Starfleet Academy.Tilly strove to connect with and encourage her cadets, and Sylvia eventually became the Academy’s longest-tenured instructor. Considering how instrumental Tilly has been in reestablishing Starfleet Academy, the upcomingStarfleet Academyshow would feel odd without her, but nothing has been confirmed regarding her presence on that show.
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5Wilson Cruz as Dr. Hugh Culber
“I know, I’m a doctor, not a physicist, but… this will work. I can’t explain it, I just feel it.”
As the Chief Medical Officer and counselor of the USS Discovery, Dr. Hugh Culber has had a lot to deal with throughoutStar Trek: Discovery’s five seasons.After being killed and resurrected, Culber understandably had difficulty returning to his normal life,but his relationship with Commander Stamets helped him cope. Still, after Discovery traveled to the far future, Culber struggled to counsel all of Discovery’s crew members as they were dealing with their new lives.
Culber’s profound compassion and kindness made him a great doctor.
InStar Trek:Discoveryseason 5,Hugh found someone to talk to in Tilly, and he opened up more about his struggles and potential spiritual awakening.Culber came to accept that some things could not be easily explained, as he let his instincts guide him and ultimately saved Burnham from the Progenitors' portal. Culber’s profound compassion and kindness made him a great doctor, and his romance with Commander Stamets remains one ofStar Trek’sbest love stories.
4Anthony Rapp as Commander Paul Stamets
“That could work. I think? I hope. Let’s go with hope.”
Anthony Rapp’s Commander Paul Stametswas part of the scientific team that pioneered the experimental spore displacement hub drive technology used by the USS Discovery.One ofStar Trek’smost brilliant scientists, Stamets rarely encountered a problem he could not solve,even if it required a creative or unconventional solution. Initially, Stamets was often short with the other officers in engineering, but he later mellowed out and developed more genuine friendships.
The USS Discovery would have been destroyed numerous times over if not for Stamets.
Stamets and his husband, Dr. Hugh Culber, have had one ofStar Trek’smost realistic relationships and they complement one another perfectly.Culber brought out the best in Stamets, even though he often worried over his doctor husband and their surrogate child, Adira.The USS Discovery would have been destroyed numerous times over if not for Stamets, and he has left quite aStar Treklegacy, despite the spore drive technology being shelved.
3Michelle Yeoh as Emperor Philippa Georgiou
“I’m extremely wicked, even for a Terran.”
Academy Award winner Michelle Yeohbrought her incredible talent toStar Trekas both the Prime Universe Captain Philippa Georgiou and the Mirror Universe Emperor Georgiou. Although Captain Georgiou was killed just asStar Trek: Discoverybegan,Emperor Georgiou had a fascinating journey throughout her time on the show.Ruthless and calculating, Emperor Georgiou and her Terran Empire had conquered much of their galaxy in the Mirror Universe.
In the Prime Universe, Emperor Georgiou was recruited by Section 31. Georgiou will resume her career with Starfleet’s shady intelligence organization in the upcoming made-for-streaming film,Star Trek: Section 31.
After an attempted coup by Captain Lorca, Georgiou returned to the Prime Universe with the USS Discovery and assisted in the Federation’s war with the Klingons.Burnham grew close with the former Emperor, as she had looked up to Georgiou’s Prime Universe counterpart as a mentor.Soon after arriving in the 32nd century, Georgiou had to be sent back in time due to being displaced in both time and dimension. Always diabolical and compelling, Georgiou’s impact remains even after her departure fromStar Trek: Discovery.
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