WARNING: Contains SPOILERS for Star Trek: Discovery season 5, episode 8, “Labyrinths”
Summary
Star Trek: Discoveryhas always been about Captain Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green), and the show’s fifth and final season gives her a story arc reminiscent ofStar Trek: The Next Generation. Discoveryseason 5 finds Captain Burnham and the USS Discovery on a race across the galaxy to track down the Progenitors' ancient and powerful technology.The Progenitors, who created all humanoid life in the galaxy, were first introduced inTNGseason 6, episode 20, “The Chase.” Not only hasDiscoveryseason 5 served as a direct follow-up to this episode, but it has also contained more references to pastTrekthan any other season.
Star Trek: Discoveryseason 5, episode 8, “Labyrinths” finds Captain Burnham closing in on the final clue, which leads the USS Discovery to a massive interstellar library called the Eternal Gallery and Archive. One of the original scientists who found the Progenitors' treasure,Betazoid Dr. Marina Derex, hid this final clue in the original manuscript of her book,Labyrinths of the Mind.As part of the test to acquire the clue, Burnham enters her mindscape where, guided by an avatar of Cleveland Booker (David Ajala), she must confront hard truths about herself. Burnham’s emotional journey echoes the story of Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) inStar Trek: The Next Generation.
Star Trek: Discovery’s TNG Era Scientists & Progenitors Clues Meanings Explained
Star Trek: Discovery revealed the five scientists who hid clues to the Progenitors' treasure, and they all have links to Star Trek’s legacy.
Star Trek: Discovery Writer Explains How Season 5 & Burnham Honor TNG
“If you’re going to be the one to protect what the Progenitors left behind, you’ll need to know yourself.”
In an interview withTrekMovie,Eric J. Robbins, who co-wroteStar Trek: Discoveryseason 5, episode 8, “Labyrinths”, with Lauren Wilkinson, spoke about how heincorporated elements fromStar Trek: The Next GenerationintoDiscovery.Read Robbins' quote below:
Eric J. Robbins: I feel like it is part of every episode that I worked on Discovery. It was always important for me to find reference episodes. There was a common joke during season four when we were working remotely and after we get back on Zoom after lunch I would be like, ‘I just watched this episode of Voyager!’ So, yes, ‘Inner Light,’ which I hesitate to say because, to me, it is arguably the best written episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation. That and ‘Family’ in terms of emotional exploration of Jean-Luc Picard. ‘Tapestry’ was also on my mind, having an opportunity to reflect on your life and the choices you’ve made.
ThroughoutStar Trek: Discoveryseason 5, the show has built upon stories that began inStar Trek: The Next Generationas well asStar Trek: Deep Space Nine. In “Labyrinths,” Burnham is hit with a nucleonic beam that sends her into the mindscape, which is the same technology used to affectPicard inTNGseason 5, episode 25, “The Inner Light.“Aside from this direct shout-out to one of Picard’s greatest episodes, “Labyrinths” also explores Burnham’s emotional journey, just like “Family” and “Tapestry” did with Picard. Like Burnham, Picard was somewhat reckless in his younger years, but that boldness shaped both officers into the Captains they became.
Exploring Characters' Emotions Has Always Been Star Trek’s Secret Weapon
The most important journey is the human journey
SinceStar Trek: The Original Series, the franchise has never shied away from diving into the emotions of its characters. Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner) regularly displayed strong emotions, sometimes bordering on the histrionic, andeven the ever-logical Mr. Spock (Leonard Nimoy) had moments of deep feeling.Captain Jean-Luc Picard, Captain Benjamin Sisko (Avery Brooks), and Captain Kathryn Janeway (Kate Mulgrew) may have been less outwardly emotional, butStar Trekstill allowed these characters time for reflection.Star Trekoften tells big science fiction stories, but the franchise would not be as popular as it is if it didn’t also explore the emotions of its characters.
Star Trek has brought to life some of the greatest characters in science fiction, who are beloved because of their humanity and capacity for feeling.
Some of the characters ofStar Trek: Discoverymay be more comfortable expressing their emotions around one another, butStar Trekhas always celebrated empathy and compassion.Star Trekhas brought to life some of the greatest characters in science fiction, who are beloved because of their humanity and capacity for feeling.Even the android Lt. Commander Data (Brent Spiner) clearly experiences some form of emotion, for all that he protests otherwise.Star Trekemphasizes that it takes logic and emotion to be a true leader, andStar Trek: Discovery’sMichael Burnham exemplifies that better than most.
Star Trek: Discovery
Cast
Star Trek: Discovery is an entry in the legendary Sci-Fi franchise, set ten years before the original Star Trek series events. The show centers around Commander Michael Burnham, assigned to the USS Discovery, where the crew attempts to prevent a Klingon war while traveling through the vast reaches of space.
Star Trek: The Next Generation
Star Trek: The Next Generation follows Captain Jean-Luc Picard and his crew aboard the USS Enterprise NCC-1701D as they embark on interstellar explorations, seeking out new worlds and civilizations.
