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‘Star Trek: Picard’ Showrunner on Possible Spinoff, How [SPOILER] Returned for the Finale and Getting That Final Shot

By Adam B. Vary

Adam B. Vary

Senior Entertainment Writer

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SPOILER ALERT: This story discusses major plot developments in “The Last Generation,” the series finale of “ Star Trek: Picard ,” currently streaming on Paramount+.

The last time the cast of “Star Trek: The Next Generation” cast performed together on screen — in 2002’s “Star Trek: Nemesis” — it ended with a sour one-two punch: the sudden death of Data (Brent Spiner) and the financial failure of the film, which caused Paramount to stop making movies with the cast. Effectively, after a brilliantly successful seven-season run on TV, “The Next Generation” had been canceled from movie theaters.

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In doing so, Matalas sought to rectify some of the perceived sins of the “TNG” movies: He resurrected Data and endowed him with a consciousness that allowed the android to fulfill his lifelong dream of becoming fully human. And he brought back the Enterprise-D, the starship that had been destroyed in the climax of the first “TNG” film, 1994’s “Star Trek: Generations.” 

“In the most fanboy sense, I wanted to place the action figure set neatly and safely back on the shelf,” Matalas says. “If it’s the last we see of them, we see them in a wonderful grand moment together around the poker table. Not mourning the loss of Data. The Enterprise-D not crashed, but in a museum. Knowing that there is a bright future for ‘Star Trek’ and for their families. For me, that felt important as a fan, to feel like that’s where we left ‘The Next Generation.’”

If that wasn’t enough, in the aftermath of the battle with the Borg, the U.S.S. Titan is rechristened the U.S.S. Enterprise-G, and Seven of Nine (Jeri Ryan) — the “Star Trek: Voyager” character who has been on “Picard” from Season 1 — is promoted to be its captain. Jack, a new member of Starfleet, is stationed on the ship, along with Geordi’s daughter Sidney (Ashlei Sharpe Chestnut). Even Q (John de Lancie) — the omnipotent being who has been a “Trek” mainstay since the “Next Generation” series premiere “Encounter at Farpoint” — shows up in a post-credits sequence in which he tells Jack that his trials “have just begun.”

That certainly seems like the set up for a “Picard” spinoff series, but in his interview with Variety , Matalas says that wasn’t quite his intention. He also shares the scenes he wanted to shoot for the finale but couldn’t, and his unconventional approach to filming that poker scene.

How much of the finale did you have in your head when you were building out the season?

A very surprising amount, actually. I knew that the initial pitch to Patrick, that he would have to assimilate himself again, to face the big trauma of his life, to save his son. I knew that they would be in the Enterprise-D for the last two hours, reunited. I knew Seven of Nine would become captain of the Enterprise. That was a delightful thing to say to Jeri, who was my old friend from way back. I was like, “By the end the season, you’ll be captain of the Enterprise.” She was like, “Excuse me, what?! ” So there was quite a bit. Some of the how and why was why you need the brilliance of a talented writing room team to help you get there and figure that all out.

There was a moment in the finale where it seemed like Riker and Worf and Picard or some combination might actually die. Was that really on the table?

No, but I really wanted you to think that it might be for the drama. I don’t have it in me to kill my childhood heroes like that. I think some creators probably would. It felt like those characters would certainly feel like this is probably our last run. So I really wanted the surprise ending to be a happy ending.

Were there any other alternative endings that you considered?

There were things that we just simply didn’t have the time and money to shoot. In the very first iterations of script, we had discovered that Ro Laren had in fact survived, and had been beamed off of her shuttle and was still being used by the Changelings for information. It was already too ambitious of a schedule, so we weren’t able to be able to pull that off. We had a scene with [the Data-based android from Season 1] Soji and Data that we were also not able to shoot. We have wanted some more “Voyager” folks to come be part of Seven of Nine’s promotion to captain. It comes down to how many pennies you have left in the piggy bank after building a Borg cube and an Enterprise.

We had discussed it. We did toy with a different name, that it might be the Picard. But ultimately, it didn’t feel as genuine and as right for the legacy of “Star Trek” and Seven of Nine as the Enterprise. And certainly when you see the Titan with that name on its hull, you’re just like, yeah, it deserves that name. It just looks so right.

Did you always know you were bringing back Q after he supposedly died in Season 2 of “Picard”?

Yes. All the way from Season 2. John’s a dear friend of mine. On his last day [on Season 2], I said, “Look, I want to bring you back literally in the post-credit sequence for this final season. I will have no time and I will have no money, but I guarantee it will be one of the coolest Q scenes and it will be touching back to ‘Encounter at Farpoint.’” And he was like, “I’m in.” 

We only had 20 minutes to shoot that scene. Right after we shot the scene in which Picard tells Jack that he’s Borg, we ushered John in in that awesome new costume and we just banged out real quick.

You’ve mentioned on social media that you’d like to continue this story with a “Star Trek: Legacy” spinoff. Have you heard from Paramount or Alex Kurtzman about the possibility of doing that?

Alex and I talk all the time. If it’s something that’s going to be done, we want to make sure we don’t rush into it. We want to make sure we do it right. That’s where we’re at with it, I say coyly. At the moment, there’s nothing developed on it. But we talk all the time.

Part of why I’m asking is that I’ve rarely seen a finale set up a spinoff series more completely than you do with this one, with the scenes on the Enterprise-G. Am I right in thinking you wanted that to seed a future show?

Well, not specifically seeding for a spinoff, as lovely as that is to think about. I definitely wanted the feeling that it could go on, that it was a passing of the torch of the last generation to the next. That I really wanted. I think that’s the spirit of “Star Trek,” that they’re going to continue exploring strange new worlds. That’s a feeling of hope. So you want to get just a little taste of what that might be — for it to be a satisfying ending, it needed to be a satisfying beginning. Having said that, of course, I want to see Jack and Seven and Sidney and Raffi and everybody go on forever. But yeah, that was the creative impulse behind it.

Do you know what’s next for you?

I do not. Do you? 

I saw your tweet that you would love to work on the “Galaxy Quest” spinoff TV show .

Oh my god, “Galaxy Quest” is like my most favorite thing ever. I just literally was showing it to my kid the other day. It remains one of the most perfect movies of all time. And I just lived it! I actually just lived it in every way. So yeah, I said put me in coach. I know what that is.

Yes. To make this a little different than “All Good Things,” I wanted the audience to feel like they were really with this cast, to have a little wish fulfillment. So I actually ran the camera for 45 minutes and let them just play. Let them be themselves. I really wanted the audience to be immersed in what it’s like to hang out with Patrick, Jonathan, Marina, Gates, LeVar, Michael, Brent. So all those smiles and all those jokes are real. And so we hang on it much longer than you normally would, so that the smiles and the jokes are genuine. They were all playing a form of poker as best as they could, you know, because they like to monkey around. Maybe when the Blu-ray comes out, we’ll have a longer chunk of it so you could see more.

Do you remember who won the game?

They played so many rounds. But I think they always made sure Patrick won.

I’m laughing because I asked Patrick that question , and he said, “I think I won.”

Yeah, I think they rigged it a little bit so he would win.

This interview has been edited and condensed.

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‘picard’ star jeri ryan reveals devastating insight about that consequential seven of nine moment.

"After 'Voyager' ended, if you asked me if I would play this character again, I would have said, 'Absolutely not,'" the actress says of her cosmic career journey.

By Ryan Parker

Ryan Parker

Former Senior Reporter

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[Warning: this story contains spoilers for the Star Trek: Picard season two penultimate episode “Hide and Seek.”] 

Star Trek: Picard means more to Jeri Ryan than she ever felt was possible.

It has been nearly 25 years since the actress’ iconic Borg character, Seven of Nine, made her first appearance on Star Trek: Voyager . And when that series concluded in 2001, Ryan bid Seven farewell, assuming that was the end of their road. Then came the Paramount+ series Picard. 

The expanded Star Trek Universe gave Ryan and fans a chance to know Seven on a deeper level. And through nearly two seasons, that is exactly what happened — which is why the event of this week’s penultimate season two episode, “Hide and Seek,” is so devastating. In order for her life to be saved after being gravely wounded, Seven is once again assimilated, this time by Agnes Jurati’s (Alison Pill) incarnation of the Borg Queen. For most of the second season, Seven has been human for the first time since she could remember. And, just as before, it was taken away from her in an instant.

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In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter prior to the release of “Hide and Seek,” Ryan touches on that poignant moment while also delving deeper into the relationship between Seven and Raffi (Michelle Hurd). The actress also explains why the Picard series means so much to her before teasing what’s to come in the third and final season.

The episode is one of the best in all the series, in my humble opinion. So much emotion, so much action. Grand storytelling. Did it feel different in production?

For my character, in particular, it was pretty huge. This has been Seven’s struggle since she was separated from the Collective, trying to reconcile her Borg and her human parts. So, this season was the first time in her life since she had been assimilated that she was just human. She got to see how different life could have been and would have been, and how differently she’s treated without those visible Borg parts.

The moment when she is assimilated again, this time in order to save her life, was so heartbreaking. To me, it appeared from the look on her face the price to survive was too costly. Can you shed some light? Would she have rather died?

I think that’s her gut reaction. She comes to understand, but I think immediately she does not think that it was necessary.

Brutal. Switching to something happier, Seven and Raffi’s relationship is just wonderful. I am positive there is love there. Such a bond. Will the universe allow them ever to be truly together?

There is definitely love there between the characters. They’re growing more understanding of each, their flaws and their struggle and their broken parts. Michelle and I, when talking to the producers, said we wanted a realistic portrayal of these two women who are very mature and very driven and very independent. They’ve had lives and careers. And that it wasn’t going to be “Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy,” they’re in a relationship with a white picket fence, because that is not who these women are. So, we wanted that relationship struggle. They do love each other. They do care for each other. They respect each other. But can they entwine their lives completely without losing who they are and what their lives have been? And that’s any relationship: How much are you willing to change and sacrifice and give up for the benefits of that relationship? And are they even built to do that? How much can they heal together and heal each other? That remains to be seen.

One of my favorite aspects of this series and especially this season is there are so many powerful, extraordinary female characters. I would love to hear your thoughts on keeping such great company.

Oh my God, it’s not just in the story with the characters, but also behind the scenes. It’s incredible how many women I’ve gotten to work with and the crew and the producers and the writers. You know, I’ve said before, but it was a really huge moment for me in the first season when there was the first female camera operator I’ve worked with — in my entire career! It’s been really incredible that the women have been embraced all across the board for this show.

Star Trek: Voyager’s “Scorpion Part 2” premiered in September 1997. And I know it’s a silly question whenever I ask you folks, “Could you ever imagine then?” But I’d love your thoughts on this (no pun intended) journey you and Seven have made from then to now. 

Never in a million years. After Voyager ended, if you asked me if I would play this character again, I would have said, “Absolutely not.” I was convinced that I had said goodbye to her, and that chapter was done. This has been such a gift, even more than I expected it to be, because I was a little hesitant when I signed on to do Picard . Ideas sound great on paper, but until you start seeing fully realized scripts and how the characters are really being developed, you just don’t know. It’s a leap of faith. So, it has been such a gift on so many levels to be able to revisit this character and continue this huge amount of her journey and massive arc.

I know you can’t say much, but will we see Seven in the third and final season of Picard ?

Yes, you’ll see Seven again, I can tell you that. I think the fans will not be disappointed. The season is huge, and it is a very worthy sendoff for all of these characters.

Interview edited for length and clarity.

Picard streams Thursdays on Paramount+.

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‘Star Trek: Picard’ Series Finale Sets the Stage for a Big Spinoff

By Alan Sepinwall

Alan Sepinwall

This post contains spoilers for the Picard series finale, “The Last Generation.”

When this third and final season of Picard debuted earlier this year, I wrote that while on the one hand it was shameless fan service , on the other this was exactly what Star Trek fans wanted and needed after the show’s first two years were so disappointing. Simply bringing back the entire crew of The Next Generation — and giving most of them much better and richer material than what they got to play back in the Eighties and Nineties — felt like more than enough, even if the season’s conspiracy plot was largely gibberish.

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On the whole, though, this is exactly what most Trekkies would have wanted from this season, and from Picard as a whole: one last chance to see these characters at their best, and to let the actors dig deeper into roles that were often much thinner than they should have been in the Eighties and Nineties.

Some more thoughts on the finale, and the season:

• The season used the Changelings from Deep Space Nine as red herring villains, finally roping the Borg back in for the last couple of episodes. This was a mixed bag, not only because it conflicted with what had happened previously on this very show, but because it feels like it is somehow always going to be the Borg with Jean-Luc. The Changelings were at least surprising, and also a small way for this season to pay homage to the wildly underrated Deep Space Nine , when otherwise it was made up of pieces of TNG and Voyager . (Heck, there was even an original series cameo of sorts, as Walter Koenig provided the voice of Pavel Chekov’s son, Anton — not a nod to playwright Anton Chekhov, but to the late Anton Yelchin , who played Pavel in the Chris Pine films.) Réne Auberjonois (whose Odo was the cleanest connection to the Changelings) has passed away, and Avery Brooks’ Ben Sisko is trapped in the wormhole, but couldn’t Nana Visitor have stopped by? (Colm Meaney who, like Michael Dorn, appeared on both TNG and DS9 , but was much more integral to the latter?) Plus, the nature of the Borg takeover of Starfleet made everyone — particularly Borg expert Elizabeth Shelby from the classic “Best of Both Worlds” two-parter — look very, very stupid.
• The relentless nostalgia did go over the line a bit at the end of the season’s penultimate episode, when Geordi brought his friends onto a rebuilt version of their old ship. Exciting as it was to see them back on the familiar Enterprise-D bridge, it didn’t feel like a time for gawking while the Borg had taken complete control of Starfleet and were preparing to destroy Earth.
• Boy, were Stewart and Michelle Forbes great together in the episode where Jean-Luc’s rebellious Bajoran protege Ro Laren returned. Ro was one of the better TNG recurring characters, and was meant to be the female lead on Deep Space Nine , but Forbes wasn’t crazy about committing years of her life to Star Trek . But she was very invested in the character here, and her argument with Jean-Luc about their former relationship was among the more complex pieces of old business the season did.
• Finally, before we see the Enterprise-D crew play one last round of cards together, we get set-up for a potential spinoff, where Seven of Nine is the captain of the newly-rechristened Enterprise-G, Raffi is her first officer, Geordi’s daughter Sidney remains at the helm, and the multi-talented but reckless Jack is, for now, the ship’s counselor. And later, he’s visited by his father’s old nemesis Q. (Q died at the end of Season Two, but Matalas picked and chose which aspects of the first two seasons he wanted to use and which he wanted to ignore.) On the whole, this feels like a mixed bag. Jeri Ryan can certainly carry a new series as the lead, and Ed Speelers had his moments as Jack, but Raffi has been a dud for three seasons now. If we do get a Seven-centric show, though, the good news is that it would keep pushing the timeline forward, where the otherwise-excellent Strange New Worlds and Lower Decks take place in the franchise’s past. 

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Published Feb 7, 2023

Star Trek 101: Seven of Nine

Rediscover the ex-Borg before her return for the third and final season of Star Trek: Picard!

StarTrek.com

Seven of Nine returns for the third and final season of Star Trek: Picard , premiering on February 16.

Portrayed by Jeri Ryan , the series regular joins LeVar Burton, Michael Dorn, Jonathan Frakes, Gates McFadden, Marina Sirtis, Brent Spiner, and Michelle Hurd star alongside Patrick Stewart in the highly anticipated Star Trek original series. Ahead of the series' return, we'll be revisiting the iconic role Ryan portrayed over the years.

Who is Seven of Nine?

"I am no longer Borg, but the prospect of becoming human is... unsettling. I don't know where I belong." — Seven of Nine, Star Trek: Voyager , " Hope and Fear "

Seven of Nine first appeared in the fourth season premiere of Star Trek: Voyager , " Scorpion, Part II ."

The daughter of human Federation exobiologists Magnus and Erin Hansen, the ex-Borg drone was born Annika Hansen on the Tendara Colony. At a very young age, she was captured and assimilated by the cybernetic species known as the Borg, who renamed her Seven of Nine, Tertiary Adjunct of Unimatrix Zero One.

Seven was liberated by the crew of the U.S.S. Voyager in 2374. She joined the crew and returned to the Alpha Quadrant with the starship in 2378. After her time on Voyager , she joined the Fenris Rangers, helping instill justice in lawless and dangerous regions of the galaxy.

Seven was assigned as the Borg liaison to Voyager when the Collective formed a temporary alliance with Janeway to defeat their mutual enemy, Species 8472. But you can't just trust a Borg; after they got rid of Species 8472, Seven tried to hand Voyager over to the Collective. Janeway responded by destroying Seven's link to the Borg and removing most of her high-tech hardware.

Seven initially resisted Janeway's attempts to restore her humanity, but eventually she came to accept her new life.

Key Episodes

" Scorpion " - The Borg drone designated as Seven of Nine

" Drone " - Seven of Nine's nanoprobes fuse with The Doctor's mobile emitter.

" Dark Frontier " - The Borg Queen attempts to lure Seven of Nine back to the hive.

This article was originally published on February 14, 2017.

Star Trek 101, co-authored by Paula M. Block and Terry J. Erdmann, serves two functions — succinctly introduce Star Trek newcomers to the basic foundations and elements of the franchise and refresh the memories of longtime Trek fans.

Star Trek: Picard streams exclusively on Paramount+ in the U.S. and is distributed concurrently by Paramount Global Content Distribution on Amazon Prime Video in more than 200 countries and territories, and in Canada, it airs on Bell Media’s CTV Sci-Fi Channel and streams on Crave.

Stay tuned to StarTrek.com for more details! And be sure to follow @StarTrek on Facebook , Twitter , and Instagram .

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Jeri Ryan on Bringing Back Her 'Star Trek' Character to 'Star Trek: Picard' 25 Years Later (Exclusive)

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Jeri Ryan is once again stepping into her iconic Star Trek role Seven of Nine in the latest season of Star Trek: Picard , and the actress is opening up about what it's like to be playing the fan-favorite character after more than two decades.

"It's crazy. That's a really rare gift as an actor," Ryan recently shared with ET's Matt Cohen. "It was a rare gift to begin with to have a character that was so beautifully written and had so much growth, since she didn't even start out human. But then to be able to revisit her this many years later and continue her journey, It's been pretty astonishing."

Ryan's Seven of Nine was first introduced in the fourth season of Star Trek: Voyager as a Borg drone -- a human who had been assimilated into the hive mind of the Borg, a cybernetic alien race. She was then freed and taken into the crew of the USS Voyager, where she slowly learns to embrace her humanity that she'd lost.

The character became a hit with fans and one of the most immediately recognizable characters in the Star Trek franchise. However, Ryan admits that she never thought she'd be tapped to play Seven again.

"I did four years on Voyager and I really thought that was it," she shared. "And when I said goodbye to the character, then I really thought that was it. I was saying goodbye to that character."

However, she was eventually approached by her friend, Star Trek writer James Duff, with the idea of returning for Picard. 

"[He] had mentioned it to me in passing at the Hollywood Bowl, after several glasses of champagne -- which he knew would be the appropriate moment to bring it up," she recalled with a laugh. "I thought he was joking and then he kept bringing it up."

However, the possibility was made real when she learned from showrunner Alex Kurtzman that they'd "been talking a lot about Seven in the writers' room."

As for getting the chance to share the screen with Sir Patrick Stewart -- who is also reprising his role as the series' title character -- Ryan said, "It's been amazing!"

"He's a legend, obviously, and these two characters, it was exciting to get these two characters, especially, together in this world," she shared. 

New episodes of Star Trek: Picard air Thursdays on Paramount+.

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How 'Star Trek: Picard' Season 3 Sets Up a 'Legacy' Spinoff

There's near endless potential in Terry Matalas' much-discussed 'Legacy' spin-off series idea.

Star Trek: Picard may have officially come to an end, but fans are still not ready to say goodbye. Over the course of Season 3, many fans both new and old fell in love with both legacy characters and the "next generation" of The Next Generation . And with that beautifully open-ended finale, fans, cast, and creatives alike are calling for Paramount+ to greenlight a Star Trek: Legacy spin-off series . Recently, Trek boss and Picard executive producer Alex Kurtzman told Fox LA that they've "heard fans loud and clear," teasing that "anything is possible" and "there's obviously more story to tell." While Kurtzman's comments definitely seem like things are moving in the right direction for a Legacy series to be added to the exciting plethora of Star Trek content on the horizon , nothing has been made official yet.

Here at Collider, we've spoken to several cast members who are all for the idea of a Legacy series with Season 3 showrunner Terry Matalas at the helm. Gates McFadden , who plays Beverly Crusher, called the idea "fantastic," saying she'd love to see more adventures with her "space son." Ed Speleers ' Jack Crusher was introduced early in Season 3 as the secret love child between Beverly and Jean-Luc Picard ( Patrick Stewart ) and fans swiftly fell in love with the roguish young hero. Speleers also told Collider that he'd love to play Jack for the next fifteen years. Picard stars LeVar and Mica Burton also spoke about wanting to continue with the "next generation of The Next Generation." While we certainly hope all the buzz around Star Trek: Legacy locks it in as a sure thing for Paramount+ between now and Star Trek Day (September 8), let's take a look at why this series would make such a good addition to the Star Trek franchise.

RELATED: 'Star Trek: Picard' Season 3 Finale Review: One of the Most Satisfying Series Endings Ever

The Captain of the Enterprise Is a Queer Woman With an Iconic Legacy

In the Star Trek: Picard series finale, Seven of Nine ( Jeri Ryan ) joins the long line of incredible characters who've taken up the mantle of Captain of the Enterprise . And she breaks new ground in becoming so, through Seven wouldn't be the first woman to command the Enterprise, she would be the first to do so in her own series, as well as the first openly queer character to command the most esteemed ship in Starfleet. Having joined the series as an ex-Borg in Star Trek: Voyager Season 4, Seven of Nine has had a long and difficult journey in finding herself and where she belongs. Both the character and Ryan have more than paid their dues in Star Trek , it's time that we got to see her lead her own series — and Seven deserves to get to "write the opening line of [her] legacy."

Without even counting Seven in the captain's chair, the bridge of the Enterprise-G is already one of the most diverse bridge crews in Star Trek history. First Officer Raffi Mussiker ( Michelle Hurd ) is also queer and Lt. Kova Rin Esmar is non-binary and uses they/them pronouns, as does Jin Maley , the actor who plays the brilliant Communications Officer. The crew also features three Black women in Raffi, Helmsman Sidney La Forge ( Ashlei Sharpe Chestnut ) and Engineer Alandra La Forge (Burton), and both Esmar and Tactical Officer Matthew Arliss Mura ( Joseph Lee ) are played by Asian actors, though they're Hailiian and Bajoran in the series.

Star Trek is known for pushing the boundaries of representation, but it hasn't always been as successful in doing so as fans would like it to be. So to see so many people represented, on the bridge of the enterprise no less, is a pretty big deal. While all the currently airing Star Trek shows feature more queer characters and more people of color than ever before, it's key that we keep striving for the franchise to create a space where everyone can see themselves among the stars.

In 2017, Discovery kicked off a bright new age of Star Trek and opened doors for so many with the first queer relationship between two main characters, the first Black woman in the captain's chair, and the first trans character. With that life-changing series coming to an end next year , it would be inspiring to see Legacy step in to keep making Star Trek a more progressive, forward-thinking franchise alongside Strange New Worlds , Lower Decks , Prodigy , and the recently announced Starfleet Academy . It would also be a great opportunity to add more minorities to the writers' room for the spin-off series to make sure these characters are more than impressive statistics.

Jack Crusher's Trial Is Just Beginning

While Season 3 gave us a lot to love with returning characters like Seven and Raffi, as well as the nostalgic reunion of the Next Generation crew, the series also introduced a whole new generation of characters for us to fall for. Along with Geordi's incredibly talented daughters, we also got to know Jack Crusher — a roguish Robin Hood-type character with a heart of gold and a penchant for walking headfirst into danger. The son of Starfleet legends, Admirals Picard and Crusher, Jack has a lot to live up to.

The finale episode of Picard closes out with an end credits scene that sees Jack unpacking his things in his quarters on the newly-minted Enterprise-G when he's visited by a mysterious and familiar being: Q ( John de Lancie ). In the scene, Q tells Jack that while humanity's trial may be over for his father, it's just beginning for him. Q appeared in the first and last episodes of The Next Generation , and periodically throughout the series, to teach Picard and his crew a valuable lesson in more or less the most chaotic way possible. This end credits moment queues up endless possibilities for all the adventures that Jack and the crew of the Enterprise could get into in the future.

Following the Picard finale, Matalas told Collider that Jack was like "James Bond in Starfleet," going on to say he has "I have 1,001 ideas" for what to do with a Legacy series, "so hopefully, the television fates will allow it to happen." Speleers is completely on board to join Matalas on that ride if Paramount+ gives them the green light. He told Collider, "I would love, genuinely from the bottom of my heart, I would love to keep playing Jack Crusher."

Romance Opportunities Abound Aboard the Enterprise-G

Listen, I am a strong believer that all good stories are ultimately love stories, whether that love is platonic, familial, or romantic is up to the storyteller, but the heart of the best stories always comes back to love. In a strictly romantic sense, Star Trek: Picard Season 3 has already laid the groundwork for some truly spectacular relationships for us to root for on the Enterprise-G. Despite being reportedly broken up for the sake of Starfleet regulations, fans are ready to see how Seven and Raffi's relationship evolves in a spin-off series. The duo spent the entirety of Season 2 in a sort of will-they-won't-they-have-they-already relationship that ended with the first kiss between two women who are both main characters in Star Trek . Though their relationship was largely missing from Season 3 as a result of a limited amount of time and an incredibly jam-packed story, the future potential for Seven and Raffi is extremely appealing.

The Captain/First Officer ship has been one of the most popular relationship dynamics since the inception of the franchise when fans essentially invented the concept of "shipping" — though the term wouldn't exist until The X-Files came along — in reading between the lines and finding romantic tension between Kirk ( William Shatner ) and Spock ( Leonard Nimoy ). There's something genuinely irresistible about looking at the chain of command through a romantic lens and Star Trek fans have been doing so for decades, first with Kirk and Spock, and later with Voyager 's Janeway ( Kate Mulgrew ) and Chakotay ( Robert Beltran ) , and even Strange New Worlds ' Pike ( Anson Mount ) and Una ( Rebecca Romijn ).

During a Reddit AMA following the series finale , when a fan asked if it was possible for Seven and Raffi to be together, Matalas said "it never stopped Kirk and Spock." He later went on to talk about the story potential in this relationship, despite supposed Starfleet regulations, saying "Will this ABSOLUTELY be a story you want to tell in the future? A story about a Captain who loves her First Officer and vice versa? Absolutely." He followed up with a story concept that would see Captain Seven having to choose between Raffi and everyone else:

"Imagine a story in which Seven has to make a call that could cost Raffi her life on a planet below… but it’s a call that would save the lives of countless others. Does Seven make the call? Does she step down and go try to save Raffi and transfer command to Jack in the meantime? The whole episode becomes a countdown. I kinda want to write that one right now."

Seven and Raffi aren't the only duo we'd like to see get together on the Enterprise either. Picard Season 3 introduced a pairing between two of the Next Gen crew's kids in Jack Crusher and Sidney La Forge . In Episode 6, we got our first hint of flirtation between these two, and with Episode 7 it developed into something we definitely need to see more of. Much like one of Star Trek 's most iconic power couples, Riker ( Jonathan Frakes ) and Troi ( Marina Sirtis ) , Jack was able to sense Sidney's thoughts and communicate with her telepathically. While there was little time to explore this budding romance in Season 3, It's got the potential to be the franchise's next epic slow burn. Legacy could also deliver a whole new generation of DaForge shippers with Geordi's other daughter Alandra and Data's daughter Soji ( Isa Briones ), an android character introduced in Picard Season 1. Though the characters haven't met yet on screen, it would be a great opportunity to see Legacy bring back Soji and integrate her into the found family she was always destined to be a part of.

'Star Trek: Legacy' Could Be a Bridge Between the Past and the Future

One of the things that fans loved most about Season 3 of Star Trek: Picard was the return of the Next Generation cast for one last epic adventure together. With everyone having made it through the finale to continue "boldly going" for the rest of their lives, Star Trek: Legacy could easily bridge the past and the future by having any number of existing Star Trek characters pop up for an episode here and there. Season 3 already featured several unexpected cameo appearances with the return of Ro Laren ( Michelle Forbes ) , Tuvok ( Tim Russ ) , and more. A Legacy series could see any of the Next Gen crew stop by, with Frakes having already pitched Riker as the Charlie's Angels -type character that the Enterprise crew can check in with. As Speleers told Collider, "I feel that there's a whole plethora of stories to be told for Jack, which could incorporate still the Next Gen cast."

Bringing back legacy characters wouldn't need to be limited to The Next Generation either. With Seven at long last a captain in Starfleet, it would be amazing to see her reunited with Janeway, the Captain she learned it all from, after all these years. Season 3 also heavily featured the Changelings , a species specific to Deep Space Nine , and fans have been eager to see someone from that series return to the franchise in live-action for quite some time.

While the Star Trek universe spans centuries, and the currently airing shows cover quite a lot of ground, Legacy fits into a unique space in the timeline. The new series would have boundless potential in a fairly unexplored future, with the exceptionally strong foundation of the shows from the 80s and 90s, as well as the possibility for crossovers with Lower Decks and Star Trek: Prodigy .

While we wait to hear more on Star Trek: Legacy , you can watch Seasons 1-3 of Picard , as well as the rest of the Star Trek catalog, right now on Paramount+.

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Star Trek: Strange New Worlds

A prequel to Star Trek: The Original Series, the show follows the crew of the USS Enterprise under Captain Christopher Pike. A prequel to Star Trek: The Original Series, the show follows the crew of the USS Enterprise under Captain Christopher Pike. A prequel to Star Trek: The Original Series, the show follows the crew of the USS Enterprise under Captain Christopher Pike.

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Episodes 31

• Captain Christopher Pike …

• La'an Noonien-Singh …

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• Una Chin-Riley …

• Nurse Christine Chapel

• Nyota Uhura …

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• Trivia Bruce Horak , the actor who plays Hemmer, is legally blind, just like his character's species, the Aenar, who are also blind.
• Goofs There are some rank insignia mistakes. Number One is introduced as "Lieutenant Commander Una Chin-Riley" yet she is wearing the rank insignia of a full commander: two full stripes. A Lieutenant Commander's rank insignia is a full stripe under a thin stripe (in TOS it is a full stripe and a staggered stripe). It is not uncommon for a ship's first officer to be a Lt. Commander if they have not been in the position long. Spock at this point is a Lieutenant but he is wearing Lieutenant Commander's stripes; a Lieutenant just has one stripe. La'an is the ship's chief of security and the ship's second officer. She is also wearing Lt. Commander stripes but is addressed as a Lieutenant, but it would make more sense for her to be a Lieutenant Commander. Either way both of their rank insignia are not matching the rank they are addressed by. Ortegas is addressed as a Lieutenant but is wearing Lieutenant Commander's strips. A Lieutenant Commander may be addressed as a Commander or Lieutenant Commander but never as just a Lieutenant, so either her rank insignia or the manner she is addressed by the rest of the crew is in error.

[opening narration]

Captain Christopher Pike : Space. The final frontier. These are the voyages of the starship Enterprise. Its five-year mission: to explore strange new worlds, to seek out new life and new civilizations, to boldly go where no one has gone before.

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Star Trek's Seven of Nine returns in new novel 'Picard: Firewall' (exclusive)

Acclaimed author David Mack invites fans on a bold new mission into the final frontier.

Beaming in from the Delta Quadrant and straight onto your bookshelf is prolific "Star Trek" author David Mack's latest sci-fi jewel, "Picard: Firewall," a 336-page hardcover coming Feb. 27, 2024  

In this compelling story set before the unfolding events of the premiere season of Paramount+'s " Star Trek: Picard ," "Firewall" focuses on the former Borg character of Seven of Nine (Jeri Ryan) as she links up with a notorious band of space vigilantes and we have an exclusive chapter excerpt to share below.

Mack is a multi-award-winning science fiction master who's authored 38 novels in the arenas of science fiction, fantasy, and adventure, including the "Star Trek Destiny" and "Cold Equations" trilogies. His impressive resume of writing credits includes episodes of "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" and consultant work on the debut season of the hit animated series, "Star Trek: Prodigy."

Related: Star Trek streaming guide: Where to watch the Star Trek movies and TV shows online

Star Trek: Picard: Firewall: $27.99 from Amazon

Two years after the USS Voyager's return from the Delta Quadrant, Seven of Nine finds herself rejected for a position in Starfleet … and instead finds a new home with the interstellar rogue law enforcement corps known as the Fenris Rangers. The Rangers seem like an ideal fit for Seven — but to embrace this new destiny, she must leave behind all she's ever known, and risk losing the most important thing in her life: her friendship with Admiral Kathryn Janeway.

Here's the official publisher synopsis from Pocket Books:

"A thrilling prequel adventure based on the acclaimed TV series ' Star Trek: Picard! '

"Two years after the USS Voyager's return from the Delta Quadrant, Seven of Nine finds herself rejected for a position in Starfleet and instead finds a new home with the interstellar rogue law enforcement corps known as the Fenris Rangers. The Rangers seem like an ideal fit for Seven—but to embrace this new destiny, she must leave behind all she's ever known, and risk losing the most important thing in her life: her friendship with Admiral Kathryn Janeway."

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What Mack found most compelling about writing "Firewall" was the need to make a deep dive into the psychology of Seven of Nine during a critical phase of her life. 

"Because she and Kathryn Janeway are the only two major canon "Star Trek" characters in the novel, and most of the book is told through Seven's perspective, I needed to immerse myself in Seven's point of view as a queer woman on a journey of self-discovery as well as that of a heroine on an adventure," Mack tells Space.com. 

"It gave me a chance to connect with much of what makes Seven such a great character: her intelligence, her integrity, and also her hidden vulnerability. She is a richly layered person, able to contain seemingly contradictory multitudes, and that made it a joy to explore her psyche during her transition from ex-Borg to a fully empathetic human being."

Here's our exclusive excerpt from "Picard: Firewall" courtesy of Pocket Books:

She switched back to the team's channel. "Everyone! Use the storm as cover!"

The team responded in overlapping transmissions — " Are you crazy?" "Oh, hell no." "You’ve gotta be kidding!" — until a fresh barrage of disruptor pulses from the fighter quelled dissent and spurred them all into powered dives toward the thunderhead.

"Don't cluster! Split up and regroup on—"

Another fusillade of disruptor blasts cut across the strike team’s descent vector—and one tore through Ellory's thruster pack, which exploded in a burst of sparks and shrapnel.

Seven struggled to see past the inky plume of smoke pouring from Ellory's fragged suit. "Ell! Talk to me, Ell! Ell, can you hear me?"

Harper cut in: " Her suit’s offline! No power, no comms! Anyone got eyes on her?"

"Affirmative," Speirs said. " No movement, falling like a rock."

"About to lose her in the clouds," Ballard said.

Seven keyed her suit's thrusters to maximum. "Everyone, get clear. I’m going in." Hands outstretched and pointed ahead of her, she chased after the unresponsive Ellory and speared her way into the thundercloud just a second behind her.

Everything went pitch-black, and then the world flared blinding white—lightning slashed in great forks all around Seven, and entire banks of black cloud pulsed with inner light, all of it followed by crushing roars of thunder that hit her with walls of sonic force.

Her eyes pulsed with green and purple afterimages, and her head spun from the shock of thunderclaps, but she forced herself not to blink, not to pass out, not to pull inward or do anything to slow her dive. Hands first, head lowered, she arrowed through another wall of roiling black and gray vapors—to see Ellory just a hundred meters ahead of her, tumbling wildly, out of control, with no sign of consciousness.

Beneath them, the belly of the cloud flared white with electrical fury.

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Seven accelerated directly into Ellory and wrapped her arms around her, and then her legs.

"Computer! Shields!" Her suit's command system activated the low-power shield normally used for extra protection during the most perilous moments of atmospheric entry.

Please be enough—

She and Ellory plunged through the bottom of the cloud as it resounded with thunder and flashed—just for a few milliseconds—with sheet lightning hotter than the surface of a star.

Join our Space Forums to keep talking space on the latest missions, night sky and more! And if you have a news tip, correction or comment, let us know at: [email protected].

Jeff Spry is an award-winning screenwriter and veteran freelance journalist covering TV, movies, video games, books, and comics. His work has appeared at SYFY Wire, Inverse, Collider, Bleeding Cool and elsewhere. Jeff lives in beautiful Bend, Oregon amid the ponderosa pines, classic muscle cars, a crypt of collector horror comics, and two loyal English Setters.

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Star Trek: Discovery Reveals Seven Of Nine's Surprising Legacy

WARNING: Contains SPOILERS for Star Trek: Discovery season 5, episode 7, "Erigah".

• Commander Jett Reno reveals a surprising new talent in mixing cocktails, including her signature "Seven of Limes" drink.
• The legacy of Seven of Nine lives on in Star Trek's 32nd century, with a nod to Star Trek: Deep Space Nine at USS Discovery's bar.
• Star Trek: Discovery season 5 continues to honor the past with references to Voyager, hinting at an exciting future for Captain Seven.

Star Trek: Discovery season 5, episode 7, "Erigah", reveals that Seven of Nine (Jeri Ryan) has left her mark on the 32nd century in a surprising way. Even though Discovery is set 800 years after the events of Star Trek: Voyager , there have been several references to the show so far in season 5. Voyager 's Krenim villains created the time bug that caused havoc for Captain Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) and Commander Rayner (Callum Keith Rennie) in "Face the Strange". Three episodes later, and Discovery season 5, episode 7, written by M. Raven Metzner and directed by Jon Dudkowski has two more Voyager callbacks.

The ending of Star Trek: Discovery season 5, episode 7 , "Erigah" reveals that the final piece of the Progenitors' puzzle is located in the Badlands. A dangerous region of space wracked with serious plasma storms, the Badlands was where the USS Voyager went missing in the Star Trek: Voyager pilot, "Caretaker" . Earlier in the episode, while trying to decipher the fifth and final clue, Lt. Sylvia Tilly (Mary Wiseman) and Ensign Adira Tal (Blu del Barrio) seek the assistance of Commander Jett Reno (Tig Notaro), who provides an update on Voyager 's Seven of Nine and her legacy.

Star Trek: Discovery Season 5 Returning Cast & New Character Guide

As Burnham seeks the universe's greatest treasure in Star Trek: Discovery season 5, she'll need help from a host of new and returning characters.

Star Trek: Discovery Reveals Seven Of Nine Has A Surprising Legacy

You can order a seven of limes in discovery's bar..

Commander Jett Reno reveals that she has multiple talents in Star Trek: Discovery season 5, episode 7. Including being a skilled engineer, Reno is also an expert in antique books, and even pulls in shifts at Red's, the USS Discovery's bar. Revealing this information to a surprised Tilly and Adira, Reno tells them that they haven't lived until they've tried her " Seven of Limes " . Where some Star Trek characters, like Nog (Aron Eisenberg) have had starships, or in the case of Captain Jonathan Archer (Scott Bakula), an entire spacedock, named after them in the 32nd century, Seven has to make do with a cocktail.

In a nod to Star Trek: Deep Space Nine , the USS Discovery's bar, Red's, has a Ferengi bartender, and a Lurian propping up the bar.

It's unclear exactly what's in a Seven of Limes or how it compares to Kellerun Citrus Mash, but it's good to know that the legacy of Seven of Nine lives on in Star Trek 's 32nd century. While it may seem small compared to a starship or a spacedock, it's worth pointing out that nobody has a cocktail named after them in the far future without having made some huge cultural impact. As Seven of Nine has recently become the third female captain of the starship Enterprise , it's guaranteed that she'll make a huge impact on Starfleet history.

Will We Ever Find Out More About Seven of Nine In Star Trek?

Star trek: legacy remains a hypothetical concept for now..

Star Trek: Picard season 3 ended by giving Captain Seven of Nine the center seat of the Federation's flagship, the USS Enterprise-G. Since then, fans have been eagerly awaiting news of whether Captain Seven's adventures will continue in Terry Matalas' hypothetical Star Trek: Legacy show. There's been no official statement about Star Trek: Legacy , or any future plans for both Jeri Ryan and the character of Seven of Nine. The only other 24th century Star Trek shows are both set before the events of Picard season 3, meaning that there'll be no updates about Captain Seven in Star Trek: Lower Decks or Star Trek: Prodigy .

Given that Star Trek: Discovery is set at the extreme end of the Star Trek timeline , it's a good sign that Seven of Nine is still remembered 800 years in the future. While she may not have a starship named after her, the very fact that Seven of Limes exists suggests that Captain Seven crossed over into the wider culture beyond Starfleet. Clearly, stories of Seven's heroism post- Star Trek: Picard season 3 left an impact on popular culture within the Federation, inspiring a bartender somewhere to concoct the Seven of Limes in her honor.

Star Trek: Discovery season 5 streams Thursdays on Paramount+.

Star Trek: Voyager

The fifth entry in the Star Trek franchise, Star Trek: Voyager, is a sci-fi series that sees the crew of the USS Voyager on a long journey back to their home after finding themselves stranded at the far ends of the Milky Way Galaxy. Led by Captain Kathryn Janeway, the series follows the crew as they embark through truly uncharted areas of space, with new species, friends, foes, and mysteries to solve as they wrestle with the politics of a crew in a situation they've never faced before.

Star Trek: Picard

After starring in Star Trek: The Next Generation for seven seasons and various other Star Trek projects, Patrick Stewart is back as Jean-Luc Picard. Star Trek: Picard focuses on a retired Picard who is living on his family vineyard as he struggles to cope with the death of Data and the destruction of Romulus. But before too long, Picard is pulled back into the action. The series also brings back fan-favorite characters from the Star Trek franchise, such as Seven of Nine (Jeri Ryan), Geordi La Forge (LeVar Burton), Worf (Michael Dorn), and William Riker (Jonathan Frakes).

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Star Trek Discovery Season 5 Episode 7 Review: Erigah Reveals New Breen Secrets

A political and surprisingly enjoyable hour sees the Federation face off against the Breen and sets Star Trek: Discovery up for its endgame.

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This Star Trek: Discovery review contains spoilers.

After a couple of extremely mediocre installments (particularly given that this is the show’s final season), Star Trek: Discovery bounces back to excellent form with “Erigah,” a tense and surprisingly political hour that finally gives the season-long Progenitors clue hunt some higher and more immediate stakes. It also doesn’t hurt that it’s the first episode in ages that’s had genuine tension—sorry, “Whistlespeak,” we all knew nothing was actually going to happen to Tilly—and a plot that wasn’t immediately predictable from the jump. 

Look, I still don’t care all that much about the desperate interspecies Romeo & Juliet vibes this show seems to want to believe Moll and L’ak possess, but unlike the clunky flashback hour that broke down their backstory , “Erigah” makes the wise decision to turn their relationship into a political flashpoint that wraps in multiple characters and story arcs. The Breen make for a genuinely interesting enemy, given how little we know about their species and culture, Rayner’s constant combativeness is given an intriguing new context, and even though Saru’s stuck on some offscreen diplomatic mission, T’Rina still gets to be her most impressive, commanding self as the leader the Federation clearly deserves. What’s not to love?

The premise is fairly straightforward: The Discovery captures Moll and L’ak thanks to an S.O.S. message begging for help on a courier-only frequency. L’ak is grievously injured and Culbert’s not sure if they’ll be able to save him, given how little they know about Breen physiology. The crew hightails it back to Federation HQ to fetch a cryo device that will hopefully lower his temperature enough to allow him to heal naturally. Breen have some regenerative abilities, who knew? They arrive to find a Breen dreadnought headed their way and one of their ruling Primarks insistent that the new prisoners be turned over so that the titular erigah—or blood bounty—on the pair can be fulfilled. Diplomatic tension predictably ensues. 

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Like “Face the Strange,” “Erigah” is also an episode that treads water when it comes to season 5’s overarching plot. The Discovery crew spends most of the episode trying to figure out where the final clue is hidden and almost all of its action takes place in orbit around Federation Headquarters. Yet, thanks to the capture of Moll and L’ak and the subsequent arrival of a massive Breen battleship, the hour still feels as though it’s moving the story forward in a way that its predecessor did not. There’s plenty to side-eye when it comes to Moll and L’ak’s choices: Their initial decision to flee the I.S.S. Enterprise two episodes ago, the fact that their actions since then appear to have involved little more than watching L’ak bleed to death, their determination to flee the Discovery despite Michael repeatedly proving their willingness to help them. But at least this time their actions have actual consequences and will undoubtedly cause ripples that will resonate through the rest of the season. 

L’ak’s death by way of accidental overdose was genuinely surprising, and while I certainly don’t put it past Discovery to find a way of somehow reviving him, either through the application of the Progentors’ supposed all-powerful technology or a heretofore unknown bit of Breen biological regeneration magic, he’s much more interesting as a political pawn than he ever was as Moll’s wayward love. The direct descendant of the dead Breen emperor, the squabbling Primarks are all eager to use him to justify their claims to the throne in their ongoing succession wars, his uncle most of all, and they’re determined to reclaim him from Federation custody. What follows is a remarkably entertaining bit of political brinksmanship that sees T’Rina, Vance, and Burnham face off against a squad of very creepy Breen soldiers threatening war if their demands aren’t met. 

Tara Rosling doesn’t get enough credit for her performance as T’Rina, but she’s at her absolute best here, showing off both the Vulcan president’s smarts and her spine of steel as she faces down a dangerous enemy she knows almost nothing about without flinching. If this series doesn’t end with her somehow renouncing her role on N’Viar to lead the entire Federation instead I’ll be so upset. (The fact that T’Rina can apparently translate Breen is hot, is what I’m saying.) But it’s Callum Keith Rennie who steals much of this episode, as Commander Rayner finally gets his turn in the Talking About Feelings chair, and shares the horrific backstory of his family and homeworld of Kellerun, which suffered under Breen occupation for years. 

Because Rayner is who he is, the story is fairly matter-of-fact, though its details remain horrific. He’s the only member of his family who survived an attempted uprising against them and knows firsthand about the Breen’s capacity for violence and sheer determination to get what they want. It’s an infodump that explains so much about who Rayner is—why he doesn’t trust the Breen and why he believes in action over negotiation. Rennie’s performance throughout this episode is impressive, as he captures Rayner’s fear-tinged insistence that the Federation should attack while it has the chance, to his vaguely self-loathing boast that the reason a Primark kept him alive was because he fought with a Breen-like relentlessness. It’s a shame we’ll only get to spend a single season with this character because he’s really grown on me over the past seven episodes.

In the end, Moll uses her marriage bond to force the Breen to take her with them despite their obvious loathing of her, telling them about the existence of the Progenitors’ technology and promising it can help her uncle-in-law claim the throne. That she’s plotting something is obvious, that Michael’s guessed rightly she’s hoping whatever ancient power the Progenitors had can somehow bring her dead husband back even more so. 

But that’s a problem for another week, when the hunt for the final clue sounds like it’s going to take us to an ancient space library dedicated to protecting knowledge. The revelation that the hint pointing to the final clue is some sort of high-tech library card is the sort of Star Trek nerdiness I love, and maybe we’ll finally get some answers about whatever this thing is we’ve been chasing all season actually is .

Lacy Baugher

Lacy Baugher is a digital producer by day, but a television enthusiast pretty much all the time. Her writing has been featured in Paste Magazine, Collider,…

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Review: Star Trek: Discovery Season 5 Episode 8 “Labyrinths”

Star Trek: Discovery delivers an intriguing, introspective episode with a thrilling journey to a fantastic new sci-fi setting, all as our protagonists get to the Progenitors’ doorstep.

After discovering the final clue is housed within a roaming space-based library, Discovery travels to the Badlands, an iconic location known to long-time Star Trek fans. Greeting them as they arrive at the grouping of plasma storms and stellar turbulence is Hy’Rell ( Elena Juatco ), the caretaker of the Eternal Gallery and Archive, a facility that houses the largest collection of historical and cultural artifacts in either the Alpha or Beta Quadrants. Hy’Rell issues instructions on navigating the region’s dangerous storms and offers a cryptic warning about honoring the wishes of the archive’s caretakers, but that’s not something we’ll have to worry about from our heroes. On the other hand, the Breen, who are hot on Discovery ’s trail, are another story.

We can confidently say the Eternal Gallery and Archive is the most striking place we’ve visited this season. It’s an ornate, magical, seemingly infinite space that contains countless books – actual physical books. It almost feels like a location found in a fantasy world like Harry Potter , and for our money, it’s a refreshing locale from other science-fiction places we’ve visited in this show.

Captain Michael Burnham ( Sonequa Martin-Green ) and Cleveland Booker ( David Ajala ) beam aboard the archive, but they are drawn to different places. Burnham wants to find the original manuscript for Doctor Marina Derex’s book and get the final clue to the Progenitors’ tech, while Book ventures into an examination room to inspect an artifact from his late homeworld, Kwejian, something Hy’Rell thought he’d be interested in.

“Is your name really Book?” “Uh, yeah.” “How fun to have a book visit me in the library for a change.” – Hy’Rell and Book.

The artifact ends up being a cutting from the World Root, the massive, planet-wide network of tree roots formerly found on the ill-fated Kwejian. Book is clearly emotionally impacted by holding a legitimate piece of his culture, especially since there is so little of his culture left after the DMA destroyed his planet in season four. Hy’Rell lends the artifact to Book, on the condition Book reports on his and the artifact’s experiences someday. That’s all we get out of this small subplot in “Labyrinth,” as Book returns to Burnham to find the captain sprawled on the floor, apparently a victim of a mindscape concocted by Derex as a test for anyone who wants to obtain her clue.  

Trapped within her mind, Burnham finds herself once again in the Eternal Gallery and Archive, but one devoid of all characters except a familiar face: Book. But this Book is a manifestation created by Burnham’s mind, which gives Ajala a chance to play around outside his normal character. For what it’s worth, this episode, what with its dual roles for Ajala, is perhaps the best showcase for him this season so far.

What does Burnham need to do in the mindscape? The setting itself is worth pondering first, as Mindscape Book tells Burnham the archive is the most important place in her life because it’s the site of her current mission, and the mission always means the world to her. That’s all well and good, but what next?

The captain first assumes she needs to scour the history section of the library for books about the Dominion War, as Derex lived during the war and wanted whoever found the Progenitors tech to be an agent of peace and learn from past mistakes. This objective proves incorrect, and Burnham’s next reason she needs to find her way out of the maze-like library, given that the name of Derex’s book is Labyrinths of the Mind . But even this objective proves wrong, and Burnham, with time running out until the mindscape shuts down and kills her, finds herself deflated.

With her life soon coming to an end, Burnham becomes introspective and reveals some of her inner thoughts and feelings to her sole friend in the mindscape. She confesses her mind probably picked Book to show up in the mindscape because she wants to mend things with her ex-lover, but that the mission – especially, this mission with the Progenitors – always comes first.

“Maybe I should go even more psychobabble here, and admit that if I don’t complete this mission, then I don’t know who I am.” – Burnham, in her self-reflective monologue to Mindscape Book.

Burnham’s thoughts about her mission in life, triggered by the potential discovery of why she and everyone other sentient in the galaxy came to be, are illuminated for not only the audience but herself. She confesses she doesn’t fear death, but she fears failing and disappointing those who matter to her. She hates the ever-present fear of not living up to her potential, and it makes her feel “small,” “weak,” and “ashamed.” She admits she should have shared these feelings with the real Book to help him understand why she pulled away from him.

This spontaneous counseling session meets the condition set by Derex for those who pursue her clue: understanding oneself and being truthful about one’s goals and emotions is essential for someone who wants to discover and manipulate the force of life and death in the galaxy. Thus, Burnham passes the final test in the trail to the Progenitors tech, tests that were designed by the tech’s studiers hundreds of years ago to protect it from unworthy discoverers.

Before being pulled out of the mindscape, Mindscape Book shares where the last puzzle clue resides within the Eternal Gallery and Archive, as well as a hint about how to access the tech’s final destination – although we the audience aren’t privy to that information. Interestingly, Burnham later admits that while Primarch Ruhn ( Tony Nappo) probably wouldn’t figure out how to access the tech’s location, she signals Moll ( Eve Harlow ) might. What could this barrier to the final tech be?

Exiting the mindscape, Burnham finds the situation deteriorating quickly at the archive and its surrounding space. The Breen have shown up at the oasis in the Badlands and are aiming to steal the clue from Starfleet, whatever the cost. Moll, recently widowed by her and L’ak’s botched escape plan in the previous episode, is helping the Breen reach the Progenitors tech – but her influence on the masked antagonists proves more impactful than Primarch Ruhn would prefer. More on that in a hot second.

As the Breen attack the library, the Discovery dances across the Badlands trying to evade capture until Burnham, Book, and Doctor Hugh Culber ( Wilson Cruz ), who was called on site after Burnham’s incapacitation, are ready to flee the library. Competent commanding by Gen Rhys ( Patrick Kwok-Choon ) means the away team is rescued in the nick of time, ready to stop the Breen from continuing its attack on the innocent Eternal Gallery and Archive.

Burnham has a tough choice: give the Breen the clues she has procured up until now or leave the library at the mercy of the massive Breen dreadnaught. The captain quickly makes a copy of the now-complete map leading to the tech’s destination, and beams the original map clues aboard the Breen vessel.

Then, in a bit of tricky quick thinking, the Discovery spore-jumps out of the Badlands and leaves a brief explosion of warp plasma and debris behind, leaving the Breen to assume the ship was destroyed. (This was a neat trick in theory, and a pretty cool sight in practice, but wouldn’t the Breen notice the inconsistent amount of debris left from the warp plasma explosion and a vented shuttle bay compared to the mass of an entire Crossfield­ -class ship?) In any case, Discovery jumps 22 light years away from their goal, so it seems there’s a bit of a journey left – and the Breen are only six hours away.

The Breen ship is soon subject to a staffing change – one implemented by Moll at the tip of a Breen weapon. Using Ruhn’s ferocity and blinding focus against him, Moll persuades his Breen crew, including Lieutenant Arisar ( Dorian Grey ), who we assume will be important because he is name-dropped in this episode, to turn on the primarch. Landing the killing blow on Ruhn herself, Moll asserts herself as the new de facto leader of the Breen ship, with the goal of getting her new crew to the Progenitors tech first – tech that could potentially bring back their scion, L’ak. Even with a head start on the last part of the trail, Discovery will soon have to contend with a desperate Moll out for revenge, backed by one chonker of a battleship.

We were quite fond of “Labyrinths,” as the episode’s heart shown through brightly amid an awesome new location and striking plot beats. Returning to the Badlands now realized in all its modern-era VFX glory, was a neat bit of fan service. That, combined with a charming, stunning library that serves an important mission within the Star Trek universe, meant this episode was frequently eye-catching. But the lesson from this episode – that self-knowledge requires examining one’s feelings and motives – is timeless, and fits perfectly with this season’s mission to illustrate how to be as good a person as possible. After all, only a person of utmost value will control the ability to create life and possibly reverse death.

Two episodes are all we have to wrap up this season… and let’s not forget this show. In episodes nine and ten, we are super-curious if Discovery was able to plan well enough after its cancelation announcement to give these characters the sendoff they deserve, never mind being able to juggle a satisfying ending to a fascinating season-long plot. It’s going to be a tough landing to stick, but if “Labyrinth” is any indication, this show is in competent hands heading to the end.

Stray Thoughts:

• How did Hy’Rell “see Discovery coming” to the Badlands if the ship spore-jumped there from its previous location?
• Hy’Rell notes the archive has been in the Badlands for almost a century, but earlier Tilly asserted the archive changes location about every 50 years.
• Who else forgot Discovery had a cloaking device? That upgrade was part of the vessel’s refit after getting to the future.
• How long before Star Trek Online adds the Breen dreadnought, with an ability called Shield Tunnelling?
• Jett Reno ( Tig Notaro ) mentions she used to repair comm buoys for Hysperians. Hysperians were seen in Lower Decks ’ “ Where Pleasant Fountains Lie .”

New episodes of Star Trek: Discovery stream Thursdays on Paramount+ , this season stars Sonequa Martin-Green (Captain Michael Burnham), Doug Jones (Saru), Anthony Rapp (Paul Stamets), Mary Wiseman (Sylvia Tilly), Wilson Cruz (Dr. Hugh Culber), David Ajala (Cleveland “Book” Booker), Blu del Barrio (Adira) and Callum Keith Rennie (Rayner). Season five also features recurring guest stars Elias Toufexis (L’ak) and Eve Harlow (Moll).

Stay tuned to TrekNews.net for all the latest news on Star Trek: Discovery , Star Trek: Prodigy , Star Trek: Strange New Worlds , Star Trek: Lower Decks , and more.

You can follow us on X , Facebook , and Instagram .

Kyle Hadyniak has been a lifelong Star Trek fan, and isn't ashamed to admit that Star Trek V: The Final Frontier and Star Trek: Nemesis are his favorite Star Trek movies. You can follow Kyle on Twitter @khady93 .

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‘star trek: discovery’ co-showrunner teases the final episodes and her message for fans.

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Co-showrunner Michelle Paradise with her "Star Trek: Discovery" cast and crew.

For five seasons, Star Trek: Discovery has taken audiences on the ride of a lifetime. With its series finale now in sight, I sat down with executive producer and co-showrunner Michelle Paradise at SeriesFest in Denver, Colorado to discuss the beloved show’s journey and what fans should expect from this ever-expanding television universe on Paramount Plus, before we say a proper farewell to the U.S.S. Discovery.

So for starters, what has Paradise enjoyed most about the evolution of Star Trek: Discovery , since it first premiered in September 2017?

“That’s a really great question,” Paradise said. “I have loved being a part of it. I joined halfway through season two, and it was starting to know what it was and it’s really found its way. I’ve really enjoyed the character arcs and getting to take them all to these different places. It’s also hard for me to separate out the evolution of the show from my evolution on the show and stepping into co-running it with [co-showrunner] Alex [Kurtzman] and starting to take over more of that in later seasons. It’s been the highlight of my career.”

Mary Wiseman as Tilly and Blu del Barrio as Adira in "Star Trek: Discovery" episode 7, season 5 - ... [+] streaming on Paramount+.

Paradise is no stranger to television production. She was previously an executive producer on such television projects as Exes & Ohs and The Originals , but I wondered what it might be about her Star Trek: Discovery cast and crew that perhaps feels special.

“It’s like a big family. First of all, our cast is incredible. They’re all insanely talented actors but they’re lovely human beings. They approach one another and they approach the project from just a place of love and respect for one another and for the material, which is always a wonderful place to start. You can’t say enough of [actor] Sonequa [Martin-Green], our number one and the tone that she sets on the show and on the set. We have a lot of folks on the show and the crew who come back, year-after-year. They all really love the world of Trek and they love one another. We try and go bigger and better and bolder every season, and there’s never a feeling of Oh, we can’t do that . It’s always a feeling of How do we do that? ”

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Sonequa Martin-Green as Burnham in "Star Trek: Discovery" streaming on Paramount+.

Since the original Star Trek series first premiered on television in 1966, the Star Trek story and fictional sci-fi universe has evolved into several iterations, including Star Trek: The Next Generation , Deep Space Nine , Voyager , Enterprise , Strange New Worlds and Picard - not to mention the numerous Star Trek movies over many decades, including the three recent blockbuster films, starring Chris Pine, Zoe Saldana and Zachary Quinto, with another sequel in the works.

Throughout all of these years, Star Trek fans have remained quite loyal and vocal, both when they love a story and even when they don’t. So, how does Paradise and her Star Trek: Discovery creative team try to appease Trek fans, but also not allow the chatter to stop them from taking on some creative risks?

Wilson Cruz as Culber and Anthony Rapp as Stamets in "Star Trek: Discovery" episode 6, season 5 - ... [+] streaming on Paramount+.

Paradise said, “I think the best way to answer that is we always try to honor what Trek is - where it came from, what is the DNA of any Trek series, which of course goes back to the original series, and then also honoring what is this version of Trek and knowing that it’s our job to make the best version of Discovery . Someone who loves Discovery may not love Strange New Worlds or someone who loves Strange New Worlds may not love Discovery. By design, these are all very different shows. To a certain degree, it has to be okay that not everyone is going to love this iteration. We always feel like if we can do justice to the franchise as a whole - what it means, do justice to the characters and do our best version of Discovery , then we will have succeeded.”

Ever since the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes ended late last year, there have been signs of movement and optimism within the entertainment industry, but also a sense of some standstill with television and film productions. So, what is Paradise seeing around the current state of Hollywood?

“I think it depends on who you talk to,” Paradise said. “It feels a bit like a mixed bag to me. There are a lot of people who are still very much struggling - writers, crew members, directors - because things have not picked up in the way that they would normally at this particular time of year. By in large, there’s not really a pilot season, as we used to know it. That’s very difficult for people. Of course, there’s still a lot of wonderful opportunities, but it seems like the compression that happened - it’s the combo platter of the [Covid-19] pandemic and the strikes, just after that. It does feel condensed - there are fewer things but I feel like, to some degree, that had to happen because in the big balloon of streaming, that in retrospect, it doesn’t feel like it was necessarily sustainable. Hopefully it will ease up, sooner than later, and kind of calm down because there’s still a lot of people who are struggling to get back into work right now and I feel for them - it’s hard.”

On more of a positive note, when asked what Paradise is enjoying most about the television landscape today, she says that she feels there is a lot that can be done, applauding the way that every week, Star Trek: Discover y is a “cinematic storytelling into television,” though she admits that the visual design of Discovery is not sustainable for every network and studio.

While our real world faces divisive times with war, political unrest and other conflicts, I wondered if Paradise and her team keep in mind the real-life issues occurring, when crafting its stories for the screen on Star Trek: Discovery .

Mary Wiseman as Tilly, June Laporte as Ravah and Wilson Cruz as Dr. Culber in "Star Trek: Discovery" ... [+] episode 6, season 5 - streaming on Paramount+.

“That comes from just the DNA of the show itself. The original series did not shy away from what was happening societal at that time. It did not shy away from tackling those things in the way that it could. That’s one of the cool things about sci-fi - aliens can stand-in for another culture, different relationships can stand-in for whatever is happening in society at the time. That’s kind of baked into any Trek show, is that reflection of what’s happening in the world at that time via sci-fi and the different ways we could do it.”

Paradise added: “In Discovery , we were very much aware of that and very thoughtful about what are the types of stories we want to tell, how does that reflect certain things that are going on. Trek means so much to so many people and where people are actively looking to Trek to reflect themselves in some way or actively looking to Trek as an answer to what’s happening in society and for hope that, as divisive as things are right now, as challenging around the world and in our country, that there is hope and we can overcome it with our better selves.”

Blu del Barrio as Adira, Tig Notaro as Jett Reno and Mary Wiseman as Tilly in "Star Trek: Discovery" ... [+] episode 7, season 5 - streaming on Paramount+.

When asked about what fans can expect ahead in the remaining episodes of Star Trek: Discovery , which drop every Thursday during this final season, Paradise teases that fans “might see more of our bad guys this season.” She added: “We did not going into the season [knowing] that this would be our last season. We’re so fortunate - CBS Studios and Paramount Plus gave us the opportunity, after the fact, to go shoot some additional material, and I feel like the thing I just want to keep reiterating for fans of the show is it has a proper ending. Our Discovery is not going to end on a cliffhanger of Are they all going to die? and then we never find out. It was worth the investment and I do think when people finish the season/series, they will feel like this season - again, we didn’t know going in - but it does feel like if you didn’t know that, you would think we knew going in because of what we’re doing thematically and where our characters go. So, I think people will feel very satisfied.”

As the conversation with Paradise concluded, she was left with one last question: For Star Trek: Discovery fans, people who have followed these five seasons - as they soon finish these final episodes, what message do you as a co-showrunner want to say these people, after investing their time in the series over the past seven years and falling in love with these characters?

Mary Wiseman, Sonequa Martin-Green and Michelle Paradise.

“I just would want to say thank you. There is no Discovery without the fans and they are always so loving and supportive and passionate, even when they don’t like what we’re doing, they’re passionate. As writers and creators and actors and the directors, we love that! We love that passion and their passion means so much to us.”

Paradise added: “It was a gift. Hopefully, we’ll all get to do it again someday.”

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Yes, that character death in star trek: discovery season 5 episode 7 really happened.

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Star Trek: Discovery Season 5 Returning Cast & New Character Guide

Is book the last kwejian in star trek: discovery, star trek: discovery makes lower decks' renaissance faire planet live-action canon.

Warning: MAJOR SPOILERS for Star Trek: Discovery Season 5, Episode 7 - "Erigah"

• L'ak tragically dies in Star Trek: Discovery season 5, episode 7, "Erigah."
• Moll makes a desperate move by teaming up with the Breen to find the Progenitors' treasure.
• Major consequences are in play as Moll seeks to resurrect L'ak with the Progenitors' technology.

Yes, that major character death in Star Trek: Discovery season 5, episode 7, "Erigah," really happened. Written by M. Raven Metzner and directed by Jon Dudkowski, Star Trek: Discovery season 5, episode 7 sees Moll (Eve Harlow) and L'ak (Elias Toufexis) apprehended by Starfleet, but the Breen arrive at the United Federation of Planets' doorstep to collect the nephew of Primarch Ruhn (Tony Nappo). Refusing to get caught between the Federation and the Breen, Moll and L'ak enact a desperate plan to escape that tragically backfires.

Moll and L'ak were introduced as Star Trek: Discovery season 5's villains racing the USS Discovery in the hunt for the ancient treasure of the Progenitors. But Moll and L'ak's backstory, revealed in Star Trek: Discovery season 5, episode 5, "Mirrors," shows them as troubled lovers on the run from the Breen, who placed an Erigah (blood bounty) on their heads. L'ak is a Breen and the nephew of Primarch Ruhn, one of the warlords competing to become the new emperor of the Breen Imperium. Star Trek: Discover y season 5, episode 7, "Erigah" clarified L'ak's true importance to Primarch Ruhn: L'ak is the Scion, a direct blood descendant of the late Breen Emperor. Controlling L'ak would bring validity to whoever becomes the next Emperor of the Breen.

L'ak was seriously injured in a fight with Captain Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) aboard the ISS Enterprise in Star Trek: Discovery season 5, episode 5.

As Burnham seeks the universe's greatest treasure in Star Trek: Discovery season 5, she'll need help from a host of new and returning characters.

Star Trek: Discovery Season 5 Episode 7 Really Killed Off L’ak

The scion of the breen imperium is dead.

L'ak dies in Star Trek: Discovery season 5, episode 7, "Erigah." Moll and L'ak were beamed into the USS Discovery's medical bay so that the grievously injured Breen could receive treatment from Dr. Hugh Culber (Wilson Cruz) . But Moll and L'ak, who only want freedom to be together, decide to escape instead of letting the Federation and the Breen decide their fates. The Breen Scion created a distraction so that Moll break out of sickbay and steal one of Discovery's shuttles, but L'ak accidentally gave himself a fatal overdose of tricordrizine.

L'ak's death is a tragedy, not just for Moll but for the Federation.

Moll didn't make it to the USS Discovery's sickbay, and Cleveland Booker (David Ajala) was able to convince her to lay down her phaser and return to the medical bay to see the dying L'ak. Captain Burnham persuaded Primarch Ruhn to allow a Breen physican to treat L'ak but there was no way to save the Scion. L'ak's death is a tragedy, not just for Moll but for the Federation. Because Moll doesn't trust the Federation, she told Primarch Ruhn about the Progenitors' treasure, which means the Breen has now entered the race for the greatest and possibly most destructive power in the galaxy.

The Breen capture the Progenitors' technology and destroy the Federation in a possible future Captain Burnham saw in Star Trek: Discovery season 5, episode 4, "Face the Strange."

What Happens To Moll In Star Trek: Discovery Season 5

Moll has one desperate gamble to resurrect l'ak.

Moll had a surprise for Primarch Ruhn and the Breen: she and L'ak are married. Because she is the Scion's wife, Moll was allowed to leave with the Breen, promising to find the Progenitors' technology for Primarch Ruhn. Moll throwing her lot in with the Breen, who despise her, is her desperate gamble to save L'ak. The Progenitors' life-giving technology is said to have the power to bring back the dead, and Moll hopes she can resurrect L'ak and the Breen will allow them to leave together in exchange for the Progenitors' power to conquer the galaxy.

The Federation council led by President T'Rina (Tara Rosling) agreed to turn Moll over to the Breen rather than instigate an immediate war.

Moll is between a rock and a hard place since she has to lead the Breen to the Progenitors' treasure without the clues . The Breen's only gambit is to follow the USS Discovery to the treasure and then overpower them and take it. Then, Moll has to persuade Primarch Ruhn to both let her resurrect L'ak, which would give Primarch Ruhn legitimacy to become Emperor, and hope Ruhn allows them their freedom. However, if Moll stayed on the USS Discovery, the Breen would have attacked the Federation, and she has no way of persuading Starfleet to let her use the Progenitors' technology to bring back L'ak. The death of L'ak launches Star Trek: Discovery season 5 toward its endgame and the conclusion of the series.

New episodes of Star Trek: Discovery season 5 stream Thursdays on Paramount+