Star Trek: Discovery is the seventh series set in the Star Trek universe. The bug was an illegal black-market weapon, but one that (despite its inconsistent details and lack of specifics) fit neatly into this six-decade-old universe.Discovery redirects here for additional meanings of 'Discovery', please see Discovery. The Time Bug is yet another way the series used past Star Trek events to tell new, fresh stories instead of just dropping cute Easter Eggs. In previous episodes, Star Trek: Discovery Season 5 brought in connections to the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode 'The Chase (Season 6, Episode 20),' and it also built on the Trill mythology established in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. The show gets around this when Rayner says the Time Bug is technology leftover from the Temporal War first introduced back in Star Trek: Enterprise, and wrapped up for good in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds' Khan episode. Trying to figure out how the Time Bug works is really a waste of time, since it's nothing more than a fun sci-fi concept that was used to drive an episode. When Burnham and company arrive back in the 22nd Century, it's unclear what happened to folks like Commander Jett Reno or Adira, who were always in the 32nd Century. Despite his gruff demeanor, this episode showed why Rayner was such a successful long-serving leader in Starfleet - especially in a post-Burn galaxy. Yet, when Stamets was worried about being able to save the ship, Rayner motivated him by saying 'old dogs' like them still had life-saving tricks up their uniform sleeves. Rayner also killed his science-buzz upon realizing the potential of the Progenitor's technology. He was already depressed this season since the spore drive is, effectively, dead technology. In fact, she cared so much that she told Captain Gabriel Lorca she didn't deserve to serve on a starship.Īnother touching moment between crew members in 'Face the Strange' came via Rayner's collaboration with Stamets. In Season 1, Burnham seemed more Vulcan than human, but her emotions were still there. However, her heart is always in the right place. Yes, she's made mistakes, huge ones when compared to those committed by previous Starfleet heroes and captains. Yet, he reaffirms that she does belong not just on the vessel, but in command of it. Specifically, that when she first stepped on the bridge of the Discovery, she felt like she didn't belong. He told Past Burnham something no one but she could know. This episode underscored that Burnham's unique skill isn't her intellect or fighting prowess, but her commitment to higher ideals even when she thinks she's failed them in unforgivable ways. She's determined to do the right thing to protect her ship, her crew and Starfleet itself. Yet, in trying to stop Rayner and Stamets, Burnham again proved her worth.

While this makes Burnham Star Trek's most relatable captain among the franchise's imperfect fans, the character herself can't believe she could attain new heights after falling so far. The most unbelievable thing for the understandably self-loathing Past Burnham to accept was a future in which she not only had rank again, but was trusted enough to be given a ship. Even though the Klingon leader, T'Kuvma, was going to start a war with the Federation, Burnham also blamed herself for this close call. She was Starfleet's first mutineer, and her actions led to the death of her mentor, Captain Philippa Georgiou. Burnham reminded audiences just how desperate things were for her back then. That said, this sequence was all about Burnham and her personal journey.Īfter incapacitating her past self with a Vulcan Nerve Pinch, Burnham gave voice to the subtext of this entire journey. The best thing about this sequence was that it allowed Airiam, the human-turned-cyborg who died in Season 2, to return for a brief few scenes. However, their most important trip to the past took place just a few weeks after Burnham joined the ship.

They also traveled to the distant past before the Discovery was even launched. Next, they were thrown back to the battle against Control, the evil artificial intelligence that wanted to merge with the 'Sphere Data' that became Zora. The two Starfleet officers then appear on the ship during its journey through the wormhole at the end of Season 2. Interestingly, this grim sequence evoked the Star Trek: Short Treks episode 'Calypso (Season 1, Episode 2),' which featured a marooned soldier many, many tears in the future encountering an abandoned USS Discovery occupied only by Zora. This was also the third mention of the Breen this season, and one of their heaviest bits of foreshadowing yet. There is a brief jaunt to the future, Burnham and Rayner learn that their crew died and that the Federation was decimated after a Breen attack.

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