At present CBS has placed an embargo on all reviews for Star Trek: Discovery. It’s so strict that, except for a few celebrities who were able to attend a special preview, no one has even been given a screener to do an early viewing of the series. However, given that CBS is placing a lot of hope and expectation in this series being able to draw people towards its subscription based streaming service. the network has continued to give little tidbits here and there, most in the form of publicity shots and special constructed trailers. Well now they have given us a primer of sorts to know who everyone is supposed to be in this show.
We already know a quite a few things about the show, most of which was announced during San Diego Comic-Con. Still, as a recap this is what we have:
It is reported that Discovery is taking place in the same timeline as that of the original series and subsequent TV shows and movies (except for the J.J. Abrams films), and it is reportedly to take place some 10 years prior to the original series with Captain James T. Kirk and the Enterprise. As for the new faces?
First Officer Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green)
After leaving The Walking Dead, Martin-Green takes on Discovery’s lead role as the second-in-command of the USS Shenzhou, where she has served under Captain Philippa Georgiou (Michelle Yeoh) for seven years. Michael is an interesting character for the series to tackle because of her connection to the Star Trek canon. After her parents were killed in an attack by Klingons, Michael was taken in as a child by Vulcan Ambassador Sarek (James Frain), whom Trekkies know as Spock’s (Leonard Nimoy) father. Her connection to Sarek — and Vulcans in general — greatly informed the person she became as she remains in contact with her surrogate father. What’s less clear is how Spock fits into the picture. A sister is never mentioned in the franchise’s canon.
Capt. Philippa Georgiou (Michelle Yeoh)
Georgiou is a veteran starship captain, who has seen the best and worst during her travels throughout the galaxy. The character also cares deeply for Michael, her first officer aboard the USS Shenzhou. At San Diego Comic-Con, Martin-Green described their dynamic as “similar to a mother and daughter.”
Sarek (James Frain)
Stepping into the role originated by Mark Lenard in the original series, Frain plays a younger version of Sarek than Trekkies have seen before. As the adopted father and mentor of Michael, he helps guide her on her journey as a Starfleet officer — though he does so from a distance. Rather than being on the USS Shenzhou, Sarek uses hologram communication to remain in contact with his daughter. What’s unknown, however, is how Spock’s human wife Amanda will fit in. Former showrunner Bryan Fuller — whose outline was used for season one of Discovery after his departure — said the character could play a role in the series at some point.
Science Officer Paul Stamets (Anthony Rapp)
Stamets will be the first openly gay character introduced in the Star Trek TV universe. The science officer is in a relationship with a fellow Starfleet officer Hugh Culber (Wilson Cruz, who also spent time in Rent.) Rapp has said that Stamets and Culber’s relationship will be explored, including their home life.
T’Kuvma (Chris Obi)
With relations between Starfleet and the Klingons in a precarious place, T’Kuvma is a name viewers will want to remember. In a bid to strengthen his species, the leader of his Klingon house wants to unite his entire race under one banner. While it remains to be seen how far T’Kuvma will go for his cause, a promo for the series makes it sound like he’s ready to die in a battle against Starfleet. “They are coming,” he says. “Atom by atom they will silence us. Cell by cell, our souls shall become theirs. We must fight for one thing above all: To remain Klingon.”
Science Officer Saru (Doug Jones)
Saru is notable as a new alien species created for Discovery. He’s the first of his kind, the Kelpien, to enter Starfleet. After being hunted as prey on their home world, Saru’s kind developed an ability to sense death.
Capt. Gabriel Lorca (Jason Isaacs)
Lorca is another captain, in addition to Georgiou, who will be featured on Discovery. He captains the USS Discovery, with the actor noting that Lorca is “probably more fucked up” than any other captain seen in the Star Trek universe. As seen in the trailer, Lorca claims it was Michael who helped start the conflict between Starfleet and the Klingons.
Kol (Kenneth Mitchell)
Not only is Kol the protege of T’Kuvma, but he’s also a commanding officer of the Klingon ship. Speaking at the Star Trek convention in Las Vegas, Mitchell described Kol as complicated. “He leans more toward some of the Klingons we are familiar with. He is very powerful. He does have a line I can paraphrase which does explain some of these things. He says, ‘All I see is another attempt by humanity to rob us of our identity.'” Kol is a member of the house of Kor, a character played by John Colicos in the original series.
L’Rell (Mary Chieffo)
L’Rell serves under Kol as a battle deck commander of the Klingon ship in Discovery. Unlike Kol, his character isn’t from a single house. Rather, Chieffo says she’s a member of house the houses of T’Kuvma and Mo’Kai. “You get a great kind of interesting exploration of what it is to be of two different ideologies,” the actress said during an appearance at the Las Vegas Star Trek convention.
Harry Mudd (Rainn Wilson)
Mudd is another character pulled from the original series. The conman was originally played by Roger C. Carmel, with Wilson putting a new spin on the character. His version will be more dastardly than Carmel’s, which makes sense given the dark time in which Discovery takes place.
Discovery will be rounded out by a number of other characters aboard the USS Shenzhou and throughout the world the revival builds, including Adm. Anderson (Terry Serpico), Lt. Ash Tyler (Shazad Latif), cadet Sylvia Tilly (Mary Wiseman) and chief medical officer Nambue (Maulik Pancholy).
Star Trek: Discovery premieres Sept. 24 at 8 p.m. on CBS. At the conclusion of the premiere, the first two episodes will be made available on subscription video on demand platform CBS All Access.
[THR]
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Is this helping to foster excitement and anticipation for Discovery, or does this merely feel like carefully marketed PR for fans who are not yet “on board?”
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At present CBS has placed an embargo on all reviews for Star Trek: Discovery. It’s so strict that, except for a few celebrities who were able to attend a special preview, no one has even been given a screener to do an early viewing of the series. However, given that CBS is placing a lot of hope and expectation in this series being able to draw people towards its subscription based streaming service. the network has continued to give little tidbits here and there, most in the form of publicity shots and special constructed trailers. Well now they have given us a primer of sorts to know who everyone is supposed to be in this show.
