Star Trek Discovery was a wild addition to the Star Trek universe, but how do the seasons of the series rank?
When it premiered in 2017 for what was then CBS All Access, Star Trek: Discovery was a huge deal. A prequel set before The Original Series with new characters, it had some bold ideas, yet some complained about its tone and that it was trying to be too cutting edge. As time went on, the show slowly made itself into a fun series that would replicate the Star Trek feel.
Some feel it should have gone longer than five seasons, even if it did wrap up its plotlines nicely. Naturally, there's debate on how the seasons may rank with some fans having different personal preferences. So, while there's likely going to be some conversation, here's our ranking of every Star Trek: Discovery season and what made this grow into a great series!
5. Season 1
Season 1 of Star Trek shows tends to be hit-and-miss, and sadly, Discovery was no different. The kickoff was major, with Michelle Yeoh as the swiftly gone captain, and it was at first hard to root for Burnham after her mutiny. The Klingon redesign didn't go over well and pushed open war between the Federation and the Klingons, which went against established Trek history.
Rainn Wilson's appearances as con man Harry Mudd turned the loveable rogue into too much of a villain. There was also Jason Isaacs' Captain Lorca being too blunt and often violent. The other characters weren't as well developed yet, and the show was going too much for flash.
It took a better turn in the second half with a trip to the famed Mirror Universe and the big twist of Lorca. It also gives us the joy of Yeoh as Emperor Georgiou, cutting loose in a wild way. The second half of the season is better, so you have to accept the writers' learning curve before crafting this opening year.
4. Season 4
The central premise of this season could have been the fodder for great TV. As the Federation rebuilds, it reaches out to a new alien species. This species 10-C is mining for energy that unleashes a wave of destruction that claims Cleveland Booker's home world. This means a big threat to defuse, muddled by how Species 10-C may not know the damage they're causing.
This could have led to some great adventures, especially as Booker turns on the crew to join an extremist group that wants to eliminate the species. Yet, somehow, the season just doesn't click as it should. There are good character beats, some growth, and Burnham comes more into command yet it feels lacking from what it could have been.
It's likely the season was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, which caused some delays and prevented the actors from coming together as they should have. In which case, we can cut it a break even with a somewhat anti-climactic solution to the entire crisis. It's not a bad year, it simply isn't as epic fun as it could have been.
3. Season 5
The final season of the show does provide yet another long-range mystery arc hunting a box that could alter the universe. It was a clever way to connect to an old TNG episode about why there are so many humanoid species in the universe. It also gave us two compelling anti-villains in Moll and L'ak. The episodes delving into their relationship made them two of the best additions to the show.
We get some great standalone episodes like the time-traveling "Face the Strange," which provides a nicely done time-travel storyline, letting us see past faces and how the characters evolved. The insight into the Breen gave them more focus, and it was heartwarming to see happy endings for Saru, Tilly, and other characters.
Still, at only ten episodes, the finale was a bit sudden. A couple more episodes might have helped as the end seemed rushed. We did get a lovely epilogue showing the future Burnham to close it out, so it had a good finale while still leaving viewers wishing for more.
2. Season 2
The second season allowed the writers to get over the "birthing pains" of the first year and be more confident in their storytelling. That clearly showed in the arrival of Anson Mount as Christopher Pike and Ethan Peck as a younger Spock, which would set up Strange New Worlds. Both injected the show with fantastic new energy and a throwback to classic Trek in the stories.
Indeed, this "course corrected" some Season 1 missteps, like more classic Klingons and Pike getting rid of holographic tech. The overall mystery of the Red Angel was well done, and we got Georgiou's return and the introduction of Section 31. Each episode amped up the tension and paid off on subplots while turns like killing off a major character.
The epic two-part finale was a terrific ride that brought the plots to a close and explained why Discovery had been ignored in Trek history. Even better was the ending, which set up the move that would lead to the show's biggest success yet.
1. Season 3
Few shows have gone from "good" to "great" in one season, like Discovery in Season 3. The reason was that the show did what many fans felt should have been the direction from the start as the crew is sent 900 years into the future. They discover a broken Federation after a disaster ended warp drive and a different galaxy and try to find a way to solve it.
Instead of being hamstrung by the limitations of a prequel series, Discovery was now allowed the freedom of a far future showing a different galaxy. The results were some of the best Trek adventures in years, combined with a top-notch guest star cast from Oded Fehr to the late David Lynch. There was also the introduction of Booker, who became a fun match for Burnham.
The two-part "Terra Firma" is a showcase for Michelle Yeoh, a return to the Mirror Universe, and a truly shocking revelation of the mysterious being helping her. The show was invigorated being able to explore this far future, the actors more engaged, the special effects stellar, and overall, this season does exactly what Star Trek should do: Explore bold new worlds where no one has gone before and why it was the best Discovery season.
Star Trek: Discovery streaming on Paramount+.