Michael Burnham will not be the last great Star Trek captain

Star Trek: Lower Decks is wrapping up its run and in doing so, many fans have taken to questioning the show and its relevancy among the greater Star Trek brand. It was never a show that catered to the long-time fans and because of that, it's been deemed divisive. It didn't help itself, constantly changing established lore for no good reason.

But among its mighty flaws were strengths. While at times a bad story, the acting was never in question. The show found numerous stars who could bring something worthwhile to the series, making it one of the most impressive lineups that Star Trek had ever amassed. Characters like Gabriel Lorca, Philippa Georgiou, and Saru became very beloved characters. While series lead Michael Burnham has been one of the more inconsistent characters in Star Trek history, when they give Burnham's' actress, Sonequa Martin-Green something worthwhile, she shines.

Burnham is a solid captain, but many are trying to overcorrect her legacy. A legacy marred solely by bad writing, but one that is never the less lacking next to her contemporaries Yet, there are some out there who believe she is the "last great Starfleet captain". That's just not true. While she may have broken barriers that's not an indication that a Starfleet captain is great.

Benjamin Sisko is a great captain because he helped lead Starfleet through a war with the Dominion. Kathryne Janeway is a great captain because she survived a seven-year trip where she brought back her crew from untold depths of a space they never truly knew. James Kirk and Jonathan Archer were great captains because they both boldly went where no one had gone before.

Jean-Luc Picard can be seen as great for surviving his assimilation by the Borg and finding joy in his life again after it. So many great captains are great for what they're shown doing. Burnham has done a few notable things, but the writers have not set her up for success.

You could argue that she's great in her own right, all leading characters in Star Trek should be seen that way, but she's done nothing new or special to separate herself from the ones that came before her, and if she didn't re-write the book to raise the bar, what makes anyone think that another great Starfleet captain isn't going to come after her and establish themselves as great?

Burnham's legacy will be defined by the years that come after the series ends, and it's unfair to say she is or isn't just great just yet, but to say that no one can come after her and also prove themselves a great Starfleet captain is just wrong. There's always going to be another great captain. That's why Star Trek perseveres.