At Home with Tech

“Star Trek: Discovery” is ending. But you wouldn’t know by watching the fifth and final season. Is this cancelled Trek reboot doomed to the same fate as the original series? Not necessarily.

Every story has an ending. TV series should as well. Unfortunately, lots of shows get cancelled unexpectedly before the storyline can be neatly wrapped up. And that can be even more jarring for series that end their seasons with a cliffhanger.

Star Trek is no different. This enduring set of related sci-fi series has had to address their own endings since 1969. Now, “Star Trek: Discovery” is faced with its own final episode.

Yes, this fifth season is the last. And apparently, no one knew that while they were writing and shooting these ten episodes. And it shows. It feels just like another normal day in the 32nd century, with none of the broader loose ends being tied up. Now, we’ve got just one more episode to go.

Apparently after the unexpected ‘cancellation,’ the crew went back into production to shoot additional scenes for the final episode. I guess that’s something.

It’s strange. Most of the other Star Trek series have also had problems dealing with their conclusions (spoilers ahead).

Kirk Out (1966-1969)
The original “Star Trek” series ended unceremoniously after it was simply canceled by NBC. We were left to assume that the crew’s five-year mission would continue on as before. (And it certainly did… in reruns.)

• Trekkie rating: Deep sadness

Make It So (1987-1994)
“Star Trek: The Next Generation” ended gracefully with the elegant poker game scene, although we already knew the series was simply transporting to the movie format. So, it wasn’t the end at all.

We got something of a replay with the final episode of “Star Trek: Picard” (2020-2023). Yet it still had me reaching for my handkerchief. The whole third season was a cozy homage to the entire “Next Generation” era.

• Trekkie rating: Highly satisfying

Quark’s Bar is Always Open (1993-1999)
At the End of “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine” Sisko fell down the rabbit hole and got banished to the celestial temple. (That was supposed to be a good thing?) I didn’t totally understand it, and I was angry that our hero was handed this weird fate.

Yes, there was sufficient time given to goodbyes and plenty of hugs to wrap the series up, but Sisko’s quasi-death ruined what was otherwise a nice send-off.

Trekkie rating: Irritated

Two Janeways (1995-2001)
The entire premise to “Star Trek: Voyager” was to make it back to Earth. At the top of the final episode, we learn that’s already happened. And though Janeway’s crew had succeeded in their difficult voyage home, the episode created its dramatic tension using a “Back to the Future” plot device. Though, Voyager had to get back to the Alpha Quadrant (again), that final scene of ‘the return’ was way too quick. It didn’t really offer enough emotional resolution.

I was left wanting more. At least one last scene…

• Trekkie rating: Disappointed

Archer was Never Happy (2001-2005)
“Star Trek: Enterprise” always appeared on the cusp on cancellation. And, in fact, the fourth and final season was apparently something of a miracle.

The last episode was a strange morphing with “The Next Generation’s” universe as the ending spotlight unfairly was shared with Riker and Troy (however nice it was to see them again). Captain Archer’s crew wasn’t allowed any type of emotional victory lap and instead dealt with a last-moment tragedy.

• Trekkie rating: Meh

Let’s Fly (2017-2024)
Which brings us back to “Star Trek: Discovery,” the series that effectively rebooted the Star Trek series format over a decade after “Enterprise” ended.

It’s been something of an uneven ride. “Discovery” began as a dark and redefining reboot with salty language. Nobody liked that. So, they brought in Captain Pike in season 2 to provide a course correction and then literally booted the U.S.S. Discovery forward 800 years to avoid the Star Trek canon limitations confining this prequel.

In its future state, Captain Burnham and her crew discovered their own blend of Trek harmony over the next three seasons.

And now, it’s over. In some ways, there actually aren’t that many plot pieces to wrap up. As long as our crew finds the Progenitors’ tech, it’s all good, right?

Sure, we need to see what happens to Michael and Book. I expect Saru and T’Rina will also figure out their relationship. (Rayner finally sat in the chair. So, we can check that detail off the list.)

In the final ‘extended’ episode, unfinished business will be handled via the ‘epilogue’ they shot after season 5’s filming had already been completed. (Those must have been a few hard days of new shoots.)

I expect it will be an extended set of goodbyes, again reinforcing how much this crew loves each other. (I don’t think the writers will decide to destroy the spore-drive-driven Discovery at the finish line. It’s already safely tucked away in the distant future.)

Hit It (2022-?)
I know I’m getting ahead of myself when it comes to “Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.” That series has already been renewed for a fourth season. (Season 3 comes out in 2025.) But its eventual ending should be really interesting, because everyone already knows Captain Pike’s fate.

Some sort of twist would be nice. Note to the writers: Please don’t play it straight down the middle. You’ve got plenty of time to figure this critical plot detail out.

I do believe there are always possibilities.

Discovery’s Big Epilogue
I think if there’s one connecting strand to all of this, it’s that Star Trek doesn’t really like endings. Even death can be a temporary condition. (“I will always be your friend.”)

But you’ve got to wrap it up sometimes. And how you do it matters.

Jonathan Frakes came in to direct “Star Trek: Discovery’s” second to last episode (“Lagrange Point”) and gave it real punch.

Good luck, Discovery. I’m rooting for you.

Let’s do this…