#STAR TREK DISCOVERY [Season 4]

[ellapastoral]

In the many shows and movies, it was common for LGBTQ characters to be killed off as a plot device, a trope known as "Bury Your Gays." However, Star Trek: Discovery has subverted this trope by featuring several prominent LGBTQ characters who not only survive, but are also integral to the show's main storylines. This video will discuss this.

[fortheloveoflatinum]

I was slightly devastated when I saw this poll. I know it's one of those things where you might very well say to me that I didn't vote and therefore don't get a say but I am very compelled, now, to write up my own small manifesto, if you will, in defense of Ruon Tarka.

Was he the season's villain? Did he go to improbable lengths that would have had causalities in the billions for a still recently-revived Federation of Planets and for the Ten-C, if he hadn't been stopped?

Well, yes. And yes again, slightly more damningly this time.

But everything he did, he did for love.

Everything he did, he did because he was hanging on to his last shred of hope - that final bit of light in a galaxy ravaged by the Burn, operating under the yoke of the Emerald Chain.

I think everyone on this side of the Burn is a little jaded. Everyone's lost hope, lost loved ones. Ruon is not alone in a galaxy full of suffering people, or at least - he's not singular in his loneliness or his hopelessness.

Then, Discovery arrives. Everything changes. Hope starts spreading like wildfire, and Ruon didn't realize how truly alone he was until everyone else began jumping on that bandwagon of better times after finding the source of the Burn. Suddenly, the galaxy is lit up again - connected once more, and Ruon feels left out, maybe even worse - unneeded.

Discovery shows us Ruon at the end of his rope. Both ends. We are shown a Ruon who is very alone, quite desperate, and incredibly done with everyone. We are also shown, through flashbacks, a younger Ruon, who is very similar to the one we see now - but that changes, because of Oros. Oros teaches him to trust again. He teaches him to love someone other than himself.

I'll say it again: Everything Ruon Tarka does, he does for love. Everything he does, he does for that last torn and tattered flag of hope that he's kept up for all these years.

And isn't that why Star Trek exists? To show us hope? To bring us love? In all its myriad forms? Sometimes, one needs to take that hope, that love, to its illogical extreme. Sometimes, in a villain, you can still see the seed of their goodness; their raison d'être is still very much the same as everyone else's in their universe. They still operate off the principles of loving-kindness and hope for the future.

In the even the finest Star Trek characters, sometimes love forces them to do horrible things, make the wrong choices. Sometimes hope proves too enticing; they make a mistake.

Ruon Tarka made a series of mistakes, each one worse than the last. You know he's already gone too far the moment he capitalizes on Books' grief about having just lost his entire homeworld. You know he's gone too far, quite possibly before that moment. Likely, he was making reckless choices even before Discovery showed up, even before this new Federation existed.

But once more: he did it for love. Does that negate what he did? Absolutely not. Does it make him any less of a villain? No, not at all. But he is, in my view at least, a very interesting and lovable villain.

This has been a defense of Ruon Tarka; he's no less guilty, but maybe if you didn't like him before, I've helped you gain a new perspective.

And if you already loved him, well, here are the fics I wrote about him and Oros. Enjoy!

Round One

[ovenproofowl]

Hiding behind a wall may calm your fears, but it won’t keep you safe. The void will eventually reach you. We all live in the same space. This is all there is. On my home, we had an organism: The World Root. It connected all life on Kwejian. Wherever we lived, whatever village or continent, it reminded us we were all on the same planet. Our fates are always interconnected. Maybe that’s the lesson, if there is one - that is true of all of us. We’ve lost so many, you and me, but we can’t do harm in their names or memories. We have to honour them. All of them… because they were beloved. Beautiful.

STAR TREK DISCOVERY: 'Coming Home'

[lostyesterday]

I think Michael and Book are my favorite canon Star Trek romantic relationship. I mean, a lot of the canon Trek romances are poorly written so it’s not as if there’s much competition, but I really think their relationship is so, so compelling and interesting. For one thing, the actors have great chemistry, and both characters are fascinating on their own. And I love the progression of their relationship from initial antagonism and lack of trust mixed with an undeniable spark of connection to a gradual realization of deep, caring friendship. I love that they are shown to be friends before they become lovers – that it is so clear that these are two people who deeply understand each other and genuinely enjoy each other’s company. Too many Trek romances try to convince me that two characters who don’t even seem to enjoy spending time together are a well-matched couple, but Michael and Book in late season 3 feel like partners who are best friends too.

And then in season 4 when everything is broken for Book irrevocably, their relationship becomes no less compelling. To see your partner go through such a horrible, traumatic experience and be able to both deeply relate to it and yet unable to imagine the pain of it at all – to try desperately to help when you know in your heart that there is nothing you can do that will heal this wound no matter how much you desperately want to – these are such compelling character moments for Michael, a character whose desire to save others has defined her life.

And then Book and Michael find themselves on opposite sides of a moral dilemma with such far reaching consequences that they have no choice but to oppose each other. And they comprehend each other so completely that neither doubts the positive intentions of the other – that each can deeply understand the other’s point of view, and yet neither can change the other’s mind. The conflict is deep and fundamental, and yet it has little to do with their personal relationship and how much they love each other. Because they still love each other so much despite everything. And they still love each other in the aftermath too.

[confessions-of-an-old-cassette]

me waking up every morning to complete my civic duty (defend Micheal Burnham from racists on the internet)

[lizzie-jones]

gosh.. this little glances, the longing, the wishing.. they want the other one to be good and happy

[raisinchallah]

there was truly something special in the really good episodes of season 3 tbh i think they have this fascinating blend of elements and weird haunted energy like things are literally falling apart or you cannot actually see the stage that are kind of unmatched anywhere else in the show... tholian web spectre of the gun the empath is there in truth no beauty enterprise incident all have this weird undercurrent there is something just slightly off a bit haunted.... truly delightful...

[uss-exile-ncc-440548]

Ya know, something interesting about DISCO. I think I saw so much hate for it where it brought my expectations down so low, that I ended up enjoying it

"Wait, this isn't that bad! They even explained why Spock never mentioned Michael!"

I enjoyed Michael's character, too. I enjoyed the Klingons' designs and honestly wished they kept it as a variant alongside the TNG design

I genuinely feel like DISCO will be the new ENT with how it was treated. Unfair hate then "this should've gotten the full 7 seasons!" - The Major

[ussjellyfish]

Star Trek asks: 🖖, 🌀 and 👩🏼‍❤️‍💋‍👩🏾

🖖 First Star Trek Media you encountered:

We watched TNG on television when I was a kid (as it was airing the first time!). One of my earliest memories (I was 4) is of Will Riker getting sucked into the big black Armus pool and how freaky that was. I remember the face coming up from the bottom.

And they saved him! he was okay. (Tasha's death did not compute in my very small mind). Will being okay in the end was part of "Star Trek means we're all okay" which is my earliest opinion.

Often this still carries over.

🌀 If the Holodeck was real, what's the first thing you would use it for?

adventure fantasy RPGs. I'd love to be able to play something like Dragon Age. It would be incredible.

I would also use it to test out fic lines and positions and make sure they make sense. I have no sense of inner eye, so that would be helpful. Where do her hands go...

👩🏼‍❤️‍💋‍👩🏾 Do you ship any characters? Who?

Oh Georgiou.

I don't have any strong preferences about ships in some series. My levels of shipping are:

Ships I find cute on screen. (USS Enterprise-G)

Ships I would read fic. I would probably write fic for an exchange or a challenge. (USS Enterprise-D)

Ships I would write fic for, because I want the fic to bring myself joy and those are much more intense. (USS Voyager) I will land my starship on this planet.

Ships that are platonic for me and I adore them. (USS Protostar)

Ships where I want to read everything that has ever been written about them. I have saved all the artwork. I want to commission more artwork. (USS DIscovery) I will travel through the mycelial network for this ship. This ship is my home.

(under a cut for length)

TOS - no ships. Never really had any. TOS is not foundational for me though, I don't think I've seen the whole thing and probably never will. It's so much men talking.

AOS - I have a soft spot for Spock/Uhura. I really liked Uhura.

TNG - I shipped Deanna/Will so much as a child. They're in my very first fanfic. I liked Beverly/Jean-Luc (historical) later, but not until I was an adult. Deanna/Will I shipped as a very tiny human. I have witten fic for both of these. I also ship Beverly/Deanna, and Beverly/Deanna/Will in a very lighthearted way.

DS9 - Jadzia Dax/Lenara Kahn is gorgeous and tragic and I adore them. Kira/Dax in a very lighthearted way. They're fun. I shipped Jadzia Dax/Worf when the show first came out and probably would if I did a rewatch, but it's a very mild ship (I wouldn't read fic). I am very invested in Jadzia Dax.

VOY - Kathryn Janeway/B'Elanna Torres is fun. I've read some fic. I love how intellectual they would be together. I wrote and read much Janeway/Chakotay (historical) about ten years ago, but I'm not as into him now. (Robert Beltran makes it hard for me). Still love Janeway. I also like Seven/B'Elanna.

ENT - I enjoyed Trip/T'Pol when the show was on. I don't think I've seen all of it. I love T'Pol.

SNW - I have a passing interest in Una/La'An and Una/Pike. I've read some fic but haven't written any. I want nice things for Batel/Pike in canon. (he needs to be a better partner to her though). I ship Amanda/Sarek here simply based on how convince I am that Amanda loves him.

PIC - Seven/Raffi are wonderful and I adore them. I love their connection and their dear faces. Agnes/Borg Queen are fun and dark. Laris/Zhaban are fun. I wanted to ship Beverly/Jean-Luc again but they didn't give me much. Shipper brain was not engaged. Deanna/Will were so angsty. Will & Beverly might be my strongest legacy ship in this show. I wish Beverly & Deanna got to talk.

PRODIGY - dammit here I almost ship Janeway/Chakotay again. I ship Janeway/happiness here so much and if finding him will make her happy, okay fine. Gwyndala/Dal are cute and I want them to have nice things. Haven't wanted to read any fic though.

Crossover Trek - Beverly Crusher/Kathryn Janeway has held a special place in my shipper heart for 13 years. I love them so much. I love that they're still going and they show up in exchanges. They would be such a good couple.

Philippa Georgiou/Afsaneh Paris was such a fun thing.

Most trek crossover femslash is fun and I would try it in an exchange.

DSC - Philippa Georgiou (captain)/Katrina Cornwell. They'd be cute. They must have met. Katrina Cornwell/Gabriel Lorca (prime), Katrina sold me on that one. Katrina Cornwell/Philippa Georgiou (emperor), they have a handful of scenes and they would totally work.

Michael Burnham/Cleveland Booker are very cute on screen and I hope they get a nice ending. (I think they will). Hugh Culber/Paul Stamets are adorable and charming. Adira Tal/Gray Tal are so sweet. Saru/T'Rina are the regency couple of Star Trek and they're very cute. They're so happy in season 5, I love it. I think Joann Owosekun/Keyla Detmer are really fun, I hope they get a nod this season. I love how much the actors do with a look. Michael & Tilly are one of my favorite friendships ever and I adore them. Michael Burnham & Philippa Georgiou (emperor) variety is so complex and intense and I love how they evolve and grow together.

Michael Burnham/Laira Rillak are my top tier, own my soul, ship. I will read every fic that is ever published of them and reblog the gifs on repeat forever and memorize every nuance of every conversation they've ever had. They are the shiniest thing in my fannish heart at the moment, and I have watched their scenes together so many times.

For years I was this obsessed with Beverly/Kathryn, but they didn't have scenes together so I couldn't rewatch them.

Micahel/Laira have scenes together! They talk to each other! I have a whole arc that I can watch on repeat!! I have different episodes to watch for different feelings I need for fic!!

They're so niche and I wish I had more people to talk about them with because I love them so much and...it is a very lonely ship. People do write fic and read it and it's tiny and lovely. I am so grateful for all the interactions I ever have about this ship.

I often feel very out of step in my fannish Star Trek spaces because they are not a ship shared by many. I feel seen when someone acknowledges how much I love them.

[zinda-his-eyes-red]

Finally finishing Discovery season 4. You sissy that walk Michael Burnham.

[abs0luteb4stard]

W A T C H I N G

[eastsideofthemoon]

Party at the Disco

Ain't no party like Disco party cause a Disco party don't staaahp!! 🙌🏿

[weepylucifer]

Oh yeah btw i am mad that they’re cancelling Discovery just as it was really getting good. Was it perfect? No. But at least it was trying to do something new during the last 2 seasons and actually moving the Star Trek universe forward in time instead of endlessly dwelling in the nostalgia zone. I like Lower Decks and SNW but you have to admit that all ongoing Trek shows now are endless nostalgia bait and “omg are they going to have a cameo by a legacy character”. It’s just yet another huge symptom of an entertainment industry no longer having the courage to try something even the littlest bit new and weird

[startrekfemme]

Discovery Season 4 is NOT pulling punches, I'm two episodes in and have cried twice

[samnotsammy12]

DID T’RINA JUST ASK SARU OUT

Also once again LMAO THE LOOK ON MICHAEL’S FACE

[lizzie-jones]

They have my heart and even more. 🥺

pic source goes to @janewaystolemyheart

I love your blog!