#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

[eastsideofthemoon]

Celebrating Black History Month

Captain on the Bridge: CAPTAIN MICHAEL BURNHAM

Seasons 4 was our first full season of Michael as captain (finally)! So I'm reflecting on things she did that stood out to me. Also, it's Black History Month! She's our first Black female lead in a Star Trek Series and our first Black female lead captain, played brilliantly by Sonequa Martin-Green.

1. The Queen of Chaotic Ingenuity

Michael is a master of thinking on her feet. If a plan goes awry, she can course correct on the fly (bars). Honestly, we've seen her do this throughout Disco, but as captain, we especially see it in the season opener, Kobayashi Maru, with the Alshain (aka The Butterfly People). When their re-contact mission goes sideways, Michael is able to identify that there is an issue with their navigation and work with her crew to come up with a solution while being chased and shot at.

The Alshain did not report the problem, but by providing them a solution - no strings attached - Captain Burnham was able to win over their trust with the Federation.

2. Collaborator

I love how Michael respects the expertise of her crew and encourages their involvement with problem-solving. Having personally been on teams where collaboration was encouraged, it does a great deal in boosting team morale, building teamwork, and communicating through action that the individual team members' skills and ideas are valued. This is seen best in Anamoly and Stormy Weather. It's also seen with how she suggested to Book that he talk to Dr. Culbert. As a counselor, he's more equipped to manage Book's mental and emotional state after losing Kwejian.

3. Recognizing the needs of her crew

"All In" was one of my favorite episodes this season. The fun, the action, and Owosekun getting to shine. One of my favorite scenes was seeing how Michael responded to Owosekun's outburst with Saru from a previous episode. Instead of choosing to double down with additional punishment or verbal reprimand, she saw an opportunity to allow Owosekun to do more in her service to the mission at hand.

O: Why bring me?

M: Saru told me about what happened at the subspace rift. How you didn't want to stand down when he told you to.

O: I was totally out of bounds. I apologized to him.

M: I know. I also know how it feels to want to do something. Anything. And how it feels when you can't.

Michael recognized Owosekun's actions didn't come from a place of rebellion but a place of wanting to do more to help. Michael found an opportunity to allow her the space to fulfill that desire and utilize that drive.

Also, allowing a place on her ship that provides mental and emotional support for the crew via Dr. Culbert becoming the ship's councilor is the sign of a leader that cares about the whole health of her crew. Yes, I know other captains have had a ship’s counselor. The point it Captain Burnham does too and it deserves recognition.

4. Balancing her heart and duty

Captain Burnham had the challenge of being the supporting partner to the man she loved, who lost his entire home planet while maintaining her commitment to Starfleet. And she did a stellar job. Yes, she loves Book deeply and was willing to do all she could to help him. But when he went rogue, she chose to stay committed to the course of a peaceful first contact, despite it putting her at odds with the love of her life. Furthermore, when she thought Book died (Sonequa gave one of the best performances in Star Trek), she was still able to see the mission through, despite her heartbreak.

5. How she handled the Magistrate

Although empathetic to their plight, Captain Burnham still set clear boundaries with the magistrate about WHO has the authority, what WILL happen while on HER ship, and some food for thought when they arrive to wherever they find refuge. And she didn't have to raise her voice to do it. One's ability to yell at subordinates is not a true show of power and authority.

6. The Beginnings of a Diplomat?

Now we know Michael is a Kirk-type captain. And this season, she does not like politics or politicians. But during season 4, as much as she can’t stand it, we are shown that Captain MB may have the makings of a Diplomat as shown best in All Is Possible and But To Connect.

7. Leading a successful First Contact

Captain Burnham led a first contact like none other. A true first contact with serious stakes riding on its success or failure. After successfully getting through the Galatic Barrier (shout out to Detmer's immaculate piloting) and utilizing her (Michael’s) xenoanthropologic skills to investigate the 10-C's home planet, she along with some of the Federation's best had to figure out how to connect with the 10-C. A truly alien species, where universal translators failed to help with communication and who Starfleet had 0 records of. What makes Captain Burnham stand out is her willingness to step out on faith. She led her team on a mission on the 10-C's home planet to find some form of culture context to aid in their ability to communicate with them. It paid off. It laid the foundation for the first contact team and the USS Discovery crew to help understand how to communicate with the 10-C. Also, it should be noted that Michael admitted to President Rillak that she was angry, but we don't see her anger and frustration run her emotions or hinder her ability to command. I've seen people accuse her of being emotional. There's a difference between emotional intelligence and being emotional.

Also, I admire her recognizing when to take the lead and when to be a team player. As already stated, her calm demeanor and unwavering trust in the crew were excellent in helping them get across the Galatic Barrier. But she also recognized that it was President Rillak's voice that needed to be heard when informing everyone that the DMA moved to the Alpha Quadrant. It takes maturity to know when someone else need to lead and humility to let them lead. All of these actions lead to a successful first contact.

Conclusion:

In closing, Captain Michael Burnham is not the same Michael Burnham we met in season 1. In season 4, she has inner peace. She has a balance with human emotions and her Vulcan-trained logic. She knows who she is and has confidence in herself. Her duty to Starfleet and the Federation is matched with joy in what she's fighting for. Captain Michael Burnham is THE captain of the USS Discovery. No one else.

I want to end with this. There's plenty of room for more than one Black Starfleet captain. We can celebrate Sisko, Burnham, and Freeman in a way that respects them all. There's no need to pit them against each other. They all matter and are important in representing Black people in the future.

Happy Black History Month

[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

[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

[eastsideofthemoon]

Party at the Disco

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

[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