I'm convinced that Star Trek: Discovery's ending was quite underappreciated (despite a visionary approach to extend the franchise)

When Star Trek: Discovery first came out, it was quite interesting to watch this new chapter, taking viewers into space adventures that happen about ten years before the events of the original Star Trek series. Unlike famous characters like Captain Kirk and Spock, it introduced a fresh lead: Michael Burnham.

She works as a highly skilled officer in the space organization Starfleet. What makes her a standout character is that she isn't a typical Starfleet officer. Instead, Burham is a Black human woman raised on the planet Vulcan. She was raised by Vulcans who specialize in logic and emotional control.

The series isn't a new adventure every week like most of the old Star Trek shows. Rather, it involves continuous story arcs that last through several seasons. It was on May 30, 2024, when Star Trek: Discovery's finale, titled Life, Itself came out on Paramount+, and after rewatching it, all I could think was that the ending was quite underappreciated.

While it brings closure to the show’s characters and plotlines, viewers believed the real legacy of Discovery lies beyond just this last episode. The latest seasons haven't been the best, since they've been bogged down by complex, ambitious storytelling that doesn't often have emotional resonance.

Some of the new characters and storylines also didn't have a lasting impact, and plot twists might have been confusing for many, sometimes. But this doesn't mean the show didn't deserve more recognition.

Keep reading to explore how the last episode unfolded.

Star Trek: Discovery's ending was good, but the show's deeper contributions got overlooked

The final season of Star Trek: Discovery, especially its last episode, "Life, Itself" wrapped up the story in a decent way. The crew went on a big intergalactic scavenger hunt to find powerful alien technology, racing against a hostile species to save the galaxy.

In the end, they succeeded, with the finale giving satisfying conclusions to key characters, including a touching space wedding and the spotlight on Michael Burnham’s growth as a leader.

But here's the truth: while this conclusion in Star Trek: Discovery was satisfactory, it failed to convey just how ambitious and significant Discovery had been for Star Trek. Due to this, most fans and critics ceased to enjoy what Discovery had accomplished up to that time.

It broke rules by bringing big concepts and set the stage for later series such as Strange New Worlds and Picard. Its ending did not yell "TV history," but its influence quietly helped forge the whole franchise's modern revival.

Also Read: This Star Trek actor's involvement in two upcoming franchise shows looks quite promising

Why Star Trek: Discovery deserves more credit for changing Star Trek

When Discovery premiered in 2017, it was the first Star Trek series in more than a decade, premiering on CBS All Access (now Paramount+). The series took risks from the start, depicting stories from the perspective of a new character, Michael Burnham, a Black woman who grew up on Vulcan.

Unlike traditional stories, she wasn't a captain initially, and her history seemed strange to many fans and brought a mixed response. But that was actually the strength of the show as well: it introduced diversity and new storytelling.

As previously explained, Star Trek: Discovery didn't follow frequent new storylines in weekly episodes, but remained consistent. The show offered long arcs, movie-like visuals and even dramatic twists.

It dared to explore deeper conflicts, even breaking Star Trek’s old rule that humans in the future had evolved beyond personal drama. It made it easier for future shows to take risks. In short, Discovery planted the seeds — but rarely got credit for the forest that grew afterward.

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Also Read: Why did Star Trek: The Next Generation end after Season 7? Details explored

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