Summary Star Trek: Discovery enters its final season with two Captains aboard the USS Discovery, which mirrors the situation in the Star Trek movies with Kirk and Spock.
Captain Saru’s role as First Officer while also being a Captain raises questions about the best utilization of a captain within Starfleet.
Saru may undergo a significant change in his Starfleet career in season 5, potentially leading to a promotion or a new job opportunity.
Star Trek: Discovery enters season 5 with two Captains aboard the USS Discovery, a dilemma similar to Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner) and Captain Spock (Leonard Nimoy) in the Star Trek: The Original Series movies. Discovery season 5, which is the final season, sees Captain Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) lead a hunt for “the greatest treasure in the known galaxy”, which is an artifact tied to an 800-year-old Romulan ship. Captain Saru (Doug Jones) will be by Burnham’s side as the USS Discovery’s First Officer.
Saru beat Burnham to the USS Discovery’s Captaincy in Star Trek: Discovery season 3. Both were Starfleet Commanders when the USS Discovery made a one-way trip to the 32nd century, but Burnham yielded the Captain’s chair to Saru, who was then formally promoted by Starfleet. Captain Saru later left the USS Discovery but returned to the starship in Star Trek: Discovery season 4 as Burnham’s First Officer despite his rank. Speaking to TrekMovie at the 51st annual Saturn Awards, Doug Jones said Saru’s Captaincy “was my personal dilemma. We have a Captain Burnham and we have a Captain First Officer. Is that the best use of the captain within Starfleet?”
Related Star Trek: Discovery Season 5 – Everything We Know Star Trek: Discovery season 5 is the final season of Paramount+’s flagship series, and here’s everything we know about Captain Burnham’s last voyages.
Discovery’s Burnham & Saru Are Similar To Kirk & Spock In The Star Trek Movies
Two Captains, one starship
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The USS Discovery having two Captains in command is similar to the situation aboard the USS Enterprise and Enterprise-A in the Star Trek: The Original Series movies. Admiral James T. Kirk took over the Enterprise in Star Trek: The Motion Picture and demoted its Captain, Will Decker (Stephen Collings), to First Officer. In Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, Captain Spock was happy to let Admiral Kirk command the Enterprise. In Star Trek V: The Final Frontier and Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country, Captain Spock gladly served under Captain Kirk (who was demoted from Admiral) because they shared a close friendship and mutual respect.
Star Trek: The Original Series Movies Kirk’s Rank Spock’s Rank Star Trek: The Motion Picture Admiral Reactivated as Science Officer Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan Admiral Captain Star Trek III: The Search for Spock Admiral Resurrected by Genesis Planet Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home Admiral (later demoted) Not yet reactivated by Starfleet Star Trek V: The Final Frontier Captain Captain Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country Captain Captain, Special Envoy
Captain Burnham and Captain Saru share a similar bond to Kirk and Spock on Star Trek: Discovery.Michael and Saru are incredibly close and would never use politics to assert rank over the other. Still, two Captains on a starship is one too many. The Star Trek: The Original Series movies glossed over the high ranks of the USS Enterprise’s bridge crew for convenience and so as not to confuse movie audiences who expect the Star Trek: TOS characters to be in their familiar roles. Meanwhile, Star Trek: Discovery being so top-heavy with double Captains is a matter season 5 will address and remedy.
Captain Saru’s Starfleet Career Will Change In Star Trek: Discovery Season 5
Will Starfleet’s first Kelpien become Admiral Saru?
Saru may not remain a Captain for much longer in Star Trek: Discovery season 5. Doug Jones indicated that Saru will undergo a “dignified change” relating to an offer from Starfleet the Kelpien receives in Discovery season 5. Saru’s Starfleet performance has been exemplary – certainly not as troubled as Michael Burnham’s – and his superior officer, Admiral Charles Vance (Oded Fehr), must recognize that Captain Saru is being wasted as the Number One on a starship that already has a Captain. What Saru’s new job officer could be isn’t clear, but it could be command of his own starship, a promotion to Commodore or Fleet Captain, or perhaps a bump up to becoming Admiral Saru.
Star Trek: Discovery Season Michael Burnham’s Rank Saru’s Rank Discovery season 1 Commander, later Specialist, reinstated Commander Commander, First Officer USS Discovery Discovery season 2 Commander Commander, Acting Captain Discovery season 3 Commander, promoted to Captain in season 3 finale Commander, promoted to Captain Discovery season 4 Captain Captain Discovery season 5 Captain Captain, season 5 promotion?
It’s beneficial that Star Trek: Discovery will take the steps to correct Michael Burnham and Saru both being Captains on the same starship. Star Trek: The Original Series’ movies glossed over Kirk and Spock’s high ranks for expediency. Since Star Trek: Discovery season 1, Burnham and Saru’s ranks have been a pressing issueand have evolved throughout the series, with Saru usually achieving higher than Michael. It seems this will be the case as well, and Saru will likely end Star Trek: Discovery ranked above Captain Burnham, whereas Kirk and Spock closed out Star Trek: The Original Series’ movies in the same rank.