SPOILER ALERT: This story discusses major plot developments in Season 5, Episode 1 of 'Star Trek: Discovery,' now streaming on Paramount+. For most of the season premiere of 'Star Trek: Discovery,' the crew of the titular Federation starship are kept in the dark about their mission's main objective. All Capt. Michael Burnham and her fellow officers know is that they must obtain a mysterious object from a 24th century Romulan's derelict ship that has been scavenged by two mercenaries. The equally mysterious Federation operative driving the mission won't even reveal the object's significance. By the end of the episode, the mission pushes Burnham and her crew to their limits, including a risky maneuver to save a city from a landslide.
Kovich's explanation about the object evokes a classic 'Star Trek: The Next Generation' episode from 1993 where it was revealed that all humanoid life in the galaxy was created by a single species known as the Progenitors. The Romulan scientist was part of a team sent to discover how the Progenitors seeded life across thousands of planets. The object they seek becomes part of a new mission in the 32nd century to find the Progenitors' technology before it falls into the wrong hands.
The season-long storyline provides a connection to 'The Next Generation' and fulfills a creative itch for the show's executive producer and showrunner. Originally considered for Season 4, the Progenitors' storyline was saved for Season 5 to explore themes of personal meaning and the origins of life. The quest for the origins of life itself aligns with the characters' journeys throughout the season.
The show's writers had fun exploring the aftermath of the events in 'The Chase' and building the story from there. The season promises to delve deeper into the mysteries surrounding the Progenitors and their technology, offering fans a new and intriguing storyline to follow.
