Having now watched the final episode of Star Trek: Discovery, I was inspired to write a ‘life lessons’ post on the show. It goes without saying that I really don’t want to spoiler it for you if you are yet to start or complete the series, so forgive me if this appears somewhat vague.
1) Expect the unexpected
In this show, as in life, you don’t always get exactly what you bargained for. Being able to pick yourself up, re-evaluate the situation, and get on with things is something that the crew of the USS Discovery has trained for, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy. Anticipating life’s ups and downs is nigh on impossible, so the best you can do is prepare for a bumpy ride.
2) Diversity isn’t hard
In the same way that the original series was groundbreaking when it first aired in 1966, Discovery delivers a unusually* diverse cast of characters who all help take us on an amazing journey. Except, this time, the white male captain isn’t the centre of our story. The loving married couple on the ship are gay. Discovery thrusts its diverse cast onto your screens like it’s no big deal, and that’s because it isn’t. Everyone can relate to well written characters, and any good actor can portray them. Giving the cast and the audience a diverse crew of the USS Discovery has undoubtedly benefitted everyone.
3) Teamwork is vital
Whether it’s the scientific team finding emergency solutions to the ship’s propulsion problems, or away teams improvising together in extremely taxing situations, you always feel like it’s teamwork that saves the day in Discovery. One person’s idea might be great, but it takes another to execute it. Someone may look like they’re taking charge for the greater good, but it’s when others offer an alternative perspective that stuff really happens. From Cadet Tilly to Captain Lorca, it’s clear that this crew works best together.
4) Stick to your principles
Unusually for a Star Trek series, our main protagonist this time round is not a captain, and Science Specialist Burnham’s Vulcan upbringing has led her to evaluate every situation using logic. Her journey throughout the series illustrates how our beliefs can change with experience, but it also shows that sticking by your decisions (whatever the outcome) and learning from your mistakes is a way for us to grow.
5) Even a Star Trek universe at war offers hope
If there’s anything that the United Federation of Planets can teach us, it’s that there is a better future if we work together. Rather than showing us a world where everything is already perfect, and we can spend our days exploring new plants just for the sheer fun and knowledge of it all, Discovery shows us a broken world and looks at possible solutions for fixing it. Definitely something that’s needed in the current political climate!
*Sad that this is still unusual in 2018, but I’m trying to remain hopeful that this won’t just be a passing trend.
Images via CBS.
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