"Star Trek: Discovery" Season 3 boldly goes where canon never dared to imagine life after disaster - Salon

The third season of "Star Trek: Discovery" gives specialist Michael Burham (Sonequa Martin-Green) a bit of both.

In leaping her and the rest of the USS Discovery crew more than 900 years into the future to the 32nd century, she represents history to everyone she encounters.

Specific rules and principles carry over from series to series and generation to generation to maintain some standard framework around which fans can engage with what they love about the franchise and what it stands for.

This makes the new season's departure from everything fans take for granted about "Star Trek" a refreshing challenge and one that has the potential to change how we view the Trek universe in general.

The cinematic modernity of "Star Trek: Discovery" has earned criticism from purists who miss the more cerebral focus of previous series and decry its emphasis on action, explosions and grim themes.

The first two seasons feel like a reaction to that more than a response, with storylines designed to earn its place in the "Star Trek" universe as opposed to expressly forging its own path. .

If anything, the series settles into the chaos of the 32nd century after the second episode, when we see what happened to Discovery and its crew and witness Burnham adapt to the survivalist spirit of this new age.

But while the Discovery crew moves down their uncertain path, the spiritual refrain of the season reminds Burnham, the crew and the viewer what the AWOL organization they represent stands for, and asks whether the dissolution of a body is enough of a reason to abandon its ideals.

The new "Trek" series – "Discovery" and "Star Trek: Picard" use their storylines to speak to a world caught up in nationalism, exclusion, xenophobia and division.

"Picard," which is set long after the events of "Star Trek" and James T.

"Discovery" pre-dates the original "Star Trek" in the franchise timeline, meaning its mistakes and lessons inform Kirk's knowledge of history.

"Star Trek: Discovery" Season 3 begins streaming Thursday, Oct.