Star Trek: Discovery's Burnham Arc Is Season 5's Best TNG Homage

WARNING: Contains SPOILERS for Star Trek: Discovery season 5, episode 8, "Labyrinths"

Summary Captain Burnham's journey in Star Trek: Discovery season 5 mirrors the emotional exploration of Captain Picard from The Next Generation.

"Labyrinths" delves into Burnham's introspective journey, echoing themes from iconic TNG episodes like "The Inner Light."

Star Trek's strength lies in exploring characters' emotions, highlighting the humanity and capacity for feeling in its beloved characters.

Star Trek: Discovery has always been about Captain Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green), and the show's fifth and final season gives her a story arc reminiscent of Star Trek: The Next Generation. Discovery season 5 finds Captain Burnham and the USS Discovery on a race across the galaxy to track down the Progenitors' ancient and powerful technology. The Progenitors, who created all humanoid life in the galaxy, were first introduced in TNG season 6, episode 20, "The Chase." Not only has Discovery season 5 served as a direct follow-up to this episode, but it has also contained more references to past Trek than any other season.

Star Trek: Discovery season 5, episode 8, "Labyrinths" finds Captain Burnham closing in on the final clue, which leads the USS Discovery to a massive interstellar library called the Eternal Gallery and Archive. One of the original scientists who found the Progenitors' treasure, Betazoid Dr. Marina Derex, hid this final clue in the original manuscript of her book, Labyrinths of the Mind. As part of the test to acquire the clue, Burnham enters her mindscape where, guided by an avatar of Cleveland Booker (David Ajala), she must confront hard truths about herself. Burnham's emotional journey echoes the story of Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) in Star Trek: The Next Generation.

Related Star Trek: Discovery’s TNG Era Scientists & Progenitors Clues Meanings Explained Star Trek: Discovery revealed the five scientists who hid clues to the Progenitors' treasure, and they all have links to Star Trek's legacy.

Star Trek: Discovery Writer Explains How Season 5 & Burnham Honor TNG

"If you’re going to be the one to protect what the Progenitors left behind, you’ll need to know yourself."

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In an interview with TrekMovie, Eric J. Robbins, who co-wrote Star Trek: Discovery season 5, episode 8, "Labyrinths", with Lauren Wilkinson, spoke about how he incorporated elements from Star Trek: The Next Generation into Discovery. Read Robbins' quote below:

Eric J. Robbins: I feel like it is part of every episode that I worked on Discovery. It was always important for me to find reference episodes. There was a common joke during season four when we were working remotely and after we get back on Zoom after lunch I would be like, 'I just watched this episode of Voyager!' So, yes, 'Inner Light,' which I hesitate to say because, to me, it is arguably the best written episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation. That and 'Family' in terms of emotional exploration of Jean-Luc Picard. 'Tapestry' was also on my mind, having an opportunity to reflect on your life and the choices you’ve made.

Throughout Star Trek: Discovery season 5, the show has built upon stories that began in Star Trek: The Next Generation as well as Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. In "Labyrinths," Burnham is hit with a nucleonic beam that sends her into the mindscape, which is the same technology used to affect Picard in TNG season 5, episode 25, "The Inner Light." Aside from this direct shout-out to one of Picard's greatest episodes, "Labyrinths" also explores Burnham's emotional journey, just like "Family" and "Tapestry" did with Picard. Like Burnham, Picard was somewhat reckless in his younger years, but that boldness shaped both officers into the Captains they became.

Exploring Characters' Emotions Has Always Been Star Trek's Secret Weapon

The most important journey is the human journey

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Since Star Trek: The Original Series, the franchise has never shied away from diving into the emotions of its characters. Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner) regularly displayed strong emotions, sometimes bordering on the histrionic, and even the ever-logical Mr. Spock (Leonard Nimoy) had moments of deep feeling. Captain Jean-Luc Picard, Captain Benjamin Sisko (Avery Brooks), and Captain Kathryn Janeway (Kate Mulgrew) may have been less outwardly emotional, but Star Trek still allowed these characters time for reflection. Star Trek often tells big science fiction stories, but the franchise would not be as popular as it is if it didn't also explore the emotions of its characters.

Star Trek has brought to life some of the greatest characters in science fiction, who are beloved because of their humanity and capacity for feeling.

Some of the characters of Star Trek: Discovery may be more comfortable expressing their emotions around one another, but Star Trek has always celebrated empathy and compassion. Star Trek has brought to life some of the greatest characters in science fiction, who are beloved because of their humanity and capacity for feeling. Even the android Lt. Commander Data (Brent Spiner) clearly experiences some form of emotion, for all that he protests otherwise. Star Trek emphasizes that it takes logic and emotion to be a true leader, and Star Trek: Discovery's Michael Burnham exemplifies that better than most.