Jonathan Frakes Was “Really Surprised” Star Trek: Discovery Season 5 Is Based On His TNG Episode

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Summary Jonathan Frakes was "surprised" by Star Trek: Discovery basing season 5's story on a TNG episode he directed.

Director Frakes considers Discovery his "home" show, but didn't expect this story connection.

Frakes shared the differences in directing for different Star Trek eras.

Jonathan Frakes described his "surprised" reaction to Star Trek: Discovery basing season 5's story on an episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation he directed. Frakes has directed 8 episodes of Star Trek: Discovery, including season 5 (and the series') penultimate episode, "Lagrange Point". Since he joined as a director for season 2, Jonathan has always considered Star Trek: Discovery his "home" Star Trek on Paramount+ show, but Frakes didn't expect Discovery season 5 would draw its story from one of his TNG episodes.

In an exclusive interview with Screen Rant, Jonathan Frakes shared why he was "really surprised" that Star Trek: Discovery season 5 is a sequel to his Star Trek: The Next Generation season 6 episode, "The Chase". Frakes also described how directing the current Star Trek series is different from directing Star Trek during Rick Berman's era in the 1990s. Check out his quote below:

I was really surprised because I don't remember "The Chase" being that significant in the oeuvre of Next Gen. And then when Michelle explained how that was going to be the kickoff and the premise of the show... You know, I got "The Chase" only by the luck of the draw. That's how the cards played. On Next Gen, you got your episodes dealt to you by some random polling of straws, But on Discovery, and also, even more significantly on Strange New Worlds, they assign you an episode that they believe you would be suited to direct. So it was just happenstance that "The Chase" happened to be one that I had directed.

Related Star Trek: Discovery Season 5 Returning Cast & New Character Guide As Burnham seeks the universe's greatest treasure in Star Trek: Discovery season 5, she'll need help from a host of new and returning characters.

Source: Screen Rant Plus

Star Trek: Discovery season 5 is streaming on Paramount+