GUEST POST: Subrina Wood Reflects on 'Star Trek: Discovery' and "Michael Burnham - My Forever Captain"

Images: Paramount+ / Courtesy Subrina Wood.

Beginning this month, DSTN will be publishing ocassional guest posts. We’re very excited that the inaugural one was written by Subrina Wood, creator of the Syfy Sistas. Their podcast covers more than just Star Trek, but it should appeal to most if not all Trek fans. They are smart, funny, and a pleasure to listen to. If we had to pick one word with which to describe the show, it would be “joyful.” Every episode puts a smile on one’s face. You can visit the Syfy Sistas at their website to hear all their past episodes, watch videos, and more. You can also follow them on Twitter, join the Muthaship on Facebook, and subscribe to their show wherever you get your podcasts. Wood is @SubrinaWood on Twitter and Subrina_Wood on Instagram.

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MAY 15, 2023 - The cancellation of Star Trek: Discovery starring Sonequa Martin-Green was a gut-punch for me. I had waited over 50 years for another Black female bridge officer to be part of the regular cast of a Star Trek franchise. As Captain Michael Burnham, Sonequa Martin-Green, who I loved in Once Upon a Time and knew was in The Walking Dead, (I don’t do zombies), will forever be…my captain. 

I felt this gut punch only once before over a tv show. It was 50-plus years ago when my beloved Star Trek: The Original Series (TOS) and Captain James T. Kirk, played by the still handsome (yes, I said it) and talented William Shatner was canceled mid-mission. I was 12 years old. I was one of the people who desperately wrote and mailed the letters that earned TOS a third season. But this time, for Discovery, I’m not writing a letter, or signing a petition, or protesting in any way. I’m just going to let it go.

I can let Discovery go because it’s now canon. A Black female captain has saved the universe…several times, like Kirk. The show is done, and no one can take it away from me. To quote Benny Russell, “It’s reeeeaal.” I had four glorious seasons of Michael Burnham and one more is on the way. In Season 5 people are about to meet, as Sonequa herself stated, the “you’re-gonna-learn-today-Michael”.

When TOS was on in real time it was never a water cooler show. TOS was parodied and spoofed, and its fans ridiculed and laughed at. There were so few of us in 1968 that there wasn’t any of the eternal infighting and trolling of the different franchises that we see now. All we had were the 79 episodes and each other. Who knew that show would spin off ten tv series and thirteen feature films, not to mention The Orville and Galaxy Quest (1999)? Who knew it would inspire technology, scientists, and engineers.

Discovery’s accolades will come, as they finally did for TOS. Young people will go into STEM inspired by Michael Burnham’s urgent whispers, Vulcan-trained intellect, and wild emotional mood swings knowing it’s okay to be that way. People who love Season 3 of Picard will eventually realize that the template was Season 2 of Discovery.  Sometime in the future the beauty of the production, the skill of the actors, and the mind-blowing science that were in every episode will be hailed and ballyhooed and everyone will claim they always knew it to be that way.

Sonequa Martin-Green took the baton from my beloved Nichelle Nichols and ran a triumphant race as a Black female bridge officer who not only survived past the end of the show but thrived. I cannot wait for Season 5, Discovery’s bell lap.  I will cheer that cast and crew every single Thursday at 3 AM as I have waited for every episode of all four seasons, the ONLY new Trek series that I could not wait to see. 

In the future, Star Trek: Discovery will be recognized for creating some of the best science fiction TV ever.  You see, I’ve been through this before…and despite that 3 AM thing, I’m patient. I can wait.