star trek next generation keiko

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Keiko O'Brien

• View history
• 1.1 Early Life
• 1.2 The Enterprise
• 1.3 Deep Space 9
• 1.4 Earth and Cardassia
• 2.1 Parallel universe
• 2.2 Alternate timeline
• 2.3 Alternate reality, 2233
• 3.1 Connections
• 3.2 Appearances
• 3.3 References
• 3.4 External link

Biography [ ]

Early life [ ].

Keiko, a native of Japan on Earth , was born Keiko Ishikawa to her father Hiro Ishikawa and her mother (born November 2269) who lived in the city of Kumamoto . ( TNG episode : " Disaster "; DS9 episodes : " Emissary ", " Dax ")

Keiko was close to her family and in her childhood used to help her grandmother, who she called Obachan , with her calligraphy. ( TNG episode : " Violations ")

Circa 2352 , she had a friend called Kiyoshi . In 2367 , she remarked that Ensign Reggie Tanaka resembled Kiyoshi. ( TNG novel : Imbalance )

The Enterprise [ ]

In the 2360s Keiko was assigned to the USS Enterprise -D as a botanist in the ship's arboretum, where she befriended Lieutenant Commander Data . At some point, Data introduced Keiko to Miles O'Brien . In the Q -created reality experienced by Jean-Luc Picard of 2370 , the couple met when they collided after Picard called for condition red alert while the Enterprise was still at Earth Station McKinley . Keiko was carrying b'lednaya flowers at the time, which got broken in the collision. ( TNG novelization : All Good Things... , TNG episode : " Data's Day ")

In 2367 the couple married and Data served as father-of-the-bride. ( TNG episode : " Data's Day ")

In 2368 Keiko gave birth to her and Miles' first child Molly in the Enterprise' s Ten Forward lounge, due to a ship-wide systems failure. Worf served as midwife. ( TNG episode : " Disaster ")

In 2369 , Keiko was involved in a shuttlecraft and transporter accident that resulted in her body being returned to that of her childhood self. A cure was eventually found to restore her to her adult form. ( TNG episode : " Rascals ")

Deep Space 9 [ ]

Later in 2369 , Miles transferred to Starbase Deep Space 9 and Keiko and the family went with him. With little use for a botanist, Keiko opened a school on the station. Later that year the school became the subject of a dispute over how the children, Federation and Bajoran, were being taught; some Bajorans taking offense at the Bajoran wormhole being explained as a scientific anomaly rather than for its theological value to the Bajoran people. This dispute eventually resulted in the school being bombed , fortunately when no one was in attendance. She briefly visited Earth with her husband Chief O'Brien on stardate 46910.1 to celebrate her mother's 100th Birthday. ( DS9 episodes : " Emissary ", " A Man Alone ", " In the Hands of the Prophets ", " Dax ")

The next year Keiko was still wary of upsetting the Bajoran faith and was careful to make sure her students were mindful and respectful of each other's diverse beliefs. As she was trying to explain the Vulcan idiom of the IDIC to a Tellarite student a lost baby Horta burrowed into the class, inciting panic. Whilst the students fled Molly starting feeding the Horta a computer which seemed to keep it satisfied for a time, Keiko followed her daughter's example to keep the Horta happy. ( DS9 novel : Devil in the Sky )

In 2371 , Keiko took on the role as chief botanist on a six-month agrobiology expedition on Bajor. ( DS9 episode : " The House of Quark ")

The following year Keiko became pregnant with her and Miles's second child. However, after she was injured in a shuttle accident, the fetus had to be transplanted into the womb of Kira Nerys in order to save Keiko's and the child's life. The baby, Kirayoshi , was born the following year on DS9. ( DS9 episodes : " Accession ", " Body Parts ", " The Begotten ")

For a period of time in the Dominion War , Keiko and her children returned to the relative safety of Earth. They had returned to residence on the station by the end of 2374 . ( DS9 episodes : " Call to Arms ", " Change of Heart ", " Time's Orphan ")

Earth and Cardassia [ ]

In 2375 , following the end of the Dominion War, Keiko and her family left Deep Space 9 to live on Earth where Miles had taken a position at Starfleet Academy . ( DS9 episode : " What You Leave Behind ")

Keiko had hoped that on Earth, Miles would be able to spend more time with her and their children, but even on Earth emergencies always drew him away. ( SCE eBook : Aftermath )

In late 2376 , Keiko received an offer from the Interstellar Agricultural Aid Commission to be the project leader of agricultural planetary renewal for post-war Cardassia . She turned down the position at first, but changed her mind after talking it over with Miles. ( DS9 novel : Unity )

In early December, shortly after the O'Briens relocated to Cardassia, Keiko was amongst a group of hostages taken by representatives of the Cardassian group calling themselves the True Way , who were attempting to destabilize the fledgling government of Alon Ghemor . The situation was brought to a peaceful conclusion and Keiko continued her work on Cardassia. ( DS9 novel : Cardassia: The Lotus Flower )

In 2378 , while on Cardassia Miles was approached by the now-adult Rugal Pa'Dar - a Cardassian boy the O'Briens had hosted in 2369 . Pa'Dar, who wished to become a Federation citizen and formally adopt the human orphan Hulya Kiliç , would ask Miles and Keiko how to go about this. It was decided he should travel to Earth and formally apply there. Keiko would accompany Rugal and Hulya, accompany them to the Cardassian Embassy on Earth and speak at Rugal's citizenship trial. ( DS9 novel : The Never-Ending Sacrifice )

From 2379 to 2380 , Keiko was tasked specifically with running the Andak project . ( ST website : The Path to 2409 )

In 2383 , Keiko had taken a position with the University of Ashalla . In 2385 , Keiko was considering moving to the second Deep Space 9 , where Miles was already stationed. ( ST - The Fall novel : Revelation and Dust )

Alternate timelines and realities [ ]

Parallel universe [ ].

In a parallel universe , Keiko and Molly were both killed in 2371 when a Dominion taskforce attacked Deep Space 9. ( DS9 comic : " The Looking Glass War ")

Alternate timeline [ ]

In an alternate timeline , Keiko and Miles married and had Molly before the Borg Incursion of 2366-2367 . During the invasion, the Enterprise's saucer section was destroyed. Molly and Keiko were among those killed. ( TNG comic : " The Worst of Both Worlds ", TNG comic : " And Death Shall Have No Dominion ")

Alternate reality, 2233 [ ]

Keiko O'Brien in the alternate reality

In an alternate reality created by Nero and Q , Keiko was captain of the USS Defiant alongside her husband Miles. ( TOS comic : " The Q Gambit ")

Appendices [ ]

Connections [ ], appearances [ ], references [ ].

• ↑ 1.0 1.1 date given for an alternate reality's Keiko in TOS comic : " The Q Gambit, Part 4 "

External link [ ]

• Keiko O'Brien article at Memory Alpha , the wiki for canon Star Trek .
• Keiko O'Brien article at the Star Trek Timelines Wiki .
• 1 Cheronian
• 2 Ferengi Rules of Acquisition
• 3 Eclipse class

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Star trek: ds9 made 1 tng character more important (and it wasn’t chief o’brien).

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Why A Star Trek: TOS Legend Preferred DS9 Over Roddenberry's TNG

Sisko’s defiant had a revolutionary feature star trek: ds9 only used once, star wars' incredible new jedi master proves the sith code is true.

• DS9 enhanced characters from TNG, notably the nuanced Ferengi development, bringing in original stars like O'Brien and Worf.
• Keiko O'Brien's character evolved from TNG's wife and mother to a more active role in DS9, facing complex villains.
• After the Dominion War, Keiko and O'Brien settled on Earth for a happy ending, showcasing her growth throughout DS9.

Chief O'Brien (Colm Meaney) wasn't the only Star Trek: The Next Generation character to become a more important figure in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine . DS9 made many improvements on characters and species first introduced in TNG , most notably the more nuanced development of the Ferengi as an alien species. Many TNG stars also joined the cast of Star Trek: DS9 on either a regular or recurring basis from Colm Meaney and Michael Dorn as O'Brien and Worf to recurring stars like Robert O'Reilly as Chancellor Gowron or Rosalind Chao as Keiko O'Brien.

Keiko first appeared in Star Trek: The Next Generation season 4, episode 11, "Data's Day" , which depicted her marriage to Chief O'Brien. Rosalind Chao went on to appear in 27 Star Trek episodes between TNG and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine . Keiko was a botanist aboard the USS Enterprise-D in TNG , and became the school teacher when she and Miles moved to Deep Space Nine. On top of these jobs, Keiko also raised her daughter Molly (Hana Hatae) and provided support to a beleaguered Chief O'Brien . However, DS9 ensured that Keiko was never solely presented as a wife and mother, and made the character more important as a result.

A key figure from Star Trek: The Original Series was a big fan of Deep Space Nine and preferred it over The Next Generation for two big reasons.

Star Trek: DS9 Made Keiko O’Brien More Important Than In TNG

With some exceptions, Keiko O'Brien was often portrayed as the wife and mother in Star Trek: The Next Generation . For example, Keiko's scenes in "The Wounded" revolve around her making dinner for Chief O'Brien as he discusses the ongoing situation with the Cardassians. While Keiko does get some moments of action, such as liberating the Enterprise from Ferengi in the episode "Rascals", it's not until Star Trek: Deep Space Nine that she takes a more active role. The most notable shift in Keiko's importance is DS9 's season 1 finale , in which she faces off against religious zealotry in the form of fearsome villain Vedek Winn (Louise Fletcher).

According to production paperwork, Rosalind Chao originally auditioned for the role of Lt. Tasha Yar in Star Trek: The Next Generation .

After holding her own against one of Star Trek 's most complex villains, Keiko O'Brien starts to take a more active role aboard Deep Space Nine. In Star Trek: Deep Space Nine season 2, episode 13, "Armageddon Game", it's Keiko who realizes that the Kelleruns have been lying to Commander Benjamin Sisko (Avery Brooks) about O'Brien's death . In the very next episode, "Whispers", Keiko played an integral part in tricking a duplicate Miles into leading her to the real Chief O'Brien. In quick succession, these episodes from DS9 season 2 established that Keiko was not a passive wife who would simply sit worrying about her husband.

What Happened To Keiko O’Brien After Star Trek: DS9?

When O'Brien was promoted to Chief of Operations aboard Deep Space Nine, Keiko and Molly joined him on the station. However, it was immediately clear that Keiko was not happy about living aboard a rundown Cardassian space station . Fortunately for Keiko, she eventually found ways to get away from DS9, accepting a posting as Chief Botanist on a six-month expedition to Bajor . After Keiko was possessed by a Pah-wraith, she and Molly returned to Earth to stay with family, eventually moving there for a year at the height of the Dominion War.

After the Dominion War and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine ended, Keiko was finally able to leave the station for good when Chief O'Brien was offered a post at Starfleet Academy. The new position allowed the O'Briens to finally settle down on Earth as a family, something that Keiko had clearly longed for. While O'Brien's promotion to Starfleet Academy was a fitting end for the character, it felt like it was Keiko O'Brien who got the true happy ending in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine .

All episodes of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine are available to stream on Paramount+.

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine

*Availability in US

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Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, also known as DS9, is the fourth series in the long-running Sci-Fi franchise, Star Trek. DS9 was created by Rick Berman and Michael Piller, and stars Avery Brooks, René Auberjonois, Terry Farrell, and Cirroc Lofton. This particular series follows a group of individuals in a space station near a planet called Bajor.

Keiko O'Brien

Keiko O'Brien (née Ishikawa) is a human recurring character in Star Trek: The Next Generation & Star Trek: Deep Space Nine played by Rosalind Chao.

Keiko is a civilian botanist and head of the biology lab on the USS Enterprise . Her family comes from Japan on Earth, and she follows some Japanese traditions. She marries Miles O'Brien and later sacrifices her career to transfer with him to Deep Space Nine. There she works briefly as a primary school teacher before taking up a position on Bajor as chief botanist on a research expedition. At the end of the series, they both transfer to Earth.

Bucketloads of angst get thrown at the O'Brien family. Keiko's first child, Molly, is born during a systems failure on the Enterprise , and her second, Kirayoshi, has to be carried to term by Kira Nerys , after a shuttle accident during pregnancy. Keiko is de-aged , held hostage by Evil Aliens , possessed by another Evil Alien, loses her child to a portal -- all in a day's work for Mrs Everyman!

Besides her family, Keiko's canonical associates include Data on the Enterprise and Kira on Deep Space Nine. Her non-botanical pursuits include playing the clarinet, cooking and passionate sex with Miles.

Keiko is not a particularly popular character with fans. [1] She appears in a little fanfiction , which mainly focuses on her being an obstacle to her husband's buddyslash pairing with Julian Bashir . Usually her character is portrayed negatively in such stories. Even though her husband is the one being unfaithful, Keiko is frequently depicted as a shrew, divorcing Miles or warning Julian off. Sometimes Miles is portrayed as a saint for resisting the temptation to have sex with Julian. Occasionally, however, the situation resolves into a threesome .

Keiko sometimes appears in femslash , with Kira as the predominant partner. Many f/f stories initiate the relationship with Kira while she's pregnant with Kirayoshi, and have the couple bonding over the shared unborn child. Gen works also sometimes address her "extended family" bond with Kira. These genres usually give a considerably more positive view of the character than does m/m slash . Sometimes she is part of an ot3 consisting of Kira Nerys/Keiko O'Brien/Miles O'Brien .

Example Fanworks

Bashir/o'brien.

• Big Kid , by Paranoid Kitten -- Garak & the Keiko/Miles/Julian triangle
• A Five-Point Tour of the Alpha Quadrant , by Mosca -- Five Things meme for Miles
• A Reasonable Request , by Kangeiko
• Stolen , by Your Cruise Director
• Openings , by thingswithwings -- Keiko/Kira, while Kira is pregnant with Yoshi
• Blue Champagne 's "Crisis Team" series, which starts with Julian/Miles and develops into a happy Julian/Miles/Keiko triangle.

Gen & Keiko/Miles

• Families , by sophiegrace -- gen vignette about Kira's family of choice
• Home , by Thistlerose -- rare happy vignette for Keiko/Miles, set between TNG & DS9
• The Long Road Home by Little Red -- fix it for the end of the series
• Judgement Day 07: The Roads Must Roll , by Alara J Rogers -- dark alternate universe for the O'Brien family
• Opportunity , by Laura Schiller -- unusual gen vignette set during Keiko's stint as a teacher
• The Targ and the Sehlat , by Orangeblossom -- Keiko & Miles pre-marriage; set during TNG
• Like I Have Nothing To Hide by Vyc . Keiko-centric case story (2014)
• PLEASE have SEX with my HUSBAND!!! , Archived version , fanart by lgbtqiads9; with discussion of Keiko/Miles by lgbtqiads9, @milesobriensrolledupsleeves, and xenobotanist, 2023
• Works tagged 'Keiko O'Brien' at Archive of Our Own
• Works tagged 'Keiko O.' at fanfiction.net (DS9 only)
• Intimacy & Sex on Deep Space Nine -- essay by Wendy A.F.G. Stengel that deals with the canonical sidelining of Keiko & Miles' marriage by Miles' developing friendship with Julian
• Keiko O’Brien - Building Communities in Space -- meta post by cosmic_llin that discusses Keiko's role and strengths
• Cosmic-Llin and The Valkyrie Directive chat about Keiko O’Brien -- discussion by The Valkyrie Directive and cosmic_llin that covers several aspects of her character and reception in fandom
• ^ Brenda S. Antrim 'Netchatter', in Multi-Species Medicine #18
• Star Trek DS9 Characters
• Star Trek TNG Characters

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Caroline Junko King

• View history

Caroline Junko King ( born 16 July 1979 ; age 44) is the actress who played the young Keiko O'Brien in the Star Trek: The Next Generation sixth season episode " Rascals ".

She had previously appeared with her TNG co-star Colm Meaney in the 1990 drama Come See the Paradise on which she also worked with Tamlyn Tomita , Becky Ann Baker , George P. Wilbur , Allan Graf , Kevin McDermott , Ben Slack , and David Carpenter . Her latest film credit was the 1994 action sequel 3 Ninjas Kick Back , with Angelo Tiffe , Don Stark , DonnaMarie Recco , and Robert Miano .

After earning her MFA at USC she moved to Tokyo and began attending animation classes at the Yoyogi Anime Gakuin. She then worked as an animator at Vega Entertainment. She was a director and animator in 2007 for the anime series Doraemon . [1] (X)

External link [ ]

• Caroline Junko King at the Internet Movie Database

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‘Star Trek: The Next Generation’: Ranking the Crew, From Picard to Pulaski

Liz shannon miller.

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Thirty years ago, “Star Trek” proved it wasn’t just a story about Kirk and Spock; it was a story universe rich with possibilities, including a whole new cast of characters.

Ranking the men and women of “ Star Trek: The Next Generation ” is a far more brutal task than initially anticipated because, as the series kept telling us the whole time, this wasn’t a crew. This was a family. That said, let’s be honest. Family might inspire love on an equal playing field, but when it comes to actually spending time with people, favorites do emerge.

This is strictly limited to those who served as actual crew members (sorry, Q and Lwaxana Troi) because one of the best things about “Trek’s” approach to a military structure is how it still allows the show to celebrate individual personalities. Because as much fun as space travel is, a “Trek” series lives or dies by its characters.

17. Dr. Katherine Pulaski

For the record, this is not actor Diana Muldaur’s fault. When Gates McFadden left “Next Generation” at the end of Season 1 (for  a variety of complicated reasons ), the ship needed a new doctor. But while the idea of bringing in a new female character over the age of 40 (Pulaski dated Riker’s dad once!) was conceptually a fresh approach for the genre — hell, for television in general — Dr. Pulaski never gelled with the rest of the crew, and McFadden’s return in Season 3 was a welcome relief.

16. Lieutenant Reginald Barclay

On a ship full of humanity’s best, Barclay was decidedly flawed. In fact, he was set up as essentially a parody of nerd culture (which is pretty rude, considering that “Next Generation” featured a passionate, perhaps even “nerdy” fanbase). More importantly, he caused way more problems than he solved and was never much of a sympathetic character despite his lighter moments.

15. Tasha Yar

A character inspired by Vasquez (Jeanette Goldberg) from James Cameron’s “Aliens,” Yar was the ship’s muscle for much of the first season… until Denise Crosby decided to leave the show. She was essentially replaced by Worf in this regard, which could be seen as an improvement, except that there could always be more badass women in science fiction, especially on “Trek.”

14. Keiko O’Brien

A botanist we first meet as she’s about to marry Miles O’Brien (an in media res sort of move that we have a lot of respect for), Keiko was an interesting example of how the show was able to build a world beyond each week’s missions.

13. Miles O’Brien

Colm Meaney made semi-regular appearances for six seasons of “Next Generation” before becoming a regular on “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.” While on that show, the character’s full potential was truly revealed. But while on “TNG” O’Brien had some charming moments, there’s a reason why  one of the best webcomics ever made  is based on the ennui that he must have experienced, humbly operating that transporter pad.

12. Ensign Ro Laren

This tough-as-nails Bajoran officer was our initial introduction to the Bajor-Cardassian conflict, which would be a fundamental foundation of “DS9.” Unfortunately, because Michelle Forbes was infamously skittish about signing up for ongoing series during the ’90s, Ro never got the character development enjoyed by other folk. That said, the episode “Rascals,” where she learned how to have fun as a child was… um. Fun.

11. Ensign Alyssa Ogawa

A very minor character, in theory, but the show’s erstwhile nurse made 16 appearances during the show’s run and had her own arc, with a romantic life that eventually led to her becoming a mother. Nurse Ogawa was always a pleasant presence and much appreciated.

10. Wesley Crusher

Wesley was, um,  a polarizing figure for sci-fi fans at the time , given the fact that as a teen genius who was perhaps rightly labeled as a Marty Sue, he could be a bit grating. But Wesley was also a nice, decent kid, and “TNG” showcased him best by letting that side peek out. The episode where he makes out with Ashley Judd will always be a classic.

9. Deanna Troi

Playing an “empath” is an odd requirement for an actor, and Troi had to deal with a lot of odd storylines. But she occasionally got some meat to chew into, especially given the fact that her rank as a Starfleet officer meant that she was technically more integrated into the military aspects of the series than expected. And she wore some fun jumpsuits! Troi was great.

Continue Reading: ‘Star Trek: The Next Generation’: Ranking the Crew, From Picard to Pulaski Next »

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http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Recap/StarTrekTheNextGenerationS6E7Rascals

Recap / Star Trek The Next Generation S 6 E 7 Rascals

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Original air date: November 2, 1992

Captain Picard, Ensign Ro, Guinan and Keiko O'Brien are on their way back from a botany and archaeology conference when their shuttlecraft passes through a Negative Space Wedgie . When O'Brien beams them aboard just before their shuttlecraft explodes, they arrive as children.

Crusher analyses the four kids and finds that their faculties are identical to how they were as adults, and their bodies are perfectly normal 12-year-olds. Picard tries to resume his command while the doctor continues her research, but Crusher talks him out of it. The rest of the kids have widely different reactions. Keiko's new body puts a serious strain on her marriage. Ro is annoyed by the prospect of living through childhood again because the first time was so traumatic for her. Only Guinan seems pleased to get a chance to spend some time as a kid again.

Picard struggles to figure out what he'll do with himself if he can't return to his normal age. Guinan persuades Ro to cut loose a little and play some childish games. Keiko and Miles suffer an uncomfortable night at home, during which their child doesn't recognize her mother. Meanwhile, Crusher finds that a molecular inversion field stripped out the four crew members' RVN sequences during transport. If RVN could be reintroduced, they could theoretically return to normal.

But as the investigation continues, the Enterprise is suddenly ambushed by two Klingon Birds of Prey. The ship fights back, but its shields get depleted, and a Ferengi boarding party assumes control of the ship under the leadership of Daimon Lunn. Lunn claims to be a rogue from the Ferengi alliance and simply wants to sell the Enterprise to the Romulans. He has the crew beamed down to the surface of a nearby planet to use as slave labor for an additional mining enterprise. Riker has locked out control of the ship, but Lunn tells him that the crew's lives are in danger should he not return the controls to his men.

Meanwhile, the children on the ship have all been herded into the ship's classroom, including our four adults kids. They try to get access to the computer, but the children's terminal in the classroom is insufficient. Picard masquerades as Riker's bratty son and delivers a coded message to him to give computer access to the classroom. Riker agrees to hand over control of the computer to the Ferengi, and Dunn stipulates that he must also instruct one of his men on its use. At a computer terminal, Riker feeds the Ferengi a stream of beguiling Techno Babble while he surreptitiously grants Picard's request.

In the classroom, Picard, Ro, Guinan and Keiko gain access to the computer and set about taking down the various Ferengi guards around the ship. They enlist the help of Alexander to start planting communicators on the Ferengi and teleporting them to a transporter pad that has been locked off by a force field. Using their small size and seeming innocence as advantages, they manage to take down all the Ferengi. Picard confronts Dunn in his own office and holds him at phaser-point.

With the Ferengi brought to justice and the ship restored, Crusher prepares to return the four de-aged crewmen to their original ages by teleporting the back through the molecular inversion field. Picard goes first and emerges as his old self, though he does pass a regretful hand over his bald head. A restored Guinan goes to find Ro, who is still a child and drawing pictures with crayons. Guinan suggests that Ro stay a child for a little longer now that she is finally enjoying her childhood. They begin coloring pictures together.

Contains examples of:

• Abhorrent Admirer : Though not very much as Keiko is still his wife, as she points out to him. Nonetheless, the paedophilia implications of Keiko's transformation are still rather disturbing to Miles, and when she snuggles against him while saddened by Molly's rejection, he's clearly uncomfortable.
• Adults Are Useless : Played With . The Enterprise and its crew are saved by the same old Picard trapped in a kid’s body. He’s helped by his three other rejuvenated comrades, Riker and Alexander, who are the only ones available since all of the other adults were forced down to the surface by that point.
• And Your Little Dog, Too! : Lurin is quite the monster, threatening to kill all the children if Riker doesn't release computer control.
• Artistic License – Biology : "RVN" doesn't exist. It was invented to provide an excuse to de-age the characters.
• Batman Gambit : Riker agrees to unlock the computer controls, counting on the prospect that in the process, he'll be able to grant full access to the classroom's computers. It works with the help of some distracting Techno Babble .
• Brick Joke : Young Picard gets a scene where he gets to run his hands through a full head of hair. Once he's restored, he strokes his once-again bald head.
• Character Tics : Notably Picard's shirt tug and Guinan's eye roll continue to be featured behavior for their younger selves.
• Contrived Coincidence : It's not explained how or where this temporal anomaly that stripped out vital parts of the four's DNA came from, only that happened to be in the right place at the right time to bring about the episode's events.
• Miles O'Brien getting (understandably) creeped out by a pre-teen girl cuddling up to him, made all the worse by the fact that mentally she's his wife and is too distracted by worrying about her situation to realize what she's doing.
• The only way teenaged Picard can reach Riker is by pretending he's Riker's son, but he accidentally calls him "Number One", after which he tries to cover it with "He's my Number One dad", prompting an awkward hug between the two.
• Averted with Keiko, who finds her own daughter unable to recognize her and her husband deeply unsettled by the thought of even hugging her in her current state.
• When Miles gets creeped out by her affections and starts equivocating when she points out she's still his wife, young Keiko asks him point blank whether her being a little girl now means the end of their marriage . Thankfully, the transporter's being able to reverse the effect at the end means he never has to give her a straight answer.
• Interestingly, when Crusher approaches young Picard and asks to speak in his ready room, there's plenty of uncomfortable, awkward subtext in the scene considering the hints at romance between the two characters ever since the show started ... but instead Beverly simply brings up the fact that they don't know the cause of his condition or if it could worsen (i.e. give him the mind and emotional state of a teenager, not just the body of one), and so he should temporarily allow Riker to assume command. The fact many will have issues taking orders from an apparent 15-year-old captain also isn't addressed until his talk with Troi.
• Digging Yourself Deeper : When Keiko insists that she's still the same person, Miles starts to agree by saying, "Technically...", which naturally incenses her.
• Emo : How 12-year-old Ro chooses to take her transformation, until a little coaching from Guinan. Though by her own account, childhood and adolescence majorly sucked for her (beyond any normal issues, since she did watch her father be tortured and killed in front of her), so she's not keen on having to go through it again.
• Forgotten Phlebotinum : This is actually the second time the Enterprise's transporter has de-aged somebody (the first was "Unnatural Selection" ). Yet still nobody seems to realize the implications of this beyond the immediate issue!
• Fountain of Youth : Picard, Keiko, Ro and Guinan are all turned into children by a malfunctioning transporter. They still maintain their adult intelligence, but have to adjust to having less strength and stamina.
• Full-Name Ultimatum : "Miles Edward O'Brien, I am still your wife!"
• Genki Girl : Little Guinan!
• Hidden Depths : Ro Laren is not only a decent artist, but also indicates an interest in botany, and then promptly denies it: Ro: (indicating a plant in a basket Keiko is holding) Is that a draebidium froctus ? Keiko: Draebidium calimus actually. You can tell by the shape of the leaves. ( Beat ) I didn't know you were interested in plant biology. Ro: I... took a class at the Academy. I just remember a few things.
• I Need a Freaking Drink : Miles tries to deal with the awkwardness of Keiko's pre-teen state by going to get coffee, until Keiko insists upon getting it herself, which makes the situation even more awkward. Then they're so upset that neither of them takes so much as a sip from their coffee before setting down the cups.
• Living Out a Childhood Dream : At the episode's end, Ro decides to stay a child for a bit longer so she can draw with crayons, a thing she could never do when she was a fugitive during her actual childhood.
• Magic Pants : The clothes of the four de-aged crewmen shrink somewhat upon their first arrival, but by so little that it's a bit hard to notice unless you see Ro's sleeves hanging below her hands. In the very next scene, they've all changed into exact copies of their previous outfits that have been scaled to their current size, making it easy to assume that they arrived with the re-sized clothing. When they go back through the transporter, it's easy to see that Picard has gone back to his adult-sized uniform.
• Pretty Boy : Young Picard; and from the looks of it, he enjoys being back there for some time.
• Really 700 Years Old : While this has always applied for Guinan, it applies even more in this particular episode.
• Pushy Gun-Toting Villain : When the Ferengi board the ship and take everyone hostage; They force the adults down to a planet's surface to work as slave miners, while the leader of the gang threatens Riker at disruptor-point to release the computer security controls and show him exactly how it works.
• It's entirely possible that the initial accident relied upon specific natural conditions in the anomaly that it's impossible to deliberately replicate the de-aging effect elsewhere. This may well also be the in-universe explanation for the seen-once-and-never-again nature of Riker's transporter duplication in "Second Chances".
• Reveling in the New Form : While most of the regressed group hate their new state of being, Guinian enjoys it and sees it as an excuse to get away with things that are only socially acceptable for children, such as jumping on beds. At the end, Ro also decides that being a kid isn't so bad and decides to wait until later to change back. Played with in the case of Picard. While he very much wanted to return to his usual age because he couldn't be a captain and project an image of authority in that state, it's somewhat implied at the end that at the very least he enjoyed having hair again for a while.
• Shame If Something Happened : Lurin informs Riker that the Enterprise crew will be used as slave labor in the vendarite mine he has established on Ligos VII, then orders the commander to turn over computer control to him. When Riker refuses to do so, Lurin remarks that the mines can be "very hazardous". Lurin : Now, how many people on your ship? Riker : One thousand fourteen. Lurin : Very hazardous, Commander.
• Shapeshifting Excludes Clothing : As stated under Magic Pants, upon being beamed back to the Enterprise , the now-regressed Picard and company's adult-sized uniforms and clothes are technically now oversized and baggy. It's just not as apparent due to it only appearing in that shot and then the quartet wearing replicated child-sized outfits after the act break.
• Spoiled Brat : Picard has to act like this to get onto the bridge to relay his need to get the computer unlocked.
• Status Quo Is God : Without much discussion, all four de-aged crewmen decide to return to their previous ages rather than live through adolescence again. In Picard's case, this means turning his back on an extra forty years of life, and several hundred in the case of Guinan.
• Technobabble : Riker distracts Morta with this so he can, with his free hand , release the computer lockout where the kids are so they can begin to retake the ship. It's actually complete gibberish, and Morta is an idiot .
• This Is Gonna Suck : When Keiko asks if Picard has figured out a way to get the computer unlocked, Picard answers that he has figured out only one way to do so, in a tone that suggests he's not going to like what he has to do next.
• Villain Has a Point : Luton points out that it's cruel to put children in danger by putting them on a starship. A complaint shared by a lot of the show's fans.
• The ship gets defeated rather handily defeated by two Klingon Birds of Prey, manned by Ferengi no less, while inflicting only light damage on one of them.
• Worf gets easily beaten in a phaser fight with a Ferengi, who nimbly dodges Worf's fire and then zaps him dead-center in the chest.

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Just explain it to me.

In "Rascals" from "Star Trek: The Next Generation," Commander Riker overloads the Ferengi Morta with ridiculous (and utterly fake) technobabble to distract him as he enables to command access to another station to save the Enterprise-D.

Example of: Technobabble

• Star Trek The Next Generation S 6 E 6 True Q
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• Star Trek: The Next Generation S6E8 "A Fistful of Datas"

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Star Trek: The Next Generation

Set almost 100 years after Captain Kirk's 5-year mission, a new generation of Starfleet officers sets off in the U.S.S. Enterprise-D on its own mission to go where no one has gone before. Set almost 100 years after Captain Kirk's 5-year mission, a new generation of Starfleet officers sets off in the U.S.S. Enterprise-D on its own mission to go where no one has gone before. Set almost 100 years after Captain Kirk's 5-year mission, a new generation of Starfleet officers sets off in the U.S.S. Enterprise-D on its own mission to go where no one has gone before.

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• Trivia Almost everyone in the cast became life-long friends. At LeVar Burton 's 1992 wedding, Brent Spiner served as best man, and Sir Patrick Stewart , Jonathan Frakes , and Michael Dorn all served as ushers. Man of the People (1992) (#6.3) aired on that day.
• Goofs It is claimed that Data can't use contractions (Can't, Isn't, Don't, etc) yet there are several instances throughout the series where he does. One of the first such examples is heard in Encounter at Farpoint (1987) , where Data uses the word "Can't" while the Enterprise is being chased by Q's "ship".

[repeated line]

Capt. Picard : Engage!

• Crazy credits The model of the Enterprise used in the opening credits is so detailed, a tiny figure can be seen walking past a window just before the vessel jumps to warp speed.
• Alternate versions The first and last episodes were originally broadcast as two-hour TV movies, and were later re-edited into two one-hour episodes each. Both edits involved removing some scenes from each episode.
• Connections Edited into Reading Rainbow: The Bionic Bunny Show (1988)

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The Star Trek: The Next Generation Cast’s Best Non-Star Trek Roles

The cast of Star Trek: The Next Generation put in good work before and after their time on the Enterprise.

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When Star Trek returned to television screens after two decades in 1987, it looked very different from its predecessor. Gone were James T. Kirk, Mr. Spock, and Bones, most of whom planned to return in the original sequel series Star Trek: Phase II . In their place stood a bald Shakespearean actor, the breakout star of the television miniseries Roots , and a member of Muppet creator Jim Henson’s team. 

From those unlikely beginnings, Star Trek: The Next Generation grew to match and, for some, exceed the original series. Much of that success came from the cast, who had a far easier camaraderie than their predecessors and, some might argue, a more impressive resume. Before and after Trek , these actors became beloved figures in genre cinema and television, proving that they are even more than the crew who boldly went where no one had gone before. 

Patrick Stewart as Professor Charles Xavier in Logan (2017)

Although he had only a few film credits to his name, including playing Gurney Halleck in Dune because David Lynch confused him with another actor, Patrick Stewart came to Star Trek with a respected actor on stage and television. He played John le Carré’s Russian intelligence agent Karla on Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy and Smiley’s People , V.I. Lenin on the BBC historical series Fall of Eagles , and numerous parts in Shakespeare productions. Although Stewart suffered from some typecasting, he managed to continue an impressive post- Trek career, playing against type in films such as Conspiracy Theory and Green Room . Also, he voiced a Poop Emoji in The Emoji Movie . 

However, Stewart’s most impressive performance came as an aging and confused Charles Xavier in the third Wolverine solo movie Logan . Stewart’s stately and kind Professor X in X-Men made use of the persona he built as Jean-Luc Picard, a take on Xavier so pure that not even Kitty Pryde would call him a jerk. But Logan pushes Stewart to flex his acting muscles, playing Xavier as a man both bitter and saddened by his decline into dementia. Even more than Hugh Jackman ’s take on Wolverine without a healing factor, Stewart’s Xavier shows the tragedy of mutant powers in old age. 

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LeVar Burton as Host of Reading Rainbow (1983 – 2006)

LeVar Burton came to Star Trek as one of the top-billed actors in the cast, thanks to his breakout role as Kunta Kinte in the television adaptation of Roots . Although Brent Spiner’s Data eventually ate up most of the screen time initially intended for Geordi LaForge, Burton remained a warm presence on the show, even when writers gave him terrible romance stories. That innate likability came through in Burton’s work, before and after Trek . In addition to directing several episodes of the series and its spin-offs, Burton appeared on Murder She Wrote and Christy , lent his voice to Captain Planet and the Planeteers and Family Guy , and poked fun at himself in a wonderful episode of Community . 

But even those who grew up with TNG have to acknowledge hosting Reading Rainbow as Burton’s most important role. Burton took the job in 1983, several years before coming aboard the Enterprise , and continues to work with the series in its various forms. In every episode, Burton invites viewers to experience the joy of reading. Burton’s encouragement and kindness taught generations of fans (including this writer) how to read, building a legacy that outshines even the best Trek tale. 

Jonathan Frakes as David Xanatos on Gargoyles (1994 – 1996)

The tall, handsome Jonathan Frakes seemed like an apology for fans who couldn’t accept the patrician Stewart in command of the Enterprise . Frakes’s good looks and swagger recalled the swashbuckling attitude of James T. Kirk, and with good reason. Before getting cast as William T. Riker, Frakes portrayed Captain America for Marvel in-person events and had a recurring part on the soap opera Falcon Crest . However, Frakes discovered his true passion while shooting TNG : directing. Frakes directed eight episodes of TNG , and has become a mainstay of the franchise’s bullpen, helming the movies First Contact and Insurrection as well as episodes of Discovery , Picard , and Strange New Worlds . In addition, Frakes hosted 45 episodes of Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction , a role that lives on in the form of internet memes, and continues to do voice work on Lower Decks and Very Short Treks . 

In fact, voice work gave Frakes his best non- Trek role, playing villainous David Xanatos on the Disney adventure series Gargoyles , a show that employed several TNG cast members, including Marina Sirtis and Michael Dorn. As the rich and devious Xanatos, Frakes puts his smooth baritone to good work, breathing menace into every line reading, especially when pitted against Gargoyles leader Goliath. However, Xanatos also gives Frakes layers to play, as the seemingly heartless businessman carries a soft spot for his wife and child. 

Brent Spiner as Earl Mills on Introducing Dorothy Dandridge (1999)

One need only watch the TNG episode “Masks” to see that Brent Spiner can be so much more than an emotionless android. The episode, in which an alien community possesses Data via the titular headgear, functionally operates as Spiner’s demo reel, showing off the talents he brings to other roles. Spiner worked on and off-Broadway throughout the 1970s and enjoyed a few credits in film and television, including six episodes on the comedy Night Court . TNG raised Spiner’s profile, leading to regular work in genre shows and movies, appearing in Independence Day , voicing the Joker in Young Justice , and playing a police captain on Penny Dreadful: City of Angels . 

However, Spiner’s most impressive work came in a drama, the HBO movie Introducing Dorothy Dandridge , starring Halle Berry. Spiner plays Earl Mills, Dandridge’s manager and romantic interest, a man whose love and admiration for the titular actress and singer drives him to advocate for her against racist restrictions. Spiner earned a Satellite Award nomination for his performance and with good reason. As Mills, he got to not only show off his considerable charisma, but also play notes of anger, hurt, and resolution against the bigots his client encounters on a daily basis. 

Marina Sirtis as Orli Elbaz on NCIS (2013 – 2016)

Of all the main cast members in TNG , Marina Sirtis had it the worst. Writers rarely knew what to do with Counselor Deanna Troi, too often forcing her to sit on the bridge and sense anger from the raging aliens on the viewscreen. Thankfully, writers did occasionally let Sirtis show off her acting chops in off-beat episodes such as “A Fistful of Datas” and with the drunken rant she delivers in Star Trek: First Contact . However, these parts appear too rarely in Sirtis’s filmography, overshadowed by ignoble roles as an assault victim in Death Wish 3 or adding some gravitas to cheapies like the 2007 sci-fi production of Grendel .  

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However, Sirtis did get some parts equal to her abilities, including stints on Titans , Grey’s Anatomy , and the teen series Make It or Break It . Among these guest appearance run came Sirtis’s best part outside of ship’s counselor. Sirtis made three stops on the military procedural NCIS as Mossad Director Orli Elbaz. Elbaz allies with NCIS protagonist Agent Gibbs (Mark Harmon), but Sirtis gives the character a slightly untrustworthy air. In all three of her episodes, Sirtis plays Elbaz as a savvy player on the complex international stage, willing to work with other nations, if doing so advances the goals of her country. 

Gates McFadden as Allison Rourke on Mad About You (1995 – 1996)

If you’re reading this, you know Gates McFadden as the actor who plays Dr. Beverly Crusher on The Next Generation , as well as bit parts in The Hunt for Red October or The Muppets Take Manhattan . However, you may also know the name Cheryl McFadden as a choreographer in the Jim Henson Company , where she directed the dance numbers in Labyrinth and other productions. The two names refer to the same person, even if McFadden likes to keep the two sides of her work separate. That professional pride allowed McFadden to stand up to sexist writers in the first season, eventually leading to her firing from the series after season one, only to return — with better-written parts — for season three. 

Although McFadden has only two post- Trek film credits to either of her names, she did plenty of television before returning as Dr. Crusher for season three of Star Trek: Picard . While she remains regal and impressive in every case, McFadden shows off her full skills during a four-episode stint on 1990s must-see TV staple Mad About You . McFadden plays Allison Rourke, Paul’s (Paul Reiser) boss at a new job. The role gives McFadden plenty of mistaken identity sitcom bits to play, which she does with as much verve as she ever has, whether using a tricorder or getting goblins to dance, baby, dance. 

Michael Dorn as Steel on Superman: The Animated Series (1996 – 2000)

As the third season of Star Trek: Picard reminded viewers, Michael Dorn has always been the funniest member of the cast. However, with his rich voice and physical presence, it’s no wonder that he got the part as Worf, the noble Klingon warrior, raised by humans and blazing new trails in Starfleet. While Dorn has been able to exercise his comic chops elsewhere, especially as the narcoleptic Sandman in The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause , most of Dorn’s non- Trek work included either nods to Worf, as in Ted 2, and voice acting roles. 

So it comes as no surprise that Dorn’s best part beyond the Son of Mogh was a vocal performance, namely playing John Henry Irons aka Steel on Superman: The Animated Series . Steel debuted in the season one episode “Heavy Metal,” in which Irons donned his signature armor to help Superman fight the Kryptonite-powered cyborg Metallo. Steel made full use of Irons’s vocal range: the intelligence of a scientist, the playfulness of an uncle, and the pride of a hero. 

Joe George | @jageorgeii

Joe George’s writing has appeared at Slate, Polygon, Tor.com, and elsewhere!

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Published Jun 6, 2024

The Infinite Diversity of Star Trek: Discovery's 32nd Century

A guide to the vibrant variety of sentient species we met during our trip through the 32nd Century!

SPOILER WARNING: This article contains story details and plot points for the fifth season of Star Trek: Discovery.

StarTrek.com

The quest for the Progenitors ' life-changing technology came to an astonishing conclusion in Star Trek: Discovery 's series finale, " Life, Itself ," as Captain Michael Burnham decided that such power was too great for any one individual or culture to wield. Since the Progenitors had brought infinite diversity in infinite combinations to the galaxy when they seeded humanoid life throughout the stars, Captain Burnham justifiably believed that the technology's mission had already been fulfilled.

The captain's astute observation was backed up by the vibrant variety of sentient species we met during our trip through the 32nd Century. As our investigation into Discovery 's cultural tapestry begins, we'll focus on some old friends who received more time in the spotlight and the new civilizations which were introduced by the series.

A Kwejian Connection

"The Sanctuary"

Cleveland "Book" Booker's appearance at the moment Michael Burnham arrived in the distant future in "That Hope Is You, Part 1" represented our first contact with the Kwejian, an empathic species capable of communicating with other beings. This fostered a strong connection between the Kwejian and the natural world, as they found great meaning in their planet’s all-encompassing World Root and the heirlooms created from its sap.

Sadly, the Dark Matter Anomaly (DMA) destroyed the Kwejian homeworld in "Kobayashi Maru," leaving Book as one of the last living Kwejian. Despite these hardships, Book continued to cherish the Kwejian way of life by connecting with lifeforms and safeguarding a World Root cutting. The birth of Leto, the son of Book and Burnham, guaranteed that the Kwejian culture would survive into the 33rd Century.

The Betelgeusian Resurgence

"That Hope Is You, Part 1"

Our earliest 32nd encounters also allowed us to meet Cosmo Traitt, an unscrupulous Betelgeusian courier who trafficked in trance worms. First seen among a crowd of U.S.S. Enterprise crew members in Star Trek: The Motion Picture and later glimpsed in Jett Reno's triage unit aboard the U.S.S. Hiawatha in "Brother," the Betelgeusian species finally took center stage… at least until the Emerald Chain chose to vaporize him for permitting his cargo to get stolen.

In " Terra Firma, Part 1 ," we learned that Commander Yor, a Betelgeusian time soldier, had been the only individual known to have traveled forward in time and across from another dimension prior to the Terran Philippa Georgiou accomplished the same feat. Unfortunately, Yor experienced a grisly death as every molecule in his body fought to either go back in time or return to the Kelvin Timeline.

Understanding the Alshain

"Kobayashi Maru"

Ruled by Emperor Lee'U, the Alshain greeted Captain Burnham and Book with skepticism when the Federation offered to provide them with "no strings attached" dilithium in "Kobayashi Maru." With a reverence for monarchs and an apparent aversion to carnivores, the Alshain misunderstood Grudge's presence aboard Book's starship and nearly executed their friendly visitors.

Able to deploy delicate wings and utilize their planet's magnetic fields to navigate, the Alshain were forced to build satellites to help compensate for their world's shifting magnetic poles. Those artificial structures needed dilithium to operate, and Burnham's decision to reactivate the equipment played a significant role in easing tensions. The emperor opted to attend the Federation's emergency conference pertaining to the DMA, even going so far as to voice support for the diplomacy and courtesy Burnham exhibited toward his people.

The Eccentric Akoszonam

Although the Akoszonam only recently made their Star Trek debut in the Short Trek "Children of Mars," Discovery found an Akoszonam named Kanak working as one of Osyraa's Emerald Chain regulators in " There Is A Tide… ." While that individual endured an icy fate when she was launched out into the frozen void, another Akoszonam also perished in grim fashion during the events of "Kobayashi Maru."

Commander Nalas, the anxious officer who oversaw Starfleet's Deep Space Repair Beta Six, taught us the Akoszonam term "squiddled" — their word for "destroyed beyond repair" — and was impressed that President Laira Rillak knew of his homeworld's wondrous Fissure of Jorat. Panic gripped Nalas after the DMA interfered with his station, and he ultimately died in a fiery crash before he could safely reach Discovery 's shuttlebay. 

The Stately Saurian

"All is Possible"

The Saurians made their comeback in the form of Discovery 's own Linus in Season 2, but the presence of a Saurian delegate at the final sessions of the Federation's negotiations to bring Ni'Var back into the fold in " All Is Possible " confirmed that the culture, famous for its Saurian brandy and yet another species introduced via a background character in The Motion Picture , thrived within the government body during the 32nd Century.

And, as an added bonus, we were treated to more run-ins with Linus across the show's last three seasons.

Haz Mazaro's Magic

"All In"

Even though his species was never mentioned by name, the multifaceted proprietor of Haz Mazaro's Karma Barge made quite the impression in "All In." Always prepared with a clever nickname for his customers or a creatively descriptive saying, Haz Mazaro ran a gambling establishment at the front of his business and presided over illicit sales in its back room.

A friend of both Burnham and Book, his facility became a hub for galactic controversy when the captain deduced that her partner would go to Haz to obtain isolynium for Ruon Tarka's unauthorized anti-DMA weapon. Haz's personality displayed an odd blend of extroverted affection and nefarious intentions, but he seemed to genuinely consider Book and Burnham to be his friends.

An Entreaty to Species Ten-C

"Coming Home"

As the designation the Federation assigned to the culture that constructed the DMA, Unknown Species Ten-C did not reflect the highly-advanced civilization's actual name. With their planet having undergone a cataclysm, Species Ten-C relocated to another star system and fabricated an immense hyperfield to maintain their privacy.

Unaware that their DMA caused harm to other sentient life, the Ten-C unleashed it upon the galaxy to mine the boronite necessary to power the field. Captain Burnham and her crew discovered that the Ten-C communicated by emitting hydrocarbons and light patterns to express emotional inflection and context, a revelation that enabled them to convince Species Ten-C to halt the DMA and attempt to clean up the toxic mess it left behind in "Coming Home."

The Kellerun Commander

"Face the Strange"

Before reemerging in Discovery 's " Red Directive ," our sole confrontation with the Kellerun occurred in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine 's " Armageddon Game ." Depicted as centuries long enemies of the T'Lani who engaged in a vicious war involving biomechanical gene disruptors, the Kellerun became so dedicated to peace that they were willing to kill those familiar with how to create the infectious weapon.

By the 32nd Century, Kellerun had suffered under a harsh occupation led by Primarch Tahal of the Breen Imperium . Rayner, the Kellerun who would go on to serve as Discovery 's new Number One, resisted the Breen and witnessed his entire family die on Tahal's orders. Those traumas left unimaginable scars that fostered Rayner's ongoing disdain for the Breen.

A New Day for the Selay

"Jinaal"

If the relationship between the Kellerun and T'Lani seemed extreme, then the Selay and Anticans' violent hijinx in Star Trek: The Next Generation 's " Lonely Among Us " will shock you even more. Though both species petitioned for Federation membership prior to their voyage, the two delegations hunted each other as the U.S.S. Enterprise -D transported them to their conference. The Anticans even took quite the interest in a meal that strongly resembled a missing Selay delegate.

In " Jinaal ," a Selay's attendance at an important meeting within the halls of Federation Headquarters indicated that his government's application had been approved at some point in the previous 800 years.

An Efrosian Archivist

"Labyrinths"

While an Efrosian bridge officer served aboard the U.S.S. Saratoga when Admiral Kirk took his jaunt through time in Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home , the Federation president from Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country stood as Star Trek 's most famous Efrosian until Discovery 's " Labyrinths ."

That installment brought us Hy'Rell, the delightfully chipper and well-read Efrosian archivist who spent her days assisting visitors to the Eternal Gallery and Archive. Eager to share her extensive knowledge and greet all those who came in peace, Hy'Rell nevertheless proved willing to raise the library's shields, threaten to sentence troublemakers to its oubliette, and revoke agitators' access to the station's invaluable collection of cultural treasures.

An Eclectic Committee

"...But to Connect"

We'd be remiss if we didn't at least mention the multitude of unnamed species present throughout Discovery 's third, fourth, and fifth seasons. Most notably, many such cultures dispatched delegates to attend the Federation's DMA conference in "...But to Connect."

From a species which lost countless probes in the DMA to another that liquidated a wealth of latinum to figure out how to get a ship inside the anomaly, this grand assembly showcased the interstellar community's bustling and diverse nature.

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Jay Stobie (he/him) is a freelance writer, author, and consultant who has contributed articles to StarTrek.com, Star Trek Explorer, and Star Trek Magazine, as well as to Star Wars Insider and StarWars.com. Learn more about Jay by visiting JayStobie.com or finding him on Twitter, Instagram, and other social media platforms at @StobiesGalaxy.

Star Trek: Discovery Seasons 1-4 are streaming exclusively on Paramount+ in the U.S., the UK, Canada, Switzerland, South Korea, Latin America, Germany, France, Italy, Australia and Austria. Seasons 2 and 3 also are available on the Pluto TV “Star Trek” channel in Switzerland, Germany and Austria. The series streams on Super Drama in Japan, TVNZ in New Zealand, and SkyShowtime in Spain, Portugal, Poland, The Nordics, The Netherlands, and Central and Eastern Europe and also airs on Cosmote TV in Greece. The series is distributed by Paramount Global Content Distribution.