It began with a pair of binary stars, but it concludes between a pair of black holes. The series finale of Star Trek: Discovery, “Life, Itself,” was written by Kyle Jarrow & Michelle Paradise and directed by Olatunde Osunsanmi.
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The portal from the previous episode remains suspended between the two black holes. Inside, Captain Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) awakens. She takes in the scenery (which recalls Discovery’s opening credits). The USS Discovery does not respond to Burnham’s hails. Her tricorder readings don’t make sense. Burnham concludes a bright light on the horizon must be her goal.
Burnham doesn’t see any sign of the Breen or Moll (Eve Harlow). She continues to describe her situation to the non-responsive Discovery. Windows to various locations throughout the immense space line the hall. Burnham speculates possible ways these may have been used. When she touches the “surface” of one of these windows, she finds her hand can reach inside. But then the rest of her is yanked through, too.
After a fall, Burnham lands in a barren environment with rainy weather. She looks up at the portal through which she entered, high in the air. But assessment is interrupted by the arrival of a Breen. Burnham attempts to make peace with the Breen but he attacks her, indifferent. But the fight is interrupted by an alert regarding impending hurricane-speed winds. In the ensuing gust, the Breen is blown clear. The winds die down. Burnham instructs the computer to alert her to the arrival of the next gust. When it arrives, Burnham uses it to reach the portal.
Star Trek: Discovery “Life, Itself”
Burnham climbs out of the portal. But she’s immediately attacked by a Breen. This Breen is swiftly taken out by Moll. Moll has an injury. Burnham tosses her a dermal regenerator. Moll knows Burnham knows how to find the tech, having completed the entire clue trail. Burnham knows Moll will do anything to resurrect L’ak. Moll and Burnham form a tenuous, tentative alliance.
Outside the portal, Discovery continues to monitor the portal. Rayner (Callum Keith Rennie) calls for a status report. Sylvia Tilly (Mary Wiseman) reports there’s still no sign of Burnham. Jemisen (Zahra Bentham) can’t get a transporter lock on the portal. Tilly says they could get the portal with the tractor beam, if they can get close enough. Asha (Christina Dixon) reports that’s difficult, given the debris.
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Gen Rhys (Patrick Kwok-Choon) reports the Breen dreadnaught still needs time for repairs after the attack in the previous episode. But Rayner suspects they’ll be back online soon. Naya (Victoria Sawal) reports Primarch Tahal (Patricia Summersett) is an hour away. Rayner states they must have the portal and be gone by the time she arrives. Rhys announces the dreadnaught has dispatched forty fighters. Discovery is pummeled by their attack.
At HQ, Admiral Vance (Oded Fehr) meets with Saru (Doug Jones) and D. Nhan (Rachael Ancheril). He says Discovery only has an hour until Tahal arrives. Saru’s plan involves approaching Tahal in a pathway drive-equipped shuttlecraft that has had its photo torpedoes disabled. He insists diplomacy cannot succeed when both parties display aggression. Vance cannot order one of his people on this mission. Nhan volunteers. Discovery is family to them both. Vance agrees.
Book and the Shuttle
Burnham and Moll have found the space to be virtually infinite. Burnham argues the tech must be turned over to the Federation. Moll says at least the Breen have a vested interest in getting her what she wants (L’ak’s resurrection). Burnham and Moll become embroiled in a classic Discovery-low-gravity fist/phaser fight. Thanks to the portals, their battle crosses through a “pink leaf” forest planet. After a brief return to the Progenitor hall, they end up on a lava planet.
Meanwhile, Discovery attempts to evade the Breen fighters. Naya identifies a plasma-heavy patch of space near one of the holes. This could combust with so much as a spark. Asha avoids the patch. Rayner recalls the avalanche in “Red Directive.” He says they have to take care of the fighters before dealing with the portal.
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Cleveland “Book” Booker (David Ajala) offers to take a shuttle. He’ll protect the portal from the Breen. He says Discovery will distract the Breen, so as to make this feasible. Rayner orders Linus (David Benjamin Tomlinson) to prepare a shuttle. Tilly says the radiation levels are too high for a shuttle. Rayner orders Paul Stamets (Anthony Rapp) to ensure Book is fatally irradiated. He wishes Book luck before Book beams off the bridge.
In engineering, Stamets and Adira Tal (Blu del Barrio) give Book the anti-radiation device. However, there’s still a limit to the protection it’ll offer. Hugh Culber (Wilson Cruz) arrives and gives Book an anti-radiation injection. He also announces he’s going with Book. Culber’s spiritual awakening this season has led to a resolution: Book will need his assistance.
The Progenitors’ Hall
Burnham urges Moll to stand down. Burnham promises she’ll get them out. She promises she’ll do everything in her power to help Moll and L’ak. Burnham isn’t asking Moll to trust the Federation, just her. Moll is convinced. Before they take the next step, Burnham makes Moll surrender her additional weapons. She also ascertains that Moll has L’ak in her portable pattern buffer.
Meanwhile, Book’s shuttle has left the ship. However, the Breen fighters maintain their attack on Discovery. There are too many to defend against. But Tilly, Naya and Rhys come up with an idea: lure the fighters into the plasma patch and ignite it, taking them all out simultaneously. Rayner orders them to undertake this plan.
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Inside the hall, Burnham points out that the extraordinary capabilities of the Progenitors means more possible hiding places for the tech must be considered. They must look beyond the three dimensions they can see. Burnham indicates the corners of one of the portals, which seems to feature a shadow cast by nothing. She had thought it was an optical illusion. But it’s more than that. Burnham reaches into said space. An illuminated field is revealed. Burnham and Moll step inside.
Meanwhile, Saru and Nhan approach Tahal’s ships in their shuttle. Nhan reports the dreadnaught has armed weapons. Saru hails Tahal, requesting an audience and noting their unarmed weapons. After a tense wait, Tahal answers. Saru says he requires Tahal’s attention and notes her failure to answer hails from President Rillak (Chelah Horsdal). Tahal states Starfleet has no place in a conflict between two Primarchs.
Primarch Tahal
Saru points out that a Starfleet vessel is already in conflict with the first Primarch’s vessel. The arrival of Tahal’s ships could escalate the situation into outright war. Saru states this will not serve her interests. But Tahal concludes that if a Starfleet vessel is in conflict with a Breen vessel near two black holes, whatever they’re fighting over may be of interest.
Saru says rather than “maybe,” why not something concrete? If she calls off her pursuit, the Federation will offer a trade route through a nebula. Tahal says his offer is of no interest and dismisses him. But Saru says they have the necessary information.
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Meanwhile, Burnham and Moll work their way through a field full of flowers. Burnham’s scan determines they’re standing on the Progenitor’s tech. They come upon a stone cairn. Burnham concludes it is a monument to the scientist who died attempting to activate the tech, first mentioned in “Jinaal.” In the middle of the field is a platform, which Burnham states is their destination.
They arrive on the platform. Sensing their presence, an interface appears. It looks like the map device and the structure that housed the portal in the previous episode. They approach the interface and multiple triangles appear. Moll reaches toward them but Burnham stops her. She says they need to consider the clue to avoid the scientist’s fate. If they are meant to “form the one between the many,” it could have indicated these triangles. Moll suggests forming a larger triangle with the nine smaller triangles. But Burnham insists the test will likely have deeper meaning.
Subspace Resonance Frequency
Burnham is interrupted by a message from Book. He promises he’s coming to rescue Burnham. But Moll uses the distraction to knock Burnham out. L’ak’s corpse is brought out of the pattern buffer. Moll promises to bring him back. She approaches the interface and forms a larger triangle. Illumination occurs and Moll thinks she’s found success. But soon she’s overtaken by more powerful energy. Threatening-looking energy appears throughout the flower field.
Outside, Book contacts Discovery and informs them something’s happening with the portal. Some object begins forming around it. Tilly ascertains that the portal is using one of the holes as a power source. But if one hole gets too small, the other one’s gravity will overtake it. Rayner informs Book he has a gravity problem.
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Meanwhile, the last of the Breen fighters enter the plasma behind Discovery. Rhys fires photo torpedoes, causing the plasma to ignite. Every single Breen fighter is destroyed. Unfortunately, the dreadnaught is back in operation. It’s approaching the portal and Book. Rayner orders an intercept course. He instructs Book and Culber to grab the portal. Meanwhile, the power-draining process has progressed to the point that the portal is drifting towards the other hole.
Book and Culber can’t grab the portal with the tractor beam. But suddenly Culber has a realization. He instructs Book to “synchronize to the portal’s subspace resonance frequency: 5.1732.” Culber is convinced it will work. Book synchronizes. Successful tractor beam lock achieved. But power that would otherwise go to protection must go to maintaining the tractor beam. They can’t let Burnham go.
Kelpien Diplomacy
Aboard Saru and Nhan’s shuttle, they receive a message from Tahal. They have 30 seconds to leave or be destroyed. Saru hails Tahal again. He accuses Tahal of being a coward and says he will leave knowing that truth. Tahal answers and says he will not leave, as he has now forfeited his life. Citing his Kelpien identity, Saru states he is a predator. Saru states he has determined the location of a secret Breen base.
Tahal wonders what difference this makes. Saru asserts that he has positive diplomatic relations with many civilizations in the area. He says at his request, they will attack the Breen base. This will cause a great loss of life, Tahal observes. Saru concedes this but points out it will also cost Tahal the throne. He asserts that this outcome can only be avoided if Tahal turns her ships around. Tahal states he’s bluffing. Saru stares her down. Tahal cuts the transmission but changes course. Nhan asks if this is all from Tahal. Saru is skeptical. He instructs her to drop the shuttle out of warp and engage warp.
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In the field, Burnham awakens to another garbled transmission from Book. She sits up among the flowers. Burnham approaches Moll, who is unresponsive as she stands paralyzed over the interface. After freeing Moll, Burnham attempts to inform Book of Moll’s need for medical assistance.
Burnham turns her attention to the triangles on the interface. She realizes she can form a triangle in the negative space between the nine smaller triangles. Another light illuminates the interface. Suddenly, Burnham is somewhere else; or at least, in the same place with dramatically different lighting.
The Chase Concludes
A Progenitor (Somkele Iyamah-Idhalama) approaches. She’s been waiting. Burnham asks how it’s possible. The Progenitors are dead. The Progenitor confirms her species is extinct. However, their minds are meeting in “this liminal spacetime parallel to [the Progenitor’s] own.” Her duty is to pass along instructions for the tech.
Burnham says they’ll get to that. But first, she asks if they can stop the portal’s effect on her spacetime. Burnham explains the situation with Moll, noting the risk to Discovery. The Progenitor explains that time functions differently in this space. In Burnham’s time, the tech is gathering the necessary power for functionality. Burnham asks if it can be used to restore life. The Progenitor says a lost being can be replaced with a new genetic duplicate. However, it would not retain the memories of the previous being.
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However, the scale of life created by the tech can be altered. Burnham notes it could be used to create an army. The Progenitor says a brick can be used as a weapon or to build a house. She reveals they didn’t create the tech, they simply found it. They theorized the creator of the tech also created the Progenitors. But perhaps the cycle repeats again further back in history.
Outside, Book and Culber discuss the structural integrity of the shuttle. Culber states he wishes to stay as long as he can. Book asks how he knew how to grab the portal. Culber reveals for the first time, he unexpectedly recalled one of Jinaal’s memories. The scientists had to solve the issue to build the structure around the portal. Culber accepts this on faith.
Breen Voyager
Lt. Christopher (Orville Cummings) reports a message from Saru. Tahal has mostly abandoned her pursuit. However, a cloaked scout vessel remains en route. This may be to determine what the Federation is so devoted to hiding. Tahal will return with an army if she becomes aware of the Progenitor’s tech.
Rayner has an idea. He suggests disabling spore drive safety protocols in order to jump something that isn’t Discovery. In engineering, Stamets says this would be impossible. But then he and Adira conceive of a method to accomplish it. Using two poles, they could extend the entanglement field. Tilly suggests separating the saucer from the secondary hull. Rayner suggests sending the Breen to the Galactic Barrier. They’ll survive and be able to make it back… eventually. Rayner orders them to execute. Saru and Nhan are charged with getting the scout ship in the vicinity of the dreadnaught.
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Meanwhile, the Progenitor tells Burnham that she’s only the second person to reach her, after Derex. Derex said the galaxy wasn’t ready for the tech. So the Progenitor agreed to delay handing off the tech. However, Derex’s side of the deal was to build the path that would help the next person to arrive to be better prepared. Burnham still doesn’t want to accept.
However, the Progenitor reassures her. All sentient beings struggle. But the Progenitor can see Burnham has wrestled with this and come out stronger. Burnham insists it isn’t just about her but about those outside the pocket dimension. The Progenitor tells Burnham she must determine what is most meaningful to her. Outside, the scout reaches the dreadnaught.
The Progenitor’s Meaning
The Progenitor cites many sources of meaning. “Advancement of science,” “devotion to duty,” “connection and love,” “the beauty of the unknowable,” and “family and community or in their capacity for change” are all cited. Meanwhile, Rayner orders Black Alert. Discovery successfully jumps to two Breen ships. As the Progenitor continues, she says she found meaning in diversity of existence. She cites the Progenitor mission of bringing life to the galaxy.
Burnham says she has been struggling with finding her own meaning. The Progenitor trusts the meaning will become clear to her. Burnham needs time to think. And in order to do that, she needs to know her friends are safe. The Progenitor will return Burnham to her present. Removing her hands will stop the tech. And if Burnham returns, she and the Progenitor will continue her training. The Progenitor has faith in Burnham’s wisdom. She touches Burnham’s head.
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Burnham experiences a revelation. She sees the past four billion years, and her own personal path to life. Then she awakens at the tech’s interface. She awakens Moll and tells her they have to get out of there. Moll asks if L’ak was saved. Burnham says nothing there can resurrect him. L’ak’s body is returned to the pattern buffer. Burnham helps Moll to her feet and they leave.
Outside the portal, the reaction has stopped. Book detects two life signs inside and locks on to them. Burnham and Moll are beamed aboard the shuttle. Culber begins treating Moll. Book updates Burnham. She tells him she heard him and thanks him for holding on. “Always,” says Book.
Final Returns
In Discovery’s ready room, Burnham and Saru reunite. Stamets arrives and says it’s the greatest scientific discovery of their lifetime. Burnham shares her experience. She says she’s realized they already have infinite diversity in infinite combinations. They don’t need the tech. She says it’s too powerful for one person or culture to control. She says they need to let it go. Rayner cites orders. Stamets cites science. Saru defends Burnham. Burnham stops all of them.
The Progenitor trusted Burnham to make the decision. She says she’ll get Vance and Rillak to agree. “It’s the right thing to do.” Stamets concedes. Burnham, Rayner and Saru leave. Tal asks Stamets if he didn’t learn a lot from the mission. They point out that’s all Stamets can control, anyway. Stamets asks them, “When did you get so wise?”
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Discovery uses the tractor beam to send the portal into one of the holes. Then it travels by spore drive back to Starfleet HQ. There, Book approaches Nhan. She is watching Moll, who is in a biobed. Book approaches the biobed. Moll notes her brig has a window. Book says he hopes Moll will find her way again, as he did. He tells her that if she needs him, he’s there.
Nhan doesn’t know how long Moll will be locked up. But afterward, she’s to be brought to Kovich (David Cronenberg), who has plans for her.
Kovich Revealed!
Elsewhere, Burnham beams into Kovich’s office. He informs her the red directive has been closed. The Progenitor’s tech will remain classified. Burnham brings up Moll. Kovich says she’s a capable individual, and it’ll be her choice anyway. Burnham asks if she’ll be given an infinity key. She attempts to return hers.
Kovich says he’s lived many years and lives. He says Burnham is one of the few who have impressed and aggravated him as much as Burnham. She is to keep the key. Burnham takes in the Easter egg-laden trinkets behind Kovich’s desk. She points out “Kovich” is a codename. They re-introduce themselves. Kovich’s real name? “Agent Daniels, USS Enterprise,” he says. “And other places.”
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Several weeks later, T’Rina (Tara Rosling) and Saru are married. Burnham tells them it was a beautiful ceremony. Tilly and Rayner approach, and Tilly cites their relationship. She says this type of connection is what they’re missing at Starfleet Academy. Tilly is starting a mentorship program.
Book arrives. He had a run-in with Talaxian pirates while returning. Book reveals he’s planted the world root from “Labyrinths” on Sanctuary Four. Book pulls Burnham outside. He thanks Burnham for the mission, which helped him find his way. Book reveals his sentence was commuted. Burnham asks him what’s next. Book says he and Grudge are still figuring it out. The future is scary, but they’re both there together. They profess their love for each other and kiss. Then they’re both called away by Kovich.
Epilogue: Sanctuary Four
Decades later on Sanctuary Four, Admiral Burnham and Book share a secluded home. Burnham still has the infinity key. She goes downstairs and is greeted by Book. They share a special cup of coffee and embrace. Book says it’s a good day and offers to come. She says it’s okay, and says it feels like she should go alone. In the yard, Burnham mends a fence, addressing some wildlife as she does so.
A shuttle UFP-47 arrives above the backyard. Burnham’s son, Leto (Sawandi Wilson), beams onto the Starfleet insignia. Book comes out to join the hug. Burnham emphasizes her son’s status as captain. And then she tells Book she’ll see him in a few days. She activates her uniform and the two generations beam back to the shuttle. Then it takes off, passing over a landscape populated with trance worms and the world tree while leaving.
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Leto informs her Tilly says “hi.” Tilly has become the longest-tenured Academy professor ever. Leto has just received his first command. She coaches him, drawing on her own experiences. “Sometimes life itself is meaning enough,” she tells him. “How we choose to spend the time that we have, who we spend it with: you, Book, and the family I found in Starfleet, on Discovery.” She assures Leto he will become family with his crew, too.
The shuttle arrives at HQ. The USS Discovery-A is in drydock receiving its finishing touches via DOT. Burnham says she’s glad she’s leading Discovery’s final mission and will have a chance to say “goodbye.”
Epilogue: ‘Calypso’
Burnham arrives on Discovery’s bridge. She’s greeted by Zora (Annabelle Wallis). Burnham explains Discovery will be brought to coordinates in deep space. Then Burnham and the crew will leave Discovery there. Then Discovery waits. It’s a red directive, so all Burnham has for Zora is one word: “Craft.” Zora says she’ll find out what it means eventually (in Star Trek: Short Treks’ “Calypso”).
Burnham guesses Zora’s wait will be longer than her lifetime. But when the mission is complete, Zora can return to HQ to meet Burnham’s descendants. “Everything ends someday, but there will be a new beginning when you come back,” Burnham assures her. She reflects that it has been “a hell of a journey.”
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Zora invites Burnham to sit in the center chair. Burnham says it feels like home. She is inundated with memories. Soon we see her younger self joined by many members of the rest of the crew. This includes Saru, Rayner, Christopher, Tilly, Tal, Stamets, Jett Reno (Tig Notaro), Ronald A. Bryce (Ronnie Rowe Jr.), Linus, Joann Owosekun (Oyin Oladejo), Keyla Detmer (Emily Coutts), Culber and Rhys.
In the present, Burnham asks Zora if she’s ready. “Last time, then,” says Burnham. “Let’s fly.” Discovery leaves drydock. Dozens of ships and hundreds of shuttles line its path as it leaves. Discovery spore jumps away from HQ.
All five seasons of Star Trek: Discovery are currently available for streaming on Paramount+.
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