Showrunners Alex Kurtzman & Michelle Paradise and Actors Sonequa Martin-Green, Doug Jones, David Ajala, Wilson Cruz and Blu del Barrio talk to The Inside Reel about perspestive vs. perception, character build and journey in regards to the 5th and final season of their show: "Star Trek: Discovery" on Paramount+.
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00:00 [MUSIC]
00:10 >> Never a dull moment.
00:24 [MUSIC]
00:27 >> Since we talked since the very beginning before this premiered,
00:31 she's evolved so much, Burnham's evolved so much as a person.
00:35 Could you talk about Burnham's journey with perspective and perception?
00:41 Her perspective, her perception, both inwards, outwards,
00:45 from the crew, from her journey.
00:47 I know it's sort of a big question, a little esoteric, but
00:50 if you could talk about that.
00:51 >> I love big esoteric questions.
00:53 I'm gonna do my best to make it concise because we could go on and
00:58 on and on about it, right?
01:00 It's one of the things that makes us Star Trek Discovery is this evolution.
01:06 And it's not even just with Burnham, externally, internally,
01:10 with perception and perspective, it's with all the characters, right?
01:14 Every one of them could look back at their season one selves and
01:16 see that they were a completely different being at that time, right?
01:20 But I think a lot of it, if I had to say it in one sentence or so,
01:26 it would be that Burnham moved from needing to prove herself,
01:33 to understanding her place in the world.
01:36 From needing absolution to being able to give it to someone else.
01:42 She learned the hard way, she did the work.
01:50 But she learned that no one can give you your identity and
01:54 that your value as a human being or as a being in general,
01:59 doesn't have to be fought for because you are inherently invaluable.
02:05 She learned that over the course of those five seasons and
02:10 me Sonequa playing her even learned it for myself in some beautiful ways.
02:16 [MUSIC]
02:18 >> It has been a hell of a journey.
02:20 [MUSIC]
02:24 But everything ends someday.
02:25 [MUSIC]
02:27 >> The Discovery is my home, my family.
02:31 [MUSIC]
02:33 We've always been able to find answers together.
02:36 >> Being a part of a crew, being where you need to be,
02:38 when you need to be, that's Starfleet.
02:40 [MUSIC]
02:42 >> Last dance.
02:44 >> I shall follow your lead.
02:45 [MUSIC]
02:48 >> The greatest treasure in the known galaxy is out there.
02:52 [MUSIC]
02:54 It's more important than you can imagine.
02:56 [MUSIC]
02:58 >> The aspect of Star Trek Discovery, obviously, David,
03:01 I've talked to you about this before.
03:03 Doug, I don't think we've talked since Hellboy maybe.
03:05 >> Oh, gosh.
03:07 >> But the aspect of perspective and perception with these characters,
03:11 their perspective, how it has changed,
03:14 and their perception of how everybody sees them.
03:18 Could you guys talk about sort of that psyche?
03:21 Because each one of these characters has to live it in a different way.
03:24 >> Well, for Saru, I've been on quite a journey throughout the entire series.
03:32 Starting in season one, he was a high-ranking officer,
03:38 but he hadn't reached his full potential yet.
03:40 He was still living in great fear and trying to push through that every day to get his tasks done.
03:46 He was the first of his kind to have made it onto a starship ever.
03:53 So he was still kind of feeling that out.
03:56 He was also awkward with human touch and with handshakes and hugs.
04:01 By the end of this series,
04:03 he's hugging everybody, face cupping,
04:05 which is kind of part of me really.
04:08 That's who I am.
04:10 So the writers were very good about putting our own personalities into our characters too,
04:14 and letting us play with things that we know.
04:18 So Saru has come through and has developed a sense of confidence and courage that I didn't know he had in him.
04:28 I've learned a lot from him myself.
04:29 I'm kind of living a lot of fear myself,
04:31 so I've also developed a sense of courage.
04:33 What would Saru do when I'm facing something in my own life?
04:37 And it's like, "No, we can get through this."
04:39 That's what I've learned from him.
04:40 I think Cleveland Booker's journey is really special,
04:44 because when we first meet him, season three,
04:46 it's great hostility between him and Captain Burnham.
04:50 And we have to remember,
04:51 Cleveland Booker has been a Lone Ranger for many, many years.
04:56 It's him and Grudge gallivanting across space,
04:59 saving endangered species,
05:01 cut to season four,
05:02 and then into season five especially.
05:04 What's so wonderful is he's found a way to collaborate,
05:11 incorporate his skills within Starfleet from a very peaceful place.
05:15 I think he's found a new sense of purpose now, but within a team.
05:19 I think he had his preconceived ideas about working within an establishment,
05:23 but through Captain Burnham,
05:25 she has shown him the many, many benefits of truly everyone does achieve more when you work together.
05:30 (LASER FIRE)
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05:34 They can cloak.
05:35 (LASER FIRE)
05:37 (LASER FIRE)
05:39 We have to find a way past it.
05:41 See if you can communicate with it.
05:43 (LASER FIRE)
05:45 (LASER FIRE)
05:47 Could you pick up anything?
05:48 Yeah. It's really pissed off.
05:51 Time for plan B then?
05:52 On the count of three.
05:54 Is it on three or after three?
05:56 Second option. One, two, three, go.
05:59 Hey!
06:00 Go then.
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06:18 Michael, there's another one!
06:20 I need more time!
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06:23 Michael!
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06:35 Strategy within story, because it has to reflect character.
06:39 And all of these characters, not just Burnham, but everyone has changed so dramatically,
06:44 and you have to sort of milestone that, especially going into season five.
06:48 Can you talk about that?
06:49 How do you guys sort of have to look at character in that way, considering it's Star Trek,
06:54 but also to make it your own?
06:56 Sure, yeah.
06:57 Well, character is where we start every single season.
07:00 So even before we get into the big ideas of whatever it's going to be, and who's our bad
07:07 guy and all of those sorts of things, we start with, where did the character end last season?
07:12 What is the journey that we want for them this coming season?
07:16 Because it's very important to us that all of these characters continue to grow, and
07:19 that we continue to provide our amazing actors with material to play that will stretch them
07:26 and grow the characters and take them into new places.
07:31 We never want these beloved characters to be static.
07:36 And so once we've done that work, then naturally some of the other things come from that.
07:40 What are we exploring thematically, making sure that those arcs fit in with what we want
07:44 to do thematically?
07:45 What's the big idea for the season?
07:47 Who's the big bad?
07:48 And how can those bad guys and those sort of plot things challenge our characters and
07:53 help them in their emotional journeys?
07:55 We're on a search for one of the greatest powers ever known.
08:00 You could be very dangerous in the wrong hands.
08:07 This clue is the most important thing.
08:10 We have to keep it safe.
08:11 Let's fly.
08:12 My crew, the family I found in Starfleet, we made a pretty good team.
08:33 For all of you, congratulations on the progression, but it's about an evolution.
08:48 All these characters have gone through so much, but it's about perspective and perception,
08:53 how they're perceived, how they perceive outward and their perspective.
08:56 Could you each talk about that?
08:58 Because each one of these characters has their own individual journey in that way.
09:02 I want to start by saying that there's a bit of a running theme for all of these characters
09:09 from when you look at it as a whole for five seasons, that every single one of these main
09:14 characters is given a second chance at one point or another.
09:19 Each of us fails or dies, but then given an opportunity to get a second chance at making
09:30 it right or becoming better, better versions of themselves, being more complete versions
09:39 of themselves, giving themselves the opportunity to be their best selves, to live up to their
09:44 potential.
09:46 I think it's an incredibly hopeful thing to put out there right now, especially given
09:52 our cultural and political climate, that we can all choose to be better, to change.
10:00 I think in terms of Culber, I think before his death and his opportunity at a second
10:11 chance, he's kind of coasting, right?
10:15 He's being a good partner to Paul.
10:18 He's showing up for him in many ways and for the crew, but he's not really choosing himself.
10:25 What does he want?
10:26 And so at some point, he gets to choose his own life and really take ownership over it.
10:30 And I think for me, that's been one of the most fulfilling things.
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