Star Trek: Discovery stars Sonequa Martin-Green in teaser
The long-running Star Trek franchise has broken boundaries since it began in 1966 and its current iteration, Star Trek Discovery, is no different. The third season of the CBS sci-fi finally introduced transgender and non-binary characters to the universe, and showrunner Michelle Paradise has confirmed diversity and representation will play a major part in the upcoming fourth season.
Star Trek’s first transgender star Ian Alexander will play a pivotal role in Discovery’s fourth season as his Trill character Gray Tal, showrunner Michelle Paradise confirms.
Season three introduced the ground-breaking member of the cast alongside his partner and host, Adira Tal, portrayed by the series’ first non-binary actor Blu del Barrio.
The two new additions received significant fanfare from devoted Trekkies, and took the franchise’s themes of inclusivity and acceptance further than it had ever gone before.
Discovery’s latest instalment was also noted for its bombshell ending, which finally placed series lead Michael Burnham (played by Sonequa Martin-Green) in the captain’s chair.
Star Trek Discovery: Gray set for dramatic return as showrunner drops huge spoiler
The stage has now been set for an explosive fourth season, which Paradise confirms will pay off several pivotal character moments from season three.
She recently told Inverse: “We've watched her over the course of three seasons, and this felt like the right time to do it. And we're excited to see what she does next."
Though Michael Burnham is not the first Black woman to captain her own starship, as confirmed by extended Star Trek media and comic books, she is the first of the same to lead her own television series.
Ending on such a monumental moment for the franchise will be hard to top, but Paradise assured fans that season four will take a similarly progressive approach to TV representation.
She explained: "Representation matters. It matters to see a version of yourself on screen.
“It matters there are non-binary and transgender characters.
“It matters that there is a Black woman in the captain's chair. It matters that there is a gay couple on our show.”
Paradise, along with series creator and producer Alex Kurtzman, stunned fans with the inclusion of Gray and Adina’s human-Trill relationship in the last season.
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As is always the case with Star Trek, their romance was exceptionally unconventional compared to 21st century standards, thanks to Gray’s unique Trill conventions.
Until the end of season three, Gray was only visible to Adira as their symbiont, making them the first human to permanently bond with a Trill.
However, in ‘That Hope Is You, Part 2’, a revolutionary piece of holo-technology has finally made Gray visible to the rest of the crew.
Though their relationship may appear to have reached its pinnacle, Paradise promised the pair would continue to play a major role in season four.
She revealed: “We will continue to do that for the show, and the world we live in, but also, to honor the Star Trek legacy.
“And to be super clear, we will pay that moment off in Season 4. Gray will be seen. That promise will be paid off.”
Little is known about Discovery’s fourth season, though the starship’s newest captain is set to face even greater challenges than ever before.
Filming is currently taking place in Toronto with strict health and safety measures due to the continuing pandemic, and is expected to conclude in June in time for a late 2021 premiere.
Star Trek Discovery season 3 is available to stream on Netflix.