Star Trek Discovery: Biggest Unanswered Questions for Season 3

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Warning: SPOILERS for Star Trek: Discovery season 3 finale - "That Hope Is You, Part 2"

Star Trek: Discovery's season 3 finale wrapped up the major storylines of Captain Michael Burnham's (Sonequa Martin-Green) first adventures in the 32nd century, but many questions remain for season 4 to address. By the end of "That Hope Is You, Part 2," Michael and the bridge crew saved the U.S.S. Discovery and the United Federation of Planets from the Emerald Chain and their leader, Osyraa (Janet Kidder). Discovery also rescued their friends trapped in the Verubin Nebula and uncovered the origin of The Burn. Burnham was rewarded for her heroics by being named the new Captain of Discovery.

The Burn was the central mystery of Star Trek: Discovery season 3 and it was revealed that it was inadvertently caused by Su'Kal (Bill Irwin), a young Kelpien who was born in the radioactive Verubin Nebula and was genetically infused with dilithium. It was a strange and disappointing explanation for The Burn, but thankfully, Discovery's other adventures in the year 3189 were more thrilling. Star Trek: Discovery season 3 reintroduced the Federation as a shell of its former self, an isolationist United Earth, and classic aliens like the Vulcans and Romulans, who now share Ni'Var, the planet formerly known as Vulcan. There was an unexpected but welcome return to the Mirror Universe that led to the departure of Emperor Philippa Georgiou (Michelle Yeoh), who will soon star in her own Star Trek spinoff. Osyraa and the Emerald Chain also emerged as worthy foes for Burnham and Discovery.

The final moments of "That Hope Is You, Part 2" gave Star Trek: Discovery a new paradigm going into season 4. Burnham's victory not only got her a long-awaited promotion and command of the U.S.S. Discovery, but it also launched a resurgence of the Federation. Meanwhile, some characters' futures are now pointed in new directions while larger mysteries remain, such as the revelation of the Temporal Wars of the 30th century and their far-reaching ramifications. Star Trek: Discovery season 3 also cemented the series as the flagship of the Star Trek franchise on CBS All-Access by honoring and integrating the legacy of the prior Star Trek series and even the alternate Kelvin timeline of J.J. Abrams' Star Trek movies. With Captain Burnham now flying Discovery into the new final frontier, here are the biggest questions Star Trek: Discovery season 3 left behind.

10. What Will Saru Do Next?

 

In order for Burnham to assume the Captain's chair, Star Trek: Discovery season 3 wrote out Captain Saru (Doug Jones), who voluntarily surrendered command after meeting Su'Kal. Saru's new direction was seeded late in the season when he learned it was a Kelpien ship that was trapped in the Verubin Nebula, which triggered his hidden but overwhelming desire to reconnect with his people. Saru has now opted to take a leave of absence to guide Su'Kal's integration into Kelpien society on Kaminar as well as enjoy his own homecoming.

Saru finally becoming Captain of Discovery was a highlight of season 3, so it's disappointing that the starship's game of musical captain's chair continued. What surrendering his command ultimately means for Saru remains to be seen. Will he return to Starfleet? Will he become Discovery's Captain once again? Will he become an Admiral, or will he become an Ambassador to Kaminar? Saru is definitely returning in Star Trek: Discovery season 4 but it's unclear what his next steps will be.

9. Is The Emerald Chain Really Gone?

 

Osyraa's bold plan to unite the Emerald Chain with the Federation had merit, but the Orion Minister reverted to super-villainy when she realized she wouldn't be allowed to control the new entity she dreamed up. Ultimately, Burnham killed Osyraa and destroyed her flagship, the Viridian. The final moments of "That Hope Is You, Part 2" briefly noted that "the Emerald Chain fractured without Osyraa." Does that mean the Chain is completely defeated or will someone else take the reigns? It seems both unlikely and far too convenient that the vast and militarily powerful Emerald Chain is no longer a factor and they were excellent villains. Will a different incarnation of the Emerald Chain emerge under a new leader in Star Trek: Discovery season 4?

8. Who Is The Federation President?

 

Osyraa expected to parlay with the Federation President but instead, Admiral Charles Vance (Oded Fehr) conducted negotiations. This left the open question of who the Federation President is in the 32nd century. Starfleet and the Federation share their hidden starbase headquarters so presumably, the President does live and work somewhere in that vast complex.

Will Star Trek: Discovery season 4 reveal who, exactly, oversees the Federation? Some fans speculate that Kovich (David Cronenberg) is secretly the Federation President while others conjecture that Lt. Adiya Sahil (Adil Hussain) will end up with the job. Will Star Trek: Discovery season 4 bear out one of those two theories, introduce a new character, or will Admiral Vance get the job as Federation President?

7. Will The Sphere Data Become Zora?

 

The Sphere Data gained sentience in Star Trek: Discovery season 3, taking a huge step forward towards becoming Zora (Annabelle Wallis), Discovery's artificially intelligent computer introduced in the Short Trek "Calypso". The Sphere Data infused with Discovery's computer but uploaded itself into the DOT-23 repair droids when the Emerald Chain captured the starship. The Sphere Data/DOT-23s then fought side-by-side with Discovery's bridge crew against the Emerald Chain and it even sacrificed itself to save Lt. Joann Owosokun (Oyin Oladejo). By the end of "That Hope His You, Part 2," Owo and Commander Jett Reno (Tig Notaro) were able to resurrect the Sphere Data.

The idea behind the Sphere Data is that Discovery is gradually becoming sentient and that the starship itself protects and cares for its crew. Will that evolution continue in Star Trek: Discovery season 4, and will the Sphere Data take on the persona of Zora? Further, will "Calypso" actually happen, or is the Short Trek now set in an alternate future considering the upgrades and changes to the Discovery-A that aren't reflected in "Calypso"?