Summary
It would have been a great idea forStar Trek: Discoveryto spend more time at the wedding of Ambassador Saru (Doug Jones) and President T’Rina (Tara Rosling), and I wish a whole episode was devoted to their nuptials. The glimpses of Saru and T’Rina’s promised nuptials inStar Trek: Discovery’s series finale, “Life, Itself”, were far too brief, with no time devoted to the ceremony itself. It’s an unusual choice, given thatStar Trek: Discoveryseason 5 built up the first Vulcan-Kelpien wedding as an important eventwith political ramifications for the couple’s home planets of Ni’Var and Kaminar, and a personal goal for Captain Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) to attend.
It’s understandable that Saru and T’Rina’s wedding wasn’t given the spotlight inStar Trek: Discovery’s finale. Saru was absent for most ofStar Trek: Discoveryseason 5 due to Doug Jones' scheduling conflicts, making a Saru-heavy episode difficult to film.“Life, Itself” also needed to wrap up the season-long arc of Captain Burnham’s race against the Breen for the Progenitors' technology. Once it was clear that season 5 would beStar Trek: Discovery’s last, extra scenes were also added to close out the series. Without these constraints, however,Saru and T’Rina’s wedding could have been the central focusof a satisfying ending forStar Trek: Discovery.
Saru Is Missing From Star Trek: Discovery Season 5 - Doug Jones Explains Why
Saru hasn’t appeared in the last few episodes of Star Trek: Discovery season 5, and Doug Jones explains why the Kelpien is missing.
Star Trek Wedding Episodes Are Celebrations
Star Trek: Discovery Has A Lot To Celebrate
Unity and joy are front and center as overarching themes in previous series’Star Trekwedding episodes, even as adversity threatens to derail the couples' big days. Keiko Ishikawa (Rosalind Chao) is anxious about marrying Chief Miles O’Brien (Colm Meaney) inStar Trek: The Next Generationseason 4, episode 11, “Data’s Day”. Lt. Commander Jadzia Dax (Terry Farrell) faces scrutiny from Klingon traditions before marrying Lt. Commander Worf (Michael Dorn) inStar Trek: Deep Space Nineseason 6, episode 7, “You Are Cordially Invited”.Worries of opposition from T’Rina’s political opponents, the Vulcan Purists, might have been Saru’s minor hurdlein a low-stakes, lighterStar Trek: Discoveryepisode.
Saru and T’Rina’s wedding as the celebratory centerpiece of a singleStar Trek: Discoveryepisode would have been a perfect bookend to contrast the start ofStar Trek: Discovery.Tonally,Star Trek: Discoveryclimbed out of the darkness and into a brighter future, so the peace and unity symbolized by a wedding would be an intentionally striking contrast to the conflict and confusion that characterizedStar Trek: Discoveryseason 1. Here, as Saru and T’Rina exchange vows, their words could echo the promise thatStar Trek: Discoverymakes toStar Trekfans: to celebrate what unites us while delighting in our differences, with love and compassion for each other and for all.
Miles O’Brien and Keiko Ishikawa
Odo and Lwaxana Troi
Rom and Leeta
Tom Paris and B’Elanna Torres
Saru’s Wedding Could Have Explored Star Trek: Discovery’s Characters
Star Trek: Discovery’s Strength Is Its Character Growth
Star Trek: Discovery’s 5 seasons have been somewhat uneven, but an episode devoted to Saru’s wedding would emphasize thatStar Trek: Discovery’s true strength is the consistent evolution of characters and their relationships with one another.Michael Burnham and Saru’s friendship, in particular, is emblematic ofStar Trek: Discovery’s evolution. InStar Trek: Discoveryseason 1, Saru firmly believed that Burnham was dangerous, but Burnham proved herself time and again. Michael was at Saru’s side during his vahara’i inDiscoveryseason 2, and by the series' end, Saru and Burnham are trusted friends. Burnham’s role in Saru’s wedding could represent this evolution, but we never see it.
InStar Trek: Discoveryseason 2, episode 4, “An Obol for Charon”, Saru undergoes the vahara’i, the painful Kelpien biological process that sheds the threat ganglia and evolves Saru into a more confident character.
With other plot threads tied up,Star Trek: Discoverycould slow down at the wedding and reception, giving space to explore who these people are to one another, comparing and contrasting with where they started.All ofStar Trek: Discovery’s characters might have been able to have their own moment in the spotlighttoasting Saru or reminiscing. Instead, Saru and T’Rina’s ceremony is a mere montage, the reception is rushed, and Burnham and Cleveland Booker (David Ajala) seem to leave without saying goodbye, which is weird, given Michael and Saru’s close friendship. With a full episode, we could’ve gotten so much more ofStar Trek: Discovery’s wedding.
