# Star Trek: Discovery (season 5)
The fifth season of *Star Trek: Discovery* (2017–2024) is the ten-episode final season of the [Paramount+](https://www.edgepedia.org/paramount) science fiction series *Star Trek: Discovery* and premiered on April 4, 2024.[1](https://www.paramountpressexpress.com/cbs-studios/shows/star-trek-discovery/releases) The season follows Captain Michael Burnham ([Sonequa Martin-Green](https://www.edgepedia.org/sonequa-martin-green)) and the crew of the USS *Discovery* as they race rival hunters to recover the technology of the Progenitors.[2](https://www.paramountpressexpress.com/paramount-plus/shows/star-trek-discovery/releases/?view=109582-season-five-loglines)
## Cast and characters
The season features the return of Sonequa Martin-Green as Captain Michael Burnham, with recurring characters including Book and Rayner.[2](https://www.paramountpressexpress.com/paramount-plus/shows/star-trek-discovery/releases/?view=109582-season-five-loglines) New additions include [Eve Harlow](https://www.edgepedia.org/eve-harlow) and Elias Toufexis as Moll and L'ak, a fugitive pair serving as the season's antagonists.[2](https://www.paramountpressexpress.com/paramount-plus/shows/star-trek-discovery/releases/?view=109582-season-five-loglines)
## Plot
The season's arc centers on a treasure hunt: after the *Discovery* intercepts an 800-year-old Romulan vessel containing a mysterious artifact, Burnham's crew competes with Moll and L'ak, pursued by the Breen, to assemble the components of the Progenitors' technology.[2](https://www.paramountpressexpress.com/paramount-plus/shows/star-trek-discovery/releases/?view=109582-season-five-loglines) In the finale, "Life, Itself", Burnham is trapped inside a mysterious alien portal that defies familiar rules of time, space, and gravity, and must fight Moll and the environment itself to secure the Progenitors' technology for the [Federation](https://www.edgepedia.org/federation).[2](https://www.paramountpressexpress.com/paramount-plus/shows/star-trek-discovery/releases/?view=109582-season-five-loglines) The episode closes the series, wrapping up the entire series and the ensemble cast's individual character arcs within its 80+ minute runtime.[3](https://www.startrek.com/news/warp-five-michelle-paradise-details-discovery-season-5-conclusion)
## Production
On March 2, 2023, Paramount+ announced that the series would conclude with its upcoming fifth season in early 2024.[1](https://www.paramountpressexpress.com/cbs-studios/shows/star-trek-discovery/releases) Michelle Paradise served as showrunner.[3](https://www.startrek.com/news/warp-five-michelle-paradise-details-discovery-season-5-conclusion) Olatunde Osunsanmi directed the premiere and the finale.[2](https://www.paramountpressexpress.com/paramount-plus/shows/star-trek-discovery/releases/?view=109582-season-five-loglines)
## Release and reception
Paramount+ released the season's first two episodes on April 4, 2024, with subsequent episodes debuting weekly on Thursdays.[1](https://www.paramountpressexpress.com/cbs-studios/shows/star-trek-discovery/releases) Critical reception was broadly positive: the Rotten Tomatoes critics consensus reads, "Lightening up just in time for one last voyage, Star Trek: Discovery concludes with a quest that sends this particular crew off in rousing fashion."[4](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/star_trek_discovery/s05) On Prime Video's retail listing the season holds a 4.4 out of 5 audience rating.[5](https://www.primevideo.com/detail/0M1EUZWI4Y6WHMQCMXOBT91JUO)
## References
1. Paramount Press Express – CBS Studios, Star Trek: Discovery releases. https://www.paramountpressexpress.com/cbs-studios/shows/star-trek-discovery/releases
2. Paramount Press Express – Star Trek: Discovery season 5 loglines. https://www.paramountpressexpress.com/paramount-plus/shows/star-trek-discovery/releases/?view=109582-season-five-loglines
3. StarTrek.com – WARP FIVE: Michelle Paradise Details Star Trek: Discovery's Epic Conclusion. https://www.startrek.com/news/warp-five-michelle-paradise-details-discovery-season-5-conclusion
4. Rotten Tomatoes – Star Trek: Discovery: Season 5. https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/star_trek_discovery/s05
5. Prime Video – Star Trek: Discovery – Season 5. https://www.primevideo.com/detail/0M1EUZWI4Y6WHMQCMXOBT91JUO
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Series and fictional screen worlds › Scripted television and comedy series › Adapted and franchise screen series › Space and science-fiction franchise television*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 19, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 19, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license