Star Trek: Discovery Season 5 Episode 10 Review: Life, Itself

Star Trek: Discovery Season 5 Episode 10, “Life, Itself,” finds Burnham squaring off against Moll after following her at the end of last week’s episode. Meanwhile, Rayner tries to fend off the Breen, and Saru keeps Primarch Tahal at bay. It’s a solid season finale, but it leaves a bit to be desired as a series finale. 

Life, Itself 

The resolution of the Progenitor arc feels very Star Trek-esque, even if somewhat frustrating in its paint-by-numbers format. That said, it is very Michael Burnham to declare that no one should have access to that kind of power. 

Her reasoning for this resurfaces decades later when she gives her son advice before he seizes his first command. Now an admiral, Burnham’s speech is thought-provoking, poignant, and touching. It perfectly encapsulates what this series represents: life itself. Life itself has meaning, and we don’t need to search beyond ourselves to prove that. 

Admiral Burnham’s pep talk to Captain Leto is one of the best parts of “Life, Itself.” Say what you will about Star Trek: Discovery‘s polarizing overall run, but Sonequa Martin-Green’s stellar performance is a constant. You can depend on her to deliver incredibly nuanced, vulnerable, fearless work. The series finale is no exception. 

Green plays the older version of her character well in the episode’s final minutes. You can still see Burnham’s vibrant energy and infectious optimism. 

Action Saru and Book 

Another highlight of “Life, Itself” is giving Doug Jones the platform to do what he does best. If you’ve kept up with these reviews, you know how much this reviewer has lamented the absence of Jones this season. Burnham and Saru’s bond is the crux of this series, and taking him out of the equation in the last hurrah feels like a mistake. 

Thankfully, Jones shines in the series finale. Saru’s fiery monologue while negotiating with Tahal is a stark reminder of how far our favorite Kelpien has come. No longer is he the passive, non-confrontational prey but the predator who confidently pounces. 

David Ajala is another dependable acting force in this series, and his easygoing chemistry with Green translates well onscreen. “Life, Itself” predictably brings Burnham and Book back together; however, it works. These two are made for each other. 

Missing in Action 

In a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it moment, the Star Trek: Discovery series finale brings Owosekun, Detmer, and Bryce back into the fold. They have zero dialogue, though. Even Reno gets nothing (which is a shame). Sure, we see the crew back together in a flashback on the bridge, but it doesn’t feel emotionally impactful. 

Yes, Burnham is the star. This series strays from the franchise formula by focusing on a single officer instead of an ensemble. However, we’ve spent five seasons with this crew. It would’ve tugged on our heartstrings more if we dug deeper into that family dynamic Admiral Burnham talks about with her son. 

What Happens Next?

The finale leaves the door open for Tilly, who could appear in the highly anticipated Star Trek: Starfleet Academy series. But what about the rest of the group? What happens to Stamets, Culber, Adira, Saru, Rayner, Rhys, etc.?

Perhaps this is the show’s way of presenting open-ended narratives for these characters should they reappear elsewhere, but the choice to omit them doesn’t land. 

Overall, “Life, Itself” certainly boasts shining moments, especially concerning Burnham’s arc and how her story ends. The outing is a nice balance of action, stirring dialogue, and heartwarming character beats. However, the lack of screen time for the crew of the U.S.S. Discovery makes this episode feel more like a season finale instead of a series finale. For that reason, it falls a bit flat. 

Star Trek: Discovery‘s tenure has been bumpy—no one can deny that. Thankfully, we can cling to the highs (and perhaps forget the lows), of which there have been quite a few. 

Stray Observations: 

• So, Dr. Kovich is Agent Daniels, the temporal agent from Star Trek: Enterprise. That was a pleasant surprise. I’d watch the hell out of a prequel or spin-off focusing on Kovich and his “Red Directive” missions (Moll can stay out, though). 
• That ending is definitely a tie-in to “Calypso.” 
• Did anyone else find it weird when Burnham initiates a fight with Moll and then tells her it “Doesn’t have to be this way”? 
• Listen, I understand the Progenitors have very small ears, but they still freak me out a bit. Don’t ask me why. 
• Action Saru and Burnham’s embrace made me weepy. I love their relationship, and that’s part of what this season sorely lacks. 
• I love that Burnham and Book settled on Sanctuary Four. What a lovely full-circle moment for them. 

What did you think of this episode of Star Trek: Discovery? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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Star Trek: Discovery Seasons 1 through 5 are now streaming on Paramount+. 

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