Warning: SPOILERS for Star Trek: Discovery’s Series Finale, “Life, Itself”

Captain Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) and Cleveland Booker (David Ajala) got a well-deserved happy ending in Star Trek: Discovery‘s series finale, and the sight of them growing old together is something I’ve wanted from Star Trek forever. Written by Kyle Jarrow and Michelle Paradise, and directed by Olatunde Osunsanme, Star Trek: Discovery ended with a poignant coda showing that Michael and Book made a life together after their romantic reunion on the beach at Admiral Saru (Doug Jones) and President T’Rina’s (Tara Rosling) wedding. Burnham and Book bucked the odds by having a family together, and it’s about time.

Star Trek traditionally celebrates friendship and the makeshift family a starship Captain finds with his crew above all else. To wit, a Star Trek Captain actually achieving love and family after saving the galaxy – and wanting to keep it or not be robbed of it – is a rare sight. Audiences have been conditioned to accept this bittersweet scenario as de rigueur for Star Trek. After all, Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner) dies alone in Star Trek Generations, Captain Benjamin Sisko (Avery Brooks) gives up his new wife and son to become a god in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, and after Star Trek: Voyager ended, Admiral Kathryn Janeway (Kate Mulgrew) didn’t find love or start a family.

Burnham & Book’s Happy Ending Perfectly Brings Their Star Trek: Discovery Love Story Full Circle

Discovery’s ending calls back to how Michael and Book began

Star Trek: Discovery’s series finale ending is unapologetically sentimental and romantic. Even better, Captain Burnham and Cleveland Booker’s reunion brilliantly harkens back to their unusual first meeting. Book tells Michael that he planted his Kwejian world root on Sanctuary Four, the planet they brought Molly the trance worm to after they met at the start of Star Trek: Discovery season 3. When Michael confesses that she “never stopped” loving Book, she also added he was “annoying as hell back then”. But Book and Michael both knew the truth – “You still love me“. Star Trek: Discovery knows this truth as well, and Burnham and Book got to live in this sweet moment of understanding that they loved each other since the moment they met, and they are meant to be together.

Thanks to Star Trek: Discovery, a Black man and woman were the central relationship in a Star Trek series, and they did not have to tragically part. Rather, Michael Burnham and Cleveland Booker endured a heartbreaking separation and the uncertainty of reconciliation, but they knew who their hearts truly belonged to, and they maturely acted on their feelings. To Star Trek: Discovery‘s credit, Burnham and Book were always equals, despite Michael’s Starfleet rank. Burnham and Book never compromised each other’s agency, and their actions always showed respect and understanding for each other, even when they were in disagreement. Michael and Book’s beach scene in Star Trek: Discovery’s ending lets them move forward together as partners. It was already a perfect ending, but Discovery‘s coda did it one better.

Admiral Burnham & Book’s Ending Breaks Star Trek Tradition For The Better

Discovery allowed Book and Michael to grow old and happy together

Star Trek: Discovery‘s finale epilogue flashes forward 30+ years to show Admiral Michael Burnham and Cleveland Booker have lived a happy life and grown old together, and it’s remarkable. They also have a son, Leto Burnham (Sawandi Wilson), who follows in Michael’s footsteps as a Starfleet Captain. In a rare sight for Star Trek that I’ve always wanted to see, Burnham and Book made their relationship work. They were (presumably) never torn apart by plot contrivances, or resentful toward each other because of a tragedy. Rather, Michael and Booker were rewarded with happiness and a family life that Star Trek, unfortunately, traditionally denies too many of its beloved main characters.

The lesson Michael learned – the answer to her biggest Star Trek: Discovery question – was that the meaning of it all isn’t in the mission, but in the loved ones she chooses to spend her time with. For Michael, that went from the USS Discovery’s crew to her husband and son. For Captain Leto Burnham, it will be the opposite. He grew up in a loving and supportive family, and now he must forge a found family with his new starship crew. Burnham and Booker took what Captain Sisko began on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and achieved the happy ending Ben was denied with his family. I’ve always wanted to see Star Trek show a love story in full and give one of its greatest Captains a reward after their starship voyages. I loved how Star Trek: Discovery’s ending truly did right by Michael Burnham and Cleveland Booker.