David Ajala On Star Trek: Discovery Season 5, Michael & Moll Relationships, And Grudge’s Farewell To Set

Warning: SPOILERS For Star Trek: Discovery Season 5, Episode 5 – “Mirrors”

David Ajala returns as Cleveland Booker in Star Trek: Discovery season 5, as the former courier’s expertise is vital to catching Moll (Eve Harlow) and L’ak (Elias Toufexis), Discovery season 5’s new villains. Booker’s pet cat, Grudge, is also back.

In Star Trek: Discovery season 5, Cleveland Booker joins Captain Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) and the USS Discovery’s hunt for the ancient treasure of the Progenitors, which has the power to create life. Book’s reunion with Burnham is awkward as they have been estranged since their romance ended. Meanwhile, Book realizes Moll is the daughter of his mentor, Cleveland Booker IV, and he is desperate to connect with Moll, who is the closest thing Cleveland now has to family.

Screen Rant interviewed David Ajala about Cleveland Booker’s need to connect with Michael Burnham and Moll in Star Trek: Discovery season 5, filming on Star Trek: Strange New Worlds’ Enterprise sets, and the potential of returning as Book in Star Trek: Starfleet Academy.

Grudge Took The End Of Star Trek: Discovery Hard

Screen Rant: When you and the cast found out that Discovery season 5 is the final season, who told Grudge and how did Grudge react?

David Ajala: I had to tell Grudge. And you wanna know a secret? Grudge took it pretty well, actually. I mean, she’s far from being overly sentimental. But I think the main thing that she was just disappointed by is that she will no longer have a whole trailer to herself. She was a bit bummed out by that. I told her, ‘Hey, you’ve got me.’ She’s like, ‘Yeah.’

Did she get on the phone and call her agent?

David Ajala: So you know she’s got an agent, then. So you know that she has a whole entourage. It’s an agent, manager, stylist, groomer. Someone who feeds her cat treats. Myself. I’m part of the entourage. There’s a few. It’s a bit embarrassing, but we love her.

When Discovery ended, did you keep anything from the set? Tell me you kept one of Booker’s coats.

David Ajala: Absolutely, I kept something, John, but I don’t wanna get in trouble. So I can’t say what. I may have taken one thing. (laughs) You have to.

Although Discovery isn’t over yet, looking back, what’s your lasting impression of Cleveland Booker and Michael’s relationship, and playing it for three years with Sonequa?

David Ajala: When Sonequa reached out to me, [and] I knew that I was joining the show or I had been cast, she said, ‘Welcome to this wonderful world where everyone supports each other, where we’re so excited to be on set, where we literally believe that we have lightning in a bottle.’ I believe that their relationship is lightning in a bottle, but it’s lightning that feels, dare I say it, safe. It’s exciting, and it feels safe. I think these two will always be in each other’s lives. I think they bring out the best in each other. And behind every great woman is herself.

What It Was Like Filming On Star Trek: Strange New Worlds’ Enterprise Sets

This week’s episode of Discovery is one of my favorites of season 5. You, Sonequa, Eve Harlow, and Elias Toufexis spent most of the episode on the Enterprise set. I need to know what that was like for you.

David Ajala: Oh, it was amazing. Like, truly, because it’s one thing, seeing it on the screen. And having seen it many times over the years, and then now to physically be in that space… It was tricky. It was. And I think seeing it for the first time, my reaction was captured on camera because I wanted it to be that. And just to see how Sonequa looked around and took in the space, and held the space in such reverence and awe just really helped to enjoy the magic of that moment.

You guys shot that episode during Strange New Worlds’ hiatus, right? They had already finished season 2.

David Ajala: That’s right.

When you were on Strange New Worlds‘ sets, did you notice a difference between their set and Discovery’s set? Is there something they have that you guys don’t, and you were like, ‘Hey, how come they have this and we don’t?’ Or was it vice versa?

David Ajala: It was more vice versa? Oh, man, y’all don’t have this, but we do? All right, then. It is what it is. There were few little tiny details that we were very grateful for at the time. But you can tell the distinct difference between the two sets. They’re not too dissimilar, but I definitely prefer our set. And that’s not being biased. I think it’s just more fun, because there’s a lot of little hidden things that we have that helped us to get through our days when we’re filming. I’ll say that much without getting in trouble.

Booker Tries to Connect With Burnham & Moll In Discovery Season 5

I love that Book is very zen this season. In season 4, he was in dire straits. His planet blew up. He lost his family. He lost Michael. He went to prison. But Book is very centered now. Can you talk about this new approach to playing Book and where he’s at in season 5?

David Ajala: Thank you, by the way, John. I appreciate that. I think with this version of Cleveland Booker, he is someone who, loosely, I’ll say this, he has had a fall from grace very, very publicly, but with the best of intentions.

He’s also someone who has been given a second chance. And I feel that he understands the grace he’s been afforded to be given a second chance. And I think he grabs that second chance like a life raft. It helps to be intentional again. So I think he’s operating from a place of a much deeper level of intentionality. And I think, also, he loves Michael, and he wants to be seen in the best light with regard to Michael because he care. Beyond the ego, I think he cares deeply for her.

I honestly think Michael and Book is one of the greatest love stories ever told in Star Trek. And you know, it’s not over yet. But the depth of it, the honesty, just the beauty of the two of them, the way they support each other, even when they’re at odds, I think it’s just beautiful to watch.

David Ajala: That’s wonderful. Thank you, John.

Talk to me a little bit about Booker’s desire to connect with Moll. I understand Book’s feeling that she’s the closest thing to family he has left.

David Ajala: Exactly. And it’s such a profoundly huge idea to digest, but his whole planet, Kwejian, was obliterated. There is nothing left of it whatsoever. In fact, the only physical thing he has is the chain, the necklace around his neck. That’s the only thing he has of Kwejian. And then, now, to be in such close proximity with an individual who is the closest thing to family that he has, this feels also like another second chance. But this second chance, I guess, is a lot more complicated. But I think because of the need Cleveland Booker has to connect. I think he will do the utmost to try and reach Moll.

I also really like how Moll and L’ak remind Book of himself and Michael during the courier days. I just love that.

David Ajala: Yeah, I’m really happy you picked up on that, John. That is such a lovely little detail, which I think charges the energy better and increases the stakes because now he’s looking at a parallel version of him and Michael Burnham. He gets them. He understands the thrill they seek, the thrill of the chase. Better the devil you know, right? I love that. And more will be revealed as the episodes continue.

Book’s Future In Star Trek After Discovery

This is the final season. If Discovery had continued, was there ever a chance of Booker actually joining Starfleet? Is that something you or he would have wanted?

David Ajala: Potentially. I think it’s an invitation that he would have been gracious enough to accept and not to claim. But I think what’s important to Cleveland Booker is to be the master of his fate, and to keep and maintain that autonomy. So, if there’s a hybrid version of being able to maintain that autonomy, and also be of service to Starfleet, whatever that role looks like, Cleveland Booker would gladly take that role.

Before I let you go, I’m gonna float an idea about you, and tell me what you think: Professor Cleveland Booker – Starfleet Academy.

David Ajala: Done deal. But you missed one key ingredient and feature: Professor Cleveland Booker and Grudge – Starfleet Academy. I ain’t trying to get no enemies out here, John. I need to make sure I put some respect on the Queen’s name.

Yes. I’ve got it: Chancellor Grudge – Starfleet Academy.

David Ajala: There you go. There you go. I love that. Done deal. Love that so much. And so will Grudge.

About Star Trek: Discovery Season 5

The fifth and final season of Star Trek: Discovery finds Captain Burnham and the crew of the USS Discovery uncovering a mystery that will send them on an epic adventure across the galaxy to find an ancient power whose very existence has been deliberately hidden for centuries. But there are others on the hunt as well … dangerous foes who are desperate to claim the prize for themselves and will stop at nothing to get it.

Check out our other Star Trek: Discovery season 5 interviews here:

• Sonequa Martin-Green
• David Ajala and Doug Jones
• Wilson Cruz, Mary Wiseman & Blu del Barrio
• Alex Kurtzman and Michelle Paradise
• Callum Keith Rennie
• Eve Harlow and Elias Toufexis

New episodes of Star Trek: Discovery season 5 stream Thursdays on Paramount+