A new promo for Star Trek: Discovery highlights the Klingons and reveals the series has been rated TV-MA. The show, which finally premieres in late September on CBS All-Access, is the first series from the pop culture phenomenon to air on TV in 12 years. The franchise itself began a little over 50 years ago, and in that time it has grown to encompass film, television, novels, video games, comic books and so much more. That’s a lot of history to get through in a short time, but luckily the new series is taking us back to the beginning.
Set roughly a decade before the original series, Star Trek: Discovery explores exactly what happened during the Federation-Klingon war. The Klingons are a species that have existed on Star Trek since the very beginning, created primarily as antagonists of the USS Enterprise. Over the course of the series, however, their relationship grew closer, but it’ll be fascinating to see where their rivalry first began.
A new promo below for Star Trek: Discovery gives us hints at the backstory of the Klingons’ animosity towards the Federation. The promo features T’Kuvma (Chris Obi), a Klingon leader intent on uniting the Klingon houses. The teaser also seems to be a response to a previous video narrated by series lead Lt. Commander Michael Burnham, played by The Walking Dead‘s Sonequa Martin-Green, where she explains that the Federation comes in peace. It doesn’t sound like T’Kuvma believes her.
We must fight for one thing above all: to remain Klingon. https://t.co/zyUNS2I9Af #StarTrekDiscovery pic.twitter.com/gviA8SP8co— Star Trek: Discovery (@startrekcbs) August 25, 2017
T’Kuvma proudly tells his fellow Klingons in the promo, “They are coming. Atom by atom they will silence us. Cell by cell our souls shall become theirs. We must fight for one thing above all – to remain Klingon.” There are rumors that maybe the Klingons believe the Federation are to blame for the Augment virus, which took away the species’ forehead ridges as seen in the original series. It’s not clear whether his words should be taken literally, but at the very least, the Klingons clearly believe the Federation is coming to destroy their way of life, whether culturally or genetically.
Another point of note in the promo is the fact the series appears to be rated TV-MA. Showrunner Aaron Harberts had originally said they were creating a show that fans could share with their families but that there would also be some violent content and a bit of language. Even though the legacy of the franchise will remain intact, Star Trek: Discovery could be the darkest series to come down the pipeline. Known more for being about exploration, this new entry will instead be about a major conflict. There’s no doubt we’re getting a different kind of Star Trek this time around.
MORE – Star Trek: Discovery Promo Comes In Peace
Star Trek: Discovery premieres Sunday, September 24 on CBS All-Access.
