Star Trek: Discovery’s 6 Best Friendships

Star Trek: Discovery has some of Star Trek’s best friendships. Since the adventures of Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner) and Mr. Spock (Leonard Nimoy) on Star Trek: The Original Series, friendship has been a big part of Star Trek. Along with Dr. Leonard McCoy (DeForest Kelley), Kirk and Spock formed an iconic trio, whose friendship came to define the dynamic of their characters. From Lt. Commander Data (Brent Spiner) and Lt. Geordi La Forge (LeVar Burton) on Star Trek: The Next Generation to Dr. Julian Bashir (Alexander Siddig) and Chief Miles O’Brien (Colm Meany) on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, every Star Trek series has had at least one iconic friendship.

Star Trek: Discovery has worn a lot of different hats since its beginnings, going from a dark revenge-focused story in its first seasin to an intergalactic adventure story in its final season. But through all of Discovery’s ups and downs, Captain Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) has been at the center of the story, and her relationships and the relationships of those around her form the heart of the show. Star Trek: Discovery has allowed its characters to show more emotion than any previous Star Trek show, making the friendships among the crew of the USS Discovery feel all the more authentic.

6

Keyla Detmer & Joann Owosekun

USS Discovery’s pilot and the operations officer.

Although Lt. Commander Keyla Detmer (Emily Coutts) and Lt. Commander Joann Owosekun (Oyin Oladejo) have been largely absent from Star Trek: Discovery season 5, their friendship has been a subtle throughline since the show’s first season. Detmer serves as Discovery’s helmsman, while Owosekun (or Owo) serves as an operations officer. Much like Lt. Hikaru Sulu (George Takei) and Ensign Pavel Chekov (Walter Koenig) in Star Trek: The Original Series, Detmer and Owo sit next to each other on the bridge and often trade looks and remarks.

Throughout Star Trek: Discovery, Detmer and Owosekun have been seen spending time off duty with one another and other members of the crew. As Discovery progressed, it became obvious Keyla and Joann had a well-established rapport, and they have both proven to be invaluable members of the USS Discovery’s crew. In the latter half of Star Trek: Discovery season 4, Owosekun and Detmer finally began joining away missions and getting more to do, so hopefully they will ​​​return for the last few episodes of Star Trek: Discovery season 5.

5

Michael Burnham & Philippa Georgiou

A surprising connection that spans universes.

When Star Trek: Discovery first began, Commander Michael Burnham was the First Officer of the USS Shenzhou under Captain Philippa Georgiou (Michelle Yeoh). When Burnham’s actions inadvertently led to Georgiou’s death, Michael was devastated. After Captain Gabriel Lorca (Jason Isaacs) took the USS Discovery to the Mirror Universe, Burnham had to pretend to be her evil counterpart. While undercover, Burnham encountered the Mirror Universe Emperor Georgiou, who was much more ruthless than her Prime Universe counterpart.

Emperor Georgiou traveled back to the Prime Universe with the USS Discovery’s crew, and she became less of a villain and more of an anti-hero and sometimes reluctant ally. Burnham had looked up to Captain Georgiou, and Emperor Georgiou took on the role of a mother-like figure for Burnham. After Discovery traveled to the 32nd century, Emperor Georgiou began experiencing negative side effects as a result of being displaced in both time and universes. With help from the Guardian of Forever, Georgiou traveled back to “a time when the Mirror Universe and the Prime Universe were still aligned,” leaving a tearful Burnham behind.

4

Michael Burnham & Cleveland Booker

From friends to lovers to friends to… lovers, again?

When Commander Michael Burnham wore the Red Angel suit and led the USS Discovery into the 32nd century, she arrived one year ahead of the ship. Upon exiting the wormhole, Burnham collided with the ship of Cleveland Booker (David Ajala), beginning what would become one of Michael’s most important relationships. Burnham looked for signs of Discovery, while she and Book worked together as couriers. After Discovery finally arrived in the future and made contact with Starfleet and the Federation, Book continued to help however he could.

Burnham and Booker’s relationship became romantic during their year together, but they separated after Book went on a mission of vengeance after the Dark Matter Anomaly destroyed his homeworld of Kwejian in Star Trek: Discovery season 4. In Discovery’s fifth and final season, Booker has rejoined the titular ship, and he and Burnham continue to work together as friends. Regardless of their romantic status, Burnham and Book make a phenomenal team and work together seamlessly.

3

Hugh Culber & Sylvia Tilly

Sometimes counselors need counseling, too.

As a cadet, Sylvia Tilly (Mary Wiseman) wanted to be a starship Captain one day, but she began questioning her path in Star Trek: Discovery season 4. As Chief Medical Officer and counselor aboard the USS Discovery, Dr. Hugh Culber (Wilson Cruz) advised Tilly to begin trying new things. Tilly can become friends with almost anyone, and she and Culber quickly developed a rapport. Hugh suggested Tilly for a position training a group of Starfleet Academy cadets.

Lieutenant Tilly later accepted a teaching position at Starfleet Academy helping to oversee the first new class of cadets in a century. Culber and Tilly have continued to talk outside of their more structured therapy appointments, and their positions have somewhat reversed. When Culber began experiencing what he calls a possible “spiritual awakening” in Star Trek: Discovery season 5, Tilly provided a listening ear and helped the doctor reframe some of the big ideas he had been grappling with.

2

Michael Burnham & Saru

Starfleet’s first mutineer and Starfleet’s first Kelpian officer.

As Science Officer of the USS Shenzhou under Captain Georgiou, Saru (Doug Jones) is one of the few characters who knew Michael Burnham before she committed mutiny. While serving on the Shenzhou, they often disagreed as they had very different command styles. As Star Trek: Discovery’s later seasons have shown, however, Saru and Burnham complement one another well and have become one of the show’s best pairings.

Saru has had one of the most compelling journeys of Star Trek: Discovery’s characters and he grew into a confident and assured starship Captain. Michael Burnham was one of Saru’s closest friends and allies throughout this journey, and the two developed an undying respect for one another. Saru’s more reserved nature helps temper Burnham’s impulsiveness, making the duo an excellent command team.

1

Michael Burnham & Sylvia Tilly

Star Trek: Discovery’s most surprising pair of BFFs.

One of Star Trek: Discovery’s longest friendships is also its best. When Michael was first assigned to the USS Discovery after her imprisonment, Cadet Tilly was assigned as her roommate. At first, Tilly was nervous about living with the infamous mutineer Michael Burnham, but the two eventually warmed up to one another despite their contrasting personalities. When the two first met, Tilly wanted to be a starship Captain, and Burnham began mentoring her. As Tilly’s confidence grew, she helped Burnham open up more and move on from her complicated past.

Throughout Star Trek: Discovery’s five seasons, Tilly and Burnham have only grown closer and their friendship has helped both characters grow and evolve. In Star Trek: Discovery season 5, episode 6, “Whistlespeak,” Burnham and Tilly embarked on an away mission that reiterated how well the two work together. Tilly’s ability to help others open up and become friends with almost anyone proved to be just as useful as Burnham’s ability to think on her feet and get things done. The relationships on Star Trek: Discovery are one of the best parts of the show, and Michael Burnham and Sylvia Tilly have become arguably Star Trek’s best female friendship.

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