Star Trek Points Out What’s Off About Discovery’s Starfleet Uniforms

Warning: SPOILERS for Star Trek: Discovery, Season 5, Episode 3 – “Jinaal”

Dr. Hugh Culber (Wilson Cruz) hosts an 800-year-old Trill consciousness named Jinaal Bix in Star Trek: Discovery season 5, episode 3, “Jinaal”, who points out something odd about the 32nd-century Starfleet uniforms. Written by Kyle Jarrow and Lauren Wilkinson and directed by Andi Armagian, “Jinaal” sends the USS Discovery crew to Trill for the next clue to finding the Progenitors’ technology. Jinaal leads Captain Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) and Cleveland Booker (David Ajala) on a dangerous journey to prove their worthiness and retrieve the next clue.

Jinaal tells the Starfleet Officers, “I love what you’ve done with the uniforms. A little formal, though.” Indeed, Star Trek: Discovery’s 32nd-century uniform designs are a departure from previous Star Trek shows, embracing a more formal and stylized look. Attempting to maintain and develop the uniform continuity of the Star Trek multiverse timeline yet also deliver something fresh, Discovery‘s season 4 and 5 outfits are reminiscent of the “monster maroon” uniforms in the Star Trek: The Original Series movies. Discovery‘s 32nd-century outfits incorporate modern technology and are significantly different from the uniforms in other Star Trek series.

What’s Off About Star Trek: Discovery’s 32nd Century Uniforms

The USS Discovery crew’s blue uniform changed to grey in Season 3

Star Trek: Discovery‘s uniforms were originally an sleek update of Star Trek: Enterprise‘s blue jumpsuits. At the end of Star Trek: Discovery season 3, Discovery‘s crew donned tailored grey uniforms with colored stripes denoting rank that drew comparisons to the uniforms showcased in Star Trek: The Motion Picture. Already an odd choice, Discovery’s updated uniform design incorporated a stiffer, thicker fabric and featured a division color swatch down one side. Discovery’s grey uniforms appeared unnecessarily formal, seemingly more suited to a political environment than the bridge of a Starfleet starship.

Starting with season 4, Star Trek: Discovery‘s uniforms switched to the franchise’s traditional color-blocking. Discovery‘s newest uniforms feature a black stripe down one side with the standard black pants and boots. The asymmetrical tunics denoted division – red for command, blue for sciences, white for medical, and gold for operations. While a clear improvement on Discovery season 3 style, the current Star Trek: Discovery uniforms are still not generally among fan-preferred uniform designs, and they haven’t proven popular with cosplayers. Starfleet’s chronological evolution of uniform designs is a fascinating study, with designs veering regularly from the early blue jumpsuit style to primary color jumpers and jumpsuits to more formal jackets with undershirts and pants – and back again.

Which Starfleet Uniform Is Best For Star Trek Missions?

Starfleet’s command gold transitioned to command red between the 23rd & 24th centuries

Though each iteration of Starfleet’s signature style offers something valuable, it can be argued that some designs are certainly better and more appropriate for their purposes than others. Somewhat subjective, each Star Trek uniform design updates and expands on previous versions. Undoubtedly, the early Star Trek: Enterprise blue jumpsuits offer the most practicality (and come complete with pockets), though perhaps not the most interesting or aesthetic overall design. The slightly ill-fitted designs from Star Trek: The Original Series and early seasons of Star Trek: The Next Generation offer a more standardized look to Starfleet’s finest but a little less practicality. The same can be said of Star Trek: Discovery’s options for each season.

With a view to Star Trek missions, however, two clear front-runners emerge based on practicality: the red Star Trek: The Original Series movie uniforms and Star Trek: The Next Generation’s uniforms from seasons 3-7. Iconic, sleek and practical, these designs provide a good balance of functionality and style, offering a clear representation of Starfleet along with a comfortable and immediately usable ease of movement. However, Star Trek: Discovery’s black away mission uniforms offer a rugged balance to the more formal style of the current season 5 Starfleet uniforms.

Star Trek: Discovery is available to stream on Paramount+.