Jonathan Frakes Feels The Pain Of ‘Star Trek: Discovery’ Ending, Talks Up Plan For Series Finale

| March 8, 2023 | By: TrekMovie.com Staff173 comments so far

A week ago, Paramount+ broke the news that the upcoming fifth season of Star Trek: Discovery will be the last. We have heard from members of the cast and crew already about the news, and now TNG veteran and regular Discovery director Jonathan Frakes is weighing in, adding some insight into how the show will wrap up.

Speaking to Cinemablend, Jonathan Frakes talked about how the news of the Discovery ending in season 5 felt to him personally:

I’m disappointed. In many ways, it was my new home show. When I started on that show in season 1, it was a return to the Star Trek world for me. So I had a very strong connection [to it]… I feel the pain. It's show business, but it still sucks.

Jonathan Frakes has directed six episodes across four seasons of Star Trek: Discovery, only surpassed by producing director Olatunde Osunsanmi.

Jonathan Frakes with Sonequa Martin-Green and Mary Wiseman directing the season 1 episode "Despite Yourself"

Principal production on season 5 wrapped up last November, but because of the decision to end the show with the fifth season, there will be some additional production to "help craft a conclusion for the series." In his interview with Cinemablend, Frakes talked about this:

I think they’ve got a stunning plan for a very satisfying ending.

Frakes himself returned to work behind the camera for season 5. Speaking to TrekMovie last year, Frakes revealed he directed the penultimate episode of the 10-episode (now final) season.

Jonathan Frakes with Doug Jones and Sonequa Martin-Green on the set of the season 4 episode "Stormy Weather"

As for a potential follow-up show set in the 32nd century (like perhaps the much talked about Starfleet Academy series), Frakes expressed skepticism. When asked about the possibility of more 32nd-century adventures, the Trek vet said "I wouldn't hold my breath." Even though past comments from both Alex Kurtzman and Paramount+ execs have teased the launch of the Academy series, the new realities of cost-cutting in the streaming market may be getting in the way of these plans (as outlined in a TrekMovie analysis posted before the Discovery news).

Paramount+ has set the debut of the fifth and final season of Star Trek: Discovery to early 2024. According to reports, there will be some additional shooting this year to make the season finale into a proper series finale.

A trailer for season 5 was released at New York Comic Con last October. Watch it below:

Discovery seasons 1 through 4 are currently streaming exclusively on Paramount+ in the U.S. Internationally, the series is available on Paramount+ in Australia, Italy, Latin America, the U.K. and South Korea. It will also stream exclusively on Paramount+ in Italy, France, Germany, Switzerland and Austria later this year. In Canada, it airs on Bell Media's CTV Sci-Fi Channel and streams on Crave.

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