Star Trek: Why was Michael Burnham called a “mutineer”?

In the fourth episode of “Star Trek: Discovery” Season 5, it plays an important role that Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) was once described as a mutineer and had to win the trust of her crew through a lengthy process.

The nickname “The Mutineer” goes back to the first season. In the first double episode she was still first officer under Captain Georgiou (Michelle Yeoh) on board the USS Shenzhou. She wanted to remain calm in a flaring conflict with the Klingons, much to Michael’s displeasure.

Michael mutinied against Georgiou, almost triggering a war

Michael decides to put Georgiou out of action and take command of the Shenzhou as first officer. She gives the command to act against the Klingons, thereby risking war with them. Since this also happened against the will of her superiors, she is taken to prison as a mutineer.

Only the shady Captain Lorca (Jason Isaacs) finally recruits her and brings her on board the Discovery. Many people there are suspicious of her, especially Sylvia Tilly (Mary Wiseman).

She slowly earns back the trust of the crew by completing many dangerous missions and always acting helpfully in the interests of the community on board the spaceship. At the end of the first season she is pardoned by Starfleet. She then becomes a permanent fixture on the bridge of Discovery and finally becomes captain of the USS Discovery in season 3.

This role is played by Michael’s past as a mutineer in episode 4 of season 5

In the fourth episode of “Star Trek: Discovery” Season 5, Michael and Rayner (Callum Keith Rennie) jump through time and end up at different points in the “Star Trek” timeline.

In the end they end up in a time where Michael is still known as a mutineer. In order to break out of this series of time jumps and return to her own time, she needs the help of the crew, who still distrust her at the time. However, she manages to gain their trust and proves that she is more than a mutineer.

The next episode of “Star Trek: Discovery” Season 5 will be released on April 25, 2024 on Paramount+. This is the final season and consists of 10 episodes in total. Then we continue with other new “Star Trek” releases this year!