Jonathan Frakes Explains Rayner’s Captain’s Chair & Picard Maneuver Moment In Star Trek: Discovery

Commander Rayner (Callum Keith Rennie) finally sits in the Captain's chair in Star Trek: Discovery season 5, episode 9, "Lagrange Point," and director Jonathan Frakes explains that significant moment - including Rayner's Picard Maneuver. With Captain Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) leading an infiltration mission on the Breen dreadnought to recover the Progenitors' treasure, Commander Rayner takes command of the USS Discovery. But, as Lt. Sylvia Tilly (Mary Wiseman) pointed out, Rayner avoided sitting in the Captain's chair.

Appearing on The Ready Room with Wil Wheaton, Jonathan Frakes discusses working with Callum Keith Rennie to create Commander Rayner's Captain's chair moment in Star Trek: Discovery season 5, episode 9. After all, who better than the man who played Commander William Riker on Star Trek: The Next Generation to guide Rennie on how his First Officer would sit in the USS Discovery's center seat. Check out Frakes' quote and watch The Ready Room episode below:

He was trying to wrap head around what it was to be on Star Trek. Because he came late to the game. Fabulous actor. And he sidebarred with me about the responsibility, the history… And he said, ‘What do you think about when I take the chair?’ And I said, “I dunno. There’s a thousand ways to go. Maybe you want to give a little Picard maneuver.’

Star Trek: Discovery Flies Toward Its Final Adventure

Commander Rayner will be in command of the USS Discovery's last mission

Star Trek: Discovery season 5, episode 9, "Lagrange Point" sets the table for the series finale. Both Captain Burnham and Moll (Eve Harlow) entered the portal to the Progenitors' treasure and vanished into another dimension. Meanwhile, Primarch Tahal is on her way to Moll's Breen dreadnought with plans to take over and add those forces to her armada in her bid to become the new Breen Emperor. Only Ambassador Saru (Doug Jones) can stop Tahal, as the heroic Kelpien plans to intercept the incoming Breen on what could be a suicide mission.

Remarkably, Star Trek: Discovery's endgame has Commander Rayner, not Captain Burnham, in command of the USS Discovery. Rayner's arc in Star Trek: Discovery season 5 saw him lose his command of the USS Antares and nearly get drummed out of Starfleet. Burnham gave Rayner a second chance as Discovery's new First Officer, and Star Trek: Discovery season 5 gradually built a genuine trust and respect between Rayner and Burnham. Now, it's up to Rayner to lead from the USS Discovery's center seat and bring both Captain Burnham and the Progenitors' treasure home in the final episode of Star Trek: Discovery.