Summary
- Rayner takes command of Discovery, showing shades of Captain Riker in an intense battle with the Breen.
- Burnham's heist on the Breen ship hits a snag, leading to a tense moment with Rayner giving orders.
- Rayner's leadership style shines as he steps up to lead Discovery, proving to be a valuable addition to the crew.
Commander Rayner (Callum Keith Rennie) perfectly channels Captain William Riker (Jonathan Frakes) during the USS Discovery's battle with the Breen in Star Trek: Discovery. Discovery's fifth and final season is coming to a close, and its penultimate episode certainly doesn't skimp on the action. With Captain Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) infiltrating the Breen Dreadnought, Commander Rayner steps up to take command of Discovery, proving that Burnham made the right choice for her Number One.
In Star Trek: Discovery season 5, episode 9, "Lagrange Point," the USS Discovery finds the structure presumably containing the Progenitors' technology, only for it to be snatched from their grasp by the Breen. Captain Burnham and her crew then sneak aboard the Breen Dreadnought in an attempt to take the Progenitors' structure right from under the Breen's noses. Their heist, however, doesn't quite go according to plan, and Captain Burnham and Cleveland Booker (David Ajala) are discovered on the Breen ship. With Rayner in command of Discovery, Burnham covertly clues him on plan B, which involves Discovery "firing everything [they've] got" at the Breen ship.
With a screenplay written by Sean Cochran and Ari Friedman, "Lagrange Point" is the eighth episode of Star Trek: Discovery to be directed by Jonathan Frakes, and his 31st Star Trek directing credit overall.
Commander Rayner In Star Trek: Discovery Homages Jonathan Frakes’ Captain Riker In Picard Season 3
"Start firing with everything we’ve got!"
After Moll realizes that something is amiss on the Breen Dreadnought, Commander Rayner uncloaks the USS Discovery, hoping to distract her. Moll, however, quickly shuts down Rayner's offer of Federation assistance, just before she unmasks Burnham and Booker. Still listening in, Rayner understands Burnham's plan and orders Discovery to "set course for the Breen shuttle bay. And start firing with everything we’ve got." Various commanding officers have shouted something similar to this throughout Star Trek's history, but this moment feels particularly reminiscent of a Captain Riker moment in Star Trek: Picard season 3.
After Captain Liam Shaw (Todd Stashwick) is injured in Star Trek: Picard season 3, episode 3, "Seventeen Seconds," Riker takes command of the USS Titan in a battle against Vadic (Amanda Plummer) and her ship, the Shrike. As the Titan faces off against Vadic's more powerful ship, Riker gives the order to "Fire everything we've got!" Unfortunately, the Shirke has a portal weapon that redirects the Titan's full weapons' spread back at the Titan, which cripples the ship. Rayner fairs a bit better, as he is able to beam Booker back to Discovery safely. Burnham, however, had already entered the portal within the Progenitor structure and is now nowhere to be found.
Rayner Is The Number One Star Trek: Discovery Always Needed
"Failure… not an option."
Introduced at the start of Star Trek: Discovery season 5, Commander Rayner has been the perfect addition to the crew of the USS Discovery. With his gruff personality, Rayner serves as a nice contrast to the more upbeat personalities of many of Discovery's other crewmembers. "Lagrange Point" even calls itself out on this point. After Rayner takes command of Discovery, he asks Lt. Sylvia Tilly (Mary Wiseman) to act as his First Officer, but says that he doesn't need any more of her "warm and fuzzy encouragement."
Rayner hesitates to fully accept being the Captain of Discovery, fearing his command style will not gel with the ship's crew. Tilly, however, reassures Rayner that she and the rest of the crew fully trust in his ability to lead. As the newest addition to the USS Discovery's crew, Rayner fills a similar role to Captain Shaw in Star Trek: Picard season 3. Both officers did things by the book and had little patience for niceties or unnecessary distractions. Rayner has become one of the best things about Star Trek: Discovery season 5, and if his Star Trek journey ends with Discovery, at least it was a fun ride.
