Summary
- Saru receives a surprise promotion to Admiral at his wedding in Star Trek: Discovery's series finale.
- Actor Doug Jones was confused by his character's promotion, remembering it was supposed to be Ambassador, not Admiral while filming.
- Admiral Charles Vance addresses Saru as Admiral instead of Ambassador during the wedding ceremony.
Ambassador Saru received one more promotion in Star Trek: Discovery's finale, which surprised Doug Jones. At the end of Star Trek: Discovery's season 5 and series finale, "Life, Itself", Saru marries his love, President T'Rina (Tara Rosling) of Ni'Var. The Kelpien and Vulcan's nuptials are attended by the crew of the USS Discovery and many honored guests. But when Admiral Charles Vance (Oded Fehr) congratulates the newlyweds, he calls T'Rina "Madam President" and Saru "Admiral".
In an upcoming interview with Screen Rant discussing Star Trek: Discovery's epic series finale, Doug Jones was asked about Saru's latest promotion to Admiral Saru, and Doug was surprised and confused. Read his quote below:
Did he call me Admiral or did he call me Ambassador? Because on the day, I remember… Oded Fehr – Oh, love Oded! – I think he was switching the words. And I'm not sure if Admiral got through. It was supposed to be Ambassador!
Admiral Vance did call Saru "Admiral" at his wedding in Star Trek: Discovery 's series finale.
This has never happened in a Star Trek series before.
Career advancement is part of life in Starfleet, but by the end of Star Trek: Discovery, the series set a record when it comes to the promotions of Saru and Captain Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green). During our interview, Screen Rant pointed out to Doug Jones that Discovery is the first time in Star Trek that two characters, Saru and Burnham, started out as Commanders and First Officers and were promoted to Captain and, finally, to Admiral in the span of the the series run. Here's Jones' reaction:
You're right. I don't think we've ever seen this much rank advancement over the years in any Star Trek series before us. For everybody. I mean, the bridge crew went from went from ensigns and lieutenants to commanders and lieutenant commanders. That would happen in real life. I think people do progress, and we're rooting for them to do so.
Promotions in Star Trek: Discovery came quickly for the crew of the USS Discovery, as Doug Jones says. Ensign Silvia Tilly (Mary Wiseman) was promoted from Ensign to Lieutenant, Lt. Paul Stamets (Anthony Rapp) became a Commander, and the entire bridge crew of the USS Discovery rose up Starfleet's ranks. It's more realistic than previous Star Trek series where characters remained at their ranks for years because of television production conveniences. Promoting its Starfleet officers the way a real military would is one way Star Trek: Discovery stands out from other Star Trek series.
