Summary
- David Ajala shared his emotional experience filming the heartfelt scene in Star Trek: Discovery's series finale epilogue.
- The future-set coda showcases the love between Michael Burnham, Cleveland Booker, and their son, Leto.
- The scene highlights the importance of courage, passing down values through generations in the Star Trek franchise.
David Ajala describes the experience of filming Star Trek: Discovery's series finale epilogue, and the "courage" of Cleveland Booker and Admiral Michael Burnham's (Sonequa Martin-Green) family. Months after Paramount+ announced Star Trek: Discovery season 5 would be the final season, the cast and crew reassembled in Toronto to film a coda for the entire series. Flashing forward 30 years into the future, Discovery reveals Michael Burnham and Cleveland Booker are happily married with an adult son named Leto (Sawandi Wilson).
David Ajala spoke exclusively to Screen Rant at MCM Comic Con in London where he was asked about going back to film the future-set coda of Star Trek: Discovery's series finale. Ajala conveyed his feelings about the heartfelt scene showing the familial love between the aged Michael Burnham, Cleveland Booker, and their son, Leto. Check out Ajala's quote below:
It was so special, like, really, really amazing... And all the feels, all the warm energy, all the healthy sentimental values of why we appreciate this franchise so much, but to be able to tell that story... You know, it's like Star Trek and the different iterations of Star Trek. They're like heirlooms, and they're just passed down from generation to generation, but to see the physical manifestation of that on screen, I think it's incredible.
For Michael Burnham to say, "Son, you've got this." And in that moment, what's so special is, when Leto is stood there, he has a little moment of being shy and doubtful, and the way Michael Burnham sees it arrests them in that moment - like, "Hey, I see that and it's fine. In spite of that, you still got it." I found it so powerful, because we're not superheroes. We just have courage. Yeah, that's what it is. It is courage. It was a very, very wonderful moment to shoot that scene. Truly.
What Burnham & Book's Epilogue Means For Star Trek: Discovery
Michael and Book made their romance work
Michael Burnham and Cleveland Booker received two romantic endings in Star Trek: Discovery's series finale. Burnham and Book declared their love for each other on the beach at the wedding of Admiral Saru (Doug Jones) and President T'Rina (Tara Rosling). Romantically estranged since Star Trek: Discovery season 4, Michael and Book admitted what they themselves knew: they are meant for each other. When Captain Burnham was called away on a new mission, Book joined her to continue their adventures together on the USS Discovery.
Michael Burnham and Cleveland Booker made their relationship work for 30 years and started a family.
Star Trek: Discovery's finale coda showed that Michael Burnham and Cleveland Booker made their relationship work for 30 years and started a family. Book planted his Kwejian world root in Sanctuary Four, where he and Michael made their home. Now Admiral Burnham, Michael was escorted to the USS Discovery's final mission by Leto, who was just promoted to Captain of his own starship. Star Trek: Discovery's emotional epilogue assures that Michael Burnham's Starfleet legacy continues in the 33rd century, while Leto also inherits the cool, swagger, and compassion of his father, Cleveland Booker, as well as the courage of both of his admirable parents.
