Star Trek: Discovery season 3 is available now on Blu-ray™, DVD, Blu-ray™ SteelBook® and on digital platforms in the UK. The series stars stars Sonequa Martin-Green, as Michael Burnham and co-stars Doug Jones, Anthony Rapp, Mary Wiseman, Wilson Cruz, David Ajala and Blu del Barrio.
Synopsis
After following Commander Burnham into a wormhole in the second season finale, season 3 finds the crew of the U.S.S. Discovery landing in an unknown future far from the home they once knew. Now living in a time filled with uncertainty, the U.S.S. Discovery crew, along with the help of some new friends, must work together to restore hope to the galaxy.
Review
Star Trek: Discovery, if certain corners of the media are to be believed, is constantly required to prove itself as a valid entry in to the long-running franchise. What better way to prove Star Trek is still relevant than by diving hundreds of years in to the future and brining us its most consistent, well produced season to-date?
In season 3 Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) and the crew of the U.S.S. Discovery find themselves 900 years away from Starfleet and from their families. A journey which leaves each of them striking out for meaningful connections in an unknown and alien future.
The home video release – which we are reviewing on Blu-ray – brings together all 13 episodes from the third season in a brilliant collection packed with over 2-hours of bonus features. The season itself features standout episodes like the premier, “That Hope Is You, Part 1,” which finds Burnham arriving in the future a year ahead of the rest of her crew. The excellent “Unification III” which calls back to events from Star Trek: The Next Generation which aired 20 years ago. This season also brings us a further trip to the mirror universe in the two-part story “Terra Firma,” which wraps up the story of Michelle Yeoh’s Philippa Georgiou before sending her back to her own time and hopefully to her own spin-off series.
Here the series is presented on 4 BD-50 discs, perfectly spaced out to provide the bitrate needed for Discovery to look its absolute best. Small details are beautifully rendered such as the readouts on computer screens and fine detailing in the work of costume designer Gersha Phillips. Special effects makeup, particularly on alien character such as Doug Jones’ Saru, looks fantastic as do the plethora of VFX seen across the season.
The future setting of season 3 allowed the producers a huge opportunity to create new worlds, new aliens and new scenarios for the crew of the U.S.S. Discovery to encounter. This Blu-ray set presents them all in the best way possible and very nearly to perfection.
The series comes bundled with a DTS-HD 5.1 surround sound track as well as an optional French DTS track. The soundscape of Discovery is wonderfully built for the home setup. On the bridge of the ship the sound becomes immersive as officers at their various workstations cause beeps and blips from computers. Whilst in space the sound of various ships and battles echo around the various speakers with gusto. At times the series soundscape lacks depth where it might be expected but this is more by design than by technical failure.
Season 3 lands on Blu-ray and steelbook with over 2 hours of bonus features including deleted scenes and a number of featurettes. Writer’s Log: Michelle Paradise is a brilliant, near 15 minute, look at production on the season’s first two episodes as the crew up sticks to shoot in Iceland. The half-hour Star Trek: Discovery: The Voyage of Season 3 takes a look at the season overall and features behind-the-scenes footage and interviews with many of the series’ cast and crew.
Series lead Sonequa Martin-Green takes centre stage in a further featurette, Being Michael Burnham, as the actor VLOGs her journey through the latest season. Again this clocks in at almost 30 minutes and gives fans a true insight in to the world of creating a contemporary Star Trek series.
Further featurettes focus on the stunts, the bridge crew and actor Kenneth Mitchell before rounding out the set with a traditional gag reel.
It’s a comprehensive look at the series’ greatest season to-date and is undeniably a must have for any fan looking to step further in to Discovery and it’s voyage to the screen. Whilst the episodes are expertly presented, it’s these glimpses behind-the-scenes which make the home video release a compelling additional to the collection.
Verdict
Star Trek: Discovery goes from strength-to-strength showing huge growth in its storytelling and its production in season 3. The series benefits hugely from the shift in setting and a rededication to its characters and their connection to the world around them.
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