Season Analysis

Star Trek: Discovery

Season 2 Analysis

Season Woke Score

out of 10

Season Overview

After answering a distress signal from the U.S.S. Enterprise, season two finds the crew of the U.S.S. Discovery joining forces with Captain Christopher Pike on a new mission to investigate seven mysterious red signals and the appearance of an unknown being called the Red Angel. While the crew must work together to unravel their meaning and origin, Michael Burnham is forced to face her past with the return of her estranged brother, Spock.

Season Review

Season 2 continues the trend of centering the entire Star Trek universe around Michael Burnham, a character portrayed as the ultimate savior of all existence. While Captain Christopher Pike provides a brief return to classic leadership, he is frequently overshadowed by Burnham’s intuition and the show's focus on emotional outbursts over logic. The season prioritizes modern social messaging and identity-driven subplots, often rewriting established lore to fit a more contemporary political lens. The inclusion of Section 31 as a primary antagonist serves to frame the Federation’s foundations as deceptive and corrupt.

Categorical Breakdown

Identity Politics9/10

The narrative revolves entirely around Michael Burnham, making her the essential hero of every era. Legacy characters like Spock are diminished or altered to serve her character arc, prioritizing modern representation over the established meritocracy of the franchise.

Oikophobia7/10

The plot focuses heavily on Section 31, portraying the Federation's core institutions as inherently shady and immoral. The show treats the history and structure of the 'home' civilization with deep suspicion and cynicism.

Feminism9/10

Female characters hold almost all positions of ultimate competence and moral authority. Michael Burnham is a classic 'Mary Sue' who saves the galaxy through sheer innate talent, while male characters are often relegated to supportive, emotional, or secondary roles.

LGBTQ+8/10

The series places a heavy emphasis on the domestic lives and emotional struggles of its same-sex couples. These subplots frequently take center stage, prioritizing sexual identity as a core narrative pillar.

Anti-Theism6/10

The season explores 'miracles' and 'angels' only to reduce them to technological and scientific explanations. It maintains a strictly secular and materialist worldview, showing no reverence for traditional spiritual or transcendent concepts.