WARNING: This article contains SPOILERS for Star Trek: Discovery season 5, episodes 1 & 2.
A promotion for Captain Saru (Doug Jones) in Star Trek: Discovery season 5 makes him even more like Star Trek: The Original Series‘ Spock (Leonard Nimoy). Saru has always been Discovery‘s version of Spock, the more measured alien counterpoint to the bolder Captain Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green). Saru actor Doug Jones was told he was Discovery‘s Spock when he was first offered the role, setting the tone of his relationship with Burnham from Disco‘s very beginning. Spock and Saru’s character trajectories have been quite similar, particularly in the past two seasons of Star Trek: Discovery.
Star Trek: Discovery season 4 saw Saru return to the USS Discovery after a leave of absence to help Burnham investigate a mysterious anomaly that was destroying everything in its wake. That’s basically the plot of Star Trek: The Motion Picture, in which Spock returns to the USS Enterprise to help Admiral James T Kirk (William Shatner) investigate the V’Ger crisis. Now Star Trek: Discovery season 5, episode 1, “Red Directive” borrows from Spock’s career change in Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country to give Saru a similar new role.
In Star Trek: Discovery season 5’s two-episode premiere, Saru resigns his Starfleet commission to become a Federation Ambassador. There are multiple reasons for Saru’s decision, including his romance with N’Var’s President T’Rina (Tara Rosling). Saru’s promotion follows in the footsteps of Star Trek: The Original Series‘ Spock, who made the same decision in the years after Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country. Spock’s diplomatic career began while he was still a serving Starfleet officer, when he began conversations with Chancellor Gorkon (David Warner) about a potential alliance between the Federation and the Klingon Empire.
Saru’s diplomatic career could not have started at a more important time for Star Trek‘s 32nd century. Both the Tholian Republic and Breen Imperium are on the rise again, creating two potentially major threats to the Federation. Spock’s diplomatic career coincided with the rise of the Cardassian Union during the mid 24th century, leading to a political disagreement with his father and fellow diplomat, Ambassador Sarek (Mark Lenard). Hopefully, Saru’s own diplomatic career won’t similarly jeopardize his and President T’Rina’s upcoming Star Trek wedding.
A Federation ambassador’s duties are to the United Federation of Planets and not to Starfleet, which is why Saru had to resign his commission at the start of Star Trek: Discovery season 5. To this end, there are special circumstances in which Federation Ambassadors can issue orders to Starfleet officers to protect Federation interests. For example, a Changeling masquerading as Ambassador Krajensky (Lawrence Pressman) orders the USS Defiant to take him to Tzenketh in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine season 3, episode 26, “The Adversary”.
Generally, ambassadors represent the Federation to non-member worlds, with many holding specific responsibilities on particular planets. For example, Worf (Michael Dorn) became Federation Ambassador to Qo’noS at the end of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. This makes them different from Starfleet captains, who aren’t tied to any particular worlds. Ambassador Saru will be responsible for ensuring that the needs of “a coalition of smaller worlds” are met by the Federation during its continued expansion across the universe. It will be interesting to see how USS Discovery’s hunt for the Progenitors’ treasure will impact Saru’s new diplomatic responsibilities as Star Trek: Discovery season 5 continues.
Star Trek: Discovery streams Thursdays on Paramount+.