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In the end, the Ten-C narrowly shut off the massive Dark Matter Anamoly hurtling toward both Earth and Ni’Var, which saves everyone’s lives. On top of this Book also insists that the Ten-C not just scale back their massively destructive mining procedures, but also, shut it down entirely. This moment is a pretty clear statement about climate change and alternative energies, but in the Discovery version, the stakes are much broader. This season, we learned that the Ten-C were using the DMA to mine for boronite and were unaware this process caused destruction because they didn’t view any of the life in our galaxy as “higher lifeforms.” Burnham, Book, and the rest of the crew convince them otherwise, but shutting down the hugely destructive mining process was the bigger win.
Book’s punishment
Back in episode 7, “…But to Connect,” Book (David Ajala) disregarded the Federation’s vote to pursue diplomatic relations with the Ten-C, and instead, opted to join up with Tarka in trying to deliver an isolytic weapon to destroy the DMA and harness the power of the DMA controller. This put Book at odds with Burnham and the crew of the Discovery for pretty much the entire second half of the season. In the end, Book realizes Tarka has gone too far, and with a little help from Reno, prevents the rogue scientist from ruining any chance at diplomacy.
Book is also instrumental in getting the Ten-C to change their ways. However, when the smoke clears, he’s still broken a ton of Federation laws, regardless of how it shook out. At the very end, we learn what his punishment is: He’s tasked with helping refugees displaced by the DMA. This easily makes one wonder if David Ajala will still be a series regular in Discovery season 5. He’s no longer on the ship, so will he still be around?
The return of Tilly (But Where’s Gray?)
Although Tilly (Mary Wiseman) left the ship to teach at Starfleet Academy in “All Is Possible,” (episode 4 this season) she returns triumphantly in the finale to assist Admiral Vance (Oded Fehr) with the excavation of Earth. To be clear, Tilly doesn’t rejoin the crew formally, either. Which, like Book, makes you wonder, is Mary Wiseman a regular in season 5, or a recurring guest star? Right now, Michelle Paradise, the showrunner for Discovery can’t reveal anything about the next season, but has gone on record saying that once characters enter the DISCO universe, “they’re always part of this world.”
This seems to indicate that the entire DISCO gang, no matter how spread out, can still reunite in some way shape or form. Obviously, this includes Gray (Ian Alexander) who left for Trill earlier in the season, but also means that Lt. Bryce (Ronnie Rowe Jr.) and the mysterious Dr. Kovich (David Cronenberg) could be back in the mix for Season 5, too.
Earth and the United Federation of Planets
The biggest news of the Discovery season 4 comes at the very, very end. Here we learn that United Earth — previously separated from the Federation after the Burn — is now a full-fledged UFP member again. The President of Earth (played by real life politician Stacey Abrams) doesn’t even hesitate in rejoining the Federation. And, because Vance and Tilly reallocated Fed HQ to Earth’s orbit, it seems to indicate that Discovery season 5 could, at least partially, take place on the Earth of the 32nd Century.
Source: Den of Geek
