Star Trek: Picard season 3 delivered a poignant and beloved series finale, meaning Star Trek: Discovery’s upcoming finale has a lot to live up to.

Star Trek: Discovery will come to an end with its upcoming fifth season, but can its series finale live up to the gold standard set by Star Trek: Picard? In 2023, Picard season 3 came to a close with an ending that captured the magic of the original Star Trek: The Next Generation series finale and brought the story of Admiral Jean Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) and the crew of the USS Enterprise-D to a deeply satisfying conclusion. Although Picard season 3 had the benefit of nostalgia and a cast full of beloved returning characters, “The Last Generation” worked as a grand series finale for a number of reasons.

Star Trek: Discovery season 5 was not originally meant to be the show’s last, but an epilogue was written and shot after principal filming for the series had been completed. Since its somewhat shaky first season, Discovery has steadily gotten better as Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) and the crew of the USS Discovery came into their own. With its focus on intense sci-fi action and emotional character moments, Discovery has the potential to deliver a poignant and memorable series finale. When it comes to Discovery‘s last-minute epilogue, Sonequa Martin-Green says Discovery’s writers “knocked it out of the park” and made it feel like a true send-off.

Star Trek: Picard’s Ending Is The Gold Standard Discovery’s Finale Must Equal

Picard season 3 delivered a pitch-perfect finale, setting the bar high for Discovery.

Much like Star Trek: Discovery, Star Trek: Picard received mixed reviews when it first premiered, and each of its three seasons took different approaches to storytelling. While its first two seasons may have been inconsistent, Picard season 3 received wildly positive reviews, thanks in large part to its heavy dose of nostalgia. Picard season 3 saw the Star Trek: The Next Generation crew reunite on the rebuilt USS Enterprise-D for one last galaxy-saving adventure. A finale like Star Trek: Picard’s “The Last Generation” means future Star Trek finales have a lot to live up to.

Star Trek: Discovery does not have the benefit of TNG‘s 35+ years of nostalgia to bank on for its final season, but the show has introduced some of Star Trek’s greatest new characters. Discovery has also delivered some of Star Trek‘s most fantastic action sequences, and the final season promises no shortage of action. The Picard season 3 finale worked not only because it built on stories from TNG, but also because it offered a glimpse into the future of its characters. With its strong characters and wide-open future, Star Trek: Discovery has everything in place to end on a high note.

Picard’s Ending Promised Something Discovery Won’t (Even If Star Trek: Legacy Doesn’t Happen)

Picard’s finale teases future stories, but Discovery’s finale won’t.

Star Trek: Picard season 3 provided the set-up for multiple continuing stories although Picard‘s proposed spinoff, Star Trek: Legacy, has not been greenlit. Picard season 3 ends with Seven of Nine’s (Jeri Ryan) promotion to Captain of the rechristened USS Enterprise-G, but the audience way not get to see any of her adventures. Seven had a previous romance with Commander Raffi Musiker (Michelle Hurd), who now serves as the First Officer on the Enterprise-G, but Picard season 3 ends without providing real closure on their relationship. There are also lingering threads regarding Q (John de Lancie) and his interest in Ensign Jack Crusher (Ed Speleers).

According to Star Trek: Discovery executive producer Alex Kurtzman, the epilogue of Discovery season five will resolve all of the characters’ stories and will not leave any plot threads dangling. While it’s possible characters from Discovery could make an appearance on Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, there are no guarantees that this will be the case. Discovery season 5 is meant as a definitive end for the series and its characters, which may work out better considering the worrisome lack of a payoff for the tease regarding Star Trek: Legacy. Either way, Star Trek: Discovery reinvigorated the Star Trek franchise, and its finale marks the end of an era.