With over 137 million subscribers worldwide, Netflix is constantly re-inventing the wheel in terms of original content. In fact, they spent over $8 billion dollars on it in 2018.
Striking deals with some of Hollywood’s biggest directors, producers, writers and actors has proved a winning formula for the streaming giant. And in turn, we as viewers have benefited greatly as a result.
With its finger firmly on the pulse of what its customers want, Netflix have just released the first episode of Season 2 of Star Trek Discovery. Billed as an Original, it actually airs on CBS in the US first. This is because Netflix has the worldwide distribution rights outside of the US. So it airs first in the US on a Thursday with the episode available on Netflix the following day.
Streaming begins on Friday January 18th 2019 so what can we expect in terms of plot and cast members?
Season 2 opens with the episode ‘Brother’. The crew of the U.S.S. Discovery are on their way to Vulcan, but change course after answering a distress signal from the U.S.S. Enterprise.
From there they join forces with Captain Christopher Pike on a new mission to investigate the appearance of an unknown being called the ‘Red Angel’. It’s at this point that Burnham must face her past when her estranged brother returns.
And who is her estranged brother? It’s none other than Spock. Yes, the iconic character is back albeit a much younger version. Ethan Peck has been cast to play the only member of the original bridge crew to span every era of Star Trek.
Aware of the magnitude of the role he is about to take on, Peck recently said: “This is the Spock before the very first time we've seen Spock, which is Roddenberry's and Nimoy's Spock in the original series … absolutely I have big boots to fill.
“It’s an insane burden and terrifying but also a hugely exciting challenge and an incredible gift - I feel like I’ve just won the lottery.”
And Peck isn’t the only new face we can expect to see as the season progresses. The crew of the USS Enterprise will also have to meet and work with Capt. Christopher Pike. He is played by Anson Mount. Fans will recognise him from Hell On Wheels when he played Cullen Bohannon or from Inhumans when he played Black Bolt.
Rebecca Romijn will also be joining the cast as Number One. Romijn, who played the original role of Mystique in the X-Men movies, has had quite the make-over for Star Trek Discovery. Shedding her trademark blonde hair, she is now a brunette. The character stems all the way back to the 1966 pilot for Star Trek and serves as Captain Pike's second-in-command.
So there’s plenty to look forward to over the next few weeks as Season 2 will have 14 episodes. If it proves to be as successful as Season 1 then a commission for Season 3 won’t be too long in coming.
