Even before the start ofStar Trek: Discovery, Ambassador Saru (Doug Jones) had a fascinating life. Saru is Starfleet’s first Kelpien, a new species created forStar Trek: Discovery. BecauseStar Trek: Discoveryis set 5 years beforeStar Trek: The Original Series, there had to be a good reason that Kelpiens didn’t appear elsewhere in theStar Trektimeline. As part of a companion series toStar Trek: Discovery,Star Trek: Short Treksseason 1, episode 3, “The Brightest Star”, explains why Saru was Starfleet’s only Kelpienfor centuries.
Saru hails from a simple agrarian village on Kaminar, a planet that the Kelpiens share with the technologically superior Ba’ul.The Ba’ul routinely harvest Kelpiens when they approach vahar’ai, a sickness said to signal their deaths. The Kelpien religion claims the harvest maintains the Great Balance, which allows un-reaped Kelpiens to live peaceful lives. In reality, the Great Balance is Ba’ul propaganda that enforces the strict division between predator and prey on Kaminar. Ordinary, fearful Kelpiens march willingly towards death and don’t ask questions that would expose the Ba’ul. ButSaru is no ordinary Kelpien inStar Trek.
Saru’s Life Before Star Trek: Discovery Was Fascinating
Saru Broke Kelpien Cultural Barriers And Joined Starfleet From A Pre-Warp Society
Saru’s life beforeStar Trek: Discoverywas fascinating—and impressive.Star Trek: Short Treksseason 1, episode 3, “The Brightest Star”, depicts young Saru on pre-warp Kaminar, dreaming of escaping a monotonous, meaningless life and an early death. Unlike other Kelpiens, Saru questions his people’s simple existence and the reasons for Ba’ul rules.When a piece of Ba’ul technology falls into Saru’s hands, Saru reverse engineers a beacon in hopes of contacting others, despite knowing nothing of the galaxy beyond Kaminar’s skies. Saru’s signal is discovered by Lt. Philippa Georgiou (Michelle Yeoh), who offers Saru a place in Starfleet.
Saru leaves behind his father, Aradar (Robert Verlaque), who is a priest in the Kelpien religion; and his sister, Siranna (Hannah Spear). Despite Georgiou’s warning that Saru could never return home, the USS Discovery traces a Red Angel signal to Kaminar inStar Trek: Discoveryseason 2, episode 6, “The Sound of Thunder”, where Saru is reunited with Siranna.
Joining Starfleet as a member of a pre-warp civilization meant that Saru faced more challenges than the average Starfleet Academy cadet. Due toStarfleet’s Prime Directive, Saru could never return home. Saru faced pressure to prove himself as the first Kelpien in Starfleet since Saru represented his entire species.Every new situation ignited Saru’s natural Kelpien fear response, but Saru’s curiosity was stronger than his instincts.Saru learned 90 languages to make himself indispensable and followed his curiosity to become a science officer on Captain Georgiou’s USS Shenzhou, where Saru also met Commander Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green).
Saru Continued To Make Starfleet History Throughout Star Trek: Discovery
From Commander To Captain To Ambassador To Admiral—Saru Distinguishes Himself In Star Trek: Discovery
Saru is an impressiveStar Trekcharacter who accomplished a lot during his Starfleet career. After serving as First Officer to Captain Gabriel Lorca (Jason Isaacs) and Captain Christopher Pike (Anson Mount), Commander Saru becameCaptain of the USS DiscoveryafterStar Trek: Discovery’s jump to the future in season 3.InStar Trek’s 32nd century, Saru helped rebuild the United Federation of Planets as an ambassador,with a unique perspective that helped less-advanced planets. Ambassador Saru’s slow-burning romance with—and marriage to—T’Rina (Tara Rosling), the Vulcan President of Ni’Var, was a highlight ofDiscovery’s fourth and fifth seasons.
Star Trek: Discovery’s Ending Beautifully Showed Saru Changed For The Better
Star Trek: Discovery’s final episode beautifully proved that Doug Jones' Saru had undergone a major change for the better since season 1.
Ambassador Saru’s Starfleet accomplishments are a fine list of credits, but Saru’s true impact on others comes from his deeply ingrained empathy and his persistence to overcome challenges.When vahara’i came for Commander Saru inStar Trek: Discoveryseason 2, Saru’s survival proved that Kelpiens were Kaminar’s true predators.Saru brought the truth back to Kaminar and freed his people from the Ba’ul. Saru was an important mentor to Lieutenant Sylvia Tilly (Mary Wiseman), inspiringTilly’s Academy Mentorship Program. To anyone struggling with fear and anxiety, Saru’s incredible life inStar Trek: Discoveryis a testament to infinite possibility.
