WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.180 --> 00:00:02.530 This week we have a lot to process 2 00:00:02.530 --> 00:00:04.390 after the Star Trek: Discovery Season 4 finale, 3 00:00:04.390 --> 00:00:06.130 so I've got star Sonequa Martin-Green, 4 00:00:06.130 --> 00:00:07.800 Executive Producer Michelle Paradise, 5 00:00:07.800 --> 00:00:10.560 and EP/Director Olatunde Osunsanmi here 6 00:00:10.560 --> 00:00:11.640 to help us with that. 7 00:00:11.640 --> 00:00:13.150 Also, an exclusive clip 8 00:00:13.150 --> 00:00:15.410 from next week's episode of Star Trek: Picard 9 00:00:15.410 --> 00:00:18.380 has traveled through time for our viewing pleasure. 10 00:00:18.380 --> 00:00:20.805 Report to The Ready Room and let's get started. 11 00:00:27.610 --> 00:00:28.880 Hey, nerds. I'm Wil Wheaton 12 00:00:28.880 --> 00:00:30.030 and this is The Ready Room, 13 00:00:30.030 --> 00:00:31.970 your official behind-the-scenes hub 14 00:00:31.970 --> 00:00:34.210 for all things Star Trek Universe. 15 00:00:34.210 --> 00:00:36.100 If you are feeling overwhelmed 16 00:00:36.100 --> 00:00:37.350 by everything that went down 17 00:00:37.350 --> 00:00:39.510 in the Star Trek: Disco finale, 18 00:00:39.510 --> 00:00:41.860 I am right there with you, 19 00:00:41.860 --> 00:00:44.840 we will talk through our feelings together. 20 00:00:44.840 --> 00:00:45.790 Which leads me to, 21 00:00:45.790 --> 00:00:48.270 and I cannot emphasize this enough, 22 00:00:48.270 --> 00:00:49.690 red alert! [alert blaring] 23 00:00:49.690 --> 00:00:51.490 If you are not caught up on Season 4 24 00:00:51.490 --> 00:00:52.520 of Star Trek: Discovery, 25 00:00:52.520 --> 00:00:55.400 including the Episode 13 finale, "Coming Home," 26 00:00:55.400 --> 00:00:57.220 then you are going to want to get to streaming 27 00:00:57.220 --> 00:00:58.670 before you join us here. 28 00:00:58.670 --> 00:00:59.850 Otherwise you may find yourself 29 00:00:59.850 --> 00:01:01.720 as confused as the Discovery crew 30 00:01:01.720 --> 00:01:03.660 trying to decipher species Ten-C's 31 00:01:03.660 --> 00:01:05.780 hydrocarbon math language. 32 00:01:05.780 --> 00:01:08.630 There couldn't be three better people 33 00:01:08.630 --> 00:01:09.650 to break down the end 34 00:01:09.650 --> 00:01:12.180 of this amazing Season of Discovery 35 00:01:12.180 --> 00:01:13.710 then Captain Burnham herself, 36 00:01:13.710 --> 00:01:14.910 Sonequa Martin-Green, 37 00:01:14.910 --> 00:01:16.490 along with Executive Producer 38 00:01:16.490 --> 00:01:18.190 and Showrunner, Michelle Paradise, 39 00:01:18.190 --> 00:01:20.040 and Olatunde Osunsanmi 40 00:01:20.040 --> 00:01:22.250 who also directed this episode. 41 00:01:22.250 --> 00:01:25.760 After I bombard them with all the questions 42 00:01:25.760 --> 00:01:27.050 I've got a little behind the scenes 43 00:01:27.050 --> 00:01:28.170 on that familiar looking 44 00:01:28.170 --> 00:01:29.440 United Earth President 45 00:01:29.440 --> 00:01:30.940 we saw in the finale. 46 00:01:30.940 --> 00:01:32.000 Did you freak out? 47 00:01:32.000 --> 00:01:32.840 I freaked out 48 00:01:32.840 --> 00:01:34.280 and we haven't forgotten 49 00:01:34.280 --> 00:01:35.540 that the Picard Season 2 50 00:01:35.540 --> 00:01:36.710 is in full swing 51 00:01:36.710 --> 00:01:38.970 so keep an eye out for an exclusive clip 52 00:01:38.970 --> 00:01:40.140 from Episode 4. 53 00:01:40.140 --> 00:01:41.340 But before we get to any of that, 54 00:01:41.340 --> 00:01:42.820 let's hear a little bit 55 00:01:42.820 --> 00:01:46.450 about what went into creating an epic conclusion 56 00:01:46.450 --> 00:01:48.550 to an out-of-this-galaxy season 57 00:01:48.550 --> 00:01:49.890 of Star Trek: Discovery. 58 00:01:49.890 --> 00:01:52.682 Control room, engage. 59 00:01:52.682 --> 00:01:57.430 So, what happens with him? 60 00:01:57.430 --> 00:01:58.263 With Book? 61 00:01:59.260 --> 00:02:01.380 He launched an isolytic weapon, 62 00:02:01.380 --> 00:02:03.450 it's, it's a long list. 63 00:02:03.450 --> 00:02:05.258 And I am not asking for leniency. 64 00:02:10.400 --> 00:02:13.110 We've come all the way from Season 1 to this, 65 00:02:13.110 --> 00:02:14.427 to this point of being captain, 66 00:02:14.427 --> 00:02:15.640 but then also to this point 67 00:02:15.640 --> 00:02:19.940 of accepting that things are outside of my control. 68 00:02:19.940 --> 00:02:22.430 It always has to be a collective decision, 69 00:02:22.430 --> 00:02:23.610 what's best for everyone, 70 00:02:23.610 --> 00:02:24.910 and that is something that Burnham 71 00:02:24.910 --> 00:02:26.950 learns over the course of time 72 00:02:26.950 --> 00:02:30.490 and I love that it is settled in Burnham's heart 73 00:02:30.490 --> 00:02:32.310 by the end of the season, 74 00:02:32.310 --> 00:02:35.150 because there is that great loss of Book 75 00:02:35.150 --> 00:02:39.450 having to be accountable for his actions. 76 00:02:39.450 --> 00:02:40.370 But it's definitely something 77 00:02:40.370 --> 00:02:43.070 that I know is necessary 78 00:02:43.070 --> 00:02:44.400 and that I believe in 79 00:02:44.400 --> 00:02:46.030 and that I champion 80 00:02:46.030 --> 00:02:49.640 and I think that speaks volumes 81 00:02:49.640 --> 00:02:52.400 because that is not where Burnham started. 82 00:02:52.400 --> 00:02:53.780 Federation's sending me to help families 83 00:02:53.780 --> 00:02:55.083 displaced by the DMA. 84 00:02:56.880 --> 00:02:57.942 [exhaling] 85 00:02:59.800 --> 00:03:01.610 What was really wild about shooting 86 00:03:01.610 --> 00:03:04.620 the season finale is Cleveland Booker 87 00:03:04.620 --> 00:03:07.210 talks to the Ten-C, 88 00:03:07.210 --> 00:03:09.120 who killed and destroyed his planet. 89 00:03:09.120 --> 00:03:12.470 To go from that moment of closure 90 00:03:12.470 --> 00:03:16.660 to being with Michael Burnham in her quarters 91 00:03:16.660 --> 00:03:20.610 and just talking about departing each other, 92 00:03:20.610 --> 00:03:25.610 was just a really disconcerting feeling 93 00:03:25.720 --> 00:03:28.370 because it's so unresolved 94 00:03:28.370 --> 00:03:31.520 and I think that's true to life. 95 00:03:31.520 --> 00:03:33.520 [Burnham] Look, I don't know how to say bye. 96 00:03:33.520 --> 00:03:37.320 [Book} We Don't. We say, "Kwakoni Yiquan." 97 00:03:37.320 --> 00:03:38.343 It's a Kwejian term. 98 00:03:39.360 --> 00:03:40.573 It means something like, 99 00:03:42.027 --> 00:03:44.600 "We've parted a hundred times, 100 00:03:44.600 --> 00:03:47.320 may we rejoin to part a hundred more." 101 00:03:47.320 --> 00:03:50.740 My hope is that when audiences watch it, 102 00:03:50.740 --> 00:03:51.610 they carry away from it 103 00:03:51.610 --> 00:03:53.610 that Book and Burnham are gonna be okay. 104 00:03:53.610 --> 00:03:55.070 They have a little bit of a pause now, 105 00:03:55.070 --> 00:03:56.260 'cause he is gotta go away, 106 00:03:56.260 --> 00:03:58.800 but that their love is strong enough 107 00:03:58.800 --> 00:04:01.585 to withstand their current difficulties 108 00:04:01.585 --> 00:04:03.510 and they're gonna be okay together. 109 00:04:06.299 --> 00:04:07.853 I hope I am not interrupting. 110 00:04:09.217 --> 00:04:10.060 Not at all. 111 00:04:10.060 --> 00:04:11.910 We went into Season 4 in the room 112 00:04:11.910 --> 00:04:12.920 and when we were looking at 113 00:04:12.920 --> 00:04:14.940 what would Saru's arc be this season, 114 00:04:14.940 --> 00:04:17.010 it was, "We have to bring T'Rina back 115 00:04:17.010 --> 00:04:18.700 and we have to see what that's all about." 116 00:04:18.700 --> 00:04:21.270 They were only in one episode in Season 3, 117 00:04:21.270 --> 00:04:22.950 they were in 307 together. 118 00:04:22.950 --> 00:04:25.350 There was something between those two characters 119 00:04:25.350 --> 00:04:27.750 that we didn't put it in the script, 120 00:04:27.750 --> 00:04:29.670 but they found something. 121 00:04:29.670 --> 00:04:33.050 I have wanted a relationship for Saru since Season 1. 122 00:04:33.050 --> 00:04:35.840 Anytime I had been interviewed about this, 123 00:04:35.840 --> 00:04:36.910 people are like, "What would like to see 124 00:04:36.910 --> 00:04:37.850 for Saru in the future?" 125 00:04:37.850 --> 00:04:40.087 It's always been, "I would like him to find love." 126 00:04:40.087 --> 00:04:40.920 Right? [laughing] 127 00:04:40.920 --> 00:04:42.930 'Cause I think that's probably me talking, too. 128 00:04:42.930 --> 00:04:45.350 Like, I like love so much 129 00:04:45.350 --> 00:04:47.143 and I want everyone to find love 130 00:04:47.143 --> 00:04:49.440 that playing Saru and him being 131 00:04:49.440 --> 00:04:52.270 kind of a solo artist [laughing] in his life, 132 00:04:52.270 --> 00:04:53.730 I'd like to see him have somebody 133 00:04:53.730 --> 00:04:54.910 that he can lean on 134 00:04:54.910 --> 00:04:56.690 in that romantic kind of way. 135 00:04:56.690 --> 00:05:00.600 I love seeing that he's kinda found that. 136 00:05:00.600 --> 00:05:02.500 And now at end of Season 4, 137 00:05:02.500 --> 00:05:04.730 we find them actually consenting 138 00:05:04.730 --> 00:05:06.815 to make a go of this. 139 00:05:06.815 --> 00:05:09.960 And for a very stoic Vulcan woman 140 00:05:09.960 --> 00:05:12.290 to tap into her emotion, 141 00:05:12.290 --> 00:05:13.810 which they don't normally do, [laughing] 142 00:05:13.810 --> 00:05:15.060 so for her to tap into that 143 00:05:15.060 --> 00:05:17.400 and to actually hold my hand as we look out, 144 00:05:17.400 --> 00:05:19.510 gaze out a window together, 145 00:05:19.510 --> 00:05:21.620 and then the last time you see us together, 146 00:05:21.620 --> 00:05:22.600 I'm handing her a flower 147 00:05:22.600 --> 00:05:25.480 from my gardens in my quarters, 148 00:05:25.480 --> 00:05:28.900 such sweet, innocent, romantic moments 149 00:05:28.900 --> 00:05:30.700 that I really, really, really cherish. 150 00:05:30.700 --> 00:05:32.480 Long distance relationships can work, 151 00:05:32.480 --> 00:05:33.313 especially with, 152 00:05:33.313 --> 00:05:34.200 I think with us, 153 00:05:34.200 --> 00:05:35.980 we're not the dating type anyway. 154 00:05:35.980 --> 00:05:37.710 So, we have someone special, 155 00:05:37.710 --> 00:05:38.870 we know they're there 156 00:05:38.870 --> 00:05:40.310 and they'll be there when we get back, 157 00:05:40.310 --> 00:05:41.527 whenever, wherever that is. 158 00:05:41.527 --> 00:05:42.677 [glasses clinking] 159 00:05:44.383 --> 00:05:45.216 Oh! 160 00:05:47.663 --> 00:05:50.300 [Michael] It's Tilly, hey! [crew murmuring] 161 00:05:50.300 --> 00:05:51.370 Coming back for the finale 162 00:05:51.370 --> 00:05:52.720 was really exciting for me 163 00:05:52.720 --> 00:05:55.280 because she comes back in this, like, 164 00:05:55.280 --> 00:05:58.740 fully black Starfleet suit. 165 00:05:58.740 --> 00:06:01.990 She's changed. And to get to see that visually, 166 00:06:01.990 --> 00:06:03.520 that was a very gratifying moment 167 00:06:03.520 --> 00:06:06.030 for me to see, okay, 168 00:06:06.030 --> 00:06:07.440 somebody different showed up. 169 00:06:07.440 --> 00:06:08.273 Tilly is not somebody 170 00:06:08.273 --> 00:06:11.360 who lets people leave her life, [laughing] you know? 171 00:06:11.360 --> 00:06:14.020 And so she will be part of this universe 172 00:06:14.020 --> 00:06:16.170 and this world for many years to come 173 00:06:16.170 --> 00:06:19.303 and the only family she has is on that ship. 174 00:06:20.160 --> 00:06:22.728 I lean into the mystery of what's coming next. 175 00:06:22.728 --> 00:06:25.860 I'm someone who doesn't like to know. 176 00:06:25.860 --> 00:06:28.520 From Michelle Paradise and Alex 177 00:06:28.520 --> 00:06:29.410 and all the other writers. 178 00:06:29.410 --> 00:06:31.080 I don't want them to tell me what's coming 179 00:06:31.080 --> 00:06:32.940 because in life you don't know what's coming. 180 00:06:32.940 --> 00:06:34.640 You can have plans and then things can happen, 181 00:06:34.640 --> 00:06:35.850 so I really love the, 182 00:06:35.850 --> 00:06:37.840 also the chance over the course 183 00:06:37.840 --> 00:06:39.060 of all these seasons, 184 00:06:39.060 --> 00:06:42.650 not know and then discover what are the next things 185 00:06:42.650 --> 00:06:43.770 and then just lean into it 186 00:06:43.770 --> 00:06:44.870 and lean into it and lean into it 187 00:06:44.870 --> 00:06:46.628 and let it take me where it's gonna go. 188 00:06:55.070 --> 00:06:58.240 I have a lot of feelings 189 00:06:58.240 --> 00:07:01.290 about the Season 4 finale of Star Trek: Discovery. 190 00:07:01.290 --> 00:07:03.170 Big feelings, all caps feelings. 191 00:07:03.170 --> 00:07:05.770 There is a lot to unpack [laughing] 192 00:07:05.770 --> 00:07:07.800 and I am so grateful to be joined 193 00:07:07.800 --> 00:07:09.030 by Sonequa Martin-Green 194 00:07:09.030 --> 00:07:10.930 as well as Executive Producers, 195 00:07:10.930 --> 00:07:13.720 Michelle Paradise and Olatunde Osunsanmi 196 00:07:13.720 --> 00:07:15.560 who also directed this episode. 197 00:07:15.560 --> 00:07:18.500 Y'all, I am thrilled that you are here. 198 00:07:18.500 --> 00:07:20.030 Thanks so much for having us. 199 00:07:20.030 --> 00:07:22.750 Ah, Michelle, Season 4, 200 00:07:22.750 --> 00:07:24.010 saw Star Trek: Discovery 201 00:07:24.010 --> 00:07:26.400 traveling further outside the galaxy 202 00:07:26.400 --> 00:07:29.810 than any Star Trek has ever traveled before 203 00:07:29.810 --> 00:07:33.200 to make first contact with a completely unknown, 204 00:07:33.200 --> 00:07:36.090 extragalactic species. 205 00:07:36.090 --> 00:07:39.610 Talk about the decision to broaden the scope 206 00:07:39.610 --> 00:07:41.840 of the already broad Star Trek Universe 207 00:07:41.840 --> 00:07:43.603 in this particular way. 208 00:07:44.510 --> 00:07:48.377 Wow, there are a lot of answers to that question. 209 00:07:48.377 --> 00:07:50.420 The first is that every season 210 00:07:50.420 --> 00:07:52.390 we're looking to do new things 211 00:07:52.390 --> 00:07:54.740 and go places we've never been before 212 00:07:54.740 --> 00:07:56.410 and be, you know, bigger and bolder 213 00:07:56.410 --> 00:07:58.840 and all of those sorts of things. 214 00:07:58.840 --> 00:08:01.960 Also, thematically, it just kind of made sense 215 00:08:01.960 --> 00:08:03.750 in terms of what we were doing this season 216 00:08:03.750 --> 00:08:06.370 with connection and disconnection, 217 00:08:06.370 --> 00:08:08.330 and ultimately needing to get to a place 218 00:08:08.330 --> 00:08:11.700 where our heroes need to connect with a species 219 00:08:11.700 --> 00:08:13.670 completely unlike them 220 00:08:13.670 --> 00:08:15.420 as, in fact, as far from them 221 00:08:15.420 --> 00:08:16.900 as we could possibly get. 222 00:08:16.900 --> 00:08:20.510 And so placing that species as far away from us 223 00:08:20.510 --> 00:08:23.940 as we could possibly make them, 224 00:08:23.940 --> 00:08:25.470 everything outside of what is 225 00:08:25.470 --> 00:08:27.490 comfortable and familiar for our heroes. 226 00:08:27.490 --> 00:08:30.640 And then ensuring that they're a species 227 00:08:30.640 --> 00:08:32.440 where it's not easy to communicate. 228 00:08:32.440 --> 00:08:35.840 The typical things that we would use, 229 00:08:35.840 --> 00:08:37.210 the translators are not gonna work, 230 00:08:37.210 --> 00:08:39.680 we have to find a completely new method of communication. 231 00:08:39.680 --> 00:08:42.640 It all felt thematically resonant 232 00:08:42.640 --> 00:08:44.620 in this season with what we were doing. 233 00:08:44.620 --> 00:08:46.800 Dovetailing off of that a little bit, 234 00:08:46.800 --> 00:08:48.640 we have spoken here in The Ready Room, 235 00:08:48.640 --> 00:08:50.460 myself and some of my other guests, 236 00:08:50.460 --> 00:08:52.980 the DMA as a metaphor, 237 00:08:52.980 --> 00:08:55.460 the Ten-C as a metaphor, 238 00:08:55.460 --> 00:08:56.500 I would love for you 239 00:08:56.500 --> 00:08:57.840 to go into that a little bit more. 240 00:08:57.840 --> 00:08:58.750 You touched on it, 241 00:08:58.750 --> 00:09:00.930 but maybe get into it a little bit more, that metaphor, 242 00:09:00.930 --> 00:09:04.980 because it very much resonates incredibly, powerfully, 243 00:09:04.980 --> 00:09:05.890 not only with me 244 00:09:05.890 --> 00:09:08.560 but with a wide section of the audience. 245 00:09:08.560 --> 00:09:10.410 Yeah, I'm glad that it does. 246 00:09:10.410 --> 00:09:12.300 So, thank you, that was, 247 00:09:12.300 --> 00:09:14.600 it's what we were hoping when we went into it. 248 00:09:15.600 --> 00:09:18.220 You know, we started Season 4 249 00:09:18.220 --> 00:09:19.970 in the midst of a pandemic, 250 00:09:19.970 --> 00:09:23.320 all of us were as a global community, 251 00:09:23.320 --> 00:09:26.170 and one of the things that Star Trek is known for 252 00:09:26.170 --> 00:09:28.020 and that every iteration of Star Trek has done 253 00:09:28.020 --> 00:09:30.580 is reflected the world around it in some way 254 00:09:30.580 --> 00:09:33.900 and so we couldn't not reflect that. 255 00:09:33.900 --> 00:09:37.110 So, yes, the DMA was very much a stand in 256 00:09:37.110 --> 00:09:40.730 for the big thing that feels beyond all of us. 257 00:09:40.730 --> 00:09:42.630 So, just metaphorically, 258 00:09:42.630 --> 00:09:45.940 it felt like a pretty interesting place 259 00:09:45.940 --> 00:09:47.580 to play, storywise. 260 00:09:47.580 --> 00:09:50.710 And then with the Ten-C piece of it, you know, 261 00:09:50.710 --> 00:09:52.330 in the midst of the pandemic 262 00:09:52.330 --> 00:09:54.400 we also have a lot happening in the world 263 00:09:54.400 --> 00:09:56.506 in terms of disconnection with one another-- 264 00:09:56.506 --> 00:09:57.339 Mm-hm. 265 00:09:57.339 --> 00:09:59.650 Divisiveness here in our own country, 266 00:09:59.650 --> 00:10:01.480 in other countries around the world 267 00:10:01.480 --> 00:10:03.640 and those things that make us feel 268 00:10:03.640 --> 00:10:05.500 very far apart from one another 269 00:10:05.500 --> 00:10:07.720 and very different from one another. 270 00:10:07.720 --> 00:10:10.950 So, how can our heroes overcome that obstacle? 271 00:10:10.950 --> 00:10:13.940 How can Burnham lead them through this 272 00:10:13.940 --> 00:10:17.050 to be able to communicate with the species? 273 00:10:17.050 --> 00:10:20.730 It felt like, if we can do that on our show, 274 00:10:20.730 --> 00:10:23.200 if she can help them achieve that, 275 00:10:23.200 --> 00:10:26.310 then it just felt like a nice way of saying 276 00:10:26.310 --> 00:10:27.550 we can do that in the world, as well. 277 00:10:27.550 --> 00:10:30.380 Tunde, you have done three finales 278 00:10:30.380 --> 00:10:31.790 for Star Trek: Discovery, 279 00:10:31.790 --> 00:10:33.990 you've killed it every time. 280 00:10:33.990 --> 00:10:36.520 This year is absolutely no different, 281 00:10:36.520 --> 00:10:37.760 but this is the first time 282 00:10:37.760 --> 00:10:41.440 you've had that great AR wall to work on. 283 00:10:41.440 --> 00:10:43.860 That technology is objectively cool, 284 00:10:43.860 --> 00:10:44.693 it's real, 285 00:10:44.693 --> 00:10:45.526 I love it, 286 00:10:45.526 --> 00:10:47.590 but ultimately it is a tool 287 00:10:47.590 --> 00:10:48.960 that you can use 288 00:10:48.960 --> 00:10:51.760 in service of your storytelling. 289 00:10:51.760 --> 00:10:53.120 Would you talk a little bit 290 00:10:53.120 --> 00:10:56.680 about how you used that bit of technology 291 00:10:56.680 --> 00:10:57.650 for storytelling, 292 00:10:57.650 --> 00:11:01.750 especially when we finally see the Ten-C face to face? 293 00:11:01.750 --> 00:11:03.248 Yeah, well, I mean, first of all, 294 00:11:03.248 --> 00:11:05.760 it's an honor to be invited 295 00:11:05.760 --> 00:11:09.180 to actually participate in the finale, 296 00:11:09.180 --> 00:11:10.620 you know, any episode in Star Trek. 297 00:11:10.620 --> 00:11:12.050 So I don't take it lightly, 298 00:11:12.050 --> 00:11:13.010 but the stakes are high. 299 00:11:13.010 --> 00:11:14.100 You know, the stakes are high 300 00:11:14.100 --> 00:11:15.410 because you've gotta deliver 301 00:11:15.410 --> 00:11:16.530 on these wonderful scripts 302 00:11:16.530 --> 00:11:18.630 that Michelle has given us 303 00:11:18.630 --> 00:11:20.697 and you've gotta land it for the audience 304 00:11:20.697 --> 00:11:22.790 and you've gotta land it in a certain amount of time 305 00:11:22.790 --> 00:11:24.750 because there's no one coming behind you 306 00:11:24.750 --> 00:11:26.500 to do reshoots, that's it. 307 00:11:26.500 --> 00:11:27.740 Wow. [laughing] 308 00:11:27.740 --> 00:11:30.250 And, you know, so I think the cast and the crew 309 00:11:30.250 --> 00:11:33.330 and myself are all very well aware that, 310 00:11:33.330 --> 00:11:35.590 you know, this is, it's only this moment in time 311 00:11:35.590 --> 00:11:36.423 and that's it. 312 00:11:36.423 --> 00:11:38.690 The AR wall is phenomenal 313 00:11:38.690 --> 00:11:39.880 because it transports you 314 00:11:39.880 --> 00:11:42.590 to different parts of the galaxy 315 00:11:42.590 --> 00:11:43.830 and you're able to render things 316 00:11:43.830 --> 00:11:45.750 that you were never able to see before 317 00:11:45.750 --> 00:11:47.290 but normally, as a director, 318 00:11:47.290 --> 00:11:49.130 you're having to pare that down a little bit 319 00:11:49.130 --> 00:11:50.620 and you're having to count 320 00:11:50.620 --> 00:11:52.636 how many of the VX shots you have-- 321 00:11:52.636 --> 00:11:53.469 [Wil] Right. 322 00:11:53.469 --> 00:11:54.760 And that you can use 323 00:11:54.760 --> 00:11:56.400 and so your scenes become shorter, 324 00:11:56.400 --> 00:11:57.660 than I'm having to go to Michelle 325 00:11:57.660 --> 00:11:59.570 and be like, "You know, this five-page scene, 326 00:11:59.570 --> 00:12:00.403 we can't do it. 327 00:12:00.403 --> 00:12:01.670 We can do a page and a half, 328 00:12:01.670 --> 00:12:02.740 sorry, bye!" 329 00:12:02.740 --> 00:12:04.690 You know, and, [Michelle laughing] 330 00:12:04.690 --> 00:12:05.900 but when you have the AR wall, 331 00:12:05.900 --> 00:12:07.780 you can shoot to your heart's content. 332 00:12:07.780 --> 00:12:09.730 You can actually enjoy the story 333 00:12:09.730 --> 00:12:11.220 and create an alien world, 334 00:12:11.220 --> 00:12:12.390 which is what we did, 335 00:12:12.390 --> 00:12:15.500 and not worry about spending that money 336 00:12:15.500 --> 00:12:17.260 and that time that is necessary to be there. 337 00:12:17.260 --> 00:12:18.960 There is this great story-- 338 00:12:18.960 --> 00:12:19.793 I have a couple of friends 339 00:12:19.793 --> 00:12:20.980 who were in the movie The Goonies-- 340 00:12:20.980 --> 00:12:24.670 and there's this terrific story about the filmmakers 341 00:12:24.670 --> 00:12:26.770 keeping the kids in the dark 342 00:12:26.770 --> 00:12:28.280 about what the pirate ship looks like 343 00:12:28.280 --> 00:12:29.380 at the end of the film 344 00:12:29.380 --> 00:12:31.240 so when they turn around and see it, 345 00:12:31.240 --> 00:12:33.100 it's like a natural reaction. 346 00:12:33.100 --> 00:12:36.250 Now, the story goes that when they turned around, 347 00:12:36.250 --> 00:12:40.130 just this stream of, like, gobsmacked obscenities 348 00:12:40.130 --> 00:12:40.963 poured out of all- Oh! 349 00:12:40.963 --> 00:12:42.000 these children's mouths 350 00:12:42.000 --> 00:12:42.950 'cause they couldn't believe 351 00:12:42.950 --> 00:12:43.867 how incredible it was 352 00:12:43.867 --> 00:12:45.217 and they had to reshoot it. [laughing] 353 00:12:45.217 --> 00:12:47.510 I'm just wondering, Sonequa, is there, 354 00:12:47.510 --> 00:12:49.270 when y'all go in there, 355 00:12:49.270 --> 00:12:51.560 when y'all go in there as a cast, 356 00:12:51.560 --> 00:12:53.140 that happens, right? [laughing] 357 00:12:53.140 --> 00:12:54.180 Yes! 358 00:12:54.180 --> 00:12:56.707 Like, the first time we were, like, 359 00:12:56.707 --> 00:12:59.320 "What is this?" [Wil laughing] 360 00:12:59.320 --> 00:13:02.310 and then you have your sort of physical experience 361 00:13:02.310 --> 00:13:03.143 of it, right? 362 00:13:03.143 --> 00:13:04.297 Where you're actually standing in the midst of it 363 00:13:04.297 --> 00:13:05.372 and you're looking at it 364 00:13:05.372 --> 00:13:06.570 and you're looking at all of these, you know, 365 00:13:06.570 --> 00:13:08.210 thousands of, like, screens 366 00:13:08.210 --> 00:13:09.520 that are coming together 367 00:13:09.520 --> 00:13:10.990 and then you walk over to video village 368 00:13:10.990 --> 00:13:12.810 and you look at the frame. 369 00:13:12.810 --> 00:13:13.643 [Wil] Yeah. 370 00:13:13.643 --> 00:13:15.675 [Sonequa] And you're like, "But that's not possible." 371 00:13:15.675 --> 00:13:17.060 [Wil] Yeah. 372 00:13:17.060 --> 00:13:17.893 [Sonequa] You know? - Yeah. 373 00:13:17.893 --> 00:13:20.670 It's like, "What is, what are we doing here? 374 00:13:20.670 --> 00:13:22.660 How are we able to do this? 375 00:13:22.660 --> 00:13:24.587 This is "increíble"!" 376 00:13:24.587 --> 00:13:25.420 Yeah. 377 00:13:25.420 --> 00:13:29.430 You know, it really it's, um, it's mind blowing, 378 00:13:29.430 --> 00:13:30.840 it's mind blowing. 379 00:13:30.840 --> 00:13:32.240 And, you know, we, 380 00:13:32.240 --> 00:13:34.280 I've been mind-blown from the beginning 381 00:13:34.280 --> 00:13:36.050 because, you know, I always talk about 382 00:13:36.050 --> 00:13:37.140 the level of artistry, 383 00:13:37.140 --> 00:13:38.390 like, the level of excellence 384 00:13:38.390 --> 00:13:40.150 that is exhibited by everybody 385 00:13:40.150 --> 00:13:41.730 from every corner- - [Wil] Yes. 386 00:13:41.730 --> 00:13:43.210 of this company, 387 00:13:43.210 --> 00:13:45.250 and then it's like, "Oh, y'all, 388 00:13:45.250 --> 00:13:46.870 so y'all wanna take it further. 389 00:13:46.870 --> 00:13:50.051 So y'all want my head to come off my neck." 390 00:13:50.051 --> 00:13:50.884 [Wil laughing] 391 00:13:50.884 --> 00:13:52.910 It's, it was really amazing 392 00:13:52.910 --> 00:13:53.810 and what a feat, 393 00:13:53.810 --> 00:13:57.230 like, what an endeavor to see it come together 394 00:13:57.230 --> 00:13:58.730 because it's intense, 395 00:13:58.730 --> 00:14:00.620 it's intense, it's very difficult. 396 00:14:00.620 --> 00:14:03.440 It's-- there's a lot that goes into it. 397 00:14:03.440 --> 00:14:05.500 A lot of genius was poured into that. 398 00:14:05.500 --> 00:14:07.710 Every scene of yours in this finale, 399 00:14:07.710 --> 00:14:09.930 like, literally every scene you're in 400 00:14:09.930 --> 00:14:11.620 could be its own episode of Ready Room. 401 00:14:11.620 --> 00:14:13.330 I could talk to you for hours- - Hoo-hoo! 402 00:14:13.330 --> 00:14:16.210 About that weird stuff that only actors care about 403 00:14:17.260 --> 00:14:18.450 because I was just, 404 00:14:18.450 --> 00:14:19.730 I felt like I was sitting in 405 00:14:19.730 --> 00:14:21.270 on a little bit of a master class 406 00:14:21.270 --> 00:14:22.710 and I really enjoyed it. 407 00:14:22.710 --> 00:14:24.550 As an actor, as a fellow actor, 408 00:14:24.550 --> 00:14:25.760 my respect for you, 409 00:14:25.760 --> 00:14:27.310 which I did not think could grow, 410 00:14:27.310 --> 00:14:28.320 actually did. 411 00:14:28.320 --> 00:14:29.810 As a member of the audience, 412 00:14:29.810 --> 00:14:32.060 I was just floored and grateful. 413 00:14:32.060 --> 00:14:34.050 Just grateful, like, "Oh, how wonderful 414 00:14:34.050 --> 00:14:35.950 that you give us this performance." 415 00:14:35.950 --> 00:14:38.350 I wanna zero in on a couple of moments 416 00:14:38.350 --> 00:14:40.280 that really stood out for me, 417 00:14:40.280 --> 00:14:42.700 just in the interests of time. 418 00:14:42.700 --> 00:14:44.390 When Book's shuttle blows up 419 00:14:44.390 --> 00:14:46.330 I thought, I talked to Michelle about this 420 00:14:46.330 --> 00:14:48.550 before we started rolling today, 421 00:14:48.550 --> 00:14:53.030 I went, "Oh, my God, they killed David Ajala! 422 00:14:53.030 --> 00:14:54.550 Oh, my God, they killed Book, 423 00:14:54.550 --> 00:14:55.470 he's not coming back." 424 00:14:55.470 --> 00:14:58.290 I 100% believed it, 100%, 425 00:14:58.290 --> 00:15:01.210 'cause characters die in this Star Trek universe. 426 00:15:01.210 --> 00:15:04.210 It just happens and it's intense. 427 00:15:04.210 --> 00:15:09.210 Michael, on the bridge, goes through something 428 00:15:10.920 --> 00:15:14.660 no human being should ever have to go through. 429 00:15:14.660 --> 00:15:18.710 The range of emotion that she experienced, 430 00:15:18.710 --> 00:15:20.740 that you brought to life 431 00:15:20.740 --> 00:15:22.990 was overwhelming to me, 432 00:15:22.990 --> 00:15:24.960 almost to the point of being uncomfortable to watch 433 00:15:24.960 --> 00:15:27.480 'cause it was so intense and so intimate. 434 00:15:27.480 --> 00:15:30.710 Would you talk a little bit about that process 435 00:15:30.710 --> 00:15:32.290 and that scene and Tunde, 436 00:15:32.290 --> 00:15:35.200 if you wanna weigh in as the director in that moment, 437 00:15:35.200 --> 00:15:36.800 I would love to hear 438 00:15:36.800 --> 00:15:38.730 how y'all worked to bring this together. 439 00:15:38.730 --> 00:15:41.340 Beause it was really, really intense 440 00:15:41.340 --> 00:15:42.811 and very affecting on me. 441 00:15:42.811 --> 00:15:44.510 Woo! 442 00:15:44.510 --> 00:15:49.173 You have said some things just now. [laughing] 443 00:15:50.200 --> 00:15:53.310 Thank you, that, I mean, 444 00:15:53.310 --> 00:15:54.913 I'm trying not to cry, 445 00:15:56.760 --> 00:15:57.740 but thank you. 446 00:15:57.740 --> 00:16:00.220 I just, it means so much to me 447 00:16:00.220 --> 00:16:03.210 to hear that from you specifically. 448 00:16:03.210 --> 00:16:04.460 Oh, thank you. 449 00:16:04.460 --> 00:16:06.780 Man, you know, it's gonna be hard for me, honestly, 450 00:16:06.780 --> 00:16:09.570 to talk about it objectively. 451 00:16:09.570 --> 00:16:11.930 I think because it's rare that I feel 452 00:16:11.930 --> 00:16:13.920 like I get to kind of let go. 453 00:16:13.920 --> 00:16:14.753 Yeah. 454 00:16:14.753 --> 00:16:17.440 And I've had now two of those moments 455 00:16:17.440 --> 00:16:19.312 and they've both been with Tunde. 456 00:16:19.312 --> 00:16:20.210 [Wil] Yeah. 457 00:16:20.210 --> 00:16:23.540 One was the first episode of Season 3 458 00:16:23.540 --> 00:16:25.200 when Burnham crashes- Yeah. 459 00:16:25.200 --> 00:16:26.570 And he said, "Let go" 460 00:16:26.570 --> 00:16:27.873 and there was a little bit of that 461 00:16:27.873 --> 00:16:30.730 with this moment, as well. 462 00:16:30.730 --> 00:16:33.990 And I did feel such a sense of freedom 463 00:16:33.990 --> 00:16:37.630 in that moment to actually, you know, 464 00:16:37.630 --> 00:16:39.864 shed the Captain for a moment-- 465 00:16:39.864 --> 00:16:40.697 Yeah. 466 00:16:40.697 --> 00:16:43.050 and let it hit me. 467 00:16:43.050 --> 00:16:45.330 Of course, I had a newfound understanding 468 00:16:45.330 --> 00:16:47.480 of grief at the time 469 00:16:48.430 --> 00:16:50.870 and so, that really informed me, 470 00:16:50.870 --> 00:16:55.870 but it didn't inform the story. 471 00:16:56.000 --> 00:16:58.050 Just the experience of grief 472 00:16:58.050 --> 00:17:03.050 is so deepening that I did come to that moment 473 00:17:03.460 --> 00:17:04.860 a different person-- 474 00:17:04.860 --> 00:17:05.693 Yeah. 475 00:17:05.693 --> 00:17:07.573 then before my parents died, right? 476 00:17:08.650 --> 00:17:10.990 Just because of how it changed, 477 00:17:10.990 --> 00:17:11.930 how it changes you 478 00:17:11.930 --> 00:17:12.763 and how it hits, 479 00:17:12.763 --> 00:17:15.480 how it had already changed me 480 00:17:15.480 --> 00:17:16.870 but I don't use my own life, 481 00:17:16.870 --> 00:17:19.040 so it wasn't used in that way. 482 00:17:19.040 --> 00:17:19.873 Yeah. 483 00:17:19.873 --> 00:17:22.510 But, yeah, Tunde, please, please, please. 484 00:17:22.510 --> 00:17:24.480 Yeah, I mean, I don't have much more to add 485 00:17:24.480 --> 00:17:26.150 except to say, yeah, I was there 486 00:17:26.150 --> 00:17:29.100 and I didn't have anything to do with that performance. 487 00:17:29.100 --> 00:17:30.020 That was all Sonequa- 488 00:17:30.020 --> 00:17:30.853 Wow. 489 00:17:30.853 --> 00:17:32.620 And I just stayed out of the way 490 00:17:32.620 --> 00:17:34.090 and you have to know, 491 00:17:34.090 --> 00:17:36.700 as a director, when to just stay out of the way 492 00:17:36.700 --> 00:17:38.180 and try to just create conditions 493 00:17:38.180 --> 00:17:39.700 in which the actor can thrive. 494 00:17:39.700 --> 00:17:41.090 So, yeah, a testament to Sonequa 495 00:17:41.090 --> 00:17:43.070 with everything going on at that time 496 00:17:43.070 --> 00:17:44.660 and being able to land that performance 497 00:17:44.660 --> 00:17:47.350 for story and character was just phenomenal. 498 00:17:47.350 --> 00:17:50.550 There is another unbelievable Burnham moment 499 00:17:50.550 --> 00:17:52.270 and it sorta relates to what 500 00:17:52.270 --> 00:17:53.120 we were talking about a minute ago 501 00:17:53.120 --> 00:17:55.780 when you have this face to face with the Ten-C. 502 00:17:55.780 --> 00:17:56.697 We were talking about the AR wall 503 00:17:56.697 --> 00:17:59.800 and we're talking about the incredible visual effects 504 00:17:59.800 --> 00:18:03.090 and just everything in that space. 505 00:18:03.090 --> 00:18:05.610 When I saw it, the VFX were not completed, 506 00:18:05.610 --> 00:18:07.410 so I'm seeing wires and I'm seeing stuff, 507 00:18:07.410 --> 00:18:10.470 but it's still astounding. 508 00:18:10.470 --> 00:18:12.150 It is an absolutely gorgeous set, 509 00:18:12.150 --> 00:18:14.430 but, like, VFX are terrific 510 00:18:14.430 --> 00:18:16.870 but they just mean absolutely nothing 511 00:18:16.870 --> 00:18:18.920 if the actors don't show up 512 00:18:18.920 --> 00:18:20.550 and if the script isn't there. 513 00:18:20.550 --> 00:18:22.810 We have all seen The Phantom Menace, 514 00:18:22.810 --> 00:18:23.950 we know what happens [Michelle laughing] 515 00:18:23.950 --> 00:18:26.750 when we focus on visual effects 516 00:18:26.750 --> 00:18:29.600 and we let story and performance fall by the wayside. 517 00:18:29.600 --> 00:18:32.100 So, when you are talking to the Ten-C, 518 00:18:32.100 --> 00:18:33.760 this is for all of you, 519 00:18:33.760 --> 00:18:36.210 this is this incredible Star Trek moment. 520 00:18:36.210 --> 00:18:37.610 There is this, Michelle, 521 00:18:37.610 --> 00:18:41.890 it is one of the legendary Star Trek speeches 522 00:18:41.890 --> 00:18:45.550 and you split it up between a few different characters 523 00:18:45.550 --> 00:18:49.990 who bring their personal stakes to their perspective 524 00:18:49.990 --> 00:18:51.620 as they are delivering all of this. 525 00:18:51.620 --> 00:18:53.880 It's incredible! 526 00:18:53.880 --> 00:18:56.340 Oh, gosh, um, sure, 527 00:18:56.340 --> 00:18:57.900 well, thank you, 528 00:18:57.900 --> 00:19:00.160 that's really kind of you to say. 529 00:19:00.160 --> 00:19:03.740 And yeah, it just, 530 00:19:03.740 --> 00:19:06.520 it took a lot of time to find that 531 00:19:06.520 --> 00:19:09.460 and I think it, you know, 532 00:19:09.460 --> 00:19:11.250 it's the culmination of our season, 533 00:19:11.250 --> 00:19:14.056 the culmination of what we're doing thematically. 534 00:19:14.056 --> 00:19:18.760 It's our heroes having to reach toward a species, 535 00:19:18.760 --> 00:19:19.593 like I said before, 536 00:19:19.593 --> 00:19:21.560 that is very, very different 537 00:19:21.560 --> 00:19:25.000 and find those places of connection 538 00:19:25.000 --> 00:19:28.950 and taking what they have learned 539 00:19:28.950 --> 00:19:30.120 over the course of the season 540 00:19:30.120 --> 00:19:31.820 and over the course of the past few episodes 541 00:19:31.820 --> 00:19:35.740 about this very different species own experience 542 00:19:35.740 --> 00:19:38.240 and then finding a place of common ground 543 00:19:38.240 --> 00:19:41.530 and it kinda goes back to the things 544 00:19:41.530 --> 00:19:42.520 that we were talking about earlier, 545 00:19:42.520 --> 00:19:44.920 finding common ground amongst one another. 546 00:19:44.920 --> 00:19:46.400 There's a great moment at the end, 547 00:19:46.400 --> 00:19:48.620 like, the final shot of this season 548 00:19:48.620 --> 00:19:49.470 is just this, like, 549 00:19:49.470 --> 00:19:51.380 we're gonna put it back together kinda moment 550 00:19:51.380 --> 00:19:52.213 and I love it 551 00:19:52.213 --> 00:19:53.970 and that moment is the bell 552 00:19:53.970 --> 00:19:55.820 that is going to ring 553 00:19:55.820 --> 00:19:58.010 until Season 5 premieres. 554 00:19:58.010 --> 00:19:59.973 Immediately before that happens, 555 00:20:01.240 --> 00:20:02.073 holy shh, 556 00:20:02.073 --> 00:20:03.993 Stacey Abrams is the President of Earth. 557 00:20:04.970 --> 00:20:06.100 Are you kidding me? [Michelle laughing] 558 00:20:06.100 --> 00:20:07.890 I cannot even believe this. 559 00:20:07.890 --> 00:20:09.280 I was like, "Wait, what? 560 00:20:09.280 --> 00:20:10.113 This is amazing." 561 00:20:10.113 --> 00:20:11.440 So, this is great for a couple of reasons. 562 00:20:11.440 --> 00:20:14.570 Number one, Stacey Abrams is a boss. 563 00:20:14.570 --> 00:20:17.900 Number two, this could have been a great cameo, 564 00:20:17.900 --> 00:20:20.457 a lovely two-word cameo. 565 00:20:20.457 --> 00:20:22.160 But as it turns out, 566 00:20:22.160 --> 00:20:26.260 Stacey Abrams plays a couple of full-on scenes 567 00:20:26.260 --> 00:20:28.388 with professional actors. 568 00:20:28.388 --> 00:20:31.860 Tunde, tell me about directing Stacey Abrams. 569 00:20:31.860 --> 00:20:33.190 Oh, it, [laughing] yeah, 570 00:20:33.190 --> 00:20:35.430 it was breathtaking, right? 571 00:20:35.430 --> 00:20:36.750 The moment she steps on set, 572 00:20:36.750 --> 00:20:38.640 you're like, "There's Stacey Abrams", you know? 573 00:20:38.640 --> 00:20:40.318 [Sonequa] That's right! [Michelle laughing] 574 00:20:40.318 --> 00:20:41.151 Really, yeah! 575 00:20:41.151 --> 00:20:42.757 It was like, "Holy, holy!" you know, 576 00:20:42.757 --> 00:20:44.427 "Holy, you know what!" you know? 577 00:20:44.427 --> 00:20:45.260 Yeah. 578 00:20:45.260 --> 00:20:46.160 And so you have these two worlds colliding, 579 00:20:46.160 --> 00:20:47.160 the Star Trek world 580 00:20:47.160 --> 00:20:49.830 and this political powerhouse world 581 00:20:49.830 --> 00:20:51.611 and it was interesting, you know, 582 00:20:51.611 --> 00:20:55.150 it took a bit to get into rhythm, you know, 583 00:20:55.150 --> 00:20:55.983 because, you know, 584 00:20:55.983 --> 00:20:58.000 Stacey Abrams is standing right there, 585 00:20:58.000 --> 00:20:58.833 but it was- Yeah. 586 00:20:58.833 --> 00:20:59.666 But it was wonderful. 587 00:20:59.666 --> 00:21:02.220 She has a little bit of an acting background, 588 00:21:02.220 --> 00:21:03.900 I came to find out, 589 00:21:03.900 --> 00:21:05.760 and she took direction very well. 590 00:21:05.760 --> 00:21:07.430 And she's just a natural 591 00:21:07.430 --> 00:21:08.840 and she was a natural presence. 592 00:21:08.840 --> 00:21:11.760 She felt she slipped into that role naturally 593 00:21:11.760 --> 00:21:13.430 and there was just incredible chemistry 594 00:21:13.430 --> 00:21:15.250 between her and Sonequa 595 00:21:15.250 --> 00:21:16.920 and I thought it bled, 596 00:21:16.920 --> 00:21:18.070 it bled just really well 597 00:21:18.070 --> 00:21:19.740 into what we're trying to accomplish with the story. 598 00:21:19.740 --> 00:21:20.690 How did you get her? 599 00:21:20.690 --> 00:21:21.523 Michelle, did you, 600 00:21:21.523 --> 00:21:22.356 I presume that this, 601 00:21:22.356 --> 00:21:24.530 that you were maybe very close to the moment 602 00:21:24.530 --> 00:21:25.363 when that happened? 603 00:21:25.363 --> 00:21:27.010 Well, we knew that Stacey Abrams 604 00:21:27.010 --> 00:21:29.100 was a fan of the show, specifically, 605 00:21:29.100 --> 00:21:30.170 and a fan of Sonequa's 606 00:21:30.170 --> 00:21:33.520 and a fan of Trek in general 607 00:21:33.520 --> 00:21:36.140 and we were talking about the President of Earth 608 00:21:36.140 --> 00:21:36.973 and who would that be 609 00:21:36.973 --> 00:21:40.017 and I texted Alex and I was like, 610 00:21:40.017 --> 00:21:42.419 "You know, what do you think of Stacey Abrams?" 611 00:21:42.419 --> 00:21:43.510 [laughing] and I've never seen 612 00:21:43.510 --> 00:21:45.840 so many exclamation points- - Amazing. 613 00:21:45.840 --> 00:21:47.259 Come back and then- 614 00:21:47.259 --> 00:21:48.890 That is the correct response. 615 00:21:48.890 --> 00:21:50.620 There's no other response! [all laughing] 616 00:21:50.620 --> 00:21:53.100 And so then we, you know, 617 00:21:53.100 --> 00:21:56.280 we set a meeting with her with, like, 618 00:21:56.280 --> 00:21:58.940 we just got on a Zoom with Stacey Abrams 619 00:21:58.940 --> 00:21:59.997 and, uh- - Wow. 620 00:21:59.997 --> 00:22:02.520 "Could you take five minutes from saving democracy 621 00:22:02.520 --> 00:22:03.353 to come work on our show- I know! [laughing] 622 00:22:03.353 --> 00:22:05.010 'Cause that would be terrific?" 623 00:22:05.010 --> 00:22:06.470 What an incredible call! 624 00:22:06.470 --> 00:22:08.960 No kidding and she's so, 625 00:22:08.960 --> 00:22:10.800 just so generous with her time 626 00:22:10.800 --> 00:22:13.670 and so kind and thoughtful- - [Wil] Yeah. 627 00:22:13.670 --> 00:22:15.600 And, you know, we're just on there 628 00:22:15.600 --> 00:22:17.200 and just, we pitched her 629 00:22:17.200 --> 00:22:18.780 the basic idea of the character, 630 00:22:18.780 --> 00:22:20.830 who is this, what character would she be playing 631 00:22:20.830 --> 00:22:21.700 and was she interested 632 00:22:21.700 --> 00:22:25.710 and she was so great and immediately said, "Yes." 633 00:22:25.710 --> 00:22:28.050 And so then we knew, oh my gosh, 634 00:22:28.050 --> 00:22:30.780 we've got Stacey Abrams to play this character. 635 00:22:30.780 --> 00:22:33.580 And then it was just making sure 636 00:22:33.580 --> 00:22:34.990 that we laid that character, 637 00:22:34.990 --> 00:22:36.020 we started laying this, 638 00:22:36.020 --> 00:22:37.450 the foundation for that character 639 00:22:37.450 --> 00:22:39.640 starting in Episode 7 640 00:22:39.640 --> 00:22:41.030 and referencing that character 641 00:22:41.030 --> 00:22:44.100 and then, you know, having Tilly talk about her 642 00:22:44.100 --> 00:22:45.607 and Vance and then, you know, 643 00:22:45.607 --> 00:22:47.020 finally, finally getting there, 644 00:22:47.020 --> 00:22:50.330 but it was, I still can't believe it. 645 00:22:50.330 --> 00:22:53.690 I, you know, I look at the show now 646 00:22:53.690 --> 00:22:55.930 and she's there and I still, 647 00:22:55.930 --> 00:22:58.470 I still pinch myself that she came on. 648 00:22:58.470 --> 00:23:01.720 Sonequa, [laughing] when Stacey Abrams 649 00:23:01.720 --> 00:23:03.480 comes onto the set, 650 00:23:03.480 --> 00:23:05.630 I mean, we had big deal people come onto the set 651 00:23:05.630 --> 00:23:06.940 when we were doing Next Generation. 652 00:23:06.940 --> 00:23:08.020 When we were doing Nemesis, 653 00:23:08.020 --> 00:23:09.500 Madeline Albright came to the set 654 00:23:09.500 --> 00:23:10.460 and we were just, it's, 655 00:23:10.460 --> 00:23:13.120 but it wasn't Stacey freaking Abrams 656 00:23:13.120 --> 00:23:15.770 coming and working with me 657 00:23:15.770 --> 00:23:18.280 in my environment where I'm comfortable! 658 00:23:18.280 --> 00:23:19.113 Yeah! 659 00:23:19.113 --> 00:23:20.440 Like, I freaked out, 660 00:23:20.440 --> 00:23:22.400 I freaked out! 661 00:23:22.400 --> 00:23:23.233 Yeah, okay. 662 00:23:23.233 --> 00:23:24.820 The fact that she said yes, 663 00:23:24.820 --> 00:23:26.350 the fact that she was, 664 00:23:26.350 --> 00:23:29.510 just who she is and what she has already done, 665 00:23:29.510 --> 00:23:31.700 she is already a legend. 666 00:23:31.700 --> 00:23:34.330 And we tried so hard to play it cool 667 00:23:34.330 --> 00:23:36.890 'cause we wanted her to feel, 668 00:23:36.890 --> 00:23:38.590 you know, comfortable and everything 669 00:23:38.590 --> 00:23:40.470 and so we were all just, like, 670 00:23:40.470 --> 00:23:44.290 holding ourselves so tightly, 671 00:23:44.290 --> 00:23:45.780 but every now and then it would slip out. 672 00:23:45.780 --> 00:23:49.000 We'd be like, "Oh, yeah, so, anyway, what are you up to? 673 00:23:49.000 --> 00:23:49.980 Oh, I can't believe you're here! 674 00:23:49.980 --> 00:23:50.840 Um, anyway, uh, uh..." 675 00:23:50.840 --> 00:23:53.670 Yeah, [laughing] I know. [all laughing] 676 00:23:53.670 --> 00:23:56.860 Right before she is revealed, 677 00:23:56.860 --> 00:24:01.380 Burnham finally gets this moment with Rillak 678 00:24:01.380 --> 00:24:03.620 who all freaking season long 679 00:24:03.620 --> 00:24:04.540 has been, apparently, 680 00:24:04.540 --> 00:24:07.710 the only creature in the whole galaxy 681 00:24:07.710 --> 00:24:08.820 who just doesn't see 682 00:24:08.820 --> 00:24:10.380 how hard Burnham is working 683 00:24:10.380 --> 00:24:11.370 to do the right thing. 684 00:24:11.370 --> 00:24:13.507 Like, at every moment, Burnham's like, 685 00:24:13.507 --> 00:24:14.340 "I've got an idea" 686 00:24:14.340 --> 00:24:16.400 and she's like, "Ooh, do you?" [all laughing] 687 00:24:16.400 --> 00:24:19.140 Like, all season long! 688 00:24:19.140 --> 00:24:20.470 And I'm like, "Lady, what is going, 689 00:24:20.470 --> 00:24:23.210 are you watching the same captain I'm watching?" 690 00:24:23.210 --> 00:24:25.620 So, [laughing] when that, 691 00:24:25.620 --> 00:24:27.410 that really pays off for me 692 00:24:27.410 --> 00:24:29.660 and I'm like, "Yeah, I knew it all along, 693 00:24:29.660 --> 00:24:31.620 welcome to five weeks ago, lady. 694 00:24:31.620 --> 00:24:33.240 Good job!" [all laughing] 695 00:24:33.240 --> 00:24:35.330 So, can you talk a little bit 696 00:24:35.330 --> 00:24:37.640 about that relationship throughout the season 697 00:24:37.640 --> 00:24:39.370 and is it gonna, does, 698 00:24:39.370 --> 00:24:41.460 I would imagine that that moment lands on Burnham, 699 00:24:41.460 --> 00:24:42.770 like in one of two ways. 700 00:24:42.770 --> 00:24:44.020 Like, "Yeah, I got it" 701 00:24:44.020 --> 00:24:45.980 or, "You're damn right I got it!" 702 00:24:45.980 --> 00:24:47.360 Like, how does she, [Sonequa laughing] 703 00:24:47.360 --> 00:24:49.060 where do you think, 704 00:24:49.060 --> 00:24:50.380 where do you think she goes 705 00:24:50.380 --> 00:24:51.890 when there's nobody else around 706 00:24:51.890 --> 00:24:52.723 and she's like, 707 00:24:52.723 --> 00:24:53.890 and she picks up the phone 708 00:24:53.890 --> 00:24:57.934 and she's like, "Spock, have I got a story for you!" 709 00:24:57.934 --> 00:24:58.767 [Sonequa laughing] 710 00:24:58.767 --> 00:25:00.590 Like, what is her reaction to that? 711 00:25:00.590 --> 00:25:02.410 I think in the beginning of the season, 712 00:25:02.410 --> 00:25:03.850 it definitely would've been, 713 00:25:03.850 --> 00:25:04.800 you know, you saw it, 714 00:25:04.800 --> 00:25:06.887 you saw me as Burnham be, like, 715 00:25:06.887 --> 00:25:08.900 "If Rillak say one more thing! 716 00:25:08.900 --> 00:25:10.812 If she say one more thing!" - Oh, you know- 717 00:25:10.812 --> 00:25:11.645 You know, and then- 718 00:25:11.645 --> 00:25:12.478 "We were gonna have words!" 719 00:25:12.478 --> 00:25:13.311 There was gonna be a little, 720 00:25:13.311 --> 00:25:14.164 there was gonna be, like, 721 00:25:14.164 --> 00:25:16.173 there was gonna be a, like, a dance battle 722 00:25:16.173 --> 00:25:17.347 or, like,- - Right! 723 00:25:17.347 --> 00:25:18.780 "We were gonna go to the fair 724 00:25:18.780 --> 00:25:20.460 and, like, see who could hit the thing hardest." 725 00:25:20.460 --> 00:25:21.813 Like, it was gonna go down! That's, right, 726 00:25:21.813 --> 00:25:22.646 or "We gonna go into the slap hand game!", 727 00:25:22.646 --> 00:25:24.252 you know, the slap hand game? 728 00:25:24.252 --> 00:25:25.172 Yeah! [laughing] 729 00:25:25.172 --> 00:25:26.894 [Sonequa] It's, like, hitting 'em- 730 00:25:26.894 --> 00:25:27.727 - This is how And your hands all cracking. 731 00:25:27.727 --> 00:25:30.273 we resolve conflicts in Starfleet from now on! 732 00:25:30.273 --> 00:25:31.785 [Wil and Michelle laughing] 733 00:25:31.785 --> 00:25:33.860 But I love that it grew from there 734 00:25:33.860 --> 00:25:35.670 and I think, you know,- - Yeah. 735 00:25:35.670 --> 00:25:37.710 The end of Season 4, 736 00:25:37.710 --> 00:25:40.242 Burnham understands - Yeah. 737 00:25:40.242 --> 00:25:42.860 what needed to be learned 738 00:25:42.860 --> 00:25:46.170 and finally understands Rillak's intentions 739 00:25:46.170 --> 00:25:47.200 and her wisdom 740 00:25:47.200 --> 00:25:48.490 and can really accept it 741 00:25:48.490 --> 00:25:51.183 and I think the same is true for her with Burnham. 742 00:25:52.060 --> 00:25:54.420 Control room is telling me that we are, 743 00:25:54.420 --> 00:25:55.253 that we've, actually, 744 00:25:55.253 --> 00:25:56.610 I've taken up more of your time 745 00:25:56.610 --> 00:25:58.070 than we said we would. 746 00:25:58.070 --> 00:25:59.300 I apologize for that, 747 00:25:59.300 --> 00:26:01.540 I have more questions than I have time 748 00:26:01.540 --> 00:26:04.210 so I'm going to pick this very last question 749 00:26:05.230 --> 00:26:07.620 before I say a tearful farewell. 750 00:26:07.620 --> 00:26:09.303 This question is for you, Tunde. 751 00:26:10.560 --> 00:26:13.230 Reno is far and away 752 00:26:13.230 --> 00:26:15.430 one of my favorite Star Trek characters. 753 00:26:15.430 --> 00:26:19.360 I loved when she finally comes back to the bridge, 754 00:26:19.360 --> 00:26:20.810 walks right up to Michael 755 00:26:20.810 --> 00:26:23.160 and is like, "Yo, Book loves you 756 00:26:23.160 --> 00:26:24.720 and he says, 'Blow him up if you need to, 757 00:26:24.720 --> 00:26:26.217 it's all cool,' peace out" [Michelle laughing] 758 00:26:26.217 --> 00:26:28.810 and then she's just gone. 759 00:26:28.810 --> 00:26:30.430 I can never really tell 760 00:26:30.430 --> 00:26:34.090 where Tig Notaro ends and Reno begins. 761 00:26:34.090 --> 00:26:35.180 She's actually very similar 762 00:26:35.180 --> 00:26:36.550 to the character she plays. 763 00:26:36.550 --> 00:26:38.020 I feel on the surface, obviously, 764 00:26:38.020 --> 00:26:39.009 [Wil] Uh-huh. 765 00:26:39.009 --> 00:26:39.842 there's a lot that goes into an individual 766 00:26:39.842 --> 00:26:41.110 that's beyond that,- - Yeah. 767 00:26:41.110 --> 00:26:42.390 But she's a lotta fun. 768 00:26:42.390 --> 00:26:44.290 You know, the cast loves being around her. 769 00:26:44.290 --> 00:26:46.240 We have these very serious scenes 770 00:26:46.240 --> 00:26:47.540 and then right after the end, 771 00:26:47.540 --> 00:26:49.520 we're all busting out laughing. 772 00:26:49.520 --> 00:26:51.260 I mean, if you could watch the dailies 773 00:26:51.260 --> 00:26:52.680 and the outtakes, you know. [Michelle laughing] 774 00:26:52.680 --> 00:26:54.690 I mean, sometimes she'll just veer off her lines 775 00:26:54.690 --> 00:26:57.480 on purpose because there's a joke involved in there 776 00:26:57.480 --> 00:27:00.230 but, you know, when it really came down to it 777 00:27:00.230 --> 00:27:02.484 and needing to connect with her, 778 00:27:02.484 --> 00:27:05.340 with her actors, with her fellow actors, 779 00:27:05.340 --> 00:27:06.173 she did it. 780 00:27:06.173 --> 00:27:09.007 You know, she listened, she was, 781 00:27:09.007 --> 00:27:11.230 there was a lot of magic there 782 00:27:11.230 --> 00:27:12.500 in working with her 783 00:27:12.500 --> 00:27:14.110 and it's very enjoyable. 784 00:27:14.110 --> 00:27:15.710 I had a lot of stuff to shoot with her 785 00:27:15.710 --> 00:27:17.410 in a very short amount of time 786 00:27:17.410 --> 00:27:18.890 and she killed it. 787 00:27:18.890 --> 00:27:20.700 Michelle, the audience is gonna be 788 00:27:20.700 --> 00:27:22.050 incredibly disappointed with me 789 00:27:22.050 --> 00:27:24.720 if I don't at least give you the opportunity 790 00:27:24.720 --> 00:27:26.970 to gently tease, should you desire, 791 00:27:26.970 --> 00:27:30.347 anything that we can expect in our future. 792 00:27:30.347 --> 00:27:32.440 "I have nothing to tell you, Wil Wheaton, 793 00:27:32.440 --> 00:27:33.850 and, by extension, fans" 794 00:27:33.850 --> 00:27:36.710 is an entirely appropriate answer, 795 00:27:36.710 --> 00:27:39.190 but I know that I'm gonna hear about it 796 00:27:39.190 --> 00:27:40.250 if I don't ask you. 797 00:27:40.250 --> 00:27:41.750 I know that Season 5 798 00:27:41.750 --> 00:27:44.520 is maybe just over the event horizon, 799 00:27:44.520 --> 00:27:45.550 but I'm just curious, 800 00:27:45.550 --> 00:27:48.190 is there anything you care to share with us? 801 00:27:48.190 --> 00:27:50.570 I would just say we're having 802 00:27:50.570 --> 00:27:52.355 a heck of a lot of fun doing it. 803 00:27:52.355 --> 00:27:53.505 Oh, awesome. 804 00:27:53.505 --> 00:27:55.220 And we know what it is, 805 00:27:55.220 --> 00:27:56.670 we know what we're doing thematically, 806 00:27:56.670 --> 00:27:58.017 we know what our stories are. 807 00:27:58.017 --> 00:27:58.850 [Wil] Yeah. 808 00:27:58.850 --> 00:28:01.290 We're on our, well on our way with it 809 00:28:01.290 --> 00:28:04.470 and we're just, we're having a lotta fun. 810 00:28:04.470 --> 00:28:08.870 So, and there's not gonna be a roller skating number. 811 00:28:08.870 --> 00:28:09.750 I can say that. 812 00:28:09.750 --> 00:28:11.460 Welp, I lost a bet. 813 00:28:11.460 --> 00:28:12.810 I know, in case anyone was curious, 814 00:28:12.810 --> 00:28:14.770 there's no roller skating. [Sonequa laughing] 815 00:28:14.770 --> 00:28:15.840 Thanks, you guys, I love you, 816 00:28:15.840 --> 00:28:16.673 you're great! 817 00:28:16.673 --> 00:28:17.530 Love you so much, 818 00:28:17.530 --> 00:28:18.540 thank you for everything, Wil. 819 00:28:18.540 --> 00:28:19.415 Thank you. 820 00:28:41.530 --> 00:28:44.720 As if meeting an entirely new alien species 821 00:28:44.720 --> 00:28:45.553 in an entirely new 822 00:28:45.553 --> 00:28:46.480 part of the universe 823 00:28:46.480 --> 00:28:48.500 face to face wasn't enough, 824 00:28:48.500 --> 00:28:52.340 not to mention saving Earth, Ni'Var and Titan, 825 00:28:52.340 --> 00:28:54.080 the Season 4 finale gave us 826 00:28:54.080 --> 00:28:56.560 one last delightful surprise. 827 00:28:56.560 --> 00:28:58.800 If you thought the President of United Earth 828 00:28:58.800 --> 00:29:00.340 looked real familiar, 829 00:29:00.340 --> 00:29:01.290 you're not alone. 830 00:29:01.290 --> 00:29:04.826 Let's hear how this amazing cameo came to be. 831 00:29:04.826 --> 00:29:05.720 Madam President. 832 00:29:05.720 --> 00:29:06.710 Madam President. 833 00:29:06.710 --> 00:29:09.120 [Rillak] Welcome, I am so pleased that you've come. 834 00:29:09.120 --> 00:29:10.940 One of the reasons I love Star Trek 835 00:29:10.940 --> 00:29:13.570 is that it is not one thing. 836 00:29:13.570 --> 00:29:15.992 It is so many different shows, 837 00:29:15.992 --> 00:29:17.970 and it's so many different vantage points. 838 00:29:17.970 --> 00:29:21.360 It has this idealized notion of what can be, 839 00:29:21.360 --> 00:29:23.640 but a very grounded understanding 840 00:29:23.640 --> 00:29:26.210 of how hard the work will be to get there. 841 00:29:26.210 --> 00:29:28.060 And what has been so remarkable 842 00:29:28.060 --> 00:29:30.250 about every iteration of the show 843 00:29:30.250 --> 00:29:32.550 is that they take that same construct, 844 00:29:32.550 --> 00:29:34.650 but they do it so differently and so well 845 00:29:34.650 --> 00:29:38.250 that you never get bored with [laughing] the journey. 846 00:29:43.309 --> 00:29:46.710 It's very special to me to get to welcome you home. 847 00:29:46.710 --> 00:29:49.840 The Discovery crew meeting the President is a big deal 848 00:29:49.840 --> 00:29:52.550 because it finishes an arc [teleport humming] 849 00:29:52.550 --> 00:29:55.720 that began at the beginning of Season 3. 850 00:29:55.720 --> 00:29:56.960 The Federation and Starfleet 851 00:29:56.960 --> 00:29:59.490 haven't been on Earth for a hundred years. 852 00:29:59.490 --> 00:30:01.720 It was incredibly well-plotted out 853 00:30:01.720 --> 00:30:03.300 by Michelle and Alex 854 00:30:03.300 --> 00:30:05.800 to know that we would get to this moment. 855 00:30:05.800 --> 00:30:07.910 United Earth is ready right now 856 00:30:07.910 --> 00:30:09.920 to rejoin the Federation. 857 00:30:09.920 --> 00:30:11.500 That kinda means, well, 858 00:30:11.500 --> 00:30:12.650 the Federation is back, 859 00:30:12.650 --> 00:30:13.600 it's whole again. 860 00:30:13.600 --> 00:30:15.070 Captain, may I have a word? 861 00:30:15.070 --> 00:30:16.310 Of course. 862 00:30:16.310 --> 00:30:17.370 I'm so grateful to her 863 00:30:17.370 --> 00:30:20.700 for gracing us with her presence. [laughing] 864 00:30:20.700 --> 00:30:21.533 And for the writers 865 00:30:21.533 --> 00:30:25.950 for getting her in there. [laughing] 866 00:30:25.950 --> 00:30:27.750 We knew that she was a fan of the show 867 00:30:27.750 --> 00:30:31.030 and I had read an interview with her 868 00:30:31.030 --> 00:30:32.540 at some point where she was talking 869 00:30:32.540 --> 00:30:33.637 about her love of Star Trek 870 00:30:33.637 --> 00:30:35.350 and her love of Discovery specifically 871 00:30:35.350 --> 00:30:36.183 and Burnham. 872 00:30:36.183 --> 00:30:38.810 And we reached out to her people 873 00:30:38.810 --> 00:30:42.270 and were like, "We wanna just ask about this." 874 00:30:42.270 --> 00:30:44.120 And she's so lovely 875 00:30:44.120 --> 00:30:45.930 and was so excited about it 876 00:30:45.930 --> 00:30:48.160 and genuinely excited to get to do it 877 00:30:48.160 --> 00:30:50.077 and it was just the neatest thing. 878 00:30:50.077 --> 00:30:51.820 [clapboard smacking] 879 00:30:51.820 --> 00:30:53.530 So, I went to a performing arts high school, 880 00:30:53.530 --> 00:30:54.720 it was nothing like this. 881 00:30:54.720 --> 00:30:57.330 So, [laughing] I mean, I've been very lucky 882 00:30:57.330 --> 00:30:58.920 to get to sit in a chair 883 00:30:58.920 --> 00:31:00.760 and have someone do my hair and my makeup 884 00:31:00.760 --> 00:31:02.430 in ways I wouldn't have imagined. 885 00:31:02.430 --> 00:31:03.920 I'm not wearing prosthetics, 886 00:31:03.920 --> 00:31:06.890 I don't get new ears or a new forehead 887 00:31:06.890 --> 00:31:08.220 but my hair is different. 888 00:31:08.220 --> 00:31:13.177 And then I got to be outfitted for my uniform 889 00:31:13.177 --> 00:31:15.890 and that was just an extraordinary experience. 890 00:31:15.890 --> 00:31:16.990 And I get a communicator, 891 00:31:16.990 --> 00:31:20.040 which I'm going to probably sneak into my pocket. 892 00:31:20.040 --> 00:31:25.040 They give such care to how they craft spaces and worlds. 893 00:31:25.930 --> 00:31:27.350 Whatever the story was, 894 00:31:27.350 --> 00:31:28.590 I wanted to be a part of it 895 00:31:28.590 --> 00:31:30.900 because watching Michael Burnham 896 00:31:30.900 --> 00:31:33.750 come into her power as a Captain, 897 00:31:33.750 --> 00:31:37.920 watching this hardy crew reclaim itself, 898 00:31:37.920 --> 00:31:39.670 not only in a new era 899 00:31:39.670 --> 00:31:40.870 but in a new space 900 00:31:40.870 --> 00:31:42.960 that is so reminiscent of what they remembered 901 00:31:42.960 --> 00:31:44.500 but so different. 902 00:31:44.500 --> 00:31:45.880 That, to me, speaks of why 903 00:31:45.880 --> 00:31:48.080 we do the work we do in politics. 904 00:31:48.080 --> 00:31:49.600 It's about giving people hope 905 00:31:49.600 --> 00:31:50.990 and giving them a better life 906 00:31:50.990 --> 00:31:54.520 and creating this vision of what is possible. 907 00:31:54.520 --> 00:31:55.960 And so, regardless of the role 908 00:31:55.960 --> 00:31:56.860 that I was gonna get to play, 909 00:31:56.860 --> 00:31:58.320 I wanted to be a part of it. 910 00:31:58.320 --> 00:32:00.150 There's a lot of work to do. 911 00:32:00.150 --> 00:32:01.300 Are you ready for that? 912 00:32:02.710 --> 00:32:03.623 I am. 913 00:32:04.990 --> 00:32:06.041 Let's get to it. 914 00:32:40.135 --> 00:32:41.950 Oh, that rascal Riker trying so hard 915 00:32:41.950 --> 00:32:44.053 to be Picard's wingman! I love it! 916 00:32:44.053 --> 00:32:45.250 Well, the crew of Discovery 917 00:32:45.250 --> 00:32:47.167 have certainly earned their shore leave. 918 00:32:47.167 --> 00:32:49.800 Star Trek: Discovery Season 4 is at its end, 919 00:32:49.800 --> 00:32:52.067 but there is so much more Trek to be had. 920 00:32:52.067 --> 00:32:54.470 Star Trek: Picard Season 2 is rolling along 921 00:32:54.470 --> 00:32:58.646 and we've got an exclusive look at Episode 4. 922 00:32:58.646 --> 00:33:00.460 Poor Agnes Jurati, 923 00:33:00.460 --> 00:33:03.133 doomed to be the afterthought left behind again. 924 00:33:04.010 --> 00:33:04.993 Not to me. 925 00:33:06.250 --> 00:33:08.010 You're more then you let on, 926 00:33:08.010 --> 00:33:09.770 that they can see. 927 00:33:09.770 --> 00:33:13.910 Smart, cunning, and remarkably more cruel 928 00:33:13.910 --> 00:33:15.313 than I could have predicted. 929 00:33:16.390 --> 00:33:17.223 Bravo. 930 00:33:18.750 --> 00:33:20.010 How am my cruel? 931 00:33:20.010 --> 00:33:22.053 Fixing me just to take what you need. 932 00:33:22.930 --> 00:33:24.240 Leaving me up here powerless 933 00:33:24.240 --> 00:33:26.590 yet now awake to feel it. 934 00:33:26.590 --> 00:33:27.980 All right. 935 00:33:27.980 --> 00:33:30.020 Well, have a good night plotting, 936 00:33:30.020 --> 00:33:31.660 or whatever it is Borg Queens do. 937 00:33:31.660 --> 00:33:34.203 You felt it too, didn't you? 938 00:33:35.600 --> 00:33:37.300 That thing for what we Borg 939 00:33:37.300 --> 00:33:38.912 have so very many words. 940 00:33:40.020 --> 00:33:43.778 Assimilation, cooperation, 941 00:33:45.468 --> 00:33:46.385 connection. 942 00:33:56.330 --> 00:33:57.760 I'm gonna level with you, nerds, 943 00:33:57.760 --> 00:33:59.570 I love the intimate moments 944 00:33:59.570 --> 00:34:00.670 when I talk to the jib 945 00:34:00.670 --> 00:34:01.990 and it feels like I'm leaning in 946 00:34:01.990 --> 00:34:03.670 and whispering into your ear 947 00:34:03.670 --> 00:34:05.730 that I'm so grateful that you spent this time 948 00:34:05.730 --> 00:34:07.358 with me today in The Ready Room. 949 00:34:08.233 --> 00:34:10.440 It is so wonderful that all though Discovery-- 950 00:34:10.440 --> 00:34:11.273 That was creepy, wasn't it? 951 00:34:11.273 --> 00:34:13.140 That was super creepy, I'm sorry, 952 00:34:13.140 --> 00:34:14.030 I didn't mean to be creepy, 953 00:34:14.030 --> 00:34:15.340 but we're gonna keep on going. 954 00:34:15.340 --> 00:34:16.890 It is so wonderful that all 955 00:34:16.890 --> 00:34:18.880 though Discovery Season 4 is at a close, 956 00:34:18.880 --> 00:34:20.850 we can continue to talk Trek together, 957 00:34:20.850 --> 00:34:21.870 in a non-creepy way, 958 00:34:21.870 --> 00:34:23.070 since Picard's future, 959 00:34:23.070 --> 00:34:24.380 or maybe it's his past, 960 00:34:24.380 --> 00:34:25.650 is just heating up. 961 00:34:25.650 --> 00:34:27.890 I promise you that is not a 24th century 962 00:34:27.890 --> 00:34:29.380 global warming joke. 963 00:34:29.380 --> 00:34:30.740 Next week you will bear witness 964 00:34:30.740 --> 00:34:33.299 to my personal ascension to nerd heaven, 965 00:34:33.299 --> 00:34:34.720 because I will be talking time travel 966 00:34:34.720 --> 00:34:37.410 and Star Trek with director Lea Thompson. 967 00:34:37.410 --> 00:34:39.530 That's right, she directed Season 2, Episode 4 968 00:34:39.530 --> 00:34:40.620 of Star Trek: Picard 969 00:34:40.620 --> 00:34:42.280 along with this week's episode 970 00:34:42.280 --> 00:34:45.460 and I cannot wait to break it down with her. 971 00:34:45.460 --> 00:34:47.280 Until then, I'm Wil Wheaton, 972 00:34:47.280 --> 00:34:48.543 live long and prosper. 973 00:34:49.720 --> 00:34:51.629 I'm so sorry I made it weird.