The Huge Enterprise Surprise Reveal of Star Trek: Discovery Finale and David Cronenberg's Reaction Expained by Showrunner
Showrunner for Star Trek: Discovery Michelle Paradise details the startling real identity of David Cronenberg's character, Doctor Kowitz, in the series finale and how the highly regarded actor-director responded to his character's connection to Star Trek: Enterprise. Together with providing an emotional denouement to Captain Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) and the USS Discovery, Paradise co-wrote Star Trek: Discovery's series finale, "Life, Itself," with Kyle Jarrow, so completing the tale of Progenitors treasure quest. But "Life, Itself" also revealed a surprise regarding Doctor Kovich's true identity.
In an upcoming exclusive interview with Screen Rant, Michelle Paradise revealed how long David Cronenberg responded to Doctor Kovich's actual identity as Agent Daniels from Star Trek: Enterprise and how long it was in the works. See Paradise's quotation below:
Star Trek: Discovery's Teasing of Doctor Kovich's True Enterprise Identity
The seeds were sown even before the writers' room of Star Trek: Discovery decided that David Cronenberg's Dr. Kovich was Daniels from Star Trek: Enterprise. Following the USS Discovery leaps into the 32nd century, Kovich conducted interviews with time travelers, especially focusing on Mirror Universe Emperor Philippa Georgiou (Michelle Yeoh). Kovich always knew more than he let on, and he had specific knowledge of the Temporal War—introduced to Captain Jonathan Archer (Scott Bakula) by Daniels (Matt Winston)—on Star Trek: Enterprise.
One of the major hints in season five of Star Trek: Discovery that Kovich is Daniels is his inclination for pen and paper writing, which suggests a taste for relics derived from his time travel life. Kovich also kept various Star Trek Easter eggs in his office, including a baseball from Captain Benjamin Sisko (Avery Brooks), a bottle of Chateau Picard, the VISOR of Geordi La Forge (LeVar Burton). Though Doctor Kovich/Agent Daniels, the revealtion that Kovich is actually "Agent Daniels, USS Enterprise... and other places" deftly ties the thousand years between Star Trek: Enterprise and Star Trek: Discovery together even though it was suspected that Kovich could be an immortal Lanthanite or El-Aurian.
Jonathan Frakes said, " Really Surprised." Season five of Star Trek: Discovery is based on his TNG episode.
Based on an episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation he directed, Jonathan Frakes explained his "surprised" response to Star Trek: Discovery basing season 5's narrative. Including season 5 (and the series') penultimate episode, "Lagrange Point," Frakes has directed eight episodes of Star Trek: Discovery. Jonathan has always considered Star Trek: Discovery his "home" Star Trek on Paramount+ show since he joined as a director for season 2; yet, Frakes didn't imagine Discovery season 5 to pull its story from one of his TNG episodes.
Jonathan Frakes revealed in an exclusive interview with Screen Rant why he was "pretty surprised" that Star Trek: Discovery season 5 follows his Star Trek: The Next Generation season 6 episode, "The Chase." Frakes also discussed how directing the current Star Trek series differs from Star Trek during Rick Berman's 1990s era. Here is his quote:
How "The Chase" affected Star Trek: Discovery?
Burnham's search for the greatest treasure in Star Trek: Discovery season five will call for help from a range of both new and familiar people.
"The Chase" is obviously more important as Star Trek: Discovery marks a new age. The way the narrative was written delighted fans of a show. The creative team of the show should motivate viewers to watch a famous episode from the franchise afresh handled with skill.
The Director, Jonathan Frakes
I was particularly taken aback as I don't recall "The Chase" being that important in Next Gen's output. Then Michelle clarified how that would be the beginning and the show's premise's basis... You know, I came upon "The Chase" just by chance. The cards turned out this way. On Next Gen, you get episodes assigned to you by some random voting of straws; on Discovery, and also, much more importantly, on Strange New Worlds, they assign you an episode they thought you would be suitable for. Thus, it was only chance that "The Chase" turned out to be one I had intended.
Since I don't recall "The Chase" being that important in Next Gen's output, I was rather taken aback. Then Michelle clarified how that would be the beginning and the show's premise's basis... You know, I came upon "The Chase" just by chance. The cards turned out this way. On Next Gen, you get episodes assigned to you by some random voting of straws; on Discovery, and also, much more importantly, on Strange New Worlds, they assign you an episode they thought you would be suitable for. Thus, it was only chance that "The Chase" turned out to be one I had intended.
Star Trek's Changing Development
Unlike the Rick Berman era's luck of the draw, the fact that directors are assigned episodes based on what the producers believe they would excel at, and that there are simply less Star Trek episodes produced in the streaming era than in Star Trek's syndication and broadcast network era, the cinematic visual style of the new shows where directors like Jonathan Frakes is encouraged to "shot to thrill." All of these innovations started with Star Trek: Discovery.
Source: Rant Plus for Media
Star Trek: Discovery's fifth season may be seen on Paramount+.
