Star Trek: Discovery - 8 Reasons Why It's The Best Series Since TNG

3. Moral Complexity Rules The Day

Although this isn't necessarily a new addition to Star Trek, it's clear that Discovery's leads will wear their complexity on their sleeves throughout the series, with Burnham herself having already displayed a troubled past with a clear and present opposition to the Klingons.

Then there's Jason Isaacs' Captain Lorca, who doesn't fit the mould of a typical Starfleet captain by any stretch of the imagination. He's ex-military, tenacious and, in light of Context is for Kings, very very duplicitous. And yet, in spite of his obvious failings as a character it's clear that he means well, finding himself at the forefront of a burgeoning conflict between the Federation and the Klingon Empire in the command of a science vessel.

It's unclear if he'll be taking on the part of an anti-hero or anti-villain (last night's episode is open to interpretation) but he really exemplifies the conversation Discovery wants to have with its audience. Star Trek has always been about discovery, adventure - existing in this future where people are treated by the content of their character - and yet we've seen prejudice, war, and the Federation depicted in a less than shining light in these first three episodes.

It's fascinating to see play out, and although it's bound to upset some of the Trek faithful, in that it shies away from the franchise's established formula, it feels almost like a necessary moment in the series' mythology. It's boldly going where no other Trek show has gone before.