Captain Burnham's Crew Changes After Discovery Mirror Picard's Enterprise

Captain Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) found herself in a circumstance at the end of Star Trek: Discovery that's similar to Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) at the end of Star Trek: Nemesis. Star Trek: Discovery ended in 2024 after five seasons on Paramount+. Star Trek: Nemesis premiered in 2002 and became the final film starring the cast of Star Trek: The Next Generation.

In Star Trek: Discovery season 3, Commander Michael Burnham led the USS Discovery on a one-way time jump to the 32nd century. The unimaginable experience of being 930 years away from their lives in the 32nd century uniquely bonded Burnham and Discovery's crew. Under Captain Burnham, Discovery's people were a found family unlike any other Starfleet crew.

However, change was a constant in Star Trek: Discovery, and this was evident in how fluid the USS Discovery's crew was, as key personnel came and went. Comparatively, Captain Picard held his senior staff together for seven years of Star Trek: The Next Generation and the eight more years that spanned the TNG movies.

Change was finally forced upon Picard's Starship Enterprise at the end of Star Trek: Nemesis, and Burnham faced the same at the end of Star Trek: Discovery, when the bridge crew of her time-tossed starship came to look quite different from when they all arrived in the late 32nd century

Captain Burnham Lost Many USS Discovery Crew, Like Picard After Star Trek: Nemesis

Before Star Trek: Discovery's series finale warped ahead 30 years for its epilogue, Captain Michael Burnham and Cleveland Booker (David Ajala) recommitted their love for each other and beamed aboard the USS Discovery, which warped to a new mission. However, Discovery's crew would be missing key personnel.

Captain Saru (Doug Jones), Lieutenant Sylvia Tilly (Mary Wiseman), Commander Jett Reno (Tig Notaro), Lt. Commander Ronald Bryce (Ronnie Reyes, Jr.), and Lt. Commander Nilsson (Sara Mitich) all time-traveled with the USS Discovery and left Captain Burnham's ship by the end of Star Trek: Discovery.

Saru became an Ambassador and married President T'Rima (Tara Rosling) of Ni'Var, Reno and Tilly joined Starfleet Academy as instructors, and Bryce and Nilsson were transferred to other Starfleet ships. Others who left the USS Discovery before Star Trek: Discovery ended included Emperor Philippa Georgiou (Michelle Yeoh) and Commander D. Nhan (Rachael Ancheri).

Captain Picard experienced a touch of empty nest syndrome at the end of Star Trek: Nemesis. After Praetor Shinzon (Tom Hardy) was vanquished, Lt. Commander Data (Brent Spiner) was dead, and Captain Will Riker (Jonathan Frakes) and Counselor Deanna Troi (Marina Sirtis) married and left to take command of the USS Titan.

What Happened To Picard’s USS Enterprise-E Crew After Star Trek: Nemesis

Star Trek: Picard revealed that just two years after Star Trek: Nemesis, Dr. Beverly Crusher (Gates McFadden) departed to secretly give birth to Picard's son, Jack Crusher (Ed Speleers), and Picard himself was promoted to Admiral to lead the United Federation of Planets' ill-fated mission rescue the Romulan people from their sun going supernova.

The USS Enterprise-E passed to Captain Worf (Michael Dorn), who replaced Commander Riker as Captain Picard's First Officer. The Sovereign Class Enterprise was later lost in mysterious circumstances that Worf claimed were not his fault in Star Trek: Picard season 3. When the USS Enterprise-F was launched, none of the legends from Picard's Enterprise were aboard.

Captain Burnham likely wasn't too lonely during her unseen voyages after Star Trek: Discovery ended. Presumably still part of the USS Discovery's crew are Commander Rayner (Callum Keith Rennie), Dr. Hugh Culber (Wilson Cruz), Commander Paul Stamets (Anthony Rapp), Ensign Adira Tal (Blu del Barrio), and Cleveland Booker.

The USS Discovery is still in action during Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, which is set a few years after Star Trek: Discovery. Captain Burnham's starship's whereabouts are often referenced in Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, so Michael and her crew are still saving the galaxy even after many of her friends have moved on.