As much as I love Lt. Kayla Detmer (Emily Coutts) in Star Trek: Discovery, I forgot she was actually there since the beginning of the show. With everything that happened in the first 2 seasons, it’s inevitable to forget a few crew members’ whereabouts every now and again. The USS Discovery went through major changes in the early days of Star Trek: Discovery. The USS Discovery’s controversial spore drive was used, a new captain, visits to the mirror verse, and a surprise time travel trip to the 32nd century… and Lt. Detmer was there through it all.
Detmer might not play a major role in Star Trek: Discovery’s 5 seasons, but I think she still deserved more development for having been there since the beginning. Even after everything she went through, including the trauma from time travel and an injury that required her to get an implant, Detmer was a source of stable continuity in a show that often didn’t have a voice of its own. However, Kayla Detmer’s role lessened as the show continued. By season 5m we rarely saw her at all, which may be why it’s easy to forget how long she was there.
Lt. Kayla Detmer Was Part Of Star Trek: Discovery Since The Beginning
Detmer wasn’t part of the USS Discovery’s crew until after the first two episodes
Kayla Detmer served aboard the USS Shenzhou under Captain Philippa Georgiou (Michelle Yeoh) as the starship’s helmsman, where she would continue to excel throughout her career. After being injured at some point before Michael Burnham’s (Sonequa Martin-Green) arrival on the USS Discovery, both Lt. Detmer and Lt. Commander Saru (Dough Jones) transferred to Discovery after the Shenzhou was lost in episode 2. That means Detmer was there for as long as Saru, who would end up being a major character for the next 5 seasons. Unfortunately, Detmer didn’t get that opportunity, and I still don’t see why.
Lt. Detmer piloted the Discovery out of several tight spots and even joined the Enterprise’s legacy by briefly piloting the ISS Enterprise.
With cranial and ocular implants, I think it’s also important to note that Lt. Detmer played a vital role in Star Trek’s vision of being an inclusive space for all fans. Her hearing and vision aids were never made a huge plot point, though she mentioned coping with loss when she received them. The implants were depicted as a part of who she proudly became through so many hardships. They certainly didn’t hinder her piloting ability – Lt. Detmer piloted the Discovery out of several tight spots and even joined the Enterprise’s legacy by briefly piloting the ISS Enterprise.
Star Trek: Discovery Never Gave Detmer Character Development She Deserved
By missing most of season 5, Detmer lacked enough screen time for development
Lt. Detmer suffered from post-traumatic stress syndrome (PTSD) as a result of going to the future after the events of Star Trek: Discovery season 2. Despite being among the officers who volunteered to go with Michael Burnham and leave behind their former lives, the change was difficult for Detmer, who continued to show signs of anxiety and hesitation while on duty. This nuanced representation of struggling with change is one reason I loved Detmer’s role among the crew so much. She was relatable in situations that were sometimes far-fetched, and it isn’t fair she didn’t get more development.
As a result of scheduling conflicts, Lt. Detmer was largely missing from Star Trek: Discovery season 5. This mishap might have something to do with the fact that the cast wasn’t aware that season 5 would be the final season of the show; had they known, I wonder if more established characters would’ve gotten more development since actors might have been more willing to overlook conflicts. Due to that, Lt. Kayla Detmer’s small part in the later seasons of Star Trek: Discovery unfortunately made me forget she had been part of the crew from the very beginning of the show.