Captain Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) is the undisputed main hero of Star Trek: Discovery and here are her 10 best episodes. Burnham is a revolutionary Star Trek character: she is the first Black female lead of a Star Trek series who eventually became the first Black female Captain to lead a Star Trek series in Discovery season 3. A polarizing figure to some, Burnham is nonetheless the embodiment of Starfleet's ideals and is a symbol of how to rise above one's failures to strive for the best in ourselves. Although Star Trek: Discovery ends with season 5, no doubt Michael will add more episodes to this list.

As Michael Burnham, Sonequa Martin-Green is a powerhouse performer who ranks among Patrick Stewart and Avery Brooks as one of the finest actors to topline a Star Trek series. Star Trek: Discovery's success paved the way for the rebirth of the Star Trek franchise on Paramount+, and Burnham's example set the new high standard for what a Star Trek series can be in the modern streaming era. Michael Burnham is a gifted genius driven to do what's right, but she has also made terrible mistakes and paid for them. Michael has heroically saved the galaxy multiple times in two eras of Star Trek. Whether she was Commander Burnham, Specialist Burnham, or Captain Burnham, Michael has been the focus of unforgettable moments of Star Trek: Discovery in these, her finest episodes.

10 Star Trek: Discovery Season 1, Episode 1 - "The Vulcan Hello" / Episode 2 - "Battle at the Binary Stars"

Star Trek: Discovery's two-part premiere episode, "The Vulcan Hello" and "Battle at the Binary Stars" introduced the universe to Commander Michael Burnham and laid bare her arrogance, flaws, and misplaced sense of righteousness. Rightly convinced that the Klingons intend to start a war, Burnham commits mutiny in order to stop the conflict. Michael's tragic mistakes lead to the death of her mentor, Captain Philippa Georgiou (Michelle Yeoh), and she is arrested and imprisoned by Starfleet. It's the beginning of a Star Trek story like no other and launches Michael Burnham on her long road to redemption.

9 Star Trek: Discovery Season 3, Episode 9 / Episode 10 - "Terra Firma, Parts 1 & 2"

Star Trek: Discovery season 3's Mirror Universe two-parter focuses on Emperor Philippa Georgiou, who the Guardian of Forever (Paul Guilfoyle) sends back in time to the alternate reality as a test of her worthiness for redemption. Along with Georgiou, the Mirror Universe Michael Burnham also takes center stage as she plots to overthrow her adoptive mother, Georgiou. Mirror Michael was absent from Star Trek: Discovery season 1's Mirror Universe arc so that the Prime Universe's Burnham met the ruthless Emperor Georgiou. In "Terra Firma", Georgiou faces a seething, malevolent Michael Burnham, who is the embodiment of Philippa's sins as a parent, which makes her appreciate the earnestness of the Prime Michael all the more.

8 Star Trek: Discovery Season 2, Episode 8 - "If Memory Serves"

"If Memory Serves" is Star Trek: Discovery's direct sequel to the original Star Trek pilot, "The Cage," where Michael and her adoptive brother, Lt. Spock (Ethan Peck), travel to Talos IV in order to cure Spock's broken mind. Michael is forced to face Spock's memories of her cruelty to him when they were children, which was Burnham's misplaced effort to protect him. There is genuine sibling rivalry and chemistry between Burnham and Spock, and it solidifies Star Trek: Discovery's retcon of inserting Michael into Spock's family history. Given how dynamic Spock and Michael's banter is, it's a shame they are destined to never see each other again.

7 Star Trek: Discovery Season 2, Episode 13 / Episode 14 - "Such Sweet Sorrow, Parts 1 & 2"

Star Trek: Discovery season 2 ends with a spectacular two-parter that ends the original incarnation of the series to set up its next phase set in the 32nd century. Michael realizes she must replace her mother, Dr. Gabrielle Burnham (Sonja Sohn) as the time-traveling Red Angel and lead the USS Discovery 930 years into the future to save the galaxy. "Such Sweet Sorrow, Part 2" is best ed for the eye-popping conflagration where the USS Enterprise and the USS Discovery lead a fleet against the warships of Section 31's rogue A.I. Control, but the show's beating heart is Burnham, who makes an impossible sacrifice, and her heartbreaking farewell to Spock.

6 Star Trek: Discovery Season 4, Episode 6 - "Stormy Weather"

When the USS Discovery investigates a subspace rift created by the Dark Matter Anomaly, the ship is trapped within, unable to navigate. Captain Burnham sends the entire crew into the transporters' pattern buffer to protect them while she remains on the bridge to pilot Discovery out of the rift with the help of the ship's sentient A.I., Zora (Annabelle Wallis). "Stormy Weather" is one of Michael's greatest tests as Captain of the Discovery as she risks her life to ensure the safety of her crew.

5 Star Trek: Discovery Season 3, Episode 7 - "Unification III"

"Unification III" is Star Trek: Discovery's sequel to Star Trek: The Next Generation's "Unification" two-parter where Michael Burnham learns of Ambassador Spock's (Leonard Nimoy) dream of Vulcan and Romulan unification, which came true in the 32nd century. Burnham returns to Vulcan for the first time in almost a thousand years to find it's been renamed Ni'Var. Michael has a bittersweet reunion with her mother, Gabrielle, who is now a member of the Qwoat Milat sect of Romulan warrior nuns, and Burnham faces a trial over data she believes can prove cause of The Burn. "Unification III" is a landmark episode that redefines Burnham's ties to Vulcan in the 32nd century.

4 Star Trek: Discovery Season 1, Episode 15 - "Will You Take My Hand?"

Star Trek: Discovery season 1 concludes with Michael Burnham stopping Emperor Georgiou from committing genocide on Qo'noS and finding another way to put an end to the devastating Klingon War. For her heroism, Michael's rank of Commander is reinstated by Starfleet and Burnham delivers a riveting speech that acknowledges her sins and reaffirms the core values of Starfleet and the Federation. Burnham's powerful monologue isn't just a mission statement for Star Trek: Discovery, but it laid the foundation for what Starfleet would stand for across the Star Trek on Paramount+ series yet to come.

3 Star Trek: Discovery Season 3, Episode 15 - "That Hope Is You, Part 2"

Star Trek: Discovery season 3's finale is Commander Michael Burnham at, perhaps, her most superheroic. When Osyrra (Janet Kidder), leader of the Emerald Chain, hijacks the USS Discovery to destroy the Federation, Burnham confronts and battles her throughout the starship. Michael's feats lead to the Discovery's crew taking back their starship and rescuing their friends trapped in the Verubin Nebula, where they discovered the cause of The Burn was a Kelpien named Su'Kal (Bill Irwin). "That Hope Is You, Part 2" ends with Michael Burnham's promotion to Captain of the Discovery, completing her 3-season arc.

2 Star Trek: Discovery Season 4, Episode 8 - "All In"

Michael Burnham's love story with Cleveland Booker (David Ayala) is the heartbeat of Star Trek: Discovery seasons 3 and 4, but it all comes to an end at a poker table in "All In." When Burnham and Lt. Commander Joann Owosekun (Oyin Oladejo) travel to a casino to acquire isolynium before Book and Dr. Ruan Tarka (Shawn Doyle), Michael and Book face off at a game of chance. In order to win, Booker ends his relationship with Michael in a devastating move that both David Ayala and Sonequa Martin-Green deliver the full impact of. Booker and Burnham would eventually reconcile, but their breakup is an all-time great Michael Burnham moment.

1 Star Trek: Discovery Season 3, Episode 1 - "That Hope Is You, Part 1"

Star Trek: Discovery season 3 kicks off its new era with Commander Michael Burnham arriving in the year 3188 and finding herself alone. With no idea if and when the USS Discovery will her, Burnham faces the possibility that she will never see her friends again. But Michael encounters Cleveland Booker, who is destined to be the great love of her life, and together they escape a hostile planet but not before Michael is exposed to a hallucinogen that makes her giddily confess that "I saved all the things." Burnham and Book finally travel to an abandoned Federation outpost where they find Adiya Sahil (Adil Hussain), a lonely liaison who spent his life waiting for hope. That hope was Michael Burnham, who decided the destiny of the 32nd century. "That Hope Is You, Part 1" is a magnificent performance by Sonequa Martin-Green, who redefined the course and future of Star Trek: Discovery.

Star Trek: Discovery Season 5 premieres in 2024 on Paramount+.