Star Trek is easily one of the most iconic and influential global television franchises and now, 50 years after it initially premiered, a new series is here to captivate both new and old fans. Star Trek: Discovery features a new ship, new characters, and new missions, while embracing the same ideology and hope for the future that inspired a generation of dreamers and doers.

The new series will follow—in a first for Star Trek—not the captain of the Discovery, but First Officer Michael Burnham (played by Sonequa Martin-Green) who was raised by Spock’s father, Sarek, after her parents died in a Klingon attack. She was the first human to attend Vulcan schools and at the start of the series she served under Captain Philippa Georgiou (Michelle Yeho) on the USS Shenzhou.

Our leading lady then makes her way to the USS Discovery to serve as a first officer once more, but under Captain Gabriel Lorca (Jason Isaacs) and Saru (Doug Jones), who is a member of a new species known as the Kelpiens.

Discovery’s main antagonist is T’Kuvma (Chris Obi) who is a leader of a Klingon sect hoping to unite the empire under one banner.

As for how the series fits into the franchise, Discovery is set in the “prime timeline”, so it will be ignoring the JJ Abrams-produced films and fall in line with the existing television series. However, that being said, Discovery is also a prequel and it will be set 10 years prior to the original William Shatner series but with better graphics.

The series stars Sonequa Martin-Green (The Walking Dead), Jason Isaacs (Harry Potter), Doug Jones (Falling Skies), Shazad Latif (Penny Dreadful), Michelle Yeoh (Marco Polo), Maulik Pancholy (30 Rock), Chris Obi (American Gods), and Anthony Rapp (Rent).

HOW TO WATCH: For U.S viewers, catch the premiere today on CBS at 8:30/7:30c and if you’d like to continue watching, the second episode will be available on CBS All Access along with the remaining six episodes which will only air on the online streaming service.

For Canadian viewers, you can watch the double-episode premiere on the Space Channel at 8.30pm EST with each episode airing weekly plus on the Space GO app or CraveTV.

For international viewers (minus U.S and Canada), each episode will be available on Netflix within 24 hours of it airing in the U.S.

Will you be watching? Tell us in the comments below!

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