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Saru (Star Trek: Discovery)

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Saru
Star Trek character
Saru
First appearance"The Vulcan Hello" (2017) (Discovery)
Created by
Portrayed byDoug Jones, Kamal Ajimal (young)
In-universe information
SpeciesKelpien
OccupationScience officer (USS Shenzhou; pre-2256), First Officer (2256–2257), Acting Captain (2257–2258), Captain (2258–3189), Federation ambassador (3189 onward), Admiral (3191 onward)
FamilySiranna (sister)
Significant othersT'Rina (partner)
AffiliationUnited Federation of Planets, Starfleet, Kaminar, USS Shenzhou, USS Discovery
Languages94 total
AbilitiesEnhanced strength and agility, superior visual acuity, prey/predator instincts
Notable factsFirst Kelpien in Starfleet, Starfleet Medal of Honor, underwent Vahar'ai, helped reunify Kaminar
Doug Jones, who portrays Saru.

Saru is a fictional character in the Star Trek franchise, appearing as a main cast member in the television series Star Trek: Discovery (2017–2024). A Kelpien—a species created specifically for the series—Saru is portrayed by actor Doug Jones throughout all five seasons of the show. Introduced as the cautious and principled Starfleet officer, Saru becomes a central figure in the series' exploration of diplomacy, leadership, and post-traumatic transformation. Over time, he rises through the ranks to become captain of the starship USS Discovery, later serving as a United Federation of Planets ambassador and ultimately attaining the rank of admiral. Saru was the first member of a pre-warp civilization to join Starfleet and the first Kelpien to serve in the organization.

Saru was the first major role created specifically for Doug Jones, offered to him without an audition—an unprecedented moment in his decades-long career. Known for his long history of prosthetic-based performance in genre films, Jones embraced the opportunity despite initially planning to retire from such physically intensive work. Saru’s elongated gait and distinct silhouette were direct results of the elevated costume design, particularly the hoofed footwear. Critics and fans frequently compared Saru to earlier iconic non-human characters such as Spock, Data, and Odo, noting his position as the first alien to captain a title ship in the franchise.

Within the narrative, Saru undergoes significant development, transitioning from a fear-driven officer shaped by his prey-species biology into a bold and principled leader. His evolution is catalyzed by the Kelpien rite of passage known as vahar’ai, which transforms his psychological state and strips away instinctive fear. His character arc explores themes of colonialism, identity, and trauma recovery, especially through his attempts to reconcile his Federation duties with the needs of his homeworld, Kaminar. Saru’s relationship with crewmates—including Michael Burnham and Sylvia Tilly—serves as a central emotional axis of the show, with Burnham eventually taking over the captaincy as Saru transitions to diplomatic service.

Jones’s performance as Saru received critical acclaim, earning him two Saturn Awards for Best Supporting Actor. The role brought him mainstream recognition and is often cited as the defining part of his career. Critics and scholars have praised Saru’s characterization for challenging the archetype of the non-human "other" in Star Trek, offering instead a layered depiction of fear, resilience, and leadership. His storyline has been interpreted through lenses of globalization, post-colonial identity, and gender egalitarianism.

Design and performance

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Doug Jones's distinctive gait as Saru, shaped by elevated prosthetic footwear and physical performance techniques.

A year before the first season of Star Trek: Discovery aired, in November 2016, actor Doug Jones was cast as Saru, a Kelpien, an alien species newly created for the Star Trek universe. Bryan Fuller personally offered Doug Jones the role of Saru, telling Jones he was "the one the show needed," which made the veteran creature actor feel his career was "back on."[1] Prior to being offered the role of Saru, Jones had been considering moving away from and winding down his signature prosthetics acting work after decades in the make-up chair.[1]

Jones said that throughout his long career, Saru was the first role he was ever offered as first choice with no audition.[1] "I have waited, all my life, for the moment to happen, where a big role in a big series was just being offered to me, based on reputation alone, and it was humbling," he said.[1] Jones highlighted and was honored by the fact that Saru is the first-ever "alien" captain of a "title" Star Trek ship, pointing out that he was pleased to join a "very exclusive, lovely club"--of actors who played Starfleet captains of such signature ships.[2]

The producers pitched Saru as the Spock or Data of Star Trek: Discovery—a characterization Jones embraced.[3] Jones described Saru as “kind of the Spock of this particular iteration,” the bridge officer who “looks different, sounds different, walks different.”[4] After having appeared in every Star Trek: Discovery episode from seasons one through four, Saru only featured in five of the ten episodes in the finale season.[5] In part, after starring especially prominently in season four, which took nearly an entire year to film due to repeated COVID-19 delays and interruptions, Jones was eager to spend more time with his family after being away from them longer than he was used to.[5] He also worked on various films at the time, including Disney's Hocus Pocus 2.[5] Had Star Trek: Discovery continued for additional seasons, Jones was prepared to return as often as asked.[5] He remarked that Saru became the most immersive role of his career, offering emotional complexity that deepened across seasons.[2]

Jones's physicality and movements as an actor are routinely highlighted and cited as a powerful aspect of Saru's charecterization. Saru's costume made him approximately 6'8", a height Jones said gave him a "gazelle-like" appearance.[6] The unique walking gait Saru uses resulted naturally from the elevated hoof boots he wore, forcing Jones to balance on the balls of his feet.[7] Throughout all five seasons of Star Trek: Discovery, in addition to the film The Shape of Water directed by frequent Jones collaborator Guillermo del Toro and the television series What We Do in the Shadows, Bauston Camilleri was his stunt double.[8][9] To maintain consistency among Kelpiens, Jones initiated an informal training regimen for other performers—dubbed “Kelpien school”—focused on physicality and movement.[10]

While being known for his physical craft, Jones remarked that two of the more challenging acting moments as Saru came when he was called to sing—as not a natural musician—on-screen, in full prosthesis, during emotionally charged moments including a funeral, and in the Kelpien language.[11] Star Trek captains traditionally adopt signature catchphrases—such as "make it so" for Jean-Luc Picard—and Saru’s became “carry on.”[11]

Saru’s elaborate Kelpien prosthetics initially took four hours to apply, but later was reduced to only two.[6] "Very fast for prosthetics," according to Jones.[12] Fuller initially envisioned a "ten-eyed Saru," later changed after makeup tests hindered Jones's performance.[13] As a central Star Trek: Discovery character, Jones during filming would sometimes need to stay in full costume, prosthesis, and with Saru's blue full-eye contact lenses in place for 15-17 hours per day.[2] In one episode of Star Trek: Discovery, Jones was briefly able to act as himself, wearing no Kelpien prosthetics. In it, the character of Saru wore a holographic "human disguise". Jones wore a wig and purposely made the look "a little bit more off-putting" to cue viewers something was wrong.[12] Without the silicone mask, he could display facial expressions normally hidden—"you’re seeing expressions that are actually happening underneath the mask."[12]

Characterization

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Early in Star Trek: Discovery, Saru is bound by the natural traits of his people, with his life governed by a constant innate sense of fear and nervousness. This is contrasted to his peer and close friend Michael Burnham, portrayed by Sonequa Martin-Green, as they throughout the series reconcile an initially problematic relationship to the level of being like family. Julia Alexander in Polygon compares him to the "cowardly lion" versus Burnham's "risk-seeking go-getter."[14] Jones has often discussed the familial relationship between Burnham and Saru, as both in their own stories had lost their original families, and evolved a unique sibling relationship in their depictions of the characters.[11] The character Sylvia Tilly's (played by Mary Wiseman) relationship with Burnham and Saru also evolves throughout the series, with Jones seeing her as a daughter figure, and Saru as a father figure toward her.[15] Saru fully trusts Tilly’s leadership, saying she has "proven herself time and time again," naming her acting first officer at one point.[12]

Writing in the The Verge, Devon Maloney draws contrasts between Saru, the characters Data and Worf on Star Trek: The Next Generation, and the shape-changing Odo from Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.[9] Maloney notes non-human officers—despite their qualifications—are often dismissed or sidelined by Starfleet. Saru’s cautious leadership style is framed not as a flaw, but as a contrast to the reckless impulsivity often rewarded in human counterparts.[9] "Saru is Kelpien. He thinks everything is malicious," human captain Philippa Georgiou, played by Michelle Yeoh, stated.[9] In the pilot episode, "The Vulcan Hello", Burnham undercuts a proposed idea by Saru—as his then-superior officer in front of their subordinates aboard the USS Shenzhou. He asks—again in front of their staff—after her "constant need to dismiss [his] ideas". Maloney highlights that Burnham and Saru's early conflicts undermined his ability to command their officers.[9] Despite Burnham's at times poor prior treatment of Saru, when they found themselves in a dangerous situation, he immediately endorsed that she should be fully trusted to resolve the matter; Maloney notes Kelpiens have a lesser level of ego than humans.[9]

Saru's species undergoes a radical transformation later in life known as vahar'ai, a process central to multiple Star Trek: Discovery storylines. Prior to vahar'ai, Kelpiens exhibit involuntary fear responses characteristic of prey species; after the transformation, fear dissipates and assertiveness emerges, though physical capabilities remain unchanged. In "An Obol for Charon," Saru, having undergone vahar'ai, destroys combat drones with his bare hands, while his pre-vahar'ai sister recoils—demonstrating that the shift affects behavior, not ability. Kelpien vision is described as exceeding human visual acuity, including perception of the electromagnetic and ultraviolet spectrums. This heightened sensory capacity plays a key role in the same episode, where Saru detects an alien signal whose complexity overwhelms his system and prematurely triggers the onset of vahar'ai.

Following an off-hand comment by a superior officer, Saru became informally called "Action Saru" among junior crew members after undergoing vahar'ai.[16] He becomes known for his strong leadership and boldness, as Burhnam, initially known for strong leadership and boldness to the level of at times recklessness, becomes known for restraint, as their paired characterizations evolved over Star Trek: Discovery's five seasons.[16]

Story and appearances

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In the Star Trek: Short Treks episode "The Brightest Star", Saru's origin story of fleeing his homeworld to join the United Federation of Planets as a refugee with the help of then-lieutenant Philippa Georgiou is explored, and how he ultimately joined Starfleet as the first Kelpien to do so. Saru comes from a planet where Kelpiens are a "prey species" hunted by a dominant predator; his species evolved heightened survival instincts.[3] Saru remained deeply connected to his homeworld of Kaminar; after learning Kelpiens had joined the Federation in the future he felt "hopeful there's a place to go home to."[12] Saru's storyline explores tensions between his Starfleet loyalties and commitments to his homeworld, mirroring contemporary struggles between local ethnic and national identity versus broader global or institutional allegiances.[17] This mirrors modern dilemmas concerning ethnic, racial, or religious backgrounds versus national identities, notably in the context of United States citizenship.[17] In one episode, Saru reflects: "Somewhere along the way, I lost who I was..."[17]

Eventually, Saru discovers a reversal in the predator-prey relationship on his planet, Kaminar.[17] The species oppressing his people were historically preyed upon by the Kelpiens thousands of years prior, nearly to the point of extinction.[17] Saru learns what he thought was imminent death, a Kelpien biological process called Vahar'ai, is another developmental stage that allows his people to overcome their innate fear.[17] This uniquely challenges the Federation's Prime Directive, as he and his sister disclose the historical lie that his species has been sacrificing themselves needlessly, believing their deaths necessary for their society's existence.[17] This forces both species towards overcoming mutual prejudice and fear.[17] Having started a peace process on Kaminar, he left his sister Siranna confident that "my planet was doing fine".[12] Kaminar introduces a gender equality theme to Saru's story, with no distinctions drawn between male and female Kelpiens in terms of height, physical appearance, strength, and capabilities.[17] Following the death of their father, Saru's sister assumes leadership without controversy, underscoring an egalitarian society devoid of gender bias.[17]

In the Mirror Universe, that alternate version of Saru is enslaved by Emperor Georgiou, serving as a bath servant and personal attendant.[18] His relationship with Georgiou reflects typical power dynamics of Terran society, yet Saru's presence is critical in her eventual moral redemption.[18] Through Saru, Georgiou confronts her oppressive tendencies to experience compassion and remorse.[18] Saru is her moral catalyst, whose subjugation helps initiate Georgiou's journey from authoritarian cruelty toward empathy and self-reflection.[18]

Saru and the Discovery crew played integral roles in defending the Federation during its war with the Klingon Empire in season one, and in the development of the experimental spore drive. In season two, Saru’s return to Kaminar unfolded alongside investigations of galaxy-wide celestial phenomena and efforts to stop a rogue artificial intelligence system from destroying all life. To prevent that catastrophe, Burnham and Saru led Discovery on a mission involving time travel into the future, where the series remained in the 32nd century until its conclusion. In that future setting, Saru became captain of Discovery, a position he held until transitioning to service as a Federation ambassador.

In the third season, prior to their arrival, Starfleet had been nearly destroyed and the Federation weakened by a galactic event that destroyed tens of thousands of ships at once. Saru played the decisive role in peacefully resolving the crisis, which had been caused by an orphaned Kelpien child exposed to extreme cosmic forces. In the wake of the events, Saru accepts a position as an ambassador and finally returns home to Kaminar, itself now at last a Federation member. His role as ambassador continued throughout the final two seasons of the series, and he returned to Discovery as they attempted to make first contact with the first-ever discovered extragalactic sentient life. In the final season, Saru’s diplomatic efforts were instrumental in both averting war with the Breen and uncovering the last surviving remnant of Star Trek's ancient Progenitor species, first introduced in the 1993 episode "The Chase" from Star Trek: The Next Generation. At the conclusion of the series, Saru becomes an admiral and marries the leader of the now-unified Vulcan and Romulan cultures, T'Rina, continuing a romance that began in season four.

By the end of Star Trek: Discovery, Jones summed up Saru's storyline with the word "satisfied," framing it a happy ending.[19]

Reception and analysis

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Jones received Saturn Awards for his portrayal of Saru, noting the role has brought him the most recognition of his career.[4] Jones won the Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor in Streaming Presentation in both 2019 and 2021.[20][21] The Star Trek: Discovery makeup team’s work on Saru and other aliens won the 2019 Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Prosthetic Make-up, honoring artists Glenn Hetrick, James MacKinnon and team.[22]

As the final season concluded, Jones remarked that viewers had shared personal stories with him about how Saru's portrayal helped them confront fears and navigate struggles with anxiety and depression.[23] In academic analysis, Saru's narrative has been interpreted as reflecting broader globalization themes, particularly the tension between local identity and global commitments, and offering a nuanced perspective on colonial and imperial frameworks through the lens of Starfleet’s interactions with local traditions.[17]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Colangelo, BJ (2022-10-14). "Doug Jones Was Ready To Be Done With Prosthetics Until He Was Offered Star Trek: Discovery". Slashfilm. Archived from the original on 2022-10-15.
  2. ^ a b c Spry, Jeff (2021-08-09). "'Star Trek: Discovery' actor Doug Jones on conquering fear and stepping up screentime". Space.com. Archived from the original on 2021-08-05.
  3. ^ a b TrekCore Staff (2017-07-17). "New info on STAR TREK: DISCOVERY's Kelpien Science Officer Lt. Saru". TrekCore. Archived from the original on 2019-09-21.
  4. ^ a b Ennis, Dawn (2021-07-21). "Doug Jones Is Ready to Beam Into Star Trek: Discovery Season Four". StarTrek.com. Archived from the original on 2021-07-21.
  5. ^ a b c d Joest, Mick (2024-08-16). "I Thought Star Trek: Discovery Was Writing Doug Jones Off The Show In Season 5, But He Explained The Reasons Why Saru Wasn't Around Much". CinemaBlend. Archived from the original on 2024-08-16.
  6. ^ a b StarTrek.com Staff (2017-10-25). "Inside Discovery: Doug Jones". StarTrek.com. Archived from the original on 2023-12-04.
  7. ^ Seibold, Witney (2024-03-07). "Saru's Walk In Star Trek: Discovery Wasn't An Intentional Decision". Slashfilm. Archived from the original on 2024-03-14.
  8. ^ Reilly, Ken (2024-04-01). "INTERVIEW — Doug Jones on Saru's Journey and Finding Love in STAR TREK: DISCOVERY Season 5". TrekCore. Archived from the original on 2024-04-14.
  9. ^ a b c d e f Maloney, Devon (2018-02-15). "Saru is Star Trek: Discovery's unsung hero". The Verge. Archived from the original on 2018-02-15.
  10. ^ Kisenwether, Sue (2019-01-19). "INTERVIEW: Doug Jones on Teaching Kelpien School, and James MacKinnon on DISCOVERY's Season 2 Makeup". TrekCore. Archived from the original on 2019-09-29.
  11. ^ a b c Pascale, Anthony (2020-12-24). "Interview: Doug Jones On The Human Side Of Saru And Keeping The Captain's Chair In 'Star Trek: Discovery'". TrekMovie. Archived from the original on 2021-06-01.
  12. ^ a b c d e f Jacobs, Meredith (2020-12-24). "'Star Trek: Discovery's Doug Jones on Saru's Very Different Look". TV Insider. Archived from the original on 2020-12-24.
  13. ^ TrekCore Staff (2018-05-29). "DISCOVERY Makeup Team Reveals Early Saru Alien Look". TrekCore. Archived from the original on 2019-08-06.
  14. ^ Alexander, Julia (2024-08-16). "Star Trek: Discovery already has found its most divisive character in Saru". Polygon. Archived from the original on 2017-09-28.
  15. ^ Whitbrook, James (2020-12-30). "Doug Jones Looks Back on Saru's Long, Strange Star Trek Journey". Gizmodo. Archived from the original on 2021-07-19.
  16. ^ a b Watson, Jen (2024-04-10). "Every Superpower "Action" Saru Has In Star Trek: Discovery". Slashfilm. Archived from the original on 2024-04-28.
  17. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Filipová, Petra (2019). "Space: The Final Frontier of Gender and Globalization" (PDF). SKASE Journal of Literary and Cultural Studies. 1 (2). Pavol Jozef Šafárik University: 21–28. ISSN 2644-5506. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2025-05-29. Retrieved 2019-12-12.
  18. ^ a b c d Engelbrecht, Janine (2024). "Space Hitler and saint: Star Trek's Emperor Georgiou and the slippage between postfeminism and fourth wave feminism". Image & Text (38). University of Pretoria: 1–20. doi:10.17159/2617-3255/2024/n38a4. Archived from the original on 2025-05-29.
  19. ^ Seibold, Whitney (2024-08-31). "Doug Jones Describes Star Trek: Discovery Season 5's Saru Storyline With One Word". Slashfilm. Archived from the original on 2024-09-22.
  20. ^ TrekCore Staff (2019-09-14). "STAR TREK: DISCOVERY Wins Three Saturn Awards". TrekCore. Archived from the original on 2019-10-23.
  21. ^ Brown, Jack (2021-10-28). "STAR TREK: DISCOVERY Wins Three Saturn Awards". Daily Star Trek News. Archived from the original on 2021-10-29.
  22. ^ TrekCore Staff (2019-09-16). "STAR TREK: DISCOVERY Lands Makeup Emmy Award". TrekCore. Archived from the original on 2019-10-23.
  23. ^ Butler, Karen (2024-05-30). "Doug Jones celebrates Saru's 'gorgeous metamorphosis' on 'Star Trek: Discovery'". United Press International. Archived from the original on 2024-05-30.
[edit]
  • Saru at Memory Alpha (a Star Trek wiki)


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