Warning: SPOILERS for Star Trek: Discovery Season 4, Episode 10 - "The Galactic Barrier"
The biggest lesson Captain Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) learned in Species 10C, Dark Matter Anomaly's creators. Burnham and Rillak's distinct leadership styles and personalities continue to clash but Star Trek: Discovery illustrates how much Michael has matured since the 23rd century when she instigated the Klingon War.
Now that she lives in the 32nd century, Michael Burnham is far removed from the tragic mistakes of her past. Back in 2256, Commander Burnham was the First Officer of the USS Shenzhou commanded by Captain Philippa Georgiou (Michelle Yeoh) and a rising star fast-tracked for her own command - until she betrayed her Captain in a misguided attempt to prevent the Klingon War. Burnham's heart was in the right place but her judgment and decisions were disastrous. By the end of the Battle at the Binary Stars, Burnham's actions led to the death of Captain Georgiou, the destruction of the Shenzhou, and sparked one of Star Trek's worst conflicts, the Klingon War. Michael was imprisoned and became infamous as Starfleet's first mutineer. The primary arc of Star Trek: Discovery has been about Michael's redemption and rededication to the values of Starfleet, which ultimately earned her the Captain's chair of the USS Discovery, at last.
In Star Trek: Discovery season 4, episode 10, "The Galactic Barrier," Captain Burnham proved she's changed for the better when she confronted Rillak about the President's decision to withhold information from the Discovery's crew and delegation that the Dark Matter Anomaly is en route to attacking Earth and Ni'Var. Burnham tells Rillak, "In times of crisis, people need to know their leaders are not rattled by uncertainty or overwhelming odds. They need to know that there is a plan, that they'll be okay." This shows just how much Burnham has grown from the terrible mistake she made in Star Trek: Discovery season 1. 930+ years prior, a less seasoned and more foolish Michael didn't trust her Captain or her shipmates. Instead, Burnham took it upon herself to act unilaterally when faced with an imminent attack by the Klingons, and her actions led to innumerable deaths and incalculable devastation.
Michael was proven correct when the Federation President addressed Discovery after the starship successfully crossed the Galactic Barrier. Heeding Burnham's advice, Rillak came clean to everyone aboard that Earth, Titan, and Ni'Var are in jeopardy from the DMA, but it was the right choice to trust Discovery's crew to do their jobs in spite of the harrowing news. In the past, Michael would have likely acted just as her ex-boyfriend, Cleveland Booker (David Ajala) did: go rogue and attempt to destroy the DMA herself. As Star Trek: Discovery showed, Book and Dr. Ruon Tarka's (Shawn Doyle) impulsive actions to "save" the Federation was a mistake that resulted in a second DMA now targeting Burnham and Discovery's homeworlds.
Burnham's keen understanding of her role as a Captain and leader proves her maturity in Star Trek: Discovery season 4. Michael itted to Rillak that she's angry about the circumstances she and the Federation find themselves in - and that Discovery could fail to stop a war with Species 10C - but Captain Burnham has also gained the grace to put her faith in her shipmates, who are also her family. Star Trek: Discovery season 4's Captain Burnham won't deceive her crew or impulsively put her ship in jeopardy, even though that rebellious streak remains in her. With the USS Discovery on its own past the Galactic Barrier and about to confront an unknown species far more powerful than the Federation, it's heartening to see a different and better Michael Burnham in command as her starship boldly goes where no one has gone before in Star Trek: Discovery season 4.
Star Trek: Discovery Season 4 streams Thursdays on Paramount+.