The second season of Star Trek: Discovery premieres in less than two weeks, and there is more and more publicity for the show coming out. TrekMovie was given a look at the brand new issue of SFX Magazine, which features a cover story along with new images and exclusive interviews with cast and crew. We have some highlights below.

Season two will tackle issues of the day

Speaking to SFX, executive producer Alex Kurtzman talked about how Discovery will be dealing with contemporary issues:

“Like all the best Trek shows, we’re examining how it’s a mirror to the world that we live in now. We live in a world now where we’re talking about building walls around ourselves, literally, to keep people out, and I think that’s not in keeping with the vision of Star Trek. What are the freedoms that we’re giving up in making choices to protect ourselves? How does that chip away at our essential understanding of Starﬂeet doctrine, and what it means to assume diversity? Why do we need to keep people out? All of those things are questions.”

Captain Pike helps Discovery return to classic Trek storytelling

The introduction of Captain Pike in the second season has been noted as one of the biggest changes in comparison to season one, especially the contrast between his command style and Captain Lorca’s. Speaking to SFX, actor Anson Mount notes how this change in leadership on the ship also facilitates the goal to return to more traditional Star Trek stories:

“The ﬁrst season operated in a vacuum of responsible leadership, which is how we’ve always felt taken care of in this world. They wanted to get back to that. Because when you’re calling into question the character, you don’t have the space or time to have the question of the week – y’know, ‘Let’s tackle racism; let’s tackle the unknown.’ They wanted to be able to get back to those big questions, and they wanted the audience to feel safe. So that was another thing that went into selecting an already established character.”

Shazad on how Voq is his “Hulk”

The character of Tyler, revealed to be the Klingon sleeper agent Voq last season, will continue to go through changes. Actor Shazad Latif talked to SFX about how he is approaching the character:

It’s like another new version – now he’s meshed, now he’s got Voq’s memories. That’s where we’re sitting. So he can access those memories at certain points, or something might bleed through, y’know, Incredible Hulk-style, almost. That’s why it’s confusing for their relationship now, because L’Rell knows that somewhere there’s some remnants of Voq, but it’s this other guy!

Season two will answer questions about Spock’s relationship with Michael

The lead character of Star Trek: Discovery was introduced in season one as a previously unknown adopted sister of Spock. This raised many questions, and apparently, the second season will answer them. Speaking to SFX, Alex Kurtzman says the season starts off with Spock and Michael as having been “very estranged” for “many, many years.” Actress Sonequa Martin-Green offered some more insights into how things kick off in the first episode:

“When Discovery ﬁnds itself face to face with the USS Enterprise, the ﬁrst thing that Burnham wants to do is go ﬁnd him. And he’s not there! He’s taken leave. So now Burnham has to embark on this journey to go ﬁnd him, and be reunited. Why exactly is he on leave? What’s happening? I can also say that it’s a complicated relationship – I wish I could say all the reasons why! But we ﬁnd out pretty quickly all the reasons why it’s a very complicated relationship. And we are going to be doing the work! There’s no stone left unturned, as it relates to those two.”

More in SFX Magazine, on sale now

There is much more from cast and crew of Discovery in the February issue of SFX (issue 309), which is available now digitally on iTunes and Zinio. It is also available on newsstands in the UK and at Barnes and Nobles and selected outlets in the USA. For more info on picking up a copy, visit gamesradar.com.

Star Trek: Discovery is available in the USA on CBS All Access. It airs in Canada on Space and streams on CraveTV. It is available on Netflix everywhere else.

Keep up with all the Star Trek: Discovery news at TrekMovie.