“WE HAVE BEEN FORTUNATE

to stand on [Roddenberry’s] shoulders and continue that vision, at a time when all feel the world needs it more than ever,” Kadin said. “We’ve pushed those ideals even further with gender equality and sexual orientation,” she added, referring to the show’s spotlight not only on women but on a same-sex marriage between the scene-stealing characters of science officer Paul Stamets (Anthony Rapp) and medical officer Dr. Hugh Culber (Wilson Cruz). “I love when fans have reacted to their storyline by saying ‘it’s about time,’ because it certainly was.”

Though the series features male characters in leadership roles, the women take center stage. As in the original, women on the bridge are a given. “I love that our female characters’ gender never holds them back in their minds or in the minds of their colleagues,” Kadin said. “It is never a topic of discussion on or off camera.” The viewer watches events unfold mostly through the perspective of Michael Burnham, portrayed by Sonequa Martin-Green. “Finding Sonequa was a true gift. She is an incredible leader both on and off screen,” said Kadin, who was looking for a star who could “embody the fierce yet vulnerable ‘Captain in Progress.’”