Doug Jones reflects on his time in the captain’s chair in Star Trek: Discovery season 3

"Su'Kal" -- Ep#311 -- Pictured: Doug Jones as Saru of the CBS All Access series STAR TREK: DISCOVERY. Photo Cr: Michael Gibson/CBS ©2020 CBS Interactive, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

JULY 21, 2021 - Man of a thousand faces and notoriously nice guy, Doug Jones, has been reflecting on his time as Star Trek: Discovery’s Kelpian fledgling captain, Saru, and giving a very tiny peek into the upcoming season four.

Jones has been making the rounds as the filming of season four has been nearing completion, interviewing with Decider, TrekNews, and StarTrek.com. Season four filming has been taking place under COVID-19 safety protocols, and Jones has approached the situation as one of enablement – making it possible to get the work done. “And I think that’s what Star Trek helps us realize,” Jones told Decider, “that the situation can be different if you perceive it differently.”

While Saru has become a captain, and wanted to do so, over the course of the story thus far, Jones wasn’t as excited with the idea. He said that although the honor and gravity of it was not lost on him, what it meant for him as an actor was a lot more work, and a lot more days in makeup. He said he was happy being second fiddle to Michael Burnham. But although Saru departed for Kaminar at the end of season three, Jones teased that Saru retains his captain status, telling StarTrek.com, “You’ll have to wait and see how that plays out.”

Saru is the longest-running character that Jones has played so far in his career, and he told TrekNews that he enjoys what he calls Saru’s “emotional availability” and the organic growth of the character. Jones says he doesn’t think he would change anything about his approach to portraying the character.

To find out more about Doug Jones and his alter ego, including what Jones would make Gene Roddenberry for dinner, had he the chance, you can read the full interviews at Decider.com, TrekNews.net, and StarTrek.com.