Thoughts on Burnham's relationship to Sarek

[Philip Guyott]

I got the impression, Vulcan and that Sarek was her Father. He's had more than one wife.

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[Number One]

Since its clear now its a heavy re-imagining of Star Trek, she could be anyone/anything. Amanda Greyson's daughter from another father, so Sarek's her stepdad, Sarek's daughter from another wife, intern in a school of gifted children were he taught...CBS only knows.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

It would be tough for them to be the same character if the show is taking place ten years prior to TOS (in the Prime timeline) and Burnham ends up as Captain of the Discovery.

Burnham isn't the same Number One from TOS. The writers of DSC may have been inspired by Majel's character, but as we all know, Number One is a common term for a ship's XO.

 

[CorporalCaptain]

Burnham isn't the same Number One from TOS.

Has that been established yet? If so, where?

AFAIK, it's still up in the air.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

Has that been established yet?

Technically, no, but as I said, "Number One" is a widely used term for first officers. There's no reason TO think they're the same character just because they're called that.

Besides, Majel's character is on the Enterprise right now, so that kind of makes it moot, doesn't it?

 

[T'Bonz]

Now I think if she's at all Vulcan, it's more along the lines of 1/4. The eyebrows and ears just slightly Vulcan.

 

[CorporalCaptain]

There's no reason TO think they're the same character just because they're called that.

Absolutely.

 

[Crazy Eddie]

^ Would be interesting if she was, though. I always felt Number One was a character who could have used more screen time.

Then again, I sort of felt that way about Tasha Yar right before they killed her. So maybe we're better off imagining it than having it?

 

[Jedi_Master]

I'm wondering anew about the relationship of this "Number One" with Majel Barrett's Number One from The Cage.

I realize that Barrett's character was white and Burnham is black, but Barrett's character was deliberately played up as unemotional, and coldly logical (before the character was dropped and those traits were handed over to Spock.) Could that be a connection between the characters after all, racial difference notwithstanding?

I thought Number One was from an Alien planet? Or was that something introduced in the novels?

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

^ Before the novelverse started getting consistent, there were many different backstories that various writers cooked up for her. That was one of them.

Personally, I hate the idea, and vastly prefer this one:

Spoiler: Peter David's version

Morgan Primus

 

[Michael]

Technically, no, but as I said, "Number One" is a widely used term for first officers. There's no reason TO think they're the same character just because they're called that.

Well, as people are saying in this very thread, it's not “just because she's called Number One”, but also because of her apparent cold and logical, Vulcan-like demeanor.

Besides, Majel's character is on the Enterprise right now, so that kind of makes it moot, doesn't it?

Not necessarily. The events of “The Cage” are taking place 13 years before “The Menagerie”. According to the writers, Discovery is set ten years before TOS. So she could actually have served under Pike on the Enterprise and then went on to be Georgiou's first officer on the Shenzhou.

Look, I don't really think they will make that connection. All I'm saying is that it is a possibility, albeit an unlikely one.

Personally, I hate the idea, and vastly prefer this one:

Spoiler: Peter David's version

Morgan Primus

That's in spoiler-code why?

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

I never got the impression (even from the short trailer) that Burnham was cold and logical. Certainly not as much as Majel's Number One was.

 

[dahj]

She shouts a few lines.
Just like Spock did in the same time period.

 

[Michael]

Not necessarily. The events of “The Cage” are taking place 13 years before “The Menagerie”. According to the writers, Discovery is set ten years before TOS. So she could actually have served under Pike on the Enterprise and then went on to be Georgiou's first officer on the Shenzhou.

It just dawned on me that, no, this actually wouldn't be possible as Captain Georgiou clearly says Burnham served seven years under her. Oh well … we will see.

 

[m.lp.ql.m]

She is half Vulcan, only it's her left half. The pointy ear was away from the camera in that shot.

 

[Captain Indecisive]

Has that been established yet? If so, where?

AFAIK, it's still up in the air.

Why would it be necessary to establish that they are not the same character ?

 

[JRoss]

I don't think she's genetically Vulcan. I think that maybe Amanda had another child before she married Sarek. SMG is 32, and if the character is the same age, then considering when Discovery takes place she's older than Spock.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

She shouts a few lines.
Just like Spock did in the same time period.

That settles it. DSC needs more Michael Burnham SHOUTING!

 

[Mudd]

I never got the impression (even from the short trailer) that Burnham was cold and logical. Certainly not as much as Majel's Number One was.

She's not. Nor are her ears at all unusual.

 

[{ Emilia }]

Yeah, her goofy head tilt/turn and weird expression is just her being Burnham.