If we want a way to prove if something is part of the same shared universe then wouldn't the best way to do that would be in seeing how a true crossover episode would feel? If you did a "Discovery" episode were you somehow encountered the "TOS" Enterprise crew, as we saw them in the 60's, and you saw them interact you could tell whether your dealing with a shared universe based on just how natural that crossover would feel. You could take Picard and using him on DS9,Voyager, and even Enterprise and it would feel natural.
I think "Discovery" looks and feels unnatural to the rest of Trek as "TOS" does but we are supose to believe they are basically taking place at the same time. You don't have those long time period gaps between shows as a kind excuse to explain the differences like "TOS" did with "Enterprise" and "TNG."
Now if they do what I suspect after hearing some rumors, about a alternate universe like in the Mirror Universe, that to me would make me feel like a natural way to do a visual reboot and still be technically a prime universe show. It's basically the same excuse that Nimoy's Spock gives for the "Kelvin Universe" being different in TOS time. It's basically a way to be both prime and reboot at the same time. The only other natural way to do a visual reboot and stay prime is another significant time gap, most likely into the future but I think you also have one to work with in between "TOS" movies and "TNG" and maybe another in 20 to 30 years after "Enterprise."
Jason
I think "Discovery" looks and feels unnatural to the rest of Trek as "TOS" does but we are supose to believe they are basically taking place at the same time. You don't have those long time period gaps between shows as a kind excuse to explain the differences like "TOS" did with "Enterprise" and "TNG."
Now if they do what I suspect after hearing some rumors, about a alternate universe like in the Mirror Universe, that to me would make me feel like a natural way to do a visual reboot and still be technically a prime universe show. It's basically the same excuse that Nimoy's Spock gives for the "Kelvin Universe" being different in TOS time. It's basically a way to be both prime and reboot at the same time. The only other natural way to do a visual reboot and stay prime is another significant time gap, most likely into the future but I think you also have one to work with in between "TOS" movies and "TNG" and maybe another in 20 to 30 years after "Enterprise."
Jason