This makes me happy. I've been worried that for a long time they were just gonna write off the show in some way. Such as, go all the way back to the beginning so none of it happens, or they were in another universe all along so no boundaries, etc. etc. It's nice to get confirmation that we are indeed in the prime universe.
You're right -- my point was that there are viewers who refuse to believe what the showrunners have been saying from the very beginning. That's on the audience, not the production. That's why I added in the bit about the 700m JJprise. Some of the same people who fight that stat tooth and nail -- "because the show-runners said so" -- are the same ones who are protesting Discovery being in the prime universe.
Actually, what I meant was that I'm inclined to disagree. Certainly Harberts seems to think it's on the audience... but it seems clear to me from the discussions in these forums all season that lots of fans would like to believe what the showrunners say about being situated in, and respectful toward, the original Trek timeline; it's the show itself that keeps giving reasons for skepticism.
Imagine how insipid you'd sound after spending months hanging around these people nodding your head so the checks keep coming.
This was my main issue with placing Discovery at this point in the timeline. It has to fit in with Trek canon or completely ignore it like the JJ movies did, it can't float in the middle. Part of Enterprise's doom was trying to make a Ferengi or Borg episode and fit it in with what came after (though it didn't help that the characters weren't interesting until Season 3 either). Unless you have some kind of road map of where you want to end up at the end of each season or the run, you keep bouncing off the walls trying to either fit or ignore. I also would rather Discovery stand on its own and too many interactions with NCC-1701 or trying to shoehorn Michael into Sarek's family just feels like pandering, like Discovery needs the rest of the Star Trek lore to stand up. We as fans should want a series that is good on its own merits and not need to see the Enterprise or Spock just to make it for us.
I got a theory that the ole Religion vs Science exploration might come from exploring the Vulcans and "Vulcan Mysticism" as Admiral Morrow might put it. I mean does anyone really know what a Katra really is? DId Spock really not come back to life and the version that did get recreated is just a copy of the real Spock? The Vulcans are also a race that is all about pure logic but they also are very prudish with some old fashioned idea's like arranged marriages and not to long ago they thought mind melds were impure. Since Burnham was raised on Vulcan it would play into her character being important in the arc. In fact maybe Burnham is realigious but has that sometimes conflict with her interests in science kind of like Scully was on the "X-FIles." Sybok I expect even show up and be shown as a good guy who is basically wok(I think that is how you say it) in terms of not wanting to be part of some old style traditions he doesn't believe in. Jason
I think Sybok still belongs to Paramount, CBS can't use him, but I do hope we see more of Vulcan in season 2. My guess is we see these '"Logic Extremists" at some point. Also feel like there's a weird link between these Vulcans and those of Enterprise's time period, and hope we see more of their internal politics.
That would be cool as well but not sure if that is a season arc worth of story. Though if they made them to being into religion I guess that would be okay. I would also welcome all the pig puns. Maybe they are the biggest producers of bacon in the Federation and nobody knows how they make so much of it or maybe Burnham can save a Tellarites life and he says "Thank you. You sure saved my bacon back their." James Cromwell can play a human ambassador to the planet. Jason
I do like the idea proposed here of Pike's Number One becoming DSC's captain. As to Culber and Stamets...I'm remembering the "Rangi-rua and Hine-marama" tale from Maori legend(?) as written up by David Brin in his novel Earth. (I've got to ask Dr. Brin where he got that from, if I haven't already.) I'd prefer that inspiration to that of Orpheus and Eurydice.
I wonder how many seasons we'd spend going through commanding officers until most Captains notice the 'Discovery curse' and start refusing command of the ship, eventually forcing Starfleet to just make the status quo legal and finally name Saru captain... I'd have this be his last episode, just for the humor value.
Have a young Captain Terrell turn it down in favor of one of the new hot rod Mirandas. "I just feel safer"
Make it a running joke with Captains from TOS turning down the ship: Tracy, Matt Decker, Merrick, etc. All Captains who ended up in ill-fated situations later on, but thought they'd be safer not taking the Discovery!