Is Michael Burnham a Horcrux?

Discussion in 'Star Trek: Discovery' started by mlbach, Dec 7, 2018.

  1. mlbach

    mlbach Captain Captain

    Joined:
    May 27, 2017
    Location:
    Minnesota
    So, early on in Discovery Sarek does a mind meld with her to save her life. Then it turns out that a bit of his kartra (sp?)--his soul-- was left inside her, enabling them to communicate over long distances and helps her save his life.
    So does this make Michael Sarek's Horcrux?
     
    Xerxus, jaime and Groppler Zorn like this.
  2. BillJ

    BillJ The King of Kings Premium Member

    Joined:
    Jan 30, 2001
    Location:
    America, Fuck Yeah!!!
    I have no idea what that even is?
     
    Jayson1 likes this.
  3. Jackson_Roykirk

    Jackson_Roykirk Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

    Joined:
    Jan 10, 2007
    Location:
    Northeastern Pennsylvania
    If the Star Trek universe ever uses the word "horcrux" (from the Harry Potter universe) to mean a vessel holding a "soul", at least in part, then sure -- why not. Having said that, they never used the word horcrux to describe McCoy when he held Spock's katra...

    ...so I'm guessing the answer is no -- that is not a term that Star Trek uses for a person who carries another's katra.

    If they want to use that word, then fine. Or make up some other term; that would be OK as well. However, until they do, then Burnham would be horcrux-like (referencing the Harry Potter term), but not called a horcrux.
     
  4. mlbach

    mlbach Captain Captain

    Joined:
    May 27, 2017
    Location:
    Minnesota
    Well, of course, the muggles in the Federation would never use (or even know), the term "Horcrux"...
     
    SolarisOne and Groppler Zorn like this.
  5. DaveyNY

    DaveyNY Admiral Admiral

    Joined:
    May 14, 2001
    Location:
    DaveyNY from Skin-Neck-Ta-Dee (Schenectady)
    I would imagine that the word "Vessel" would be the most logical Vulcan term used.
    (as in a person regarded as a holder or receiver of something)
    :vulcan:
     
  6. Jackson_Roykirk

    Jackson_Roykirk Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

    Joined:
    Jan 10, 2007
    Location:
    Northeastern Pennsylvania
    Maybe those Federation Muggles are afraid of copyright infringement.
     
    SolarisOne, Groppler Zorn and BillJ like this.
  7. Spot261

    Spot261 Vice Admiral Admiral

    Joined:
    Aug 16, 2013
    Location:
    spot261
    :shrug:
    Of course they would, they'd just check their historical databases and there'd be the HP series
     
  8. Groppler Zorn

    Groppler Zorn Fleet Captain Fleet Captain

    Joined:
    Apr 13, 2018
    Since the Q continuum can summon things from thin air, can levitate, and kill people with a thought, it makes sense that they are clearly wizards.

    Thus, Harry Potter and Star Trek exist in the same universe.

    Think about this for a second: have any Trek characters ever referenced the Harry Potter series on screen? Nope. So Potter and Trek are on the same dimensional plane of existence.

    As a result, Michael is the horcrux that Sarek never intended to make.

    And a hundred years later so was Picard.

    This means (somehow) that Michael Burnham is immortal as part of her soul will always be in Sarek - even after Sarek died.

    Looking forward to SMG’s cameo in Star Trek Picard - with no old makeup or anything. She’ll look just like she does in discovery.

    She’s the Face of Boe (essentially).

    #fandomsmash
     
    SolarisOne and Jinn like this.
  9. ALF

    ALF Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

    Joined:
    Mar 12, 2005
    Location:
    Program Melmac1 - Holodeck 3
    It was always refreshing to me that Trek shies away from the "live forever" storyline trope as explored in Star Wars and Harry Potter. Except for Star Trek Insurrection, I guess. A Fountain of Youth isn't a horcrux per se but it's similar.
     
  10. LJones41

    LJones41 Commodore Commodore

    Joined:
    Sep 21, 2015
    Location:
    I'm from Long Beach, CA.
    Oh brother.:wtf:
     
    LS650 likes this.
  11. XCV330

    XCV330 Premium Member

    Joined:
    Sep 24, 2017
    Location:
    XCV330
    I don't believe that katra has ever been the same as a neoplatonic idea of soul, though it can be seen as something equivalent. The Katra seems more like a "last good backup" of a Vulcan's memories and personality. It can work imperfectly in another sentient body, it can be transferred to certain storage media.

    While Katra do appear to be stored from at least some exceptional members of Vulcan society, they don't seem to make a point of storing everyone's Katra or if they do, the process is more recent to the TOS era and beyond, as it was certainly not that common during the Vulcan High Command era.

    So, no, I don't think she's a horcrux.
     
    Groppler Zorn likes this.
  12. Jackson_Roykirk

    Jackson_Roykirk Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

    Joined:
    Jan 10, 2007
    Location:
    Northeastern Pennsylvania
    Oh, so a retcon, huh?
    I mean, TOS Kirk and crew didn't (nor could) mention the HP book series.
     
  13. Spot261

    Spot261 Vice Admiral Admiral

    Joined:
    Aug 16, 2013
    Location:
    spot261
    They didn't mention people watching DSC in the 21st century either.

    Can't be canon.
     
  14. mlbach

    mlbach Captain Captain

    Joined:
    May 27, 2017
    Location:
    Minnesota
    OMG! WE'RE the MU!
     
    Groppler Zorn likes this.
  15. SolarisOne

    SolarisOne Fleet Captain Fleet Captain

    Excuse me while I laugh uproariously.
    :guffaw:
    Discovery is magical enough on its own without Harry Potter references.
     
    Groppler Zorn and BillJ like this.
  16. jaime

    jaime Vice Admiral Admiral

    Joined:
    Sep 2, 2013
    Location:
    London
    I think you are correct.
     
  17. mlbach

    mlbach Captain Captain

    Joined:
    May 27, 2017
    Location:
    Minnesota
    Ah, but as Arthur C. Clarke so famously stated, "Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic."
     
  18. KennyB

    KennyB I have spoken............ Moderator

    Joined:
    Jul 19, 2001
    Location:
    Tokyo Japan
    :nyah: Never “cross streams” or fandoms.
     
  19. The Wormhole

    The Wormhole Fleet Admiral Admiral

    Joined:
    Jul 23, 2001
    Location:
    The Wormhole
    Unfortunately, this is not the first time I've heard this theory.
     
  20. BillJ

    BillJ The King of Kings Premium Member

    Joined:
    Jan 30, 2001
    Location:
    America, Fuck Yeah!!!
    I don't mind "magic", if you're doing something interesting with it. I loved the idea of the Spore Drive, thought the execution was absolutely dull and unimaginative.