This is precisely why they need to leave Pike's fate a fixed point and immutable. No dodges, no cheats, no fairy tale nonsense masquerading as science fiction. The tale of a person who keeps his integrity despite knowing it will cost them everything can be far more compelling than having them conveniently sidestep disaster at the last second. Besides, he still gets the girl at the end. The fact that it's an illusion is irrelevant to him by that point.
I wouldn't put it past the current people in charge to somehow alter Pike's fate. At least that would finally confirm that this is not the prime timeline. And nothing would make me happier than seeimg STD to be erased from proper Star Trek canon!
I'm not necessarily for a rewrite. I would like a follow up on Pike & Vina down the road. Maybe he could get a peek of what happened to the lives of the cadets he saved.
Holy canon will forbid it! As much as I love HEA it will be better drama if Pike's sad fate is sealed and left as unknown after he arrives on Talos. Just like in real life, sometimes tragic events happen to the best people. Serving in Starfleet can be very dangerous, it is good for the audience to see this in universe fact. (My head canon has Burnham go back in time and pick him and Vina up, return them to the 31st century where they live a happy, productive, healthy life on some planet on their ranch with lots of horses)
Exactly. If you read my post carefully, you see that this is why I'd like some on screen proof of it not being proper canon. Altering Pike's fate or letting Sam Kirk die prematurely would count as such, wouldn't it? Anyway ... with the current people in charge of Star Trek, anything is possible. They would probably still claim that this is the prime universe, no matter how much they have fucked it up.
Pike's monologue to himself in Through the Valley of Shadows was one of the most moving if not the most moving performances of the streaming Trek Era. Its the backbone of this entire show. To put in context, every captain has had a character journey: Jonathan Archer: butthead to slightly not so great of a butthead. Kirk's journey in the first few movies was dealing with a change of circumstances, loss, and leaving behind a destiny he was better suited to. Picard: work in progress. I used to know what it was with BoBW, but Pic Season 2 has kind of pulled it like Silly Putty and I am not entirely sure now. Doing the right thing vs acting on guilt. Or something. The Sisko: Recovering from loss, accepting a roll that you are destined for, but which no one could have prepared for. Janeway: difficult. Her journey is more o an actual journey. Her writing was as much a reset button as that of her ship. Saru: overcoming inherent fears and anxieties while opening up to those around him and embracing his strengths and embracing a hot Vulcan head of state. Burnham: the foundling arc. literally. found in a reed basket along the banks of the River Nile by Sarek, raised by Pharaoh and led her people to the promised century.. start again.. from disgrace to captaincy. there. Freeman: She went from not respecting her crew, to understanding the importance of buffer time, to forgetting her crew, to fighting for their right to get into an awesome party. Pike's journey is more about how to deal with a destiny that may be unavoidable, while still finding the courage and freedom to live each day the best way possible.
The issue is really with Pike being confined to a wheelchair and only being able to communicate with beeps with SNW's available technology. Why just one or two beeps? Why no telepathic interpreter? I realise the real reason is Jeffrey Hunter wouldn't appear so they crippled and disfigured Pike, but in-universe it's a much harder sell when an injection can reshape your head.
Sure, but it's just one of those things we have to accept. Like Kirk needing glasses in TWOK. Or their ever missing a piece of *anything* considering they have technology that can turn matter into energy and back again. Or now Spoiler Picard's mom being locked in a room instead of getting psychiatric treatment...
It's a part of Trek lore even if it doesn't make much sense once you start digging into the science. Like warp drive and transporters.
Picard Season 2 Spoiler She was refusing treatment, it was mentioned in the episode. You can't force someone to get treatment, it's unethical