I don't think I'd describe pure exploration as 'Out-Kirking Kirk'. His legend typically seems built on his reputation as a combat commander, finding brilliant ways out of no-win scenarios, etc. There's no reason her mission need necessarily be comparable to his. But I agree entirely about the second part.
As I recall, that's how we handled it in the LEGACIES books. She was way off in space, commanding the Yorktown on some vital mission, when Pike had his accident. By the time she returned to check on him, Spock had already whisked him off to Talos IV. (Part of the plot concerns her trying to find out from Spock what actually happened to Pike, since the events of "The Menagerie" are top-secret and strictly need to know.)
And on the Enterprise-D at least three women (Troi, Crusher and Tasha) have all stood watch on the bridge.
That's an awful name, way to literal, Discovery has to give her a proper one. Red paint and new monitors counts as a refit?
I have an idea. I think every time someone decides to pick the "It's not prime / it is prime" scab and rub rock salt in it just for their own amusement, the punishment will be a Ceti Eel in each ear, a Centaurian slug down the throat, and 24 hours watching "Threshold" (VOY) Clockwork Orange style in a humid room with the thermostat set at 39.1 degrees C. Just a thought.....
Whilst I can easily believe that Threshold and Discovery are part of the same continuity, I'm less convinced that that continuity is the Prime.
Not necessarily any more gymnastics than Kirk commanding the refit 1701, then having Spock command it for a while for training cruises, and then having Kirk take command yet again. Kor
Or when Jellico replaced Picard (ceremony and all) only for Picard to come back. Number One being the official captain of the Enterprise doesn't contradict anything, she could have her own five year mission with Pike coming back in 2262 and commanding it again before Kirk takes over.
Other than as a talking point (or perhaps a argumenative point LOL) not a single one of all the Star Trek TV shows follows continuity or canon, they all violate it in some degree. It's how much they violate our Star Trek history, not if. I can see where it's fun to point all that out, but not worth getting your panties all bunched up over it. Pike making an appearance sounds fun, as does Number One and Spock showing up. I think they should reshoot the original pilot again with the new crew. LOL
Exactly. The Enterprise-D beside Jean-Luc Picard had as official captains both Jellico and Riker (during the events of Best of Both Worlds) yet nobody says the E-D had 3 captains. So for me it is plausible that the Enterrpise had others captains for a while. It isn't braking any canon. Pike could stick on Discovery several years and than go back to the Enterprise. But I'm pretty sure that Pike will be around only for one season and we will se another captain for Discovery (maybe Saru, maybe someone new) before Burnham will become captain in season 5 probably.
The beauty of TATV, part of the love letter if you will, is that we can't say for sure that any of what was shown on the holodeck is actually what happened in-universe. Take Trip's "death" for instance....