Discovery theory

[The River Temoc]

I have a new theory concerning the theme of Discovery.
We know the following:
1. Bryan Fuller has said that DSC will deal with a major incident in Federation history that was referred to in TOS, but left unexplored. A lot of people have speculated this refers to Axanar. Elsewhere, I suggested it might be the Vulcanian Expedition.
2. Fuller has said that TOS "Balance of Terror" will be a touchstone for DSC.
3. Fuller has also said he likes the character of M'Ress from TAS.
My theory: the major incident could be the Earth-Kzin Wars, which were obliquely referred to in TAS, and one of the central characters will be M'Ress or another Caitian, who will be conflicted between her loyalty to the Federation and sympathy to the felinoid adversary, much as Spock was in Balance of Terror.
Thoughts?

 

[Jesse1066]

Wouldn't they have to pay off Larry Niven? I don't think it's worth it, really. It's always been a bit weird that he chose to bring the Kzinti into Star Trek.

 

[F. King Daniel]

While I'd love it to be the Kzinti, it's not gonna happen to rights issues. As far back as the 90's, the Kzinti were being renamed in Trek novels and video games (M'dok, Mirak and Kythari spring to mind)

 

[Dukhat]

They were planning to have an episode in ENT's fifth season about the Kzinti.

 

[Tenacity]

My theory: the major incident could be the Earth-Kzin Wars, which were obliquely referred to in TAS

According to Sulu (in the slavers weapon) the multiple wars with the Trek versions of the Kzinti were two centuries before TAS.

 

[The Wormhole]

Wouldn't they have to pay off Larry Niven? I don't think it's worth it, really. It's always been a bit weird that he chose to bring the Kzinti into Star Trek.

Pretty much this. The kind of legal hurdles and hoops they'd have to jump would be impossible to keep a secret. If we were going to see the Kzinti in Discovery, as a main feature at that, it would already be known. Something like that isn't going to stay a secret.

 

[Captain of the USS Averof]

Plausible if not very likely for all the reasons stated above.

 

[Sisko_is_my_captain]

Didn't they name the Tzenkethi after the Kzinti to avoid paying royalties?

 

[F. King Daniel]

Didn't they name the Tzenkethi after the Kzinti to avoid paying royalties?

That's an urban myth, based on the vague similarity in their names. It's been debunked by (I think?) Ira Behr, who said he imagined them as reptilian.

 

[Philip Guyott]

They were planning to have an episode in ENT's fifth season about the Kzinti.

Supposedly they were going to be called the Rakshasans in ENT

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[The River Temoc]

On the above, I'm aware that STNV and ENT wanted to feature the Kzinti in an episode called "Kilkenny Cats." STNV's site says that Niven actually assigned part of his rights to the Kzinti to someone else (unnamed). It seems to me that if DSC wanted to go this route, they would either change the name of the species (and frankly, most people wouldn't care, as the TAS Kzinti aren't canon) or work out a royalty arrangement with Niven and his assignee, which would almost certainly have nondisclosure closes with teeth in them. While I obviously can't say this is the route they're taking, it is a theory that strongly fits the few facts we've heard about DSC, and -- from a 30,000 foot perspective -- the legal obstacles don't appear insurmountable for a studio the size of CBS.

 

[The River Temoc]

^Clauses, not "closes." Although "clawses" might be more appropriate for the subject matter.

 

[ancient]

Could be a "legally distinct" version.

 

[Dukhat]

Supposedly they were going to be called the Rakshasans in ENT

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Nice vid, but I have to say that the guy's theory about ST villains representing the 7 deadly sins is reaching a bit.

 

[The Wormhole]

Nice vid, but I have to say that the guy's theory about ST villains representing the 7 deadly sins is reaching a bit.

Pocket Books did a short story anthology several years back on the theme. That is they did a story for various races in Trek as representing the seven deadly sins, which IIRC matches what he talks about for the most part. In the book it went Romulans = Pride, Ferengi = Greed, Cardassians = Envy, Klingons = Wrath, Mirror Universe humans = Lust, Borg = Gluttony, Pakleds = Sloth.

 

[johnjm22]

Fuller mentions Balance Of Terror as a touchstone.

In Balance Of Terror Spock mentions something along the lines of "Earth outpost stations constructed on asteroids that monitor the neutral zone after the Earth/Romulan war."

In the Discovery teaser, we see a ship docked inside an asteroid. Coincidence?

 

[Dukhat]

Pocket Books did a short story anthology several years back on the theme. That is they did a story for various races in Trek as representing the seven deadly sins, which IIRC matches what he talks about for the most part. In the book it went Romulans = Pride, Ferengi = Greed, Cardassians = Envy, Klingons = Wrath, Mirror Universe humans = Lust, Borg = Gluttony, Pakleds = Sloth.

Well, whoever came up with the theory, I still think it sounds like someone trying to find connections that really aren't there.

 

[Captain of the USS Averof]

Well, whoever came up with the theory, I still think it sounds like someone trying to find connections that really aren't there.

That would be Keith R.A. DeCandido, Britta Dennison, Greg Cox, Kevin Dilmore, Marc D. Giller, David A. McIntee, James Swallow & Dayton Ward. They are the authors of the Seven Deadly Sins anthology.

 

[Dukhat]

That doesn't change my opinion.

 

[The Wormhole]

Fuller mentions Balance Of Terror as a touchstone.

In Balance Of Terror Spock mentions something along the lines of "Earth outpost stations constructed on asteroids that monitor the neutral zone after the Earth/Romulan war."

In the Discovery teaser, we see a ship docked inside an asteroid. Coincidence?

Probably. I highly doubt when the idea of a spacedock inside an asteroid was discussed anyone said "just like they claim was done in Balance of Terror."