Enterprise in Discovery; cool or too much?

[Mage]

So, with Netflix Netherlands finally streaming TOS, we just started watching it. I haven't seen all episodes, my girlfriend has never seen TOS, so great oppurtunity for us.

While watching WNMHGB, I realized that with the Enterprise being launched in 2245 and the show appereantly set 10 years before TOS, the Enterprise already out there, under Pike.

Would it be cool to see the old E, or would you prefer another Connie? Or perhaps no Connie at all?

 

[mdtauk]

Maybe not in the first season, but the Discovery coming to assist the Enterprise as part of a fleet, would be interesting. But from the POV of Discovery, and not treating the Enterprise as something totally special.

 

[Mage]

Dang, forgot my own 2 cents...

I suppose the Enterprise and Pike could be the 'passing the torch' part that every Trek pilot has had since Encounter At Farpoint. But it seems so clichy. Personally, I don't need the Enterprise to be part of the show. I'd rather have the show try and be its own thing.

 

[Lord Garth]

The big part of seeing the Enterprise would be most people think of Kirk's crew. If it's the same ship but not the same crew, that undercuts it. So, the only reason to show the Enterprise and not some other Constitution Class ship would be if we get to see Spock. Otherwise, there's not much point.

 

[F. King Daniel]

I'm all for an Enterprise appearance with Captain Pike and SHOUTING SPOCK. But I expect it won't look the way it did in TOS, inside or out. Like Supergirl's version of Superman is clearly Supes, but not quite any of the versions we've seen on-screen previously.

 

[Lord Garth]

I don't want to open up a huge can of worms but as much as I like the original Enterprise design, looking at how much time Star Trek is spending in the 23rd Century these days, I almost wish (in retrospect) the first version of the Enterprise we ever saw was the one in TMP.

Then we wouldn't have had to worry about so many arguments about how the Enterprise would or should look. The refit Enterprise/Enterprise-A is timeless and can't be pinned down to 1979 as easily as other Enterprises can be pinned down to their time.

Same with the Klingons.

 

[CorporalClegg]

Pass.

 

[Ovation]

A passing mention, maybe. But no need to see it on screen. It'll only be a losing proposition. It won't look like the original, so some people will be pissed off (and unlike the Abrams films, there's no "alternate universe" for cover). Or, they'll be too slavish to the original and other people will be pissed off. It will only lead to bitter arguments...so, naturally, it will appear. Where would Trek fandom be without the bitter arguments.

 

[raffie]

Gonna have to go with too much on this one.

 

[RandyS]

Cool, Obviously. No other choice is possible.

 

[OpenMaw]

"We rendezvoused with the USS Enterprise and transferred vital supplies and equipment..."

 

[mdtauk]

"We rendezvoused with the USS Enterprise and transferred vital supplies and equipment..."

"We have been ordered to the whatever system to assist the USS Enterprise and the USS Reliant in conducting a search for a missing colony ship"

Could be mentioned as a past event, or an on-going story with no need to see it.

 

[Bry_Sinclair]

No Constitutions at all preferably, at least not for the first season, after that maybe encounter one somewhere but not have it be the Enterprise. Try to let DIS stand on it's own merit.

 

[starburst]

Little from column A and a little from column B.

I imagine, especially early on, if they use the Enterprise its going to be a fairly subtle name drop in comms traffic, on a fleet deployment chart or in group shots docked at a starbase somewhere more akin to an easter egg.

If they use her more prominently I have my doubts if they will feature Spock but I could imagine seeing a recast Pike and Number One but I think a second Spock recast is a rather large gamble seeming for the most part Quinto has been received positively.

I think we could more likely see whichever Dax host was alive in this period (I forget who, I think the gymnast met McCoy but this is likely too early) feature more prominently in an episode especially early on.

I doubt we will have the Enterprise arrive to perform any individual heroics at any point but maybe as a part of a combined fleet including other Constitutions as they won't want to give her any sort of status other than being a ship of her class (aka the best of the best) so I wouldn't expect any "Sir theres another ship coming in, its the Enterprise!"

 

[OpenMaw]

Exactly. Dropping in that kind of stuff is fine by me. After all, the Enterprise herself made many such rendezvous and joint-operations in TOS, but keeping her in the distant background is good.

I think one aspect also to consider is what the nature of the Discovery is up to. The Enterprise and Discovery could potentially have incompatible missions and as such have no interaction at all/be on opposite sides of the Federation.

 

[cultcross]

Exactly. Dropping in that kind of stuff is fine by me. After all, the Enterprise herself made many such rendezvous and joint-operations in TOS, but keeping her in the distant background is good.

I think one aspect also to consider is what the nature of the Discovery is up to. The Enterprise and Discovery could potentially have incompatible missions and as such have no interaction at all/be on opposite sides of the Federation.

This. Plus keeping them separate geographically and narratively can only help with escaping the prequel baggage.
Passing name-drops only.

 

[Sisko_is_my_captain]

How long was Pike captain of the E? Could he he present as a commander in this time frame?

 

[uniderth]

I think a mention would be better than showing.

 

[Lord Garth]

How long was Pike captain of the E? Could he he present as a commander in this time frame?

In "The Menagerie", Spock said he served under Pike for 11 years. "The Menagerie" is set in 2267. "The Cage" takes place 13 years earlier in 2254. The five-year mission in TOS lasted from 2265 to 2270. Like in the reboot films, Kirk could've still been in command of the Enterprise before the five-year mission. I think of "Where No Man Has Gone Before" as taking place before the 5YM.

But, anyway, let's say Kirk takes command in 2265 for the sake of argument (you'll see why in a moment). If Spock served with Pike onboard the Enterprise for 11 years, Pike took command of the Enterprise in 2254 at the latest.

If Discovery takes place 10 years before TOS, then we're looking at 2255. So, Pike's definitely in command.

 

[Mudd]

If you introduce the Enterprise in any substantial way, a significant part of the audience is going to want to see those folks frequently.