Set a new series on a hospital ship or engineering corps ship – Star Trek has already seen Kirk-types and Spock-types in the captain’s chair, and has seen exploratory and science vessels. I think we are ready to see a McCoy-type or Scotty-type in the lead role, with a Chapel-type or Rand-type as the XO, while the Kirk-types and Spock-types are the middle deckers. And set on a hospital ship or a ship belonging to the Starfleet Corps of Engineers.
More Emerald Chain – they are to the 32nd century as the Klingons were to the 23rd century, and are one of the more interesting things about the post-Burn environment. I’m not really a fan of them being sidelined after DIS S3 and would have preferred to see for S4 Discovery exploring and re-establishing relations with former Federation worlds with the Emerald Chain being the rival showing these former worlds an alternative path and that they don’t have to go back. But that’s not the path that was taken for S4 and no point on dwelling on that now.
Osyraa’s dead, but the Emerald Chain could have their own versions of Kang, Koloth, Kor, Kruge, Klaa, Chang, & Gorkon, with Orions and Andorians in those roles stepping up to take Osyraa's place. If the Emerald Chain were still central to Discovery, I’d have them be females and be opposite to Burnham, to parallel Kirk and his encounter with Klingons. Focusing on the Emerald Chain more would allow for fleshing out of both Orion culture and Andorian culture, and see the Federation deal with a rival that doesn’t erupt into war. Its just a perpetual cold war with a rival that more a mercantile culture instead of a warrior culture.
The Na’kuhl – I’m sure those aliens that were only seen in the first two episodes of ENT S4 could be the Romulans of the 32nd century. Since they were a faction of the Temporal Wars and time travel is illegal in the 32nd century, there is uncertainty in how the Na’kuhl have reacted to this. Their standing is a mystery, like the Romulans in TOS.
A bit more subversive - So far, all that’s been seen is a post-Burn Federation, where most of its members have left for various reasons, and tech hasn't really advanced. There is United Earth with its planetary shields, Ni’Var to represent reunification of Vulcans and Romulans, transporter comm badges, and the introduction or programmable matter. But that’s as far as it goes for showing the far future.
Where’s the role reversal within the Dominion where the Jem’Hadar are the political advisors and the Vorta are the soldiers addicted to ketracel white? Or the Hirogen that defend the Tosk from the Hunters as they’ve abandoned hunting prey? Or the Ferengi that have abandoned latinum and joined the Federation whereas the Bolians have adopted latinum and left the Federation? Or Bajorans are the oppressors that don’t believe in the Prophets, while the Cardassians are the oppressed and do believe in the Prophets? Or the United Earth-Tholian Assembly Alliance? Or the Klingon that keeps a Tribble as a pet instead of a Targ?
There’s are also lots of humans staffing the Federation. Where are the Betazoids, Deltans and Ardanans - to name a few - among the human looking species? Or Ocampans and their superpowers? Surely there’s been enough interspecies breeding over several centuries that there are a few humans that have the abilities of the Ocampans?
And as for the lack of tech evolution, why not open up the possibly that there was a new wave of the Neo-Trancendantalist movement that was once mentioned in TNG, and that this new wave was opposed to the continuously evolving and dependency on technology within the Federation?
More Emerald Chain – they are to the 32nd century as the Klingons were to the 23rd century, and are one of the more interesting things about the post-Burn environment. I’m not really a fan of them being sidelined after DIS S3 and would have preferred to see for S4 Discovery exploring and re-establishing relations with former Federation worlds with the Emerald Chain being the rival showing these former worlds an alternative path and that they don’t have to go back. But that’s not the path that was taken for S4 and no point on dwelling on that now.
Osyraa’s dead, but the Emerald Chain could have their own versions of Kang, Koloth, Kor, Kruge, Klaa, Chang, & Gorkon, with Orions and Andorians in those roles stepping up to take Osyraa's place. If the Emerald Chain were still central to Discovery, I’d have them be females and be opposite to Burnham, to parallel Kirk and his encounter with Klingons. Focusing on the Emerald Chain more would allow for fleshing out of both Orion culture and Andorian culture, and see the Federation deal with a rival that doesn’t erupt into war. Its just a perpetual cold war with a rival that more a mercantile culture instead of a warrior culture.
The Na’kuhl – I’m sure those aliens that were only seen in the first two episodes of ENT S4 could be the Romulans of the 32nd century. Since they were a faction of the Temporal Wars and time travel is illegal in the 32nd century, there is uncertainty in how the Na’kuhl have reacted to this. Their standing is a mystery, like the Romulans in TOS.
A bit more subversive - So far, all that’s been seen is a post-Burn Federation, where most of its members have left for various reasons, and tech hasn't really advanced. There is United Earth with its planetary shields, Ni’Var to represent reunification of Vulcans and Romulans, transporter comm badges, and the introduction or programmable matter. But that’s as far as it goes for showing the far future.
Where’s the role reversal within the Dominion where the Jem’Hadar are the political advisors and the Vorta are the soldiers addicted to ketracel white? Or the Hirogen that defend the Tosk from the Hunters as they’ve abandoned hunting prey? Or the Ferengi that have abandoned latinum and joined the Federation whereas the Bolians have adopted latinum and left the Federation? Or Bajorans are the oppressors that don’t believe in the Prophets, while the Cardassians are the oppressed and do believe in the Prophets? Or the United Earth-Tholian Assembly Alliance? Or the Klingon that keeps a Tribble as a pet instead of a Targ?
There’s are also lots of humans staffing the Federation. Where are the Betazoids, Deltans and Ardanans - to name a few - among the human looking species? Or Ocampans and their superpowers? Surely there’s been enough interspecies breeding over several centuries that there are a few humans that have the abilities of the Ocampans?
And as for the lack of tech evolution, why not open up the possibly that there was a new wave of the Neo-Trancendantalist movement that was once mentioned in TNG, and that this new wave was opposed to the continuously evolving and dependency on technology within the Federation?