If I had my druthers, I’d rather see an appearance from Captain/Commodore April than Kirk. Preferably in his cardigan.
If it were just used for that definition, then it would be great. But, canon is used to beat things up now, in a way that is essentially creating a tier system of importance. So, canon has become largely useless because of the need to categorize everything.
Boyce doesn't need to "end up" on the Enterprise. He was already there, years before SNW will take place (and before we saw the Enterprise on DIS). We don't need to see him again because he could have retired or taken up a position elsewhere by now. I agree with Dennis and others who have said the rest of the crew badly needs some diversity added in with all three top roles being filled by white people.
I could see an episode where they catch up with Boyce wherever he retired or was assigned to. That's a very TOS type of plot.
I'll say what I always say, "It's not going to be as much the same as some people want, but it's also not going to be as different as some other people want." I can say it in my sleep. I think "Such Sweet Sorrow" and Short Treks gave us a pretty good glimpse of the crew. Judging by the bridge, and who Short Treks has spotlighted, it'll be more like DSC and less like "The Cage". I think they can afford to have Boyce. The Chief Engineer is a woman, the First Officer is a woman, helm and navigation are women, Colt is a woman, and Upjohn (who we'll probably see) is a woman. Spock is a man but at Science, Louvier is a man, and Pike is obviously a man. Bring in Boyce and the main cast will still tilt female.
They could pander to the purists and offer an inuniverse reason why Spock ended up as the only alien on Kirk's Enterprise. After Pike was promoted to Fleet Captain, his whole crew resigned en masse, except Spock and Bryce. Or they transfered to Section 32, paragraph V Or after shore leave on Borath (again) the time crystals warned them it will all end badly wth Captain Janice Lester, so they quit.
Boyce or piper.. Either way you have and older, 50s. 60s guy which would be good as you have a curmudgeonly old man as the Cmo.
Prediction: John Slattery as Boyce (I do hope they have Boyce as CMO and not Piper. Piper was just a grouch.) Assuming it's the same one whom Pike told to rip out the holographic comm system? No, that one was male.
Very excited about this. I’m not big on DISCO - but not a hater, and Picard was okay, but Arson Mount was so so good in season 2 of disco, and the interior redesign of enterprise was very good. the update that it will be more episodic is also fantastic, and will hopefully make it more watchable and able to explore more stories and issues, rather than putting all its plot eggs in one basket!
Going by An Obol for Charon, Such Sweet Sorrow, and Q&A, which are most likely tHe sources that will most influence this series, the principal crew of the Enterprise under Pike as of the late 2250s, which is probably when the series will start, is as follows: Una/Number One (XO/Navigator) Spock (Chief Science Officer) Vincente Nicola (Communications Officer), Jamila Amin (Helm Officer) Trina Mann (Tactical Officer) Louvier (Chief Engineer) If you throw Boyce into the mix, you've got a fairly evenly distributed mix of gender representation, with an ability to bring in more diverse representation as deemed desirable or necessary.
Probably will get none of this: Pike series seamlessly transitions into WNMHGB. No other TOS crew, maybe names dropped. Do not need Phlox, or Robau. T'Pol only to counsel Spock. No FC with races rarely seen in TNG.
It's pretty unlikely that they'll feel committed to reusing actors cast 2 years ago for this series. They might be in the background but the requirements for a part that has 2 lines vs a semi-main cast is drastically different.
I'm assuming they pick up right after S2 of DSC, but what if they picked up right after Q&A? It would give them more time to work with.
Kirk takes command somewhere around 2265. Disco S2 is set 2257. Chances of the Strange New Worlds going 7 years are very slim, and that only matters if they insist on following some kind of one season = one year thing like Berman-era Trek constantly did.