Spoilers The future isn’t set (and that has implications)

[eschaton]

Technically speaking, just because the Discovery crew go forward in time, do something heroic, then return to their own time doesn't mean that their earlier actions have to be erased. Instead it might be the case that Discovery was always "destined" to make that jaunt and return - that the "proper" timeline involved a closed loop.

 

[Lord Garth]

I have nothing concrete to base this on, but I doubt Discovery will be coming back. Feels more like the intention is to clean the slate and do the rest of the show in the future.

It sure felt that way.

 

[Norsehound]

I have nothing concrete to base this on, but I doubt Discovery will be coming back. Feels more like the intention is to clean the slate and do the rest of the show in the future.

I don't think the writers are going to have much more freedom than they do now. People will wonder where the Temporal Investigations group went or all of those other far-future events described in places like TNG. In the least, they may be upset with the state of the Federation if it gets to that (where's the Time police to make sure the Federation is stable?).

I would have rather them given us the tales and adventures of one of Enterprises' contemporaries than define an entirely new era of Star Trek. Kirk's ship doesn't have to be the only one famous in that period. Doesn't matter now though, I guess, if this is what the fans wanted.

 

[The Lensman]

Every indication seems to be they are not coming back. But I'm pretty certain they can come up with some reason if they do.

Warp capable ship + sun = time travel.

 

[Turd Ferguson]

Technically speaking, just because the Discovery crew go forward in time, do something heroic, then return to their own time doesn't mean that their earlier actions have to be erased. Instead it might be the case that Discovery was always "destined" to make that jaunt and return - that the "proper" timeline involved a closed loop.

If they were to come back, though, it would make Pike, Number One, Spock, Tyler and the rest of the Enterprise crew look like lying schmucks.

 

[F. King Daniel]

However, I think that a depiction of a Federation that has somehow lost its way would make for better stories that are both timely and relevant.

I would agree if they hadn't just done a Section 31 storyline, where they were essentially the SS of Starfleet operating openly under select Starfleet admirals.

 

[Mudd]

At the start of this season, people expressed the same certainty that Discovery wouldn’t do any long-term jump anywhere,

I didn't, so tell Ensign Strawman he's relieved.

 

[starbuck]

i bet the sphere data helps them cope in that time line

 

[Agony_Boothb]

People will wonder where the Temporal Investigations group went or all of those other far-future events described in places like TNG.

That stuff is all pretty easy to retcon or plain ignore. Also, as was pointed out to me when I started clutching my pearls about this very issue a couple of weeks ago: The time cops were a dumb idea and are best ignored.

The future is constantly in flux, it can be erased or created with a line of dialogue.

 

[JayTheTrekkie]

For all we know, the crew could all come back minus the ship. Successor vessel awaiting them, specifications TBDL?

I was thinking about that the last couple days. I was thinking the crew will likely stay there for a season or two to do some exploring and some fixing and then somehow get home on a ship (perhaps a freighter that would hold 130 something crew) but leave the Discovery behind because of the data.

I wonder what Starfleet reaction will be when they get home (without the Discovery itself that is).

 

[Alan Roi]

I was thinking about that the last couple days. I was thinking the crew will likely stay there for a season or two to do some exploring and some fixing and then somehow get home on a ship (perhaps a freighter that would hold 130 something crew) but leave the Discovery behind because of the data.

I wonder what Starfleet reaction will be when they get home (without the Discovery itself that is).

And who knows where and when they make it back.

 

[NewHeavensNewEarth]

Overall, if there's a consensus to be found, it's that Discovery probably won't return to its spot in the TOS era, but if it does, it's fine to change/reset the future as long as it doesn't change TNG, DS9, etc.

But I think we'll need 2 DSC forums now!

 

[SeamusShameless]

I'm curious about the status of Gabrielle Burnham. Considering she was tethered to Terralysium in a future where Control won, Discovery likely won't end up in the same place since they jumped to the future after Control was neutralized. I wonder then whether Dr. Burnham will somehow end up being in the new future where Control lost or if Michael will have to deal with the fact that she can't keep her promise to find her mother again.

 

[arch101]

Enterprise proved how difficult a Trek prequel is to manage. 24 series of 23rd-24th century Trek just leaves too much canon to navigate around. I've always thought (and posted on Trek BBS more than once) that the next series needs to move way, way into the future to be free of all this. Like, hundreds or a thousand years into the future. Well, looks like I got my wish. Fortunately, anything we've seen beyond the 24th century has been sparing and of little detail. I don't think these writers will have any difficulties with all that. Excited to see what they do come up with.

 

[Gonzo]

Throwing around theories this season, there have been a lot of catchwords that arouse different emotions - such as “reset.”

We escaped Control and we also escaped a reset in season 2, but with a recurring theme being “The future is not set,” it brings up an awkward question going into seasons 3’s future:

If the future isn’t set, and DSC makes it back home somehow, won’t that bring about a reset of the future they’re about to spend a lot of time in?

If it’s a horrific and dystopian future, maybe a reset would be a welcomed thing, but would it somehow negate the experiences of the coming season, or should we expect Discovery to remain in the distant future for the duration of its excellent adventures? Either way, party on, DSC! It was a remarkable season.

That would be the case if they were going home but it looks like they never will.

As for the changes all they have to do to guarantee that there is no reset is to make sure that the probe is sent back to attack Pike/Tylers shuttle, that is the only event that we have not seen the cause of yet and we know it came from the future.

Without it they can activate a reset whenever they want or just ignore it completely.

It makes sense that it could be some part of Control that wasnt quite as neutralised as they thought and as we know Leland was on the Discovery when it jumped, the AI could have set all kinds of backup plans into motion before it engaged the Discovery and Enterprise.

I would have done and it had already secured 50% of the data.

 

[Gonzo]

Technically speaking, just because the Discovery crew go forward in time, do something heroic, then return to their own time doesn't mean that their earlier actions have to be erased. Instead it might be the case that Discovery was always "destined" to make that jaunt and return - that the "proper" timeline involved a closed loop.

Yes, time loops aside there is still the potential for predestination.

We saw an example of that when Burnham was trying to create the wormhole but couldnt because other actions needed to be performed first.

 

[NewHeavensNewEarth]

I'm curious about the status of Gabrielle Burnham. Considering she was tethered to Terralysium in a future where Control won, Discovery likely won't end up in the same place since they jumped to the future after Control was neutralized. I wonder then whether Dr. Burnham will somehow end up being in the new future where Control lost or if Michael will have to deal with the fact that she can't keep her promise to find her mother again.

These are the temporal headaches that every ST fan gets in any series.

 

[SeamusShameless]

These are the temporal headaches that every ST fan gets in any series.

I hear ya! 18 years on, and I'm still not entirely sure Enterprise isn't the result of a divergent timeline created by the events of First Contact.

 

[BillJ]

I hear ya! 18 years on, and I'm still not entirely sure Enterprise isn't the result of a divergent timeline created by the events of First Contact.

I am. It and Discovery.

 

[NewHeavensNewEarth]

I hear ya! 18 years on, and I'm still not entirely sure Enterprise isn't the result of a divergent timeline created by the events of First Contact.

Gotta ask the Time Cops if there's Temporal Tylenol.