Who will be Discovery's next First Officer?

[Styleset]

DIS logical next first officers:
Commander Reno
Commander Nhan (Go back and get her: "We need you girl."... This would also explain making Ancheril a lead actor
A 32nd Century Officer
Lieutenant Nilsson (promoted to at least Lt. CMDR)
Lieutenant Rhys (promoted to at least Lt. CMDR)

DIS less logical
ENSIGN Tilly (puling a Kelvin Timeline Kirk move. Please no. But, very likely)
Lt. Commander Stamets (just not the personality for it)
?Commander? Georgiou (never going to happen)

I also wish they wouldn't be so "one-note" with calling the position "Number One." The formal titles First Officer or Executive Officer should at least sometimes be used.

 

[arch101]

If it were up to me, I'd bring in a new 32nd Century character to balance things out. I think, dramatically, there needs to be a present day officer in there to shake things up.

 

[Ar-Pharazon]

Any votes for (former) Admiral Tal?

There's also Lt.'s Bryce, Detmer and Owosekun.

I'd lean towards a full Commander, but that's only one (or two?) of the doctors and Reno. Someone from the 32nd century is most likely, what with the Admiral's strong sense of organization.

 

[Paul755]

Logically it should be Nilsson since she apparently already serves as the 3rd officer.

Stamets or Reno would make some sense seeing that Scotty was 3rd officer in addition to being Chief Engineer until the movies.

I would personally go with a 32nd century officer who could continue to help Discovery acclimate to the new time. Plus, you know, conflict.

and yeah, stop using “Number One”. It was a nice little easter egg/call back to “The Cage” when Picard used it. Maybe even when Georgiou used it for Burnham. But making it the default now is kinda odd.

 

[Styleset]

Any votes for (former) Admiral Tal?

There's also Lt.'s Bryce, Detmer and Owosekun.

I'd lean towards a full Commander, but that's only one (or two?) of the doctors and Reno. Someone from the 32nd century is most likely, what with the Admiral's strong sense of organization.

Detmer is a full Lieutenant, but we know how she is doing.
Bryce and Owosekun are both Lieutenants, Junior Grade.
Adria Tal is NOT a Starfleet Officer

The most logical choice given what we know, would be Commander Jett Reno.
The next logical choice would be to promote Nilsson to Lt. Commander. I don't think this will happen. We don't even know her first name.
Or bring back Nhan which would make a lot of sense since Ancheril was made a series lead.

 

[ThreeEdgedSword]

I, too, would like to see a 32nd century officer in that position. In fact, shouldn't there be several contemporary officers on Disco anyway, to keep an eyy on them, to learn how to perate mushroom drive, to teach them how to operate the new stuff, for easing the crew and their somewhat insecure captain into the new structures... and counselors or whatever they call it now... Plus, the ship is understaffed, right?

If not, I'd love to see Reno in that position, but we can rule that out as the actor is not a regular.

My money is on the blonde third officer that I have no connection with whatsoever...

 

[Yistaan]

Nilsson please!

 

[XCV330]

Nilsson would be the logical choice I think. She replaced Airiam who seemed to be third in the command chain prior to her death.

 

[F. King Daniel]

Whoever it is probably won't last the season. Michael will be back (although part of me wishes she left Starfleet with Book, since she really doesn't seem to fit in anymore)

 

[Styleset]

Everyone keeps assuming that the "third in command" was normally stationed on the bridge. That doesn't have to be the case.

We also know there was a CMO and Chief Engineer at some point that we have never met.

 

[Styleset]

Sonequa Martin Green is not leaving the show. She is the star and has already revealed to be returning for season four. She one day will become the/a captain. And since the show it called Discovery I assume she will one day replace Saru.

She is struggling with Starfleet, and I'd bet it will get worse before it gets better. But in the end I don't think she will leave permanently.

From the perspective of real-world choices I think Tilly has a better chance the Nilsson. But I too am hoping for Reno or a returning Nhan.

 

[Yistaan]

Sonequa Martin Green is not leaving the show. She is the star and has already revealed to be returning for season four. She one day will become the/a captain. And since the show it called Discovery I assume she will one day replace Saru.

She is struggling with Starfleet, and I'd bet it will get worse before it gets better. But in the end I don't think she will leave permanently.

From the perspective of real-world choices I think Tilly has a better chance the Nilsson. But I too am hoping for Reno or a returning Nhan.

As much as I dislike Lower Decks, Discovery could solve the issue of having Burnham as the star and not be in command by following how Lower Decks has non-command officers as the stars of their show.

 

[Kelso]

They've been setting Nilsson up for the job, although I would prefer Nhan or Willa.

Reno would be a hoot, but that's not going to happen.

 

[Jinn]

As much as I dislike Lower Decks, Discovery could solve the issue of having Burnham as the star and not be in command by following how Lower Decks has non-command officers as the stars of their show.

Wasn't that what many of us assumed would go on, when it was initially revealed that the main characters weren't filling in the traditional senior officer roles?

 

[Styleset]

As much as I dislike Lower Decks, Discovery could solve the issue of having Burnham as the star and not be in command by following how Lower Decks has non-command officers as the stars of their show.

That ship has already sailed. Unlike Lower Decks, Discovery is about a woman who was already set, for apparent good reason, to be promoted to her own command. She made extraordinary bad choice and lost that chance. The rest of the show is figuring out who she really is, what she really wants.

The lead in Lower Decks had never made it that far and had given up long ago on aspiring to be a Starfleet Captain. They both had to face what other people wanted for them so there are similarities.

 

[Noname Given]

It'll be Tilly.

 

[Styleset]

Wasn't that what many of us assumed would go on, when it was initially revealed that the main characters weren't filling in the traditional senior officer roles?

I think that certainly was apart of the original pitch, but they learned that you cannot have a serious action adventure show like this and not focus on the people who are making all of the life and death decisions. It makes little sense. It works for Lower Decks because it is a comedy and they get to break dramatic rules.

 

[Styleset]

It'll be Tilly.

Unfortunately, I think you are correct.

 

[Paul755]

Everyone keeps assuming that the "third in command" was normally stationed on the bridge. That doesn't have to be the case.

We also know there was a CMO and Chief Engineer at some point that we have never met.

it’s crazy to me that if there is a Chief Engineer or CMO that we haven’t met them. I’ve just started assuming it’s Stamets and Pollard.

That ship has already sailed. Unlike Lower Decks, Discovery is about a woman who was already set, for apparent good reason, to be promoted to her own command. She made extraordinary bad choice and lost that chance. The rest of the show is figuring out who she really is, what she really wants.

The lead in Lower Decks had never made it that far and had given up long ago on aspiring to be a Starfleet Captain. They both had to face what other people wanted for them so there are similarities.

I dunno, we don’t know how far up the ladder Mariner got before she became disillusioned with the upper ranks of Starfleet. It’s entirely possible she was a Lt.Commander at some point given that her friend and classmate is already a Captain and Mariner was supposed to be the best of the bunch in the academy.

 

[fireproof78]

Nilsson please!

Nilsson is my preferred choice.

I dunno, we don’t know how far up the ladder Mariner got before she became disillusioned with the upper ranks of Starfleet. It’s entirely possible she was a Lt.Commander at some point given that her friend and classmate is already a Captain and Mariner was supposed to be the best of the bunch in the academy.

I figured Burnham will remain as the chief science officer but not want command, following her brother's footsteps.