“We have ten years until the original series comes into play. It is a challenge creatively because we have lots of choices in terms of how do we reconcile this [Spore] Drive? This surrogate daughter of Sarek? How do we reconcile these things the closer we get to the original series? That’s going to be a big discussion that we have in season two.”
Specifically addressing the issues of Burnham’s adoption and the Discovery’s Spore Drive, Harberts claims:
“What’s so
fun about the character of Michael, just because she hasn’t been spoken about, doesn’t mean she didn’t exist. A lot of the writers on our show are deeply involved in
Star Trek, their knowledge is some of the finest around, they really do help us find areas where we can steer around things. But the Spore drive? Who knows? It could be classified. There are many options.”
Naturally, any time a TV series or movie tinkers with the fictional history of a beloved franchise, there is a risk of upsetting the hardcore fan base and that is perhaps more true in the realm of
Star Trek than anywhere else. However, Harberts’ comments seem to suggest that the creative team behind
Discovery are listening to the criticisms surrounding the show’s continuity and will seek to address them in the already confirmed second season.
Working with the rich and detailed canon of
Star Trek is somewhat of a double-edged sword. The franchise brings with it an audience hungry for new material and offers plenty of scope for universe expansion. However, attempting to adhere to every single piece of established continuity can be restrictive in terms of storytelling, especially when much of that material was written and filmed decades ago. Regardless,
Discovery needs the veteran
Star Trek fans onside if the show is to become a long-term success.