When Star Trek: Discovery Season 1 was wrapping up, Discovery came out of warp in response to a distress signal sent by another Starfleet vessel. That ship turned out to be the USS Enterprise. Ending the season on such a high note raised several questions about what Season 2 might present. It calls for a closer look.
Though many will recognise the Enterprise as the familiar vessel from other Star Trek stories, this version exists during a period not deeply covered before. This timeline is still about ten years before The Original Series takes place.
That iconic silhouette promises new answers in Season 2 (Photo: Star Trek Discovery Season 1/CBS Television Studios in association with Secret Hideout, Roddenberry Entertainment, and Living Dead Guy Productions)A surprise arrival brings Spock’s past closer than ever
Based on what both the final moments of Discovery and previous Star Trek knowledge tell us, Captain Christopher Pike is currently in command of the Enterprise. Over time, different actors have portrayed Pike: Jeffrey Hunter and Sean Kenney in the classic series, and Bruce Greenwood in the reboot films.
According to what’s seen in “The Cage,” which served as the pilot for The Original Series, Spock holds the position of science officer on the Enterprise under Pike’s leadership.
That likely explains why Sarek and Michael shared a meaningful look when they realised the ship in question was the Enterprise—they both understand that Spock, their son and brother respectively, is on board.
The possibility of Spock appearing in Discovery Season 2 now seems very strong. For the writers to include the Enterprise and not show or mention Spock, especially when both Michael and Sarek are around, would appear forced or strange.
One might wonder what trouble the Enterprise was facing. A reasonable theory is that this appearance connects to the events seen in “The Cage” or something that happened shortly afterwards. During “The Cage,” aliens captured Captain Pike and subjected him to illusions so powerful they felt real.
These events occurred in 2254, which is 11 years before The Original Series begins. There’s another interesting tie between “The Cage” and Discovery.
The link between Number One and Burnham creates more intrigue
The character known as Number One, portrayed by Majel Roddenberry, partly inspired the development of Michael Burnham. Seeing the two characters interact on screen would be exciting. Placing the final scene of Season 1 at this moment seems like a deliberate move by the creators.
It brings up the question: Was this connection with the Enterprise something planned right from the beginning of the show? Could this have been part of the reason why Discovery was designed to be a prequel?
Finding answers to all these questions will help show how committed Discovery is to aligning with the established Star Trek history. That will also give viewers a sense of whether this is a short-term setup for the early part of Season 2 or if the entire season’s story will build around this situation with the Enterprise.
What thoughts have the people behind Discovery shared regarding all these developments? When Variety spoke with Alex Kurtzman, he made it clear that while the Enterprise will be part of Season 2, Discovery remains the central focus.
He explained that the appearance of the Enterprise raised plenty of questions from viewers, especially concerning how the series fits into what they already know about Star Trek history. One of the issues it brings up is Spock’s connection to Michael Burnham, his half-sister, a relationship he has never mentioned before.
While that doesn’t necessarily mean Spock will be seen on the show, it does mean the creators feel they must address that omission. During an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, showrunner Aaron Harberts addressed the chances of Spock showing up in Season 2.
He said they weren’t confirming anything about bringing Spock in or even beginning the process of casting someone for the role. A large portion of their story relies on memory and flashbacks. Michael Burnham remains the heart of the series.
However, neither Harberts nor his fellow showrunner, Gretchen J. Berg, shut the door completely on the idea of Spock being included in one way or another.
