With the debut of Star Trek: Discovery, the Star Trek franchise introduced a new character that added a whole new layer to the established mythology of The Original Series: Michael Burnham, the adopted sister of Spock. Burnham’s introduction allowed the series to explore an era before the start of the first Star Trek series, but it also led many to wonder why hadn’t Spock ever mentioned his sister before. Well, the series addressed this very issue in the finale of its second season, offering a definitive reason why Michael’s continued existence was kept secret.
But while no one but a select few Star Trek: Discovery characters know Burnham is alive, it’s actually possible that Star Trek: The Next Generation‘s Captain Jean-Luc Picard does. And if that’s the case, a connection between Discovery and Star Trek: Picard could be formed.
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In Season 2 of Star Trek: Discovery, Burnham and her crew went up against Control, an evil artificial intelligence whose goal was to wipe out all life in the universe. In order to do that, it needed the knowledge of the Sphere data, which was aboard the Discovery. To defeat Control, the crew of the ship made the ultimate sacrifice, traveling forward in time to the 32nd century, taking the data out of Control’s reach. And, to ensure that the artificial intelligence or anything like it could never pose a threat like this again, it was decided that the fate of the Discovery would be kept secret.
As far as Starfleet was concerned, the Discovery was destroyed in the space battle with Control. But only a select few knew the truth, including Spock, Tyler, Captain Pike and Number One. These characters were all under strict command to keep what they knew about Discovery a secret. It’s why Spock never talked about his sister to Captain Kirk and his crew in The Original Series. But there might be another fan-favorite Starfleet officer who knows the truth about Burnham.
Picard may not have been present during the events of Star Trek: Discovery‘s second season, but he did once cross paths with Spock. In the Star Trek: The Next Generation two-part Season 5 episode “Unification,” Spock, now a Starfleet Ambassador, attempted to reunify the Vulcans and the Romulans, and he got a helping hand from Captain Picard and his crew. Picard and Spock worked together to help the Ambassador achieve his goal, and the two then got to talk about Spock’s father, Sarek. Picard had previously met Sarek, in the appropriately titled Season 3 episode, “Sarek,” where Spock’s ailing father performed a Vulcan mind meld with Picard. At the end of “Unification,” Picard offered Spock the chance to mind meld with him, in order to get closer to his now-deceased father.
The Vulcan mind meld is a process that allows the two people involved to share their thoughts, to the point where they essentially become one mind. By doing this, Picard allowed Spock to get to know his father better. But since both Picard and Spock shared the same mind at that time, it’s possible that the Captain came to learn about the Ambassador’s sister, Burnham. Picard, understanding the severity of the situation thanks to the mind meld, would have also kept the knowledge a secret all this time.
But that could change if Paramount+ decides to stage a crossover between the platform’s two ongoing Star Trek series. If Picard is aware of Burnham, then a link has been tied with Discovery. And considering that the all-powerful Q will return in Season 2 of Picard in a story that may involve time travel, Picard would certainly have the means to cross paths with Michael Burnham. Of course, this is all just a theory, but having Picard and Burnham share the screen would be a monumental event for the Star Trek franchise.
Star Trek: Picard stars Patrick Stewart, Alison Pill, Michelle Hurd, Evan Evagora, Isa Briones, Santiago Cabrera and Harry Treadaway. The first season is available on Paramount+. Streaming on Paramount+, Star Trek: Discovery stars Sonequa Martin-Green as Commander Michael Burnham, Doug Jones as Commander Saru, Anthony Rapp as Lt. Commander Paul Stamets, Mary Wiseman as Ensign Sylvia Tilly, Wilson Cruz as Dr. Hugh Culber, David Ajala as Cleveland “Book” Booker, Blu del Barrio as Adira, Ian Alexander as Gray, Tig Notaro as Chief Engineer Reno and Michelle Yeoh as Philippa Georgiou. Seasons 1-3 are currently available to stream on Paramount+, with Season 4 premiering later this year.
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