Star Trek: Discovery Showrunner Reveals Classic Episode As Series Touchstone

With Star Trek: Discovery set to premiere next year, fans are more desperate than ever to learn about the series. CBS has been steadily feeding those fans updates on the show over the past few months by teasing news about Discovery’s setting and cast. Now, the series’ showrunner has revealed there will be a connection between Discovery and a beloved classic episode.

Taking to Twitter, Bryan Fuller tweeted out a message that left Trekkies in a tizzy. The writer-producer wrote, “A favorite TOS episode “Balance of Terror” is a touchstone for the #StarTrekDiscovery Story Arc.”

If you’re unfamiliar with Star Trek lore, then you should know that “Balance of Terror” stands as one of the most popular episodes of The Original Series. Written by Paul Schneider, the episode introduces the Romulans to the franchise after the USS Enterprise confronts one of their lone starships. Captain James T. Kirk fears the Romulans are prepping to wage war, so he and his crew intercept the Bird of Prey and become embroiled in a dangerous game of cat-and-mouse.

As for how “Balance of Terror” will fit into Discovery, both CBS and Fuller are remaining quiet on the connection. However, many are wondering whether the episode marks an event that Fuller said would be explored in his new series. Earlier this summer, he teased “there’s an incident and event in Star Trek history that’s been talked about but never been explored,” leaving fans to speculate that this event may be the Earth-Romulan War.

Of course, according to Star Trek‘s timeline, Discovery doesn’t quite line-up with the conflict since it began in 2156. The new series is said to take place a decade prior to The Original Series, setting Discovery around the 2250s. However, Star Trek is no stranger to flashbacks, so it’s possible Discovery could delve into the infamous war.

This tidbit of information isn’t the only update fans have gotten about Discovery. Earlier this summer, CBS finally announced the official title for the series at San Diego Comic Con, and Fuller recently commented on the name at Star Trek: Mission New York.

“This ship is called the Discovery for a few reasons,” Fuller said. “Not the least of which is Stanley Kubrick’s contribution to the Discovery on 2001: A Space Odyssey, NASA’s vessel the Discovery, and also the sense of discovery.”

And, what’s more, details regarding the show’s characters have also been shared recently. Speaking with Entertainment Weekly, Fuller revealed the series would feature a diverse, female lead who wasn’t the captain in Federation. Instead, the character will be a lieutenant in the fleet. Referred to as “Number One,” many are wondering whether Discovery’s lead might be a younger version of Captain Pike’s first lieutenant as the character was also known by that same moniker.

Star Trek: Discovery will premiere on CBS in January 2017 before moving to CBS All Access for the remainder of its 13-episode first season.

[H/T] Twitter