Is It Possible That We're Wrong About When Star Trek Discovery Is Set?
Kirk took command of the Enterprise in 2265. This is know as The Original Series (TOS) era.
Discovery is supposed to be set 10 years before TOS which places its events in 2255.
So here's a thought: What if Kirk taking command of the Enterprise isn't when the TOS era started?
We know from Star Trek's first pilot episode "The Cage" that Spock was already serving on the Enterprise 13 years earlier with Captain Pike - in 2252.
The bridge of the Enterprise as seen in The Cage
Shouldn't the TOS era include the events of "The Cage"? After all, the look and feel of that episode is still very TOS like.
If we accept "The Cage" as part of TOS, then maybe Discovery is actually set in 2242.
But Pike took command of the Enterprise in 2251, so maybe Discovery actually takes place in 2241.
In The Original Series, only 12 Constitution-class vessels were commissioned. The Enterprise (NCC-1701) was one of them.
It was commissioned in the early 2240s and its first Captain was Robert April who took command in 2245.
So is that part of the TOS era or are we most certainly straying into the pre-TOS era now?
If not, then that could place Discovery and its events in 2235.
Jonathan Archer took command of the NX01 in 2151, remaining in command until 2160/61. If Discovery is set in 2235, then that's about 75 years after Star Trek: Enterprise's (ENT) time. That would explain why Discovery's uniforms look more like ENTs (the primary-color velour uniforms only coming into fashion on Constitution-class ships in 2245).
Discovery's uniforms are also a closer match to those on the USS Kelvin as seen in the 2009 Star Trek movie (right before the Kelvin universe was calved off due to the events in that movie). The opening minutes of that movie were set in 2233 - when James T. Kirk is born.
Discovery's transporters look nothing like those in The Original Series
It would also explain why Discovery's transporters look so different. While Archer did get transported a few times on ENT, the technology was new and used to transport non-biological matter. Discovery's transporters would then be a transitional stage between those of ENT and TOS.
If Discovery is set in 2235, then it removes any continuity issues with the series not looking anything like The Original Series.
So what do you think? Am I on the right track or completely off the mark?
If you are right, a mere two centries before long distance star travel.