Warning: Possible SPOILERS for Star Trek: Discovery ahead.
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continuity hiccups. If anything, the show is filled with curious references and callbacks to its predecessors, including Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) and Spock's father and mother, Sarek (James Frain) and Amanda Grayson (Mia Kirshner), Harry Mudd (Rainn Wilson), and of course, Tribbles.
However, beneath the overt connections, several subtler storylines seem to be playing out, ones that could open up hidden pasts. Some of the new series' plots may be little more than fan service, but others offer intriguing links to future series. Could Discovery draw a line between the Klingon unification movement and a nasty vendetta that played out on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine?
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Discovery's Possible 24th Century Klingon Connection
The Klingon Empire remained a fairly one-note adversary until the later films, especially Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country. The worthy successor to The Original Series, Star Trek: The Next Generation, truly fleshed out the Klingons, exploring their ideologies, politics, and culture in greater detail. They grew from Cold War analogs for the Soviet Union into a rich, warrior society and Federation ally. Deep Space Nine added further nuance and depth to the captivating species.
In the second season episode, 'Blood Oath,' Jadzia Dax (Terry Ferrell) runs across the aging Klingon warrior Kor (John Colicos, who played Kor on TOS in "Errand of Mercy"), an old friend of the Dax symbiote's former host Curzon. The Dahar Master, or legendary combatant, is now a shell of his former self. After a night of drunken revelry, his contemporary and friend Koloth (William Campbell from "The Trouble with Tribbles") arrives to bail him out of a holding cell. They're soon ed aboard the station by Kang (Michael Ansara who along with Campbell also played these characters on TOS). He reveals that he's located their age-old nemesis, œthe Albino (Bill Bolender).
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According to the story, the pale-skinned Klingon was a notorious pirate and criminal active during the 2280s (Discovery takes place in 2256). Kang, Kor, and Koloth led their armies against him, thwarting his raids of the Klingon colonies. However, the Albino escaped and swore to take revenge on them, later killing each of their firstborn sons with a genetic virus. As a result, the three combatants, as well Federation ambassador Curzon Dax, who was the godfather to Kang's son, swore to track him down and destroy him. They eventually cut him down, although Kang and Koloth are killed in the process.
A œBlood Feud in the Making?
In the very first episode, Discovery introduced the intriguing character of Voq. Despite his lack of status, he earned the respect of T'Kuvma for his faith in their cause, becoming his right-hand man and the Klingon unification crusade's torchbearer. After T'Kuvma died at the hands of Michael Burnham, Voq assumed the role of de facto leader as well. However, when their flagship, the sarcophagus ship, was damaged at the Battle of the Binary Stars, he, L'Rell, and their followers were left, adrift in space, leading to some gruesome circumstances.
In the third episode, Kol, one of the House of Kor's leaders, coaxed Voq's disciples to abandon him and the movement for the sake of survival. Kol then left him to die on the derelict U.S.S. Shenzhou. However, L'Rell returned for him, saving his life and reaffirming her pledge to their cause. As part of Voq's salvation, she delivers him to what happened to the pale Klingon, However, his desperate situation and new, clandestine associates could set up a few interesting storylines.
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Without the assistance of L'Rell's family or his followers, Voq would likely be forced back into a œhouse of none status. Since Klingon society is heavily caste-oriented, he was already perceived as a nonentity. The adversarial Kol already looks down upon T'Kuvma, who comes from a lesser house. He shows utter disregard for his lieutenant. As a further historical reference, the DS9 episode 'Once More Unto the Breach' reveals that Kor himself discriminated against General Martok. When the now-decorated military man applied to the defense forces, he denied his application due to his lowly birthright, hence giving Martok an understandable distaste for the aging warrior. Much like Martok, discrimination clearly fuels Voq to exceed Klinong expectations. However, he has another detractor working against him.
His albinism pushes Voq even further to the outskirts of Klingon society. Certainly, there are others within the Empire who share his condition, but Voq's faith in T'Kuvma's cause granted him access to a more powerful position. It also landed him the favor of and a connection to L'Rell, who comes from a Great House, albeit one with a treacherous reputation. Assuming he follows through with his training and possibly even receives a new identity through reconstructive surgery that alters his appearance, it's entirely possible that Voq and the Albino are one and the same.
Since the past is often written by the conquerors and clearly Kor, Kang, and Koloth are on the winning side the Albino's œcrimes might mean he landed on the wrong side of history. His "raids" could actually have been the dying remnants of a Klingon civil war, the result of a failed attempt to unite the Empire. Once they discovered his birthright, the Great Houses might have opposed Voq and his efforts. His association with the devious House of Mo'Kai might have also painted him in an unfavorable light especially if the war with the Federation began to fall apart.
Although intriguing, the Albino-Voq theory is only speculation at this point. The series' writing staff includes Trek novelist Kristen Beyer, Alex Kurtzman (Star Trek Into Darkness), Bryan Fuller (DS9 and Voyager), consulting producer Joe Menosky (TNG, DS9, and Voyager) as well as legendary director and Klingon champion Nicholas Meyer, among others. They clearly know enough about the legends and lore of the prior shows to develop deeper connections.
Assuming there is a genuine connection between Voq and the Albino, it might be nothing more than a fun Easter egg. Still, if Voq is the dreaded Klingon outlaw, there are a few pertinent questions Discovery needs to answer: why does he (and the other Klingons) look so different? How did he go from Klingon crusader to criminal? How does the deadly virus the Albino unleashes on his enemies' children figure into things?
If the theory holds water, Discovery could have a fascinating and tragic story arc on their hands. Hopefully, they'll have the opportunity to unpack this captivating tale.