Theory
Star Trek writers love having characters with internal conflict/mixed heritage such as Spock, B’Elanna Torres, Troi etc. So I suspect they might do the same with Burnham.
When Burnham recommends firing at the Klingons, she was feisty but in control and it reminded me of Uhura. Discovery has taken lots of inspiration from the Kelvin Timeline. It would be conceivable that they may wish to recapture some of those Uhura traits in another character.
Here’s how I would pitch it.
Then the forth Kelvin movie drops. It’s about Spock trying to finish Ambassador Spock’s work. That includes finding a way to save Romulus.
Lets have a quick look at the timeline:
2233 – Narada/Nero incident
2255 – Start of Star Trek Discovery
2258 – Star Trek 2009 movie
2265 – Start of TOS (Where no man has gone before)
So Spock (Kelvin) is trying to save Romulus (Prime) using time travel, slingshots or funky transporter tricks. He is trying to get to the 24th Century but in a moment of certain peril, he and Uhura (who is pregnant) find themselves thrownback to 2233 (goddammit Captain Braxton).
They realise that they have an opportunity to save Vulcan instead.
In a heartbreaking scene reminiscent of James Kirk’s birth scene in Star Trek ’09, Spock and Uhura sacrifice themselves to save the world leaving their child with Sarek and Amanda Grayson.
Their daughter would be mostly human but I suspect with the state of Vulcans in the Kelvin universe it would be important for Spock to have his child raised as a Vulcan. So he sends her back to be raised by his own family….remember in the Kelvin universe Spock gets on with his daddy so thats ok!
All of this would unravel later in the series in conjunction with the movie.
Either way, speculating makes me feel excited about the series. It also helps me allay any fears I have about this being a TOS Prequel.
I’ll admit I wanted a 24th/25th Century prime timeline series but there’s still a lot to play with in this time frame and as Picard says “things are only impossible until they are not.”
What do you think?
Also See:
Interesting theory. I am so eager to learn about her back story and who she came to be with Sarek as a child.
For what it’s worth, Ive pegged Burnham’s birth around 2224, assuming she is about the same age as Sonequa Martin-Green, which means she would be born several years before Spock.
I hope that DSC doesn’t merge with the Kelvin timeline. Partly because I don’t think it would add any story value to DSC, and I want DSC to stand on its own as much as possible.