You know, when I wrote this column for the two previous episodes, I was worried that with only one episode to go there wouldn’t be enough references to previous Star Trek canon to warrant an additional article this week. Wow, was I wrong about that!
I think in the course of this one episode we had the most Easter eggs and canon references of any previous episode of Discovery, and that is before we even get to that final scene — so let’s dig into “Will You Take My Hand?” to wrap our Canon Connections series for the season!
Earth Orbit
For the first time in Star Trek, we see the busy Earth orbit that has been referenced in numerous shows — filled with starships and space stations — rather than just one ship or station at a time. Among all the activity, we can clearly see Spacedock, the famous mushroom-shaped station that first appeared in Star Trek III: The Search for Spock, under construction.
In addition, we can see settlements on the Moon, which makes sense because by the time of Star Trek: First Contact, we know that Luna carries a population of 50 million people.
“Call it Qo’noS — or the enemy planet.”
Qo’noS is depicted the same as other appearances in Star Trek: The Next Generation and the Star Trek: Enterprise pilot “Broken Bow” as a vibrant green world.
In addition, we see a moon in orbit around the planet, which is likely Praxis, the moon that would explode and precipitate the events of Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country.
Optical Data Network
Saru asks Burnham to help him identify a glitch in the Optical Data Network as a ruse to express his outrage to her about Emperor Georgiou taking command of the ship. The Optical Data Network is the data transfer system aboard starships, referenced numerous times in the Star Trek canon.
Molor
According to Tyler, the chimney through which Discovery attempts to access the dormant volcano system under the surface of Qo’noS were previously the sight of a shrine to Molor. Molor was an ancient Klingon ruler who was defeated by Kahless, first described by Worf in TNG’s “Rightful Heir.”
Captain Killy’s Exploits
Georgiou fondly recalls her previous exploits with the Mirror version of Cadet Sylvia Tilly, the aptly-named Captain Killy.
These exploits include the subjugation of the Betazoids, the race of telepaths that count Deanna and Lwaxana Troi among their number, and wiping out Mintaka III, a planet of proto-Vulcans visited by the Enterprise-D in the Prime Universe in The Next Generation episode “Who Watches The Watchers?”
Redundant Organs
The sturdiness of the Klingon body is attributable to the brak’lul, a Klingon term for the fact that the vital organs are equipped with redundancies, such as two stomachs. The phenomenon was discussed in The Next Generation episode “Ethics.”
Apparently, the brak’lul extends to Klingon genitals as well…
Ceti Eels
In the Orion market that Burnham, Georgiou, and Tilly beam to on Qo’noS, there are a number of exotic foods being prepared, including two eels from Ceti Alpha V.
The eels, whose larvae can induce a form of mind control, would later be used by Khan Noonien Singh to take control of the USS Reliant in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan.
Orions
The Orions run an embassy and trading post at the location where the Discovery crew plan to drop the mapping drone. The appearance of the Orions features the classic depiction of an Orion slave girl (and boy!) and nefarious activities by various members of the species.
Special shout out to guest star Clint Howard, who makes a welcome return to the franchise in this episode. Howard appeared as Balok in The Original Series episode “The Corbomite Maneuver” and had two guest-starring roles across Deep Space Nine and Enterprise.
Nausicaan Pistols
Straight from Lorca’s menagerie, Georgiou offers to sell the Orions a pair of Nausicaan pistols. The Nausicaans were an aggressive race who appeared several times in The Next Generation. Most famously, Picard was impaled through the heart as a young ensign in a bar brawl with a Nausicaan, as depicted in the episode “Tapestry.”
Darseks
Georgiou sells the Nausicaan pistols for two thousand darseks, the unit of Klingon currency established in The Next Generation episode “First Born.”
Klingon Games
Tyler remembers that Voq is good at a game that a group of Klingons are playing at the Orion trading market, and uses it as a way to encourage them to give him information about how to access the shrine to Molor.
While the game itself has not appeared before in the Star Trek canon, the Klingons brawl and become aggressive with each other in between moves, much like depictions of previous Klingon carousing, such as during The Next Generation episode “Redemption, Part II.”
Trill
At the Orion tattoo parlor, we see a Trill receiving an animated tattoo. It would work with the timeline for this Trill to be Emony Dax, one of the previous hosts of the symbiont that would eventually be joined with Jadzia and Ezri.
We know that she was traveling through space during this period, having had a relationship with Dr. McCoy on Earth while he was at medical school.
Paris
After the Klingon fleet pulls away, we push back in on Earth through orbit and down to the surface, specifically to Paris, France. We see Burnham and Amanda speaking, and then Sarek arrives to tell her the good news that her record has been expunged and her rank restored.
Paris is the location of the Office of the Federation President – who grants Burnham her pardon. We also a maglev train running across the Paris skyline, the same as during a previous appearance of the city during the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episode “Homefront.”
United Earth
Just after Burnham and Sarek’s conversation, while Burnham reflects on their discussion and her voiceover begins, we see the United Earth symbol behind her.
This symbol first appeared on Enterprise, and shows a globe with one laurel wreath on its left side, an obvious precursor to the logo of the United Federation of Planets.
Starfleet Uniforms
During Burnham’s speech before Starfleet Command, we see officers wearing both the Discovery uniforms we have become familiar with, but in several out of focus shots we also see officers wearing other uniforms. While generally out of focus in the episode, the coloring of these uniforms look much more similar to those worn by the crew of the USS Enterprise in the original pilot episode “The Cage.”
In addition, the medals that a number of officers, including Admiral Cornwell, wear have the familiar triangular shape of uniform medals that appeared in The Original Series.
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Of course, there’s no bigger connection to Star Trek canon than the appearance of Captain Pike’s USS Enterprise, debuting in this episode sporting its 2018 new look, which takes several design elements from both before and after the 2250’s, including bits of Enterprise NX-01 and the refit Enterprise NCC-1701 from The Motion Picture — while adapting the Jefferies design to the Discovery era.
That’s a wrap on our Star Trek: Discovery Canon Connections series for this season — but we’ll surely be seeing more as we return to Discovery for Season 2!
 Novel #4:"The Way to the Stars"     |  Novel #5:"The Enterprise War" |  Novel #6:"Dead Endless" |