So, there was recently been some Youtube videos put out that cover the apparent de-canonization of Star Trek: Discovery. One of these videos, goes into a reminder for people that there is an "alternative license" at play for Secret Hideout's Star Trek productions & that none of them have anything to do with the timeline established by The Original Series to Enterprise & the ten movies that accompany the TV series. Instead, they say that Secret Hideout's TV series take place in what the Kelvin Timeline movies established as the "Prime timeline."

Here's the thing though. Not one of the Youtube channels covering this really bother to define exactly what makes up the Prime timeline, beyond the fact that Star Trek: Picard contains the infamous supernova that completely changes the galaxy for the latter half of the 24th century & the 25th century. If Discovery is "de-canonized" because of what Lower Decks did, then where exactly does this leave the prime timeline? What exactly would be considered canon at this point? I'd like to at least try to make sense of all of this.

Let's start with trying to clear the air about what the "prime timeline" looks like, starting with Lower Decks, since this is the series that is entangling everything. From the very first episode, we have it set that it takes place in 2380, which would be more or less a few months after Nemesis. Lower Decks has been a series that uses all of these callbacks, easter eggs and such when in each episode, which establishes that there so far is no discernible difference between the original timeline & the "Prime timeline" so far.

Lower Decks, eventually brings in Captain William Riker & his wife Deanna Troi aboard the U.S.S. Titan, which were both key events that happen in Nemesis. We then get an expansion of what the "prime timeline" contains by them expanding to include our favorite omnipotent being Q, Deep Space 9 & the U.S.S. Voyager & Mariner's connection to Sito Jaxa into the mix to further add credit that the "Prime timeline" at this point is more or less looking like it's just the original timeline, doesn't it?

Let's move on with Star Trek: Prodigy, the series that many likely never gave a chance because they marketed it as "a way to get kids into Star Trek" which was something that Star Trek never needed before. Although the series takes its time to establish where it fits in, we learn that it is set in 2383 which puts it a little later than Lower Decks. It in my opinion is in spirit by the second season to be a sequel to Voyager since they not only make references to Janeway's past endeavors, but by the 2nd season, brings in Voyager's EMH as a significant part of the cast. It's yet another point that the there's so far no difference in the "Prime timeline" from the original timeline.

However, by the end, Prodigy does lean into a series that I think many who like it's third season but not the first two, Star Trek: Picard. Picard establishes that there was an attack on Mars in 2385, not only eliminating a crucial shipyard facility, but also dealing a blow to efforts that could have helped rescue more Romulans from an impending supernova. Yes, Picard gives us the evidence that the youtube channel uses to say that it's the "prime timeline" but it's really not enough to tip the scales. In my opinion with these three shows, there is no separate "prime timeline" & instead all of them are continuations of the original timeline, no matter how much people dislike them.

So where does this leave Discovery, Strange New Worlds, Section 31 & Starfleet Academy? Let's break it down quick here:

- Lower Decks had that crossover with Strange New Worlds. They never tried to once act surprised like there was anything different with any of the characters or the ship, so that means Strange New Worlds therefore would be part of the original timeline, despite what people may think.

- Strange New Worlds makes reference in the very first episode to events that happen in Discovery Season 1 & Season 2. Although many don't like having Kirk being around so early & the changes to the Gorn, the Lower Decks crossover more or less cements Discovery as being part of the same timeline still.

- Discovery Seasons 3-5 & Starfleet Academy both take place in a future a bit further than what was ever briefly explored in Enterprise. There are callbacks present to stuff that happens in the mid-late 24th century that plays a factor in episodes at least for Discovery.

- Section 31 we don't have too much to go on besides Mirror Georgiou having settled in the early 24th century, but I'm sure there will be some mentions from Discovery with her past of the Terran Empire.

I have honestly always treated ALL of the shows the way that they were meant to be treated by the producers. Unless Skydance, once they take over, fully makes a decision on this, I'm going to go with my gut and trust in what I believe is right. Everyone here is free to comment below what they think of what I had to say.