3. Visual and thematic opportunities
Visually, SNW thrives on cinematic aesthetics and rich period detail. The Mirror Universe gives the design team freedom to go bolder than ever. A Terran Empire-controlled Enterprise could feature imperial uniforms glittering with medals, or crimson banners replacing the Federation’s hopeful iconography. In tone, it offers a natural way to explore the show’s recurring theme: can goodness survive when the universe tests it?
Thematically, the Mirror Universe fits SNW’s episodic structure perfectly. A two-part arc or contained story could stand alone without reshaping canon too dramatically, while still adding emotional depth. It could even revisit the question at the heart of Pike’s journey: if destiny is fixed, how far can a person stray from their moral compass before becoming something unrecognizable?