Josh-da-man

I am a bit confused about what, exactly, Una is.

Is she -- and the Illyrians in general -- an alien or a genetically modified human? I would think that her being a non-human would show up in any kind of basic medical scan unless she was modified to the point that she could actually pass for human and even, in a later episode, take a blood transfusion from a human. And if the Illyrians were humans using genetic modification, then they would probably want to pass themselves off as aliens so as not to face consequences from the Federation.

There was an Enterprise episode that featured bumpy foreheaded aliens that are called Illyrians, though I'm not sure how this is known. I don't think their species was ever named in that episode and there was no indication that they were using genetic modification. Maybe they were referred to as Illyrians in the script, but not in the dialog. Which would make that bit of canon dubious.

milo bloom

I think the fact that there is massive genetic manipulation at play makes it a little easier to gloss over some of the questions.
And I know it's offscreen, but they've been alluding to her being "different" for decades in the books and comics, so they have stuff that they're pulling from. I think the writers will do what they can to patch it up so that it more or less works, the SNW team seems to have a different view on canon than the Disco team.

tanman

I'm sure it will play in at a later episode but I don't get it either. I guess she's a hidden Illyrian but I don't understand what an Illyrian is. Like when we found out Bashir was genetically modified we knew he had enhanced intelligence, With Khan it was intelligence and strength etc. Not sure what Una's superpowers are if she has any.

Mike86

Yeah, the episode kind of acted like we should know what the Illyrians are. I looked for reference and it seems like the race was mostly referenced in novels and one episode of Enterprise. The show could have explained better what the race is supposed to be and why they’re not allowed in Starfleet and whatnot.

milo bloom

We know some of her powers- the super immune system and enhanced strength; Chapel is amazed at Una carrying Hemmer, so she must know he’s heavier than most woman of Una’s stature could ordinarily lift, even one as tall as Rebecca Romijn. And from the original description from the 60s, she has a mind like a steel trap, so decently intelligent.