What if it's a Pre-Destination Paradox?
So this is just a quick theory, but what if the events of Terra Firma are a pre-destination paradox, as in Georgiou is trying to change events, but just causing them to happen ever so slightly differently such that the events of the s1 mirror episodes still occur?
Below I'm going to bring up a few things that seem like time paradoxes, but otherwise still work?
**1) Mirror Stamets got stabbed in the neck by Georgiou and presumably died, yet we saw him get killed 'later on' by Mirror Lorca.**
This could still plausibly work, as we first saw Mirror Stamets stuck inside the Mycelial Network, trying to get out of it, not unlike Prime Culber when he was murdered. Ergo it's possible that Mirror Stamets gets murdered by Georgiou, somehow winds up in the Network due to his exposure to it via labwork, and escapes back into the Charon in the Mirror Universe with Prime Stamets. (Partially backed up by the fact that Mirror Stamets definitely seemed to be running around and hiding onboard the Charon, which is something he would be reasonably capable of doing given that he likely played a major role in designing the bloody thing).
**2) Georgiou spares Mirror Burnham when she had the chance to engage in an execution.**
This one is a bit confusing, and relies on the assumption that once Georgiou is done being messed around with by Carl, she gets returned to the Discovery with Prime Michael, and the older version of Emperor Georgiou (with no memory of USS Discovery) retakes 'control' of her body, and getting screwed up overlapping memories.
Essentially, I assume that being spared allows Mirror Burnham to escape off into the wild frontier with the ISS Discovery, hence why Old Georgiou isn't too confused by the fact that Prime Burnham masquerading as Mirror Burnham shows up with Mirror Lorca from the USS Discovery (masquerading as ISS Discovery) via the ISS Shenzou - especially considering that the only people who would have known about Mirror Michael's coup attempt at that point were the crew of the ISS Discovery and the Emperor's personal Honour Guard (the latter of whom could be sworn to secrecy or simply murdered).
**3) Georgiou appears to be heading off to deal with Mirror Lorca's rebellion before it can actually do anything.**
This one seems like a classic pre-destination paradox; Georgiou knows Mirror Lorca attempts a coup, fails and is hunted down, only to escape and come back to try again. As such, it would seem more than likely that she would want to succeed 'this time', and orders the staff to set in motion events that result in Mirror Lorca escaping anyway. (as for what happens to Prime Lorca when he rocks up all confused as fuck, who knows).
**4) If this is all just a pre-destination paradox, then how does Georgiou get cured?**
I don't have anything concrete on this one, but it's possible that while Kovich et al don't have a cure for Georgiou's condition, someone in the Mirror Universe does. It could potentially involve Mirror Culber having knowledge of how to use the mycelial network for medical purposes (hence why Mirror Saru is seen beating the shit out of him - possibly for answers - in the teaser for the next episode), and Mirror Stamets ending up in the Mirror Mycelial Network as per point one (and hence why Carl sent Georgiou back to before the Charon was destroyed, as that was one of the few ways the Mirror Universe could access the Mycelial Network).
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There are a few other concerns, but I feel like I should leave them open to discussion in the comments. And yes, I admit my theory relies upon Carl's magic bullshittery really fucking with Georgiou's memories during both current events and the events of S1.
Thoughts?