How might SNW explain the physiology of the Klingons that have ridged foreheads versus the smooth foreheads that come from the failed augment experiment in ENT? A refresher: during the run of ENT, Klingons attempted to replicate the experiment of Human Augments. It ends up failing, which results in the physiology of the population changing, thus giving a in-universe explanation for why the makeup in TOS varies from how they appear TMP and onward.
How might SNW address this bit of lore? TOS takes place during 2265-2269. SNW first episode “Strange New Worlds” is 2259, six years prior. We already know Klingons with ridged foreheads exist thanks to DIS. We even see some during “The Broken Circle”. Might one possible way of explaining the change be a shift in the military and/or political factions of the Empire that lead to more of the smooth foreheads Klingons dominating?
That would work if SNW came after TOS. But in DIS and SNW we’ve seen ridges. But no direct mention of the events of “Affliction”. So by the late 2260s, why would a majority of those alive exhibit one singular trait that is considered a defect and suddenly disappear after 2270?
EDIT: If both groups of Klingons always exist side-by-side then writers would likely want to make it clear in dialogue. I think they should.
I believe this was addressed in an interview somewhere where the Disco writers said they planned to go with Rodenberry’s desire to “pretend the Klingons were always like that” and ignore the Enterprise lore completely. Let me see if I can find it.
EDIT: It was Ted Sullivan in 2017 in an interview with Wired.