T'Kuvma additionally mentions "Humans, Vulcans, Tellarites, and filthy Andorians." These four races are the founding species of the Federation, as first established in Zero Hour (2004).
Many of the Starfleet ship names in this episode have origins either in reality or previous Star Trek productions. The USS Shran was a nod to Commander Thy'lek Shran from ENT. The USS T'Plana-Hath was named after T'Plana-Hath, the matron of Vulcan philosophy mentioned in Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home, ENT: "The Forge" and the Vulcan starship featured in Star Trek: First Contact. The USS Kerala was named after the Kerala state of India where the Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology is located. The USS Sioux was named after the native American tribe Sioux. The USS Ride was named after 20th century astronaut Sally Ride. The USS Earhart was named after 20th-century aviator Amelia Earhart. The USS Edison may have been named after famous inventor Thomas Edison or Balthazar M. Edison, one of the first Federation Starfleet captains, established in Star Trek Beyond. The USS Yeager was named after 20th-century test pilot Chuck Yeager.
T'Kuvma gives himself the title "the Unforgettable". This title is traditionally reserved for Kahless. Indeed, T'Kuvma claims that Kahless is reborn in him.
T'Kuvma mentions that the last time the Klingons clashed with the Federation was years ago at Donatu V; this was previously mentioned in The Trouble with Tribbles (1967), in which it was said that the skirmish there was "inconclusive". That episode also established that the skirmish at Donatu V occurred in the year 2245, eleven years before the Battle of the Binary Stars.
Whereas Sarek melded with Michael Burnham in her childhood, he never melded with Spock, as was established in Unification II (1991).