SilverWook said:

Yes, but Kirk Sr. might have left some sort of recording made before his untimely death. (Maybe something Kirk's mom only recently gave to him?) It's been done in Trek before...

It was good that the events of the last movie cast a shadow on the plot. With Kirk and company finally off on the five year mission, I wonder if the aftermath of yet another rogue Starfleet admiral actions will cast it's own shadow.

I forgot to mention earlier that the Parents WERE in the film - When Jim hears their voices in his head - iirc there was no new dialogue though, Just clips from '09 Trek.

sidenote - Did / Does it bother anybody else that Crusher isn't wearing a shirt?

Hopefully the aftermath of Into Darkness' events will carry over but they kinda ended clean slate. Wasn't a year later or something when they head off at the end?

RE: Khan's magic blood and the sick girl / dead Kirk - that's why they had that awkward scene with the dead Tribble.

Would they really just put Khan back into deep freeze at the end if his blood was that powerful? - If section 31 were content to build a warship in secret i don't think they'd have any objection to siphoning him constantly.

RE: The Gorn reference - i think that was just another case of trying to make things sound exotic ala the cardassian sunrise last movie.