Chris Snellgrove | Posted
These days, Star Trek fans often complain about continuity issues caused by shows such as: find and strange new worldBut such complaints are not really new. Actually various plot points. enterprise The change in continuity sparked outrage from fans, and these complaints continued with the release of the Kelvinverse films. Historically, fans have blamed the writers for these issues, but it turns out that all of Star Trek’s biggest continuity issues may have occurred during the events of Captain Picard. first contact.
Star Trek: First Contact Did It
As you may remember, Star Trek: First Contact Continuity concerns are built directly into the narrative, thanks to a plot about the Borg returning to 21st century Earth and ruining the timeline as we know it. Captain Picard followed the Borg to the past and defeated them, while others from his crew helped Zefram Cochrane complete the first warp speed flight in human history. This flight attracted the attention of nearby Vulcans and brought Earth into the wider galaxy, but while the film suggests that Picard has completely corrected history, later continuity issues prove he may have made things worse.
Before we go any further, it’s important to focus on the Star Trek continuity issues that fans have been focusing on ever since. enterprise It began broadcasting in 2001. The show reexamined the fusion of the Vulcan mind into things only certain Vulcans could do, something their society frowned upon, and it clashed with everything we knew about it. original series. Other continuity issues stem from the show’s awkward insistence on having episodes with the Ferengi and the Borg. These two races appear to have never been heard of by anyone in Starfleet prior to Picard’s adventures. next generation.
It’s not Nero’s fault
Subsequent Star Trek reboot films attempted to sidestep the continuity issue by explaining that this was an alternate universe in which the Romulan Nero travels into the past and changes history forever. But that doesn’t explain why Chekhov’s age is different, why Khan has a different ethnicity and healing lineage, or even why Sulu is now openly gay. While it is possible to explain other changes, such as the increase in the size of Starfleet’s ships, as a result of Nero’s ill-timed attack on the Federation, none of these specific changes were actually caused by him, although one theory suggests that they all may have happened by mistake. They claim that there is. To Picard.
Not all timeline changes to Star Trek continuity in the Kelvinverse movies make sense because of Nero’s attack, and continuity issues with the Enterprise don’t make any sense at all. However, some fans have pointed out that Picard significantly changed the timeline in 2063 while saving humanity from the Borg. enterprise (Starts in 2151) star trek (2009), took place in 2255.
Picard and the butterfly effect
Obviously, this Star Trek theory isn’t perfect, but it could explain many of the continuity changes that audiences find frustrating. Think of it like the butterfly effect. Even small changes Picard makes in the past can have a big impact on the future. first contact came out 5 years ago enterprise And since it’s 13 years before the first Kelvinverse movie, it would make a sort of meta sense that we’re now seeing a timeline permanently altered by Picard’s shenanigans, and that all new on-screen adventures will be influenced by Picard’s early actions.
This theory will explain the problem that follows. Star Trek: Discovery There have been many different continuities, from the Klingons’ physical appearance changes to Spock suddenly having a brilliant Mary Sue sister we’ve never heard of. interestingly, strange new world This theory is implicitly supported thanks to the episode confirming that key details, such as Khan’s date of birth, have been altered due to the time traveler’s constant interference.
Now, it’s one thing to have a fun Star Trek theory, but it’s another thing for fans to accept it as the cause of all these major continuity changes. But good or bad, fans should brace for more changes. Given that the next Trek movie will be an original film that appears to rehash the aliens joining the United Federation of Planets and first contact with humanity, it seems unlikely that Trek’s continuity will be completely inconsistent with decades of continuity. An established legend.
Ah, I don’t know. Maybe the next time Captain Picard travels back in time, he can focus on understanding his franchise. Or just make it interesting again. Honestly, we would be happy with it!
