Written by Chris Snelgrove | issued
Star Trek fans these days often complain about continuity issues caused by shows like discovery and strange new worldbut such complaints are actually not new. In fact, various plot points company sparked a wave of fan anger over the continuity changes, and those complaints continued after the release of the Kelvinverse films. Historically, fans have blamed the screenwriters for these problems, but it turns out that Star Trek’s biggest continuity problems may have all been caused by Captain Picard during the events of Star Trek I did. first contact.
Star Trek: First Contact Made
As you may recall, Star Trek: First Contact Continuity concerns were built directly into the story thanks to the plot of the Borg returning to 21st century Earth and messing up the timeline as we know it. Captain Picard follows the Borg into the past and defeats them, while the rest of the crew help Zefram Cochrane achieve humanity’s first warp speed flight. This flight attracted the attention of the nearby Vulcans, bringing Earth into the wider galaxy, but although it is implied in the film that Picard completely revised history, later continuity issues suggest that he changed the situation. This proves that it could have made things even worse.
Before we move on, it’s important to highlight some of the Star Trek continuity issues that fans have focused on since then. company That show conflated Vulcan minds with things only certain Vulcans could do, reimagined their society as something to be frowned upon, and clashed with everything we knew about this. original series. Other continuity issues come from the show’s awkward insistence on having a Ferengi and Borg episode. These two races had apparently never been heard of by anyone in Starfleet until Picard’s misadventures. next generation.
It’s not Nero’s fault
Later Star Trek reboot films tried to avoid continuity issues by explaining that this was an alternate universe where the Romulan Nero traveled to the past and changed history forever. But that doesn’t explain why Chekhov is a different age, why Khan has a different ethnicity and healing blood, or even why Sulu is now openly gay. It is possible to explain other changes, such as the increase in the size of Starfleet ships as a result of Nero’s resourceful attack on the Federation, but none of these specific changes can actually be attributed to it. However, one theory is that all of this may have been caused inadvertently by Picard.
Not all of the timeline changes to Star Trek continuity in the Kelvinverse movies make sense as a result of Nero’s attack, and none of the Enterprise continuity issues make any sense at all. However, some fans have noted that Picard made a significant timeline change in 2063 while rescuing humanity from the Borg. This is company (starting in 2151) and star trek (2009) takes place in the year 2255.
Picard and the Butterfly Effect
Obviously, this Star Trek theory isn’t perfect, but it may explain many of the continuity changes that viewers are complaining about. 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 company And since it’s 13 years before the first Kelvinverse movie, we’re currently looking at a timeline that’s been permanently altered by Picard’s shenanigans, and every new on-screen adventure is influenced by Picard’s previous actions. There is a kind of meta meaning to thinking that it is.
This theory explains the later problem. Star Trek: Discovery Continuity from the Klingon’s change in appearance to Spock’s sudden birth of a brilliant, never-before-heard-of Mary Sue sister. Interestingly, strange new world It implicitly supports this theory thanks to episodes that confirm that key details such as Khan’s date of birth have been changed due to the constant interference of time travelers.
Now, it’s one thing to have a fun Star Trek theory, it’s another thing for fans to accept this as the reason behind all these big continuity changes. But for better or worse, fans should be prepared for more changes. Given that the next Trek movie will be an origin movie, rehashing the events of first contact with aliens and humanity joining the Federation of Planets, events we’ve literally already seen on screen, ‘s continuity never quite seems to match Trek’s continuity over the decades. Established tradition.
I have no choice. Perhaps the next time Captain Picard travels to the past, he can focus on making his franchise meaningful. Or just make it interesting again. To be honest, I’m happy with it!
