The author Chris Snelgrove
| Published
Star Trek fans today often complain about the continuity problems caused by shows like Discovery and Strange new worldsbut such complaints are nothing new. Actually different plot points about Company caused a wave of fan anger over continuity changes, 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 problems were probably caused by Captain Picard during the events of the year. First contact.
Star Trek: First Contact did it
as you remember Star Trek: First Contact continuity concerns were directly built into its story, thanks to the plot of the Borg traveling back to 21st century Earth and disrupting the timeline as we know it. Captain Picard followed the Borg into the past and defeated them, while the rest of his crew helped Zefram Cochrane complete humanity's historic first wave flight. This flight attracted the attention of nearby volcanoes and brought Earth into the wider galaxy, but while the film suggests that Picard completely captured history, later continuity issues prove that he could have made things worse.
Before we go any further, it is important to focus on some of them Star Trek continuity issues that fans have focused on ever since Company It was shown in 2001. This show convinced us that the Vulcan mind was something only a few Vulcans could do, and their society frowned upon everything we knew about it. The original series. Other continuity issues involve the show's clumsy insistence on having episodes with the Ferengi and the Borg, two races that seemingly no one in Starfleet had heard of before Picard's debacle The next generation.
It's not Nero's fault
The later Star Trek reboot movies tried to get around the continuity issues by explaining that this was a different universe where the Romulan Nero traveled back in time, changing history forever. But that still doesn't explain why Chekhov's age is different, why Han has a different ethnicity and healing blood, or even why Sulu is now openly gay. While it's possible to explain other changes, such as the increased size of Starfleet ships caused by Nero's well-timed attack on the Federation, none of these specific changes can be attributed to it, but one theory claims that it could all be caused by chance. from Picard.
Not all timelines change in Star Trek continuity Kelvinverse movies make sense as a result of Nero's attack, and none of Enterprise's continuity problems make much sense at all. However, some fans have noted that while saving humanity from the Borg, Picard made a significant change to the timeline in 2063. It's entirely possible that this explains the apparent change in continuity Company (which begins in 2151) and Star Trek (2009) which takes place in 2255.
Picard and butterfly effect
Obviously, this Star Trek theory isn't perfect, but it could explain many of the continuity changes audiences are worried about. Think of it as the butterfly effect: even small changes Picard made in the past can have a big impact on the future. First contact came out five years ago Company and 13 years before the first Kelvinverse movie, so it would make some kind of meta sense that we're now seeing a timeline that has been permanently altered by Picard's shenanigans, with each new adventure on screen being influenced by Picard's previous actions.
This theory will explain later problems with Star Trek: Discovery continuity that ranged from changes in Klingon appearance to Ghost suddenly we have the great Mary Sue we've never heard of. interestingly Strange new worlds indirectly supports this theory thanks to an episode that confirmed that key details such as Han's date of birth have been changed due to the constant interference of time travelers.
Now, it's one thing to poke fun at Star Trek theory, but it's another for fans to accept it as the reason for all these big continuity changes. However, fans have to prepare for even more changes. Given that the next Trek film will be an original film that will seemingly rehash First Contact with aliens and humanity joining the United Federation of Planets—events we've literally seen on screen before—it feels like Trek's continuity will never quite live up to its decades-long history.
Well, good. Maybe the next time Captain Picard goes back in time, he can focus on making sense of his franchise. Or just making it interesting again. Honestly, we'd settle for that!
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