Star Trek Fans Are Furious: The Simple Fix That Could Change Everything!

When Strange New Worlds resumes for its third season, regardless of how the episode concludes, it’s bound to stir up debate among the fanbase. As a prequel to The Original Series, the confrontation between the USS Enterprise and the Gorn species seems to go against the first on-screen encounter with that species, which occurred in “Arena” in 1967. Even though producers claim Strange New Worlds is set in the main Star Trek timeline, Lower Decks’ revelation of a multiverse suggests this may not be entirely relevant.

alternate realities, as shown in TOS Season 2’s “Mirror, Mirror” and the 2009 Star Trek film. Time travel from the Prime Universe can create permanent alternate realities when required by the narrative, offering another possibility for those who believe Discovery and Strange New Worlds inhabit a separate universe from other Star Trek series. The recent final episodes of Lower Decks have established that the multiverse in the Star Trek universe is infinite and traversable, meaning individual interpretations or headcanons are as valid as official canon.

Star Trek Didn’t Really Have a Firmly Established ‘Canon’ Until Well Into Its Second Wave

What Canon Did Exist In This Universe Was Meant for Storytellers Not Fans

In its initial release, the creators of “Star Trek: The Original Series,” namely Gene Roddenberry and Dorothy Fontana, had a well-defined vision for the series’ continuity. Unlike a traditional show bible, they followed a more flexible set of guidelines that freelance writers sometimes deviated from. Some aspects, such as the timeline of the series, were deliberately left ambiguous, like the time period being the 23rd Century in Roddenberry’s internal records, but not specifying an exact date. This is the reason characters occasionally refer to the present day as anything between 200 to 800 years ago.

In the process of bringing back Star Trek, Roddenberry initially focused on creating a sequel series and then the first film. He was particular about which episodes he considered valid. Later on, Richard Arnold was appointed as an archivist and researcher to set the authentic Star Trek lore. During The Next Generation’s era, individuals like Michael and Denise Okuda carried on this task. However, some of the producers made decisions that stirred up fan controversy.

Later on, when Rick Berman and Brannon Braga produced Enterprise, fans believed that Captain Jonathan Archer and the NX-01 Enterprise breached the “canon” as previously established in The Animated Series, though at that time it wasn’t officially recognized as such.

As a devoted enthusiast, I’ve noticed a fascinating parallel between the current wave of “Star Trek” and the post-Disney acquisition approach of “Star Wars.” Both franchises have chosen to acknowledge their past history while also expanding upon it, filling in gaps and providing fresh insights. For instance, “Star Trek” has delved into Captain Christopher Pike’s tenure and explored new aspects of Spock’s relationship with Christine Chapel, a dynamic that was hinted at but never fully fleshed out in the original series (TOS). However, some fans find these creative decisions to be somewhat overstepping the boundaries of their beloved universe.

Lower Decks Gave Every Fan a License to Have Fun Again In Its Final Episodes

The Star Trek Multiverse Isn’t New, But Its Infinite Potential Goes Beyond Future Stories

In the last run of “Star Trek: Lower Decks,” we delved deeper than ever into the idea of the multiverse. The show concluded with an implication that goes beyond just giving future creators endless possibilities for storytelling. With the introduction of an infinite multiverse, it’s now plausible to say that all imaginable variations of the “Star Trek” universe are valid. Fans can select which series or specific episodes they consider official based on their preferences, and there is a timeline where this selection is true.

Notable Alternate Star Trek Universes
The Mirror Universe	The Original Series
The Borg-Dominated Universe	The Next Generation
The Kelvin Timeline	Star Trek (2009)
Fluidic Space	Star Trek: Voyager
‘Dos Cerritos’ Universe	Lower Decks
The ‘Purple’ Universe	Lower Decks
The ‘Beagle’ Universe	Lower Decks

Additionally, since these realities lack distinct names like the Earth variants in DC and Marvel, any of them could be considered “the Main Universe.” Fans of Star Trek have always been particular about what constitutes and doesn’t constitute canon, with some even resisting the notion that “TAS” didn’t count, particularly since it introduced elements like Spock’s childhood pet, Captain Robert April, and other unusual ideas. Instead of debating which stories are factual and which aren’t, “Lower Decks” has made everything canonical. If the multiverse is infinite, this implies there are no boundaries to the types of realities that exist. However, it doesn’t alter what the creators of these series decide is or isn’t officially canon.

In the grand scheme of the multiverse, it’s been established that every Star Trek fan possesses their own unique continuity. Some timelines may consider the expanded universe of books and comics as canon, while others might only acknowledge certain parts. There are even timelines where the fanfiction stories from the 1970s are part of the official lore. Given the infinite possibilities that multiverse implies, it’s safe to say there are infinite realities where Spock and Kirk share a romantic bond, as well as ones where they’re just friends. This diversity allows fans to customize their Star Trek experience according to their preferences.

Star Trek Fans Veered Into Toxic Territory, but the Multiverse Can Make Debates Fun Again

Even With Canon Complaints and Logic Leaps, Every Show and Film Is ‘Legitimate’ Now

Although initially known for its 1960s portrayal advocating against racism and fostering understanding, some enthusiasts of Star Trek crossed into harmful behavior when they expressed their discontent towards the latest series. Sonequa Martin-Green, portraying Michael Burnham on Discovery, was among those who faced this backlash. Other fans simply disliked that these new productions didn’t align with their vision of the universe. Unintentionally or not, they generated an environment that made newcomers feel excluded from the community due to constant criticism that their shows were not “true Star Trek.

Beyond being unacceptable in any context, such intolerance runs counter to the fundamental ideals of Star Trek from its very beginning. What was once light-hearted, intellectual discussions about the show’s lore has evolved into something more somber. The concept of an infinite multiverse offers a solution, as it clarifies that each person’s unique interpretation of Star Trek is as valid as the established canon. In essence, fans could envision each episode from every series unfolding in a distinct alternate timeline if they so choose.

The heated and disagreeable discussions regarding the current versions of ‘Star Trek’ can now transform into friendly debates, as intended among fans. They can put forth their views on whether a specific series or episode belongs to the Prime Universe. Even if they don’t reach an agreement, the concept of an infinite multiverse allows for the possibility that both opinions are valid. At least, fans can envision shows like ‘Discovery’ or ‘Strange New Worlds’ existing in their separate timelines. This way, instead of getting upset over potential inconsistencies, they can enjoy the series on its own merits. The confirmation of an infinite multiverse by ‘Lower Decks’ ensures that ‘Star Trek’ remains accessible to everyone, regardless of their view on what is considered canonical or not.

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds’ third season is set to premiere on July 17, 2025, simultaneously on Paramount+. This new season will be available in conjunction with the entire Star Trek series and movie collection.

2025-06-08 01:52