How Trelane Can Fix 8 Years of Star Trek Canon Complaints

News about Rhys Darby joining “Star Trek” was met with excitement at New York Comic Con in October 2024, as fans eagerly anticipated a fresh, yet recognizable character. As soon as the first teaser trailer for Season 3 of “Strange New Worlds” dropped, discussions about which role he might take on spread like waves from an exploding Klingon moon, with theories solidifying just as quickly as protomatter in a Genesis Device.

As a film enthusiast, it’s not hard to see why fans are speculating that the actor with his distinctive acting style and iconic mutton-chop sideburns might embody the enigmatic and powerful character from Star Trek: The Original Series – Trelane. With over six decades of Star Trek lore behind him, John de Lancie, who played Q in the expanded universe, has hinted at his affiliation with the Q Continuum, a group known for their almost limitless control over time and space, first introduced in The Next Generation. If Darby is indeed playing Trelane, I am intrigued to imagine him portraying an “aged” version of the character.

Strange New Worlds Could Reintroduce the God-Like Trelane

If Rhys Darby Is Playing Trelane, He Could ‘Fix’ Star Trek Canon Quibbles

Trelane, a figure who exuded joviality yet petulance, had a child-like demeanor and was always impeccably dressed. He possessed the unique ability to change energy into matter. From the moment he appeared on “Star Trek” and specifically in “Encounter at Farpoint,” the pilot episode of “Star Trek: The Next Generation,” Trelane became an instantly recognizable character. Despite numerous attempts to define his character, neither the original story nor behind-the-scenes material provided a clear explanation. Instead, this enigma only increased his allure. Creator Gene Roddenberry found the idea amusing but never definitively stated Trelane’s origins, as reported in “Star Trek: The Original Series 365” by Paula M. Block with Terry J. Erdmann.

In my opinion, I’ve long been captivated by the character Trelane, whose flamboyant demeanor made Q from Star Trek: The Next Generation appear almost subdued. I’m slightly apprehensive about Darby assuming this role, as the origins of Trelane remain one of the last unexplored mysteries in canon, sparking much fan discussion, debate, and theory-building. If it turns out that Darby is indeed Trelane in the Strange New Worlds Season 3 trailer, his gesture of about to snap his fingers might be a bold proclamation of his Q-like nature, even louder than a shipwide Red Alert. These entities reside beyond normal time and space, so this version of Trelane could be older than the one we saw in Star Trek: The Original Series, despite the series taking place earlier in the timeline. “The Squire of Gothos” concluded with Trelane’s ethereal parents summoning him back home after they were discovered meddling with Captain Kirk and the Enterprise.

In simpler terms, after Q from de Lancie’s character “died” in the previous season, characters from the Q Continuum aren’t tied to linear time. This means they can move freely through time and space, which is also known as omnipotence. The character Terlane, played by Darby, could have this knowledge about the show itself (metatextual). With a simple gesture like a snap of his fingers, Trelane could “correct” inconsistencies in the series, such as character designs, technology, and even the inclusion of the Gorn in Strange New Worlds. This would be an amusing, undeniable solution to frustrate fans who debate about these canon conflicts.

Strange New Worlds Could Address Fan Complaints in a Hilarious Fashion

Trelane Could Be Both a Palliative for and Mockery of Too-Serious Star Trek Fans

The premiere of Season 3 for Strange New Worlds will continue the storyline from where it left off in Season 2, with the USS Enterprise engaged in a fight against the Gorn. However, according to the series’ timeline, the crew shouldn’t have encountered these reptilian aliens yet, as they were supposed to meet Trelane first. If the Trelane episode occurs later in the season (possibly as the finale), he might erase the Gorn from the characters’ memories. This suggests that not all conflicts within the show are as significant as some fans may think.

Martin Quinn plays Montgomery Scott and was promoted to series regular.
Patton Oswalt guest stars as a Vulcan.
Cillian O’Sullivan guest stars as Roger Korby.
Rhys Darby guest stars as a “legacy character” believed to be Trelane.
Melanie Scrofano will return as Captain Marie Batel, at least for the premiere.

Viewers have pointed out that some scenes with Paul Wesley’s character, Kirk, on a bridge resembling Star Trek’s original series (TOS). Since Celia Rose Gooding’s voiceover hinted at a weekly sci-fi show and the subsequent scenes appear to depict a holodeck, it seems these could belong to the same episode. Additionally, other parts of the trailer show the cast dressed up for a murder mystery scene. However, if I’m mistaken, Trelane might perceive the advanced technology in Strange New Worlds and adjust it according to his idea of what it should be.

Things that hardcore enthusiasts often argue about can be altered, revised, or rewritten using a touch of that classic Q magic. The writers could utilize this portrayal of Trelane as a witty jab at more critical Star Trek fans while employing his powers to reestablish certain elements within the canon. If Darby is playing Trelane or another Q character, it’s almost guaranteed that he can erase the crew’s memory of him maintaining continuity across both TOS and TNG. However, while I may find this amusing, would irate Star Trek fans accept the “victory” with good grace?

Star Trek Canon Was Not Meant to Get in the Way of Storytelling

Strange New Worlds and Other New Series Must Look Forward Not Backward

Initially, enthusiasts treated this cosmos with great gravity, but those who conceived it were more flexible. In fact, a shift occurred when Roddenberry hired Richard Arnold as an archivist, a role previously filled by writer Dorothy Fontana who managed continuity and ideas in both TOS and TAS. However, during the development of TNG , Roddenberry abandoned the cartoon sequel and episodes from TOS‘s Season 3 produced after he relinquished his role as “showrunner.” Yet, even then, these rules were more for writers than fans. These guidelines were established to preserve logical consistency within the universe, but Roddenberry never wanted them to hinder creative inspiration.

Following his demise, attempts to subtly adjust or dramatically redefine the established Star Trek narrative have led to a more structured and less flexible interpretation. Rather than a creative playground where boundless possibilities exist, fans now perceive Star Trek episodes and series as mathematical equations that storytellers can solve correctly or incorrectly. When these series endeavor to do what this universe excels at (allegorical storytelling about contemporary, real-world issues), they struggle to identify the metaphor amidst intricate details that don’t align with their vision of how the universe should function.

Star Trek consistently serves as a reflection of its current times. With each new era, the portrayal may differ, but Star Trek continues to underscore an optimistic viewpoint that ultimately, everything will resolve positively.

Interestingly, contemporary storytellers occasionally adhere more strictly to established lore than Roddenberry himself did. Shows like “Strange New Worlds” or “Lower Decks” sometimes introduce new aliens, events, and characters that even challenge the original concept. Occasionally, seemingly insignificant dialogue lines are used to clarify inconsistencies. For instance, in “Discovery” Season 2, Captain Pike expresses unease about holographic communication technology, implying that such devices would never be on the USS Enterprise – a comment possibly directed towards the audience.

Rhys Darby’s Character Likely Won’t Change Strange New Worlds

Star Trek Series Don’t Need to Be Fixed – Fans Need More Imagination

In a fan’s perspective, it would be more enjoyable if Darby, who appears to be Trelane in the narrative, is portrayed comically and ultimately undone. Controversies over continuity don’t necessarily reflect negligence by the writers, but rather the creativity and speculation of fans.

Originally, the excitement for fans lay in debating, speculating, and theorizing about how to reconcile inconsistencies, rather than labeling the series itself as incorrect or invalid. Except for the Kelvin Timeline, this pattern has been observed numerous times throughout its history.

In a nutshell, the criticism that seems to lack creativity revolves around the advanced technology and set designs in Star Trek being more sophisticated than what was available in the 1960s. However, the best way to appreciate this show is by suspending disbelief. For those who struggle with accepting the design, I’d like to propose a theory: It’s plausible that every time a Star Trek character travels back in time, they might inadvertently leave behind some technology. This concept was first introduced in ‘Enterprise’ and later corroborated in the subsequent series. Furthermore, there has been an “off-screen” temporal war, which could account for many inconsistencies within the storyline. Moreover, considering this timeline, the broadcast order of the Star Trek series is likely to be the actual chronological sequence of events in the universe.

Fans can generally find solutions for most of these issues on their own, without needing time travel. For instance, the Gorn issue could relate to design. The creature in “Strange New Worlds” appears significantly different than the rubber-suited monster Kirk battles in the original series. Over time, such discrepancies have been addressed within canon, and the same could be done with the Gorn. However, if Trelane is introduced with full Q-like powers into the narrative, the “Star Trek” writers could amusingly resolve these canon concerns by employing retcons – quick adjustments to the established continuity that would be relatively easy to implement.

You can now purchase or stream Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Seasons 1 and 2 on Blu-ray, digital platforms, or watch them exclusively on Paramount+. The third season is scheduled to air in Summer 2025, while the fourth season is being produced as we speak.

2025-04-19 01:23