As a long-time fan of Star Trek, one of the most rewarding experiences is piecing together the intricate connections among the various TV shows and films. Since the debut of Gene Roddenberry’s Star Trek: The Original Series in 1966, the franchise has expanded to encompass over a dozen series and 14 feature films. Navigating the correct order to watch every Star Trek installment may require some effort, but the investment is worthwhile. The extensive Star Trek catalog comprises hundreds of hours filled with captivating narratives; given the intricate nature of Roddenberry’s universe, it’s clear that countless stories remain to be told.
10 The Mirror Universe Diverged From The Prime Timeline Because Captain Kirk Saved Edith Keeler
If He Couldn’t Lose Her, The Prime Timeline Could Never Have Formed As We Know It
One of the most captivating elements within the extensive Star Trek universe is the Mirror Universe—an alternate reality that birthed the ruthless Terran Empire instead of the benevolent Starfleet. Though introduced in TOS, and revisited in multiple shows, the reasons behind the stark differences between the Mirror Universe and the Prime Timeline are less explored. The introductory sequence of the Star Trek: Enterprise episodes “In A Mirror Darkly”suggests a shared history, yet tensions significantly diverged by the time of Vulcan’s initial contact with humanity.
A critical moment of divergence could stem from Captain James T. Kirk’s (William Shatner) difficult decision in “The City on the Edge of Forever”over whether to let Edith Keeler (Joan Collins) die. If Kirk had chosen to save her, the Nazis would have triumphed globally, extinguishing the existence of Starfleet and the Enterprise-A. Considering the expansionist, genocidal trajectories of both the Nazis and the Terran Empire, it’s reasonable to posit that the Mirror Universe diverged from the Prime timeline because Kirk couldn’t bear to lose the woman he loved.
9 Star Trek: Enterprise’s Finale Doesn’t Show What Really Happened To Captain Archer’s Crew
A Holonovel Is Not The Same As Reality
The series finale of Star Trek: Enterprise, titled “These Are the Voyages…,”ranks among the most contentious conclusions in Star Trek history. The controversial element lies within how the events are depicted through a holonovel. This narrative choice means that the genuine crew members from the original Enterprise do not appear in the final episode, aside from holographic simulations witnessed by Commander William T. Riker (Jonathan Frakes) from The Next Generation.
Notably, the conclusively holographic nature of “These Are the Voyages…”raises questions about its accuracy in portraying Captain Archer’s (Scott Bakula) true last mission. Episodes such as “Author, Author”from Star Trek: Voyager highlight a tendency for holonovels to distort reality, prioritizing drama over factual representation.
This leads to speculation that the events unfolding in “These Are the Voyages…”do not accurately reflect reality for Archer’s team. For instance, characters like Commander Riker’s cook, who is not mentioned elsewhere in Enterprise, may have been fabricated solely to guide viewers through the narrative. Consequently, it is easy to envision a final voyage for Captain Archer’s crew that diverged significantly from what was portrayed in the series’ finale.
8 Starfleet’s Iconic Transporters Are Actually Deadly, And Thomas Riker Proves It
Who’s To Say If The Fundamental Essence Of A Person Can Survive The Transporter Buffer
Although transporters represent a groundbreaking technological advancement in Starfleet, the mechanics involved raise unsettling questions about personal identity and existence. The notion that transporters might effectively terminate the original individual or consciousness transferring through them has circulated since the inception of The Original Series. Notably, several key characters, including Dr. Leonard “Bones”McCoy (DeForest Kelly) and Lt. Reginald Barklay (Dwight Schultz), express a profound distrust of transporter technology, despite its prevalence in Starfleet.
The existence of transporter duplicates, such as Thomas Riker, serves as a compelling argument against the idea that transporters preserve the core essence of a person. The division of one Riker into two clones, each accumulating unique experiences and memories, suggests that the original individual ceased to exist in the process. Consequently, neither clone can authentically represent the original William Thomas Riker.
7 Lt. Beckett Mariner Was A Prisoner Of War During The Events Of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
No Wonder She Did Not Enjoy Serving On Deep Space Nine
One of the more distressing facets of Lt. Beckett Mariner’s (Tawny Newsome) past is her time in a Klingon prison. In the season 1 episode of Star Trek: Lower Decks, “Envoys,”Ensign Mariner shares a chilling anecdote about wrestling a yeti for her shoes during her imprisonment. While she doesn’t delve into specifics, it strongly suggests that her capture occurred while she served on Deep Space Nine during the Klingon-Federation conflict.
The trauma of being a Klingon prisoner must have left deep scars on young Ensign Mariner. Subsequent episodes like “Hear All, Trust Nothing”and “The Inner Fight”highlight her dissatisfaction with her assignment on Deep Space Nine and reveal that her participation in the Dominion War left her grappling with severe survivor’s guilt. If her time in the Klingon prison stemmed from being a captured combatant, it’s reasonable to infer that Ensign Mariner’s experiences were nothing short of torturous.
6 The Trill’s Relationship With Their Symbiotes Started Off Parasitic
Why Else Would Removing A Symbiote Kill The Host?
Joined Trill represent some of the most fascinating characters within the Star Trek framework due to their ability to transfer the consciousness and memories across hosts. For instance, Lt. Commander Jadzia Dax (Terry Farrell) possesses experiences from multiple lifetimes, encompassing varied backgrounds such as a gymnast and a Klingon Ambassador. However, the joining process between Trill hosts and their symbiotes is deeply unsettling.
In the episode “Invasive Procedures,”we witness that transferring a Trill symbiote invariably leads to the death of the preceding host, raising questions regarding their biochemical relationship. It’s reasonable to suspect that the initial connection between hosts and symbiotes originated from a more violent, parasitic nature. Given this hypothesis, it suggests that the current symbiotic relationship evolved over time from its initially harmful roots.
Though contemporary joined Trill may be among the elite members of Starfleet, it’s plausible that their crucial bond with symbiotes began under far darker circumstances.
5 Chief O’Brien’s “Pup”Computer Secretly Helped The Dominion
The Playful Program May Well Have Been Dominion Spyware
In the first season of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Chief Miles O’Brien (Colm Meaney) introduced a peculiar “pup”computer program onboard the station. After an alien probe’s arrival, he discovered what he believed to be a harmless lifeform embedded in the program code. Commander Benjamin Sisko (Avery Brooks) allowed O’Brien to keep this intriguing program, yet it was never mentioned again throughout the series.
However, as the series progressed, the Dominion appeared increasingly informed about the Alpha Quadrant and the Federation’s movements. For instance, in their inaugural episode, “The Jem’Hadar,”it is evident that the Vorta demonstrated extensive knowledge concerning Starfleet operations. This juxtaposition leads to the theory that Chief O’Brien’s “pup”served not merely as an amusing distraction but potentially as a conduit for Dominion surveillance—having possibly relayed confidential details about the Federation throughout its covert existence on Deep Space Nine.
4 The Prophets From Deep Space Nine Are The Future Of The Changelings
The enigmatic beings known as the Bajoran Prophets, or the wormhole aliens, inhabit the celestial wormhole connecting Bajoran space with the Gamma Quadrant. These enigmatic entities are central to Bajoran faith and have served as guardians for millennia. While the origins of the Prophets—and their motivations for intervening in Bajoran affairs—remain unclear, it is tempting to speculate about their potential relationship with the Star Trek universe as it currently unfolds.
Both the Prophets and Changelings can modify their forms at will, indicating a unique relationship with identity and existence that transcends conventional boundaries. It’s plausible to suggest that the Prophets may represent a future evolutionary phase for the Changelings. By the series’ conclusion, Constable Odo (René Auberjonois) permanently joins the Great Link, suggesting that his presence may have influenced the developmental trajectory of the Changelings, leading them to adopt a more pronounced interest in Bajoran affairs.
3 The Q Are The Progenitors From The Last Season Of Star Trek: Discovery
A Species With The Power To Seed New Life Could Absolutely Form The Continuum
In the sixth season episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation titled “The Chase,” it’s unveiled that numerous humanoid races from the Alpha Quadrant, including Humans, Klingons, and Vulcans, are descendants of the same alien species known as the “Progenitors.” While TNG provided minimal insights into their potential implications, the concluding season of Star Trek: Discovery expounded on the Progenitors’ enigmatic history.
The established connection signifies that the humanoid races of the Alpha Quadrant share a common ancestry, opening the possibility that the Progenitors persist in existence, perhaps transformed into a new form. Could the Q Continuum be the inheritors of the Progenitors’ legacy? The Q possess an enduring fascination with “lower lifeforms,”potentially suggesting a familial bond with their evolutionary cousins.
Science fiction author Arthur C. Clarke astutely observed, “Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic,”and both the Progenitors’ science and the capabilities of the Q occupy a nebulous realm between these concepts. Given the expansive powers of the Q by the 24th century, it stands to reason they could have engineered life across the galaxy millions of years prior.
2 The Romulans Saw Through Captain Sisko In DS9’s “In The Pale Moonlight”
But They Helped The Federation Anyways
Considered one of the finest episodes of Deep Space Nine, “In the Pale Moonlight”showcases Captain Sisko’s strategic maneuvers to draw the Romulan Star Empire into the ongoing Dominion War. Partnering with the defector Elim Garak (Andrew J. Robinson), they orchestrate a scheme involving falsified evidence and the assassination of Romulan Ambassador Vreenak (Stephen McHattie). Their plot ultimately succeeds in persuading the Romulans to ally with the Federation.
However, given the Romulans’ extensive history of espionage, it seems implausible that they would be oblivious to Sisko’s true intentions. The Romulans likely discerned that the Federation orchestrated the assassination, yet still seized the opportunity to align themselves with the Federation. Open support for the Federation could have provoked the Dominion, jeopardizing their safety.
Thus, it is reasonable to contemplate that the Romulans feigned ignorance regarding Sisko’s gambit in “In the Pale Moonlight.”This tactical deception would allow them to forge an alliance without overtly antagonizing the Dominion. Ultimately, they gained considerable benefits while sacrificing only one ambassador in the process.
1 John de Lancie’s Q Had A Relationship With Humanity Long Before Star Trek: The Next Generation
Captain Picard Might Not Have Been Q’s First Favorite Human
John de Lancie remains a memorable figure in the Star Trek universe, having portrayed Q across several series, with his most recent appearances in Star Trek: Picard. What sets de Lancie’s character apart is his divine-like authority, coupled with a mischievous nature that leads him to challenge Starfleet’s captains frequently. Q’s proclivity for trial and fascination with humanity is underscored consistently throughout Star Trek: The Next Generation, particularly with Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart).
Yet, it’s plausible that Captain Picard was not the initial human to captivate Q’s curiosity. Records indicate that Q was present at the dawn of life on Earth, and he influences events as they unfold in Star Trek history. This is explicitly stated in the finale of The Next Generation, “All Good Things…,”where Q is depicted as an observer during humanity’s earliest moments.
Even in various episodes across different Star Trek series, such as when he transports Captain Kathryn Janeway (Kate Mulgrew) to experience a Q civil war using themes from humanities past, it’s evident that Q’s interest in humanity stretches beyond merely testing Captain Picard, potentially reaching back to the origins of life itself.