Hartsarb quote:"where it SEEMS like we’re violating canon"

[Noname Given]

It means "we're going to break continuity, then put a band-aid on it later".

No, ENT (which like EVERY Star Trek series - including TOS -did occasionally outright 'break' continuity/canon) for example often challenged some fan interpretations of canon - BUT, didn't contradict actual canon or on screen continuity.

I'm sure ST: D will do BOTH at times (again, like every other Star Trek series).

 

[Jackson_Roykirk]

That's not how I take it at all.

My interpretation is that they're going to work in surprises and twists that push the limits of canon, but ultimately are consistent in surprising ways. In other words, this series takes place in the past of the Prime universe, but there will be surprises. I think that's a great approach. They're saying that it's part of their plan to play with viewers expectations and surprise them.

I love that quote.

That's an interesting way of looking at it. It could be that for Discovery to shun the criticism that "if it's a prequel, then there can't be anything new" is to be bold and show things that are new and (at first blush) seemingly can't be canon -- simply because it's a new thing in an old prequel universe -- but upon further inspection, those bold new things are seen to fit established canon nicely.

 

[CorporalClegg]

This comes across as putting an unnecessary leash on the writers. One of those retractable ones. In neon blue.

 

[AutoAdmin]

A new news article has been published at TrekToday:

During a recent Star Trek: Discovery press day, Aaron Harberts was interviewed by StarTrek.com where he spoke the new show, including dealing...

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[Kor]

Canon is an illusion. This is a TV show, not holy writ.

Kor

 

[Mr Awe]

That's an interesting way of looking at it. It could be that for Discovery to shun the criticism that "if it's a prequel, then there can't be anything new" is to be bold and show things that are new and (at first blush) seemingly can't be canon -- simply because it's a new thing in an old prequel universe -- but upon further inspection, those bold new things are seen to fit established canon nicely.

That's the sense that I get. I even have one theory that is based on speculation purely. We know there is a Black Alert. I'm guessing that this is either a cloaking device or some precursor that is the equivalent of running silent. We also know that the Federation didn't use cloaks in TOS. So, them developing and using cloaks (or precursors) would seem to be a violation. But, maybe a key point of the first season is to show why the Federation doesn't use them? Don't know, just a thought that occurred to me. But, I suspect that it is, at least, that type of thing they're referring to.

This comes across as putting an unnecessary leash on the writers. One of those retractable ones. In neon blue.

I don't think it's a leash at all. They'll find creative solutions. That's what good writers do.

 

[MadeIndescribable]

But, maybe a key point of the first season is to show why the Federation doesn't use them?

If I remember rightly, isn't it an agreement with the Romulans?

 

[Mr Awe]

If I remember rightly, isn't it an agreement with the Romulans?

I honestly don't remember. Even if it is that, I know the details weren't established.

 

[Kor]

If I remember rightly, isn't it an agreement with the Romulans?

The Treaty of Algeron, which we don't have many details about. It followed up on the Tomed Incident, sixty years before TNG. Or something like that.

Kor

 

[Apparition B5]

Perhaps Burnham gets hit in the head with a golf ball at the end of the last episode, and then wakes up in bed with Captain Kirk, realizing that the whole show was a dream after eating some bad mushrooms.

 

[RAMA]

Probably the only Trek series in history where they planned ahead.

So there's a really interesting quote (full article here) from Discovery showrunner Aaron Hartsarb about the show's canonical status where he says.....

"The thing for the audience to keep in mind as they digest the show is that there may be an episode or a moment where it seems like we’re violating canon ... They need patience, because what we’ll end up doing in another episode is showing them how we're getting around it. So what I would ask from the audience is to consume this series as you would a novel and not make decisions based on a chapter, or on sentences in a particular chapter. This is long-arc storytelling and we're doing things for a reason ... Sometimes it might feel like we’re flirting with controversy, but we have a way around it. [If people] binge the show they’ll see how we're making these plans and how we're paying things off".

 

[Nyotarules]

Perhaps Burnham gets hit in the head with a golf ball at the end of the last episode, and then wakes up in bed with Captain Kirk, realizing that the whole show was a dream after eating some bad mushrooms.

She tells Sarek about her experience and he replies 'This is the real reason why Surak promoted logic. Ingesting tainted fungi produces poor sleep.'

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

I bet Paul Stamets is a riot at parties.

(puts on sunglasses)

....because he's a real fun guy.

YEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAHHHHH!!!!

 

[Jackson_Roykirk]

Perhaps Burnham gets hit in the head with a golf ball at the end of the last episode, and then wakes up in bed with Captain Kirk, realizing that the whole show was a dream after eating some bad mushrooms.

I like where you're coming from, but it would be waking up in bed with Bob Stookey (from TWD).

 

[cultcross]

The Treaty of Algeron, which we don't have many details about. It followed up on the Tomed Incident, sixty years before TNG. Or something like that.

Kor

Whatever it was, I'm guessing the Federation needed something big to agree to give up cloaking tech entirely. That's a major tactical disadvantage when your primary foes use it.

The creative reason of course is that Gene famously felt that the Federation 'didn't go sneaking around'.

 

[MadeIndescribable]

We know there is a Black Alert.

To me that sounds like an "abandon ship" alert...

Whatever it was, I'm guessing the Federation needed something big to agree to give up cloaking tech entirely. That's a major tactical disadvantage when your primary foes use it.

Good job Sisko doesn't mind not playing by the rules everynow and then...

 

[kirk55555]

Well, since they've already thrown continuity out the window with the tumorous "klingons" and ships hundreds of years more advanced then TNG ships (based on the bridges of the starfleet ships), among other things, I don't know what else they can break continuity wise. Outside of, I don't know, specifically blowing up France just to kill Picard's ancestor's before he was born there isn't much more they can mess up that would be a surprise at this point.

 

[Kor]

To me that sounds like an "abandon ship" alert...

Good job Sisko doesn't mind not playing by the rules everynow and then...

Starfleet had to cooperate with the Romulans to have the cloaking device on the Defiant at all. At first, they even had to have a Romulan officer accompany them.

Well, since they've already thrown continuity out the window with the tumorous "klingons" and ships hundreds of years more advanced then TNG ships (based on the bridges of the starfleet ships), among other things, I don't know what else they can break continuity wise. Outside of, I don't know, specifically blowing up France just to kill Picard's ancestor's before he was born there isn't much more they can mess up that would be a surprise at this point.

TPTB have already addressed the differences with the Klingons we have seen so far.

And how, exactly, are the ships centuries more advanced than TNG ships? Have we seen evidence that the technology functions in a way that is hundreds of years beyond the Ent-D? Or is it because of the aesthetics? Because those were designed and put together right now in the twenty-first century, hundreds of years before the setting of TNG.

Kor

 

[Nyotarules]

Whatever it was, I'm guessing the Federation needed something big to agree to give up cloaking tech entirely. That's a major tactical disadvantage when your primary foes use it.

The creative reason of course is that Gene famously felt that the Federation 'didn't go sneaking around'.

Then he would have clutched his pearls with Section 31 lol

 

[F. King Daniel]

If only they'd made it a reboot, which it already looks like, none of it would matter.