Guess time

[Set Harth]

Nah, the intention was one of destiny, fate, and things that were meant to be, which is like the opposite of what the effect implies.

A "destiny" ( in terms of potential rather than fate ) which is only actualized due to the efforts of someone from the Prime timeline, while events on their own were leading to a different place. But in this context I'm using "butterfly effect" merely to describe the propagation of changes along the timeline due to the time travel, and thus I'm essentially using it synonymously with "alternate timeline". Even if one were to assume some kind of "destiny" to be in effect here in more than a quantum mechanical sense, this is still taking place in an alternate timeline, one which goes on without George Kirk and Vulcan ( whose "destiny" was originally to survive ).

They aren't completely mutually exclusive, but mostly they are.

They're not mutually exclusive at all. You seem to be arguing that destiny and the butterfly effect are mutually exclusive, not freedom from continuity and the butterfly effect. But what is the role of "destiny" in the Abramsverse? As you say, the writers have the freedom to do what they want. The ability to ascribe differences with the Prime to a butterfly effect is a part of this freedom rather than an impediment to it. Anything major ( Kirk becoming Captain ) which they feel should be preserved in the new continuity would fall into the "destiny" category. There is no conflict.

 

[Ryan8bit]

I'm using "butterfly effect" merely to describe the propagation of changes along the timeline due to the time travel

And that makes sense if they actually had any intent of any logical propagation of events, but they don't and they probably won't.

Even if one were to assume some kind of "destiny" to be in effect here in more than a quantum mechanical sense, this is still taking place in an alternate timeline, one which goes on without George Kirk and Vulcan ( whose "destiny" was originally to survive ).

It's sort of a selective destiny. The selective part just being whatever the writers want it to be, not what is logical.

You seem to be arguing that destiny and the butterfly effect are mutually exclusive, not freedom from continuity and the butterfly effect.

That's because the freedom from continuity and destiny (or whims of the writers) are basically the same thing. Technically, a lot of continuity still exists regardless of Nero's time travel, so if they were to use the butterfly effect in any meaningful way, they would have to refer to how that old continuity worked to get a grasp on how any kind of domino effect could take hold. They're likely not going to do this.

 

[Set Harth]

And that makes sense if they actually had any intent of any logical propagation of events

That is exactly what they intend. Whatever they choose to do, the idea is that events in-universe propagated in the normal fashion to get us there.

The selective part just being whatever the writers want it to be, not what is logical.

Since we don't know every conceivable detail of the Prime continuity, it would be hard to disprove the existence of a logical basis for any change they might desire to make, except in hypothetical extreme cases.

They're likely not going to do this.

They are likely aware that they do not have "complete" freedom. The timeline is different only after 2233. They have already demonstrated an effort to stay true to various aspects of the Prime continuity even when in the alternate timeline.

 

[Gorn Captain]

As long as they don't kill Spock and end the film with his funeral and shooting him out of the photon torpedo bay onto a planet...

 

[trekkerguy]

I'd like to see them continue to shake things up, it's good for the franchise and it's fun to watch squeamish Trek fans squirm.

 

[Hythlodeus]

I'd like to see them continue to shake things up, it's good for the franchise and it's fun to watch squeamish Trek fans squirm.

that's so true

 

[Ryan8bit]

And that makes sense if they actually had any intent of any logical propagation of events

That is exactly what they intend.

They might intend for it to seem like that's the case, but they aren't going to actually connect the dots. They won't say A led to B led to C led to D, they'll just say A led to D, even if it seems completely unreasonable.

Since we don't know every conceivable detail of the Prime continuity, it would be hard to disprove the existence of a logical basis for any change they might desire to make, except in hypothetical extreme cases.

For some things, not every detail needs to be known.

 

[shapeshifter]

I wouldn't want a Star to be killed but if it were necessary for the good of the story then... They'll at least bring someone close to it though, perhaps Chekov will even get to scream.

On someone turning traitor, nah. I don't see that potential in any of these people but it could happen, I suppose.

An 'everyone on the bridge' shot at the end does sound boring, even cliche. A cliff-hanger ending seems a better choice to close chapter 2, than that.