Star Trek is full of errors and inconsistencies; many of these can be rationalized by dedicated fans and writers, but which ones are there that no amount of creative thinking can solve, and we simply have to shrug our shoulders and roll with it?
That episode where Odo worked at the roller rink. I know they were trying to show his search for humanity because everyone wants humanity it is simply the best but I really think they went too far, it's a plot error of character of massive proportions.
Really it depends how seriously you take the episodes and movies. Are they historical documents where everything happened exactly as seen, or are they just stories where only the broad strokes are important? Those in charge definitely see it as the latter. Gene Roddenberry himself, writing as Kirk in the first person in the preface to his novelization of The Motion Picture, said "never have I been as foolishly heroic as depicted" and complained of "exaggeration" of his and the Enterprise's exploits during the five-year mission. If the series that started it all is suspect in the eyes of it's creator, it opens up the floodgates to questioning everything. Did the old Enterprise really get to the centre of the galaxy? Was Picard's meeting with the Borg really their first contact? Did the TNG crew really de-evolve in such ridiculous ways? Did Janeway and Paris really have warp 10 Salamander babies? Etc.
Sela's age vs. rank Picard's inability to use Nexus time travel to avoid the entire threat by Soran. The Borg's plan to unnecessarily travel to 24th century Earth, just to go back to 21st century Earth. Also that paradox thing. Shinzon's motivation for hating the Federation and choosing suicide over necessary medical treatments. All of Star Trek 2009 The distance and position of the U.S.S. Excelsior from Praxis in Star Trek VI. The Enterprise-A's ability to transit to the center of the galaxy in hours and the unexplained loss of that technology both by the Federation and Klingon Empire. (Fan speculation posits the existence of rare warp highways)
The NX-01 travelling from Earth to Qo'noS in around 80 hours at less than warp five. Augment virus responsible for smooth-headed Klingons, something no one in Starfleet by the 24th century is aware of. How Archer ever made Captain as he seems pretty damned-near incompetent. Kim never getting even the sniff of promotion. There will of course be more, but these are just things that made no sense to me off the top of my head.
I think this is an excellent way to view the whole of Star Trek story-telling. As if the information is fragmented, or -at best- incomplete and the story-tellers are filling in details. Like the way paleontologists reconstruct what a dinosaur looked like all they have are bones and a knowledge of current-day animals.
Faster then Light No Left Or Right. Although since the screwup only occurred once and in Voyager, we can just list that as a gas leak episode. Although really, you should list the whole series as a gas leak episode.
Every moment of "These Are the Voyages." Romulans cloaking during Enterprise. Romulan BoPs in Enterprise looking more modern than in TOS.
Easy. Two reasons- his father, and the fact they didn't go deep space yet by the time he made Captain. I'd say Archer would have a harder time making Captain if he was born in the 23rd or 24th to a less prominent father. I always had the impression what his father did played a big part in how far he got in life.
Chekov's inability to recognize Ceti Alpha V upon traveling to the planet's system in The Wrath of Khan. The Enterprise (whether Kirk or Picard's ship) always being the only ship in the vicinity of trouble. The decision to undertake a project as controversial as Genesis in the relative vicinity of Klingon space. Why not have it developed somewhere besides Regula I? Valeris' presence on Enterprise at the outset of The Undiscovered Country. Valeris herself said she volunteered for the mission because Kirk didn't have a permanent helmsman. Would it not have been his responsibility (or Spock's) to properly vet someone for the position given the sensitive nature of the mission? I realize Spock vouched for her (and Kirk trusted Spock), but no one should be allowed to merely volunteer for an assignment with the potential to turn quickly into a disaster (precisely what happened). --Sran
Well, I think we can safely assume that Admiral Brock and his fellow conspirators in Starfleet pulled some strings to get Valeris assigned to the Enterprise for this mission. And she probably wouldn't want to call attention to that fact. Easier just to say she "volunteered."
Not really, as the various productions have gone to great lengths to link to details and references--even minor--to other movies or episodes. Moreover, official publications (timelines, etc.) have tried to write detailed account of the ST universe, trying to make a cohesive world, rather than broad tales that could take place anywhere, or involve anyone.
James Swallow makes such an assertion in Cast No Shadow, saying that Cartwright arranged for her posting. It still seems odd that Kirk would not have known of her being there until he stepped onto the bridge. I understand why it happened that way in terms of the film's production, but it makes no sense in-universe. The commanding officer of any vessel should be kept apprised of any personnel transfers on or off his ship- unless of course Spock had been commanding the Enterprise on missions without Kirk (possible given his own captaincy) and okayed the move himself. --Sran
You also forgot to mention that in the same episode Henry Starling, while he was cannibalizing Captain Braxton's timeship was undercover in the 70s posing as a rollerskating dandy.