Did any of Trek '09's backstory happen to the TOS characters?

[JonnyQuest037]

The 2009 JJ Abrams Star Trek film is running on FX as I write this. I don't want to get into a big debate about the qualities of the film or its sequel, but I thought it would be interesting to ask how it affected your perceptions of TOS.

The movie presents several things that are obviously different from how they happened in the Prime universe, like the death of Kirk's father, Chekov's age, and the Spock/Uhura romance, but what about the backstory that doesn't necessarily contradict what we saw in TOS?

Do you believe that Kirk and Spock met at the Academy? Did Kirk's father live to see the launching of Kirk's Enterprise? Was Spock an administrator of the Kobayashi Maru test? Did Kirk and McCoy meet in a shuttle when McCoy enlisted after his divorce? Did Uhura have an Orion roommate at the Academy? Was Scotty assigned to a remote outpost for beaming away an Admiral's beagle?

Basically, was there anything that the '09 movie told us about the TOS crew that you then incorporated into your personal continuity?

 

[Melakon]

Do you believe that Kirk and Spock met at the Academy? Did Kirk's father live to see the launching of Kirk's Enterprise? Was Spock an administrator of the Kobayashi Maru test? Did Kirk and McCoy meet in a shuttle when McCoy enlisted after his divorce? Did Uhura have an Orion roommate at the Academy? Was Scotty assigned to a remote outpost for beaming away an Admiral's beagle?

Spock Prime telling nuKirk that Kirk Prime's father had a long life is most likely the truth, as Spock would have no reason to lie about this.

But the rest all seem to be results of Nero's initial incursion 20-odd years earlier.

 

[BillJ]

How McCoy got the nickname "Bones" is in mine. It seems more personal than just a generic identifier from days past.

 

[Greg Cox]

The business about McCoy joining Starfleet after a bad divorce has been generally accepted for years, but was never actually made "canon" in the original timeline.

Ditto for Uhura's first name, which has been used in the novel for years, but was never mentioned onscreen until the new movies.

 

[JonnyQuest037]

Here's my personal take on it:

-I don't have any problem with the any of the Spock childhood scenes, as they jibe pretty well with what TOS told us about Spock's upbringing. I thought the scene of the other children teasing Spock in a distinctly Vulcan way worked pretty well.

-Likewise, I like the idea of Kirk's father surviving long enough to see his son take command of the Enterprise. As Mekalon says above, Prime Spock didn't really have a reason to lie about this.

-I personally love the scene where Kirk & McCoy meet, so I imagine that something very similar to it happened in the Prime timeline (obviously not exactly the same, as there were no Riverside Shipyards in the Prime timeline and Prime Kirk entered Starfleet earlier).

-I don't believe that the Kirk we saw on TOS would've reprogrammed the Kobayashi Maru test in the same way NuKirk did. I much prefer the idea that Kevin Lauderdale presented in his story "A Test of Character" that Kirk reprogrammed the scenario to make it possible to rescue the ship, but it wasn't guaranteed. He was trying to give himself a fighting chance, not an easy win.

 

[EnriqueH]

I voted for a few of them actually:

I like that Kirk and Spock met at the academy, that Kirk fooled around with an Orion girl, Kirk and Bones meet on a shuttlecraft, Kirk cheated the Kobayashi Maru. I also voted for Uhura having roommate.

I loved ST09 and STID.

It lacked that message oomph that I've come to expect from the best of Trek, but it made Trek cool and relevant again, and it was a fun film.

 

[Malaika]

- Spock was bullied by the vulcan kids in TOS too
- he rejected the vulcan science academy because it was obvious they would never think of him as vulcan enough
- he was Uhura's mentor in TOS too but more on the ship rather than the academy. In TOS he met her years later.
- Uhura's first name was Nyota in one of the novels and it was approved by Nichols and Roddenberry
- according to Nichols's biography, Uhura was supposed to be a skilled linguist in Tos but they never made her show that. She complained, in fact, that the klingon dictionary scene from the movies made no sense.
- Bones's divorce happened in TOS too

 

[Nerys Myk]

Kirk and Spock met at Starfleet Academy

Spock had already graduated in ST09 and Kirk was a late starter, enrolling in 2255. In the Prime, Kirk and Spock would have graduated by 2254. So its possible they met at the academy, but it would have been as cadets and equals.

Kirk's father saw the launch of the Enterprise when Kirk took command.

Happened before Nero, so it happened in the Prime.

Spock attended Starfleet Academy after the Vulcan High Council insulted his mother.

Seems likely.

Kirk and McCoy met in a shuttle after McCoy's divorce.

Prime Kirk wouldn't have been on that shuttle so they must have met later under different circumstances.

Spock administered the Kobayashi Maru test at the Academy.

Spock was already on the Enterprise in the Prime, though he might have been back at the Academy for some reason. So its possible.

Kirk reprogrammed the Kobayashi Maru test the same way he did in ST '09.

Seems very likely.

Scotty was exiled to a remote outpost.

Seems likely.

Uhura had an Orion roommate at Starfleet Academy.

Seems likely.

Kirk dated an Orion cadet while at Starfleet Academy.

Prime Kirk was at the Academy earlier than New Kirk, so it's unlike he would meet Galia.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

Kirk's father saw the launch of the Enterprise when Kirk took command.

Happened before Nero, so it happened in the Prime.

Uh, no...Nero's attack killed George Kirk when Jim was a newborn, so George could not possibly have lived to see Jim take command in ST09.

 

[Greg Cox]

- Bones's divorce happened in TOS too

Not exactly. It's an accepted bit of Trek lore, dating back to the sixties, and may have even been mentioned in some internal documents, like a show bible or memo, but it never actually made its way onscreen. McCoy's divorce is not mentioned in any episode of TOS or in any of the subsequent movies.

It was something the original writers meant to establish someday, but never got around to.

 

[Nerys Myk]

Kirk's father saw the launch of the Enterprise when Kirk took command.

Happened before Nero, so it happened in the Prime.

Uh, no...Nero's attack killed George Kirk when Jim was a newborn, so George could not possibly have lived to see Jim take command in ST09.

The launch is in the Prime and Prime George sees Prime Kirk take command of the Enterprise. There is no 23rd Century visit by Nero in the Prime.

 

[JonnyQuest037]

Kirk's father saw the launch of the Enterprise when Kirk took command.

Happened before Nero, so it happened in the Prime.

Uh, no...Nero's attack killed George Kirk when Jim was a newborn, so George could not possibly have lived to see Jim take command in ST09.

I wasn't saying that that event took place in the ST '09 timeline, I was saying that Prime Spock said that it took place in the Prime timeline. But the idea that Kirk Sr. attended the launch was introduced in ST '09, so it's a backstory element from that film.

 

[TheSubCommander]

Kirk and Spock met at Starfleet Academy.

Possibly happened in the Prime timeline, but likely not under the same circumstances, since the reason Kirk joined Starfleet was different,and likely had a different academy experience.

Kirk's father saw the launch of the Enterprise when Kirk took command.

Obviously not.

Spock attended Starfleet Academy after the Vulcan High Council insulted his mother.

Possible. Spock's life seems to not have changed up until the events of Trek 2009, but we have no way of knowing for sure if the destruction of the Kelvin affected Spock's life, somehow.

Kirk and McCoy met in a shuttle after McCoy's divorce.

I don't think this happened, but it's possible the reason for McCoy's nickname of Bones may be similar.

Spock administered the Kobayashi Maru test at the Academy.

Under my personal canon? No. That was too convenient, and was a little too fan-fic-y for me to buy.

Kirk reprogrammed the Kobayashi Maru test the same way he did in ST '09.

Probably under similar circumstances

Scotty was exiled to a remote outpost.

Considering we never saw Starfleet or the Federation possess the ability for interstellar beaming technology (there were aliens who did, but not the Feds) in TOS or the TOS films, I don't think so. Trek 2009's altered timeline seemed to indicate a higher level of technology.

Uhura had an Orion roommate at Starfleet Academy.

Um, I guess? Kind of irrelevant to me. Can't say I thought about this all that much.

Kirk dated an Orion cadet while at Starfleet Academy.

Maybe, I guess? Who knows? Who cares? This scene was nothing but an Easter Egg scene to me, anyway.

Another option not listed above.

Obviously, Vulcan was never destroyed in the Prime timeline.
The Kelvin was not destroyed by Nero.
Kirk's family, and the lives of the families of the Kelvin's crew unfolded differently.
I'd like to know what caused the higher level of technology in Trek 2009 VS TOS prime timeline. Trek 2009 tech level seems closer to the TNG era, which is about a century more advanced.

None of the above. It all happened differently!

Probably this, since events either didn't happen at all, or circumstances were changed where events happened similarly, but not exactly the same way.

 

[Nerys Myk]

Kirk's father saw the launch of the Enterprise when Kirk took command.

Obviously not.

George Kirk watching the launch happens in the Prime Universe. Why would this not happen?

Considering we never saw Starfleet or the Federation possess the ability for interstellar beaming technology (there were aliens who did, but not the Feds) in TOS or the TOS films, I don't think so. Trek 2009's altered timeline seemed to indicate a higher level of technology.

The interstellar beaming technology comes from the 24th Century of the Prime Universe. Spock gives New Scotty Prime Scotty's formula for Transwarp Beaming. Spock identifies Scotty as follows " You are, in fact, the Mister Scott who postulated the theory of transwarp beaming. "

 

[BillJ]

The interstellar beaming technology comes from the 24th Century of the Prime Universe. Spock gives New Scotty Prime Scotty's formula for Transwarp Beaming. Spock identifies Scotty as follows " You are, in fact, the Mister Scott who postulated the theory of transwarp beaming. "

Though Scott would've already been attempting it as the whole reason he is marooned is the attempted transwarp beaming of Admiral Archer's beagle.

 

[Nerys Myk]

The interstellar beaming technology comes from the 24th Century of the Prime Universe. Spock gives New Scotty Prime Scotty's formula for Transwarp Beaming. Spock identifies Scotty as follows " You are, in fact, the Mister Scott who postulated the theory of transwarp beaming. "

Though Scott would've already been attempting it as the whole reason he is marooned is the attempted transwarp beaming of Admiral Archer's beagle.

Yep. Prime Scotty wouldn't work out the kinks till the 24th Century. Though he did take a big break from 2294 to 2369.

 

[BillJ]

Though he did take a big break from 2294 to 2369.

Very true.

 

[TheSubCommander]

George Kirk watching the launch happens in the Prime Universe. Why would this not happen?

That is not what I meant. What I meant to say was he did in the Prime universe, but obviously didn't in the alternate timeline.

The interstellar beaming technology comes from the 24th Century of the Prime Universe. Spock gives New Scotty Prime Scotty's formula for Transwarp Beaming. Spock identifies Scotty as follows " You are, in fact, the Mister Scott who postulated the theory of transwarp beaming. "

Yeah, I got that, and it was a play on Star Trek IV's transparent aluminum formula Scotty gave to whateverhisnamewas. But the overall level of technology level in the Trek 2009 timeline just seems far above the TOS level, to me. FX notwithstanding. Which makes me wonder if the incursion of Nero caused a domino effect leading to technological leaps that happened sooner than the Prime universe.

 

[Marsden]

The 2009 JJ Abrams Star Trek film is running on FX as I write this. I don't want to get into a big debate about the qualities of the film or its sequel, but I thought it would be interesting to ask how it affected your perceptions of TOS....

In no way, what so ever.

I voted none.

It's a completely different story wearing the skin of an established one for brand recognition, so no impact.

 

[Nerys Myk]

George Kirk watching the launch happens in the Prime Universe. Why would this not happen?

That is not what I meant. What I meant to say was he did in the Prime universe, but obviously didn't in the alternate timeline.

The interstellar beaming technology comes from the 24th Century of the Prime Universe. Spock gives New Scotty Prime Scotty's formula for Transwarp Beaming. Spock identifies Scotty as follows " You are, in fact, the Mister Scott who postulated the theory of transwarp beaming. "

Yeah, I got that, and it was a play on Star Trek IV's transparent aluminum formula Scotty gave to whateverhisnamewas. But the overall level of technology level in the Trek 2009 timeline just seems far above the TOS level, to me. FX notwithstanding. Which makes me wonder if the incursion of Nero caused a domino effect leading to technological leaps that happened sooner than the Prime universe.

Why would a technology from the 24th Century reflect the technology of TOS/the 23rd Century?

Yeah the tech level of the 09 23rd Century is higher than the Prime 23rd Century. The Nero incursion is a good reason why. But even in the 09 23rd Century transwarp beaming is thought of as impossible, until Prime Spock gives Scotty the formula created by his Prime counterpart in the 24th Century.