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

[MadeIndescribable]

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".

 

[BillJ]

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

 

[Roald]

Wow... now I'm even more excited!!! Cannot wait for September 25!!

 

[BillJ]

They should tell the best story possible and let the chips fall where they may. Not be worried about band-aiding continuity. That is a waste of my time.

 

[MadeIndescribable]

Seems like the best way of going about it to me. Having the freedom to tell the stories they want, but still being able to fit in with what came before. #BestofBothWorlds

 

[Roald]

They should tell the best story possible and let the chips fall where they may. Not be worried about band-aiding continuity. That is a waste of my time.

I think they're trying to reach the best possible middle ground, which should appeal to everyone I guess. God I wanna see this series now..!

 

[BillJ]

I think they're trying to reach the best possible middle ground, which should appeal to everyone I guess.

Usually, it ends up satisfying no one.

 

[Roald]

Usually, it ends up satisfying no one.

I'm an optimist, so I never think like that

 

[MadeIndescribable]

Usually, it ends up satisfying no one.

Star Trek '09 had to please a whole load of different audiences (hardcore fans, casual fans, newbies) and generally did well on all counts. No reason to think Discovery can't do the same.

 

[BillJ]

Star Trek '09 had to please a whole load of different audiences (hardcore fans, casual fans, newbies) and generally did well on all counts.

That's because they had the balls to say it was a reboot. Like it or don't. There was no confusion about it.

My wife (not a huge fan) is still saying Discovery is taking place in the Abramsverse.

 

[MadeIndescribable]

That's because they had the balls to say it was a reboot.

True, personally I'm still feeling optimistic though.

 

[Krandor]

They expect Trek fans to be patient? Good kick with that.

 

[mattyhugh]

Personally, it's the band aid fixes that bug me more than the changes. It's easer for me to just accept the change (Klingon make up for example) then watch a two part episode about an augment virus.

 

[Mudd]

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

Pretty much, yeah.

I don't really care about continuity, though. I'm all for a new, fresh take on all of Star Trek.

 

[MadeIndescribable]

Personally, it's the band aid fixes that bug me more than the changes. It's easer for me to just accept the change (Klingon make up for example) then watch a two part episode about an augment virus.

Ugh, I hated that they did that, Worf's "we don't discuss it with outsiders" was perfect the way it was.

That said, as long as they don't do a time travel "it never actually happened" retcon, I reckon I'll be able to live with it.

 

[mattyhugh]

Ugh, I hated that they did that, Worf's "we don't discuss it with outsiders" was perfect the way it was.

That said, as long as they don't do a time travel "it never actually happened" retcon, I reckon I'll be able to live with it.

I loved that joke too. But looking back, it gave later shows the on screen presidence of the change being recognized.

Perhaps they could have just done Worf sans ridges? I don't know, TOS Klingon makeup is through a modern lens problematic.

 

[Ometiklan]

Personally, it's the band aid fixes that bug me more than the changes. It's easer for me to just accept the change (Klingon make up for example) then watch a two part episode about an augment virus.

I don't see this as being a band-aid solution at all. This isn't like they are just throwing out scripts as the come to mind, changing what they want to as they go, and retconning things later as they want to change them again. They had planned out the whole season ahead of time. They knew what they wanted to cover and where the season would be going. They know they need to build reasons and justifications into the fabric of the show as they go along. That is how you do long-form storytelling (at least how it should be done and how it seems they are doing it). No band-aids here.

 

[Krandor]

I don't see this as being a band-aid solution at all. This isn't like they are just throwing out scripts as the come to mind, changing what they want to as they go, and retconning things later as they want to change them again. They had planned out the whole season ahead of time. They knew what they wanted to cover and where the season would be going. They know they need to build reasons and justifications into the fabric of the show as they go along. That is how you do long-form storytelling (at least how it should be done and how it seems they are doing it). No band-aids here.

Exactly. band-aid is something like the augmentation virus that was added later to explain something that was done by a compltely different writing staff.

In some ways it reminds of some of the stuff JMS did with B5. I remember when it was airing sometimes people would ask aa question like "why did person X not do this? That makes no sense" and then a few episodes later we learn something about that person and his actions in the previous episode then make complete sense and it was planned that way when the first episode was written.

This long-form storytelling for star trek will probaly take fans a little bit to get used to. We have had some of that in DS9 and ENT but I don't think any of those were to the extent we are going to see in DSC.

 

[Mr Awe]

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

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.

 

[Mr Awe]

Usually, it ends up satisfying no one.

Someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning!