After reading up on the latest batch of spoilers and released info for Abrahm's Trek movie, I got to thinking about how this all adds up into a story. What follows is my attempts to put this puzzle together. Just for the record, no I haven't read the script, I know nothing more than the average trekbbs user. But, as I will be discussing spoilers and how they fit, those wishing to remain completely virginal when Trek opens next year might wish to steer clear.
Ok, starting with the known facts, this movie will take place prior to the events of the original series and feature the original seven. Eric Bana plays a character named Nero and Nimoy will return as older Spock. Rumor and unofficial info tell us that the story takes place prior to TOS, involves Romulans sent back to the 23rd century that start meddling with the past (so as to create a Universe B, an alternate timeline similar to the Ultimate line of comics from Marvel.) Also, Captain Pike wil be a featured character and Eric Bana's villain is a Romulan.
So, with all that stated, lets start piecing the puzzle together. As this movie is supposed to introduce folks to Trek, Act 1 (or the first 20 to 30 mins of the movie) will have to set the stage, it details the setting and the players, working up to the introduction of the conflict that will drive act 2 and 3. It means the Romulan adversaries and our hero need introduction. What if we start the movie out with Nero and his band of Romulans? They arrive in the past, either on purpose or due to some accident (accident sounds better, so lets go with that.)
They begin to realize they are in the 23rd century, so like any good Romulan, the empire comes first. What major event in the 23rd century (and prior to the start of TOS) would have meant good things for Romulus had it gone differently than history recorded? How about the events of "Balance of Terror?" Speculating here, but it has been said in interviews with the writers that they are 1.) respecting canon and 2.) peppering the story with references that move the story along.
So, Nero and pals want to make sure Mark Lenard's Romulan Commander and his lackey Decius prove the might of their new cloaking device and plasma weapon by systematically wiping out Neutral Zone outposts and starting the second Earth/Romulan war. What stood in their way originally? Why, the Enterprise under Kirk of course! All Nero has to do is bump off Kirk and all is well, right?
Yes and no. At first glance it's the simplest solution but it's too simple. These are hollywood writers who like to "complicate" things to stretch plot and find ways for cool action scenes to occur (not saying that's bad or that's the MO of Orci and Kurtzman, just that 1.) it happens and 2.) I wouldn't make it that simple either.) Also, it narrows the focus too much to let's fight to keep Kirk alive. The movie is called Star Trek, not Saving Captain Kirk.
For the sake or argument, lets say Nero's plan isn't to kill Kirk, it's just to make sure the Enterprise isn't there that day or doesn't have that group of people on board when Balance of Terror occurs. To do that, he has 7 lives to interfere with, 7 destinies to steal!
But, how does he go about doing this? There isn't quite enough info yet to figure them all out, but going into speculation mode, if I wanted to prevent Spock from being there or throw a serious monkey wrench into his star fleet career (plus let Trekkers know immediately I mean business with the whole Universe B thing,) I assasinate Sarek! Possibly Amanda too. Something like this happens, Spock would leave the Enterprise to return home. Time it right and Spock could be gone when Pike needed him the most. Spock's absence could mean the destruction or serious damage to the Enterprise. History changes and the dominoes fall in Nero's favor.
A change in history of that magnitude may be what causes old Spock to go after Nero and pals. Or more likely he's already been aware of their accidental time jump and already followed them back, but was too late to stop Sarek's death. So, this causes him to seek out his younger self, keep him from leaving the Enterprise, and draft him into the plot to stop Nero. Hence this becomes a Spock-centric movie with the 2 Spocks as our heroes.
So, act 2's conflict is finding and stopping Nero and pals all while protecting what's left of the timeline. Somehow this will involve Pike and the Enterprise and gradually will introduce the rest of the classic trek cast. Some might already be crew aboard Pike's Enterprise, others we come across or will be drawn too as more events are changed.
Ultimately, the last member of the crew to be dragged into this will be Kirk. It will be a move of desperation on either the 2 Spocks or Nero's. The 2 Spocks want to stay away for fear of really screwing up the timeline. Nero will share that reason, but his biggest reason is Kirk is too much of an X factor. His life has always been about cheating death and surmouting the impossible. If Nero's a smart character, he'll keep Kirk out of this for as long as possible. Nero would only involve him if the 2 Spocks have him cornered. The 2 Spocks will only involve Kirk if they have failed to stop Nero by this point and need help.
Act 3 will have the original 7 thrust together and the conflict will be resolved by them. By this point, Old Spock will be neutralized, leaving young Spock on his own and possibly forcing him to seek out Kirk for help. Now, this either means Old Spock is a captive of Nero or Abrahms and Co. have some real balls and NERO KILLS HIM!!! I'm thinking Nimoy's Spock will take the dirt nap permanently this outing. Act 3 usually starts with the heroes at their lowest point.
The original 7 face off against Nero and pals in either a space battle or some other epic clash. Regardless of the things Nero has changed to stop these people from coming together, he can't steal their destiny. Once they're together, nothing is impossible and so they win! Nero is killed, the friendships have been cemented. A nice epilogue later and Kirk is now Captain of the Enterprise and sets off on the 5 year mission.
Again, all speculation, but damn if it wasn't fun. What will set this story apart will be the characters and how they're presented. Going by this plot, Old Spock will be the one who puts the original 7 together. So, we are cheated by not seeing the true origin story, but we get a treat in a sense where the original generation gives rise to the new. It can still go either way. And, I can be completely wrong in my speculations.
Or, I just wrote the Trek equivalent to the pelican brief
Ok, starting with the known facts, this movie will take place prior to the events of the original series and feature the original seven. Eric Bana plays a character named Nero and Nimoy will return as older Spock. Rumor and unofficial info tell us that the story takes place prior to TOS, involves Romulans sent back to the 23rd century that start meddling with the past (so as to create a Universe B, an alternate timeline similar to the Ultimate line of comics from Marvel.) Also, Captain Pike wil be a featured character and Eric Bana's villain is a Romulan.
So, with all that stated, lets start piecing the puzzle together. As this movie is supposed to introduce folks to Trek, Act 1 (or the first 20 to 30 mins of the movie) will have to set the stage, it details the setting and the players, working up to the introduction of the conflict that will drive act 2 and 3. It means the Romulan adversaries and our hero need introduction. What if we start the movie out with Nero and his band of Romulans? They arrive in the past, either on purpose or due to some accident (accident sounds better, so lets go with that.)
They begin to realize they are in the 23rd century, so like any good Romulan, the empire comes first. What major event in the 23rd century (and prior to the start of TOS) would have meant good things for Romulus had it gone differently than history recorded? How about the events of "Balance of Terror?" Speculating here, but it has been said in interviews with the writers that they are 1.) respecting canon and 2.) peppering the story with references that move the story along.
So, Nero and pals want to make sure Mark Lenard's Romulan Commander and his lackey Decius prove the might of their new cloaking device and plasma weapon by systematically wiping out Neutral Zone outposts and starting the second Earth/Romulan war. What stood in their way originally? Why, the Enterprise under Kirk of course! All Nero has to do is bump off Kirk and all is well, right?
Yes and no. At first glance it's the simplest solution but it's too simple. These are hollywood writers who like to "complicate" things to stretch plot and find ways for cool action scenes to occur (not saying that's bad or that's the MO of Orci and Kurtzman, just that 1.) it happens and 2.) I wouldn't make it that simple either.) Also, it narrows the focus too much to let's fight to keep Kirk alive. The movie is called Star Trek, not Saving Captain Kirk.
For the sake or argument, lets say Nero's plan isn't to kill Kirk, it's just to make sure the Enterprise isn't there that day or doesn't have that group of people on board when Balance of Terror occurs. To do that, he has 7 lives to interfere with, 7 destinies to steal!
But, how does he go about doing this? There isn't quite enough info yet to figure them all out, but going into speculation mode, if I wanted to prevent Spock from being there or throw a serious monkey wrench into his star fleet career (plus let Trekkers know immediately I mean business with the whole Universe B thing,) I assasinate Sarek! Possibly Amanda too. Something like this happens, Spock would leave the Enterprise to return home. Time it right and Spock could be gone when Pike needed him the most. Spock's absence could mean the destruction or serious damage to the Enterprise. History changes and the dominoes fall in Nero's favor.
A change in history of that magnitude may be what causes old Spock to go after Nero and pals. Or more likely he's already been aware of their accidental time jump and already followed them back, but was too late to stop Sarek's death. So, this causes him to seek out his younger self, keep him from leaving the Enterprise, and draft him into the plot to stop Nero. Hence this becomes a Spock-centric movie with the 2 Spocks as our heroes.
So, act 2's conflict is finding and stopping Nero and pals all while protecting what's left of the timeline. Somehow this will involve Pike and the Enterprise and gradually will introduce the rest of the classic trek cast. Some might already be crew aboard Pike's Enterprise, others we come across or will be drawn too as more events are changed.
Ultimately, the last member of the crew to be dragged into this will be Kirk. It will be a move of desperation on either the 2 Spocks or Nero's. The 2 Spocks want to stay away for fear of really screwing up the timeline. Nero will share that reason, but his biggest reason is Kirk is too much of an X factor. His life has always been about cheating death and surmouting the impossible. If Nero's a smart character, he'll keep Kirk out of this for as long as possible. Nero would only involve him if the 2 Spocks have him cornered. The 2 Spocks will only involve Kirk if they have failed to stop Nero by this point and need help.
Act 3 will have the original 7 thrust together and the conflict will be resolved by them. By this point, Old Spock will be neutralized, leaving young Spock on his own and possibly forcing him to seek out Kirk for help. Now, this either means Old Spock is a captive of Nero or Abrahms and Co. have some real balls and NERO KILLS HIM!!! I'm thinking Nimoy's Spock will take the dirt nap permanently this outing. Act 3 usually starts with the heroes at their lowest point.
The original 7 face off against Nero and pals in either a space battle or some other epic clash. Regardless of the things Nero has changed to stop these people from coming together, he can't steal their destiny. Once they're together, nothing is impossible and so they win! Nero is killed, the friendships have been cemented. A nice epilogue later and Kirk is now Captain of the Enterprise and sets off on the 5 year mission.
Again, all speculation, but damn if it wasn't fun. What will set this story apart will be the characters and how they're presented. Going by this plot, Old Spock will be the one who puts the original 7 together. So, we are cheated by not seeing the true origin story, but we get a treat in a sense where the original generation gives rise to the new. It can still go either way. And, I can be completely wrong in my speculations.
Or, I just wrote the Trek equivalent to the pelican brief
