Why didn't Nero just destroy the star that went nova?

[Herbert1]

I don't see any evidence that he wasn't going to use the red matter against the Hobus supernova eventually. He could wait until 2387 before the Hobus supernova would be a problem. He had plenty of time to destroy Vulcan first, next Earth, and then the other planets in the Federation before the supernova would even be an issue. Remember, his principal motivation was revenge against Spock for the destruction of Romulus in the Prime timeline. The destruction of Vulcan was intended to do emotional injury to Spock Prime. I also presume that the destruction of Earth was also intended to do emotional injury to Spock Prime.

The film points out that Vulcans are not without emotion, they just suppress their emotions.

 

[Set Harth]

He expresses his desire to save Romulus in the film, so it's clear he intended that it be dealt with eventually. The fact remains that he had 129 years to do it, so it wouldn't have been at the top of his "to do" list. (Also, if the Hobus star had any inhabited planets, those people would probably have to be evacuated, and that would take some time... although that wouldn't necessarily be a concern for a particularly troubled Romulan.)

 

[Maurice]

For all we know he snuffed that star during those 25 lost years.

 

[Jeyl]

For all we know he snuffed that star during those 25 lost years.

Maybe that's what this film should have been called.

STAR TREK XI: There Is No History, Only Assumptions

 

[Char Aznable]

For all we know he snuffed that star during those 25 lost years.

Maybe that's what this film should have been called.

STAR TREK XI: There Is No History, Only Assumptions

 

[Nerys Myk]

For all we know he snuffed that star during those 25 lost years.

Maybe that's what this film should have been called.

STAR TREK XI: There Is No History, Only Assumptions

The things that fans obsess over are fascinating. Why is Nero actvities in those 25 years important? Why are his intentions toward the star important? What impact do these really have on the story being told? Are worth even a second of screentime or dialog? Do these "details" really move the plot forward or just bog it down in needless exposition?

 

[The Wormhole]

For all we know he snuffed that star during those 25 lost years.

Maybe that's what this film should have been called.

STAR TREK XI: There Is No History, Only Assumptions

The things that fans obsess over are fascinating. Why is Nero actvities in those 25 years important? Why are his intentions toward the star important? What impact do these really have on the story being told? Are worth even a second of screentime or dialog? Do these "details" really move the plot forward or just bog it down in needless exposition?

I wake up in the middle of the night screaming "Nero! What were you doing for 25 years?! WHAT!?"

So for the sake of getting a good night's rest, an explanation should have been provided.

Of course, this did put an end to the nightmares about zero...

 

[Skywalker]

Fast forward to 2387...

Nero: "There, the last remnant of the Federation has been annihilated. Now I can finally use the red matter to stop the Hobus star before it can destroy Romulus!"
Ayel: "Uh, Captain Nero, there's a problem. That last Federation planet? We...kind of used our last drop of red matter to destroy it."
Nero: "FFFFUUUUUUUUUU--"

 

[Nerys Myk]

Nah. He'd blame Spock

 

[muzzleflash]

For all we know he snuffed that star during those 25 lost years.

Maybe that's what this film should have been called.

STAR TREK XI: There Is No History, Only Assumptions

The things that fans obsess over are fascinating. Why is Nero actvities in those 25 years important? Why are his intentions toward the star important? What impact do these really have on the story being told? Are worth even a second of screentime or dialog? Do these "details" really move the plot forward or just bog it down in needless exposition?

It helps us understand the character.

 

[Nerys Myk]

Maybe that's what this film should have been called.

STAR TREK XI: There Is No History, Only Assumptions

The things that fans obsess over are fascinating. Why is Nero actvities in those 25 years important? Why are his intentions toward the star important? What impact do these really have on the story being told? Are worth even a second of screentime or dialog? Do these "details" really move the plot forward or just bog it down in needless exposition?

It helps us understand the character.

What else is there that needs to be "understood"?

 

[Peter the Younger]

Maybe that's what this film should have been called.

STAR TREK XI: There Is No History, Only Assumptions

The things that fans obsess over are fascinating. Why is Nero actvities in those 25 years important? Why are his intentions toward the star important? What impact do these really have on the story being told? Are worth even a second of screentime or dialog? Do these "details" really move the plot forward or just bog it down in needless exposition?

It helps us understand the character.

I understood the character just fine. He's nuts.

Also, I don't buy it. Most of that doesn't have anything to do with the character, it's just fodder for nerdgasms. This sort of overwrought exposition is exactly why so many sci-fi novels are unreadable.

 

[muzzleflash]

Clearly he is, as would be anyone else who waits for 25 years to take revenge on people who did not wrong him, when more productive things could have been done.

 

[Nerys Myk]

Clearly he is, as would be anyone else who waits for 25 years to take revenge on people who did not wrong him, when more productive things could have been done.

He wrote a play in the meantime "Waiting for Spockot"

 

[Shogun37]

There's something (in my humble opinion) very wrong with the basic idea of the movie. None of what Nero did would change anything in the "real" timeline. Spock had the option of letting Nero thrash around, blowing up anything he wanted.
It .Would. Change. Nothing.
I know Spock would act to stop whatever suffering he could, he could do nothing less. But (again, in my opinion) the story suffers from a "so what" problem.
Now, if Nero could get back to his original timeline (the fact that Spock moved between them suggests the option was there), then stopping him as soon as possible would be needed. But why all the drama?

 

[Nerys Myk]

Spock may have that option but Kirk and his crew did not.

 

[Devon]

Now, if Nero could get back to his original timeline (the fact that Spock moved between them suggests the option was there), then stopping him as soon as possible would be needed. But why all the drama?

What would be the logic in allowing all of that to happen regardless of what timeline it is? And you say "option" as though they could move around the timelines by choice.

 

[Sharr Khan]

After reading the Nero miniseries, that question came to me. Why not just go destroy the star that went nova, thereby ensuring that it doesn't destroy Romulus? I know the real world answer is that it wouldn't be much of a movie then, but it seems it would have been a lot easier than trying to destroy the Federation knowing that the star would go nova again anyway.

Well he had a good 129 years to fix that star issue...
Besides he was for the most part powerless until Spock Prime showed up with the red matter.

Best course of action sit around and get his emo on until he gets the red matter, destroy his enemies and then fix the star.

 

[knine]

Maybe that's what this film should have been called.

STAR TREK XI: There Is No History, Only Assumptions

The things that fans obsess over are fascinating. Why is Nero actvities in those 25 years important? Why are his intentions toward the star important? What impact do these really have on the story being told? Are worth even a second of screentime or dialog? Do these "details" really move the plot forward or just bog it down in needless exposition?

I wake up in the middle of the night screaming "Nero! What were you doing for 25 years?! WHAT!?"

So for the sake of getting a good night's rest, an explanation should have been provided.

Of course, this did put an end to the nightmares about zero...

Did you have similar problems when they didn't explain why Worf and Wesley were in Nemesis? Or when they didn't explain why Chekov was first officer on the Reliant?

 

[The Wormhole]

The things that fans obsess over are fascinating. Why is Nero actvities in those 25 years important? Why are his intentions toward the star important? What impact do these really have on the story being told? Are worth even a second of screentime or dialog? Do these "details" really move the plot forward or just bog it down in needless exposition?

I wake up in the middle of the night screaming "Nero! What were you doing for 25 years?! WHAT!?"

So for the sake of getting a good night's rest, an explanation should have been provided.

Of course, this did put an end to the nightmares about zero...

Did you have similar problems when they didn't explain why Worf and Wesley were in Nemesis? Or when they didn't explain why Chekov was first officer on the Reliant?

In regards to Worf and Wesley in Nemesis, yes. But what's the problem with Chekov being the first officer of the Reliant?