As much as I liked the subsequent series, I will always be a die-hard, first generation, original series fan ( I’m only three years older than the series, after all ). This movie gave me the chance to see my beloved characters young and fresh and ready to embark on all new adventures. Despite certain plot holes, and a resistance to the Enterprise redesign, I allowed myself to relax and enjoy the ride. I’m not troubling myself over what method of time travel goes against canon, whether this universe will unfold in exactly the same way as the original, or if Gary Mitchell will be mutated by the barrier at the edge of the galaxy. To me, this is a new universe…a new incarnation which has cleverly divested itself of years of baggage, leaving the new cast free to chart their own course.

The writers tried to pull an incredible hat trick of satisfying diehard Trekfans, and attracting new ones. They could have just ignored all previous canon and not bothered trying to explain how this new universe diverges from the original ( just as the new versions of Batman, Transformers, Battlestar Galactica, and previous incarnations of Sherlock Holmes, Tarzan, and even Godzilla have chosen to do – with varying levels of success ). And that would have been perfectly fine… the original exists forever, and nothing will change that. But they did try, and I think they did an admirable job…not perfect, but then what is?

I, for one support this new Trek and look forward to many more. No, it’s not exactly the same, but this is a new century with new sensibilities.

And BTW… I hardly noticed the lens flares.

In other words, if you are not interested in the new alternate characters and forthcoming stories, why watch them at all? Whether or not the old time line is wiped out going forward, that does not change the circumstances of watching the new adventures in the alternate timeline. The chances of ever going back to the original TOS timeline in either case is unlikely at best. Therefore, whether the original characters are wiped-out or not is moot. For the likely future, there will only be stories about the alternate crew.

As Closet pointed out, the events of the original timeline happened, whether they have been reset at this point or not (the DVDs of the “historical documents” exist to prove it). These are essentially the same characters in an alternate circumstance. If you are inclined to watch the new voyages of the alternate enterprise in the first place, what difference does it make if they are replacing the old timeline or not? These are the adventures Paramount is presenting as canon for the time being and can just as likely be reset in the future if some subsequent producer sees a practical reason for doing so. Why boycott Star Trek simply for some intangible principle that has no practical application in the real world?

I can certainly understand if the new Kirk or Spock start doing things that conflict 180 degrees with the original characters and stories … then there’s a reason to say, “this isn’t my Star Trek and I won’t take anymore”.

However, as far as stating that the old timeline is wiped out, it is unlikely Paramount will take any such position, vis-a-vis canon and it is even more unlikely that Orci will back off his MWI QM application of time travel either. So this conversation is moot as well. But the ideals behind it are definitely troubling.

For those who cannot accept the old timeline being wiped away for whatever reason, then MWI QM is going to keep you busy for a long time trying to reconcile the events of the old timeline which cannot directly exist under such a view of time-travel, including “The Guardian of Forever”.

TNG “Parallels” also violates MWI QM in that it is impossible to communicate between parallel universes, much less travel between them. So while TNG canonizes multiple universes, it does not adhere to the view used in ST09, nor does it involve time-travel or the branching of yet another universe, or violation of the existing changeable/linear time line view. In essence the original universe has its own laws of physics which permits time-travel and multiple universes based on no particular single theory or interpretation of the nature of the universe.

Therefore, if in your mind the original timeline must still be intact somewhere, you have major episodes that cannot be reconciled with the new film’s view of time-travel and quantum physics. Sadly, I can see no way for you to continue to watch the new Star Trek adventures without giving up some investment in the original stories and characters, without reconciling the monumental discrepancies between existing canon and Bob Orci’s explanation of time travel in this movie. Nevertheless, I do hope you do continue to support the Star Trek franchise, whether it subscribes to your specific ideals and principles behind the applied science involved in telling the new stories.

Because that’s the storyline I’m both nvested and interested in. I have no desire to see it wiped out because some thinks they can “improve it.”

There’s no ire in that, just a personal preference. YMMV, of course.

This is a pretty cool place to live, except for the hurricanes.

As a stand-alone story, I suppose not. However, it would be difficult to reconcile that with 52 other stories in Trek in which the effects of time travel are more of the classical science-fiction variety—that is, if a fan places significant value on continuity.

This is the ‘brilliance’ (if I may use that term loosely) of the decision on Bob Orci’s part to submit his view on the MWI of QM on the internet.

For those whose priority it is to preserve the notion that the “Prime Timeline” goes on within their imaginations, MWI/QM is there as a means to rationalize it (although that comes with embracing a pretty huge retcon).

For those who place a higher value upon canon/continuity, comfort may be taken in the fact that the film never actually challenges previous canonical entries with regard to time travel.

As an ardent canonista myself, I choose the latter.

“And to be honest, if the writers came out and said the movie *does* wipe out the original timeline, I’d probably skip seeing the sequel.”

I’ll never understand that line of thinking (although you are certainly not alone in it).

Since the stories in the Prime Timeline are already played out anyway (through 5 series and 10 other films)—I fail to see the reason for mourning its end (or especially protesting it). Moreover, it is not as if those stories didn’t take place within the fictional realm of the Star Trek Universe. On the contrary, the current timeline’s existence is completely dependant upon the events depicted in all 5 live action television series and 10 previous films forming the very timeline which bore both Nero and Spock Prime to begin with.

How is he solely a comedic element? Did he not save the ship in the end with his own uncanny display of ingenuity?

I seem to recall that it was his proposed (and executed) solution—-ejecting the warp core and detonating it—-which collapsed the black hole and and created the speparation necessary to get the Enterprise to safety.

As if his capabilities were not foreshadowed enough in the realization that it was his own development of the formula necessary to transport a person aboard a ship travelling at warp wasn’t enough—-he demonstrates his aptitude (as always) when the Enterprise is in the most critical danger.

This—IMO—was every bit as it should be. I don’t see the problem. Is he funny? Yes. But he always was.

And canonically speaking, that still hasn’t happened. People whose primary concern is clinging to the notion that the Prime timeline is still moving along can feel free to embrace MWI/QM (and therefore the ‘retconning’ of the treatment of time travel through over 40 years of Star Trek).

However, MWI/QM is not canon.

“Orci and Kurtzman claim they are following the preset rules of timetravel in Star Trek…. ”

Actually, they have claimed nothing of the sort, except to point towards TNG’s “Parallels” as a prior canon entry supporting MWI/QM. The problem with that is that “Parallels” not only contradicts the treatment of time travel in all prior stories, but in all subsequent stories as well.

The effects of time travel in ST09 are (canonically) no different from the effects of time travel as depicted in the 52 episodes/films depicting time travel prior to ST09.

The reason it is canonically no different is that nothing within the onscreen story suggests otherwise.

Bob Orci’s off-screen take on time travel and modern theories regarding Quantum Mechanics (in particular, the “Many Worlds Interpretation”) is interesting, but that doesn’t make it canon. He could have made it so—-but he didn’t. On the contrary, it is intentionally ambiguous.

“…they do not create an alternate universe without changing the original.”

And unless that notion is supported on screen (which it certainly isn’t in ST09)—-that doesn’t happen here either.

Your concerns are based upon the non-canon commentary of one of the writers, when in fact, what constitutes canon is no different now than it was a year ago (and never has that included internet posts, however fascinating they might be).