Star Treks Timeline Confusion: The Relationship Between Enterprise and the Kelvin Timeline
Introduction
r rStar Trek has always been a vast, intricate universe with a complex timeline. One of the puzzles many fans find themselves grappling with is the relationship between Star Trek: Enterprise, the Star Trek 2009 film, and the subsequent movies. This article aims to clarify the connections and differences between these different timelines to help fans better understand the rich lore of the Star Trek universe.
r rStar Trek Enterprise and the Original Timeline
r rStar Trek: Enterprise (2001-2005) is often considered a prequel to the original Star Trek series. Set in the 22nd century, the show follows the early days of Starfleet and human exploration of space. This series provides a rich background for the events and technology seen in the original series, which is set in the 23rd century. Despite its earlier timeframe, Enterprise does not directly connect to the events of the Kelvin Timeline; however, it establishes foundational elements of the Star Trek universe, such as the formation of Starfleet and the early encounters with alien species. This sets the stage for the broader lore seen in both the original series and the Kelvin films.
r rThe Kelvin Timeline and Star Trek 2009
r rThe Kelvin Timeline, established by the 2009 film Star Trek, diverges from the original timeline due to the time travel of the character Nero. This introduces significant changes to the history of the Star Trek universe. While Enterprise is not directly connected to this timeline, it does establish elements that are relevant to the broader lore seen in the Kelvin films.
r rA Reevaluation of Star Trek's Timelines
r rIn light of recent developments and reimaginations, many fans now believe there are actually three distinct prime timelines rather than just two. These timelines are:
r r r Timelines of the Original Series (TOS), Animated Series (TAS), The Next Generation (TNG), Deep Space Nine (DS9), Voyager (VOY), and all movies from The Motion Picture (TMP) to Nemesis. This timeline becomes the Destinyverse seen in the novels.r Timelines of Enterprise, Discovery, and Star Trek Online. The events of TOS TAS TNG DS9 VOY and movies 1-10 also occur in "broad strokes" in this timeline, but events after Nemesis follow the "Path to 2409" chronology.r Timelines of the Kelvinverse. The events of First Contact created a divergent timeline, wherein the wreckage of the Borg sphere and TNG's interactions with Zefram Cochrane sped up Earth's technological development. Other powers didn't like this, so they began giving their downtime counterparts a similar boost, resulting in the Temporal Cold War and the existence of the spore drive and the USS Discovery, neither of which was ever built in the original timeline. The Kelvinverse is a splinter from this divergent timeline, where technological development was given yet another boost by the arrival of the Narada.r r rConclusion
r rStar Trek: Enterprise does not directly lead into the events of the Kelvin Timeline but enriches the overall backstory of the Star Trek universe, including the elements that appear in the new movies. The recent reevaluation of the timelines within the broader Star Trek universe offers more clarity and allows fans to explore a richer tapestry of storylines and events.
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