Has Star Trek Overused Time Travel?

[CMWaters]

In its over 50 years of existence, Star Trek has had a LOT of time travel stories.

Not counting any novels (that's a whole 'nother kettle of fish), according to Wikipedia and counting 2 parters as one episode, there have been...
5 Original Series episodes
1 Animated Series episode
12 Next Generation episodes (including series finale)
10 Deep Space Nine episodes (though their first wasn't until the 4th season)
12 Voyager episodes (including series finale)
10 Enterprise episodes (not counting that Temporal Cold War stuff)
and
4 Feature Films (more if you count references to that from the 2nd and 3rd New Timeline Films)

All that dealt with time travel in one form or another.

Now granted, with a science fiction anthology series such as Star Trek, it is tricky (not impossible, but tricky) to go about doing episodes on a weekly basis and NOT eventually bring time travel into things. However, do you think that it's something that they've used WAY too much over the years? And keep in mind, this isn't even counting whatever may come about with the new series when that starts up.

Under the spoiler tag is the list of all the ones Wikipedia counts:

SPOILER: Click to show

{Spoiler}Original Series
-The Naked Time
-Tomorrow is Yesterday
-The City on the Edge of Forever
-Assignment: Earth
-All Our Yesterdays

Animated Series
-Yesteryear

Next Generation
-We'll Always Have Paris
-Time Squared
-Yesterday's Enterprise
-Captain's Holiday
-A Matter of Time
-Cause and Effect
-Time's Arrow
-Tapestry
-Timescape
-Parallels
-Firstborn
-All Good Things...

Deep Space Nine
-Past Tense
-Visionary
-The Visitor
-Little Green Men
-Accession
-Trials and Tribble-ations
-Children of Time
-Wrongs Darker than Death or Night
-Time's Orphan
-The Sound of Her Voice

Voyager
-Time and Again
-Eye of the Needle
-Non Sequitur
-Death Wish
-Future's End
-Before and After
-Year of Hell
-Timeless
-Relativity
-Fury
-Shattered
-Endgame

Enterprise
-Cold Front
-Shockwave
-Future Tense
-Twilight
-Carpenter Street
-Azati Prime
-E²
-Zero Hour
-Storm Front
-In a Mirror, Darkly

Movies
-Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home
-Star Trek Generations
-Star Trek: First Contact
-Star Trek (2009)

[Limity (BLM)]

Those numbers can look bad on their own, but compare them to the total episodes of their respective series'. DS9 for instance has 10 episodes that feature time travel. Out of 176 total episodes. Doesn't seem that bad now.

Berman and Braga were famous for using time travel as a crutch that rivals their dependence on the Borg. And quality definitely suffers, not to mention when it's used as a lazy plot device.

Also I would argue Generations isn't time travel.

[CMWaters]

Oct 28, 2016 21:19:22 GMT -5 Limity (BLM) said:

Also I would argue Generations isn't time travel.

Picard uses The Nexus to bring himself and Kirk to just before Soren launches the rocket to that star.

Even if it's only a minor instance of it, it's time travel (not only the going back, but Kirk going instantly 80 years ahead in time thanks to The Nexus).

[BorneAgain]

Time travel and space anomalies are the ladder matches of Star Trek; overused and very much a crutch, but more often leading to a fun outing than not.

[Limity (BLM)]

Oct 28, 2016 21:23:45 GMT -5 CMWaters said:

Oct 28, 2016 21:19:22 GMT -5 Limity (BLM) said:

Also I would argue Generations isn't time travel.

Picard uses The Nexus to bring himself and Kirk to just before Soren launches the rocket to that star.

Even if it's only a minor instance of it, it's time travel (not only the going back, but Kirk going instantly 80 years ahead in time thanks to The Nexus).

I was solely focusing on Kirk's time in the Nexus and didnt think about that. Good point.

[CMWaters]

Oct 28, 2016 21:25:01 GMT -5 BorneAgain said:

Time travel and space anomalies are the ladder matches of Star Trek; overused and very much a crutch, but more often leading to a fun outing than not.

And in the case of Yesterday's Enterprise, you got a TLC match as they were both in that episode!

[Limity (BLM)]

Oct 28, 2016 21:29:20 GMT -5 CMWaters said:

Oct 28, 2016 21:25:01 GMT -5 BorneAgain said:

Time travel and space anomalies are the ladder matches of Star Trek; overused and very much a crutch, but more often leading to a fun outing than not.

And in the case of Yesterday's Enterprise, you got a TLC match as they were both in that episode!

I'd just like to say, Picard's speech still gives me goosebumps to this day.

[mizerable]

I'm surprised they didn't use The Inner Light.

Granted, it technically isn't time travel, but Picard lives an entire lifetime as someone he isn't, but then returns back to the Enterprise at the moment he was 'abducted' like 40 years before.

Still...that is the best episode ever.

[ToyfareMark]

About the same way The Walking Dead has overused arguing.

[Limity (BLM)]

Oct 28, 2016 21:59:24 GMT -5 ToyfareMark said:

About the same way The Walking Dead has overused arguing.

Well they certainly didn't use words this past week.

[Dr. T is an alien]

I loved Peter David's take on all of the time travel stuff in his novel Q-Squared (I cannot recommend that book enough. Hell, if they ever reboot TNG I want it set in Universe A* from that book).

Long story made short, Trelane from TOS was an infant Q who had not gained enough control over his powers and needed to use machines as a sort of "training wheels". He took a fancy to watching Earth from his planet Gothos (essentially, his baby crib), but he forgot to account for the fact that the images he was watching took a very long time to get to him, which is why his version of Earth that he set on Gothos was so out of date. It embarrassed him to not account for how time affected things, so it became a thing he focused on. It was also heavily suggested that he also focused on all Federation ships named "Enterprise" and their crew, which might account why they encountered so much time travel, time loops, and such weird time phenomena that they had to make all new terms to describe them.







* To clarify what Universe A was like, there were some dramatic changes that were interesting as hell to me.

- Picard had managed to save Jack Crusher in that away mission that killed him in the original TNG.
- Crusher's continued travels of the stars inspired young Wesley to climb the highest tree he could find to get real close to daddy, leading to him falling to his death.
- During the Battle of Maxia, it was Jack Crusher who came up with the Crusher Maneuver to save the day instead of Picard.
- Picard still got court marshaled while Jack was promoted and given his own ship.
- While Picard was on Earth for his court marshal trial, he and Beverly were able to comfort each other (her loss of her child and his loss of his career). They had a torrent affair. Rather than be the cause of the divorce of his best friend, however, Picard took the first post he could off of Earth as soon as his trial (and demotion) were completed.
- Eventually Jack was named captain of the Enterprise and he selected Picard to be his first mate.

But wait, there's more!!!

- Riker and Troi had gotten married after their romance during Riker's brief posting on Betazed.
- Troi stayed home while Riker served in Starfleet. Eventually, they conceived a child. Lwaxana Troi was actually quite fond of her son-in-law and looked forward to being a doting grandmother.
- Unfortunately, Lt. Commander Riker disappeared during an away mission before little Tommy Riker was born. He was captured by Romulans and was taken to a joint Cardassian/Romulan research facility. This facility mainly was used to test the limits of all potential enemy species through torture. Riker wound up being their prized test subject as his will to live helped him endure what killed most of their subjects (for example, there was a Bajoran subject there who might have been DS9's Major Kira whose spirit had been broken and she did not mind the idea of dying).
- Riker was eventually rescued when a band of Klingons led by Worf invaded the facility (he was after the head of the facility, a Romulan who had been present at the Battle of Narenda III).

- Speaking of Worf, the House of Mogh had never fallen out of favor in Klingon society. In fact, Worf became something of a maverick and thorn in the side of Gowron because he took to killing those he viewed as the enemy whether he had license to do so or not (and he REALLY hated the Romulans). His personal vendetta made him a bit paranoid, but it also gained him much support among the Empire. Starfleet took a personal interest in forming good relations with the rising star within the Klingon Empire.

- Data isn't an android, but rather he is a humanoid (human body, android brain). He and Tasha Yar still knock them boots though.


- Geordi got cloned implants rather than using the VISOR. His experience while recouping made him want to go into medicine. He wound up becoming head nurse for the practice of one Dr. Howard, the former Mrs. Crusher (yes, they still got divorced even despite Picard ending that affair. Jack never learned of the affair, though).
- Dr. Howard became the top doctor in Starfleet and when a new flagship was built (the Enterprise), she insisted on the post because she wasn't remotely intimidated by having her ex as her commanding officer. Jack accepted her as his CMO because, in his words, "the first time we lose someone it will eat at me. God himself could come down and say, "Sorry, nothing I can do for him." I'll still think to myself, "Damn! I should have had Beverly here!""

- Tasha doesn't have terrible hair. Not much else if particularly different about her. Oh, and she isn't dead. That's a bit of a plus for her.

[Feyrhausen]

Oct 28, 2016 23:50:51 GMT -5 Dr. T is an alien said:

I loved Peter David's take on all of the time travel stuff in his novel Q-Squared (I cannot recommend that book enough. Hell, if they ever reboot TNG I want it set in Universe A* from that book).

Long story made short, Trelane from TOS was an infant Q who had not gained enough control over his powers and needed to use machines as a sort of "training wheels". He took a fancy to watching Earth from his planet Gothos (essentially, his baby crib), but he forgot to account for the fact that the images he was watching took a very long time to get to him, which is why his version of Earth that he set on Gothos was so out of date. It embarrassed him to not account for how time affected things, so it became a thing he focused on. It was also heavily suggested that he also focused on all Federation ships named "Enterprise" and their crew, which might account why they encountered so much time travel, time loops, and such weird time phenomena that they had to make all new terms to describe them.







* To clarify what Universe A was like, there were some dramatic changes that were interesting as hell to me.

- Picard had managed to save Jack Crusher in that away mission that killed him in the original TNG.
- Crusher's continued travels of the stars inspired young Wesley to climb the highest tree he could find to get real close to daddy, leading to him falling to his death.
- During the Battle of Maxia, it was Jack Crusher who came up with the Crusher Maneuver to save the day instead of Picard.
- Picard still got court marshaled while Jack was promoted and given his own ship.
- While Picard was on Earth for his court marshal trial, he and Beverly were able to comfort each other (her loss of her child and his loss of his career). They had a torrent affair. Rather than be the cause of the divorce of his best friend, however, Picard took the first post he could off of Earth as soon as his trial (and demotion) were completed.
- Eventually Jack was named captain of the Enterprise and he selected Picard to be his first mate.

But wait, there's more!!!

- Riker and Troi had gotten married after their romance during Riker's brief posting on Betazed.
- Troi stayed home while Riker served in Starfleet. Eventually, they conceived a child. Lwaxana Troi was actually quite fond of her son-in-law and looked forward to being a doting grandmother.
- Unfortunately, Lt. Commander Riker disappeared during an away mission before little Tommy Riker was born. He was captured by Romulans and was taken to a joint Cardassian/Romulan research facility. This facility mainly was used to test the limits of all potential enemy species through torture. Riker wound up being their prized test subject as his will to live helped him endure what killed most of their subjects (for example, there was a Bajoran subject there who might have been DS9's Major Kira whose spirit had been broken and she did not mind the idea of dying).
- Riker was eventually rescued when a band of Klingons led by Worf invaded the facility (he was after the head of the facility, a Romulan who had been present at the Battle of Narenda III).

- Speaking of Worf, the House of Mogh had never fallen out of favor in Klingon society. In fact, Worf became something of a maverick and thorn in the side of Gowron because he took to killing those he viewed as the enemy whether he had license to do so or not (and he REALLY hated the Romulans). His personal vendetta made him a bit paranoid, but it also gained him much support among the Empire. Starfleet took a personal interest in forming good relations with the rising star within the Klingon Empire.

- Data isn't an android, but rather he is a humanoid (human body, android brain). He and Tasha Yar still knock them boots though.


- Geordi got cloned implants rather than using the VISOR. His experience while recouping made him want to go into medicine. He wound up becoming head nurse for the practice of one Dr. Howard, the former Mrs. Crusher (yes, they still got divorced even despite Picard ending that affair. Jack never learned of the affair, though).
- Dr. Howard became the top doctor in Starfleet and when a new flagship was built (the Enterprise), she insisted on the post because she wasn't remotely intimidated by having her ex as her commanding officer. Jack accepted her as his CMO because, in his words, "the first time we lose someone it will eat at me. God himself could come down and say, "Sorry, nothing I can do for him." I'll still think to myself, "Damn! I should have had Beverly here!""

- Tasha doesn't have terrible hair. Not much else if particularly different about her. Oh, and she isn't dead. That's a bit of a plus for her.

Goes back even further. Kirks middle name was not Tiberius, but something R, explaining the tombstone Gary Mitchell created for him in "Where No Man Has Gone Before" (which is retconned to take place in this universe).

[The Unconquered Sun]

Yes, it happens too much but it hasn't ruined it like time travel did with Heroes.

[CMWaters]

Oct 29, 2016 8:34:24 GMT -5 The Unconquered Sun said:

Yes, it happens too much but it hasn't ruined it like time travel did with Heroes.

As someone who has not watched Heroes, can you sum up how they ruined it?

[zrowsdower]

I never really got into Star Trek so forgive my ignorance, but it always seems like they're kind of just wandering around aimlessly. Like is their ship stranded or something?

[CMWaters]

Oct 29, 2016 10:09:04 GMT -5 zrowsdower said:

I never really got into Star Trek so forgive my ignorance, but it always seems like they're kind of just wandering around aimlessly. Like is their ship stranded or something?

Original Series, Animated Series, Next Generation and Enterprise (somewhat) are on general missions of exploration (to explore strange new worlds, seek out new life and new civilizations, boldly go where no man/one has gone before). Those missions sometimes get side-tracked by diplomatic missions and such.

Deep Space Nine is more focused on a space station near a spacial rift that takes them on the other side of the galaxy, and it leads to a war story.

Voyager the ship got sent to a different sector on the other side of the galaxy and they're working their way to get home, but still try the primary exploration mission of the other non DS9 series.

[The Unconquered Sun]

Oct 29, 2016 8:57:45 GMT -5 CMWaters said:

Oct 29, 2016 8:34:24 GMT -5 The Unconquered Sun said:

Yes, it happens too much but it hasn't ruined it like time travel did with Heroes.

As someone who has not watched Heroes, can you sum up how they ruined it?

In a nutshell the main characters would get a message about some dark furture, try to prevent it and make it worst.  It got confusing about which furture they were fighting.

[Dr. T is an alien]

Oct 29, 2016 3:43:29 GMT -5 Feyrhausen said:

Oct 28, 2016 23:50:51 GMT -5 Dr. T is an alien said:

I loved Peter David's take on all of the time travel stuff in his novel Q-Squared (I cannot recommend that book enough. Hell, if they ever reboot TNG I want it set in Universe A* from that book).

Long story made short, Trelane from TOS was an infant Q who had not gained enough control over his powers and needed to use machines as a sort of "training wheels". He took a fancy to watching Earth from his planet Gothos (essentially, his baby crib), but he forgot to account for the fact that the images he was watching took a very long time to get to him, which is why his version of Earth that he set on Gothos was so out of date. It embarrassed him to not account for how time affected things, so it became a thing he focused on. It was also heavily suggested that he also focused on all Federation ships named "Enterprise" and their crew, which might account why they encountered so much time travel, time loops, and such weird time phenomena that they had to make all new terms to describe them.







* To clarify what Universe A was like, there were some dramatic changes that were interesting as hell to me.

- Picard had managed to save Jack Crusher in that away mission that killed him in the original TNG.
- Crusher's continued travels of the stars inspired young Wesley to climb the highest tree he could find to get real close to daddy, leading to him falling to his death.
- During the Battle of Maxia, it was Jack Crusher who came up with the Crusher Maneuver to save the day instead of Picard.
- Picard still got court marshaled while Jack was promoted and given his own ship.
- While Picard was on Earth for his court marshal trial, he and Beverly were able to comfort each other (her loss of her child and his loss of his career). They had a torrent affair. Rather than be the cause of the divorce of his best friend, however, Picard took the first post he could off of Earth as soon as his trial (and demotion) were completed.
- Eventually Jack was named captain of the Enterprise and he selected Picard to be his first mate.

But wait, there's more!!!

- Riker and Troi had gotten married after their romance during Riker's brief posting on Betazed.
- Troi stayed home while Riker served in Starfleet. Eventually, they conceived a child. Lwaxana Troi was actually quite fond of her son-in-law and looked forward to being a doting grandmother.
- Unfortunately, Lt. Commander Riker disappeared during an away mission before little Tommy Riker was born. He was captured by Romulans and was taken to a joint Cardassian/Romulan research facility. This facility mainly was used to test the limits of all potential enemy species through torture. Riker wound up being their prized test subject as his will to live helped him endure what killed most of their subjects (for example, there was a Bajoran subject there who might have been DS9's Major Kira whose spirit had been broken and she did not mind the idea of dying).
- Riker was eventually rescued when a band of Klingons led by Worf invaded the facility (he was after the head of the facility, a Romulan who had been present at the Battle of Narenda III).

- Speaking of Worf, the House of Mogh had never fallen out of favor in Klingon society. In fact, Worf became something of a maverick and thorn in the side of Gowron because he took to killing those he viewed as the enemy whether he had license to do so or not (and he REALLY hated the Romulans). His personal vendetta made him a bit paranoid, but it also gained him much support among the Empire. Starfleet took a personal interest in forming good relations with the rising star within the Klingon Empire.

- Data isn't an android, but rather he is a humanoid (human body, android brain). He and Tasha Yar still knock them boots though.


- Geordi got cloned implants rather than using the VISOR. His experience while recouping made him want to go into medicine. He wound up becoming head nurse for the practice of one Dr. Howard, the former Mrs. Crusher (yes, they still got divorced even despite Picard ending that affair. Jack never learned of the affair, though).
- Dr. Howard became the top doctor in Starfleet and when a new flagship was built (the Enterprise), she insisted on the post because she wasn't remotely intimidated by having her ex as her commanding officer. Jack accepted her as his CMO because, in his words, "the first time we lose someone it will eat at me. God himself could come down and say, "Sorry, nothing I can do for him." I'll still think to myself, "Damn! I should have had Beverly here!""

- Tasha doesn't have terrible hair. Not much else if particularly different about her. Oh, and she isn't dead. That's a bit of a plus for her.

Goes back even further. Kirks middle name was not Tiberius, but something R, explaining the tombstone Gary Mitchell created for him in "Where No Man Has Gone Before" (which is retconned to take place in this universe).

Yeah, but I was making reference to all that changed in the TNG era. I really wish they would do a reboot in that sort of setting.