Remember Star Trek: Discovery? Back in 2017, it launched on CBS All Access (now Paramount+ in the US, and Netflix in the UK), promising a fresh take on the Star Trek universe. But it left some fans, including myself, feeling a bit cold. I even chatted about it with James on a podcast back then, and we found it… interesting. I had some issues, like Michelle Yeoh feeling unconvincing and the delayed introduction of Jason Isaacs (a fantastic actor!), which seemed like a strange choice.
Check that podcast out below.
Now, fast forward to today, and Discovery has finished its run. But here’s the really big news: Paramount has not only officially cancelled Star Trek: Discovery, they’ve essentially erased it from the official Star Trek canon! This is a pretty huge deal, considering it was the flagship Star Trek series until Picard came along.
One of the biggest points of contention back in the day was the redesign of the Klingons, something James and I discussed at length. And, let’s be honest, the series wasn’t exactly universally loved, although it did find its audience.
So, how did Paramount pull off this “erasing” act? They cleverly used the final episode of Star Trek: Lower Decks to retcon Discovery out of existence! Lower Decks confirmed that Discovery exists in an alternate universe, separate from the main Star Trek timeline.
Picard vs. Star Trek: Discovery
The problem? There are already tons of alternate timelines within the main Star Trek universe, making the whole situation incredibly confusing. Deleting such a high-profile show – not just a comic or novel, but a fully funded, multi-season TV series – is unprecedented. It really says something about the current Star Trek audience and perhaps touches on what we talk about every week: nostalgia, continuity, and how our past experiences shape our views.
I find this whole thing fascinating and I’m sure James and I will be discussing it soon, as he knows Discovery much better than I do. So, keep an eye out for that!
In short: Star Trek: Discovery, despite being a major series, has been removed from the main Star Trek continuity. It was, perhaps, somewhat overshadowed by Sir Patrick Stewart’s return as Jean-Luc Picard in the Picard series. But still, it’s gone. Deleted. From the official timeline. Think about that for a moment.