The official STAR TREK thread

[Keith]

A chain of events sends someone back in time to change the way events unfold.  Is that what a "alternate reality" is?  I'm new to this stuff, so I really don't know.

Yes. Both need to exist in order for there to be no paradox.

[Tarrik Dane]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Many-worlds_interpretation

In layman's terms, this means that there is a very large, perhaps infinite, number of universes and that everything that could possibly happen, or could possibly have happened, in our universe (but doesn't) does happen in some other universe(s).

As far as the Mirror Universe was concerned it is an alternate reality same as what Nero caused in the new star trek movie, except the deviation from "normal" trek timeline happened hundreds of years ago.

[Dalton]

Yes. Both need to exist in order for there to be no paradox.

So [spoiler]old Spock has traveled across realities?[/spoiler]

[Tarrik Dane]

So [spoiler]old Spock has traveled across realities?[/spoiler]

Kind of, but not really. [spoiler]He went back in time in his own reality, but when Nero "Changed" the past the timeline split at that instant and created two realities. One where the original timeline goes on, and one where the new one goes on[/spoiler]

[Keith]

So [spoiler]old Spock has traveled across realities?[/spoiler]

Can we assume we don't need the spoiler tag in here? I hope no one who hasn't seen it is reading...

Spock traveled back in time. By traveling back in time, no new reality was created. He could have gone off and hid and nothing would have happened. When Nero interfered with the past, a separate reality and universe was created, one where we don't know the fate of the Star Trek crew. The old reality that Spock and Nero were from still exists cause it has to exist or else the new reality can't exist. Hope that helps  

There are two ways to deal with time travel: the first way is to have multiple universes, like STAR TREK did. The other, which LOST does, is say that there is one reality, and if you travel to the past, you have always traveled to the past, and that you actions were always part of history. The current story arc is trying to change that and create a paradox, but we'll see if that happens.

[Neri]

Let's talk merch.  I got a BK glass (Uhura) and Kirk and Cadet McCoy figures.  Who else bought stuff?

[Keith]

Is it wrong that I'm sad that we don't get to watch this crew on a weekly episode basis?

[MattKelly]

Did you step out to use the restroom at the moment when spock completely explained why he was back in time? [spoiler]He used the red matter to create a black hole to try to stop Romulus' sun from going supernova it worked, but not before it destroyed Romulus, and both Nero and Spock were accidentally sucked into it and sent back in time.[/spoiler]

I recall it now that you mention it, but it went by so fast I think Leonard Nimoy had vocal coach lessons from the Micro Machines guy.  Clumsy exposition, if you ask me.

[Eiffel]

I absolutely LOVED this flick and I can't wait for further entries. I was wary of a couple of cast members initially (I couldn't get my head around Sylar and Eomer as Spock and Bones respectively) but their performances completely converted me. I can't imagine Scotty being played by anyone other than Pegg now and Pine's Kirk possessed a swagger and bravado which didn't just devolve into whiny annoyance (which I was almost certain it would, going in).

The soundtrack was epic. I'm a big fan of Giacchino's LOST and ALIAS scores and this one, while not treading any radically new ground, added punch and suspense while that underlying "hero" theme provided a powerful anchor for the otherworldly special effects sequences.

I should probably note that I just saw the movie, so my opinion might change but right now I have the same sense of narrative satisfaction that I did coming out of my first viewing of NEW HOPE. Not a film that will change the world but one which is exciting, smart and so friggin' fun to watch.

[Dalton]

Can we assume we don't need the spoiler tag in here? I hope no one who hasn't seen it is reading...

Spock traveled back in time. By traveling back in time, no new reality was created. He could have gone off and hid and nothing would have happened. When Nero interfered with the past, a separate reality and universe was created, one where we don't know the fate of the Star Trek crew. The old reality that Spock and Nero were from still exists cause it has to exist or else the new reality can't exist. Hope that helps  

There are two ways to deal with time travel: the first way is to have multiple universes, like STAR TREK did. The other, which LOST does, is say that there is one reality, and if you travel to the past, you have always traveled to the past, and that you actions were always part of history. The current story arc is trying to change that and create a paradox, but we'll see if that happens.

If this is the case, wouldn't there be infinite alternate realities?  One where Kirk orders eggs for breakfast and another where he orders pancakes?  Again, I have no doubt what you are saying is true for the ST universe, I just want to understand.

[Keith]

If this is the case, wouldn't there be infinite alternate realities?  One where Kirk orders eggs for breakfast and another where he orders pancakes?  Again, I have no doubt what you are saying is true for the ST universe, I just want to understand.

Yup, that's the end result of those "rules". One could assume that the only time that a new reality would be needed would be for choices that really change the universe. Whether I had Honeycombs or Trix for breakfast wouldn't change anything. But, you still have an insane amount of realities to deal with. The Star Trek universe only really keeps track of a few of those universes, like with the 'Mirror, Mirror' universe (I never watched Voyager or Enterprise, so I don't know about them).

[Tarrik Dane]

If this is the case, wouldn't there be infinite alternate realities?  One where Kirk orders eggs for breakfast and another where he orders pancakes?  Again, I have no doubt what you are saying is true for the ST universe, I just want to understand.

According to quantum physics' many worlds interpretation, this is exactly the case. There is an alternate universe where a John Dalton exists that loves Artie Lange.

[ExpendablesFan]

Spock says alternate timeline in the movie. So yeah all the other old stuff is still happening parallel on another timeline. I wish they had some kind of theme about destiny pulling them like gravity to what they should be doing because it would have made Kirk joining star fleet on a lark, running into Old Spock and Scotty on the same planet and day seem a little less lazy.

[Dalton]

According to quantum physics' many worlds interpretation, this is exactly the case. There is an alternate universe where a John Dalton exists that loves Artie Lange.

NOW you've gone TOO FAR!

[Dalton]

Spock says alternate timeline in the movie. So yeah all the other old stuff is still happening parallel on another timeline. I wish they had some kind of theme about destiny pulling them like gravity to what they should be doing because it would have made Kirk joining star fleet on a lark, running into Old Spock and Scotty on the same planet and day seem a little less lazy.

So Old Spock is like the timeline police, going to various timelines and making sure everything is cool?  I'm confused.