Is Star Trek: Picard Countdown canon?
- Thread starter Krog
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It's as much canon as the 2009 Countdown was
Trek tie-ins are never canonical. Indeed, even tie-ins to other franchises that are claimed to be canonical when they come out are often contradicted later on (e.g. a few details about the Siege of Mandalore from Star Wars: Ahsoka have since been overwritten by The Clone Wars, and I think a few of the "canon" comics have been contradicted by movies already). At best, they're as consistent with the canon as it's possible to be when they come out, which is the case with Picard: Countdown. That's the most you can ever realistically hope for, because canons even overwrite themselves sometimes (see Dallas or the Highlander franchise).
Canon is never a guarantee of consistency, just a classification of authorship -- whether a work comes from the originators of the franchise or is a derivative/imitative work by an outside creator. And the original creators of the franchise are more free to alter and contradict its past than tie-in authors are, in the same way that the owners of an apartment building are more free to remodel it than the tenants who are just renting it for a while.
Canon is never a guarantee of consistency, just a classification of authorship -- whether a work comes from the originators of the franchise or is a derivative/imitative work by an outside creator. And the original creators of the franchise are more free to alter and contradict its past than tie-in authors are, in the same way that the owners of an apartment building are more free to remodel it than the tenants who are just renting it for a while.
It used to be called "official," as in, this is an official Paramount/CBS/UPN/whatever authorized work (i.e. the Star Trek Encyclopedia, the novels, the comics, etc.) as opposed to a fan-made or any other unofficial work. The thing is, even "official" works inevitably get contradicted by what's shown on screen.
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"Official" has never been about continuity or content. It just means it's an authorized, legal product instead of an unauthorized one. It applies not only to books and comics, but to video games, action figures, Hallmark ornaments, posters, t-shirts, anything that got official permission to use CBS's trademarked intellectual property.
So you're right -- no matter what label you stick on something, there is no guarantee against contradiction. Labels like "canon" or "official" have no bearing on story consistency; even canon is often overwritten by later canon. Ultimately, the only work that never gets contradicted is one that's stopped being created. Creativity is a process of trial and revision and rethinking, so any ongoing creation is always going to be in a state of flux.
IMO, it probably reflects the current status quo, inlcuding many things that were planning out for PIC, but didn't make it onto the screen.
However, the "tail doesn't wag the dog" so it's entirely possible, even probable that there will be elements of season 2 that contradict it, although Kristen Beyer's co-writer credit for the PIC: Countdown gives me a higher level of confidence that it'll stick over additional material by Una McCormack.
However, the "tail doesn't wag the dog" so it's entirely possible, even probable that there will be elements of season 2 that contradict it, although Kristen Beyer's co-writer credit for the PIC: Countdown gives me a higher level of confidence that it'll stick over additional material by Una McCormack.
It's unofficial canon, canon-ish, or what I call Decaf Canon.
Take your pick.
Take your pick.
The rule for Star Trek has always been that only the TV shows (sans TAS) and movies are canonical.
I'm more interested in whether Lower Decks, with its extremely stylized visuals, exaggerated characterizations, and outlandish storytelling, will be considered canonical. Star Trek has never had a series that wasn't grounded in a sci-fi version of Realism/Naturalism before.
I'm more interested in whether Lower Decks, with its extremely stylized visuals, exaggerated characterizations, and outlandish storytelling, will be considered canonical. Star Trek has never had a series that wasn't grounded in a sci-fi version of Realism/Naturalism before.
It was never not canonical. Roddenberry's '89 memo claiming to decanonize it had no force, as he'd been eased back to a ceremonial position by then. The ban on TAS was only ever binding on the tie-ins while Richard Arnold had approval over them; the shows themselves freely referenced TAS elements during the time it was supposedly "decanonized."
Anyway, you don't "make" something canon, except simply by making it in the first place. Canon is not an official label or seal of approval; that's a myth fandom bought into because of that '89 memo. Canon is merely a nickname we apply to the stories told by the creators or owners of a property, as distinct from stories told by other people like tie-in or fanfic authors. More broadly, it's a term for the comprehensive body of essential creative works of any kind -- e.g. the Shakespeare canon is all the works credibly attributed to Shakespeare, the canon of Western literature is the body of works considered most essential and influential, etc.
I mean, are we using "canon" in its generic definition, or in the definition used by CBS (and previously Paramount), aka, the body of Star Trek installments with which derivative works such as tie-in novels must be consistent in order for CBS to consent to its being released?
Like, would CBS require a Star Trek novel not to contradict TAS in order to be published? If an author wanted to do a novel that definitively precluded Arax and M'Res from having served aboard the Enterprise, would CBS order that part of the book removed or re-written?
That's particularly interesting, given how much more stylized the characterization, plot, and presentation appear to be based upon the trailer. Not a bad thing, but kind of surprising!
In particular, that would seem to imply that Starfleet had yet another new uniform design post-VOY. So you end up with the Lower Decks uniforms in 2381, those ugly-ass uniforms from the 2385 flashback scenes in PIC, and then the 2399 uniforms in PIC.
So between 2364 and 2399, Starfleet has gone through at least seven different uniforms: the TNG S1-2 spandex suits (2364-2365); the classic TNG uniforms (2366-2373); the DS9/VOY/GEN uniforms (2369-2373); the FC uniforms (2373-2381?); the LD uniforms (c. 2381); the PIC flashback uniforms (c. 2385); and the PIC uniforms (c. 2399).
Starfleet needs to stop going to Fashion Week every couple of years.
Like, would CBS require a Star Trek novel not to contradict TAS in order to be published? If an author wanted to do a novel that definitively precluded Arax and M'Res from having served aboard the Enterprise, would CBS order that part of the book removed or re-written?
That's particularly interesting, given how much more stylized the characterization, plot, and presentation appear to be based upon the trailer. Not a bad thing, but kind of surprising!
In particular, that would seem to imply that Starfleet had yet another new uniform design post-VOY. So you end up with the Lower Decks uniforms in 2381, those ugly-ass uniforms from the 2385 flashback scenes in PIC, and then the 2399 uniforms in PIC.
So between 2364 and 2399, Starfleet has gone through at least seven different uniforms: the TNG S1-2 spandex suits (2364-2365); the classic TNG uniforms (2366-2373); the DS9/VOY/GEN uniforms (2369-2373); the FC uniforms (2373-2381?); the LD uniforms (c. 2381); the PIC flashback uniforms (c. 2385); and the PIC uniforms (c. 2399).
Starfleet needs to stop going to Fashion Week every couple of years.
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If we're going to count the LD uniforms, I think they actually replaced the TNG Uniforms. They were still in use as late as "Tears of the Prophets" (DS9), even if it was in a reduced capacity.In particular, that would seem to imply that Starfleet had yet another new uniform design post-VOY. So you end up with the Lower Decks uniforms in 2381, those ugly-ass uniforms from the 2385 flashback scenes in PIC, and then the 2399 uniforms in PIC.
So between 2364 and 2399, Starfleet has gone through at least seven different uniforms: the TNG S1-2 spandex suits (2364-2365); the classic TNG uniforms (2366-2373); the DS9/VOY/GEN uniforms (2369-2373); the FC uniforms (2373-2381?); the LD uniforms (c. 2381); the PIC flashback uniforms (c. 2385); and the PIC uniforms (c. 2399).
Starfleet needs to stop going to Fashion Week every couple of years.
In fairness, I seem to remember a couple of TNG classic uniforms in "What You Leave Behind," but I think that was only because the costume department ran out of FC uniforms.
Anyway, I never did like the idea of TNG or VOY uniforms being used alongside the FC uniforms. TNG and VOY being used in combo like in GEN, that made sense. But FC was such a radical departure it never made sense to me for Starfleet to be using anything else.
It's pretty much headcanon, but if I was in the position to retcon/simplify the line-up of TNG-era uniforms then I'd probably do something like:
Main cast and prominent guest stars (TNG, VOY, LDS, PIC): TNG s3+ uniform --> FC uniform --> LDS uniform --> PIC uniform (2380s)/improved AGT/TV uniform.
Most background characters and extras (plus mains and regulars on DS9): TNG cadet uniform (replaces utility jumpsuit & s1-2 regular uniform, optional for main cast/guest stars) --> DS9/VOY uniform --> Valiant uniform --> PIC uniform (2390s).
Main cast and prominent guest stars (TNG, VOY, LDS, PIC): TNG s3+ uniform --> FC uniform --> LDS uniform --> PIC uniform (2380s)/improved AGT/TV uniform.
Most background characters and extras (plus mains and regulars on DS9): TNG cadet uniform (replaces utility jumpsuit & s1-2 regular uniform, optional for main cast/guest stars) --> DS9/VOY uniform --> Valiant uniform --> PIC uniform (2390s).
Trek established different ships using different uniforms concurrently. I like to think every captain has one of those uniform maker apps from Star Trek Online and they each personally program the replicators to spit out whatever the hell they fancy.
The Lower Decks uniforms and the 2380s uniforms from Picard could be a sort of Class A and Class B sort of affair, like the TNG uniforms and the DS9/Voyager ones. Problem there is that Lower Decks is supposed to be the more laid back setting and they're wearing the more formal looking uniform.
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