Captain Janeway Explained Why Star Trek Loves Prequels 28 Years Ago

Star Trek loves prequels, and Captain Kathryn Janeway (Kate Mulgrew) explained why on Star Trek: Voyager 28 years ago. Since 1966, the Star Trek franchise has spanned a dozen TV series and 13 movies, with more on the way. While Star Trek is forward-looking and forward-thinking, with its adventures spanning a thousand years of the Star Trek timeline, and branching beyond into a multiverse, Star Trek is also very nostalgic about its own past. So much so that there are currently 8 Star Trek prequel projects constituting various TV series and feature films.

Star Trek stopped strictly moving forward in 2001 with the creation of Star Trek: Enterprise. Before Enterprise, which chronicled the pioneering 22nd-century voyages of the NX-01 Enterprise led by Captain Jonathan Archer (Scott Bakula), Star Trek was about the 23rd-century era of Star Trek: The Original Series and the 24th century of Star Trek: The Next Generation, which was continued by Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and Star Trek: Voyager. Star Trek was relatively easier to follow then compared to now, with multiple Star Trek TV series and movies set at different points in the franchise's past, and even in alternate realities. Star Trek's many prequels denote the nostalgia the franchise's creative teams have for Star Trek's past, and Captain Janeway explained why on Star Trek: Voyager.

Voyager’s Captain Janeway Explained Why Star Trek Loves Prequels

"It was a very different time."

Star Trek: Voyager season 3, episode 2, "Flashback," celebrated the 30th anniversary of Star Trek in 1996. In "Flashback," Captain Janeway mind-melds with Lt. Tuvok (Tim Russ) and journeys into his memories as a crew member aboard the USS Excelsior commanded by Captain Hikaru Sulu (George Takei) during the events of Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country in 2293. Janeway observed the many differences between Starfleet in Star Trek: The Original Series' era and her own 24th century, and the USS Voyager's Captain explained the allure of the 23rd century's final frontier to Ensign Harry Kim (Garrett Wang):

It was a very different time, Mr. Kim. Captain Sulu, Captain Kirk, Dr. McCoy – they all belonged to a different breed of Starfleet officer. Imagine the era they lived in. The Alpha Quadrant was still largely unexplored, humanity on verge of war with Klingons, Romulans hiding behind every nebula. Even the technology we take for granted was still in its early stages. No plasa weapons, no multiphasic shields. Their ships were half as fast… Space must have seemed a whole lot bigger back then. It’s not surprising they had to bend the rules a little. They were a little slower to invoke the Prime Directive and a little quicker to pull their phasers. Of course, the whole bunch of them would be booted out of Starfleet today. But I have to admit, I would have loved to ride shotgun at least once with a group of officers like that.

Captain Janeway's feelings about Star Trek: The Original Series' era reflect how Star Trek's creative teams feel about the days of Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner) and the Starship Enterprise as well. (Star Trek: Voyager's "Flashback" was written by Brannon Braga.) 24th-century Star Trek is more complex but also features Starfleet and the United Federation of Planets with more rules and regulations. In contrast, Star Trek: The Original Series' era feels more appealingly dangerous, with hostile aliens and space gods. TOS is also looser and freewheeling. Kirk and the Enterprise often engaged in "cowboy diplomacy" with a Wild West quality to the final frontier.

One of the reasons Rick Berman and Brannon Braga created Star Trek: Enterprise as a prequel set 100 years before Star Trek: The Original Series was to free themselves from the constraints of the 24th century that they helped establish. Enterprise was originally meant to be more perilous, with a young Starfleet venturing out into the fearsome galaxy and flying by the seats of their pants. After Enterprise ended, Star Trek continued mining the franchise's past for more action, danger, sexuality, and freedom from the 24th century's dense canon and more buttoned-down Starfleet.

Star Trek Has Had Multiple Prequels Since Voyager​​​​​​​

The past has a certain allure for Star Trek

Star Trek: Enterprise was the first Star Trek prequel series. Although it only lasted four seasons, ending in 2005, Enterprise was the beginning of Star Trek halting its forward momentum. Instead, Star Trek cycled backward and became about its past for the next 15 years. In 2009, director J.J. Abrams rebooted the Star Trek movies by making them about a younger Captain Kirk (Chris Pine) and the Starship Enterprise in an alternate reality. Abrams' Star Trek (2009), Star Trek Into Darkness, and Star Trek Beyond, set between 2258 and 2263, actually take place years before Star Trek: The Original Series, which begins in 2265 in Star Trek's Prime Timeline. Star Trek (2009) did notably update the late 24th century, establishing a supernova destroyed Romulus.

When Star Trek returned to television in 2017, Star Trek: Discovery was also a prequel. Discovery began in 2256, a decade before Star Trek: The Original Series in Star Trek's Prime Timeline. Star Trek: Discovery season 2 continued into 2258 before the series took a massive leap 930 into the future, becoming the new farthest point in Star Trek's timeline. In 2020, Star Trek finally began moving forward again. Star Trek: Picard, set at the end of the 24th century and the beginning of the 25th century, progressed the era and characters of Star Trek: The Next Generation and Star Trek: Voyager's Seven of Nine (Jeri Ryan).

Star Trek on Paramount+'s various TV series and upcoming streaming movie, Star Trek: Section 31, take place at various points in Star Trek's timeline. Star Trek: Strange New Worlds is another prequel set in the mid-23rd century between Star Trek: Discovery season 2 and Star Trek: The Original Series. Star Trek: Lower Decks and Star Trek: Prodigy both take place in the 2380s after Star Trek: The Next Generation and before Star Trek: Picard. And Star Trek: Section 31 also appears to be a prequel, set in the little-seen "lost era" of Star Trek's 24th century before the beginning of Star Trek: The Next Generation.

Star Trek Fans Want TNG’s Era To Continue

Will Star Trek: Legacy ever happen?

While Star Trek's prequel projects have been generally well-received - especially Star Trek: Strange New Worlds - the one particular Star Trek that fans are clamoring for is not a prequel. Since the end of Star Trek: Picard season 3, audiences have clamored for the continuation it set up, which has been dubbed Star Trek: Legacy. Star Trek: Picard season 3 wrapped up the stories of Star Trek: The Next Generation's crew and passed the torch to the next, next generation aboard the USS Enterprise-G led by Captain Seven of Nine. Star Trek: Picard season 3 ended in 2402, and Star Trek: Legacy would continue the exploration of the 25th century.

Unfortunately, Star Trek: Legacy is not in development at Paramount+. With Star Trek downsizing for various reasons, the newest Star Trek series in production is Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, which continues Star Trek: Discovery's 32nd century. Starfleet Academy will be the new farthest point in Star Trek's timeline. In Star Trek on Paramount+'s current known lineup, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds and Star Trek: Section 31 are prequels set in the 23rd and 24th centuries, and Star Trek: Lower Decks' final season will conclude the 24th century. Star Trek: Starfleet Academy will chart Star Trek's new future but, no doubt, there will still and always be nostalgia for Star Trek's past.