‘Star Trek: Discovery’ Officially Erased From Canon
Claims that Star Trek: Discovery has been “erased from canon” are widely challenged, with many pointing out that newer shows, official releases, and platform availability still treat it as part of the franchise continuity. Commenters argue over what canon means in long-running fictional universes, whether corporations should be able to declare earlier works non-canonical, and how much internal consistency audiences should expect. The thread broadens into critiques of Discovery’s quality, comparisons with other Star Trek series, and reflections on how fan investment and corporate control shape modern media franchises.
Debate over Discovery’s Canon Status
- Many commenters call the article “clickbait” and say Discovery has not been erased from canon: it’s still streamable, has Blu-rays and merchandise, and is treated as part of the franchise.
- Others want it gone and speak as if it has been “flushed” or “deleted,” but this is presented more as wishful thinking or headcanon.
- Wikipedia and general practice are cited: all live‑action Trek plus Lower Decks/Prodigy are considered canon unless explicitly contradicted.
Canon, Continuity, and Corporate Control
- Several argue “canon” in fiction is overblown, a holdover from religious concepts and now mainly a tool of copyright holders to define which stories are “valid.”
- Counterpoint: canon is a practical tool for internal consistency, worldbuilding, and shared storytelling across decades and teams.
- Some stress that canon decisions come from corporations, not original creators, using Star Wars’ “Legends” reclassification as an example.
Lower Decks, Multiverse, and Logic
- Lower Decks shows Discovery-style Klingons in an alternate universe.
- One side claims this supports a “Discovery is alternate timeline” theory; others argue it only proves those Klingons exist somewhere, not that Discovery is excluded from the prime universe.
- Some highlight that Strange New Worlds spins out of Discovery and has a crossover with Lower Decks, complicating any clean “non-canon” or “other universe” claim.
- Overall consensus: LD episode is playful fan service, not decisive canon surgery; whether timelines differ remains unclear.
Quality of Discovery and Other Trek
- Discovery is widely criticized as poorly written, with unlikable characters and “cringe” moments, though a few seasons or arcs (e.g., S3, Jason Isaacs’ captain, some secondary characters) get praise.
- Some argue that because Discovery made money and had fans, no rational executive would erase it purely for canon purity.
- Other series: Lower Decks and Strange New Worlds are often praised as understanding “true Trek”; Picard is mixed (S3 liked, S2 widely panned); Voyager and Enterprise receive retrospective reevaluations, often improved by comparison to newer shows.
Fandom, Attachment, and “Woke” Debates
- Several comments critique how deeply fans tie identity to franchises and canon, seeing them as “captured” by corporate IP.
- Others defend caring about continuity as caring about good storytelling.
- “Woke” discourse around Trek is mocked as inconsistent and subjective.