7 Things That Still Don’t Make Sense About J.J. Abrams’ Star Trek

As a diehard movie enthusiast, I’ve got to admit that the Star Trek reboot films have left an indelible mark on the cinematic universe. They may spark heated debates among fans – some embracing the innovative spin on timeless stories, while others expressing disapproval over the numerous alterations brought about by J.J. Abrams and his team.

It’s undeniable that these contemporary adaptations have leaned towards action-packed storytelling, but setting them in an alternate timeline certainly softens the impact of some changes. However, certain plot points remain enigmatic and continue to perplex us even years after their release.

In 2009, I had the privilege of witnessing J.J. Abrams’ groundbreaking take on Star Trek in cinemas, revitalizing a cherished sci-fi franchise from my childhood. Deviating from the original timeline, this rendition offers an unanticipated spin on characters like Kirk, Spock, and Uhura, presenting them with unique origin stories. The film established a new action-oriented sci-fi tone that was maintained in the subsequent movies. What’s more, the franchise boasts an impressive lineup of talent, helping to expand its fanbase even further.

1) How Kirk Climbed the Ranks So Quickly

In the new Star Trek series, some beloved characters, including James T. Kirk, were given a fresh beginning. The initial movie portrays Kirk being recruited into Starfleet Academy by Captain Pike; however, instead of gradually rising through the ranks, he experiences a significant jump or leap, which some viewers might find intriguing but also somewhat confusing.

Initially, Kirk managed to secure a spot on the USS Enterprise right after narrowly avoiding dismissal, thanks to a technicality. He subsequently found himself on the bridge, where his actions did manage to save lives (a fortunate turn of events). However, what transpired afterward seemed illogical. Captain Pike appointed Spock as the leader, with Kirk serving as second in command. It’s hard to believe that there was no other crew member on the Bridge whom Captain Pike trusted more than either of them. Regrettably, at this juncture, we must concur with Spock’s arguments, given that it was an impulsive decision lacking strategic thought. While it might have ultimately succeeded, let’s face it: that’s just the enchantment of cinema.

In a single movie, Kirk swiftly transitions from a civilian, skips the cadet rank, and becomes a captain instantly. This rapid promotion seems to undermine the efforts of those who came before him. The same pattern, bordering on repetition, occurs in Star Trek: Into Darkness, where Kirk is demoted momentarily but quickly reclaims his Captain position again.

2) Since Nero Went Back In Time, Why Not Warn the Romulans?

Moving on, let’s discuss Captain Nero, also known as the time-traveling Romulan, who plays a significant role in this film. Nero is an intriguing antagonist, though his intentions and strategy are somewhat puzzling, I must add. Following Spock’s unsuccessful attempt to save Romulus on time (he really did try his best), both Nero and Spock were hurled into the past. At this juncture, Nero had several possible actions. He could have returned home to alert his people about the future catastrophe. This would have given them the precious time they lacked in his original timeline. Alternatively, he could have collaborated with Spock from his own time to rectify the damages.

Instead of taking action or accepting assistance from others, Nero placed the blame on Spock for the lack of success, which in turn led him to focus his aggression towards Starfleet, starting with the USS Kelvin. This sequence of events may seem illogical when examined closely, but it’s not uncommon for such irrational behavior to occur during times of grief.

3) What Exactly is the Red Matter, and Why Does Spock Have So Much Of It?

A significant aspect in the Star Trek film revolves around Spock’s Red Matter, initially developed to prevent Romulus from being destroyed by a supernova. Unfortunately, when Nero and his team acquired it, the Red Matter transformed into a destructive tool, obliterating Vulcan with only a small amount! Naturally, we are left wondering – what on earth is this Red Matter? We know it can create a black hole, but how does that work?

Let me rephrase your statement:

Secondly, one might wonder why Spock had such a large amount of this substance given that even a single drop could form a black hole or destroy an entire planet. One possible explanation is that the procedure for creating Red Matter (whatever it may be) inherently yields such quantities. It’s also plausible that it’s stored safely in larger amounts. Nonetheless, it remains puzzling and is often not thoroughly explained.

4) Why Did the Starfleet Deploy So Many Cadets at Once?

As a devoted viewer who’s followed the Star Trek film trilogy, I can effortlessly spot a recurring theme: an alarming number of casualties, predominantly among Starfleet. Each movie unfailingly placed the USS Enterprise in peril, implying that everyone aboard was precariously close to meeting their end. The first film left no doubt about this risk, as it seemed like every new Starfleet cadet was mobilized to answer the Vulcan distress call. Unfortunately, we all remember how that unfolded, with only the USS Enterprise making it through the ordeal unscathed. Pondering over the immense number of casualties in this instance might momentarily cause my thoughts to stumble.

It seems that Starfleet dispatched a high number of novice crew members on an uncharted mission. One might wonder if they were running short-staffed and resorted to this measure, unknowingly exacerbating the issue. It appears that sending out inexperienced cadets could potentially breach Starfleet’s regulations, which are designed to ensure safety for a good reason. Could this be an indication of a deeper problem within Starfleet? The frequent destruction of the Enterprise (as depicted in the films) and its crew might hint at such a pattern.

5) Was There No Investigation into the USS Kelvin’s Destruction?

From first sight, it might appear as a trivial issue, but didn’t anyone look into what transpired with the USS Kelvin? Given that there were survivors and presumably equipment recording everything, why does Nero’s ship often catch people off guard when it appears? To provide context, if Starfleet had access to the records of the attack on the USS Kelvin, they would have had 25 years to conduct an investigation. Maybe they also had 25 years to largely forget about the incident, as Kirk seemed to be the only one who still remembered the lesson.

In the current situation, it could be plausible that the Romulan vessel wasn’t immediately identifiable (at least not yet). However, if this is true, it opens up further questions, such as why there were no reactions to the emergence of the Romulans, which historically was a significant event.

If we persist in the belief that Starfleet was unaware of who or what attacked the USS Kelvin, then it seems strange that they didn’t implement additional safety measures to prevent such an incident from recurring. After all, if an unknown vessel suddenly appeared, destroyed one of their ships, and vanished without a trace, wouldn’t that be a significant reason for heightened security?

6) Scotty’s New & Improved Transwarp Beaming Tech

In the reboot of Star Trek, they introduced a new method called Transwarp Beaming Technology, which became crucial when Kirk and Scotty urgently needed to return to the Enterprise. Interestingly, Spock hinted at something Scotty had discovered in his own timeline regarding this technology. This revelation brings up several questions, such as: If Scotty already mastered the formula in his timeline, then why wasn’t it used more often? Was there perhaps a safety issue we weren’t informed about? It makes sense that they might choose to avoid using it if there were valid safety concerns.

In another scenario, one might question why Spock, in this instance, is comfortable handing over an invention of Scotty’s, considering he originates from a different timeline. Granted, the timeline alterations by Nero are extensive, yet this point remains a valid concern. After all, the technology in question is both astonishingly advanced and potent, which could account for its limited exploration in subsequent films.

7) There’s No Department of Temporal Investigations?

To put it simply, let’s tackle an issue that seems obvious: the inconsistency in the Star Trek reboot regarding timelines. While it is established that this new series takes place in a different timeline, characters like Nero and Spock are present. One might wonder, where is the Department of Temporal Affairs, responsible for safeguarding the continuity of the timeline(s), as we’ve seen in various Star Trek adventures? Given their role in maintaining order across time, it seems peculiar that they would be absent from this scenario.

Reflecting on the past, it’s clear that Spock made tremendous efforts to avoid causing contamination, while Nero appeared indifferent. He wrecked the USS Kelvin and several other Starfleet vessels, culminating in the annihilation of a whole planet. Such devastation is hard to overlook, regardless of perspective. It seems likely that, in this timeline, a Department of Temporal Investigations was eventually established in response to Nero’s actions.

Star Trek (2009) is available to stream on Paramount+ and Amazon Prime Video.

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2025-07-24 19:13