Shared universes return approach additional than Tony Stark, Steve Rogers and co sitting down for some post-Chitauri shawarma. Superheroes have been moonlighting in one another’s comedian books for many years, whereas Cheers regulars often paid Frasier a go to in Seattle. It wasn’t till Marvel Studios launched the MCU (Marvel Cinematic Universe), nevertheless, that the idea began to realize severe mainstream traction.
By incorporating the contrasting adventures of Iron Man, Captain America, Thor and Black Widow into one gigantic, overarching narrative, Marvel efficiently blended cinematic spectacle with the “must-watch-every-episode” ethos of serialised TV. The MCU’s well-known end-credits stings additionally had the sudden side-effect of convincing us all to stay round till the top of the closing titles of each film, y’know, simply in case.
From a enterprise perspective it is one of many shrewdest artistic selections ever made in Hollywood, a transfer that helped flip the MCU into probably the most profitable franchise in historical past, whereas spawning a military of imitators. Some fell shortly by the wayside — Common’s deliberate Darkish Universe did not survive past its first launch, “The Mummy” — whereas others (most notably DC’s authentic reply to the MCU) merely felt drained compared. However with apologies to box-office behemoths Marvel, Star Wars and the Monsterverse house of Godzilla and King Kong, probably the most thrilling shared universe of all of them is at present positioned someplace on the ultimate frontier.
It isn’t fairly “Infinite Variety in Infinite Mixtures” (sorry, Mr Spock), however “Star Trek“‘s guideline since “Discovery” introduced the franchise again to TV in 2017 has been selection. “Discovery” began out as an “Authentic Collection” prequel, earlier than warping off to the even-more-distant way forward for the thirty second century. That left a niche within the timeline for the much less serialized voyages of a pre-Kirk Enterprise in “Unusual New Worlds“. “Picard” picked up the story of the ageing Jean-Luc Picard twenty years after “The Subsequent Era” crew’s closing voyage, whereas a pair of animated sequence — youngsters’ present “Prodigy” and all-out comedy “Decrease Decks” — got freedom to take probably the most daring swings in “Trek” historical past.
Throw upcoming spy journey “Part 31” and cadet-themed “Disco” spin-off “Starfleet Academy” into the combo, and it is clear that — past the compulsory warp drives, phasers and frequent violations of the Prime Directive — the primary aspect unifying these very completely different sequence is their shared universe. Even their settings are far sufficient aside — geographically and chronologically — that there is little hazard of storylines colliding in Spacedock.
The distinction between the Alpha Quadrant and a sure galaxy far, distant is stark. Till “The Acolyte“, each canonical “Star Wars” film and TV present had been set inside a number of generations of the Skywalker household tree. However even ignoring the constraints of that temporary timeline, there is a creeping homogeneity to a lot of the saga’s storytelling and dialogue.
Scenes from “The Acolyte” (set round a century earlier than “The Phantom Menace”) really feel interchangeable with moments in “Ahsoka” (a number of years after “Return of the Jedi”), whereas the powers-that-be at Skywalker Ranch appear extra preoccupied with plugging holes in current lore than telling tales for their very own sake. What was the ultimate episode of “The Acolyte” season one if not a prequel to the prequel trilogy?
“Star Wars” must be an exhilarating interstellar playground able to supporting any story you possibly can think about, nevertheless it’s more and more constrained by strict guidelines that should, it appears, by no means be damaged. “Star Wars” is asking out for its personal “Decrease Decks”-style comedy”, whereas the upcoming “‘Goonies’ in area” “Skeleton Crew” might be the kid-oriented launchpad that Prodigy has been for “Trek”. “Star Wars” arguably wants each as a result of proper now, all that canon might simply really feel formidable to anybody desirous to take these treasured first steps into a bigger world.
Not that the present iterations of “Star Trek” deny the franchise’s wealthy previous. The wonderful closing season of “Picard” was a nostalgia-fest from begin to end, bringing again acquainted buddies and foes to present the “TNG” crew the send-off they deserved — if it is attainable to copy your cake and eat it, that season confirmed the best way. “Prodigy” additionally goes massive on the deep cuts, however crucially, it does not matter when you’ve got no concept that the identify of the USS Voyager-A’s resident whale (Gillian) is a reference to “Star Trek IV”. Or {that a} point out of the “dysfunctional” crew of the Cerritos is a callback to “Decrease Decks”. All the in-jokes are merely window dressing holding the universe collectively, with out excluding newcomers.
That is the genius of the trendy “Star Trek” universe, whose guiding lights clearly perceive that anticipating each viewer to be up-to-speed with the greater than 900 episodes and 13 “Star Trek” films within the again catalogue can be a surefire path to failure. The MCU and “Star Wars” lived charmed lives once they have been constructed round a comparatively small variety of films, however each franchises are actually too huge and unwieldy to demand that even informal viewers grow to be completists.
No person ought to have to observe all the things, so certainly it is higher for everybody if we settle for that some folks will set their focusing on computer systems on “The Mandalorian” however keep away from “Andor“, simply as some “Discovery” followers can skip “Picard” with out feeling they’re lacking out.
Moreover, we in all probability should not be stunned that it is “Trek” main the best way, as a result of this is not Starfleet’s first away mission to a shared universe. Again within the ’90s “The Subsequent Era”, “Deep House 9”, “Voyager”, 4 films and even prequel sequence “Enterprise” shared characters and plotlines, to the extent that after a whole bunch of hours of TV, planet Earth was dropping curiosity in exhibits that have been turning into more and more formulaic. Sound acquainted? The franchise’s newest overseers have boldly taken notice — now “Star Wars”, the MCU and the remaining ought to observe of their warp trails.
“Discovery”, “Picard”, “Unusual New Worlds” and “Decrease Decks” are all out there to stream on Paramount Plus, together with “The Authentic Collection”, “The Subsequent Era”, “Deep House 9”, “Voyager” and “Enterprise”. “Prodigy” is out there on Netflix.
