Star Trek: Generations – 10 Things That Make No Sense

Not long after the penultimate Star Trek VI debuted in theaters, it was decided that a new crew would finally get a crack at the silver screen. Star Trek: The Next Generation had already been televised for years up to that point, and had recently wrapped its final season. To progress to the cinematic realm, the decision was made to have the iconic Captain Kirk pass the baton officially to Captain Picard, by having them share the same film.

The result wasn’t perfect, but it was an interesting and memorable Trek film that would send the original Star Trek cast off with a gesture of respect. Still, there are quite a few things about Star Trek: Generations that just don’t add up, and here’s a list of the worst offenders that left lots of Trekkers scratching their heads.

10 Entering The Ribbon

Generations attempts to establish that getting into the Nexus via the energy ribbon is not as straightforward as one might think. However, in their quest to build a plot by creating a barrier to entry, they fail to take into other considerations. First and foremost, the starship Lakul shown in the opening prologue suffers massive damage inflicted by the ribbon, but its crew is constantly phasing in and out of the spacetime continuum, signaling that they are within the Nexus.

While it’s true that starships who enter the ribbon suffer catastrophic destruction, it is also established that entering the Nexus via this way is possible, albeit hazardous. Why Soran couldn’t simply float in space in a pressure suit, in the direct path of the ribbon, is anyone’s guess.

9 “Pulled…Ripped Away.”

The opening act of the film helps establish some exposition as to the nature of the highly destructive energy ribbon, and the effect it could have on starships caught up in its wake. Later, this would be expanded on to tell the story of how beings could find themselves passing through the ribbon and entering the fabled Nexus, a dimension of pure joy and happiness.

Guinan describes that she was “pulled…ripped away” from the Nexus, presumably by Scotty when he beams 47 of the Lakul passengers aboard before the ship explodes. This makes little sense since those who enter the Nexus are swept out of our dimension completely. How could the ribbon itself eject them back out into our space, only to be locked on with a transporter? Guinan describes herself as feeling utterly content in a way she’d never felt before in her life, which suggests she had managed to stay a while inside the Nexus.

8 The Fire

Next Generation audiences were introduced to Jean-Luc Picard’s brother Robert and his nephew René at the beginning of season 4, hot on the heels of the victory against the first Borg invasion. They would resurface later on in name in this movie, but with a tragic development. When Picard receives a distressing message from Earth, Counselor Troi visits him to find out what’s gone wrong.

Picard tells Troi that both his brother and nephew burned to death in a fire. While tragic, it’s also odd. Although Robert was not fond of technology and refused to install a replicator in the house, surely a 24th-century fire suppression system would have been considered vital, at least from a responsibility standpoint?

7 Data’s Emotion Chip

The TNG season 7 cliffhanger opener “Descent, Part 2” found Data turning on his brother Lore and deactivating him permanently. Afterward, Data uncovered the coveted emotion chip that his creator Dr. Soong originally intended for him to have. Data’s negative experiences with human emotions under Lore’s manipulation prompted him to destroy it, but Geordi stepped in to prevent it.

In Generations, Data revisits the idea of installing the emotion chip so that he can better fit in as a human. The trouble is that the aforementioned episode established that the chip had been damaged after Data fired on Lore with a phaser. There’s no explanation as to how, or when the chip was repaired.

6 Guinan Never Mentioned The Nexus

It isn’t until Soran’s plan unfolds that Picard seeks answers, and when he learns that Guinan has a past connection with the fellow El-Aurian, he visits her to learn why. Guinan reveals that the energy ribbon Soran is obsessed with is actually a gateway to an interdimensional realm of pure and unabated happiness and bliss, known as the Nexus.

This doesn’t make a lot of sense, especially since neither she nor any of the others who had experienced the Nexus seemed to mention a word of it. Starfleet only had knowledge of the ribbon itself, as opposed to the interdimensional doorway that lay behind it. It’s possible that Guinan didn’t want its existence known for fear of abuse, but none of the other survivors seems to have mentioned it, either.

5 Riker Doesn’t Protest

A recurring theme on The Next Generation was Commander Riker’s stubborn insistence on adhering to procedure and personal principal. That meant openly challenging and discouraging the Captain whenever he wanted to put himself in the direct path of danger. Sometimes Picard would relent, while other times he would overrule his second in command.

When Picard volunteers to be Lursa and B’Etor’s prisoner in exchange for the release of Geordi, the stakes suddenly become much higher. He leaves Riker in command on the bridge without so much as a single objection, which is drastically out of character for Number One.

4 Shield Modulation

The Enterprise and the Klingon Bird of Prey duke it out in an exciting fight near the end of the second act after Lursa and B’Etor figure out the Enterprise’s shield modulation frequency. By adjusting torpedo modulation to match, the Klingon ship begins firing through the Enterprise’s shields, causing catastrophic damage.

It also makes no sense. There are numerous examples of the Enterprise crew manually modulating shield frequencies, most notably during the battle with the Borg where they used the technique to throw off their tractor beam. Why couldn’t anyone simply shift to another shield frequency?

3 Guinan’s Echo

When Picard is inadvertently drawn into the Nexus along with Soran, he experiences his own ideal paradise and utopia playing out loved ones by his side. Soon, however, he begins to remember the events leading up to his presence in the Nexus and determines that the whole thing feels wrong.

In that instant, he’s met by the ever-wise Guinan, or rather, her “echo.” She continues to speak to him as if their conversation on the Enterprise never ended, which doesn’t make sense. El-Aurians do have certain mysterious powers, but putting Guinan in with Picard feels like a cheap way of bringing him back to reality, rather than allowing him to do it himself.

2 Crashing Kirk’s Party

Having Guinan appear as an echo of her real self inside the Nexus seemed more like an excuse to give exposition for Picard to understand what was happening. It also brought up a way for him to meet Captain Kirk, and convince the iconic Starfleet officer to go back with him to Veridian III, so they could stop Soran together.

No mention is made as to how this works. The Nexus, by all accounts, should be a place catered specifically to the dreams, joys and desires of each individual. Yet, it seems more like an extra-dimensional MMO, where people can visit each other. This makes no sense, especially given that Picard is beholden to Kirk’s memories and visions, suggesting he has invaded his space somehow.

1 Leaving The Nexus

Guinan’s echo tells Picard that he can go literally anywhere, at any point in history if he decides to leave the Nexus. No explanation is given as to how, which is a major gaffe signaling some poor Star Trek writing choices. After all, the Lakul crew was forcibly beamed out of the Nexus through mysterious circumstances, and obviously not by choice.

Kirk and Picard just “wish” to go back to Veridian III to stop Soran, and it happens. Is there some mystical intelligence at work, keeping tabs on the Nexus’ residents and allowing them to leave at the drop of a hat? Also, it’s very difficult to imagine a supremely wise person like Guinan wanting to stay there forever, whereas Kirk and Picard decide it’s time to go.

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