MovieChat Forums > Star Trek: Generations (1994) Discussion > Why didn't soran..

Why didn't soran..

posted 8 years ago by zyggums
7 replies | jump to latest

Why didn't soran just get a shuttle craft and fly into the Nexus ribbon instead of altering its path?

[–] kurthowe 8 years ago

Bad writing. It also makes no sense that nobody thought of utilizing this "nexus ribbon" which moves though our galaxy every 39 years and allows you to leave "to any place at any time". It would have made a lot more sense if it wasn't a ribbon, but a temporal doorway between dimensions that could only possibly be opened via large-scale catastrophe...something specific like the destruction of a binary star system (to give the characters clues to follow Soran). Since it would be a temporary inter-dimensional rip, that solves the issue of it being unknown to everyone aside from those from there.

[–] MrLuthor89 8 years ago

It's not bad writing if they don't EXPLICITLY say in the movie that every ship that has ever approached the Ribbon has been destroyed or severely damaged.

I'm fascinated, three responses and no one remembers the clear cut dialogue that explains why Soran doesn't just fly into it with a ship?

Picked even asks that question word for word "why doesn't he just fly into it with a ship?!"

Watch the movie guys.

[–] kurthowe 8 years ago

A planet IS a ship ;-) And yes, it is destroyed too. So the result is the same if you go into the ribbon or make the ribbon go into you. You end up having Christmas with family you never had, or chop wood & make breakfast.

[–] mikeyg24 8 years ago

No the planet is destroyed by the shock wave from the exploding star! It's conceivable the energy in the ribbon is incompatible and reacts violently to other energy sources such as the technology required for propulsion through space.

However since the whole universe is in motion it's not short on momentum, powerless objects don't 'stand still' in space. You could argue that a scientist of Zorans ability and longevity might have been able to use a ship to fly to point in space where a gravitational force would pull his ship having jettisoned the engine into an intercept course with the ribbon.

But where's the fun in that?

Hey! You're not old enough to drink! Now go and die for your country!!!

[–] bjlevine 8 years ago

I have a theory:

Soran tried all kinds of things to get into the Nexus, to no avail. My theory is that Soran can't get in the Nexus because he's already in there. Just as Guinan left an "echo" behind, Soran also left an echo that was probably living a happy life with this family. You'll note that we get no view of Veridian 3 Soran in the Nexus (though seeing Picard and Soran duking it out in the Nexus might have been cool to see).

So try as he might, Soran is forever doomed to not make it back in because he's already there.

17 Fake CJs Ignored (and counting)

[–] kurthowe 8 years ago

That theory does not conflict with the film...good job. It also helps explain why he does not get back the same time Picard is sucked in - he can't ever go back. But the problem of Starfleet knowing about the ribbon passing though the galaxy on 39 year intervals remains.

[–] mikeyg24 8 years ago

The only issue I have with that theory is that there's no real evidence to substantiate it. I'm not saying it's impossible but the plots of movies are created and if that were the intent of the writers I imagine they would have put a little more emphasis on the possibility and have Guinan tell Picard that it's impossible to return but Soran is mad and won't listen etc.
Also it's very vague what exactly Guinan's form that meets Picard in the Nexus is. She says 'think of me as an echo', she uses layman's terms to explain it so for me there's nothing even to promote the conjecture that an Elorean's echo is a preclusion to the physical body returning to the Nexus.

Incidentally we don't see Soran in the Nexus because Picard doesn't go looking for him. What would be the point? He just intends to bring Kirk back from the Nexus and stop Soran in our universe.

Hey! You're not old enough to drink! Now go and die for your country!!!