Fanon/Live-Action TV: Difference between revisions

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** I still can't figure out how all this Fanon got built up when [[Canon]] has Leela ''marry a Time Lord!'' Did everyone fall asleep halfway though ''The Invasion of Time?!''

** The [[Expanded Universe]] novels ''Cat's Cradle: Time's Crucible'' and ''Lungbarrow'' by Marc Platt, derived partly from the aborted [[wikipedia:Cartmel Masterplan|Cartmel Masterplan]] (a back story never fully revealed because of the series' cancellation), explained everything. They said that a curse had made the ancient Time Lords infertile. They now reproduced artificially, using devices called Looms to genetically "assemble" new Time Lords. The second book also explained the backstory for the Doctor's relationship with Susan. In simple terms, the Doctor just time-traveled back in time to when they still had children, met the granddaughter of his past life The Other, and took her with him (of course, their relationship had already gotten explained away by an [[Expanded Universe]] short story entitled "Birth of a Renegade", written by ''[[Doctor Who]]'''s then-script editor, Eric Saward, who had gotten canned by the time the Cartmel Masterplan got going, so he had no input there).

** Similar attempts have been made to excuse the much-derided statement in the TV movie that the Doctor is half-human: besides the obvious "his mother was human and his father was a Time Lord" one that people seem to hate, there are things like "he was given human blood just before his regeneration and that made him half-human", "he regenerated into a half-human on purpose", "his mother was a Time Lady who used the Chameleon Arch from the new series to become human", "he was joking"... The new series has not, and probably never will, address this (''Lungbarrow'' gave a jokey rationale for this, as well, but only in passing).

* Similar attempts have been made to excuse the much-derided statement in the TV movie that the Doctor is half-human: besides the obvious "his mother was human and his father was a Time Lord" one that people seem to hate, there are things like "he was given human blood just before his regeneration and that made him half-human", "he regenerated into a half-human on purpose", "his mother was a Time Lady who used the Chameleon Arch from the new series to become human", "he was joking"... The new series has not, and probably never will, address this (''Lungbarrow'' gave a jokey rationale for this, as well, but only in passing).

*** As of "Journey's End", this is no longer canon in the new series. The metacrisis clone of the Doctor is disgusted to be part-human and implies that such a thing has never happened before.

** As of "Journey's End", this is no longer canon in the new series. The metacrisis clone of the Doctor is disgusted to be part-human and implies that such a thing has never happened before.

**** IDW's The Forgotten comic (Issue 5, for the pedantic) gives us this lovely line: "I once convinced my most-hated enemy that I was half-human with nothing more than a wide-eyed expression, a few words and a half-broken Chameleon Arch." Writer Tony Lee, a [[Promoted Fanboy]], is very definitely [[One of Us]].

*** IDW's The Forgotten comic (Issue 5, for the pedantic) gives us this lovely line: "I once convinced my most-hated enemy that I was half-human with nothing more than a wide-eyed expression, a few words and a half-broken Chameleon Arch." Writer Tony Lee, a [[Promoted Fanboy]], is very definitely [[One of Us]].

** According to some fans, any spin-off which claims Time Lords have two hearts before they regenerate for the first time is clearly in violation of a couple of lines in the series which ''suggest'' that the very elderly first Doctor only has one.

* According to some fans, any spin-off which claims Time Lords have two hearts before they regenerate for the first time is clearly in violation of a couple of lines in the series which ''suggest'' that the very elderly first Doctor only has one.

*** The series was making up continuity as they went along, and in fact, the two hearts bit didn't come up until the ''third'' Doctor, after ''two'' regenerations.

** The series was making up continuity as they went along, and in fact, the two hearts bit didn't come up until the ''third'' Doctor, after ''two'' regenerations.

*** But it ''is'' clear, Fanon-wise, that the First Doctor only had one heart, and not just from dialogue--Ian Chesterton took his pulse and likely would've noticed if there was more than one pulse going. Assuming that the extra heart came at the Doctor's first regeneration, and not later, is the Fanon equivalent of Occam's Razor.

** But it ''is'' clear, Fanon-wise, that the First Doctor only had one heart, and not just from dialogue--Ian Chesterton took his pulse and likely would've noticed if there was more than one pulse going. Assuming that the extra heart came at the Doctor's first regeneration, and not later, is the Fanon equivalent of Occam's Razor.

*** But, the medical scan of the Second Doctor in ''The Wheel in Space'' showed no abnormalities, i.e. no second heart.

** But, the medical scan of the Second Doctor in ''The Wheel in Space'' showed no abnormalities, i.e. no second heart.

*** The Second Doctor's lack of abnormalities can be put down to another fan theory: the transition between the First and Second Doctors was a "renewal", not a "regeneration", therefore the second heart still comes with the first regeneration: the Third Doctor.

** The Second Doctor's lack of abnormalities can be put down to another fan theory: the transition between the First and Second Doctors was a "renewal", not a "regeneration", therefore the second heart still comes with the first regeneration: the Third Doctor.

** A popular fanon theory speculates that the Doctor and the Master were brothers, before RTD made very clear that it wasn't so. The show itself even poked fun of the clichedness of the theory in the new series.

* A popular fanon theory speculates that the Doctor and the Master were brothers, before RTD made very clear that it wasn't so. The show itself even poked fun of the clichedness of the theory in the new series.

**** The TVM was supposed to have a line revealing they were brothers, but thankfully this was cut. Interestingly enough, another fan pet theory (one going way back to the Seventies) insists the Doctor and the Master are exes (or that the Master at the very least has an [[Foe Yay|unrequited, bitter crush on the Doctor]]) has been hinted at in the new series. David McIntee and Paul Cornell have both speculated on this possibility.

** The TVM was supposed to have a line revealing they were brothers, but thankfully this was cut. Interestingly enough, another fan pet theory (one going way back to the Seventies) insists the Doctor and the Master are exes (or that the Master at the very least has an [[Foe Yay|unrequited, bitter crush on the Doctor]]) has been hinted at in the new series. David McIntee and Paul Cornell have both speculated on this possibility.

** Since the TV series has never revealed the various Time Lord renegades' original names, the fans who write fic about their lives on Gallifrey rely on the books' names for them: Koschei for the Master, Ushas for the Rani, and Mortimus for the Meddling Monk (the Gallifrey-era Doctor typically goes by Theta Sigma, his academy nickname from the TV series. Some fans apparently think it's the Doctor's actual name, [http://twitter.com/#!/steven_moffat/status/122073232273711104 which it isn't]).

* Since the TV series has never revealed the various Time Lord renegades' original names, the fans who write fic about their lives on Gallifrey rely on the books' names for them: Koschei for the Master, Ushas for the Rani, and Mortimus for the Meddling Monk (the Gallifrey-era Doctor typically goes by Theta Sigma, his academy nickname from the TV series. Some fans apparently think it's the Doctor's actual name, [http://twitter.com/#!/steven_moffat/status/122073232273711104 which it isn't]).

** In the [[Doctor Who Expanded Universe|EU]] sections of fandom, it is almost universally believed that the Ninth Doctor's leather jacket originally belonged to Fitz.

* In the [[Doctor Who Expanded Universe|EU]] sections of fandom, it is almost universally believed that the Ninth Doctor's leather jacket originally belonged to Fitz.

** ''[[Doctor Who]]'' refers to Time Lords almost exclusively as a species. On several accounts. Twice in series three alone -- Smith and Jones, Utopia. Even specifying the word "species," both times. Most fans disregard this and insist that the Doctor's just lying to sound impressive, even though there are no hints within the narrative. Most of the evidence to the contrary tends to consist of redshirts getting shot, and Expanded Universe stuff. That said, you can ask almost anyone on the internet and they'll emphatically tell you that "Time Lord" is a title. Not a creature.

* ''[[Doctor Who]]'' refers to Time Lords almost exclusively as a species. On several accounts. Twice in series three alone -- Smith and Jones, Utopia. Even specifying the word "species," both times. Most fans disregard this and insist that the Doctor's just lying to sound impressive, even though there are no hints within the narrative. Most of the evidence to the contrary tends to consist of redshirts getting shot, and Expanded Universe stuff. That said, you can ask almost anyone on the internet and they'll emphatically tell you that "Time Lord" is a title. Not a creature.

*** Actually this has some basis in the plans for the show before the hiatus, the plan eventually for Ace to leave the show was for her to become a Time Lady.

** Actually this has some basis in the plans for the show before the hiatus, the plan eventually for Ace to leave the show was for her to become a Time Lady.

*** In Series 6, Amy and Rory's daughter is conceived in the TARDIS while traveling through the Time Vortex, and once born exhibits some Time Lord-like properties. The Doctor claims similar exposure to the Untempered Schism caused the original Time Lords to develop over several generations, and Madame Kovarian must be aware of this since she wants to use Melody/River as a weapon against The Doctor. While not conclusive, it presents the possibility that "Time Lords" can rise from different species.

** In Series 6, Amy and Rory's daughter is conceived in the TARDIS while traveling through the Time Vortex, and once born exhibits some Time Lord-like properties. The Doctor claims similar exposure to the Untempered Schism caused the original Time Lords to develop over several generations, and Madame Kovarian must be aware of this since she wants to use Melody/River as a weapon against The Doctor. While not conclusive, it presents the possibility that "Time Lords" can rise from different species.

== ''[[Star Trek]]'' ==

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** T'Pol being in Starfleet before Spock could be integrated into the "Spock was first" fanon if instead of first Vulcan in Starfleet, he was the first Vulcan to enter Starfleet Academy

** That doesn't necessarily violate fanon. U.S.S. ''Intrepid'' had her keel laid down ''after'' the ''Enterprise'' did, and a good while after at that. It's possible her crew is made up of Vulcans who ''followed'' Spock into Starfleet.

*** So basically you're saying that for almost 200 hundred years, (from the time of the twenty first century scenes in the motion picture First Contact to the time of The Original Series), no Vulcan served in Starfleet despite the fact that Earth and Vulcan were allies for such a long period of time. [[Fridge Logic|Think. About. That]].

*** So basically you're saying that for almost 200 hundred years, (from the time of the twenty-first century scenes in the motion picture ''First Contact'' to the time of ''The Original Series''), no Vulcan served in Starfleet despite the fact that Earth and Vulcan were allies for such a long period of time. [[Fridge Logic|Think. About. That]].

*** I always just assumed that starships were segregated with Vulcan ships being kept hotter with higher gravity etc. and thus Spock's presence on a Terran ship was indicative of some type of disagreement with Vulcan. Although, I suppose as a half breed, he's stuck unless he can round up enough half-Vulcans to staff a full ship.

*** From the perspective of Vulcans, who are canonically described as having much longer lifespans than humans (Spock's father lives until the middle of TNG, and Spock himself much longer than that) 200 years isn't all that long. And given the corruption of Surak's teachings described in ''Enterprise'' it's plausible that a generation or two was needed to overcome bigotry to the point that Vulcans felt comfortable in Starfleet in large numbers, with Spock leading the way. Even he had to overcome the generation gap between himself and his father (who was progressive enough among Vulcans to take a human wife). Also, Starfleet as a ''fully-integrated'' entity may be a relatively new thing during TOS--prior to that, the humans, Vulcans, Andorians, etc. maintained separate space fleets (Kirk refers to 'UESPA'--United Earth Space Probe Agency--in an early episode; he may have been a holdover from the Earth contingent incorporated into the Federation's Starfleet. And we know from ''Enterprise'' that the Vulcans and Andorians--at the time bitter enemies--had separate space fleets). There are any number of ways, alone or in combination, that canon and fanon can be reconciled believeably on this point.

** ''[[Star Trek: Enterprise|Star Trek Enterprise]]'' also aroused outrage in some circles with its portrayal of Vulcans as being capable of underhanded deviousness (but entirely logical underhanded deviousness) and arrogance. Evidently those fans based Vulcans on the character of Spock, who was generally noble. This despite examples such as the sole episode of the original series set on Vulcan where underhanded deviousness and arrogance were on display front and center, the traitorous Valeris in ''Star Trek VI'', and Spock himself.

* ''[[Star Trek: Enterprise|Star Trek Enterprise]]'' also aroused outrage in some circles with its portrayal of Vulcans as being capable of underhanded deviousness (but entirely logical underhanded deviousness) and arrogance. Evidently those fans based Vulcans on the character of Spock, who was generally noble. This despite examples such as the sole episode of the original series set on Vulcan where underhanded deviousness and arrogance were on display front and center, the traitorous Valeris in ''Star Trek VI'', and Spock himself.

{{quote|'''Saavik''': You lied.

'''Spock''': I exaggerated. }}

*** ''Enterprise'''s Vulcans were later retconned into followers of the flawed interpretation of Surak's teaching, which may suggest that "real" Vulcans generally are supposed to be as noble as Spock, or at least nobler than they were portrayed.

** ''Enterprise'''s Vulcans were later retconned into followers of the flawed interpretation of Surak's teaching, which may suggest that "real" Vulcans generally are supposed to be as noble as Spock, or at least nobler than they were portrayed.

*** Spock himself was capable of pulling some fast ones back then, too. The plots of ''The Menagerie'' and ''The Enterprise Incident'' depend entirely upon Spock's ability to lie directly to his friends and comrades and violate multiple regulations in the process. His actions in both episodes at minimum risked the loss of the Enterprise and at worst full-scale war. Spock's character is redeemed in the first instance by a desire to help the permanently-crippled Captain Pike and in the second instance by acting upon higher orders ([[Grey and Grey Morality|although those orders were themselves questionable]]... [[Fridge Logic|and why not at least brief the entire senior staff?]] If Kirk and Spock are both caught and killed by the Romulans, Scotty -- just as out of the loop as McCoy was and now in command -- has no contingency plan to get the ship and the crew out of there!)

** Spock himself was capable of pulling some fast ones back then, too. The plots of ''The Menagerie'' and ''The Enterprise Incident'' depend entirely upon Spock's ability to lie directly to his friends and comrades and violate multiple regulations in the process. His actions in both episodes at minimum risked the loss of the Enterprise and at worst full-scale war. Spock's character is redeemed in the first instance by a desire to help the permanently-crippled Captain Pike and in the second instance by acting upon higher orders ([[Grey and Grey Morality|although those orders were themselves questionable]]... [[Fridge Logic|and why not at least brief the entire senior staff?]] If Kirk and Spock are both caught and killed by the Romulans, Scotty -- just as out of the loop as McCoy was and now in command -- has no contingency plan to get the ship and the crew out of there!)

** Another thing the fandom agrees is that, because of their telepathy, Vulcans avoid physical contact like the plague, even though Vulcans on-screen have shown no qualms about touching or being touched. In fact, ''Enterprise'' established that for a long time it wasn't general knowledge among Vulcans that all Vulcans could mind-meld, and it takes training and concentration to be able to do it. Therefore, accidental touch-telepathy is not a thing.

* Another thing the fandom agrees is that, because of their telepathy, Vulcans avoid physical contact like the plague, even though Vulcans on-screen have shown no qualms about touching or being touched. In fact, ''Enterprise'' established that for a long time it wasn't general knowledge among Vulcans that all Vulcans could mind-meld, and it takes training and concentration to be able to do it. Therefore, accidental touch-telepathy is not a thing.

*** It wasn't established in ''Enterprise'', it was established in ''The Original Series'' when mind-melding was first introduced that it was something that required focus and concentration, wasn't a well-known technique. Every time Spock used it, he had to focus. That said, the original series also gave us moments where Spock could sometimes telepathically detect events without any physical contact whatsoever. One episode in particular implied he was actually a touch telepath solely because he was merely half-Vulcan, the implication being that he wouldn't be so limited if he was full-blooded Vulcan.

** It wasn't established in ''Enterprise'', it was established in ''The Original Series'' when mind-melding was first introduced that it was something that required focus and concentration, wasn't a well-known technique. Every time Spock used it, he had to focus. That said, the original series also gave us moments where Spock could sometimes telepathically detect events without any physical contact whatsoever. One episode in particular implied he was actually a touch telepath solely because he was merely half-Vulcan, the implication being that he wouldn't be so limited if he was full-blooded Vulcan.

** Spock being the first ever Vulcan-human hybrid (to live to adulthood) is not actually confirmed in canon, but you wouldn't know it from the fandom.

* Spock being the first ever Vulcan-human hybrid (to live to adulthood) is not actually confirmed in canon, but you wouldn't know it from the fandom.

** Also on ''Star Trek'': Lt. Sulu was originally only given one name, but the fans came up with a first name for him: Hikaru. This name was then used in the sixth movie, thus [[Ascended Fanon|turning Fanon into Canon]].

* Also on ''Star Trek'': Lt. Sulu was originally only given one name, but the fans came up with a first name for him: Hikaru. This name was then used in the sixth movie, thus [[Ascended Fanon|turning Fanon into Canon]].

*** Ditto with Nyota Uhura. It took almost 40 years before we heard ''that'' name on-screen (never mind that the name "Nyota" was suggested for the character by the very actress who played her -- Nichelle Nichols)!

** Ditto with Nyota Uhura. It took almost 40 years before we heard ''that'' name on-screen (never mind that the name "Nyota" was suggested for the character by the very actress who played her -- Nichelle Nichols)!

** Separating the saucer section of the ''Enterprise'' from the remainder of the ship was long speculated in Fanon before it happened on screen. The potential was hinted at in promotional and supporting materials though (e.g. the ''Star Trek Technical Manual'').

* Separating the saucer section of the ''Enterprise'' from the remainder of the ship was long speculated in Fanon before it happened on screen. The potential was hinted at in promotional and supporting materials though (e.g. the ''Star Trek Technical Manual'').

*** This results from the TOS episode "the Apple" in which Kirk gives an order to prepare for "emergency saucer separation."

** This results from the TOS episode "the Apple" in which Kirk gives an order to prepare for "emergency saucer separation."

** It is generally accepted among fans of the [[Star Trek (film)|new movie]] that Kirk was sent to Tarsus IV after the "car incident", even though it's an alternate time line, and so was present for the massacre as Kirk Prime was. It's not unusual for this to be a profound influence on his character in fic. The notion has also crept in that nu!Kirk studied under [[Star Trek: Enterprise|Hoshi Sato]], who was said to be on Tarsus IV at the time of the massacre.

* It is generally accepted among fans of the [[Star Trek (film)|new movie]] that Kirk was sent to Tarsus IV after the "car incident", even though it's an alternate time line, and so was present for the massacre as Kirk Prime was. It's not unusual for this to be a profound influence on his character in fic. The notion has also crept in that nu!Kirk studied under [[Star Trek: Enterprise|Hoshi Sato]], who was said to be on Tarsus IV at the time of the massacre.

*** Which leads directly to the [[Fridge Logic]] of why Kirk Prime was sent there...

** Which leads directly to the [[Fridge Logic]] of why Kirk Prime was sent there...

*** And to the [[Fridge Brilliance]] regarding from whom Kirk did learn all those linguistic terms, which he uses in his attempt to flirt with Uhura in the bar.

** And to the [[Fridge Brilliance]] regarding from whom Kirk did learn all those linguistic terms, which he uses in his attempt to flirt with Uhura in the bar.

*** Also, the vast majority of reboot fanfic writers write Kirk's stepfather as an alcoholic, ultra-abusive, evil child molester and his mother as depressed and emotionally distant.

** Also, the vast majority of reboot fanfic writers write Kirk's stepfather as an alcoholic, ultra-abusive, evil child molester and his mother as depressed and emotionally distant.

*** Deleted scenes from that movie do reveal that Kirk's stepfather was at least mean, loud, and both kids hated him. Kirk's brother ''left home'' because he hated the guy so much. Remember the stepfather yelling at Kirk to bring back "his car"? The same deleted scene shows that the car belongs to George Kirk, and that the stepfather was trying to sell it. The line "[Mom] doesn't know what he's like when she's not around," just adds fuel to the fire.

** Deleted scenes from that movie do reveal that Kirk's stepfather was at least mean, loud, and both kids hated him. Kirk's brother ''left home'' because he hated the guy so much. Remember the stepfather yelling at Kirk to bring back "his car"? The same deleted scene shows that the car belongs to George Kirk, and that the stepfather was trying to sell it. The line "[Mom] doesn't know what he's like when she's not around," just adds fuel to the fire.

** ''[[Star Trek: Enterprise|Enterprise]]'' also caused fits when it introduced Captain Erika Hernandez, commander of the second warp-five starship (''Columbia'' NX-02). This stems from the TOS episode "[[Star Trek/Recap/S3/E24 Turnabout Intruder|Turnabout Intruder]]", in which Janice Lester wails about how women are not allowed to captain starships. Of course, Janice Lester [[Ax Crazy|wasn't exactly too sane to begin with...]]

* ''[[Star Trek: Enterprise|Enterprise]]'' also caused fits when it introduced Captain Erika Hernandez, commander of the second warp-five starship (''Columbia'' NX-02). This stems from the TOS episode "[[Star Trek/Recap/S3/E24 Turnabout Intruder|Turnabout Intruder]]", in which Janice Lester wails about how women are not allowed to captain starships. Of course, Janice Lester [[Ax Crazy|wasn't exactly too sane to begin with...]]

*** One theory is that given her exact wording, "your world of starship captains has no room for women" she could have simply meant that Kirk's life as a captain left no room for a stable long term relationship. Of course blaming him being [[The Captain]] on his [[Anything That Moves]] libido just shows how nuts she was.

** One theory is that given her exact wording, "your world of starship captains has no room for women" she could have simply meant that Kirk's life as a captain left no room for a stable long term relationship. Of course blaming him being [[The Captain]] on his [[Anything That Moves]] libido just shows how nuts she was.

** It's commonly suggested (often taken as fact) that [[Voyager]]'s bio-neural gel packs, which arrange information in a similar manner to the human brain, are the reason Voyager's holograms had a tendency to become sentient (while those on the Enterprise-D did not). However, it was never stated on the show.

* It's commonly suggested (often taken as fact) that [[Voyager]]'s bio-neural gel packs, which arrange information in a similar manner to the human brain, are the reason Voyager's holograms had a tendency to become sentient (while those on the Enterprise-D did not). However, it was never stated on the show.

*** It's easy to see why people believe this. The gel packs were described in the pilot episode, so the [[Law of Conservation of Detail]] suggests they should become important later on (though, canonically, [[What Happened to the Mouse?|they did not]]). And this theory plausibly explains something that was otherwise quite implausible.

** It's easy to see why people believe this. The gel packs were described in the pilot episode, so the [[Law of Conservation of Detail]] suggests they should become important later on (though, canonically, [[What Happened to the Mouse?|they did not]]). And this theory plausibly explains something that was otherwise quite implausible.

** Because alcohol does not affect Vulcans in the same way it does humans, fans often turn to chocolate or copious amounts of sugar when they need to get Spock drunk. This does have some deuterocanonical basis, as it shows up in the ''[[Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home|Star Trek IV the Voyage Home]]'' novelization as an explanation for why Spock spends most of the movie acting loopy.

* Because alcohol does not affect Vulcans in the same way it does humans, fans often turn to chocolate or copious amounts of sugar when they need to get Spock drunk. This does have some deuterocanonical basis, as it shows up in the ''[[Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home|Star Trek IV the Voyage Home]]'' novelization as an explanation for why Spock spends most of the movie acting loopy.

** Gene Roddenberry made a comment during the first season of ''[[Star Trek: The Next Generation]]'' that there were six Galaxy class starships in service. So far so good — [[Word of God]], but does not contradict anything in canon. It was one of those odd scraps of fanon that became very persistent, especially when one takes to counting Galaxy class starships. I remember during the late part of ''DS9''{{'}}s run, meeting someone who insisted that they "got it wrong" by depicting too many Galaxy classes in the fleets... I was given cause to wonder, even if we can accept that there were only six around early in ''TNG'' (which was never stated canonically), is there something preventing them from building more? Did they lose the schematics or something?

* Gene Roddenberry made a comment during the first season of ''[[Star Trek: The Next Generation]]'' that there were six Galaxy class starships in service. So far so good — [[Word of God]], but does not contradict anything in canon. It was one of those odd scraps of fanon that became very persistent, especially when one takes to counting Galaxy class starships. I remember during the late part of ''DS9''{{'}}s run, meeting someone who insisted that they "got it wrong" by depicting too many Galaxy classes in the fleets... I was given cause to wonder, even if we can accept that there were only six around early in ''TNG'' (which was never stated canonically), is there something preventing them from building more? Did they lose the schematics or something?

== Other works ==