Before I started watching Star Trek, I had heard about it on the Big Bang Theory. The way it was talked about, I was expecting a franchise with very airtight and complex lore. In reality, it’s kind of a muddled mess. And really, it’s better the creators don’t worry too much about continuity, why let continuity get in the way of a good story? It doesn’t make sense that half the cast of the original series had encountered Trelane before but in the end, does it really matter?
Anyway, fans of big franchises who keep track of all the lore and act as though it’s all consistent, put way more thought into continuity than the creators.
The Babylon 5 series is such a masterpiece. I watched it several times before finding out more of something said in the first season that’s referred and having an impact later. There’s still holes and threads that are not going anywhere, but the overall is very coherent and well pieced together.
Even the unpredicted events about production have been worked around.
I thoroughly enjoy watching reactions of people watching the show for the first time. The faces they make when they realize something from multiple episodes ago is having an impact, or is being revealed, is priceless.
Unfortunately, aside from the pilot, which is admittedly a bit different, but still mostly explained, I never really got interested in Crusades, and the other movies, so I can’t say for them. But the pilot and the series, mmm, chef’s kiss.