What's the Deal?
As I mentioned back in my TNG Season 1 write-up, it's only recently that I've started seriously delving into Trek. I think as the Kelvin movies were released, I knew almost nothing about the original Trek. I knew nothing about what was supposed to be a change or not. Technically, I still don't! (Still haven't watched the original series.) That I adore, or at least immensely respect, every single actor they hired certainly helped with my enthusiasm, though.

If you're as out in the dark (it's a pun, heh) as I was, Space.com shared a handy breakdown of why the Kelvin timeline is different.