this post was submitted on 07 Feb 2024
84 points (98.8% liked)

Star Trek

10613 readers
104 users here now

r/startrek: The Next Generation

Star Trek news and discussion. No slash fic...

Maybe a little slash fic.


New to Star Trek and wondering where to start?


Rules

1 Be constructiveAll posts/comments must be thoughtful and balanced.


2 Be welcomingIt is important that everyone from newbies to OG Trekkers feel welcome, no matter their gender, sexual orientation, religion or race.


3 Be truthfulAll posts/comments must be factually accurate and verifiable. We are not a place for gossip, rumors, or manipulative or misleading content.


4 Be niceIf a polite way cannot be found to phrase what it is you want to say, don't say anything at all. Insulting or disparaging remarks about any human being are expressly not allowed.


5 SpoilersUtilize the spoiler system for any and all spoilers relating to the most recently-aired episodes, as well as previews for upcoming episodes. There is no formal spoiler protection for episodes/films after they have been available for approximately one week.


6 Keep on-topicAll submissions must be directly about the Star Trek franchise (the shows, movies, books etc.). Off-topic discussions are welcome at c/quarks.


7 MetaQuestions and concerns about moderator actions should be brought forward via DM.


Upcoming Episodes

Date Episode Title
11-21 LD 5x06 "Of Gods and Angles"
11-28 LD 5x07 "Fully Dilated"
12-05 LD 5x08 "Upper Decks"
12-12 LD 5x09 "Fissue Quest"
12-19 LD 5x10 "The New Next Generation"

Episode Discussion Archive


In Production

Strange New Worlds (2025)

Section 31 (2025-01-24)

Starfleet Academy (TBA)

In Development

Untitled comedy series


Wondering where to stream a series? Check here.


Allied Discord Server


founded 1 year ago
MODERATORS
 

Came across this article, and it's a very interesting take on how Star Trek has changed with the times, and how modern audiences seem to have a harder time trusting institutions or imagining Trek's utopia.

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[–] [email protected] 4 points 9 months ago (1 children)

The newer seasons seem to miss some of this especially on that professionalism front. The kind of “British stiff upper lip” stereotype.

This presumes that that sort of stoicism is particularly aspirational or healthy, and I don't think there's anything close to universal consensus on that one.

I think something that gets missed in discussions of "utopia" is that it's not real. Utopia is not attainable, because there is no universal definition of what that would look like. It exists as a dream of the future, but that's all.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 9 months ago (1 children)

At least to me, I find it pretty aspirational. But I can see how others would differ on that regard.

Regardless, I appreciate that this is still seen through a few different lenses. The Klingon for example are like... notably emotional. A Klingon being quick to anger is one of their defining traits. Yet they're still very "respectful" in their own way, with that code of honor being very key to their society.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Yeah, there's a singular implied "universal morality" throughout Star Trek of accepting diversity and learning to not impose on other civilizations or each other on the basis of one's biological differences or culture, even for Klingons! I'd say the rest is hard to define and subjective, as @[email protected] said above, but post-scarcity and free agency in life to follow your passions has to be pretty close!

[–] [email protected] 3 points 9 months ago

learning to not impose on other civilizations

And even this is the central conflict of many TNG episodes - it's a little more indirect, but the eternal question of "how do we navigate the Prime Directive" is essentially a conflict between the characters and Starfleet (it's their rule, after all).