Trekie owl

introduction

We live in dark times, this much is beyond dispute. Industry of all kinds, from retail to resource extraction is run amok. An entire generation, or more faces a worse life in every dimension then our parents and grandparents. Not only economically, but in terms of happiness and human companionship as well. Democratic government, which once could be relied upon to protect us all from capitalism's worst excesses now enthusiastically encourages and enables plutocratic plundering. Rather than come together in solidarity to put a stop to the plundering of our planet and pocketbooks. Communities the world over have turned to right wing strong men. Who will scapegoat the most vulnerable among us, all the while accelerating our descent into plutocracy, and risk the extinction of our species. In this climate it is perhaps unsurprising that our scifi and fantasy media would tend overwhelmingly dystopian. Everything from game of thrones to the hunger games to black mirror and more . Take us to worlds that are overwhelmingly grim and dark. This is in and of itself not a bad thing, science fiction and fantasy have always been a vehicle to explore the consequences of present day action in a way that is perhaps impossible for literary fiction, or other genres. It has always been so Ever since the first primitive space operas of the late Victorian and Edwardian era Were used to criticize British colonial policy.[1]

This genre of literature has another important societal function. Science fiction and fantasy also help raise hope for a better tomorrow. With all the dystopia infecting current events, and seeping into our fiction. Now more than ever hope is important.

Hope?

Hope is not a belief against all evidence that everything will turn out right one day. It is the conviction and courage to do what we can in order to ensure that a better tomorrow is on the horizon. Even knowing we might not see this better world ourselves. Hope is a weapon in times when all seems lost. It opens us up to greater empathy, protects us from fear and selfishness, and can if carefully cultivated unlock the true happiness and peace that flows from the virtue of universal compassion. One does not get hope from air, and sunlight however. Hope must be infused. This is what modern Scifi and Fantasy Creators forget. It is the function of Fiction to be a source of hope!

Science fiction and fantasy, produced since 2008 or so, tend to be rather grim dark in theme and tone. There are notable exceptions to this trend. However serious connoisseurs and critics of the genre have come to a consensus, that in order to get ones recommended daily dose of hope and light one should explore older works within the genre. Which brings us to the grand classic of optimistic science fiction. Gene Roddenberry's Star Trek.

Modern objections

I have recommended, that younger people watch star trek many times in diverse places. I usually encounter one of two objections from twenty somethings and younger. First objection is it is to utopian and unrealistic to be taken seriously. Secondarily that it is too hard to watch, or has too many "filler episodes", or some variation on what I would call format critiques.

Both of these criticisms can be solved by use of a proper viewing guide, or critical commentary of some sort. Unfortunately when I sought one out I couldn't find any that clearly addressed both the concerns raised by the uninitiated and my own concerns as a critic and author of Utopian Media.

So I asked my Trek knowledgeable friends principally Xe Iaso and The Mysterious MJH. And the result is here before you.

Utopia?

When people criticize star trek as too utopian they have a point because star trek is indeed a classic of utopian literature. However criticizing a hammer for being too good at pounding in nails rather misses the point. Star trek is utopian because that's what it is. However The Original Series and the early part of The Next Generation, sort of defy utopian convention in a bad way.

You see in utopian literature every utopia begins as a dystopia [2]. The people living in or through the hellish prelude, make a conscious choice that things aren't going to continue the way they are going. Utopians literature usually picks up some years beyond the turning point, and tells the story of humanity's evolution beyond their grim and dark past in flashbacks and other techniques. [3]. Put simply the point of Utopian Literature is to show us that Utopia is always the Horizon, it is never found in the past or present. Only through the work and sacrifice of every one of us is a brighter day possible.

Star Trek does indeed have this grimdark past hiding deep within its lore. watching the series in the traditional fashion will leave you with the impression that the characters are condescending, to us more primitive being with quotes such as

"The economics of the future are somewhat different. You see, money doesn't exist in the 24th century. we work to better ourselves" [4].

as if the socioeconomic structures, developed by society in the wake of nearly a hundred years of war, and after the discovery of near infinite free energy. Are easy to replicate for anyone living in the twentieth or early twenty first centuries.

in universe history

Greg
<Greg> I was informed that events in Strange New Worlds, and Discovery alter some of the dates in this summary a touch. The in universe explanation is 24th century historians having different opinions then 22nd/23rd. By the SNW reckoning the Eugenics Wars and WWIII were a continuing conflict from 2021 to 2053, None of that alters the thesis of this section. People will complain if i don't make a note.

In the star trek universe all events which occurred prior to 1968 or so happen as they are known in our universe. Star treks cold war was significantly more brutal then ours. Resulting in two wars known as the eugenics war in the nineteen nineties and finally in world war three lasting from 2026 to 2052. The result of which was the collapse of all government. It wasn't until matter/antimatter annihilation was harnessed, and the subsequent invention of the faster than light travel. That the United Earth emerged as a political entity. According to memory alpha the star trek wiki. United earth was in existence by the year 2067, and didn't achieve full control of the planet until sometime in the twenty second century.

As anyone with even a casual interest in science and science fiction well knows Matter/Antimatter energy is sort of the holy grail of science. As it offers almost limitless energy on a relatively small input volume of fuel. Therefore you might think that the people of the trek universe had it easy in establishing utopia under these conditions. After all governments and presumably most corporations were defunct by the time the new technology was discovered and a paradise would be easily established under these condition, and as we all know it is easy to be a saint in paradise.

Exiles from paradise

As we have established the problem with Star Trek is not that it is too utopiaian, rather it doesn't follow the conventions of the genre closely enough and can seem rather too unrealistic or inhuman as a result.

it turns out that the star trek writers of the later nineties figured this out too. As I said the later series address the critiques mentioned above. So the best approach when watching star trek for the first time is to watch just enough of the early episodes to gain context. And then binge Star Trek Deep Space Nine. Followed by the later series in any order you please. Here is my ideal watching order.

The Original Series Kirk and Spock era

  1. Patterns of Force: a typical episode with commentary on the prime directive one of the key plot devices of Deep Space 9
  2. Taste of Armageddon: Best Political Commentary of the TOS era
  3. The Trouble with Tribbles: No Spoilers
  4. Assignment Earth: Just a damn Good show. Touches on World War III
  5. Space Seed: Background on Eugenics Wars and set up for later parts of the Guide
  6. Mirror, Mirror: Set up for critical DS9 episode
  7. The Doomsday Machine
  8. The Cage

Interlude The Movies

The movies are a mixed bag, and are optional for purposes of this Guide. But if you want to watch them. Order is

  1. Star Trek II: Wrath Of Kahan
  2. Star Trek III: The Search for Spock
  3. Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home

None of the other films are important to this watching order. Do not watch the Abrams Films as it that timeline should be considered separately.

TNG Era Picard/Data

  1. Measure of a Man: Even Utopias have lawyers
  2. Cause and Effect: The Temporal Mechanics Episode
  3. Tapestry: Who is Q
  4. Darmok: Great episode with a better moral
  5. Yesterday's Enterprise: How Easily does it all fall apart
  6. The Drumhead: Timeless Truths critical for today
  7. I Borg: Good intro to The Borg
  8. The Offspring: I love Data episodes let's put one here before the big stuff
  9. The Inner Light: One of the best hours of television ever done
  10. Chain of Command: There are FOUR LIGHTS
  11. Best of Both Worlds: The lead in to DS9.

Deep Space 9

Deep space nine is worth watching in its entirety. The story departs significantly from the usual trek formula. It follows Commander Benjamin Sisko as he tries to assist in the rebuilding of a civilization which recently liberated itself from occupation by a fascist state. The setting on the galaxy's edge far from the usual support system And the characters having to deal with, typical problems of greed and war, render it the most relatable star trek to a modern audience. With that the characters are able to maintain the values of their utopian society in this strange new world, and make positive change. For this reason it is also the most inspirational star trek series.

As an anti ableist writer i can't help but mention that star trek deep space nine also deals with disability in the most honest and least harmful way of any of the television of that era. The Nog story arc is one of the best stories of growth through adversity written.

Deep space nine is also notable because it holds up to modern binge watching television habits surprisingly well. It broke with conventional syndicated television storytelling, in which all episodes were self contained. and everything returned to the status quo at the end of an episode.

Deep space nine from season three onward, unfolds is story in season long arcs, with subplots and side quests a plenty. Some would argue that this pattern was in place from the series inception. But the season three premier is I think the clear dividing line between the television writing patterns of the eighties and nineties. And what we would see with breaking bad, and the age of peak television.

In other words it feels like a show at least fifteen years ahead of its time from season three onward.

The Rest

The rest of the star trek series viewable in any order. My current aesthetic preference is to go in timeline order. as of this writing timeline order is currently.

  1. Enterprise
  2. Strange New Worlds
  3. Discovery
  4. Voyager
  5. Picard

Prodigy and lower decks

A beta reader for this project, put in a strong recommendation for star trek prodigy as an ideal for series. While I have seen enough prodigy To sort of see his point. I still consider it more of a side series, which was admittedly canceled too soon.

If you don't have a background in star trek, you will get little to no value from watching lower decks. I recommend it as the final series to watch. That way you will understand and appreciate the comedy.

footnotes

  1. See e.g Robert Cole The Struggle For Empire Available from WikiSource
  2. at least every serious utopia, the Saint Thomas Moore original was a satire.
  3. For an almost textbook perfect example of utopian science fiction at its best kim Stanley Robinson's Pacific Edge 1992
  4. Ironically this quote is pulled from star trek film specifically about backstory First Contact