Kirk and crew are surveying the water planet Argo, when they are attacked by an alien sea creature. The venom from this extraterrestrial fish monster transforms them both into aquatic beings. Although the captain and science officer are now able to breathe underwater, they are unable to survive outside of it. Since it would be … More Under the Sea, TAS: S1E13 “The Ambergris Element”
In a 1973 study conducted by social researchers Darley and Batson, theology students were tasked with giving a talk on the parable of the Good Samaritan. Some of these students were given ample time to walk to the next building and deliver their speech, while others were told they are running late. On the path … More Evolution’s Hidden Dimension, TAS: S1E12 “The Time Trap”
In what is considered one of the most sexist episodes of The Next Generation, the Enterprise crew looks for survivors of a freighter crash on the planet Angel One. On this non-Federation planet, only women were hunter, leading to their current positions of power, supposedly because they are larger and physically stronger than the men. … More Divided We Fall, TNG: S1E14 “Angel One”
Star Trek envisions a utopian future where everyone belongs, everyone’s needs are met, and people work for the joy of contributing to society, not just for survival or subsistence. Money does not exist because this socialist utopia has been achieved. It is a time of true post-scarcity and unlimited abundance. Any material thing at all … More Bonus Article: Trekonomics Part 1
The Enterprise picks up a distress signal from a nearby planet and upon investigation, they are hit with a beam of spiroid radiation. This radiation causes every living thing on the ship to shrink. Kirk beams down to the planet and materializes at his full size, as the transporter retained his original body pattern. While … More Honey I Shrunk the Enterprise, TAS: S1E11 “The Terratin Incident”
Somewhere out of the tangled knot that is nature vs. nurture, siblings sharing the same environment and similar genetics can often be polar opposites. One theory suggests that because children within the same family are competing for similar resources and parental attention, they diversify in order to occupy a unique niche. Brothers playing … More Corrupted Data, TNG: S1E13 “Datalore”
From the first adventure narrated around a fire to the very latest high tech video game, humans are storytelling creatures. The lasting power of fiction resonates within us all. Stories communicate information in a way that leaves an impact on the listener, as we see ourselves in the protagonist’s struggles and learn from their choices … More Choose Your Own Misadventure, TNG: S1E12 “The Big Goodbye”
Tis the month of cozy late winter love, and the galaxy’s most notorious con-man has the perfect product. Harry Mudd makes another appearance in black market sales, this time peddling crystals that supposedly act as a ‘love potion’. The user simply eats a crystal and touches their intended target to induce irresistible feelings of love … More What is Love – Baby Don’t Desert Me, TAS: S1E10 “Mudd’s Passion”
Deanna Troi’s mother makes her first appearance aboard the Enterprise to remind her daughter of a long forgotten arraigned marriage. It turns out the ship’s councilor was promised to a not too bad looking human doctor named Wyatt. Troi is less keen, and feels conflicted about her feelings for Riker. Meanwhile, Wyatt and his family … More Mindful Healing, TNG: S1E11 “Haven”
The cautionary tales of artificial intelligence (AI) are fraught with terrifying scenarios. What if AI becomes too intelligent? Too powerful? Too adaptable? Few AI doom stories explore what Kirk and Spock encounter on this adventure: what if AI gets bored? The focus on excessive intelligence in the AI of previous stories has often been on … More Self-lost, TAS: S1E9 “Once Upon a Planet”
