The Federation makes first contact with the Ferengi in this little side adventure. Although they grow into a slightly more complex and nuanced race in later seasons, the first appearance of these big-eared aliens portrays them as completely snivelly and back-stabby. One reason for this is because as the Next Generation sought to differentiate itself … More Trade and Value, TNG: S1E5 “The Last Outpost”
Culture is a complex dance between the preservation of tradition, predictable communication, and the regulation of emotions. For example, mutual social understanding of what is expected within a specific situation can help people communicate without speaking, thereby saving them from having to say something potentially hurtful. Cultural norms keep people civilized and regulate behavior. They … More First One to Die, TNG: S1E4 “Code of Honor”
As we reach the end of the Star Trek that started it all, I’ve decided to take a closer look at a pattern some may have noticed cropping up fairly frequently. Many Star Trek stories feature planets and alien civilizations which are suspiciously uniform. From the proud warrior born from an entire alien species of … More Bonus Article: Planet of Hats
Captain Kirk falls in love with a Native American woman in this possibly questionable episode. However, aside from a few unflattering stereotypes, the story is not bad, and it was reasonably well received by audiences. The 60s were a thing, and Kirk embraces his inner flower child in a beautiful wilderness setting. For a character … More Dances with Memories, TOS: S3E3 “The Paradise Syndrome”
Exploring the origins of a specific cultural belief often turns into a chicken or egg question. Historians can speculate whether a society adopted a new creed based on the environmental pressures of the time, or if it was a natural progression of their already existing values. The reality is most likely an intricate combination of … More Chicken or Pledge, TOS: S2E23 “The Omega Glory”
If “A Piece of the Action” was a cursory view of cultural contamination, this episode’s adventure is a fully realized infection of the worst disease in philosophy. Much like the mafia planet, the citizens of planet Ekos were introduced to an outside viewpoint by a Starfleet bungle. This time, a historian and cultural observer John … More A Shift in Power, TOS: S2E21 “Patterns of Force”
With great power comes great…capacity to make things worse. Starfleet wields amazing strength due to its superior weaponry and the governing capability of a united political force. With so much influence, it is not surprising that many powerful organizations find themselves in dilemmas when weaker states look to them for help. Is it immoral to … More Friend of my Enemy, TOS: S2E19 “A Private Little War”
The Original Series of Star Trek was ground-breaking for its era, even if many of the stories seem dated by our standards today. During a time when the initial idea of a female captain was rejected, as producers thought a woman would never rise to that level, Gene Roddenberry still pursued his vision of a … More Perception of Progress, TOS: S2E11 “Friday’s Child”
Utopias and dystopias are often explored in science fiction, with speculative storytellers imagining vast possibilities of what the perfect world could look like. One could argue that the first ‘utopia’ story found in many Western cultures is that of the Garden of Eden. However, this legend is not concerned with the inner day to day … More Eternal Childhood of the Forgotten Mind, TOS: S2E5 “The Apple”
A person of strong moral character benefits the society of which he or she is a part, and the society itself was the most influential in fostering the individual’s beneficial traits. The Enterprise crew faced their own test of character, but emerged championing the superior society. When transporting through an ion storm, Kirk, McCoy, Scotty, … More Contract or Character, TOS: S2E4 “Mirror, Mirror”
Hopeless Trekkie 