Episodes still relevant....

[Warped9]

I think one of the strengths of TOS is storytelling that still manages to resonate with successive generations. The look and even terminology of some episodes may date, but the inherent meanings and messages of some stories still connect.

I think this is partly from not getting caught up in certain specifics that can tie a story solely to the specific events that might have served as initial inspiration.

So maybe we can explore some of that here in sharing episodes we think still work decades after they were originally aired.


I'll start by offering up "The Cloud Minders."

Third season gets panned a lot, but I find there's still quite a bit of worthy materiel in third season. "The Cloud Minders" is essentially about social inequality, and that's an issue that never really gets outdated, particularly today when the disparity between the very wealthy and powerful and the rest of us is an often discussed issue in tandem with views on the distribution of wealth.

The inhabitants of the cloud city Stratos are basically the top percentage of society who enjoy all the comforts and priviledges of their society while the Troglytes represent the rest of the population. The Troglytes do all the essential labour that allows the society to function yet are not allowed to share in much of the reward of their labours. The Stratos dwellers fulfill the role of government and overseers--the administrative part of society--reaping the fruits of the Troglytes' labour while sharing little if anything in return.

Yes, this is a simplification of a real society (like many allegories are), but it does get the message across effectively enough nonetheless.

Another episode I think takes this issue and pushes it even further to the point that makes some viewers uncomfortable is "Plato's Stepchildren." In that episode Alexander, along with the Enterprise crew, represents the average population as well as those even more disadvantaged while the Platonians represent the callousness and arrogance of the elite who are convinced their status and influence allow them to do whatever they hell they want and with anyone. The rest of society are really little more than pawns and playthings to their whims.

This again speaks to observations of celebrity and the rich and powerful who rarely are held accountable for their questionable actions.


Anyone else?

 

[E-DUB]

Clearly "Balance of Terror" is a timeless story.

"A Private Little War", while clearly inspired by Viet Nam, remains relevant today with its message that fighting "proxy wars" is all to often done to the detriment of the proxies.

 

[Melakon]

Another episode I think takes this issue and pushes it even further to the point that makes some viewers uncomfortable is "Plato's Stepchildren."

That one has been uncomfortable for me since first seeing it on NBC. The humiliation and degradation of those Parnum considers his inferiors is difficult stuff to watch. Not to mention Shatner's attempt at imitating a horse.

 

[Warped9]

Another episode I think takes this issue and pushes it even further to the point that makes some viewers uncomfortable is "Plato's Stepchildren."

That one has been uncomfortable for me since first seeing it on NBC. The humiliation and degradation of those Parnum considers his inferiors is difficult stuff to watch. Not to mention Shatner's attempt at imitating a horse.

And yet that is exactly the point--seeing people coerced into humiliating themselves for the amusement of a few.

Today we see people make asses of themselves on television (and film) and shake out heads in disbelief instead of considering more pressing matters.

 

[T'Girl]

"A Private Little War", while clearly inspired by Viet Nam, remains relevant today with its message that fighting "proxy wars" is all to often done to the detriment of the proxies.

There also the message that "freedom isn't free." With the Klingon supplying the villagers with weapons (and apparently Starfleet can't stop this) the hill people face death or subjugation. Tyree is a man of peace who can't initially accept that for his people to stay independent and free he will have to employ violence to remain that way.

It takes the personal tragedy of the murder of Tyree's wife to convince him that he must be willing to fight for his people's freedom.

 

[BillJ]

"The Ultimate Computer"

We're still struggling with the fact that machines are taking over tasks from humans.

 

[johnnybear]

The Way to Eden shows that even in this day and age there still are people who don't want to be part of society for whatever reason!
JB

 

[Melakon]

Preach it, brother! We are One.

 

[BillJ]

The Way to Eden shows that even in this day and age there still are people who don't want to be part of society for whatever reason!
JB

Except now it seems like the more violent are the ones that don't want to be part of society. Interesting change over the last fifty years.

 

[TREK_GOD_1]

I would argue above all other episodes, the racism from "Balance of Terror" and "Let That Be Your Last Battlefield" is still relevant. I add that in North America, the racism is certainly not as bloody and chaotic as it was in the late 1960's, but it remains, and is used regularly. Whether it is in the faceless posts in that great sewage dump of social media, to politicians and well paid, highly visible pundits, they invest in daily doses of fear mongering, and generating anger as if certain races are not to be trusted, "too different" and a threat to the accepted order.

Not at all unfamiliar to Stiles to Bele. They were ST not only commenting on the then-current racial conflict, but was telling us that the so-called "evolved" world of the future would never be free of it.

 

[Warped9]

BoT is a great example of disproving the Utopia that so many claim ST was depicting. At times it could look perfect from today's perspective, but it was certainly not so.

 

[TRON JA307020]

Return of the Archons, I Mudd, The Ultimate Computer and The Changeling. All these episodes show how we may one day find ourselves in situations where we would have to talk our evil sentient computers or androids to death. I mean who hasn't thought of talking Siri to death when she gives you the wrong directions? Too bad she isn't sentient yet.

 

[Nerys Myk]

Return of the Archons, I Mudd, The Ultimate Computer and The Changeling. All these episodes show how we may one day find ourselves in situations where we would have to talk our evil sentient computers or androids to death. I mean who hasn't thought of talking Siri to death when she gives you the wrong directions? Too bad she isn't sentient yet.

That's what they want you to believe, man!

Save me Captain Kirk!

 

[Zaminhon]

COTEOF brought up pacifism and isolationism vs military involvement to defeat a potential global threat.

 

[RAMA]

"The Ultimate Computer"

We're still struggling with the fact that machines are taking over tasks from humans.

Ironically computers have created far more jobs than they've eliminated over the years, so in that respect the episode is dated, however, it asks the question: Can machines do the job of humans? Unfortunately it cops out, making the computer go crazy. We're still waiting to see if that can be answered, but we don't have long to wait..we will reach a critical mass where computers and machines will probably eliminate more jobs than they create. By then, I feel we'll have a post-scarcity economy and possibly universal basic income.

RAMA

 

[RAMA]

Let That BE Your Last Battlefield will be relevant for a long time..sure it's heavy handed, but how can you get more basic and clear?

RAMA

 

[Warped9]

Let That BE Your Last Battlefield will be relevant for a long time..sure it's heavy handed, but how can you get more basic and clear?

RAMA

Very true.

 

[TRON JA307020]

Return of the Archons, I Mudd, The Ultimate Computer and The Changeling. All these episodes show how we may one day find ourselves in situations where we would have to talk our evil sentient computers or androids to death. I mean who hasn't thought of talking Siri to death when she gives you the wrong directions? Too bad she isn't sentient yet.

That's what they want you to believe, man!

Save me Captain Kirk!

I have to believe that we can one day talk evil computers to death. Kirk did it so easily. Genius.

 

[Ryan Thomas Riddle]

"A Private Little War", while clearly inspired by Viet Nam, remains relevant today with its message that fighting "proxy wars" is all to often done to the detriment of the proxies.

I've never seen "A Private Little War" solely about Vietnam War.

I've always thought of it as being about getting embroiled in any conflict because of ideology, where whatever you do is futile and there is no end in sight. Vietnam, Korea, Iraq, the list goes on throughout history.

 

[Warped9]

"A Private Little War", while clearly inspired by Viet Nam, remains relevant today with its message that fighting "proxy wars" is all to often done to the detriment of the proxies.

I've never seen "A Private Little War" solely about Vietnam War.

I've always thought of it as being about getting embroiled in any conflict because of ideology, where whatever you do is futile and there is no end in sight. Vietnam, Korea, Iraq, the list goes on throughout history.

That is a strength of this story. It indeed was inspired by the Vietnam War (and even includes a generalized refrence to it), but it serves as allegory for any such conflict.