Future of Trek Readers: Read And Take Note

[Kevin Wolff]

But do show that use allegories or address some relevant social topic still exist? It isn't a 80's/90's thing with tv shows that sometimes broadcasted a "very special episode"?

I remember some of those, and they were overt and heavy-handed lessons. Trek does it in a subtle way that can even be ignored by the viewer if they choose. Some episodes seem like just regular action stories and then later become disturbingly relevant. "The High Ground" for one.

 

[Skipper]

I remember some of those, and they were overt and heavy-handed lessons. Trek does it in a subtle way that can even be ignored by the viewer if they choose. Some episodes seem like just regular action stories and then later become disturbingly relevant. "The High Ground" for one.

But we had Symbiosis too, because, remember kids, drugs are bad!

 

[Kevin Wolff]

But we had Symbiosis too, because, remember kids, drugs are bad!

Really? I thought the lesson was always have more than one dealer.

 

[Skipper]

Really? I thought the lesson was always have more than one dealer.

You... have got a point there...

 

[Kevin Wolff]

You... have a point there...

Joking of course (cough). Also that episode had the actor that played David, Kirk's son it. I imagined David would have turned out the same way if the Klingons didn't kill him after his protomatter fiasco.

 

[Skipper]

^

Joking of course (cough).

Err.. me too..?

My point is, Trek sometimes wasn't subtle at all. And honestly, using allegory to tackle real-life issues seems to me a lost art. How many modern tv shows do it well?

 

[Kevin Wolff]

^

Err.. me too..?

My point is, Trek sometimes wasn't subtle at all. And honestly, using allegory to tackle real-life issues seems to me a lost art. How many modern tv shows do it well?

True, but most are not even trying. I'm hoping they revive the lost art. Also tng seasons 1 and 2 don't have the best examples. Those seasons had problems due to writer's strike and Roddenberry treating it more like TOS at first. He was a bit out of touch at this point and particularly season 1 reflects that.

 

[Skipper]

True, but most are not even trying. I'm hoping they revive the lost art.

The problem is that after decades of tv shows, it's quite difficult to come up with a new way to say (for example) that racism is bad.

 

[Kevin Wolff]

The problem is that after decades of tv shows, it's quite difficult to come up with a new way to say (for example) that racism is bad.

No but with humanity still keeping racism alive and well there are many new examples that they can play off of. Religious intolerance. War on terror, refugees and forced emigration. The list is longer than ever. It's not a forum to preach about how we should act, but to inform that these things are still going on and society is becoming numb to it to a degree, and here's a fresh perspective with some positive thoughts on how we can improve as a species. Without the "humanity can improve" message in there somewhere, there's nothing to separate Trek from any other property where being entertained is as deep as it goes. That's why the Abrams movies seem so hollow to me.