Star Trek (TNG) as Utopia

[eolomea]

Hello,

I have limited experience with ST, but I have recently bought Season 1 on Blue-ray. I did not like most of the episodes - but what I liked, I liked very much. I love utopias, so I prefer those TNG episodes that have plots that give us a glimpse to a functioning Utopian (peaceful and united) society. Generally, I like films with morals. On the other hand, I don't care about explosions and fights, and really dislike movies that heavily focus on violence, gore and ugliness. Could I get some input as to whether I should buy the rest of the Seasons, please? or perhaps other Series (e.g., TOS)?

My favourite episodes of TNG (in order of preference):
- The Neutral Zone
- Justice
- We'll Always Have Paris
- The Naked Now
- Too Short a Season
- Angel One
- Coming of Age
- When the Bough Breaks

(My favourite ST movie: The Voyage Home)

Also, I prefer episodes that take place, even partially, on a planet - and most of all, on future Earth (even if on Holodeck - e.g., the Paris episode)

I would appreciate any suggestions. Thanks.

 

[Marynator]

Yes!

Star Trek: The Next Generation depicts an absolutely beautiful vision of our future.

One od my favorite scenes from all of Star Trek is in a Season 7 episode where Data has lost his memory and is living in a medieval village. He is talking to his friend, a young girl (whose mother is dead):

Girl: "Father says mother is in a better place, where no one ever gets sick and everyone is always kind to each other. Do you believe such a place exists?"

Data: (Looking up at the stars) "Yes, I do."

I literally have tears pouring down my face right now just thinking about that scene.

There are several excellent episodes ob Earth, such as "Family" in Season 4 at Captain Picard's home, and "The First Duty" in Season 5 at Star Fleet Academy.

The entire show is available to watch on bith Netflix and Amazon! It is eadily my favorite television show of all time.

 

[eolomea]

Yes!

Star Trek: The Next Generation depicts an absolutely beautiful vision of our future.

Thanks a lot for sharing your opinion (and I too get emotional by movie scenes like the one you have mentioned) - so I will get all the remaining Seasons.

 

[JesterFace]

If you're interested in Star Trek, don't stop after TNG season 1.
First two seasons are, in my opinion, weaker than the rest of the series, TNG really gets going in season 3.

 

[Nyotarules]

If you want only Utopia Trek then stick to Seasons 1- 3 of TNG. TOS does not show a 23rd century Earth and did not promote Utopia for humans.

 

[Nakita Akita]

If you want only Utopia Trek then stick to Seasons 1- 3 of TNG. TOS does not show a 23rd century Earth and did not promote Utopia for humans.

That's funny.
I thought that the entire series is human Utopia. It's not so for the aliens always, but for the humans, yes.
Jobs where you can never be fired.
Everything for free, so you don't actually need to work. Isn't that even better than Utopia?

 

[Patrick S]

IMO, TNG hits it's stride in season three. So keep going. I'm not sure it's utopian, but "Inner Light" (season 5) shows us a positive culture, presented in a unique way. No spoilers from me, as I'm certain it will become one of your favorites.

 

[Marynator]

This has been making me think, but might Data himself perhaps be evidence that the humanity is living in a utopia?

He does not have emotion, but strives to be as human as possible. He cannot truly feel things the way a human do, but could only mimic human behavior that he sees. Data however does not demonstrate the cold behavior of an emotionless machine. He is kind and compassionate to all life, and will even sacrifice himself before allowing harm to come to another (not just for beings he relates to, such as in "The Quality of Life", but even people who mean him harm, such as in "Thine Own Self"). This must be how he has viewed humans from living with them for so long, and the behavior he emulates, which means that humans must be living by these types of values.

 

[Patrick S]

This has been making me think, but might Data himself perhaps be evidence that the humanity is living in a utopia?

Interesting point. Of course, there's no right or wrong here. I think that's a good way of looking at how Data may have viewed things. I've always felt that Data aspired to be more human in spite of their flaws, which to me were often evident on TNG. From Bruce Maddox wanting to take Data apart in "Measure of a Man" to Admiral Satie in "The Drumhead". Obviously, such individuals might be produced by a Utopian society. But, I've always felt these and other characters, situations, etc. presented on the show indicated humanity was moving forward with still a long way to go. Although, compared to where the human race is today, TNG world might look quite Utopian.

 

[Nakita Akita]

This has been making me think, but might Data himself perhaps be evidence that the humanity is living in a utopia?

He does not have emotion, but strives to be as human as possible. He cannot truly feel things the way a human do, but could only mimic human behavior that he sees. Data however does not demonstrate the cold behavior of an emotionless machine. He is kind and compassionate to all life, and will even sacrifice himself before allowing harm to come to another (not just for beings he relates to, such as in "The Quality of Life", but even people who mean him harm, such as in "Thine Own Self"). This must be how he has viewed humans from living with them for so long, and the behavior he emulates, which means that humans must be living by these types of values.

I thought that he was programmed not to harm others, like I know he can't kill.
To me he just reads about how to act certain ways and he programs himself to behave that way.
Like when he has the girlfriend. He wrote a program for a relationship after researching it. Not so Utopian.

 

[Twilight Phoenix]

Girl: "Father says mother is in a better place, where no one ever gets sick and everyone is always kind to each other. Do you believe such a place exists?"

Data: (Looking up at the stars) "Yes, I do."

Aaaww, I love that scene so much ! It was very emotional and beautiful ! One of these moments that definitely blur the lines between Data and humankind, especially in an episode during which he totally forgot about his artificial nature. The moment he realizes he's not human is very emotional too.

@eolomea please keep watching the series ! Things become better and deeper with season 3

I thought that he was programmed not to harm others, like I know he can't kill.
To me he just reads about how to act certain ways and he programs himself to behave that way

It's much more complex than that. Data has an elaborate ethical subroutine, that seems to consist in a large number of complex algorithms interacting together to process moral implications and find the appropriate behaviours.
Spoiler tagged so eolomea doesn't read it :

Spoiler

In Descent, Lore hacked Data to interrupt his ethics subroutine so he could easily use emotions to manipulate him.
But at the end of the day, Data was the one who chose morality over pure emotions. Even if his cognitive functions rely on programs and algorithms, he has free will and he's capable to modify his behaviours. As he would say, he can grow beyond his programming