Theme List: The History Of The Future

[Stoek]

So I went through all the episodes and movies and I've selected the ones that I believe give us a significant look at Earth's history as it relates to the future shown in Star Trek.

My list broken down by show is...

ENT

Carbon Creek
Demons
Terra Prime

TOS

Tomorrow is Yesterday
The City on the Edge of Forever
Assignment: Earth
The Voyage Home

TNG

Time's Arrow
Time's Arrow, Part II
First Contact

DS9

Past Tense, Part I
Past Tense, Part II
Little Green Men
Far Beyond the Stars

VOY

Future's End
Future's End, Part II
11:59
One Small Step
Friendship One

Let the debates begin!

 

[desertstarlover]

But what is the question?

 

[T'Girl]

Could just be a presentation of research he's assembled, for the consideration of members of the board to consider and comment upon.

Nothing wrong with that.

 

[Bad Thoughts]

I'm not sure that Far Beyond The Stars belongs. Although informed by social history, it is nonetheless a spiritual vision rather than a direct representation of events that happen. On the other hand, it could be considered a comment on human history, not unlike Bread and Circuses and Patterns of Force, looking at the process of history rather than the specifics.

 

[TEACAKE'S PLEATHER DOME]

So many on that list are full of sentiment.

You wouldn't put ENT's Carpenter Street in there?

 

[Stoek]

But what is the question?

Well let's face it, we Star Trek fans (and Geeks in general) are kind of like the answer to a question nobody asked.

So I figured that all I'd have to do is post a theme list and in short order I'd get people suggesting episodes they think should be included or talking about ones on the list that they don't think belong. Since I don't get emotionally attached (I've had the misfortune in my life of discussing similar lists with those who do) I find the whole process rather fun.

Could just be a presentation of research he's assembled, for the consideration of members of the board to consider and comment upon.

Nothing wrong with that.

Prezactly and excisely.

I'm not sure that Far Beyond The Stars belongs. Although informed by social history, it is nonetheless a spiritual vision rather than a direct representation of events that happen. On the other hand, it could be considered a comment on human history, not unlike Bread and Circuses and Patterns of Force, looking at the process of history rather than the specifics.

Good comment. My take after much consideration is that there really was a Benny Russell for the Prophets to base Sisko's vision on, given that if they were aware enough of Terra to visit to make sure Sisko got born, then perhaps they've been watching it prior to that too.

So many on that list are full of sentiment.

You wouldn't put ENT's Carpenter Street in there?

I honestly considered it but (and this is not mindless bashing on ENT as there's quite a bit of it that I like) it doesn't seem to give any real insight into what ultimately formed the Trek future. It kind of seems a little lazy, and kind of retreads the whole humanity is silly and shallow and self destructive trope that you often get when characters travel into the past.

For me it lacks the passion for the subject that the Past Tense two parter shows.

Honestly if I hadn't decided to include Demons and Terra Prime because of what they show about the Third World War, and the last vestiges of the worst of human xenophobia, Carbon Creek would have been the only one that made the list.

 

[TEACAKE'S PLEATHER DOME]

Because of the velcro?

 

[Stoek]

Because of the velcro?

*L* Well more because of the revelation that Vulcan was not as unaware of Terra as they claimed.

 

[Greg Cox]

I'd throw in "Space Seed" just because it introduced the concept of the Eugenics Wars.

 

[Bad Thoughts]

Honestly if I hadn't decided to include Demons and Terra Prime because of what they show about the Third World War, and the last vestiges of the worst of human xenophobia, Carbon Creek would have been the only one that made the list.

Enterprise was, for the most part, the prehistory of Star Trek, showing how the ST universe came into being. I think it was for the best that it did not concern itself too much with its past.

 

[Stoek]

I'd throw in "Space Seed" just because it introduced the concept of the Eugenics Wars.

Yeah... I will admit that it managed to escape my consideration. I mostly had been focusing either on episodes where main characters went into the past.

11:59 and One Small Step made it because of the way that characters in the present connected with those in the past, and Friendship One made it because I thought it was a really nice story about how even when humanity has good intentions we still sometimes manage to foul things up.

But I think perhaps I will put Space Seed in and also put back one of my favorite episodes, namely The Neutral Zone.

 

[Stoek]

Okay, here's roughly the same list with a couple of minor changes and put in as best I can figure chronological order based on either when the bulk of the story is set or the period that the historical personages involved come from.

Time's Arrow
Time's Arrow, Part II
The City on the Edge of Forever
Little Green Men
Carbon Creek
Far Beyond the Stars
Assignment: Earth
Tomorrow is Yesterday
The Voyage Home
Space Seed
Future's End
Future's End, Part II
11:59
Carpenter Street
The Neutral Zone
Past Tense, Part I
Past Tense, Part II
One Small Step
Friendship One
First Contact
Demons
Terra Prime