Trek that makes you think

[RyuRoots]

In another thread, I saw "The Cage" compared to TMP, in that both attempted to be cerebral and thoughtful, and while I think "The Cage" succeeded more in that regard, they both certainly went for it, and both had some interesting ideas.

That led to another train of thought, and I wonder what you, the TrekBBS population, found fascinating or thought-provoking in the various television programs and films of the Star Trek franchise. An episode, a scene, a plot thread that runs through multiple episodes, whatever.

What made you raise an eyebrow or gave you something to drift thinking about during those boring meetings at work?

 

[Chrisisall]

In another thread, I saw "The Cage" compared to TMP, in that both attempted to be cerebral and thoughtful, and while I think "The Cage" succeeded more in that regard, they both certainly went for it, and both had some interesting ideas.

TMP is the most thought-provoking Trek IMO. The idea that WE define our own purpose is central to my beliefs as a sentient being on this planet.
Your mileage may vary.

 

[sbk1234]

The Inner Light always resonated strongly with me. The idea of how real is what we feel is reality? What if we found out that all the people we cared about all our lives were never really real to begin with?

 

[pureTREKKER]

All of Star Trek for me. The future on the screen with technology and other alien races makes me wonder when will it actually happen. WHEN!!!

 

[Vulcan Princess]

A lot of Trek makes me think. That's part of what I view as its strength. The most thought-provoking episodes/movies/scenes are the ones where the writers don't beat us over the head with the point. Some examples of ones I think did this well are:

TNG- The High Ground (What distinguishes a terrorist from a freedom fighter? When is it appropriate to use force to achieve one's objectives? This question was further explored with the Maquis, but never quite as well as it was here.)
DS9- Progress (Is Kira the good guy for saving Mullibok's life, or is she the bad guy for dispossessing him of his land? This was the same dilemma Data faced in The Ensigns of Command, but this episode resonated with me more.)
VOY- Nothing Human (Is it ethical to use medical research obtained unethically if the research will save lives?)
TOS- The City on the Edge of Forever (Should one innocent person be forced to die in order to save millions of innocent people?)
ENT- Similitude (Should one innocent person who is going to die soon anyway be forced to hasten his death in order to save another innocent person? This is the only episode that has made me cry.)

I have my own thoughts on these ethical dilemmas, which may or may not be the same as the writers, but I like that they weren't resolved fully on screen.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

The Drumhead. I still waffle back and forth on this episode. I don't know if this is a bad or good thing, but part of me still sympathizes with Admiral Satie. I know I shouldn't. But I can't help it.

 

[Bisz]

The Drumhead. I still waffle back and forth on this episode. I don't know if this is a bad or good thing, but part of me still sympathizes with Admiral Satie. I know I shouldn't. But I can't help it.

It was on last night at 1am. I enjoy that episode and I agree that its not a black and white episode. I think that Picard is right and Satie is wrong... but thats because that is how the episode was meant to be. They could have easily changed a few things around and have Picard be naive instead of 'just' and Satie could have been shown much more sympathetic.

 

[Starbreaker]

Star Trek is sci-fi for the thinking man... although the masses don't realize that.

 

[Itisnotlogical]

Definitely Lore from TNG. The entire concept of Data having a brother made me turn away during the commercials to have some deep thinking to do. I almost cried when Lore said "I love you, brother..." when Data shot him.

Also when Kes died and the last shot of that episode was of Tuvok lighting a candle in his window, that was sad.

I think the single most concept that ever made me sit awake at night and think was Picard being assimilated into the Borg and becoming Locutis. I would just sit there, thinking over every moment, imagining how hard he must have fought to overcome the Collective and give the vital clue to defeating them.

 

[Furtados_Feet]

Definitely Lore from TNG. The entire concept of Data having a brother made me turn away during the commercials to have some deep thinking to do. I almost cried when Lore said "I love you, brother..." when Data shot him.

Also when Kes died and the last shot of that episode was of Tuvok lighting a candle in his window, that was sad.

LOL? Its Trek that makes you think not Trek that makes you cry, and Kes didn't die she ascended to a plane of existence where she was so lonely and depressed she wanted to kill the entire Voyager crew . Kind of funny when you put it like that.

I think the most thought provoking episodes really ended with TNG's middle seasons but before that we just got pure gold like "The High Ground" which I absolutely love.

 

[Vulcan Princess]

^Trek that makes you think and Trek that makes you cry don't have to be mutually exclusive.

 

[Yeoman Randi]

A lot of Trek makes me think. That's part of what I view as its strength. The most thought-provoking episodes/movies/scenes are the ones where the writers don't beat us over the head with the point.

^ What she said!

I think MANY of Voyager's episodes did this. The Tuvix episode, Equinox, Memorial, Nothing Human, Drone...so many of them.

 

[Furtados_Feet]

A lot of Trek makes me think. That's part of what I view as its strength. The most thought-provoking episodes/movies/scenes are the ones where the writers don't beat us over the head with the point.

^ What she said!

I think MANY of Voyager's episodes did this. The Tuvix episode, Equinox, Memorial, Nothing Human, Drone...so many of them.

Hmm...

 

[Yeoman Randi]

^ You thought they were beating us over the head with those episodes?

 

[Furtados_Feet]

The message "Nothing Human" was absolutely ridiculous and illogical.
And I'm not sure what Drone was trying to say.
I also think "Equinox" was a very muddled episode.

 

[Yeoman Randi]

The message "Nothing Human" was absolutely ridiculous and illogical.
And I'm not sure what Drone was trying to say.
I also think "Equinox" was a very muddled episode.

Really? I have to disagree. I think in Nothing Human we are faced with a real dilemma. Can and should we use the information and science learned from experiments done on living creatures? Is it ok to use live creatures in horrendous experiements just because we might garner information from it. GAH! Im not very good at expressing my thoughts here...

lemme try again...Crell Moset pretty much "tortured" people in the name of science. Can we validate what he did by using the information learned from his experiments? And if we use that information, whats to say future 'torture' in the name of science wont be used again? I thought it was an awesome episode.

Equinox, pretty much the same thing. "Lets use these creatures to fuel our way home". What gives us (them) the right to do so?

Drone: One makes the greatest sacrifice a person can make to save those around him. Ok, maybe that one hits you over the head...

Forgive me... self expression writing skills really leave much to be desired!