I don’t know if this is a “hot take” or not, but I strongly dislike dystopian media. Don’t get me wrong, Orwell’s novel 1984 is a masterpiece and the Hunger Games is popular for a reason. However, despite many valiant attempts to embrace the genre, I have never been able to gain an appreciation for it. Personally, I find most dystopian media far too cynical and demoralizing to read or watch. It always seems to center around a) two teenager’s sucking face in a world where they are divided based on which basic stereotype they fit into, and b) random objects like pencils are illegal for some reason. My feud with dystopia has now reached a boiling point. The extreme amount of negativity is getting exhausting and during a pandemic the idea of dystopia is currently getting a bit too close for comfort. When times get tough, I want to flock to the hopeful naive optimistic shores of Utopia, and more specifically Star Trek: The Next Generation (TNG).
TNG is set in the 24th century, and follows the alien and human crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise. Led by Captain Picard, the crew embarks on adventures and misadventures while exploring the final frontier of space. The TNG world feels real, minus the amazing retro futuristic 70s fashion (I mean just look at Wesley Crusher’s sweaters). The universe of Star Trek is like a warm cup of chocolate after a hard day; comforting and familiar. It makes a point to illustrate a relatable world and show humanity at its finest. The characters still have petty conflicts and aren’t paragons of virtue, but like us, they improve and keep improving.
Although almost every episode has photon torpedoes ready to be released, there is a focus on diplomacy and finding non-violent ways to end conflict. TNG approaches most issues with maturity and a bit of humor, especially when dealing with Q (Star Trek’s version of a Trickster God) . A great example of this is the Season 3 episode, “the Enemy”, where Lt Cmdr. Geordi La Forge is trapped on a deadly planet with a Romulan officer. Although the governments represented by these characters have been in conflict for years, Geordi and the officer are forced to find a way to work together to survive. As the crew boldly goes where no one has gone before, they remind us that, despite all odds, we survive. We evolve and we have the potential to change our future. I think right now that is the message we need. The world needs less Katnisses and more Captain Picards.
Image taken by Aidan Schreder