Episode 138: Unpopular Star Trek Opinions

Is Data over-used? Is the Prime Directive an excuse to turn a blind eye to inconvenient problems? Is “The Wrath of Khan” overrated? Should Tuvix have returned to the Alpha Quadrant with Voyager? The crew discusses some “unpopular” Star Trek opinions, from us and our listeners.

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Hosts:  Grace, Jarrah, Sue

Editor:  Andi

Transcription: Grace

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  5 comments for “Episode 138: Unpopular Star Trek Opinions

  1. Hi all, great episode, one of my favorites so far…I would like to suggest some crossover (with other podcasts) episodes.

    Recommendation 1) Episode on socialism in Star Trek.

    Recommendation 2) Episode on imperialism in Star Trek. Including discussion of the Federation (are they imperialists, etc)? Interstellar policy of the Federation? Section 31?

    For both socialism and imperialism I recommend the Revolutionary Left podcast whose host has done previous crossover episodes of this kind such as one with former Politreks podcast.

    It would be even better to have a host who is a trekkie but left such as Walidah Imarisha.

    Recommendation 3) Crossover episodes with scientists such as Erika Nesvold (Making New Worlds podcast), Women in Archaeology podcast, sociologists, political scientists, anthropologists, etc.

  2. Truuuu. It also bothers me that black leaders in ST have a character arc that shows them having to “earn” the role over time instead of us being introduced to them in power (see eg. sisko promoted to capitain, worf having to go through all of TNG to get his role on DS9, Michael…well let’s not even start). Sure other ppl get promoted but (re sisko) basically all of the other captains get to kick off a series with the pomp and circumstance of inspecting their ship and getting walked onto their bridge. That’s always bothers me that sisko got handed a recycling job and had to make the best of it.

    P.s. good episode W@W 🙂

  3. I do not understand that they pointed it out, then, when they did not point it out, in the past.

  4. I agree that some people parrot popular opinions they’re “supposed to have.” Most of us want to think of ourselves as independent thinkers. People don’t say “everyone else is doing it” after high school but that gets to us unconsciously more than we want to think. There is a fascinating podcast on this topic. https://www.npr.org/transcripts/505318320

    I wonder how much selection bias plays a role in the invisibility of some unpopular opinions. You probably won’t write fanfiction or post in forums (yes people post in Facebook groups more but you can’t always see content depending on privacy settings) about your least favorite version of Trek. So if you blog about how you hate a character from that show who happens to be a fan favorite, that wouldn’t “count.” I’m sure that even professors or PhD students who study fandom have to work hard to find your blog. It’s fascinating what works as a census of fan opinions. Could podcasting change that? I don’t think it’s a coincidence I see a lot of people who like Pulaski here and on Trek FM.

  5. When “Voyager” was coming out, they seemed to make a big deal about Janeway being a woman and Tuvok being black. Nothing was said Sisko being black, our that he had a female first officer. Nothing was said about Worf being black, when we first see him.

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