Seventh and last part in #threadtrek from September 2022, days 26-30
26 : Bajoran Occupation
1st of all, the prompt is misleading, it's Cardassians who did the occupation...
it gives us wonderful eps from TNG Ensign Ro, to DS9, especially Duet, to the Circle trilogy, and many others.
Like Romulans, Cardassians shouldn't be trusted.
they're violent, war-mongering, treacherous & space scum, to have decided to invade & strip Bajor of so much, and enslaved the people to build a station & on there, continue to enslave in ore processing... no redeeming qualities.
Day 27 : Man V self
Trek loves matching copies of characters against one another... here are examples of double Kirks, Rikers, Picards, Janeways ... lots of anger in the men, but an "easier" understanding when it comes to Janeways, who, instead of fight/argue, collaborate.
Day 28 : Mirrorverse
From TOS Mirror Mirror transport accident, a bearded Spock, a ship ran like a Klingon one, with betrayals.. to ds9 arcs, to Enterprise, there are problems where women are hypersexualized, and writers keep associating bisexuality with evil... So, as delightful as Nana Visitor plays the Intendant, these problems should really be solved, and not showcase men's writing out of fear or religious prejudices towards women's sexuality, and towards bisexuality. Perhaps one day ?
Day 29: Q
1st appearing in TNG Q is omnipotent, shape-shifter, puts humanity on trial, puts the Enterprise through games... some tolerable on-screen, some.... annoying like robin hood ep... John de Lancie is delightful in his role, annoying every1 on the ship...
But humans aren't the only ones whom he torments... and, at some point, his enemies remind him of his offenses, from the Calamarain, to Guinan who remembers his involvement with her ppl... she seems to also have some kind of defense against...& then we realize, Q isn't alone... he shows up on DS9 where Sisko punches him, on Voyager where he wants to make a baby.... but also with other Q's from their Continuum... with more or less success in storytelling...
Day 30 : the Federation
Back in late September, I got suddenly busy, and was constantly several days behind the prompts. For the very last day, I'd totally forgotten to post anything ! AND it was about the Federation itself!!!
The most important aspect to retain about the Federation is that it's various member worlds joined voluntarily and were equals in the its democratic society - as opposed to its rivals, the Klingon Empire (before peace was broached), the Romulans, but also the Dominion, and others, who subjugated other races by war and conquering.
Throughout Star Trek, these two mods of operation are opposed to one another in a constant display. Star Trek, after all, is space communism, that is to say, the hope for a better humanity, as imagined by Gene Roddenberry, included a unified Earth, with no distinction of its humans, or of its other inhabitants, humanoid or otherwise.
Thus, when other worlds petition to join the Federation, but found to have inner strife and inequality, segregation and two or more people who haven't unified yet, they are refused entry - with the express encouragement to solve their problems and reapply later.
But, as much idealism was infused in creating this entity, the Federation isn't all cosy ; the 20th and 21st century writers know that it takes time for humanity to actually evolve towards this unity, and they rightly imagined an imperfect image in our future. Aside from time travel episodes, the majority of Star Trek takes place from 2151 (Enterprise season 1) to 2401 (Picard season 2). (No, I won't discuss Discovery, I know it has other timelines but since I haven't watched enough, I can't elaborate).
During that entire span of 2 and half centuries, humans are full of frailties, imperfections, and this is mirrored straight into the Federation, its ideals, its behind-the-scenes actors ; by some of its deceitful politicians and so on.
The Federation is an embodiment of our current human race's status : trying to better ourselves, but also full of misguided, lying, or otherwise outright bad people.
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