Misunderstanding Mr. Spock

The Continental Congress ^ | 20 Apr 2026 | George MF Washington

[Rummyfan]

How the modern trend of "centering" alien characters over human ones has helped destroy one of Hollywood's most durable sci-fi franchises

In the wake of the cancellation of yet another ridiculous “Star Trek” property, this time the hilariously cringe-inducing “Star Trek: Starfleet Academy,” sane audiences are once again asking the question “why can’t anyone get ‘Star Trek’ right?” The answer may be as simple as this… it’s because the studio’s leadership, as well as the creatives so far tasked with bringing new “Star Trek” stories to life, do not understand what “Star Trek” is, they only know what they wish it was.

These days, Hollywood creatives seem to want to write overtly about their own personal politics more than they want to tell great stories. In the Trump era many of Hollywood’s biggest writers, directors and actors believe deeply that the most important thing they can do with the positions in Hollywood to which they have ascended is to use their art to advocate for Progressive policies. It is the Great Cause which has finally brought meaning to their lives.

The problem is that this approach creates terrible drama every time it’s tried… a truth to which Hollywood has remained uniquely allergic over the last twenty years, in part because they believe “Star Trek” is an exception to this iron rule of story. To the modern Hollywood Progressive, the original “Star Trek” series was one which successfully combined exciting sci-fi adventure stories with constant Progressive political agitation. This is a tragic misunderstanding, but one in which Progressives believe so deeply, they have convinced themselves not only that “Star Trek” can continue to agitate for their preferred political outcomes while succeeding as a piece of popular entertainment...

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TOPICS: Miscellaneous; Politics; Society
KEYWORDS: getwokegobroke

[Rummyfan]

And...

A Conservative Trek

[Rummyfan]

Kirk actually invoked General Order 24, in “A Taste of Armageddon.” He used it as a threat, and didn’t carry it out. You can imagine his relief; the paperwork alone would have been a nightmare. But he would have done it if he had to, and not just for the reputation you get back home at the Officer’s Club. Not for Kirk the niceties of diplomacy: If he had to violate a treaty, he’d do it. If he had to save a civilization from the lifeless machinations of an ancient operating system, he’d harangue its computer until it smoked and crashed. In “The Arena,” Kirk didn’t win the battle against a rubber-suit Gorn because they hammered out a six-point Roadmap to Peace. Granted, he got the thumbs-up from the League of Judgmental Effeminate Aliens because he didn’t cave in the Gorn’s head with a stone. But prior to that, he nailed him in the chest with an improvised cannon that shot diamonds. In a cannon-free zone, no less.

[Tijeras_Slim]

Good article. Starfleet Academy is about as “Trek” as a Ferengi Non-Profit Organization.

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

It's because the authors have never been anything.

They all come from the same area, went to the same high schools, colleges, and have never been anything but a "writer" or "student".

Everyone they know is the exact same clone of themselves.

They have never worked at a car wash or had to worry about rent. They have never interacted with anyone who did.

They are dull and boring so the stories they try to tell are also dull and boring.

[fidelis]

[clearcarbon]

"a recurring theme in the original series was Spock’s frustrating attempts to understand the complexity of human emotions"

[CletusVanDamme]

I still think that Elim Garak was one of the best characters in any Star Trek series. Quite the opposite of the standard Star Trek roles.

[NewJerseyJoe]

P4L

[Tijeras_Slim]

I agree. DS9 is my favorite trek. Sisko was a great character, captain, warrior, father, husband, baseball fan. The series also made the Ferengi a real species, fleshed out the Klingons in detail, and provided deep episodes, and also light comedic ones.

[DoodleBob]

The graffiti on the Canadian $5 is Magnificent.

[Pelham]

“a recurring theme in the original series was Spock’s frustrating attempts to understand the complexity of human emotions”

Sheldon Cooper totally agrees with Spock.

[mewzilla]

Folks should watch a couple of episodes back to back.

First up, any episode of Starfleet 90210.

Then from TOS, The Doomsday Machine, written by Norman Spinrad.

Paramount doesn’t get it because it doesn’t want to get it.

[PROCON]

[Getready]

Star Trek is dead, Jim.

Let it fade away into its own time and space.

In 50 years very few will remember it. There may be nothing left anywhere after 50 years.

[mewzilla]

BTW, for anyone who likes AI Star Trek TOS homages and great music...

YouTube channel Out of Context AI...

https://youtu.be/Sl_FQ-48mbw?si=cbZF_VamJsMO5Ce9

https://youtu.be/64c31WAuhpQ?si=DNPlPYUtz2AIV_bW

Two music videos that TOS fans should enjoy...

[RandallFlagg]

I’m at work and can’t post the link, but…

Look up on YouTube WickedAI “Nu Trek’s Dead “
It’s short.

[T.B. Yoits]

[mairdie]

Deep Space 9 - Black Widows in the Privy - Julia Ecklar
https://youtu.be/fTfzmIxKCcU

Deep Space 9 - Superman - Crash Test Dummies
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wa_UStVlMqk

[Dr. Sivana]

Thank you for the links. There’s a lot of bad AI out there. This was well-crafted AI.