10 Most Horrifying Star Trek Moments

2. Thanks, Dad

Star Trek Voyager Coda
CBS

The idea of an afterlife in Star Trek has varied connotations. Religion was somewhat antithetical to Gene Roddenberry's view of the future. However, with religion as ingrained in the public psyche as it is, playing on the idea of a hell is an easy way to seriously disturb an audience.

In Star Trek: Voyager's third season episode Coda, Captain Janeway is seriously injured on an away mission. She hallucinates several different versions of events, before she is greeted by the 'ghost' of her 'father'.

'Vice Admiral Janeway' tells her that he is there to help her accept what is happening, and guide her to the next realm. Though it takes a while, Janeway finally realises that this being is not her Dad. She resists him, figuring out that he can't take her with him against her will.

Whether it is a lie or not, the alien leaves her with a chilling warning: eventually, her time will come for real. When that time comes, he will be there waiting to take her - and when he does, she will nourish him for a long, long time.

If that isn't hell, then what is?

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Seán is the host and head writer/presenter for TrekCulture, as well as a writer/presenter on WhoCulture and WhatCulture Horror. He has authored two novels, dozens of short stories, and hundreds of articles for WhatCulture. He holds a Master of Arts in Creative Writing from University College Dublin. As part of his work with TrekCulture, Seán has been invited to participate in collaborations with Roddenberry Entertainment, as well as contributing to several Star Trek community projects. An avid fan of Star Trek, Doctor Who, and the horror genre at large, Seán's expertise has helped develop these channels to the successes they are today. As host of the Ups & Downs series on TrekCulture, Seán has become internationally recognised for his positive yet critically informed approach to reviewing every episode of modern Star Trek, ensuring he is one of the go-to voices in the Trek community. Favourite Quote to describe himself: "I'm serious about what I do, just not always about the way that I do it"