10 Star Trek Debates That Tear The Fandom Apart

TrekCulture is currently running a series of ‘Time X Star Trek Series Went Woke’ with The Original Series and The Next Generation. The word Woke has seemingly lost its true meaning and is often to be found tossed around as a short-hand for progressive, liberal, or simply representing anything that seems different from the norm. 

Each of the series that have been released since Discovery have received this moniker, though perhaps Discovery most of all. The word Woke has its origins in remaining ‘awake to the injustices’ perpetrated by the authorities, with a particular focus on crimes committed against BIPOC people. Therefore, this is one of the more puzzling debates. To decry something as Woke seems like a compliment - highlighting that the episode or series is using its story to highlight modern day issues. 

Like The Original Series did. Gene Roddenberry hid the contemporary issues that he was trying to discuss in the ‘morality plays’ of the show, attempting to tackle such topics as racism, social inequality, bigotry, gender divide, and class struggles - all within an hour including adverts. This was no mean feat, nor can we say it always succeeded. There was, however, the attempt from the beginning to show a future that was free of such divisions as he saw in the worlds then. 

The recent Star Trek series have raised the ire of those who struggle with the diverse casts of Discovery and Strange New Worlds in particular. They argue that the message was more subtle in the 60s, while the counter argument goes that what was shown then was just as radical at the time as a gay couple brushing their teeth is today. To be fair to those who attempt to solely discuss the difference in how television has changed in sixty years, they often get sucked into the argument against diversity - effectively killing constructive debate.