Star Trek: 15 Most Culturally Significant Episodes

The High Ground was and remains a controversial episode of the Next Generation. It has become infamous for dropping in the idea that Ireland and Northern Ireland will be reunified, though through the use of armed rebellion.

This came at a time when the historic Good Friday agreement was still some years off and Northern Ireland was still wracked with terrorist activities. The episode found itself censored due to this statement, though the idea behind the utterance was one of hope in the face of adversity.

In the years following 9/11 in particular, with the invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq, the world began to hear about terror attacks more and more frequently on the nightly news, only seeming to increase in their numbers and devastation.

When The High Ground was aired, it depicted a terrorist cell trying to establish itself against what they felt were totalitarian rulers. They are certainly shown to be dangerous, yet they are not depicted as evil. Nor are the rulers they are fighting against depicted as black or white either. The entire episode sits in the realm of grey, highlighting simply the sadness of the continued violence.

While it may not make many of the top ten lists, The High Ground is a hugely important episode. There are heroes and villains on all sides in war. It all depends on the viewpoint of the beholder.