I'd like to see more shows approach sci-fi with a similar tone to Star Trek: The Next Generation

Everytime I watch an episode of TNG I am just amazed at how well balanced the tone of the show is. While the premise is usually an exceptionally optimistic framing of humanity, the narrative usually exposes the naivete in thinking that you can be benevolent while making first contact with civilizations that you've never met before, and that using the prime directive and/or diplomacy to resolve all conflicts with all cultures in the universe is never going to work.

Also, kudos for keeping the show PG while tackling so many complex and nuanced themes. It's honestly impressive how mature this show is while still being appropriate for all ages.

The futurology referenced to establish the science and technology of the Star Trek universe is also worthy of praise here, with much thought and consideration put into how much the human condition can shape the advancement of technology, even when we have a near infinite amount of resources at our disposal.

The portrayal of egalitarianism is probably the aspect of this show I'm disappointed in the most, as I don't feel that it's an honest take on the concept. There's still a bit of toxic masculinity that has managed to sneak itself into the show, with things like gender and sexual fluidity (for humans, especially males) being somewhat stifled in favor of neutrality, for the sake of the demographics of the viewership at the time.

All in all however, the show is a net positive for sci-fi television, and I want to see more of it to counterbalance the rather dark and dystopian tone of sci-fi television these days.

So yeah, just thought I'd share my thoughts on this fantastic show, and while you're here, let's all appreciate this 10000% accurate Honest Trailer of my favorite sci-fi show of all time

Robin said:

Star Trek: TNG, DS9, and even to an extent Voyager are really something special. I think one of the things that makes Star Trek so appealing is how it kind of cons the viewer into thinking they're smart. The show isn't really that high brow at all, it's really just a bunch of philosophy 101 stuff, but they present it in a way that gets the viewer going. I think DS9 felt like a more realized world than TNG did, even if it meant undoing some of the egalitarianism you've mentioned. Voyager unfortunately drives me nuts in the way that Janeway frequently chooses the objectively wrong choice when faced with a moral issue (looking at you, Tuvix).

There were some really standout episodes in TNG. The Inner Light, Family, Chain of Command, Redemption & Sins of the Father, too many to name really.

A friend recommended The Orville to me and I absolutely couldn't stomach it. The trans episode was really embarrassing and the show was kinda downright sexist and tired. Discovery is kinda cool but it's not the same. We'll get something one day. I mostly just wonder about what happens after Voyager and the TNG movies in the original timeline. Does Sisko come back? Does Worf ever captain?

Click to expand...

Click to shrink...

TNG is really the only Star Trek where I've watched pretty much the entire show. I've seen many episodes of DS9 but for some reason was never really able to get into it and finish it. Ditto for the other shows in the series. It sounds like I may need to give it a more earnest look though.

I agree with you about the illusion of sophistication with these shows. In retrospect, the realization of these concepts is more engaging than realistic, but they represent ideals that I feel are worth exploring and sharing through this medium. I don't want to trivialize the philosophy that drives these concepts, however. When we graduate beyond a certain threshold of philosophical discourse, we tend to take the fundamentals of philosophy for granted, as if these subjects are now simple and straightforward from an axiomatic perspective, but that isn't really true. Philosophy, even at the most basic levels, is incredibly complicated when you understand the level of cognition required to understand them. Thousands of years from now, we will still be asking ourselves the same basic philosophical questions, and we should, as it reinforces the behavior of rational thought.

I do understand that, in real life, inter-galactic conflict would be a lot messier than how it is portrayed in these shows, but we already have plenty of shows that depict that reality quite well (with Babylon 5 probably being the best example of this). I just appreciate that I can watch a show like TNG, feel good about humanity's future, and that my mind is reinforced with a more positive attitude about the human civilization in general.

I also heard about The Orville and Discovery. I'm a little disappointed to hear that they may not be as good as I was hoping they'd be.

Shawndroid said:

If you want to feel like you are in a Star Trek I recommend playing the 4X game Stellaris. It's more on the complex side of civilization building games. But if you go with a Human democracy, dogmatic egalitarian with a tradition of exploration, it makes you feel like Star Trek. It's essentially a strategy game like Civilization, but galaxy wide and real time.

Click to expand...

Click to shrink...

I don't normally play strategy games, but maybe I'll give this a shot. Sounds interesting!

rgoulart said:

Have you seen Babylon 5? I'm on the third season and it's pretty great. I definitely recommend.

Click to expand...

Click to shrink...

I haven't finished it but I've seen enough seasons to know that the show is really well written when it comes to plot intricacy, which is pretty awesome. Acting can be a bit cheesy sometimes though.

KarmaCow said:

After recently watching TNG (I'm about half way through season 7 at the moment), I was very surprised at Riker and Troi's relationship. It's not perfect, but pretty much every episode with the two are each deeply caring for how the other feels even in cases where other shows would have gone with the easy jealous angle for the sake of drama. I wonder how much of that was from Roddenberry's mandate of no conflict among the human crew but it seemed to be something that persisted after his death. At the very least it still feels like a novel angle for the will they wont they routine.

Click to expand...

Click to shrink...

You know, I never really thought all that much about their relationship but I definitely agree with everything that you said!

Sephzilla said:

I'd strongly recommend The Orville

After the first couple of episodes they tone down the Seth style humor and it pretty much becomes a love letter to TNG era Star Trek. It also has one of the best "Prime Directive" episodes ever.

Click to expand...

Click to shrink...

I'll give it a shot.

Sesuadra said:

I am with you on this one.

We need a new optimistic Sci-Fi show with someone as amazing and talented as Patrick Stewart. His Picard speeches and the way he transports them is, what makes the series so incredible for me.

Click to expand...

Click to shrink...

Yes. I'd be over the moon if I found another show like this!