60 Years of Star Trek

Sixty years ago today, a new show aired on CBS. It was a strange show, and it wasn’t particularly popular with critics at the time. Many assumed it wouldn’t last long, and they were right: The show was canceled after only three seasons (79 episodes).

Fast forward to today. There have now been nearly 1,000 episodes of Star Trek, across 12 main series and a smattering of other releases. There are 14 movies in the franchise. What was a ridiculed novelty 60 years ago is now a multimedia giant, an enduring cultural phenomenon and the driver of untold technological research and development.

Star Trek is also my favorite fictional universe. From watching reruns of The Original Series and The Next Generation as a kid with my parents to watching Voyager with Mom as it came out to watching Starfleet Academy with my best friend on Thursdays as it released earlier this year; from reading all the Star Trek books I could get my hands on to playing with action figures of my favorite characters and drinking my tea out of Star Trek mugs (Earl Grey, of course) to my collection of starships—this universe has been a constant and beloved companion for as long as I can remember. Before I saw Star Wars, before I read any Asimov or watched Battlestar Galactica, Star Trek was my first sci-fi love. And I’m not really the cosplaying, convention-attending kind of fan. Not that there’s anything wrong with that, it’s just never been my thing (though I did finally make it to my first convention in August!). I think that sometimes leads people to believe I’m not as passionate about Trek as I am. In reality, Star Trek has had and continues to have a tremendous influence on me.

To name but a few lessons:

From Spock, I learned that exploration and intellectual curiosity are valuable things. From Bones, I learned that agreement and understanding aren’t prerequisites for compassion.

From Picard, I learned that the right thing and the easy thing are often not the same thing. From Worf, I learned that having an ethical and moral code you can believe in is important; that personal honor is valuable and only you can protect it.

From Sisko, I learned that how you treat your “tribe” is an important measure of your character. From Kira, I learned that how you treat those outside your “tribe” is an important measure of your character.

From B’Elanna, I learned that internal conflict can be a powerful motivator for change and growth. From The Doctor, I learned that people’s perception of you shouldn’t define your self-perception and mustn’t dictate your value.

From Archer, I learned that a strong man and good leader is even stronger and better when he surrounds himself with good people. From Trip, I learned what it looks like to be one of those good and loyal people supporting your friend and leader.

From Saru, I learned that kindness and compassion in leadership are not weaknesses. From Hugh, I learned that it’s sometimes necessary to make dramatic life changes in the wake of crazy experiences.

From Raffi, I learned that it’s never too late to turn things around. From Rios, I learned that fighting injustice is always the right thing, no matter the century.

From Tendi, I learned that being good at something doesn’t mean that’s the path you have to take. From Mariner, I learned that it’s important to deal with the why behind our feelings and that having people who have your back can help with that.

From Gwyndala, I learned that your ‘destiny’—as expected by your forebears—needn’t limit who you decide to be. From Rok-Tahk, I learned that people’s judgments of your appearance are not worth lending any weight to.

From Pike, I learned that glimpsing a bummer of a future mustn’t change who you’ve always been. From Hemmer, I learned that pacifism doesn’t require passivity.

From Jay-Den, I learned to upend any and all norms in the pursuit of being authentically yourself. From SAM, I learned that you don’t have to do things “their way” to honor their needs.

I love the depth of the shows, the development of the characters over each show’s run, the tackling of difficult and taboo topics, the spirit of exploration and discovery. I love that the shows are challenging while not (usually) feeling too preachy. I love that the more I think about, rewatch and analyze them, the more I find. I love that I can analyze them, because a lot of thought went into making them. I love the beautiful humanity of it all.

So, yeah, I’m a giant nerd (hardly news to anyone who knows me). And this is my ode to Star Trek. To both the joy it’s depicted for 60 years and the joy it has brought and continues to bring to me, personally. I look forward to many more adventures, exploring strange new worlds and seeking out new life and new civilizations. May we always boldly go where no one has gone before!