As a passionate fan of Star Trek who has spent countless hours immersed in its rich tapestry of stories and characters, I find myself both awestruck and disheartened by the show’s portrayal of female captains. On one hand, I applaud the series for its forward-thinking representation in episodes set earlier than The Original Series, where we see strong, capable women like Captain Marie Batel of Strange New Worlds commanding their own ships. However, the revelation that Starfleet once had an outright ban on female captains, as depicted in “The Turnabout Intruder,” is a jarring reminder of the show’s roots in a less enlightened era.
Star Trek: The Original Series was envisioned in the 1960s by Gene Roddenberry, a visionary who aspired for a brighter tomorrow for mankind. Despite its depiction of exhilarating space voyages, stylish starcraft, and captivating extraterrestrials, Star Trek fundamentally serves as a platform for moral tales. Rather than exploring the limits to which future humans could push technological boundaries, the show primarily delves into how humanity might employ such technology for noble purposes.
Despite some of the recent versions of “Trek” adopting a more pessimistic atmosphere (often criticized harshly by fans as “NuTrek”), the franchise is still recognized for its hopeful perspective on future centuries. This positive outlook was established by the writers of The Original Series and has generally been upheld well, making the occasional missteps stand out more starkly. Here’s a summary of some problematic “Star Trek” episodes that are difficult to enjoy today.
7 Janice Rand’s Constant Mistreatment
As a dedicated Star Trek fan, I can’t help but reflect on the character of Janice Rand, portrayed brilliantly by Grace Lee Whitney. In the original series, she held the title of “yeoman,” a role that appears to have been phased out in later installments, serving as a secretary or assistant. She was Captain Kirk’s trusted confidante and embodied intelligence, professionalism, and empathy.
Assault and harassment are certainly important topics, but it seems Rand’s attractive looks caused her character to fall prey to the damsel-in-distress trope as she is repeatedly put into sexually threatening situations. Additionally, the show seemed to take an inappropriately lighthearted approach to such a serious subject.
The most glaring example of Rand’s mistreatment is the episode “The Enemy Within” in which a transporter mishap creates an evil double of Captain Kirk. Kirk’s nefarious look-alike attempts to rape Rand. As things get sorted out, First Officer Spock brushes off the debacle with the uncaring line, “Well, that other half of the Captain did have some rather interesting qualities, didn’t it?”
As a devoted fan, I feel that the character of Spock, who is often looked up to as a role model within the show, could have demonstrated greater empathy. Unfortunately, in this specific episode, the series seemed to lose its beacon of wisdom and instead mirrored the prevailing attitudes of its era.
6 The Original Miniskirt Uniforms
In the style popularized by many movies from the 1960s, the traditional uniforms for the ship’s female crew in the original series feature miniskirts that are quite short. As the women move around, their bloomers often become visible, adding a comical touch to their appearance.
In a somewhat unexpected twist, the small attire worn by the female characters in the original series wasn’t primarily designed to attract attention, contrary to popular assumption. Instead, it was because the actresses objected to the pants they were initially asked to wear, finding them too masculine for their roles. Despite seeming frivolous and sexist by today’s standards, mini-skirts in the 1960s actually represented a symbol of feminism and women’s liberation.
In a nod towards equality, I found it amusing in Star Trek: The Next Generation’s debut season that even some traditionally masculine-presenting male officers were seen wearing the so-called “skants” – a mini-skirt uniform, with Counselor Deanna Troi briefly sporting a shorter-sleeved version of this mini dress.
5 NBC Said No to a Female First Officer
Right from the start, Gene Roddenberry envisioned a diverse crew for his show, including actress Majel Barrett as Captain Pike’s first officer in an early version of Star Trek’s pilot that wasn’t picked up. Nowadays, we see plenty of well-executed gender-diverse casting on TV. However, during the ’60s, this was less common. In fact, many shows from that era, as well as numerous episodes of the original Star Trek series, don’t meet the Bechdel test criteria.
Did Majel Barrett Get Kicked Off Star Trek?
In simpler terms, the proposition of having a female first officer was rejected by NBC executives, who considered a highly intelligent female second-in-command as too intellectual. Additionally, it was suggested that both an alien character like Spock and a high-ranking woman on the senior crew would have been too much for viewers of that era to handle.
Ultimately, Barrett didn’t get entirely written out of the series, instead being demoted to the less significant position of Nurse Chapel. Although it’s hard to imagine Star Trek without Spock as the captain’s right-hand man, it’s disheartening to reflect on the chance that this groundbreaking show passed up by not elevating a woman to a leading role in the ship’s top leadership.
4 Nurse Chapel’s Spock Obsession
In the transition between the initial and subsequent Star Trek episodes, I found myself admiring the change in Majel Barrett’s role. From a high-ranking bridge officer, she transformed into Christine Chapel, a character who, while significant, often played secondary roles. However, what struck me as somewhat challenging about her portrayal was that her character seemed to be almost entirely shaped by her unrequited love for Spock.
Who, specifically, is Christine Chapel? Regrettably, the character doesn’t receive a comprehensive backstory, leading to a lack of understanding about her feelings towards Captain Kirk’s first officer. In the episode “The Naked Time,” her sudden, awkward display of affection toward him seems unexplained because viewers haven’t been given prior knowledge to contextualize her actions.
Her affection remains steadfast, and the Spock connection remains integral to her character in subsequent series like “Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.” It’s puzzling that Nurse Chapel wasn’t given an opportunity to save the ship by applying her scientific knowledge to create a groundbreaking remedy. While romantic entanglements are an entertaining aspect of TV, Christine Chapel deserved more character growth and a portrayal that went beyond being lovesick on the sidelines.
3 Starfleet’s Death Penalty
In “The Menagerie,” one of Star Trek’s most intense episodes, Spock stands trial for seizing control of the ship and venturing to the restricted planet Talos IV. The reasons behind his actions remain shrouded until it is disclosed that Captain Pike was disfigured in a devastating accident. As tensions rise during the hearing, it’s made clear that Starfleet enforces capital punishment for anyone visiting the off-limits world. The episode leaves viewers troubled because, despite tackling a controversial subject like the death penalty, it lacks a thorough exploration of its ethical implications.
Some forward-thinking individuals view capital punishment as outdated, distasteful, and inhumane. Yet, it appears that a modern series like Star Trek, which often presents its Starfleet characters as symbols of moral guidance, includes this practice. This raises the question: why incorporate such a controversial concept when discussing Spock’s significant decision to travel to Talos IV? It seems the writers may have used capital punishment merely as a plot device, without fully considering the philosophical ramifications.
2 Starfleet’s Ban on Female Captains
One way to rephrase that sentence in a more natural and easy-to-read manner could be: The Starfleet’s apparent prohibition on female commanders is an instance where the forward-thinking series unfortunately remained rooted in old-fashioned ways. This ban is initially exposed in the episode “The Turnabout Intruder,” when the character Janice Lester tells Captain Kirk, “Your fleet of starships doesn’t allow women to command. It isn’t fair.” Kirk acknowledges this by saying, “Indeed, it isn’t.
In the future, Star Trek introduces a contradiction, as shows set before The Original Series portray female characters as captains. For instance, Star Trek: Enterprise presents Erika Hernandez, played by Ada Maris, reaching the rank of captain in 2154. Discovery showcases Captain Philippa Georgiou in 2249 and Admiral Katrina Cornwell in 2246, after she had commanded her own ship. Similarly, Captain Marie Batel from Strange New Worlds has earned her command by 2259.
In Star Trek: Mission’s End, it’s been confirmed that there was once a ban on female captains, despite some fans hoping otherwise. It’s surprising that instead of depicting female captains directly, the show only went so far as to have a character assert that their exclusion wasn’t fair.
While Star Trek often showcased progressive ideas in a futuristic setting, it sometimes reflected the prevailing societal norms and mindsets of its time. This could have been intentional, serving as a means to maintain a connection with contemporary audiences, or perhaps as a subtle reminder that advancement and change were still necessary.
1 The Forced Kiss That Changed the World
As a passionate film buff, let me share an iconic moment that left a profound impact on television history: in the episode “Plato’s Stepchildren,” Captain Kirk and Uhura shared an unforgettable kiss. This groundbreaking scene graced our screens on November 22, 1968, marking the first romantic kiss between characters of different races ever shown on TV. Given that it was a mere year after the Supreme Court overturned the ban on interracial marriage in the United States, this tender moment is widely celebrated as a significant step forward in social progress. Remarkably, considering the stringent control NBC executives exerted at the time, the fact that such an intimate scene made it to the airwaves is truly noteworthy.
Although the appearance of an interracial kiss signifies a step towards a more enlightened age, it is also shrouded in a bit of controversy. The crew mates do not actually engage in the kiss on their own volition. Instead, they are forced to kiss when their bodies are taken over by the Platonian species, which uses its telekinetic powers to prank and demean the crew. This plot point could cause offense by suggesting that an interracial kiss is a preposterous act that no one would actually choose to do. However, fans must remember that even broadcasting such a kiss, whatever the context, was a groundbreaking step.
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2024-09-29 22:32