Happy Birthday Gene Roddenberry: 5 great things Star Trek has given us

On Gene Roddengerry’s 99th birthday, we salute the man for five of the greatest things he and Star Trek ever gave us fans.

Today we’re taking time to celebrate the man himself, Gene Roddenberry, on what would’ve been his 99th birthday. Roddenberry created the original Star Trek series in the 1960s as a perfect representation of a future where there was no war among mankind. Where all the nations, races, and religions put aside their petty differences to boldly go where no man has gone before.

The show would turn into eight shows, one short-series, and 13 movies. A genuine franchise. While he didn’t get to see most of it come to fruition, his fingerprints can be seen in most versions of his creation.

So on his 99th birthday, let’s take a look at just five of the things that his creation, Star Trek, has given us. Sure, not all of them are from his mind, but his mind gave us the ability to have all of these things. So we’re counting it.

Here are just five of the greatest thing Gene Roddenberry’s Star Trek has given us.

Vulcan logic

Who doesn’t love the logic of the Vulcans? Their ability to look at situations without the burden of emotions makes them the perfect representations of an evolved mankind. The best part is, their presentation isn’t always seen to be right. That a life without emotion isn’t always better, at times its worse. The conflicting duality of such a viewpoint is what makes Vulcan logic so wonderfully flawed.

Gul Dukat

While not a direct creation of Roddenberry, Dukat is one of the greatest villains Star Trek could ever have created. Very much in line with the Khan’s of the franchise, Dukat is at times sympathetic, and relatable. Very much willing to give up his life for his daughter. Then being unreachable after death. He’s a man that walked the line of his own personal morals and Cardassian pride and often tumbled. His evil is in how well he buried his own true feelings. How he made you feel for him before shedding such a disguise. He is peak Trek-villainy at it’s best.

The Picard/Kirk debate

The greatest debate in all of science fiction. James T. Kirk or Jean-Luc Picard? The swashbuckling, ladies man, who didn’t’ hate a fight he was in, or the gruff, oftentimes cold, ambassador who put duty before all else.

Scott Bakula in Star Trek

There’s a love for Scott Bakula which is something special. As a person, a sci-fi icon, and as a Star Trek captain; he seems to transcend the normal love affair. He’s almost universally beloved and even those who dislike Star Trek: Enterprise (it’s solid, give it a shot) will say they loved Bakula as the rugged Johnathan Archer. Bakula was a huge get for the franchise and brought a level of gravitas and nuance to the role that fans glommed onto, even to this day.

A vision to chase after

The best thing Star Trek gave us was an idea to chase after. Unity, peace, exploration, and serving your fellow man. It doesn’t get much nobler than a world where people work for themselves and not for gain.