One of the reasons we Star Trek fans love the franchise so much is that we see ourselves in our favorite characters or see the traits that we aspire to: bravery, compassion, tolerance, and the curiosity to explore what it means to be a sentient being. Sometimes, though, the writers seem to look directly through the looking glass and into our minds and hearts.
Let’s take a look back at 3 episodes that made us fans feel seen.
1. “Data’s Day” (TNG)
Vlogging and social media were still a gleam in the eyes of internet developers when this episode (S4E11) first aired. It was 1991, and even sites like Facebook were still over a decade in the future. Maybe that’s what makes this slice-of-life episode feel so personal; while Data is recording his daily events to assist Dr. Bruce Maddox with his cybernetic research and development projects, it feels more like a diary entry.
We fans with social disorders also relate on so many levels as Data tries to puzzle out humor with Geordi (Data calling him a “lunkhead” is top-tier Next Generation Brent Spiner, in this writer’s opinion), and an objective look at the general insanity of a wedding makes us feel like we’re reading a page from our own diaries!
2. “Hollow Pursuits” (TNG)
The script for this episode (S3E21), written by Sally Caves, offers a glimpse into what it’s like to be imperfect in a world that often demands perfection. Work culture on board the Enterprise is demanding, schedules are rigorous, and senior officers can be formidable. Reginald Barclay (played by the underrated and delightful Dwight Schultz) simply can’t find a place to fit in, and so he often escapes into a holodeck world of fantasy, where he sometimes recreates the people in his life in a way that puts him in control.
While holodecks are probably still a few centuries away, escaping into worlds of our own making is common for those of us who live with persistent anxiety or depression, and Reg’s struggles are so real that they almost feel like Caves plucked them from our brains instead of her own. It’s also gratifying to know that years later, Barclay would find his place and become integral in bringing Voyager home from the Delta Quadrant. In the meantime, this line always looks right through me:
Geordi: “You’re just shy, Reg.”
Barclay: “Just shy. Sounds like nothing serious, doesn’t it? You can’t know.”
3. “Journey To Babel” (TOS)
For Star Trek fans with parental issues, this episode (S2E10) feels extremely personal. The rift between Spock and his father, Sarek, over Spock’s career choices, his mother, Amanda, acting as a buffer between them, and all the unspoken words and emotions make “Journey To Babel” not only a popular episode but also a heartfelt one.
Because so many fans already related to Spock and his fractured upbringing as a human/Vulcan hybrid on his father’s world, this added layer of personal history only made them more sympathetic; however, it also gave them courage because not only did Spock rise above labels like “misfit,” he found a family on board Enterprise and was living his best life when Sarek and Amanda showed up. If Spock could overcome his parents’ expectations and become his own person, so could they!
There are other Star Trek episodes in the franchise that seem to turn the lens toward its viewers and make them feel seen. Sometimes these moments feel surprising, and many times, the resulting emotions they bring out in us also feel so familiar that it’s almost like coming home.
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