Sometimes a new legend takes...
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Sometimes a new legend takes on a life of its own. Star Trek seems to be one of those. We had the original series in the late '60s, which died and found a new life in syndication, then the movies. Then came The Next Generation, and spin-offs such as Deep Space Nine and Voyager. And now something new called Enterprise. It just keeps on going, which means there must be something good here, worth keeping.
I've always wondered at the slogan that begins every episode of Star Trek: "Space, the Final Frontier." Is space really the final frontier? Some say exploring the ocean depths is the final frontier. Ask any doctor or any sick person and he or she will tell you the human body is still largely unexplored and unconquered. What really is the final frontier?
Ironically, Star Trek itself gives us a different answer. Sure, the crew explores new worlds and new civilizations, and boldly goes where no one has gone before. But inside the episodes, space is not the real issue. The real issue, in this show, and in all the best shows, is the human character. Exploring the human character, how it conquers obstacles, how it handles defeat, how it grows, how it loves, how it develops loyalty, how it overcomes fear, this is the real issue, and I would venture to say, the human character is the final frontier. And always will be.
I've always wondered at the slogan that begins every episode of Star Trek: "Space, the Final Frontier." Is space really the final frontier? Some say exploring the ocean depths is the final frontier. Ask any doctor or any sick person and he or she will tell you the human body is still largely unexplored and unconquered. What really is the final frontier?
Ironically, Star Trek itself gives us a different answer. Sure, the crew explores new worlds and new civilizations, and boldly goes where no one has gone before. But inside the episodes, space is not the real issue. The real issue, in this show, and in all the best shows, is the human character. Exploring the human character, how it conquers obstacles, how it handles defeat, how it grows, how it loves, how it develops loyalty, how it overcomes fear, this is the real issue, and I would venture to say, the human character is the final frontier. And always will be.
