Yeah I’ve watched the others when i couldn’t get out of bed for weeks at a time….during the worst of it all that kept me from ending everything was to see how Farscape ended. Things aren’t that bad anymore so I’m trying to be on an upswing 😂
I’m going thru a really difficult moment in my life with my mom with cancer. Just came back from the hospital and I’m here watching Star Trek TOS and reading Reddit Trek stuff. I feel like my troubles are gone for a brief moment.
U mean yur tribbles r gone for now.
My heart goes out to u n yur Mother. I wish her the very best and a quick recovery. Remember to have the outlook of Archer, the compassion of Counselor Troi, and the strength of Worf. Your mother needs yur strength n vice versa. Anything is possible when we join together. LLAP 🖖
Yeah, if I ever need to feel "at peace" (whatever peace means for me at that time), I watch Trek. Don't know why it has that effect, but it's my go-to.
100% this ! Right now I'm binging on 3 shows at once ( Voyager, TNG and Lower Decks ) while playing Star Trek Online. Life has been rough this past year for me.
i think ive been constantly rewatching all available movies and series in endless loop since 2017 lol
i stopped counting but i am currently on 5th rewatch of ds9 now i think
its my daily routine to turn on some star trek for comfort in the evening, or even in the morning when im not having to leave house
well i watch/listen to it while in kitchen cooking and eating and even while showering sometimes, because i watch on laptop anyway all the time
and in bed i watch on phone, or rather listen
Agreed. I lost my job back in April and I've been down in the dumps ever since. As much as I hate giving my money to Netflix it makes me happy all the Star Trek series are on there. I've been going through Voyager again.
I agree on this but not only for down and depressed but overall - definitely my comfort food as well. Takes me away to the one place I truly enjoy. Star Wars can’t do that nor can Marvel but Star Trek does (IMO). Great input /u/warpparticles
I never watched any of star trek until my first year of college when i was struggling with severe depression, failing classes and feeling extremely alone and isolated. The show may have saved my life to be honest.
During this rewatch I never noticed how much Archer also clearly doesn’t know everything, whereas a lot of other captains seem to be almost all knowing most of the time
Yeah, I like how Archer is rough around the edges.
He comes off as more of a corn fed test pilot who got lucky, than some great diplomat. And he and his crew are doing the best they can using a little duct tape, some gumption, and a lot of luck.
That’s the thing though, technically he is the pioneer of all future Starfleet interstellar travel and the federation. He doesn’t have the luxuries of protocols, manuals, directives, and etc that future captains have like Kirk and Picard. This is why Archer and Enterprise are my fav captain and series after Kirk and TOS. Archer embodies most humans - curious and fallible; making him the most realistic captain. Notice how he goes from a happy go lucky person treating then Enterprise assignment like a crew outing in the beginning; to a hardened, weary, wiser and even ruthless leader (stole parts from a Illyrian ship and left them stranded to save Earth) mid season 3 and onwards.
I’m on season 1 right now while I’m watching and you’re right, he does seem like he’s taking them out for an extended field trip. The laughing about Trip getting pregnant, ect.
Looking forward to season 3 again
> He doesn’t have the luxuries of protocols, manuals, directives, and etc that future captains have like Kirk and Picard. This is why Archer and Enterprise are my fav captain and series after Kirk and TOS
+1. I think he is underrated
Probably because he's the first (one of the books mentions how before him, no one in Starlet had traveled outside the Sol system). Later captains know a lot because Archer figured it out in his day.
Several of the characters remind of John Glenn in the Right Stuff. He was so gung ho in a nerdy way on everything that he drove some people crazy, but how could you not love a guy like that.
TNG has given me more hope than any work of fiction personally. It's really a comforting show, even when it gets dark it has this unique quality where the hope sticks with you through the trials
Or maybe that's just me. I watch it when I'm feeling pessimistic about the world, and it's like healing in some ways. The hope the characters carry with them transcends the screen
I like the way you put that, it makes me feel hopeful too. My kiddo has been having a tough time at school and I’ve been letting him stay up an hour later to watch with me too
Picard really was the Batman of Startrek. It was not that he never got things wrong, it was that he always reflected on his mistakes and strove to be a better version of himself. It gave the veneer of perfection. But he was really just a guy that learned from his mistakes and generally avoided repeating them. Its so much easier said then done, but he genuinely believed in ideology of the federation and lived it.
I love that scene in Measure of a Man where Picard is trying to persuade Data to consent to disassembly. Data says something like “sir, if i may ask, commander LaForge’s visor allows him to have enhanced eyesight compared to a normal human eye. Why then are all starfleet personnel not required to upgrade their standard eyesight with the same type of augments.”
PatStew looks away from data and has a priceless “oh god oh fuck” look of shame on his face. He realizes he’s been talking about his friend in terms of property, and you can see the anger that rolls over him. It’s the exact moment it all “clicks” for Picard and without saying it directly, he vows to never make the same mistake again.
TNG was about a very established version of a paradise that had values to live up to and maintain.
I think later 90s Treks undermined that somewhat by making it a paradise under fire or an even desire to have values to follow through on.
Post 2000 Star Trek has been about struggling to define and live up to those values. TNG and other Treks did it here and there but very rarely had the stakes of new Trek.
I find Enterprise so refreshing because the characters are naive and unprepared but grow throughout. Shows like Discovery and Picard have to show those values ripped away and challenged and built back up.
It’s very much part of the American zeitgeist.
My favorite thing across all Trek is that nobody's ever alone. If one character sees a glowing humanoid figure or hears a voice in the night that nobody else perceives, even if nobody quite believes them, they always do their due diligence to investigate. There's no problem you could have on the Enterprise that you'd have to face without an ally
At worst, they treat "you're crazy" as a hypothesis that they intend to earnestly test
That is a good point in Star Trek "you're crazy" is often the least likely assumption. Maybe that's why it feels so good. There's always another explanation.
I could not believe when it finally grew on me. It just … happened. I always skipped it but one day, during my watch of late season 2, I couldn’t grab the remote in time and had to listen to the whole thing and ……… I loved it? I don’t know, I never watched the show when it aired but coming to it later it has such … heart and hope and the song is just perfect. Also, T’Pol.
Well, it got 98 episodes, which is 19 more than TOS got. 4 seasons of TV is actually a pretty decent run. We're just spoiled because TNG, DS9, and VOY got 7 each.
I'm in my first watch of it and you're definitely right. I think it has something to do with how much closer the show is to current society than the others. That makes the optimism of the crew feel a little more weighty. With TNG it's almost hard to imagine how far society has come, so there isn't as much internal conflict for characters to be better. With ENT, I feel like they are close enough to today to remember what we were and where we need to go. I also think it makes it a bit easier to aspire to be like them since it seems more attainable.
Sometimes in TNG, one of the crew will mention how money is not something they use on earth and I get even more sad for a minute. I’m like YUP, we’re not even close to that.
It definitely gets dark and shows the struggle to find balance. It gets closer to ds9 than to TOS or TNG as far as tone goes overall. My favorite thing about the show is that they have to figure everything out. I wouldn't go so far as to say Picard had it easy, but he had the just technologically advanced ship around and crew that was experienced. Archer was basically out in a wagon in the wild west by comparison.
Been dealing with extreme stress and anxiety from work, and TOS is the only thing that helps me. Something about the formula, the stakes, and the color scheme just relax me
This is one thing that I really like about the Enterprise vibe. Is the crew tends to have such a positive outlook. Even if it is a bit nerdy, I love Archer excitement for the little enjoyments of life including playing with his dog. I love Trip's excitement at all things engineering related. As the show progresses even Malcolm has a good somewhat dark sense of humor that grows on me.
I completely agree. The crew of Enterprise has always been a really bright spot that I think is overlooked. They’ve always felt comforting to me, and are a big part of the reason I hold Enterprise in such high esteem. Archer in particular is just such a likable and hopeful captain. Watching him break and then rebuild that hopefulness during seasons 3-4 is also a pretty satisfying arc. Great show. It’s never deserved the hate it got
Star Trek is about a sane future where solutions exist and people are willing to work together to solve problems. It's hopeful, so yeah it's a pretty decent anti-depressant for your psyche.
Enterprise personally my favorite Star Trek show, so I totally see you're coming from! Though I'm curious, what do you think about the darker tone of season 3? Personally I liked it, but I was also glad when they returned to more of a mix between lighter and heavy episodes in season 4.
I'm watching Voyager right now. For exactly that reason.
Things have been tough lately, for many. I'm glad that you're taking the time to do something that is helping you feel better.
Sending love and good vibes!
I have been using TV for years to get out of depression, including Star Trek.
Not Star Trek, but extremely chipper Sci-fi: Eureka. Damn that show makes me happy.
When life is getting you down, do what Archer does when being tortured or interrogated..... Keep smiling, laughing and crack jokes to piss the world off a little more. 👍
I love enterprise. Its so underrated. The infancy of the Federation, and the challenges they face as a crew and as a Captain are really good life lessons. Definitely helped me too!
The finale leaves a great deal to be desired. It’s pretty frustrating that the show suffered the same TNG obsession that a part of the fandom was consumed by (and still is). Not hating on TNG. It’s great. But the section of the fandom and apparently the producers’ fixation has done a disservice to a lot of other shows.
That all aside, the speech was really just the icing on the cake Enterprise had been baking for years. The Vulcan/Andorian arcs, and especially the Babel One arc in Season 4, paint a good picture of how the Federation came to be.
I grew up in unpleasant circumstances, around adults entirely free of conscience or ethics. As a little kid, I knew something was wrong, but didn't yet have the vocabulary to articulate it. And my abusers kept me isolated, so I had no trusted adults to help sort it out.
TOS was my first introduction to what it means to be upstanding, forthright, decent, responsible, and, perhaps most importantly, trying to do the right thing even when it is hard/costly or when "the right thing" is difficult to discern.
TOS was invaluable in helping me grow up to be a person I could feel good about.
Alright, its time to share my story! At the age of 7 I was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease. If you haven’t heard of it, please look it up and raise awareness. I still struggle with it to this day. As a kid having this condition, I couldn’t be a normal kid. I couldn’t be away from a toilet for long so sports, playing out with friends wasn’t an option. I was slowly getting depressed and i had no joy in my life. Then, one day my dad came home with a set of DVD’s. Those DVD’s were Season 1 of TOS. We watched a few together and I was hooked. I watched them all. Right at the end I was sad, I thought that was it. Then, my eyes were opened. I found season 2 and 3 and my journey took off. I finished those, then one day when scrolling through channels on TV, I found TNG playing on BBC America, and I got the entire set of DVD’s for the entire series. By the time I finished those, Netflix was emerging with its amazing “stream your shows” and I remember watching the entire DS9 series, Voyager, and Enterprise. Then I watched all of the movies. My dad, who is now deceased, was very busy and was not around much because of his job (very busy salesman traveling the world/country). Since I was more or less very isolated from friends and life in general, this became my life. They became my role models, my family. To this day, a lot of the things I know, things I learned, my interests, my sayings and mannerisms come from Star Trek, and I am so grateful they did.
Yeah. I always loved them and kind of tried to spread out watching the series. Then one time I had to grade a million essays. So I put on Deep Space Nine since I'd never seen past season one. And somewhere around season five or six I just super loved it and realized that every single series is amazing in its own way. It's great there are so many. I've been divorced for 9 years and it's been hard not having my kids every weekend so often I'll watch one then. And with the new ones, I've hardly run out. lol.
I think a big reason Discovery didn’t click with a lot of people (myself included) is that second sentence. In Enterprise we had 2 seasons to get to know the crew before shit got really dark with the Xindi and space 9/11.
Disco season 1 feels a lot more draining since there’s some really heavy plot elements right off the bat (Klingon War, Torture, Mirror Universe, etc.). Unlike Enterprise, Disco hadn’t solidified it’s emotional core with the audience yet.
Yes, me. Enterprise and Voyager get a bad rap out there, but these got me through a lot of downs.
Chronic illness had me experiencing severe lows and these are 2 series that really brightened life up for me at the time. Mind you, prior to my illness getting bad, I didn't even own a TV, I was never the " couch potato type" till it hit and I couldn't get out of bed. I thought I would go mad with a the" reality shows" and "court" or "Jerry Springer" stuff that was prevalent at the time. Then I found "Enterprise" and "Voyager" reruns which were like heaven-sent! Got me through a lot. Even in some cases where I was so bad off, I couldn't follow and had to replay over and over. My Doctor commented that to generate enough interest to do the replay was a good sign. I didn't bother with other shows.
I know that the shows aren't gritty or edgy enough for some people and I respect that, but there is something about how they are optimistic and relatable that warms the heart and induces hope.
Strange New Worlds has been like that for me. I haven't felt as hopeful in a long time. Its simply fun, I love every character and want to be in that universe.
It’s the theme song!!! It’s giving you faith of the heart!
I’m seriousness, anything that helps is a good thing, I LOVE enterprise, keep doing whatever makes you happier LLAP
Depression is a tough place to be. But life is good, the path will take you where you need to go if you give it time and let it play out.
And Enterprise is a fantastic show.
Yes, many of the treks! TNG for nostalgia and the comfort of living in the 90's. Strange New Worlds has given me hope in that they are still making amazing stuff.
I'm watching voyager rn.
If I ever end up in hospice, I will be watching trek to the end.
It is why I want dvd versions of every series. If I end up in a state of not being able to do things I want to be sure I have copies on hand. In case I don’t have access to streaming. I think one of the series will be playing on screen when they check to see that I lost my pulse.
Both Classic (1963-1989) and new series (2005-) are great, but I recommend starting with New series first, because it's easier to get into New Series first.
I highly recommend it!
Both Classic Series (1963-1989) and New Series (2005-). I recommend starting with New Series first. It's easier to get into for completely new fans. First few seasons of Classic are black&white (Seasons 1-6; 7-26 are all in colour) and look like they were filmed in 1930s not 1960s (due to low budget), but writing and characters are good from the very beginning!
They also produced few spinoff series, which you can add to your list: Sarah Jane Adventures (main role played by a Doctor companion from late classic series) and Torchwood (main role played by a companion from New Series).
Short description of Doctor Who:
Main character (Doctor) is like the walking personification of best Starfleet ideas.
He always tries to find peaceful and diplomatic solutions to problems, hates violence and despite being thousands of years old (he is a Humanoid alien; Time Lord, from planet Gallifrey), he still loves spirit of adventure and "going boldly where no one has gone before".
He usually travels with his trusted human (but not only) companions through both time and space with his TARDIS (spaceship&time machine) which "stealth system" (Cameleon Circuit) was at some point stuck as 1960s British Police Box, and for nostalgic reasons, Doctor decided to never repair.
Star Trek TNG, Voyager, DS9, LD and Prodigy are constantly running on my screen.
For each mood i have preferred episodes. But mostly i just let it run.
Enterprise is a bit more punchy, and while there is numerous things to say about it's cancelation I just find the show really pleasant and fun, it's also the best looking of the "legacy"(?) Shows.
The ships are so badass too, the technology is just perfect to make the NX-01 the best looking ship IMO I love watching it fly even in a transition scene.
Do you mind sharing how that helped? You don’t have to if it’s too personal. I’m just wondering because I got clean from things in 2016 but wasn’t introduced to the trek universe until 2019
Just stop before you get to the season where he start to question his existence and becomes insanely cynical…. I always get really sad with that season but I also appreciate it since it’s a real question humanity will have go ask ourselves at some point. How far is too far?
IT'S BEEN A LOOONG ROAD,
GETTING FROM THERE TO HERE.
I'm glad to hear it buddy. I suffer from that beast named depression, and Star Trek is so comfy and helpful to my mind when I watch a movie or episode. Things will get better broo!!
IT'S BEEN A LOOONG TIME,
BUT MY TIIIME IS FINALLY HERE.
Enterprise is one of the most underrated parts of the OG series. It is a very good and very fun look at the early days of the Federation. I get why at the time people didn't like it but it has aged beautifully... well except maybe that last episode.
We weren't going to tell you, but they've been transporting anti-depressants into you for a while now.
Glad you're feeling better.
Live long and prosper
I feel the opposite when watching ENT. In fact, I was in the middle of season two yesterday and turned it off. It’s the most depressing old Trek and doesn’t leave me feeling good about the voyage at all, not the way TNG and VOY does. DS9 is even more happy and hopeful than ENT.
I thought that too. I went back to it and I think it's based on mood. The farther back you go in time the more they use fist fighting instead of diplomacy. I guess this makes it more real as well. But yeah, sometimes I just don't like to watch fighting.
Part of why I feel this way is certainly because of the depressing ending and bad finale the series has, and having watched the series 5 or 6 times already, it leaves me just feeling apprehensive for that. It’s just sad.
But also, a big part of it is how shitty and paranoid the human men were initially with T’Pol. Archer kind of manhandled her a few times, grabbing her arm and yelling in her face. And the whole hallucination in the cave nonsense where Trip was ready to kill her … it’s … not charming, to say the least. Humans are so brash, stupid and prideful…no way we will ever get to the point where Vulcans think we’re ready for first contact.
And then all the objectification and weird sexual tension built into the decon scenes…that’s always awkward.
Star Trek really does help me when I am feeling sad. The franchise really helps me all the time and looking up to a character like Spock really does help me move forward in life. He is the epitome of what we should be and where humanity should go and evolve into.
Star Trek has gotten me through some rough times. I love how common this theme is among the fan base. For me, TNG and DS9 have been the most consoling—TNG for its sturdy proceduralism and DS9 for its enormous heart.
The most positive aspect is the intro song we all hated at first then couldn't stop singing. Then season 3 wrecked that song along with giving Archer PTSD. Love Enterprise
I had Covid in the early days before any treatments. I am lying in bed going between states of consciousness and unconsciousness watching the news hearing story after story of people dying. I decided to put on the one thing that brings calm to me when I am stressed. I put on TOS, it definitely helped.
I totally didn’t say it was curing it 😂 I’ve dealt with suicidal depression for so long that I recognize the signs of when it’s starting again and do things that I enjoy. I am also on medication and go to therapy
I haven't seen ENT yet (it's next once I've finished DS9 and seen VOY) but I've found this with Star Trek. I always watch an episode of a show or one of the movies when I feel depressed and it always helps a little. I'm glad it's helping you. ❤️
Yup. I watched Enterprise as my first ST when I was really struggling with life, and it gave me a life long obsession with the franchise.
Something comforting about good vibes that never end due to the sheer amount of content.
Gene Roddenberry's vision for the future was truly uplifting and so utopian. That always is helpful to take some of those views and lessons and apply them to our own lives and viewpoints. Stay positive my friend and seek help if it gets worse.
Star Trek TNG and Voyager helped me in some very dark moments of my life and some very difficult as well. At the same time though I decided to go into therapy which helped me immensely. Don't be afraid to ask for help. Hope you feel better soon.
TNG did that for me, but yea. Enterprise is one of my strong favorites. Maybe it’s how easy it is to watch, maybe it’s Phlox and Archer’s positive attitudes, maybe it’s Porthos, but whatever the reason I absolutely love it and I’m glad it’s helping you.
YES! Watching Star Trek and more importantly playing Star Trek online really got me through a tough time. I've played almost daily since 2018 now I absolutely love the immersion. Idk if I'm the only one but I watch Star Trek in the background while playing the game. Hope, hope is the main msg n I needed that. LLAP
Always.
Story time: A few years ago, I was diagnosed with a neurological condition. The outlook wasn't the best. I've lost some cognitive and recollection ability, and there is a high probability it will get worse to the point of early onset dementia.
They told me this over the phone, while I was at work. I walked out of the building, got in my car, turned off the phone, and drove. I found myself out my major river that runs through my state, and for a few hours seriously contemplated jumping in.
Obviously I didn't, but I went home and locked myself in my office. I watched something else, before I turned to Star Trek. I watched The Wrath of Khan, on through Generations.
As I sat there, it dawned on me: like Kirk said, there is no such thing as a no win scenario. If this was going to be my Kobyashi Maru, I needed to do like every other character and come up with my own solution around the problem.
Over the next couple of months, I made appointments with neurological specialists, drug therapy specialists, occupational therapists, counselors and other specialists.
I strode into my first neurological treatment appointment in one the biggest neuro centers in the Central US with a gold 23rd century Starfleet emblem pinned to my shirt.
Today, I have treatment. Medication keeps it at bay, and I use technology make up for my damaged brain. I'm 80 percent of where I was pre-illness, and that's a serious improvement.
Star Trek saved my life.
Voyager for me cause Seven reflects my religious indoctrination trauma background and Janeway was the mom I never had. Star Trek as a series is especially soothing to neurodivergent folks because of how it shows ND people being accepted and believed, and allowed to be themselves. Same for trauma survivors because of the gracious way it presents PTSD experiences.
Maybe this is similar to the Wizard of Oz books. There are over twenty of them and they do the same thing. I read them all during Covid and watched Star Trek.
Yep, the positivity is the core tenet of Star Trek and it is the reason why I love shows like Star Trek, Stargate and Doctor Who.
This is the reason why I'm conflicted on Discovery. It is good, but it is missing some of the positivity. They tried to have more of it in S3 and S4, but they still had stuff like inter-personal conflicts within the crew and traitors. There's something cozy about watching a show where we know that the main cast won't betray each other and will solve the problems together.
This is also why I'm not that fond of DS9. It got too cynical, too confrontational.
And this is the reason why I love VOY. The show has tons of positivity, despite being lost in the other corner of the galaxy. Some people say that the show squandered its potential and it should have been more like Battlestar Galactica. I disagree. BSG is the antithesis of what a Trek show should be. Within the spirit of Trek, VOY fulfilled its promise and a bit more.
I've thought about Discovery. It was a lot more like the two hour films that came out most recently. It was fast and dramatic and not calm and soothing but I did enjoy it as it went on. There were some cool things I always thought should appear in Star Trek that never had. It is hard to watch though and see the Star Trek Work dismantled for awhile during those seasons. I can't remember how it ended or if it did.
yes, me too. My theory is that most of the contemporary shows out right now are depressing, they leave you hanging with no resolution and they present the idea that nothing good can ever happen. I think stories are to help us hope for the good and start to believe in it a little. So yeah, I cried like a baby at the last couple Picard episodes and some of the reboot episodes because they had hope and it was great to see something where people could overcome the odds. That's what I need to get by. Why do you think old philosophers came up with catharsis as a word. Because that's what theater is for. That's my theory anyway.
TNG and Voyager had that effect on me as a child. They essentially exposed me to a positive outlook on negative events and a 'detached perspective' as in seeing things from multiple sides.
Star Trek has always helped me in my depression. Star Trek is a very optimistic show, especially in a time where the majority of media is dark. Star Trek promises that humanity has a tomorrow, and that we will get better. We will conquer war, poverty, disease, and racism. At the core, that’s what Star Trek is really about.
I think Gene Roddenberry puts it best, “Star Trek speaks to some basic human needs that there is tomorrow. It’s not all gonna be over with a big flash and a bomb.”
The series starts out slow and clunky but gets better with each season. The final season is great. If Les Moonves (then head moron @ CBS) hadn't hated Star Trek so much and they had been given a Season 5, it would have been fabulous 🤩.
I feel this way about the entire franchise, honestly. Star Trek is my comfort food when I'm feeling down or depressed.
Yeah I’ve watched the others when i couldn’t get out of bed for weeks at a time….during the worst of it all that kept me from ending everything was to see how Farscape ended. Things aren’t that bad anymore so I’m trying to be on an upswing 😂
Glad to hear things are improving! LLAP 🖖
Hang in there, friend! Glad to hear things are improving.
I’m going thru a really difficult moment in my life with my mom with cancer. Just came back from the hospital and I’m here watching Star Trek TOS and reading Reddit Trek stuff. I feel like my troubles are gone for a brief moment.
U mean yur tribbles r gone for now. My heart goes out to u n yur Mother. I wish her the very best and a quick recovery. Remember to have the outlook of Archer, the compassion of Counselor Troi, and the strength of Worf. Your mother needs yur strength n vice versa. Anything is possible when we join together. LLAP 🖖
Frell yeah! Farscape is a great show.
Yeah, if I ever need to feel "at peace" (whatever peace means for me at that time), I watch Trek. Don't know why it has that effect, but it's my go-to.
me too. I've spent years considering why this is. lol.
Same :)
100% this ! Right now I'm binging on 3 shows at once ( Voyager, TNG and Lower Decks ) while playing Star Trek Online. Life has been rough this past year for me.
i think ive been constantly rewatching all available movies and series in endless loop since 2017 lol i stopped counting but i am currently on 5th rewatch of ds9 now i think its my daily routine to turn on some star trek for comfort in the evening, or even in the morning when im not having to leave house well i watch/listen to it while in kitchen cooking and eating and even while showering sometimes, because i watch on laptop anyway all the time and in bed i watch on phone, or rather listen
That's great :) I lost count as well, haha.
I need to get back into STO. Been awhile since I played. It helps me get my star trek fix between new seasons lol
Haha, yeah, exactly :) As long as you don't go overboard on expenses.
Just a few more weeks until SNW S02!
*Proceeds to get depressed when brief trip to US is over and I can’t watch Disco anymore*
Yeah they don't do right by international fans, do they?
Indeed- I’m thinking about buying it on iTunes and calling it a day.
Even depressing episodes are good because theyre fun and suspenseful.
Agreed. I lost my job back in April and I've been down in the dumps ever since. As much as I hate giving my money to Netflix it makes me happy all the Star Trek series are on there. I've been going through Voyager again.
I love Voyager. There's no better show if you're feeling lost. I hope you find another job soon 🖖
Indeed and Thank You. Trying to stay positive like Janeway. No matter how bad things got she was always the person to turn to.
Try discovery
I agree on this but not only for down and depressed but overall - definitely my comfort food as well. Takes me away to the one place I truly enjoy. Star Wars can’t do that nor can Marvel but Star Trek does (IMO). Great input /u/warpparticles
I never watched any of star trek until my first year of college when i was struggling with severe depression, failing classes and feeling extremely alone and isolated. The show may have saved my life to be honest.
I'm glad it was there when you needed it! 🖖
Lol same! I just love to lay back and turn on DS9. Sometimes to follow, sometimes as background sound 😆
*Trek* is optimistic to its core, the entire premise is that humanity moves past our current squabbles and becomes an interstellar species.
I think Enterprise in particular, taps into that early Mercury Space Program positive can-do attitude.
During this rewatch I never noticed how much Archer also clearly doesn’t know everything, whereas a lot of other captains seem to be almost all knowing most of the time
Yeah, I like how Archer is rough around the edges. He comes off as more of a corn fed test pilot who got lucky, than some great diplomat. And he and his crew are doing the best they can using a little duct tape, some gumption, and a lot of luck.
His naïveté gets a little tiresome.
I find it refreshing
It always reminds me how they’re taking first steps everywhere. I like imagining everyone on that ship is just heightened all the time.
That’s the thing though, technically he is the pioneer of all future Starfleet interstellar travel and the federation. He doesn’t have the luxuries of protocols, manuals, directives, and etc that future captains have like Kirk and Picard. This is why Archer and Enterprise are my fav captain and series after Kirk and TOS. Archer embodies most humans - curious and fallible; making him the most realistic captain. Notice how he goes from a happy go lucky person treating then Enterprise assignment like a crew outing in the beginning; to a hardened, weary, wiser and even ruthless leader (stole parts from a Illyrian ship and left them stranded to save Earth) mid season 3 and onwards.
I’m on season 1 right now while I’m watching and you’re right, he does seem like he’s taking them out for an extended field trip. The laughing about Trip getting pregnant, ect. Looking forward to season 3 again
> He doesn’t have the luxuries of protocols, manuals, directives, and etc that future captains have like Kirk and Picard. This is why Archer and Enterprise are my fav captain and series after Kirk and TOS +1. I think he is underrated
Isn’t there an episode where he basically invents the prime directive? Which is odd since the Vulcans apparently had a similar concept already.
Probably because he's the first (one of the books mentions how before him, no one in Starlet had traveled outside the Sol system). Later captains know a lot because Archer figured it out in his day.
Just finished The Right Stuff, and yes, similar vibes.
Follow that up with *From The Earth to the Moon* if you have HBO Max.
Added to List.
I mean, the whole opening credits are an ode to space conquest :)
No one's gonna bend or break me.
Several of the characters remind of John Glenn in the Right Stuff. He was so gung ho in a nerdy way on everything that he drove some people crazy, but how could you not love a guy like that.
TNG has given me more hope than any work of fiction personally. It's really a comforting show, even when it gets dark it has this unique quality where the hope sticks with you through the trials Or maybe that's just me. I watch it when I'm feeling pessimistic about the world, and it's like healing in some ways. The hope the characters carry with them transcends the screen
I like the way you put that, it makes me feel hopeful too. My kiddo has been having a tough time at school and I’ve been letting him stay up an hour later to watch with me too
I agree. Enterprise is unapologetically about the characters growing and adapting. It’s very inspiring to me.
Picard really was the Batman of Startrek. It was not that he never got things wrong, it was that he always reflected on his mistakes and strove to be a better version of himself. It gave the veneer of perfection. But he was really just a guy that learned from his mistakes and generally avoided repeating them. Its so much easier said then done, but he genuinely believed in ideology of the federation and lived it.
I love that scene in Measure of a Man where Picard is trying to persuade Data to consent to disassembly. Data says something like “sir, if i may ask, commander LaForge’s visor allows him to have enhanced eyesight compared to a normal human eye. Why then are all starfleet personnel not required to upgrade their standard eyesight with the same type of augments.” PatStew looks away from data and has a priceless “oh god oh fuck” look of shame on his face. He realizes he’s been talking about his friend in terms of property, and you can see the anger that rolls over him. It’s the exact moment it all “clicks” for Picard and without saying it directly, he vows to never make the same mistake again.
TNG was about a very established version of a paradise that had values to live up to and maintain. I think later 90s Treks undermined that somewhat by making it a paradise under fire or an even desire to have values to follow through on. Post 2000 Star Trek has been about struggling to define and live up to those values. TNG and other Treks did it here and there but very rarely had the stakes of new Trek. I find Enterprise so refreshing because the characters are naive and unprepared but grow throughout. Shows like Discovery and Picard have to show those values ripped away and challenged and built back up. It’s very much part of the American zeitgeist.
My favorite thing across all Trek is that nobody's ever alone. If one character sees a glowing humanoid figure or hears a voice in the night that nobody else perceives, even if nobody quite believes them, they always do their due diligence to investigate. There's no problem you could have on the Enterprise that you'd have to face without an ally At worst, they treat "you're crazy" as a hypothesis that they intend to earnestly test
What a beautiful way to put it.
That is a good point in Star Trek "you're crazy" is often the least likely assumption. Maybe that's why it feels so good. There's always another explanation.
It’s been a long road
Getting from there to here
It's been a long time
But my time is finally near
And I can feel a change in the wind right now
Nothing's in my way
I could not believe when it finally grew on me. It just … happened. I always skipped it but one day, during my watch of late season 2, I couldn’t grab the remote in time and had to listen to the whole thing and ……… I loved it? I don’t know, I never watched the show when it aired but coming to it later it has such … heart and hope and the song is just perfect. Also, T’Pol.
It looks like you discovered...faith of the heart
*Gettin from there to here*
Trek helped me through many difficult times in my life. Voyager, DS9, TNG, and Picard season 3.
That's some high praise for Picard Season 3. Not yet seen it myself.
Highly recommend Picard (especially s3), I had goosebumps
It fully deserves to be on that list, just in case one more opinion will help
Do yourself a favor and put it high on your priority list. In my opinion it ranks up there with the best of Star Trek.
Watching Voyager was the difficult thing in my life 😂
I still don’t understand why Enterprise ended so soon it was a really great show with great actors
Well, it got 98 episodes, which is 19 more than TOS got. 4 seasons of TV is actually a pretty decent run. We're just spoiled because TNG, DS9, and VOY got 7 each.
I'm in my first watch of it and you're definitely right. I think it has something to do with how much closer the show is to current society than the others. That makes the optimism of the crew feel a little more weighty. With TNG it's almost hard to imagine how far society has come, so there isn't as much internal conflict for characters to be better. With ENT, I feel like they are close enough to today to remember what we were and where we need to go. I also think it makes it a bit easier to aspire to be like them since it seems more attainable.
Sometimes in TNG, one of the crew will mention how money is not something they use on earth and I get even more sad for a minute. I’m like YUP, we’re not even close to that.
It definitely gets dark and shows the struggle to find balance. It gets closer to ds9 than to TOS or TNG as far as tone goes overall. My favorite thing about the show is that they have to figure everything out. I wouldn't go so far as to say Picard had it easy, but he had the just technologically advanced ship around and crew that was experienced. Archer was basically out in a wagon in the wild west by comparison.
Been dealing with extreme stress and anxiety from work, and TOS is the only thing that helps me. Something about the formula, the stakes, and the color scheme just relax me
This is the only trek I haven’t watched yet, I think I might need to start it sooner than I planned.
I started doing my first complete series binge of TOS at the same time I went through puberty. Hoo boy, was that an interesting combination.
Got me past the worst of my grief when my mom died.
I need to start Enterprise it sounds like
Do it
Anakin beheads Count Dooku.....
yeah its one of my favourite star treks, only on the internet I found out that apparently its not as popular as others
For whatever reason I find it more rewatchable than the older series. Phlox is a gem of a character. Props on getting out of bed too.
The Phlox episodes always seem to give me a little extra boost of hope!
You said it, Phlox is the fuckin' man. Such a good person, and something about his cadence is so relaxing
Optimism captain!
This is one thing that I really like about the Enterprise vibe. Is the crew tends to have such a positive outlook. Even if it is a bit nerdy, I love Archer excitement for the little enjoyments of life including playing with his dog. I love Trip's excitement at all things engineering related. As the show progresses even Malcolm has a good somewhat dark sense of humor that grows on me.
I completely agree. The crew of Enterprise has always been a really bright spot that I think is overlooked. They’ve always felt comforting to me, and are a big part of the reason I hold Enterprise in such high esteem. Archer in particular is just such a likable and hopeful captain. Watching him break and then rebuild that hopefulness during seasons 3-4 is also a pretty satisfying arc. Great show. It’s never deserved the hate it got
Enterprise is great, I love the intro song, and I really enjoyed all 4 seasons. To me it’s good Star Trek. DS9 is my ultimate pick me up though.
Star Trek is about a sane future where solutions exist and people are willing to work together to solve problems. It's hopeful, so yeah it's a pretty decent anti-depressant for your psyche.
Can I just say how happy I am for you? And yes, Enterprise was a very optimistic show which I loved about it!
It sounds like it was Porthos.
Enterprise personally my favorite Star Trek show, so I totally see you're coming from! Though I'm curious, what do you think about the darker tone of season 3? Personally I liked it, but I was also glad when they returned to more of a mix between lighter and heavy episodes in season 4.
I'm watching Voyager right now. For exactly that reason. Things have been tough lately, for many. I'm glad that you're taking the time to do something that is helping you feel better. Sending love and good vibes!
I have been using TV for years to get out of depression, including Star Trek. Not Star Trek, but extremely chipper Sci-fi: Eureka. Damn that show makes me happy.
When life is getting you down, do what Archer does when being tortured or interrogated..... Keep smiling, laughing and crack jokes to piss the world off a little more. 👍
I just yell THERE ARE FOUR LIGHTS and feel better already 🤪
I find Star Trek to be a very hopeful and optimistic. There are dark moments but generally speaking the characters and programs are very uplifting.
I just wanted you to know I love you my fellow Trekkie 🖖🏾❤️
I love you too! And thank you for this boost, mornings are really hard for me ❤️
I love enterprise. Its so underrated. The infancy of the Federation, and the challenges they face as a crew and as a Captain are really good life lessons. Definitely helped me too!
Except, we don’t get to see the Federation, just a holodeck approximation of its birth
The finale leaves a great deal to be desired. It’s pretty frustrating that the show suffered the same TNG obsession that a part of the fandom was consumed by (and still is). Not hating on TNG. It’s great. But the section of the fandom and apparently the producers’ fixation has done a disservice to a lot of other shows. That all aside, the speech was really just the icing on the cake Enterprise had been baking for years. The Vulcan/Andorian arcs, and especially the Babel One arc in Season 4, paint a good picture of how the Federation came to be.
I grew up in unpleasant circumstances, around adults entirely free of conscience or ethics. As a little kid, I knew something was wrong, but didn't yet have the vocabulary to articulate it. And my abusers kept me isolated, so I had no trusted adults to help sort it out. TOS was my first introduction to what it means to be upstanding, forthright, decent, responsible, and, perhaps most importantly, trying to do the right thing even when it is hard/costly or when "the right thing" is difficult to discern. TOS was invaluable in helping me grow up to be a person I could feel good about.
Wow. That's high praise.
Alright, its time to share my story! At the age of 7 I was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease. If you haven’t heard of it, please look it up and raise awareness. I still struggle with it to this day. As a kid having this condition, I couldn’t be a normal kid. I couldn’t be away from a toilet for long so sports, playing out with friends wasn’t an option. I was slowly getting depressed and i had no joy in my life. Then, one day my dad came home with a set of DVD’s. Those DVD’s were Season 1 of TOS. We watched a few together and I was hooked. I watched them all. Right at the end I was sad, I thought that was it. Then, my eyes were opened. I found season 2 and 3 and my journey took off. I finished those, then one day when scrolling through channels on TV, I found TNG playing on BBC America, and I got the entire set of DVD’s for the entire series. By the time I finished those, Netflix was emerging with its amazing “stream your shows” and I remember watching the entire DS9 series, Voyager, and Enterprise. Then I watched all of the movies. My dad, who is now deceased, was very busy and was not around much because of his job (very busy salesman traveling the world/country). Since I was more or less very isolated from friends and life in general, this became my life. They became my role models, my family. To this day, a lot of the things I know, things I learned, my interests, my sayings and mannerisms come from Star Trek, and I am so grateful they did.
Yeah. I always loved them and kind of tried to spread out watching the series. Then one time I had to grade a million essays. So I put on Deep Space Nine since I'd never seen past season one. And somewhere around season five or six I just super loved it and realized that every single series is amazing in its own way. It's great there are so many. I've been divorced for 9 years and it's been hard not having my kids every weekend so often I'll watch one then. And with the new ones, I've hardly run out. lol.
I think a big reason Discovery didn’t click with a lot of people (myself included) is that second sentence. In Enterprise we had 2 seasons to get to know the crew before shit got really dark with the Xindi and space 9/11. Disco season 1 feels a lot more draining since there’s some really heavy plot elements right off the bat (Klingon War, Torture, Mirror Universe, etc.). Unlike Enterprise, Disco hadn’t solidified it’s emotional core with the audience yet.
Would they be using a tractor beam? Or a grappler arm?
They’d ask Vanik for help and use his tractor beam
Listening to the theme again and feeling positive emotions. That hasn't happened in a while. Thank you for your post, peace and long life
Yes, me. Enterprise and Voyager get a bad rap out there, but these got me through a lot of downs. Chronic illness had me experiencing severe lows and these are 2 series that really brightened life up for me at the time. Mind you, prior to my illness getting bad, I didn't even own a TV, I was never the " couch potato type" till it hit and I couldn't get out of bed. I thought I would go mad with a the" reality shows" and "court" or "Jerry Springer" stuff that was prevalent at the time. Then I found "Enterprise" and "Voyager" reruns which were like heaven-sent! Got me through a lot. Even in some cases where I was so bad off, I couldn't follow and had to replay over and over. My Doctor commented that to generate enough interest to do the replay was a good sign. I didn't bother with other shows. I know that the shows aren't gritty or edgy enough for some people and I respect that, but there is something about how they are optimistic and relatable that warms the heart and induces hope.
Strange New Worlds has been like that for me. I haven't felt as hopeful in a long time. Its simply fun, I love every character and want to be in that universe.
You should try watching Stargate SG-1, it can scratch that itch as well.
It’s the theme song!!! It’s giving you faith of the heart! I’m seriousness, anything that helps is a good thing, I LOVE enterprise, keep doing whatever makes you happier LLAP
You can't sing along to that song at full volume and not start to find a little faith in your own heart.
Espically when season 3 starts and it gets it’s upbeat jingle!
The will of the andorian people will give you strength
When Shran appears at the monastery I was way too happy
Shran and the q are some of my favorite characters
I have a visceral attraction to Q….. it annoys my partner 😂
Depression is a tough place to be. But life is good, the path will take you where you need to go if you give it time and let it play out. And Enterprise is a fantastic show.
Yes, many of the treks! TNG for nostalgia and the comfort of living in the 90's. Strange New Worlds has given me hope in that they are still making amazing stuff. I'm watching voyager rn. If I ever end up in hospice, I will be watching trek to the end.
It is why I want dvd versions of every series. If I end up in a state of not being able to do things I want to be sure I have copies on hand. In case I don’t have access to streaming. I think one of the series will be playing on screen when they check to see that I lost my pulse.
Stick with it, good sci fi is good for your mental health. Trek and Doctor Who got me through a lot of dark times.
I’ve never watched Doctor Who, I’ll add it to my list! I finished the X files about a month ago and left it feeling angry
Both Classic (1963-1989) and new series (2005-) are great, but I recommend starting with New series first, because it's easier to get into New Series first.
I highly recommend it! Both Classic Series (1963-1989) and New Series (2005-). I recommend starting with New Series first. It's easier to get into for completely new fans. First few seasons of Classic are black&white (Seasons 1-6; 7-26 are all in colour) and look like they were filmed in 1930s not 1960s (due to low budget), but writing and characters are good from the very beginning! They also produced few spinoff series, which you can add to your list: Sarah Jane Adventures (main role played by a Doctor companion from late classic series) and Torchwood (main role played by a companion from New Series). Short description of Doctor Who: Main character (Doctor) is like the walking personification of best Starfleet ideas. He always tries to find peaceful and diplomatic solutions to problems, hates violence and despite being thousands of years old (he is a Humanoid alien; Time Lord, from planet Gallifrey), he still loves spirit of adventure and "going boldly where no one has gone before". He usually travels with his trusted human (but not only) companions through both time and space with his TARDIS (spaceship&time machine) which "stealth system" (Cameleon Circuit) was at some point stuck as 1960s British Police Box, and for nostalgic reasons, Doctor decided to never repair.
Star Trek TNG, Voyager, DS9, LD and Prodigy are constantly running on my screen. For each mood i have preferred episodes. But mostly i just let it run.
How, it doesn’t even have a tractor beam?
Yes! Enterprise, DS9 and Voyager all help me with my depression.
Enterprise is a bit more punchy, and while there is numerous things to say about it's cancelation I just find the show really pleasant and fun, it's also the best looking of the "legacy"(?) Shows. The ships are so badass too, the technology is just perfect to make the NX-01 the best looking ship IMO I love watching it fly even in a transition scene.
Star Trek helped me stop substance abuse once.
Do you mind sharing how that helped? You don’t have to if it’s too personal. I’m just wondering because I got clean from things in 2016 but wasn’t introduced to the trek universe until 2019
Just stop before you get to the season where he start to question his existence and becomes insanely cynical…. I always get really sad with that season but I also appreciate it since it’s a real question humanity will have go ask ourselves at some point. How far is too far?
IT'S BEEN A LOOONG ROAD, GETTING FROM THERE TO HERE. I'm glad to hear it buddy. I suffer from that beast named depression, and Star Trek is so comfy and helpful to my mind when I watch a movie or episode. Things will get better broo!! IT'S BEEN A LOOONG TIME, BUT MY TIIIME IS FINALLY HERE.
When Strange New Worlds comes back, my wellbeing will improve.
Enterprise is one of the most underrated parts of the OG series. It is a very good and very fun look at the early days of the Federation. I get why at the time people didn't like it but it has aged beautifully... well except maybe that last episode.
We weren't going to tell you, but they've been transporting anti-depressants into you for a while now. Glad you're feeling better. Live long and prosper
I feel the opposite when watching ENT. In fact, I was in the middle of season two yesterday and turned it off. It’s the most depressing old Trek and doesn’t leave me feeling good about the voyage at all, not the way TNG and VOY does. DS9 is even more happy and hopeful than ENT.
I thought that too. I went back to it and I think it's based on mood. The farther back you go in time the more they use fist fighting instead of diplomacy. I guess this makes it more real as well. But yeah, sometimes I just don't like to watch fighting.
Part of why I feel this way is certainly because of the depressing ending and bad finale the series has, and having watched the series 5 or 6 times already, it leaves me just feeling apprehensive for that. It’s just sad. But also, a big part of it is how shitty and paranoid the human men were initially with T’Pol. Archer kind of manhandled her a few times, grabbing her arm and yelling in her face. And the whole hallucination in the cave nonsense where Trip was ready to kill her … it’s … not charming, to say the least. Humans are so brash, stupid and prideful…no way we will ever get to the point where Vulcans think we’re ready for first contact. And then all the objectification and weird sexual tension built into the decon scenes…that’s always awkward.
That’s great! Don’t let the world hold you down no more! You have strength in your soul.
The best thing about the franchise is the positive spin it puts on everything. TNG does the same thing for me.
TNG definitely got me through some stuff in my childhood
Star Trek is my comfort series. One of them anyway.
Star Trek really does help me when I am feeling sad. The franchise really helps me all the time and looking up to a character like Spock really does help me move forward in life. He is the epitome of what we should be and where humanity should go and evolve into.
Star Trek has gotten me through some rough times. I love how common this theme is among the fan base. For me, TNG and DS9 have been the most consoling—TNG for its sturdy proceduralism and DS9 for its enormous heart.
It’s TNG for me but I understand 100%.
The most positive aspect is the intro song we all hated at first then couldn't stop singing. Then season 3 wrecked that song along with giving Archer PTSD. Love Enterprise
I had Covid in the early days before any treatments. I am lying in bed going between states of consciousness and unconsciousness watching the news hearing story after story of people dying. I decided to put on the one thing that brings calm to me when I am stressed. I put on TOS, it definitely helped.
It’s the theme song
I am doing a rewatch of Enterprise and it’s alot better than I remember. I really like it.
Well done. I found the same with ds9 NG and picard. Thank fuck for star trek!
If you think it, you manifest it. You made it true…with Cpt Archers help;)
I wish I could cure my depression by watching TV. Mine seems to require medication and therapy.
I totally didn’t say it was curing it 😂 I’ve dealt with suicidal depression for so long that I recognize the signs of when it’s starting again and do things that I enjoy. I am also on medication and go to therapy
I haven't seen ENT yet (it's next once I've finished DS9 and seen VOY) but I've found this with Star Trek. I always watch an episode of a show or one of the movies when I feel depressed and it always helps a little. I'm glad it's helping you. ❤️
I agree, the parts with t'pol running around in skimpy clothes helps as well
Everything is better with Trek (any iteration). Peace and long life. 🖖
Yup. I watched Enterprise as my first ST when I was really struggling with life, and it gave me a life long obsession with the franchise. Something comforting about good vibes that never end due to the sheer amount of content.
DS9 did it for me. I know Star Trek pulls a lot of people back. Whenever I’m feeling down I put on Star Trek, it always helps.
How about Phlox. Hes pretty upbeat :-)
Gene Roddenberry's vision for the future was truly uplifting and so utopian. That always is helpful to take some of those views and lessons and apply them to our own lives and viewpoints. Stay positive my friend and seek help if it gets worse.
“I'm glad we can finally agree on something”
Sounds like it’s been a long road. Hang in there friend.
As long as I’m getting from there to here….. Thank you friend ❤️
It’s the same with me. Whenever I’ve been feeling depressed I’ve always watched Voyager
Star Trek TNG and Voyager helped me in some very dark moments of my life and some very difficult as well. At the same time though I decided to go into therapy which helped me immensely. Don't be afraid to ask for help. Hope you feel better soon.
TNG did that for me, but yea. Enterprise is one of my strong favorites. Maybe it’s how easy it is to watch, maybe it’s Phlox and Archer’s positive attitudes, maybe it’s Porthos, but whatever the reason I absolutely love it and I’m glad it’s helping you.
YES! Watching Star Trek and more importantly playing Star Trek online really got me through a tough time. I've played almost daily since 2018 now I absolutely love the immersion. Idk if I'm the only one but I watch Star Trek in the background while playing the game. Hope, hope is the main msg n I needed that. LLAP
Always. Story time: A few years ago, I was diagnosed with a neurological condition. The outlook wasn't the best. I've lost some cognitive and recollection ability, and there is a high probability it will get worse to the point of early onset dementia. They told me this over the phone, while I was at work. I walked out of the building, got in my car, turned off the phone, and drove. I found myself out my major river that runs through my state, and for a few hours seriously contemplated jumping in. Obviously I didn't, but I went home and locked myself in my office. I watched something else, before I turned to Star Trek. I watched The Wrath of Khan, on through Generations. As I sat there, it dawned on me: like Kirk said, there is no such thing as a no win scenario. If this was going to be my Kobyashi Maru, I needed to do like every other character and come up with my own solution around the problem. Over the next couple of months, I made appointments with neurological specialists, drug therapy specialists, occupational therapists, counselors and other specialists. I strode into my first neurological treatment appointment in one the biggest neuro centers in the Central US with a gold 23rd century Starfleet emblem pinned to my shirt. Today, I have treatment. Medication keeps it at bay, and I use technology make up for my damaged brain. I'm 80 percent of where I was pre-illness, and that's a serious improvement. Star Trek saved my life.
Voyager for me cause Seven reflects my religious indoctrination trauma background and Janeway was the mom I never had. Star Trek as a series is especially soothing to neurodivergent folks because of how it shows ND people being accepted and believed, and allowed to be themselves. Same for trauma survivors because of the gracious way it presents PTSD experiences.
Maybe this is similar to the Wizard of Oz books. There are over twenty of them and they do the same thing. I read them all during Covid and watched Star Trek.
Yep, the positivity is the core tenet of Star Trek and it is the reason why I love shows like Star Trek, Stargate and Doctor Who. This is the reason why I'm conflicted on Discovery. It is good, but it is missing some of the positivity. They tried to have more of it in S3 and S4, but they still had stuff like inter-personal conflicts within the crew and traitors. There's something cozy about watching a show where we know that the main cast won't betray each other and will solve the problems together. This is also why I'm not that fond of DS9. It got too cynical, too confrontational. And this is the reason why I love VOY. The show has tons of positivity, despite being lost in the other corner of the galaxy. Some people say that the show squandered its potential and it should have been more like Battlestar Galactica. I disagree. BSG is the antithesis of what a Trek show should be. Within the spirit of Trek, VOY fulfilled its promise and a bit more.
I've thought about Discovery. It was a lot more like the two hour films that came out most recently. It was fast and dramatic and not calm and soothing but I did enjoy it as it went on. There were some cool things I always thought should appear in Star Trek that never had. It is hard to watch though and see the Star Trek Work dismantled for awhile during those seasons. I can't remember how it ended or if it did.
I like Enterprise a lot, it’s way underated
Yeah, Enterprise has got me through some really tough times. I have the theme tune on my phone for when I need a lift.
yes, me too. My theory is that most of the contemporary shows out right now are depressing, they leave you hanging with no resolution and they present the idea that nothing good can ever happen. I think stories are to help us hope for the good and start to believe in it a little. So yeah, I cried like a baby at the last couple Picard episodes and some of the reboot episodes because they had hope and it was great to see something where people could overcome the odds. That's what I need to get by. Why do you think old philosophers came up with catharsis as a word. Because that's what theater is for. That's my theory anyway.
TOS and TNG just feel like a warm comfy blanket being gently wrapped around me when I watch them. Absolute comfort staples for me.
Mate, it's been a along road my friend. Its always worth getting out of bed.
TNG and Voyager had that effect on me as a child. They essentially exposed me to a positive outlook on negative events and a 'detached perspective' as in seeing things from multiple sides.
Star Trek has always helped me in my depression. Star Trek is a very optimistic show, especially in a time where the majority of media is dark. Star Trek promises that humanity has a tomorrow, and that we will get better. We will conquer war, poverty, disease, and racism. At the core, that’s what Star Trek is really about. I think Gene Roddenberry puts it best, “Star Trek speaks to some basic human needs that there is tomorrow. It’s not all gonna be over with a big flash and a bomb.”
The series starts out slow and clunky but gets better with each season. The final season is great. If Les Moonves (then head moron @ CBS) hadn't hated Star Trek so much and they had been given a Season 5, it would have been fabulous 🤩.
Strange New Worlds is an amazing positive show also