What makes Star Trek TNG so emotionally powerful, decades after its creation, is the durability of the message it carries: humanity CAN improve and overcome its petty modern squabbles. The human race CAN become a great force for good in the galaxy, can strive to explore the farthest reaches of the universe and discover wonders beyond our wildest dreams. We will still have problems; we will still be flawed, we will still be human. But we can strive nonetheless.
TNG is not some perfect and idyllic view of the 24th century, seen through the eyes of saints. The 24th century has problems too; seven seasons' worth of them. It wouldn't be any fun otherwise, and besides, Lt. LaForge wouldn't have anything to fix. But the scope and span of those problems are astounding even for today's world. TNG was one of the first shows to confront the problem of artificial sentience--and actually came up with an answer, and a good one. Captain Picard and his valiant crew faced problems in the 80's that were far-fetched and ridiculous at the time--from string theory to power sources that harmed the environment--and are far more pertinent or possible today. Gene Roddenberry and crew were visionaries who foresaw a future much like the present, except that humanity had gained a little more sense, thanks to WWIII.
The characters are complex and endlessly fascinating; the missions range from hilarious to heartbreaking to just plain breathtaking. Everybody slips and falls sometimes, but they pick themselves up again and keep on going. Picard remains my compass for utter moral steadfastness, and Data reminds me to never be afraid of the potential for artificial intelligence.
Unlike many, many of the other sci-fi shows available, Star Trek is nearly unique in that its vision of the future is a positive one. Not ridiculously perfect or stupidly happy, but just an improvement on the present. Humanity has not degenerated into a brawling pack of thieves but instead evolved into the co-creators of a vast and (mostly) peaceful Galactic Federation. And, most importantly, we retain the insatiable thirst for knowledge that led us to explore the wild west and the abyss and land a man on the moon. Humanity strives for something greater; it's who we are. It's the heart and soul of the Star Trek franchise, and especially TNG. Three hundred years in the future, we're still Boldly Going. And that is the true nobility that makes this series one of the greatest ever made.
TNG is not some perfect and idyllic view of the 24th century, seen through the eyes of saints. The 24th century has problems too; seven seasons' worth of them. It wouldn't be any fun otherwise, and besides, Lt. LaForge wouldn't have anything to fix. But the scope and span of those problems are astounding even for today's world. TNG was one of the first shows to confront the problem of artificial sentience--and actually came up with an answer, and a good one. Captain Picard and his valiant crew faced problems in the 80's that were far-fetched and ridiculous at the time--from string theory to power sources that harmed the environment--and are far more pertinent or possible today. Gene Roddenberry and crew were visionaries who foresaw a future much like the present, except that humanity had gained a little more sense, thanks to WWIII.
The characters are complex and endlessly fascinating; the missions range from hilarious to heartbreaking to just plain breathtaking. Everybody slips and falls sometimes, but they pick themselves up again and keep on going. Picard remains my compass for utter moral steadfastness, and Data reminds me to never be afraid of the potential for artificial intelligence.
Unlike many, many of the other sci-fi shows available, Star Trek is nearly unique in that its vision of the future is a positive one. Not ridiculously perfect or stupidly happy, but just an improvement on the present. Humanity has not degenerated into a brawling pack of thieves but instead evolved into the co-creators of a vast and (mostly) peaceful Galactic Federation. And, most importantly, we retain the insatiable thirst for knowledge that led us to explore the wild west and the abyss and land a man on the moon. Humanity strives for something greater; it's who we are. It's the heart and soul of the Star Trek franchise, and especially TNG. Three hundred years in the future, we're still Boldly Going. And that is the true nobility that makes this series one of the greatest ever made.