Discover the Controversial Planet of Star Trek: TNG That Has Become a Popular Tourist Hub
Explore the controversial legacy of TNG's Angel One episode as Lower Decks uncovers its transformation into a tourist attraction, shedding light on the underlying issues of sexism within the show's portrayal of this infamous planet
Summary
"Angel One" is widely regarded as one of the worst episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation's first season, filled with clichés and lacking nuance.
The episode falls short in its attempt to critique gender roles, as the reversal of norms is undermined by a romantic storyline and the heroic portrayal of the male lead, Riker. In Star Trek: Lower Decks, Angel One now serves as a tourist destination, indicating a more welcoming attitude towards visitors and a potential alliance with the Federation.
One of the worst episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation introduced a planet called Angel One, which eventually became a popular tourist destination in Star Trek: Lower Decks. The first season of TNG had a rough start, and "Code of Honor" is often mentioned as the cast's least favorite episode. However, season 1, episode 14, titled "Angel One," could also contend for that title.
During a search for survivors from a missing freighter, the USS Enterprise-D visits Angel One, a planet governed by women with Beata as their leader. Commander William Riker leads an away team to the planet, where they discover that the survivors, all male, have been labeled as fugitives. Beata claims that these men introduced destructive ideas to their society, causing unrest. Despite attempting to critique gender roles, "Angel One" becomes a heavy-handed commentary filled with Star Trek clichés. While Beata shows a slight inclination toward change when the Enterprise departs, the planet is not mentioned again until season 4 of Star Trek: Lower Decks.
TNG's Angel One Became a Tourist Destination
In Star Trek: Lower Decks season 4, episode 5 titled "Empathological Fallacies," the USS Cerritos is responsible for transporting three Betazoid diplomats from Angel One to the planet Risa. Upon their arrival on the USS Cerritos, it is notable that all three Betazoids possess oversized souvenir cups featuring the logo of Angel One. This suggests a shift in Angel One's status from being a guarded and exclusive destination, as depicted in the TNG episode "Angel One," to a desirable tourist spot. It is implied that sometime after the USS Enterprise-D crew's visit to Angel One, the planet underwent a transformation that made it open to tourism.
In "Angel One," Counselor Deanna Troi (Marina Sirtis) observes that the culture of Angel One shares similarities with her home planet of Betazed. Considering that the three diplomats in Star Trek: Lower Decks are Betazoid women, it is reasonable to assume that they would have been warmly received on Angel One. The presence of tacky souvenir cups further suggests that Angel One not only welcomes visitors but also provides entertainment venues such as bars. Although there is mention in TNG that Angel One might potentially join the Federation, it remains uncertain whether this actually occurs.
The Problems With TNG's Angel One Episode
The first season of Star Trek: The Next Generation is commonly considered to be the weakest, and one of its worst episodes is "Angel One". This episode, which is the fourteenth of the season, incorporates many overused elements from the original Star Trek series and early TNG. It features a less technologically advanced society that is used to comment on societal issues in a heavy-handed manner, a romantic relationship between a female character on the planet and the ship's charmer (Riker), and a death sentence that is thwarted by an inspiring speech right at the last moment. While Star Trek excels when it subverts these tropes, "Angel One" uses them without any subtlety or genuine surprises.
Despite its intention to promote equality, the reversal of gender norms in this episode has the opposite effect and is undermined by Beata's romance with Riker and later by the speech given by the Enterprise's First Officer. "Angel One" does offer some intriguing ideas and concepts, but its execution ultimately falls short. The attempt to highlight gender equality by placing Riker in a revealing and ludicrous costume fails to achieve the desired effect when he ultimately ends up saving the day. While Star Trek: The Next Generation, as well as the entire Star Trek series, would later produce outstanding episodes with thought-provoking social commentary, "Angel One" is not one of them.
