Unveiling the Deep Flaws in Star Trek's Core Premise through One Memorable Voyager Character
A thought-provoking critique of Star Trek's premise as showcased in Voyager, highlighting the risks taken by the crew and questioning the viability of the series' core mission
Summary
Star Trek's core premise of exploration and discovery has led to success, but it also comes with fundamental flaws and risks that often get the crew into trouble.
Neelix's critique of the crew's frequent exploration holds merit, for they often embark on missions ill-equipped and subsequently encounter avoidable perilous circumstances.
Notwithstanding the hurdles confronted by Voyager in the Delta Quadrant, Captain Janeway's unwavering dedication to upholding Starfleet principles and persisting with the mission of exploration proved to be the correct course of action, leading to the inaugural comprehensive documentation of the Delta Quadrant and a multitude of remarkable findings.
While the core premise of the Star Trek franchise has contributed to its success, a character from Star Trek: Voyager effectively highlighted some of its inherent flaws. Unlike other science fiction shows that delve into dystopian futures, Star Trek has always been grounded in a utopian ideal that prioritizes exploration and discovery above all else. This concept has been a key factor in the franchise's enduring popularity, and is prevalent across all its various projects, including Voyager. Even though they were stranded in the Delta Quadrant, Captain Janeway made it a point to uphold Starfleet's mission of encountering new lifeforms, planets, and anomalies during their space travels.
The exploration aspect was crucial to Voyager's storyline, but it did get the crew into trouble on multiple occasions. In season 1, episode 5, titled "The Cloud," Neelix went so far as to express his anger towards Janeway's devotion to Starfleet protocols when they embarked on an expedition into an unpredictable nebula. In his frustration, Neelix argued that their constant urge to investigate every nook and cranny of the galaxy in search of new discoveries placed the ship and its crew in unnecessary danger, a risk they couldn't afford given their vulnerable situation far away from home.
Neelix Was Actually Right: Star Trek Crews Take Too Many Risks
Neelix's remark sheds light on the fundamental flaw in Star Trek's concept, yet it is a valid observation. Throughout every Star Trek series, there is always an episode that starts with a seemingly straightforward exploration mission, only to quickly spiral into chaos when the crew realizes they were ill-prepared. While Starfleet's principles ensure that starship crews always act with good intentions, their lack of caution often leads them into challenging diplomatic or combat scenarios that could have been avoided with better planning.
This was evident in "The Cloud" when the Voyager crew discovered that what they initially believed to be a nebula was actually a living being. In their attempt to extract omicron particles to restore their dwindling energy reserves, they unintentionally harmed the creature. The remainder of the episode was dedicated to finding a way to heal the lifeform, although this resulted in further damage to the ship and even greater fuel depletion. "The Cloud" was just one example in a series of instances where Star Trek's concept caused trouble for its characters.
Why Star Trek’s Core Mission Was Sometimes A Bad Idea For Voyager
The franchise's core mission posed unique challenges for Voyager compared to previous Star Trek shows. Unlike other starships, Voyager lacked the ability to call for backup when faced with difficulties. Throughout the crew's journey in the Delta Quadrant, they found themselves alone and responsible for finding solutions to their problems. This often came at the expense of their well-being and limited resources, as seen in the episode "The Cloud."
However, Captain Janeway's decision to stay true to Starfleet principles proved to be the right choice in the end. The crew, amidst the uncertainty they faced, greatly benefited from having something familiar to hold on to. Ultimately, when Voyager finally returned to Earth, they achieved something unprecedented in Starfleet history. They successfully cataloged the Delta Quadrant and made countless discoveries of new aliens, planets, and spatial anomalies. Sacrificing exploration to expedite the journey home would have compromised the essence of Star Trek: Voyager as a true Star Trek show.
