Sometimes boldly going involves sitting at benches, banging gavels, and giving a good speech or three—but we’re entering our own tribunal to sort the best from the rest.
Not sure that I would rank TNG Measure of a Man or The Drumhead ahead of SNW Ad Astra Per Aspera.
Only rewatches and time will determine the final place of Ad Astra Per Aspera in the franchise, but I have a sense that it will become as significant or more than either of the TNG ones. While the decision was taken on the narrow application of an asylum provision for one individual, in terms of allegory, the episode echoes with the experiences of so very many marginalized groups and peoples.
Measure of a Man was groundbreaking but feels pretty dated to watch. Back when it aired, the idea that sentient AIs should be treated as humans was far from the mainstream. Today, we’ve seen so many sympathetic robots in pop culture (including, of course, Data) that the situation is reversed: the arguments aired against Data in this episode seem shockingly bigoted.
Imagine if the plot contrived to make Riker get up in front of the court to argue for slavery – even if he’s clearly labelled as playing devil’s advocate, it feels beyond the pale.
I cried watching Measure of a Man. It’s a gift to humanity. But Ad Astra Per Aspera clearly overtakes it imo. It doesn’t ask just about the implications of the law, but about what it - and society, and its constituents - should aspire to be. It’s less about military codes and an individual’s selfishness (Maddox), telling a more universally applicable story still firmly entrenched in Trek lore.
I wonder if they balked at ranking Ad Astra Per Aspra higher because of that “recency bias” they mentioned. I agree - it’s an excellent, thoughtful episode.
Not sure that I would rank TNG Measure of a Man or The Drumhead ahead of SNW Ad Astra Per Aspera.
Only rewatches and time will determine the final place of Ad Astra Per Aspera in the franchise, but I have a sense that it will become as significant or more than either of the TNG ones. While the decision was taken on the narrow application of an asylum provision for one individual, in terms of allegory, the episode echoes with the experiences of so very many marginalized groups and peoples.
Measure of a Man was groundbreaking but feels pretty dated to watch. Back when it aired, the idea that sentient AIs should be treated as humans was far from the mainstream. Today, we’ve seen so many sympathetic robots in pop culture (including, of course, Data) that the situation is reversed: the arguments aired against Data in this episode seem shockingly bigoted.
Imagine if the plot contrived to make Riker get up in front of the court to argue for slavery – even if he’s clearly labelled as playing devil’s advocate, it feels beyond the pale.
I cried watching Measure of a Man. It’s a gift to humanity. But Ad Astra Per Aspera clearly overtakes it imo. It doesn’t ask just about the implications of the law, but about what it - and society, and its constituents - should aspire to be. It’s less about military codes and an individual’s selfishness (Maddox), telling a more universally applicable story still firmly entrenched in Trek lore.
I wonder if they balked at ranking Ad Astra Per Aspra higher because of that “recency bias” they mentioned. I agree - it’s an excellent, thoughtful episode.