The reason he asked about SNW is because SNW might actually not have the problems you’re describing. You mentioned two tropes of modern Trek - the galactic danger and Section 31 - but SNW doesn’t use those tropes. Did you misread his question?
As for the advancement of society (optimism vs aspiration) - TOS shows us a Federation that has moved beyond money and greed, sure. But war is still possible; Errand of Mercy established that there had recently been a war with the Klingons, decades before DIS and SNW portrayed it. The death penalty is still a possible punishment for Federation officers (maybe citizens too?) in The Menagerie. McCoy makes bigoted comments toward his ship’s first officer regularly. If anything, SNW shows a more advanced society than TOS did. (I can’t imagine SNW Pike expressing TOS Pike’s opinion about women on the bridge!) Surely it makes sense that SNW’s society should resemble TOS’s more than TNG’s.
But the bigger sense of advancement across the entire franchise is still here too. A key point in SNW S1E1 is that society has moved beyond partisan struggles and infighting - the ability to explore space and live in the stars is tied directly to this sense of social harmony which we still lack. This was also true in previous eras of Trek, and is exactly why warp travel is the criteria to be contacted by the Federation. SNW shows that these writers get it, and continue to get it.
SteleTrovilo@beehaw.org 2 months ago
The reason he asked about SNW is because SNW might actually not have the problems you’re describing. You mentioned two tropes of modern Trek - the galactic danger and Section 31 - but SNW doesn’t use those tropes. Did you misread his question?
As for the advancement of society (optimism vs aspiration) - TOS shows us a Federation that has moved beyond money and greed, sure. But war is still possible; Errand of Mercy established that there had recently been a war with the Klingons, decades before DIS and SNW portrayed it. The death penalty is still a possible punishment for Federation officers (maybe citizens too?) in The Menagerie. McCoy makes bigoted comments toward his ship’s first officer regularly. If anything, SNW shows a more advanced society than TOS did. (I can’t imagine SNW Pike expressing TOS Pike’s opinion about women on the bridge!) Surely it makes sense that SNW’s society should resemble TOS’s more than TNG’s.
But the bigger sense of advancement across the entire franchise is still here too. A key point in SNW S1E1 is that society has moved beyond partisan struggles and infighting - the ability to explore space and live in the stars is tied directly to this sense of social harmony which we still lack. This was also true in previous eras of Trek, and is exactly why warp travel is the criteria to be contacted by the Federation. SNW shows that these writers get it, and continue to get it.