Hello Everyone,
It's been a few months since I sent my last newsletter, but the recent passing of Patrick Stewart has me reflecting on some of my deepest values in life and work. And I wanted to share some of that reflection with you.
Like many of my generation, I grew up watching Star Trek: The Next Generation. And while it was a product of its times - not a completely perfect show - it was nonetheless a beacon of hope in an often challenging world.
The Next Generation aired from the late eighties through the mid-nineties, a post Cold War era when lots of Americans seem to have had the sense that we'd cleared the hard parts of history, and we were coasting into the luxurious freedom afforded to us by all our hard work and economic prowess. But even if some of us were enjoying that worldview, Star Trek suggested something even greater was possible for humanity.
At its best, The Next Generation didn't only tell us that history wasn't over. It gave us the incredible sense that there was something to look forward to for our species - that all of the ideals of democracy, equality, and freedom could have a new and different kind of home among the stars.
In my adult years, I have often preached the gospel of Star Trek to those around me, regardless of whether they seemed interested. I even made an annotated list of gateway episodes that I thought might offer some accessibility to the uninitiated (which I will share at the bottom of this email).
One of the episodes I list among my suggested gateway episodes is entitled "The Neutral Zone." It's in this episode that the crew of the Enterprise encounter cryogenically frozen humans from the 20th century, one of whom, upon waking up, immediately begins asking about how his stock investments are doing in the 24th century. This creates the opportunity for the crew to explain to him that, as humans evolved, the need for money changed. Because technology became advanced enough to meet all needs, people no longer have to work for pay, but rather because it excites their passions and encourages their growth.
I mean... what a beautiful and revolutionary thing to put on primetime on television in 1988.
It's for this reason that I strongly identify with this video from @kweenwerk, paying tribute to the inspiration that TNG and Patrick Stewart brought a generation.
In 2026, I feel we need the highest vision of Star Trek more than ever. There's no doubt that, as a species, we are encountering some truly horrific challenges.
Star Trek suggests that these challenges may not only be horrific. But that they could represent a needed crisis that provides the catalyst for a profound evolution. They might represent not only a hurdle, but a gateway to a future where a politician like Stacey Abrams could become the President of a United Earth.
I believe this possibility is very real. It shapes the way I meet my life and work every day. And I thank shows like Star Trek for daring to offer such beautiful and radical ideas in a mediasphere so often crowded by fear, violence, and resentment.
Curious about gateway episodes of Star Trek to wrestle with your philosophical mind and inspire your soul? Scroll to the bottom of this email to see my recommendations.
Lots of Love to You All,
James
www.jamesboutin.com
Link to my Generative Conflict eBook
Star Trek Gateway Episodes
The Next Generation (TNG); Q-Who; Season 2, Episode 16
This episode is about an omnipotent alien named Q who visits the crew of The Enterprise from time to time, giving them challenges. The crew mostly hates it when Q visits, but Q always forces them to face some part of themselves that they're not ready for. I love this episode because Q chooses to fling their ship 7,000 light years from where they are and encounter an enemy called The Borg for the first time, and it forces the crew to deal with their vulnerabilities. It also includes one of my absolute favorite TNG characters, Guinan, played by Whoopi Goldberg!
The Next Generation; Where No One Has Gone Before; Season 1, Episode 5 (This might be my absolute favorite)
In this episode, an alien traveler visits the ship whose existence transcends space and time. He thrusts the ship to the edge of the known universe and forces the crew to confront their own unconscious minds.
The Next Generation; The Neutral Zone; Season 1, Episode 26
The Enterprise encounters cryogenically frozen humans from the 20th century. The crew has to help them adapt to 24th-century life, and explains many of the ways humanity has evolved since the 1980s.
The Next Generation; Journey's End; Season 7, Episode 20
This is a six-season-later follow-up episode to "Where No One Has Gone Before" that explores the challenges of working within an institution and the morality concerned with following orders.
Deep Space Nine; Duet; Season 1, Episode 18
This episode explores how war and oppression wrack the soul. Kira Nerys is a member of the Bajoran race, which was occupied by another alien species called the Cardassians in the years prior to The Federation coming to Deep Space Nine. In this episode, Kira confronts one of the Cardassians responsible for torturing and murdering her people during the Cardassian occupation of Bajor (Kira's home world). It's not exactly action packed or anything, but I think it's an exquisite exploration of humanity, guilt, conflict, forgiveness, and reconciliation.
Deep Space Nine; Past Tense; Season 3, Episodes 11 & 12
This two-part episode explores what happens when the crew of Deep Space Nine accidentally travel back in time to a crucial moment in earth's history in the year 2024. (Deep Space Nine takes place in the 24th century). It helps us understand how the creators of Star Trek imagine the future of humanity unraveling, poses questions about the potential challenges of time travel, and grapples with hard questions surrounding race and poverty in our current world.