In episode 3, a diplomatic mission to make an ally and acquire a vital vaccine results in kidnapping, power plays and a fight to the death – technically? Let’s discuss Star Trek: The Next Generation. Spoilers ahead!
Back in my review of episode one, I applauded this show for making Captain Picard a man who resolutely doesn’t choose violence, even when it would be understandable to choose it. In “Code of Honor” he holds that line, even when the one on the frontline in this situation is his rather more confrontational security officer, Tasha Yar – or perhaps because of it?
Tasha finds herself challenged by the wife of Lutan, a powerful foreign leader, to a fight to the death because her husband can’t keep his hands to himself, and this is AFTER Lutan essentially kidnaps her in order to prove how clever and daring he is, and to boost his political power.
This is apparently not an offence in his culture. Picard doesn’t see it that way, but he allows the fight to happen with Tasha’s consent. There’s a clever plan to uphold the letter of this cultural “law” without violating the Prime Directive, so in a nutshell: everybody lives, Picard gets the vaccine that’s also held hostage against his good behaviour, and Yareena – Lutan’s wife – decides her husband’s no longer fit to be her first and demotes him to second husband. Because women can have land and money in this culture, but not political power? That’s something only men can have? But women can still decide how their household hierarchy is ordered?
Yeah, I rolled my eyes really hard at this one. This alien culture is supposedly very similar to tribal Africa, which I admit I know next to nothing about, but even just taking all of this at face value it reeks of sexism, which is a definite disappointment after the strong start of the first two episodes.
Not sure how else I’m supposed to feel about this kind of storyline, to be honest. The whole “it’s decades old” reasoning is frankly the only thing keeping me from trashing it harder, though I’m now aware that it got pretty heavily trashed back in the day as well. I can clearly see why.
Yikes, people.
So. Points to Picard for toeing the Prime Directive line without losing anyone, extra “can you believe this crap” points to Tasha for not taking those poisoned spikes to Lutan’s nuts instead, and “you saved this whole episode at the finish line” points to Yareena for being the honourable one and giving Lutan exactly what he deserved.
… What were they thinking in that writer’s room??
Next episode better be a palate cleanser.
ART CREDIT
Image: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, Klaus Pontoppidan (STScI)
Image Processing: Alyssa Pagan (STScI)
Detail from an image of the Rho Ophiuchi Cloud Complex captured by the James Webb Space Telescope. Use of this image does not imply affiliation with or endorsement by NASA.
Text: William Shakespeare
1 comments On Star Trek: The Next Generation – “Code of Honor” (S1 E3)
Exactly why I was so curious what you’d make of this episode.
It’s always interesting to see the types of cultures Star Trek portrays the alien races having. As what’s always been a very progressive show. When they have some cultural stuff that I’m like ewww. I wonder if that’s the intent. They want us to think I don’t like this or I do and reflect on it. Sometimes, I think specifically in the early season before they have women in the writing room (Season 3) sexism is really where they miss the mark most.
I found it interesting because it very much flips the script on a lot of the precious series. The women are fighting, battling, not men defending thier “honor” for the or thier “property” as was sometimes the case.
The next episode introduces a race that is, controversial, once they commit to giving to depth they are fascinating. They do far more in DS9 which I do think you would love. Instead of a starship and exploring it’s a space station. More politics and soap opera and a bit less explosions and fighting.