edo planet star trek

The Edo are a humanoid species from the planet Rubicun III. They are very human-looking, the only notable difference in appearance being the lack of heterogeneity among them. After a chaotic past, they have turned their society to what is often described as “a paradise” characterized by concepts of peace and free love. However, they also uphold strict laws that required death penalty for all crimes. Their planet is protected by a transdimensional entity they worship as God.

• 1 Home System
• 2 Home World
• 4 Government
• 5 Description
• 6 Physiology
• 7 Psychology
• 9 Mythology
• 11.1 Clothing
• 11.3 Language
• 13 Technology
• 14 Military
• 15 Starfleet Intelligence Files
• 16 References

Home System

• Quadrant : Alpha [3]
• Location : A star cluster claimed by the Edo God. [4] The closest major travel hub is on Beta Renner . [3]
• Proper Name : Rubicun system
• Distance from Star :
• Companions : At least two other planets
• Proper Name : Rubicun III
• Axial Tilt :
• Orbital Period :
• Rotational Period :
• Classification : M
• Surface Water :
• Atmosphere :
• Population :

The origin of the Edo is unknown. Some speculation suggests that the Edo do not originate from their current homeworld of Rubicun III. Instead, they may have been planted there by a trans-dimensional entity the Edo worship as a God. [5] As with their origin, much of the Edo history is poorly known due to their lack of historical records. [6]

The Edo refer to their distant past as the “Chaotic times”. During this time period, the Edo would fight wars among themselves. At the end of the last war during the Chaotic times, portions of the planet were likely left barren wasteland. [7] The current Edo legal code was adopted at the end of the Chaotic times. [8] This legal system consists of randomly selected punishment zones, where laws are enforced by a group of “mediators”, who would issue immediate execution to the criminals they met. The adoption of the current law has seen criminality being eliminated practically completely among the Edo. [9] Other societal and cultural changes were also implemented at the end of the Chaotic times, including giving up eating meat. [10]

The Edo made first contact with Starfleet in 2364 , when the Edo welcomed a group of officers from USS Enterprise to the planet for shore leave. Despite the promising beginning, the first contact ended with an incident involving a violation of the Edo law and refusal of an execution. The Edo God met any attempts to take any Edo out of Rubicun III with force and asserted their control over the star cluster in which Rubicun III is located. [11]

After the first contact, the Edo and the Edo God began to be more directly involved with each other. [12] The immediate reaction to the first contact were restrictions on the Edo from leaving Rubicun III or the star cluster. [13] However, the first contact also led to fast societal changes and lessening of several restrictions and penalties. These changes were accompanied by social turmoil. [14] Eventually, the Edo started founding colonies on other planets in the star cluster claimed by the Edo God. At some point in or by the 2380s , the Edo wishing to leave for worlds out of their area could apply for a permit to do so. Some individuals joined Starfleet at that time [15] . The need for a permission was dropped somewhere in the 2390s . The number of Edo emigrants has remained low, as very few has chosen to leave. [13] By the early 2390s, the Edo had joined the United Federation of Planets . [12]

They abide by randomly mobile punishment zones to keep would-be offenders alert under penalty of a swift execution. Since the "punishment zones" are randomly chosen and rapidly changing, the system is a powerful incentive to obey all laws. The Edo welcome visitors openly as long as they conform to their system of justice. The Edo system of justice acknowledged only one punishment among them for any crime: execution with a poisoned syringe. Randomly mobile punishment zones kept would-be offenders alert, and the Mediators dispensed punishment for any violations in the punishment zones. [9]

Since an incident with a Starfleet crew, penalties for certain crimes has lessened somewhat - the Edo considered this to be a tumultuous period, but otherwise productive. [14]

The Edo society is marked by minimal hierarchies and a minor difference in political power between the leaders and the population. [16]

Description

All Edo look seemingly identical to Humans - however, the Edo seem to only have blonde hair [9] , and generally dress in less than Humans due to both their self-confidence and complete sexual freedom.

The Edo are very homogenous species, with little racial or ethnic diversity among them. Diseases are also rare among the Edo, which is why medical professionals are only in low demand on Rubicun III. [17]

The Edo have slightly higher preferred temperature compared to humans, for example. This might cause some Edo to feel slightly chilly in standard Starfleet room temperature, although the difference is not as prominent as it is to species like Vulcans or Cardassians . [18]

They can easily fulfil their nutritional requirements by eating plants, while eating meat can have negative health effects, especially if done regularly. [10]

The Edo practice a strange mixture of hedonistic sexuality and have a puritanical respect for a draconian legal code. Because of this, all Edo are incredibly law-abiding. Their entire society is peaceful, with what they consider to be criminal behaviour wiped out hundreds of years ago. [9]

Nevertheless, they are free-spirited and extremely welcoming to visitors. The Edo greet friends with a deep embrace and, often to the surprise of outsiders, offered themselves sexually to anyone who would accept. It was customary among the Edo to run from place to place instead of walking. [9] They are also immensely proud of their homeworld, some to the point of boasting about it.

The Edo are particularly easy to read by telepaths and empaths. It is not known if this is caused by biological or cultural factors. [19]

Though they are space-faring today, the Edo are protected by a trans-dimensional super-entity in orbit around their planet, which they worship as God. The Edo God has an appearance of a space station or similar structure and is normally invisible or transparent even to ship sensors. The Edo God considers the Edo to be their children and has been hostile to potential threats to the Edo. [20]

The exact nature of the Edo God is unknown. Closer contact has revealed there are multiple lifeforms aboard the station-like structure, indicating the Edo God is a group or a species instead of a single being. According to information revealed by the Edo God to Starfleet, they once belonged to the same dimension but have since evolved. They are known to occupy several dimensions and locations simultaneously. [20] An Edo from another universe once claimed the Edo God is the same in all universes, although this claim has not been yet verified. [21]

The Edo would occasionally pray to their God. They might continue to do so outside the vicinity of their homeworld, although they also believe the Edo God might not be able to hear them that far. [22]

Funerals typically take place in nature near the community home. The exact rite is not standardised, but each community may choose the course of the ritual. The focus is typically not in the burial or religious or spiritual aspects of the ritual, but rather the commemorating the dead individual and their role in the community. However, due to the beliefs held by some Edo concerning the spirits of the dead, some funerals, particularly those of criminals and victims of crimes, might involve addressing the supposed spirit of the deceased. The monuments are typically meant to be only temporary, lasting less than a decade. [23]

Some Edo believe in spirits, and the there are several myths concerning the spirits of the dead. [24] Due to the entity which they worship as God being a physical being while the spirits are not, the Edo separate “religion” and “spirituality”. Even though an Edo might be a follower of their God, they might not necessarily believe in spirits. [25]

It is generally believed that the spirit of a dead person will eventually fade into the nature and continue strengthening the community that way. Before fading in, the spirits are believed to inhabit and possibly interact with the material world. Some spirits, most notably those of criminals and the victims of crimes, might become confused or aggressive, possibly causing harm and being unable to continue to fade in. As such, funeral rites for these individuals might involve attempts to calm down the spirits and convince them to carry on. [23] [25]

They are at least aware of the concept of the living dead. [26]

The Edo have local communities with community leaders. Both the community leaders and the mediators wear a metallic necklace indicating their status. [2] [9] The necklace depicts two swirls, a symbol associated with the Edo as a population. [27]

At least in some regions, communal families are the norm. In this kind of familiar structure, those with whom an individual is close with are considered their family, regardless of their genealogical relations. As a result, an individual would consider everyone in their community their child, sibling, parent or grandparent. When changing communities, an Edo may start to consider the new community as their family as well, even when the new community is non-Edo. [28]

The Edo communities are generally small, and there are no large cities anymore. [29]

The Edo clothing tends to be minimal. Typical clothes worn by the Edo include rompers, and when wearing a Starfleet uniform or similar, they tend to prefer skant variants. [30]

The Edo do not tend to eat meat. Eating meat is not forbidden, but it is also not typical in their culture to do so. The Edo used to eat meat in their past, but it fell out of favour after eating meat regularly was shown to be unhealthy for them. Plant food is sufficient to sustain them. [10]

The Edo speak multiple languages or dialects, collectively referred to as the Rubicun Edo languages or simply Edo languages. These languages share a translingual writing system, which is based on a shared syllabary. Each glyph typically represents a consonant, a vowel, and a possible ending depending on its location in a word and other factors. The syllable glyphs have an order comparable to the alphabetic order in the Latin alphabets. For example, va is the fifth glyph in this syllabic order. [31]

Somian is one of the dialects or languages spoken by the Edo in an area on Rubicun III. It is written using the common Edo writing system. The word order in Somian is OVS, i.e. object-verb-subject, meaning that in a typical sentence, object precedes the verb, and the subject is in the last place. [31]

Hugs are often shared between family members and friends, as well as strangers. A hug is often used as a typical greeting, but hugs are also given for whatever reason. [32]

During typical handshakes, the contact would linger longer than most other cultures. This would often make people from other cultures uncomfortable due to the intimacy of the gesture. [33] An Edo-style handshake consisted of clasping forearms, rather than hands. [34]

Starfleet Intelligence Files

In 2392, Farquan was assigned to the USS Invicta as a diplomatic envoy, his people having been curious about the area the Invicta was operating within. [35]

• ↑ Just another geological curiosity? , Ens Jovenan, USS Artemis -A , 240003.07
• ↑ 2.0 2.1 P.S. I miss you (part 2) , Ens Jovenan, USS Artemis -A , 240005.15
• ↑ 3.0 3.1 Tri-PADD-visor Top 10 Attractions on Cait , LtJG Jovenan, USS Artemis -A , 240007.26
• ↑ Rubicun star system , Memory Alpha
• ↑ Rubicun III , Memory Alpha
• ↑ The frontier of history and the future , Lt Jovenan, USS Artemis -A , 240103.25
• ↑ Garden of Death , Lt Jovenan, USS Artemis -A , 240104.10
• ↑ A blessing and a curse , Lt Jovenan, USS Artemis -A , 240104.04
• ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 9.5 Edo , Memory Alpha
• ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 You’ll never stop worrying about your family , LtJG Jovenan, USS Artemis -A , 240008.21
• ↑ Justice (episode) , Memory Alpha
• ↑ 12.0 12.1 Luxury Tour , Farquan, USS Invicta , 239206.30
• ↑ 13.0 13.1 Longing for the Paradise , Ens. Jovenan, USS Excalibur -A , 240002.10
• ↑ 14.0 14.1 Penalties , Farquan, USS Invicta , 239207.08
• ↑ Ensign Maria's Condition , Lt Sidney Riley, USS Independence , 238307.18
• ↑ Fear not, my young padawan , Lt Jovenan, USS Artemis -A , 240101.23
• ↑ "Upwards We Go" , Ens. Saralai, USS Gorkon , 239901.18
• ↑ This place is kinda cool , Ens. Jovenan, USS Excalibur -A , 239912.02
• ↑ Making new old friends... and enemies , Lt Jovenan, USS Artemis -A , 240102.07
• ↑ 20.0 20.1 Edo God , Memory Alpha
• ↑ We are not so different , LtJG Jovenan & MdJG Jovenan, USS Artemis -A , 240010.09
• ↑ If there's no sound in space, can god hear our prayers? , Ens Jovenan, USS Excalibur -A , 239912.11
• ↑ 23.0 23.1 A bond from another universe , Lt Vitor Silveira & LtJG Jovenan, USS Artemis -A , 240012.20
• ↑ Zombies! , Lt Sidney Riley, USS Independence , 238307.25
• ↑ 25.0 25.1 In the deep end , LtJG Jovenan, USS Artemis -A , 240012.09
• ↑ It Wasn't Pleasant... , Ens Alashia Edar, USS Independence , 238312.10
• ↑ The Edo is dead. Only the Romulan remains. , Lt Jovenan, USS Artemis -A , 240103.11
• ↑ We're All Broken Within, Brother , LtJG Jovenan, USS Artemis -A , 240007.22
• ↑ [1] , Lt Jovenan, USS Artemis -A , 240102.23
• ↑ ... but the life goes on , Ens Jovenan, USS Excalibur -A , 240002.18
• ↑ 31.0 31.1 Linian vajos ren, jialon res , LtJG Jovenan, USS Artemis -A , 240010.29
• ↑ The best hug in ages , Ens. Jovenan, USS Excalibur -A , 240002.02
• ↑ "Sugar and Spice" , Ens. Selara, USS Arrow , 239707.21
• ↑ "Dinner Date" , Farquan, USS Invicta , 239209.16
• ↑ "Piano Man" , LtCmdr Saveron, USS Invicta , 239206.28

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Edos (also known as Edo III or 92 Trianguli Rho 2 ) was a class M planet in the Epsilon Minora star system , homeworld to the Edosian race.

• 2 History and specifics
• 3.1 References

Location [ ]

Edo III was located in what was considered Federation space denoted as the Starfleet Intelligence sector 1 , near Vulcan . ( FASA RPG module : Star Fleet Intelligence Manual: Game Operations )

The closest Starfleet starbase to this system in the 23rd century was Starbase 8 , although there was a Starfleet Intelligence base in the system, at Edo III. According to Starfleet Intelligence outpost maps, this system's coordinates are 0.51N 4.11W. ( FASA RPG module : Star Fleet Intelligence Manual: Game Operations )

Edos was situated between Starbase 129 and Gamma Trianguli . ( NF short story : " The Road to Edos ")

History and specifics [ ]

Edosians were not members of the Federation but were loosely allied with it. It was rare for Edosians to serve in Starfleet. ( Adventures RPG modules : Alpha Quadrant Sourcebook , The Animated Series Supplemental Guide )

Edos joined the Federation at some point in the 23rd century . ( TOS comic : " Who's Who in Star Trek, Issue 1 ")

Edos' fauna and flora included the Edosian orchid , the Edosian slug and the Edosian suckerfish . ( DS9 episode : " Broken Link "; ENT episode : " The Catwalk "; ENT episode : " These Are the Voyages... ")

Appendices [ ]

References [ ].

• FASA RPG module : Star Fleet Intelligence Manual: Game Operations
• FASA RPG module : Trader Captains and Merchant Princes, 1st edition
• 1 USS Wasp (NCC-9701)
• 2 Ferengi Rules of Acquisition
• 3 Odyssey class

• Cast & crew
• User reviews
• Episode aired Nov 7, 1987

On an alien planet, young Wesley Crusher commits a transgression - small by our standards but mandatorily punishable by death in theirs. On an alien planet, young Wesley Crusher commits a transgression - small by our standards but mandatorily punishable by death in theirs. On an alien planet, young Wesley Crusher commits a transgression - small by our standards but mandatorily punishable by death in theirs.

• James L. Conway
• Gene Roddenberry
• Worley Thorne
• John D.F. Black
• Patrick Stewart
• Jonathan Frakes
• LeVar Burton
• 34 User reviews
• 8 Critic reviews

Top cast 30

• Captain Jean-Luc Picard

• Commander William Thomas 'Will' Riker

• Lieutenant Geordi La Forge

• Lieutenant Natasha 'Tasha' Yar

• Lieutenant Worf

• Doctor Beverly Crusher

• Counselor Deanna Troi

• Lieutenant Commander Data

• Acting Ensign Wesley Crusher

• 1st Mediator
• 2nd Mediator
• 1st Edo Boy
• Medical Technician

• 2nd Edo Boy
• (as David Micahael Graves)
• Gene Roddenberry (showrunner)
• All cast & crew
• Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

Did you know

• Trivia The filming location was right under the flight path of Van Nuys municipal airport, which meant that airplanes were constantly flying over the heads of the actors, and the entire scenes filmed there had to be re-dubbed in post production.
• Goofs Picard states that the Prime Directive was never intended for a member of any starship crew to lose their life, but it is often stated in TNG that the Prime Directive is more important even than an entire starship crew, that members of Starfleet are prepared to lay down their lives to protect it.

Captain Jean-Luc Picard : I don't know how to communicate this, or even if it is possible to do so... but the question of justice has concerned me greatly of late. And so I say to any creature who may be listening: There can be no justice, so long as laws are absolute. Life itself is an exercise in exceptions.

Edo God (voice) : [CUTTING-ROOM FLOOR-LINE] How can there be justice, unless laws are consistent? Was it not one of your own people who said, "Lawlessness anywhere endangers lawfulness everywhere"? Without absolute law, my people would be inundated with exceptions: appeals, plea bargains - I believe your people have a term for it - with "red tape". Nobody could be punished for anything anymore. Thus, if I yield to these requests of yours, what will you yield in return?

• Connections Featured in Star Trek: The Next Generation: Shades of Gray (1989)
• Soundtracks Star Trek: The Next Generation Main Title Composed by Jerry Goldsmith and Alexander Courage

User reviews 34

• Timothynorris
• Aug 15, 2019
• November 7, 1987 (United States)
• United States
• Official site
• The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens - 1151 Oxford Rd, San Marino, California, USA
• Paramount Television
• See more company credits at IMDbPro

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• Runtime 46 minutes
• Dolby Digital

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The Edo God was a powerful lifeform or lifeforms that lived in orbit of Rubicun III , and was worshipped by the Edo . The lifeform considered the Edo its "children" and protected them from outside influence or threat.

The Edo God confronted the USS Enterprise-D in 2364 when that vessel was in orbit of the planet for possible shore leave. It had the ability to block communication with the Enterprise away team and prevent transport to or from the surface. When Captain Jean-Luc Picard brought Rivan aboard the Enterprise from the planet, the Edo God threatened the Enterprise with destruction until Rivan was returned. It also prevented Wesley Crusher from beaming out of protected custody until it was convinced by a passionate speech from Picard. (TNG: "Justice")

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Why Wesley Crusher’s Near Execution Is Never Far From My Mind

There’s no way to predict which random events or ideas will stick with a child, why one particular concept takes hold while thousands of others pass over them like a light breeze. So why is it that out of the many (many, many, many) hours of television I watched as a kid has Star Trek: The Next Generation ‘s season one episode “Justice” managed to never leave my head?

Because I loved Wesley Crusher and watching him nearly be executed on a strange world for a trivial incident was one of the most important lessons I ever received.

If you have never seen the episode or don’t remember it, the basic plot is that young Wesley accompanies an away crew to the seemingly Eden-like planet of Edo, where the inhabitants are a peaceful, overly sexual super friendly race of physically fit people that jog everywhere (obviously not Eden). When Captain Picard first hears about the planet he says, “Let’s just hope it’s not too good to be true.”

It always is.

On the second trip, the crew finds out that any and all crimes, no matter how minor, are punished with death. They race off to find Wesley, but not before he accidentally crashes through some new flowers in a forbidden area. Riker stops a remorseful “mediator” from injecting him with a fatal but painless poison on the spot, but as a result Captain Picard finds himself with a quandry: save Wesley at the cost of violating the Prime Directive and disrespecting the laws of Edo, or allow him to be killed for something we wouldn’t even consider a crime.

This is made all the more difficult because the Edo are protected by their “god,” an unexplained, powerful inter-dimensional ship/being(s) that hovers over the planet, and saving Wesley might result in the entire ship being destroyed.

The final scene between the Enterprise crew and the people of Edo, after Picard has decided to take Wesley back, reasoning that the Prime Directive and all laws should never be absolute because that isn’t justice, was just as it has been in my head all these years. The Edo believe they are being wronged, disrespected and overrun by a more advanced (and therefore patronizing) culture which is judging them and violating their sovereignty, so they beg Picard not to do this. They never asked the Enterprise to visit them, and they don’t want to be looked down upon by a society that views their ways as uncivilized.

Picard, with a duty to protect his crew, doesn’t want to treat the people of Edo that way and doesn’t even think they are wrong, but ultimately feels that true justice here demands he save Wesley, something he is only able to do after pleading with the “god” to allow to happen.

I was just a kid whose travels involved going from Boston to Disney World, and this episode was the first time I learned that there were differences between my life and others, in ways far more significant than what we ate for dinner and the type of weather we got. People could have laws and customs that seemed crazy to me personally, but yet that didn’t make them wrong or me right. If it were that simple Captain Picard wouldn’t have struggled with his decision, and the pleas of the Edo people wouldn’t have made any sense. But he did, and I understood their argument. If nobody was wrong, what was right? That isn’t insightful as an adult, but those complex issues have to be introduced somewhere, and this was mine.

I also learned there are consequences to our actions, even when we mean no malice, and when we don’t know enough about the culture of a different place we should proceed with cautious deference and respect. That has always helped me, no matter where I go.

The fact that this happened to Wesley Crusher made it all the more meaningful. I know now that Wesley Crusher wasn’t exactly beloved by Star Trek fans, but I was a kid, and watching him on that ship was like getting to be on it myself. I don’t know, it’s possible as an adult I’d feel differently about his character if the show came on today, but when I was young he was the best. Smart, brave, respectful, I wanted to be like him. Even here, facing death, he doesn’t want Picard to save him at the expense of the rest of the ship. (And yes, his later disgrace absolutely crushed me, or Crusher-ed me if you will.)

Re-watching it now I can see the episode has some plot issues and feels a little simplified, but I saw it through the eyes of a child, and its ideas got stuck in my mind where so many others passed over me.

I’m glad it did, because seeing Wesley Crusher almost executed taught me a lot then, and since I still think about Captain Picard’s decision to this day, it still does.

What episodes of television meant a lot to you as a kid? Share your favorite stories in the comments below.

Images: CBS

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How Star Trek: Discovery Recaptured One Aspect Of The Original Series

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Star Trek Discovery: 9 Best Episodes (So Far)

Dexter: resurrection shouldn't bring back this unpopular character, lotr: the rings of power season 2 rotten tomatoes score beats another fantasy series.

When the original Star Trek first hit screens back in 1966, the concept was pitched to audiences as "a wagon train to the stars." The Enterprise and its crew were soaring off into an unknown, unexplored universe, not unlike the explorers of the old Wild West. There were no rules out here in the vast expanse of space, and even Starfleet protocol was still in its infancy. Kirk, Spock, and the rest often had to improvise to get out of dangerous situations with their lives.

But as the franchise grew, so did the in-universe institutions of Starfleet and the United Federation of Planets . Treaties were signed, conflicts broke out, negotiations ensued, terms were settled — and the cycle began again. Starfleet's mission of exploration became more strictly defined, and so too did its rules and regulations. There were fewer unknowns in the galaxy, and by the time of The Next Generation , it was no longer a chaotic place. Starfleet still faced conflict in Deep Space 9 and explored uncharted territory in Voyager , but now, in addition to mysteries and alien threats, there was often bureaucratic red tape and political intrigue to deal with. Through it all, Starfleet and its members were disciplined, confident, and ready to spread a brighter future throughout the galaxy.

These episodes of Star Trek: Discovery are (so far) some of the highlights of the show.

That changed, though, when Michael Burnham and her crew traveled 900 years into the future in the season 2 finale of Star Trek: Discovery . With the time jump at the start of Season 3, Discovery took Star Trek back into a lawless, chaotic galaxy.

The Early Federation: Two Different Sides

For the crew of The Original Series , meeting unknowns face-to-face often meant danger. Hostile aliens didn't always listen to reason, especially since the Federation wasn't quite an interstellar superpower yet. The crew of the Enterprise always had to be prepared to fire phasers set to stun, throw a quick punch to the jaw, or break out the tried-and-true Vulcan nerve pinch.

Michael Burnham and the crew of Discovery also came from the days of the Federation's infancy. But unlike the Enterprise, they weren't charting unknown space. In Season 1, they worked as part of the war effort, helping the Federation fight the Klingons and developing technology to do so. In Season 2, they tracked the seven red signals and tried to thwart the AI called Control.

Of course, there were still plenty of mysteries to uncover and things to learn — the mechanics of time travel , the mysteries of the mycelial network. But Discovery's early themes had less to do with exploring the final frontier. Through their sci-fi concepts, seasons 1 and 2 explored ideas like the ethics of war and the consequences of technological advancement. Other Star Trek shows had done the same before them.

There are plenty of legitimate real-world reasons why the show's creators may have decided on the time jump that Discovery took at the end of its second season. Perhaps the show's retcons were starting to make things complicated . Perhaps they didn't want to eventually overlap with the timeline of The Original Series . Maybe they simply recognized the need and the opportunity to shake things up, to take both the crew and the audience out of their comfort zones. Regardless, it was a bold decision, and one that reintroduced the idea of diving headfirst into the unknown.

How The Burn Reintroduced A Lawless Galaxy

When she lands in the 31st century, Michael Burnham quickly learns that this galaxy is vastly different from the one she left behind. Starfleet is a distant memory, the Federation is a shadow of its former self, and a criminal organization called the Emerald Chain has a chokehold on the majority of resources. All of this is the result of an event known as the Burn , which took place about a century before Discovery's arrival. All the dilithium in the galaxy went inert, and thousands of ships detonated. The result was mass death, and without dilithium, the inability to travel at warp.

After the Burn, interplanetary alliances crumbled, and planets left the United Federation one after another until it was barely a skeleton of what it once was. Its influence weakened, until it was no longer able to maintain law, order, and peace as it once had. With the Federation almost gone, the people of the galaxy were left to fend for themselves. Mercenary groups, smugglers, and independent contractors carved lives for themselves in space. The galaxy was, as it had been in Kirk and Spock's day, a wild frontier.

A World Full Of Unknowns

Michael, Saru, and their crew had to navigate a galaxy which they knew nothing about. The planets, alien species, and even a few of the factions might have familiar names, but they were vastly different from what the Discovery crew remembered. The planet Vulcan had become Ni'Var ; the warring Vulcans and Romulans were cultivating peace between their two societies. The Klingons, whom the Discovery crew remembered as the Federation's greatest enemy, had become their allies and then receded to being strangers again. Many people throughout the galaxy had more or less forgotten the Federation — or even spurned it, holding them partially responsible for the Burn.

Discovery's job, then, was to gather information, build bridges, and forge alliances in their search to solve the mystery of the Burn and restore the Federation to its former glory. Michael, like her brother Spock , had to know when to speak and when to spring into action. Saru, a formerly cautious man who was new to taking risks, had to learn to do so in a measured and calculated way. Tilly learned to take charge; Stamets learned to reach out for help and expertise. Like Kirk and his crewmates, they were thrust into unfamiliar situations time and again. Ultimately, just like in The Original Series, these trials not only brought out the best in the show's characters, but provided an adventure for viewers that was familiar, yet wonderfully refreshing.

Star Trek: Discovery

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10 most human things data did on star trek: tng.

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10 Times Star Trek: TNG Was Funny Because Of Data

14 episode details you missed in star trek: tng's “the measure of a man”, picard almost let a planet be destroyed to preserve star trek: tng's prime directive.

On Star Trek: The Next Generation , Lt. Commander Data (Brent Spiner) wanted nothing more than to be human, but he was often more human than he realized. As an incredibly advanced android created by Dr. Noonien Soong (Brent Spiner), Data was superior to humans in many ways. His strength and agility were better than any human, and he could do complex calculations and recall vast amounts of information thanks to his positronic brain. As the operations officer on the USS Enterprise-D under the command of Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart), Data proved himself an invaluable member of the crew.

Despite all the advantages Data had as an android, he spent much of his time observing the humans around him and trying to be more like them. Data was often compassionate and even sometimes sentimental; he had diverse interests and sought to connect with those around him. And he accomplished all of this without the emotion chip created for him by Dr. Noonien Soong , proving he never needed it in the first place. In his quest to be human, Data became a shining example of all of the best things about humanity, and the android did many human things on Star Trek: The Next Generation.

Data received the ultimate upgrade in Star Trek: Picard season 3, complete with a new synthetic body and the ability to experience emotions, but he had long been human in all the ways that mattered.

I Wish Star Trek: TNG Had Never Introduced Data's Emotion Chip

Star Trek Generations failed Data, making me wish Star Trek: The Next Generation had never introduced his emotion chip.

10 Data Enjoyed Making Art & Music

Various episodes of star trek: the next generation.

Data's desire to better understand humanity leads him to take up music and painting. Although Data can download the knowledge necessary to play the violin or copy a Monet painting, he chooses to continue practicing. He also combines styles of music and art in different ways, in much the same way human artists experiment with tones and styles. Data can be seen playing the violin or painting in several episodes of TNG, often seeking out the opinions of those around him regarding his work.

The very act of creating unique art is human in and of itself.

Throughout history, humans have used art and music as a way to express their emotions, so it makes perfect sense that Data would seek to emulate humanity in this way. Data also tried out several other human hobbies, including writing poetry, playing poker, and performing in plays. Data may have felt that his techniques in these art forms lacked creativity, but the very act of creating unique art is human in and of itself.

9 Data Told Jokes & Worked to Develop His Sense Of Humor

Star trek: the next generation season 2, episode 4 ("the outrageous okona") & others.

In Star Trek: The Next Generation 's "The Outrageous Okona," Data tries to understand the nuances of humor, seeking advice from Ten Forward bartender, Guinan (Whoopi Goldberg) . Thanks to his android logic, Data often takes things literally, failing to understand sarcasm and human idioms. This also makes it difficult for him to understand jokes and the many random things humans (and aliens) find funny.

Data struggles with humor more than most of the other human endeavors he attempts, which makes sense, in a way. Even among humans, humor is subjective. What is funny to some may not be funny at all to others. Still, Data does his best, and in the end, he manages to make the Enterprise crew laugh, even if it takes him a beat to realize why his remark was funny.

The android Lt. Commander Data may not always understand humor, but he was often the funniest character on Star Trek: The Next Generation.

8 Data Had A Pet Cat Named Spot

Introduced in star trek: the next generation season 4, episode 11 ("data's day").

As Data recounts the details of a day on the USS Enterprise-D in Star Trek: The Next Generation 's "Data's Day," he spends some time with his cat, Spot. Data dotes on Spot just as many humans do with their pets, taking time out of his day to entertain and train the orange cat. Data designed at least 221 different types of food for Spot, trying to figure out the one that she liked best (supplement 25), and he looked after her closely when she became pregnant.

Although Spot was initially referred to as a male cat, she was later confirmed to be female when she gave birth to a litter of kittens.

When Data needs someone else to look after Spot, he entrusts his cat to Lt. Worf (Michael Dorn ) with the advice: "You must talk to him. Tell him he is a pretty cat, and a good cat." Worf responds that he will feed him, although the Klingon later discovers that he is allergic to cats. The desire for a pet is very human and it's difficult to argue that Data doesn't love Spot. The android even composes a poem for his furry friend entitled "Ode to Spot," which he recites in TNG season 6, episode 5, "Schisms."

7 Data Became A Father To Lal

Star trek: the next generation season 3, episode 16 ("the offspring").

In one of Star Trek: The Next Generation's best episodes , "The Offspring," Data creates a daughter named Lal (Hallie Todd) using the cybernetic technology Dr. Soong used to create Data. Throughout the episode, Data teaches Lal about humanity and she learns quickly. As Lal's programming begins to surpass even Data's, Starfleet takes an interest in her and wants to take her to a Starfleet science facility.

Captain Picard stands up for Data's right to keep custody of his daughter, but the argument becomes moot when Lal malfunctions. Lal begins experiencing emotions for the first time, fearful that she will have to leave the Enterprise. These emotions overwhelm Lal's positronic brain , causing a cascade failure. Data fights to save Lal's life just as hard as any parent would, but he is unable to save her. Data then downloads Lal's memories into his own neural net, so that she will continue to exist in some way.

When Data seeks parenting advice from Dr. Beverly Crusher (Gates McFadden), he laments that he cannot love Lal, but Beverly finds that hard to believe. This is one of the many instances when characters express their skepticism about Data's supposed lack of feeling.

6 Data Had A Best Friend In Geordi La Forge

Many episodes of star trek: the next generation.

Data considers Lt. Commander Geordi La Forge (LeVar Burton) to be his best friend, as he states outright in "Data's Day." Not only do Data and Geordi both share an interest in science and engineering, but they also spend much of their free time together, going on holodeck adventures as Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson. Although Geordi is the one who works on Data when he needs repairs, the engineer never treats Data as anything less than human.

La Forge is sometimes awkward around other people, particularly women, so his friendship with Data makes perfect sense. The two can discuss complicated engineering problems without having to worry about social niceties. Geordi also helps Data throughout his journey to be human, and Data even states that he "never knew what a friend was until [he] met Geordi," in Star Trek: The Next Generation season 5, episode 24, "The Next Phase."

5 Data Fought For The Right To Make His Own Decisions

Star trek: the next generation season 2, episode 9 ("the measure of a man").

In the excellent Star Trek: The Next Generation episode, "The Measure of a Man," Data's right to make his own choices is called into question. When Dr. Bruce Maddox (Brian Brophy) visits the Enterprise asking to dismantle Data for further study, the cyberneticist claims that Data is the property of Starfleet. Data, of course, does not wish to be dismantled, and Captain Picard helps the android fight for the right to make his own choices.

"The Measure of Man" was one of the best episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation. Here are 14 details you missed.

The desire not only to survive but also to remain in control of our own lives is one of humanity's most basic instincts. Although the acting judge Captain Phillipa Louvois (Amanda McBroom) cannot say whether or not Data has a soul, it's clear that he deserves the opportunity to, as she puts it, "explore that question himself." The events of "The Measure of a Man" continue to resonate within Star Trek today, and it remains a shining example of Data's obvious humanity.

4 Data Learned To Dance From Dr. Beverly Crusher

Star trek: the next generation season 4, episode 11 ("data's day").

"Data's Day" contains numerous examples of Data acting human, from his conversations with Geordi and Worf to his ruminations on his own desire to "become more than what I am." As Data prepares for the wedding of his friends Chief Miles O'Brien (Colm Meaney) and Keiko (Rosalind Chao), he discovers that he may have to dance at the ceremony. Data then goes to Dr. Beverly Crusher and asks her to teach him to dance.

Throughout "Data's Day," Data seeks advice from his friends on how best to help Miles and Keiko on their wedding day . Data wants to ensure that his friends have a perfect wedding, a very thoughtful and human thing to do. An unfeeling machine would not care about any of these things and would have no reason to learn how to dance. Despite being arguably superior to humans, Data never looks down on those around him and is always willing to seek out advice.

3 Data Reacted With Anger When He Was Mistreated

Star trek: the next generation season 3, episode 22 ("the most toys").

Another Data-centric Star Trek: The Next Generation episode that puts the android's humanity on full display, "The Most Toys" sees Data kidnapped by a cruel and obsessed collector named Kivas Fajo (Saul Rubinek). Fajo fakes Data's death and takes the android to his private collection of rare and valuable objects. Fajo does not see Data as a person, but rather as a thing to possess. Despite this, Data remains calm even as he defies Fajo's orders.

To force Data to comply, Fajo kills one of his assistants, threatening to kill more. Meanwhile, Geordi and the Enterprise crew have discovered Fajo's ruse and returned to retrieve Data. Just as Data is beamed back to the Enterprise, he appears to fire a deadly weapon at Fajo. Until this point in TNG, Data has never been driven to true anger. While "The Most Toys" leaves it ambiguous as to whether Data really fired the weapon, it's clear he experienced a strong reaction to Fajo's cruelty and disregard for human life.

2 Data Saved A Little Girl & Her Planet

Star trek: the next generation season 2, episode 15 ("pen pals").

When Data intercepts a message from a young girl named Sarjenka (Nikki Cox) on the planet Drema IV, he begins a conversation with her. After learning that her planet will be destroyed due to geological activity, Data tells Captain Picard about his conversations with Sarjenka. Although Picard initially refuses to prevent the destruction of Drema IV due to Starfleet's Prime Directive , he changes his mind after hearing Sarjenka's cry for help.

Data helps Captain Picard see that even Starfleet's most important rule sometimes needs to be broken on Star Trek: The Next Generation.

Data then visits the planet's surface and returns to the Enterprise with Sarjenka in tow. The frightened little girl refuses to leave Data's side and all of their interactions are incredibly sweet. Data's initial decision to answer Sarjenka's plea is one of the most human things he has ever done. Even though Dr. Katherine Pulaski (Diana Muldaur) erases Sarjenka's memories of Data, the sentimental android leaves a singing stone with her as a memento.

1 Data Sought A Connection With His Family

When Data is first introduced in Star Trek: The Next Generation, he knows very little about his origins. As the only android in Starfleet , Data cannot help but wonder if there are others like him . After learning he has a brother named Lore (Brent Spiner) in TNG season 1, episode 13, "Datalore," Data tries to connect with him only for Lore to try to kill the Enterprise crew. Later, in TNG season 4, episode 3, "Brothers," Data runs into Lore again and also meets his creator, Dr. Noonien Soong.

After Lore wounds Soong and leaves him to die, Data laments that he cannot mourn his creator. Soong, however, knows that Data will grieve for him, "in [his] own way." Data later dreams of his creator, learning that Soong wanted Data to learn and grow, and perhaps one day achieve his own form of humanity. Data was always the best of the Soongs, but he found a true family full of people who care about him in the crew of the USS Enterprise-D on Star Trek: The Next Generation .

Star Trek: The Next Generation

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3 science fiction franchises that can challenge Star Trek for the title of 'greatest of all time'

S tar Trek is a brilliant franchise. One that has been around for a long time. Nearly 60 years at this point. It's a science fiction franchise that influenced the world, and many creators are looking to create a universe as dynamic as it is—one with an ocean of opportunity, and hopefully, financial success.

Yet, few, if any, are on part with Star Trek. While others came before it, and some have out-earned it, few have had the same cultural impact this touchtone property has created. It is one of one. Yet, if we were to look at challengers for Star Trek's throne, who would it be?

Well, firstly, let's just exclude any comic book franchise. No disrespect intended, but they are comic book movies and shows, not science fiction. While each may borrow from the other, they are separate creations. Let's admit that being around a long time or making a lot of money doesn't mean you're in contention.

Avatar has had two films; we're not entirely sure who's watching them. The Alien franchise has been around for around 50 years, but it's a hit-or-miss series. Up until recently, we would have included Star Wars. While it's more popular than Star Trek, it doesn't appear to have the same consistency with its creations.

So what franchises can lay claim to the best science fiction franchises?

Let's start with the obvious one, Doctor Who. The series debuted before Star Trek and did the same thing for British science fiction as Star Trek did for American sci-fi. Its reach has been well documented and its revival in the mid-2000s arguably made it a bigger success than at any point. While newer seasons (or series in the UK) have had mixed reviews, it's still among the most celebrated and beloved series out there.

Planet of the Apes

It's not a film franchise I care about, but boy, fans do love these war-mongering monkeys; eh? It has had 10 films, is nearly as old as Star Trek, and has out-earned it. It's a multi-media franchise as well, with two television series from the 1970s. It's still going strong today, with the latest film; Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, grossing nearly $400 million in box office sales.

Back to the Future

Some franchises are popular because of when they happened, like the Hunger Games franchise. Others are popular because of what it's based on, like Resident Evil. Then there are financially successful and we're not quite sure why, like Dune. Yet, all of those franchises have had duds, and others in contention may lack the significance of their work. Not Back to the Future. A three-film series that taught all of us to dream big. A multi-platform franchise that has produced comics, video games, comics, and more, and continues to be a major factor in pop culture even to this day. And all without the problematic rebooting that has come out of Hollywood these days.

This article was originally published on redshirtsalwaysdie.com as 3 science fiction franchises that can challenge Star Trek for the title of 'greatest of all time' .

Rivan was the leader of the Edo who inhabited Rubicun III . She was among the group who welcomed the officers of the USS Enterprise -D in 2364 .

After the young Wesley Crusher was condemned to death for violating a law in one of the Edo punishment zones , Captain Picard brought her aboard on the Enterprise -D to attempt to reason with her. This way Rivan became the first Edo to see her home planet from space . When the being known as the Edo God noticed her presence on the ship, it threatened the starship . Captain Picard attached his personal communicator to her, enabling the transporter room to beam her back to the planet. ( TNG : " Justice ")

Rivan was part of Commander William T. Riker 's memories while being infected on the surface of Surata IV and treated in sickbay . ( TNG : " Shades of Gray ")

Rivan was played by actress Brenda Bakke .

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