Pure Trek. Reminded me a little bit of that TNG episode where Data was in court and Picard defended him as an individual.

The speech Neera gave about how legal wasn’t always right gave me chills. What I liked the most though was for all it was calling the Federation out, saying that they had become what they wanted to destroy (kinda) in being the persecutors and making the prejudice law, it was also so hopeful.

It really was the essence of what makes Trek great. The institution is flawed but the people believe in the principle, and they try – oh how they try. They hope that the future will be better and are working to make it so.

I don’t disagree at all with how Picard pointed out the Federation/StarFleets failings and mistakes. Where I took particular issue (especially in season 3) was how the characters didn’t fight against that. Didn’t take up positions and debate amongst themselves. It was just A ok that the Federation had done wrong, because they are the Federation/the good guys and therefore everything is automatically right /sarcasm.

But this in SNW was just spot on. I suppose the only thing they could have done was give a little more emphasis to the prejudice. The Vulcan dude was mostly silent and Batel was obviously conflicted, and so was April. Although that was interesting in of itself with Batel “just following orders” and April “well I don’t like those augments but I like Una” which is a bit like knowing someone who is homophobic but because they like you decide to give you specifically a pass like that then makes it ok that they hate a part of you (it doesn’t, it still hurts).

I think this is one of the most classic Trek episodes in ages. SNW has done it again.

@purlturtle

A bit sad that they opened up all these big questions about laws potentially being not ethical, and then didn’t take that anywhere – but then that might have been a bit much for 42 minutes

I don’t know it seemed quite on brand to want to treat it as a “special case” rather than acknowledge that it’s a systematic issue. Refusing to confront there’s a problem and pushing it on down the line is kinda how things work