season 7 episode 20 A Journey's End
Posted by ferfook@reddit | TNG | View on Reddit | 11 comments
I just finished watching that episode and oh my god it was super racist. I wasn't expecting that level of racism. Low key felt dehumanizing.
Also this is something I noticed in the later seasons: the episodes just end with out a big conclusion, it's kinda disappointing. It's like, 'and then they magically solved the complex problem the end'.
I do still enjoy star trek I just wish they had more explanations for the abrupt endings.
Accomplished_Toe6774@reddit
wild how picard has gone against starfleet for less but in this episode he's like "welp guess I'll do a genocide"
Longjumping_Feed3270@reddit
When I recently rewatched, I couldn't believe they actually called the Native Americans "Indians". Having first seen this in my teens, I suddenly felt pretty old.
Solitary-Vices@reddit
that term is still politically correct actually. Indians actually hate don't like the term "Native American" lol even if it's PC, they prefer Indian. they've embraced it.
_DarkElysium_@reddit
That’s only party true. Some groups prefer “Indian” while others prefer “Native American.” The people that prefer “Indian” actually dislike “Native American” because it’s so over inclusive. Are you referring to the people of both American continents when you say “Native American?” The word “Indian” is easily identifiable despite being confusing and uncomfortable for some to say. The short answer is, it really depends on the group that prefer to identify themselves as considering there are hundreds of tribes with different names.
MutesLab@reddit
Blatantly untrue, every Indian person I know and every native American person I know both hate that native Americans are sometimes called Indians. I don't know where you're here in this from, but try to speak to some actual first Nation people bro
Donjeur@reddit
Why is it racist? basically a historical society found a planet where they could live like Indians until the planet came into dispute.
I bet in the 24th century there will be a planet just for airsoft where people can dress up like soldiers and shoot each other all day.
ferfook@reddit (OP)
I didn't like how the indigenous people where depicted as magical beings, it played into stereotypes. Also the writers didn't do a lot if any research on indigenous cultures, there are sooo many different indigenous cultures in North America alone. Obviously I didnt expect the writers to do a ton of research but the least they could have done was treat interesting people as humans. Also, since star trek is supposed to be a utopia, wouldn't the indigenous people simply just get their land back instead of moving to an alien planet? Also calling indigenous people 'Indians' has always been racist.
SZJ@reddit
I think NOT putting more details about which tribe they are from or more about they culture isn't racist; the episode barely had enough time to cover the story as it is. Putting the WRONG information would be worse. Also, in 200 years time they would likely be culturally different from before. As for their native land, they left when they Federation was in its infancy. Their land in the US would probably be unrecognizable to them.
The writing is a bit thin here, sure, but I don't see anything overtly racist. Unless them trying to NOT be racist by not over delivering on cultural details is itself racist? But that's a bit of a stretch.
Donjeur@reddit
My take was that it was like a Wild West planet. Like in “Remember Me” when the alien with a Scottish accent said he stood at glamis castle and looked out over the highlands.
What the hell was all that about!?
Solitary-Vices@reddit
how does this not make it racist?
in Remember Me they explicitly said they made it like Scotland on purpose. here the Indian people themselves are portrayed as magical spiritual people.
Donjeur@reddit
And the Scottish people were probably primitive savage drunks…
(The episode was Sub Rosa as well I made a mistake)