Star Trek: The Next Generation
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Where to Watch
Paramount+Follow the intergalactic adventures of Capt. Jean-Luc Picard and his loyal crew aboard the all-new USS Enterprise NCC-1701D, as they explore new worlds.
Paramount+Follow the intergalactic adventures of Capt. Jean-Luc Picard and his loyal crew aboard the all-new USS Enterprise NCC-1701D, as they explore new worlds.
Star Trek: The Next Generation's episodic style explored the crew's daily lives, creating a soap opera-like feel. The show's large cast and interconnected relationships made the characters feel more real and relatable.Soap operas are commonly set in a family home or a small town, allowing a large cast of characters to go through their ordinary lives while providing high-stakes entertainment. I think Star Trek: The Next Generation's Starship Enterprise acted similarly to this as a bubble for the crew because characters primarily interacted with their fellow crew members.
More than anything, the original Star Trek was defined by its optimism and idealism, with this being a beacon of hope amid the political turmoil of the 1960s. The sense of almost Pollyanna idealism seen in Star Trek: The Original Series continued into Star Trek: The Next Generation, and this cemented the overall thematic tone of the brand. No matter how dark, serious or philosophical things got, Star Trek wasn't supposed to be cynical.
