Then, into that mix, introduce a series which lasts nearly forty years literally a generation - and becomes a cultural icon. It dares to suggest a positive future for humanity. It occasionally delves into serious social comment or allegory. It prepares millions of viewers for a possible future where real-life "first contact" might eventually be made with aliens from the depths of space.
Welcome to "Star Trek". And welcome to the latest incarnation following on the heels of its parent and siblings, namely "Star Trek", "Star Trek (Animated)", "Star Trek: The Next Generation", "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" and "Star Trek: Voyager" - the latest television series in this family: "Enterprise".
The creators of "Enterprise" face disadvantages unheard of by creators of any other television series in history: they must surpass literally a generation of cultural iconography and mythology. They must also work within a medium which has developed a technological sheen in the last generation; viewers will no longer accept flimsy plywood sets, spaceships which half disappear in chrome-a-key, or papier machι aliens.
"Enterprise" creators also face a harder task than all previous "Star Trek" creators: theirs is a prequel series instead of a sequel. Many of the parameters for Starfleet, the Federation and humanity's future history have already been establish in these previous series. Particular and painstaking care must be taken to avoid continuity clashes with all pre-existing "Star Trek" programs.
Despite all these concerns, "Enterprise" is off to a promising if somewhat timid start. For example, who can fail to be moved by the opening theme song, set against film footage of explorers (both real and fictitious) who dare to forge our future? Unlike the opening of previous "Star Trek" series, this theme contains a real, personal and intimate challenge for all viewers: it dares us personally to reach for our own stars.
"Dear Doctor" is an episode which takes that opening challenge and confronts viewers with a moral dilemma which is as real as today's headlines. Despite all their lofty ambitions, Archer and his crew make a wrong decision which show how far they remain from attaining humanity's dreams of utopia. In doing so, they also condemn others to death. Is this any different from the state of our real world today: the gap between rich and poor; the chasm which separates the decision makers and the masses?
(And is such narrow-minded egotism any different to our own? In all "Star Trek" productions, homosexuality has apparently disappeared by the 24th century. How many modern-day bigots would applaud that idea?)
Any criticism of the storyline in "Dear Doctor" is misguided because this episode sets itself up as a modern-day allegory of our own world. If viewers become outraged by its messages, all the better: good literature should aim to challenge its consumers. And if viewers don't like the future as portrayed here, what will they personally do to create a better future in response? After all, are we any better than these fictitious characters? We allow ourselves to become absorbed in television shows while other people starve. We spend more money on "Star Trek" merchandise than on donations to AIDS charities. Perhaps the most important message that "Star Trek" ever gave us was, "Get A Life!"
This screenplay therefore shows humans with all our frailties. Phlox believes himself to be morally superior, demonstrating the sad fact that arrogance often leads one to commit even worse sins. Archer wants to save the aliens, but he is easily misled into doing otherwise. Are we any different? Rather than being a poor representation of humanity, these characters give a realistic portrayal of our species weaknesses included.
The original series of "Star Trek" portrayed a mature, space faring humanity, whose maturity had further developed in "Star Trek: The Next Generation". This series pre-dates all that, and shows us a humanity that is striving for the stars but has yet to achieve the maturity incumbent within our potential. Archer and his crew may make tragic mistakes, but that is because they are (on the whole) only human. Their mistakes, and those of others, will undoubtedly forge the formation of Starfleet's Prime Directive at some time in their future. In their tragedy, we glimpse a better future.
"Dear Doctor" is therefore "Star Trek" at its finest. It contains allegory and social comment which will undoubtedly make it a classic episode.
A major focus in "Dear Doctor" is the Prime Directive and how it potentially echoes both the best and the worst in humans. The episode presents a moral dilemma which is on par with that shown in "Believers" (an episode from "Babylon 5" which was, interestingly, written by a former "Star Trek" writer) and, like that other story from another series, provides a conclusion which will satisfy some viewers and enrage others. Either way, it provides more than adequate food for thought.
In referring to the Prime Directive, the script alludes to the original series of "Star Trek" and its aims.
The original series was born during the Vietnam War and the protest era. The Prime Directive clearly implied that US involvement in the Vietnam War was politically and morally wrong. It is an inescapable conclusion that if the original "Star Trek" creators were working today, "Enterprise" would contain similar messages condemning the American-led war in Iraq.
In embracing the Prime Directive (even if only by implication), "Enterprise" has plugged into this intellectual powerhouse of alternative politics and culture.
The original intent of the Prime Directive was to prevent interference in the healthy development of a people or planet - and its corollary was that Starfleet actively work for universal equality, without imposing imperialistic views on other cultures. Galactic brotherhood was a heartily espoused value, and led to the creation of 'slash' fan fiction in which Kirk and Spock explored their symbolic and emotional closeness.
The Prime Directive may be a blessing or it may be a curse. It speaks against cultural and economic imperialism, but it forces us to consider the universality of human rights. If we deny one side of this equation, must we forego the other as well?
"Dear Doctor" offers one answer to that question and is guaranteed to provoke and stimulate. It may even force us to look in a mirror to seek our own answers to such an impasse.
In fact, the inclusion of the Prime Directive might offer a splinter of hope to GLBT viewers who have been waiting for a change in Starfleet's homophobia. Like the Prime Directive, the IDIC concept from the original series might some day surface in this latest series. An exploration of true diversity might force the inclusion of GLBT characters and thereby shatter Paramount's 40 years of homophobic ethnic cleansing in the 24th century.
"Dear Doctor" offers us a cosmic perspective, virtually unheard of on American television - the frightening prospect that our self-perceived importance in the Universe is quite illusory. This episode demonstrates that our planetary populations could face extinction from AIDS, SARS or another catastrophe (nuclear or biological warfare, meteor strike, etc.) and that our extinction would matter little to the rest of the Universe. By implication, this episode encourages humanity to seek new worlds and diversify onto other planets, thereby increasing our long-term prospects for survival.
Of course, some viewers may complain about the poor science which surfaces from time to time in this episode or others (okay, the evolution thing was a blooper). But ultimately, so what? "Star Trek" and similar productions often blur the edges between fact and fantasy: they include transporter beams, faster than light travel, artificial gravity, humanoid bipedal Americanised aliens, etc. Like much science fiction, the aim of "Star Trek" is not to present detailed scientific conjecture but to move beyond that in order to identify possible future moral dilemmas, to suggest ideas and hopefully inspire some viewers to examine such thoughts. It seeks out new dreams and new civilizations, daring us to boldly go down those paths.
This is a story which resembles humans warts and all. For that very reason, "Enterprise" needs more episodes such as "Dear Doctor", which dare to take a step into the unknown. Other episodes are often timid by comparison, perhaps because the series creators are treading warily in order to avoid the previously mentioned potential for possible continuity errors.
The writers and creators of "Enterprise" should be encouraged to use "Dear Doctor" as a template of what makes challenging fiction and good entertainment. It dares to be different. It avoids formulaic television. If you missed it when it was on TV, hire it from your local video shop and make up your own mind.