#but that is literally not the conversation we're having. Old Trek has ALWAYS had the spotlight. it does not need it all the time.

[gulducock]

Nowhere in this post do I badmouth any old trek you are assuming shit of me that i did not say anywhere. I understand what you're trying to say here but you can NOT equate these things, TNG having 1 episode where they introduce a nonbinary species of alien is NOT the same as Adira, a human character, explicitly identifying as nonbinary and requesting the use of they/them pronouns in the show. The Trill as a species have transgender subtext but that is not the same as Gray being explicitly transgender in the show. Jadzia Dax is the first gay character in Star Trek history, rejoined was a monumental episode for the franchise and paved the way for alot of gay representation in television, yes, but you CAN NOT say that 1 episode of DS9, where the characters don't even get together in the end, and Jadzia's interest in women is ignored for the rest of the entire show, is even close to the same as Hugh and Stamets relationship in Discovery, or even Adira and Gray. Michael Burnham is not the first black captain nor is she the first female captain but she is the first black female captain and that is more important than anything old trek ever did because Discovery put these things in their show with clear thought and purpose, and the amount of hatred the show received for these decisions can not be ignored. Ian Alexander and Blue del Barrio were TEENAGERS when they appeared on this show and the amount of harassment they received being openly LGBT actors appearing in this show as well as every other actor such as Sonequa Martin-Green or Wilson Cruz for just being people of color is not ignorable, Discovery wanted to make REAL, GENUINE representation in a time where things like that were not normalized and they did not hold back in their representation. It is not 1 alien or 1 episode or 1 character, it is half of the entire main cast. We have gay characters in Picard because of Discovery, we have gay characters in Lower Decks because of Discovery, we have more diverse casts and more representation than we could ask for and you CAN NOT try to make this about old trek. People are so biased and obsessed with old shit like TNG and DS9 they can't even let 1 fucking conversation take place without trying to bring up how old trek was good too, I know it is, I really don't like nutrek, I prefer the old shows, and Discovery is really not a show I actually like personally, but you can not in good conscience look objectively without bias and say Discovery is not phenomenally important because the old shows also did these things before. Discovery tried, it really tried full-heartedly to tell something important, and maybe it wasn't good as a story, but it has had more impact than alot of Star Trek has. Basically what I'm saying is you're ignorant as hell for reading my post that way and also this should be common knowledge

sincerely so sad that discovery is ending so soon. It took a long time for them to get their footing in regards to what they wanted disco to be, i do still dislike the first and 2nd seasons however after that they really did find something that was fun and unique with a wonderful cast, maybe not as close to as good as star trek has ever been but it really was something that had worth. im not confident theyll be able to properly send-off every single complex character theyve introduced in only 1 season but heres to hoping

[starship-imzadi]

S5 E12 Violations

This opening immediately brings to mind the "repressed memories" craze in psychology in the 1980's and 1990's. The "fad" has since become regarded as incredibly harmful and dangerous as human memory can be quite malleable and undependable. A lot of people were treated to believe they had repressed memories of horrible abuse and sexual trauma in their childhoods, made horrible accusations, for events that never actually happened. Not only do these fabrication create real trauma and ruin relationships, they also delegitimize the actual trauma and abuse others have suffered and very much remembered from their childhoods.

Now, that isn't quite applicable to this episode, but this episode has some heavy moments and perhaps the worst abuse, out of all the abuse, Troi suffers through the series, and I want to address it the best I can.

"father, you know you're not supposed to probe someone's memory unless they've given you permission."

A.k.a. you have to get consent

"you are right, but sometimes with a beautiful woman I cannot help myself."

Red flag?! But not the red flag we're looking for. (Still: not appropriate) Beverly's laugh doesn't seem like acceptance to me, rather it's the socially acceptable way for women to cope with remarks that certain men think are flattering but are actually creepy. In a post #metoo world my hope is that as a society this is understood better than when this episode aired. I'm sure for many women it's just as evident as it ever was.

To be clear, this memory reading isn't sexual. What it is, is intimate. For whatever reason no other type of telepathy in Star Trek is depicted as a high form of intimacy, except for the now forgotten telepathic link that Troi and Riker have (which was formed because of the closeness of their relationship). But, to have access to someone's mind would be an incredible vulnerability, the sharing of one's mind a great intimacy, and the invasion of one's mind a great violation. A strong analogy for these is sexuality.

I want to make this distinction because there are violations and intimacies that are not sexual, and I think allowing for a broader analogy makes this a stronger story.

This conversation between Geordi and Data about memory feels like exposition to explain the concept to the audience. But, it seems to misrepresent some of the finer points, like how human recall and triggering recall actually works, how neurological structure and age factors in, how trauma effects memory, or in fact how humans encode specific memory or general concepts (like remembering the layout of your childhood home.)

"perhaps you would like to resurrect solve memories"

Is Beverly flirting with Picard? Or just teasing him

This scene with Troi brushing her hair and drinking hot chocolate is.... incredibly frustrating. Because of the "on again off again" or complete neglect of the story between Troi and Riker's relationship. Why have we never seen this part of their relationship before? Where does it fit it? I've seen people question at which point the memory becomes manipulated, wondering if Riker would ever force himself on Troi...which I would categorically say: no he would not.

"imzadi we can't, not when we're serving on the same ship"

"have you stopped thinking about us, just answer that" "I can't stop thinking about you"

They're clearly on the Enterprise, and Riker has a beard, and it could feasibly be somewhere in the past three and a half seasons. As the audience we are not privy to the original memory free of Jev's manipulations.

"Do you know what she was doing when this happened?" Riker's voice is so gentle.

Beverly's little smile as she walks in and sees Riker talking to Troi is exactly how I feel. "I miss you. Please don't stay away too long." Is so sweet and a bit heartbreaking.

Now, we see an apparent memory of Riker's. Troi's memory seemed to be hazy and pink like an old romance filter might be in black and white, but Riker's memory is distorted and stretched, and both have distorted and slowed audio. By contrast, Keiko's memory had no visual or audio distortion at all. Riker's apparent memory is feasible like Troi's.

Troi's assault is what almost everyone focuses on, because the "violation" of the episode is seen as an analogy to rape and because this element is inexplicably used again in the film Nemesis. However, I would like to point out that the two memories shown up until this point are both memories of vulnerability. The memory with Troi isn't just about sex, it's about the intimacy she has with Riker, a relationship they both want but don't feel like they're allowed to have. Riker's memory is of vulnerability of those under his command, as he has to actively make a choice that will kill a crew member to save the rest of the ship. His crew is ultimately his responsibility, their lives are in his hands, and he has to carry the responsibility of their deaths under his command.

Now we see Beverly's apparent memory. Her's is also a clear instance of vulnerability: seeing her dead husband's body. This memory is most likely of the three we see to have some reality to it. We do know that her husband died and Picard was the one to tell her and Wesley of his death. (It's mentioned in the pilot episode and in "The Bonding")

Rethinking the search parameters is incredibly clever on Geordi's part and he deserves more credit for it. It's almost... intellectually refreshing to see rather than a simple solution, and I applaud the writer who wrote this bit.

If Riker wasn't still in a coma he would be right by Troi's side.

"I'm remembering something from a few years ago" so, it is a memory, they're all actual memories, up until a point. "It's not Will, sombody's taken his place." when the person in her memory is hurting her the face isn't initially shown, we can't see who it is. But, before when the memory was safe and positive, we could see Will's face.

(the background soundtrack is a little too much and the whole sequence of Troi in pain makes me really uncomfortable.) And Worf and Picard.... don't react except Picard, very conservatively, places a comforting hand on her shoulder. Which fits with his decorum and all things considered is really, really sweet.

"A perverse source of pleasure perhaps. A need to exercise control over another." Even though Troi's memory was romantic or sexual in nature and through Jev's manipulation has the strongest direct parallel to literal sexual assault, rape is ultimately about power, the assertion of power, domination without consent. It is in direct opposition to intimacy, sexual or non sexual. intimacy is vulnerability plus trust and safety, regardless of what that vulnerability is.

I just realized the Ullian coats remind me of paper snow flakes.

I've seen some people confused that after everything that has happened why Jev would jeopardize himself by going to Troi. He seems to honestly like Troi, in whatever way he can, but at the same time is not in control of his impulses and desires, and whatever he likes about her is warped into his sick desire to overpower her. It's fantastic to see Troi fight back; Jev talks about how fragile she is, and it's important that we see that she is in fact NOT how he sees her.

"this form of rape" here is the first time the word is specifically used BUT I want to reiterate that Troi, Riker, and Beverly have all been subjected to this trauma.

It's good, and nice to know, that they will be getting counseling and help to process through what has happened. It's not always but on occasion TNG acknowledges that its characters have suffered with potential long term ramifications.