3 ms·
TNG has several species like the Q that have evolved to godlike abilities and there are episodes where a humanoid undergoes the final stage of physical evolutio
by 7thaccount 2y ago
TNG has several species like the Q that have evolved to godlike abilities and there are episodes where a humanoid undergoes the final stage of physical evolution and then ascends to a higher plane of existence (becomes something like the Q). Star Trek Picard (relatively new show) had a lot about exploring internal conflict and I think even in TNG one of the final episodes has Q tell Picard that the final frontier is internal and doesn't involve mapping out stellar nebulae.
Other shows like Stargate also have the concept of "ascension" as a pivotal plot point of many episodes. Farscape covers this as well in several episodes. Things like mind melds and mind reading are pretty common in these shows once someone ascends.
There is a lot of "woo" in science fiction as it is kind of hard to still believe in gross limitations for us over a cosmic scale of thousands of millions of years. Assuming we don't die out, I'd believe our ultimate potential is unfathomable to us now.
- jerf 2y agoThere is definitely a difference between "these beings have become so advanced as to do things we would believe impossible like reading state directly out of our brains" and "for vague and in fact aggressively unspecified reasons this critter can read the 'minds' of those around them". When people pontificate about "brain uploading" they are certainly speaking of some physical process that does what is now currently impossible, but may not be impossible forever. But perhaps the more relevant objection is that episodic television can't really be read for more than the vaguest of philosophical content across their wholes. One episode can be written by an ardent materialist and the next by a New Age guru writing a New Age story wrapped in science terminology, and as long as they do a good enough job in general writing ability and following the series bible for consistency, it might take a lot of analysis to notice. Such series aren't so much statements themselves as platforms.
- 7thaccount 2y agoWe're on the same page. I don't disagree with anything you have here.
- pyuser583 2y agoBabylon 5 has excellent an excellent ascension arc. One of the best. I miss 90s Sci Fi.
- 7thaccount 2y agoBabylon 5 is THE best IMO. I just love all the little character dialogue that makes the universe so expansive. I miss scifi like that.