2y ago

Episode Discussion | Star Trek: Strange New Worlds | 2x02 "Ad Astra Per Aspera"

Written by Dana Horgan

Directed by Valerie Weiss

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I always thought the genetic modification ban was pretty flimsy. It wasn't even established until DS9 since TNG had the Darwin Research Station.
I really don't like how strict they made it in SNW. Why should humans dictate the laws for all races in the Federation? What happened to the Denobulans? Phlox said that they genetically modify themselves.
DS9 said that genetic modification was still allowed for the treatment of serious illnesses. So it doesn't make sense for all permanent genetic modification to be banned.
Also, in DS9, genetic modification was more like performance enhancing drugs. Bashir's modifications gave him an unfair advantage over other people. It's kind of like someone cheating to get into a good school. But that argument also has problems since there are aliens with naturally superior abilities compared to humans. Vulcans have perfect memory, superior physical abilities, and telepathy, they would have a big advantage over humans in a lot of things. But Vulcans aren't banned from Starfleet.
- There’s a theory that every major race has gone through some version of Earth’s Eugenics Wars, or at least the most influential ones, such that the laws against genetic modification were pushed through. Other races simply didn’t care enough to protest or protest much.
  As for the Denobulans, it could be that they wound up on the wrong side of the Neutral Zone after the Romulan War when borders were drawn, so they were never Federation members. This also explains why they weren’t seen between ENT and, chronologically, their appearance in PRO.
  
  I think a lot of the species at least agree with the idea of a eugenics ban after seeing the records of how disastrous it was for Earth, regardless of their own struggles.
  
  And don't forget that it went badly (in different ways) for the Klingons as well.
- DS9 said that genetic modification was still allowed for the treatment of serious illnesses. So it doesn’t make sense for all permanent genetic modification to be banned.
  The franchise is fairly consistent about genetic enhancements (i.e., augmentation) are illegal, while medical procedures are not. The Darwin station is the biggest outlier.
  
  TNG overall never said anything about the Federation or Starfleet being against genetic modification. It wasn't just Darwin Research Station. They didn't say anything about it in "Masterpiece Society" either.
  Dr. Bashir I Presume was the first episode that any kind of ban was ever brought up. They didn't even say anything about a ban in "Space Seed" or "Wrath of Khan."
  Also, when Torres was pregnant in Voyager, she wanted the Doctor to modify her baby to remove Klingon traits and no one said it was illegal.
  
  They didn’t say anything about it in “Masterpiece Society” either.
  That colony wasn't a member of the Federation, though.> Also, when Torres was pregnant in Voyager, she wanted the Doctor to modify her baby to remove Klingon traits and no one said it was illegal.
  Also, when Torres was pregnant in Voyager, she wanted the Doctor to modify her baby to remove Klingon traits and no one said it was illegal.
  One could argue that's not an augmentation.
  
  That colony wasn’t a member of the Federation, though.
  But they have discussions about it in the episode and no one brought up any laws about it. Picard even says he disapproves of it personally but says nothing about it being banned.
  One could argue that’s not an augmentation.
  From Dr. Bashir, I Presume: "DNA resequencing for any reason other than repairing serious birth defects is illegal."
  The Doctor specifically said that many of the modifications Torres wanted to make had nothing to do with the baby's health.
  
  @kingofmadcows @ValueSubtracted
  There was a whole episode of DS9 where Julian Bashir was under investigation because he was genetically modified 🫤🤷‍♂️
  
  He was not under investigation for being genetically modified. I think a key aspect of this episode and that episode is that Julian and Una were both under investigation for concealing their status as genetically modified. Neither of them faced any penalty for having the modifications done.
  It is only Mr. Bashir who is punished for seeking out and obtaining genetic modification for his developmentally delayed child. Being genetically modified isn't a crime and I don't think it was ever depicted as such - but having a genetic modification done is a crime. And having one done on you prevents you from joining Starfleet in some cases. Although for all we know Ilyrians are given exception to genetic modification rules as long as they're honest about it, but no human has ever gotten an exception so Julian lied to protect his parents and to ensure he'd get into Starfleet.
  
  Una’s testimony included a statement that her 10-year-old friend was arrested along with his parents
  
  Which is insane. Its not my biggest problem with this episode but the revelation that the Federation has had like...violent pogroms against augments with children being arrested and what sounds like ghettos is incredibly bad? Its presented as an example of how "unfairly" augments have been treated, but that's not unfair treatment, that's borderline genocidal. It puts a way darker spin on the Federation than I think the writers were intending, like I don't think even DS9 in its attempts to deconstruct utopia ever implied anything half as monstrous.
  
  My interpretation is that since the planet had just been granted provisional Federation membership, basically the same local government was in charge.
  
  Which actually contradicts a TNG episode where the Federation had an entire research facility dedicated to creating genetically enhanced children with super powers like immunity to disease, telekinesis, and rapid maturity.
  
  It's not contradictory if this happened before TNG...
- Well, SNW predates DS9, right, so this seems consistent with and even complementary to continuity, unless there’s something in TOS I’m missing.

248 comments