Star Trek just made fun of one of the most important episodes of Deep Space Nine

Though Lower decks The action takes place in this timeline, the series is not optimistic like most other series. Even accepting that the Bell Riots led to the death of capitalism on Earth in the 20th century, the series does not consider the same to happen so easily on other planets.

Second episode Lower deckThe fifth season of “Shades of Green” sends Cerritos to Targalus IX, which had recently joined the Federation. As Boimler tries out his new leadership style, he and Mariner deal with the townspeople, who happily overthrow their capitalist society and install a new post-scarcity society. This isn’t going smoothly.

“No money, no problems,” says a banner floating from a spaceship as citizens burn paper cash in the streets. While the proceedings are certainly exhilarating, it’s clear that the transition isn’t as smooth as Trek often suggests. In addition to pro-capitalist terrorists who kidnap two ensigns under Boimler’s command, the planet is on the verge of chaos as the Federation’s new citizens descend into irresponsible anarchy.

Of course, “past tense” does not imply that the Earth is making an easy transition. Sisko et al. they visit the planet at the very moment of change, before centuries of inequality and oppression, and before centuries of work remain to be done as society changes. The episode shows only the smallest part of the change.

But he does it in a hopeful, if rough, way. Regardless of what the person who runs Shatner’s Twitter account says, Star Trek he always presented his progressivism from a classically Marxist perspective, seeing the implosion of capitalism as the inevitable end and the socialist utopia as a teleological goal. So even if we have to see the unhoused and downtrodden take up arms against the ruling classes like in “Past Tense,” Starfleet personnel can relocate before things get too messy, safe in the knowledge that a post-scarcity future will be a fact of life place.

“Shades of Green” paints the proletarian revolution in shades of gray. With its wacky, comedic approach, the episode makes the rioters look like fools more interested in free stuff than working hard to build a more just society, which is what conservatives have always challenged progressives to do. Coupled with Boimler learning that he can’t be a fun boss and has to get by for the good of his subordinates, well… “Shades of Green” seems downright reactionary.