- First and foremost, the opening is an ode to human innovation, and allows Star Trek to further blend it’s fictional inventions with our real life ones by including them in the natural progression of technology.
- Except for two alien crew-members, the crew is completely human – and a diverse cast at that.
- Xenophobia is underlying throughout the episode however with annoyance at the Vulcans, but more obvious with Reed’s concerns over the Klingons that he expresses early on and as security officer continues to do so.
- Immediately contrasted by the next scene with Sato teaching students to speak Klingon. That this is more a “fear of the unknown” than outright bigotry, presumably.
- Early insight into the establishment of the Federation, with humans finding their place in the greater cosmos and having to leave behind their ethnocentrism. Prequel series to even that of the Original Series
- “If you’re going to try and embrace new worlds, you must try and embrace new ideas.” – Phlox
- “…so take your Vulcan cynicism and bury it along with your repressed emotions.” – Archer
- “Your reaction to this situation is a perfect example of why your species should remain in its own star system.” – T’pol, echoing Q’s own discredit of the human species somewhat
- “It’s no secret Starfleet hasn’t been around too long. God knows you remind us of that every chance you get.” – Trip
- “Humans can’t refrain from drawing conclusions. You should learn to objectify other cultures, so you know when to interfere and when not to.” – T’Pol
- The episode debuted in September of 2001, less than 2 weeks after 9/11, the show could not have predicted such a devastating event and the impact it would go on to have. From a societal context, Islamophobia would come to grow, and having a show such as this – the closest to our time as it can be – showing us that things will inevitably get better not just here but wherever we find ourselves venture out to, is something wonderful.
Klaw's Lair 