Showrunners of new ‘Star Trek’ series say plot is influenced by 2016 election

“Star Trek” fans who tune in for the popular series’ launch on CBS “All Access” may notice some familiar earthly themes taking place in outer space.

“Star Trek: Discovery”, which is set 10 years before the original series, will follow the breakout of war between the Federation and the Klingons, according to an Entertainment Weekly report. The resulting themes will closely mirror issues raised during the 2016 election, say showrunners Aaron Harberts and Gretchen J. Berg.

“The allegory is that we really started working on the show in earnest around the time the election was happening,” Harberts said. “The Klingons are going to help us really look at certain sides of ourselves and our country. Isolationism is a big theme. Racial purity is a big theme.”

“The Klingons are not the enemy, but they do have a different view on things. It raises big questions: Should we let people in? Do we want to change?” Harberts added.

Berg added that the conflict and clash of ideas would bring out the “best” in Federation characters on the show.

“In times of stress and conflict it can bring out the best of us and the worst of us,” added Berg. “But but ultimately brings out the best in our Starfleet officers.”

{mosads}
Harberts told Entertainment Weekly that recent nuclear aggression from North Korea — and President Trump’s own rhetoric — has taken the United States to a position similar to where the show finds itself in episode one.

“North Korea is in our thoughts as we finish the series,” Harberts said. “What began as a commentary on our own divided nation — in terms of Trump supporters and non-Trump supporters — has blown out to North Korea and how we’re right on the brink. [The U.S. is] actually right at the place where Starfleet finds itself in episode one and we couldn’t have anticipated that happening. But how do you end conflict when both sides have such strong opinions?”

“Star Trek: Discovery”, which is currently filming its 13th episode, will debut on CBS on Sept. 24. It will then switch to CBS “All Access”, a CBS subscription-based service.