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Released more than three decades back in 1987,Star Trek: The Next Generation, remains one of the most popular projects from the franchise. Its legacy is so enduring that the seven-seasoned series has been ranked as one of the greatest TV shows of all time, with many of its episodes receiving critical acclaim.
However, apart from earning fans’ praise for delivering high-concept entertainment, and executing a dramatically satisfying storyline,Star Trek: The Next Generationsuffered controversial backlash for one particular episode. Aired in the US in 1990,The High Groundbecame a subject of controversy over sensitive grounds of violence against Ireland, leading it to get banned in the UK.
ControversialStar Trek: The Next GenerationEpisode Banned in the UK
The popularStar Trekfranchise has spawned multiple spin-offs and TV series over decades, and most of them have turned into cult classics. One such iconic TV series is the 1987 show,Star Trek: The Next Generationwhich not only acquired a nerdy fanbase but even got popularized among celebrities.
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However, despite gaining praise and attention, the show laterattracted some heat over one controversial episode. WhileStar Trek: The Next Generationhad many memorable moments, one episode in particular got banned overseas. Released in 1990 in the US, the season 3 episodeThe High Groundwas surprisingly singled out in the UK for political reasons and its portrayal of terrorism.
According to reports fromCollider, the episode initially caused chaos by portraying a sympathetic view toward violence and domination. However, the main controversy appeared surrounding the character Data, who briefly mentioned a made-up piece of UK history.
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Talking about the “Irish unification of 2024” as an example of violence successfully achieving a political aim, Data teased Britain and Ireland’s uneasy history of violence and bloodshed. Further, considering the time when the episode was released, Britain was actually dealing with the IRA, who fought to get the British out of Northern Ireland.
Therefore, considering the real-world events that were happening back then, BBC refused to airThe High Groundbecause of the line of dialogue that referenced the reunification of Ireland, which was a sensitive topic. Thus, the United Kingdom banned the particularStar Trek: The Next Generationepisode and later aired an edited version on television.
Star Trek Sci-Fi Writer Addressed the ControversialStar TrekEpisode
Back in the 80s, when sci-fi writer Melinda M Snodgrass penned down theStar Trek: The Next GenerationepisodeThe High Ground, she had little idea of the unexpected ripples of controversy it would make. While the show at large acquired legions of followers, the particular season 3 episode found its prosperity in infamy.
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Speaking withBBC, Melinda M Snodgrass thus noted her reaction when she got to know about the chaos that the episode had caused in the UK. Since most US TV shows often debuted internationally several years after their original release, Satellite broadcaster Sky reportedly got the opportunity to cut crucial scenes and air an edited version in 1992, in the UK.
We became aware of it later… and there isn’t much you can do about it. Writing for television is like laying track for a train that’s about 300 feet behind you. You really don’t have time to stop… Science fiction is incredibly important because it allows people to discuss difficult topics – but at arm’s length.
The remarks used by Data as well as the story certainly paralleled the situation that was prevailing in Northern Ireland at the time. But Snodgrass implied that it was a deliberate move. Using her history major degree and her law school knowledge the sci-fi writer claimed that it’s completely normal to talk about complicated issues as long as no one’s picking a fight.
I was a history major before I went to law school and I wanted to get into that; discuss the fact that one man’s freedom fighter is another man’s terrorist. I mean, these are complicated issues.
And when do people feel like their back is so much against the wall that they have no choice but to turn to violence? And is that actually ever justified? I think what I wanted to say was: if we’re talking and not shooting, we’re in a better place.
Eventually, whileThe High Groundsparked concerns over the exchange between the characters, leading the episode to not be broadcast on the BBC or Irish public broadcaster RTÉ,Star Trek: The Next Generationoverall remained popular, even decades later.
Star Trek: The Next Generationis available on Paramount+.
Krittika Mukherjee
Senior Writer
Articles Published :3219
Krittika Mukherjee is a Senior Entertainment Writer at FandomWire, majorly focusing on films, TV shows, and celebrity news with over 3,000 articles published. With an educational background in Journalism, and a keen interest in filmmaking, Krittika blends factual precision with creative flair, when crafting her editorials, or dissecting fan theories.Her coverage often includes news and analyses of critically acclaimed films, celebrity news, and franchises like the Wizarding World, LOTR, DC, and MCU—particularly Harry Potter, Fantastic Beasts, Superheroes, and fan theories. As a Wizarding World aficionado, Krittika has spent countless hours exploring hidden backstories, unadapted book moments, spells, and trivias surrounding J.K. Rowling’s lore.An imaginative writer with a way with words, Krittika has worked as an entertainment journalist for the past two years and a web content writer for a year. She brought her experience and expertise to FandomWire to pursue her desire for sipping coffee while dissecting films and tracking celebrity drama.
