This Scary The Next Generation Episode Is Exactly What Modern Star Trek Needs More Of

Star Trek: The Next Generation

A scaryStar Trek : The Next Generationepisode featuring Commander William Riker ( Jonathan Frakes ) testify thatStar Trekcould benefit from more horror or thriller narratives . Since the 1960s , Star Trekhas been a raw material in sci - fi and is often even credited as pioneering many pop image of the genre . WhileStar Trek ’s scientific discipline has matured and modernized over the decades , the core concept of its sci - fi root word has detain moderately unchanged . However , oneStar Trek : The Next Generationepisode pushed the boundaries of the genreand incorporated repugnance and psychological thriller facial expression into its chill narrative .

Star Trek : The Next Generationoften dedicated entire episodes to a exclusive character ’s development , and one such example for First Officer Commander Will Riker was inTNGseason 6 , episode 21 , " Frame of Mind , " which boast view of the horror and thriller writing style . Often considered one ofStar Trek : The Next Generation ’s honorable episodes,“Frame of Mind " is one of the franchise ’s darkest history . With themes like kidnapping , psychological revilement , physical torture , and emotional use , Commander Riker encounters some ofStar Trek ’s bad – and best – horror aspects that should make a return to the franchise .

Commander Riker’s chilling experience in “Frame of Mind” was an exciting change for Star Trek

Star Trek : The Next Generation ’s " Frame of Mind " is wide keep as one ofCommander Will Riker ’s best episodes , and it ’s obvious why . Jonathan Frakes is at his very best , showcasing his impressive and divers acting ability by portraying Riker as not only diffident of his saneness , but also as questioning his milieu at all multiplication . Through the forcible and worked up trials the sequence put him through , Commander Riker ’s mental stableness is tested . Although it isn’tStar Trek ’s only horror - theme episode,“Frame of idea " taps into a less direct kind of thriller that suits the dealership .

From Star Trek : The Next Generation to Star Trek : Picard , Will Riker ’s timeline involves some of the most crucial moments in the entire franchise .

Star Trek ’s sullen episodesusually feature narratives responding to real - life struggles , like the consequences of inequality and the veridical toll of war . What " Frame of head " does is high spot howStar Trekcan incorporate dark themes and even corporeal repulsion into a sci - fi settingwithout losing the suspension of opinion . Commander Riker not only suffers genial hurt , but he ’s also physically tortured by the inhabitants of Tilonus IV . His well - being is a major cause of concern throughout the episode , adding to a sense of edge - of - the - seat suspense that makes the episode even more appealing .

Why Star Trek Needs More Horror

Sci-fi and horror could go hand-in-hand to bring a thrilling new aspect to Star Trek

In recent years , Star Trekadded a few more horror - like narratives to its growing list of episode . The revival of the Gorn inStar Trek : Strange New Worldshas provided somefull - on horrorStar Trekepisodes . However , the Gorn miss a nuanced access to horror – they ’re monsters , but they do n’t provide much psychological thrill . This thriller aspect is what could giveStar Treka real border in the more and more competitory cyclosis mart . Mixing sci - fi and horror could also modernize many ofStar Trek ’s more dated storey to hook younger fans , just like the Gorn inStar Trek : Strange New Worlds .

The Gorn have already been in 6 Star Trek shows since 1967 , but as the villain in Strange New Worlds , they show no signs of disappearing anytime shortly .

Star Trek : The Next Generation ’s foray into repugnance provided a fink peek into chilling elements that would appear in futureStar Trekprojects , but the franchise has n’t included existent , unhindered horror . While the episodic thrill and jump scare are n’t entirely rare in modernStar Trek , the aspect of substantial mental , and even body , repulsion has yet to be explored . The underlie vein of suspense , the psychological torturing , and the well - write plot twists at every turn make the episode " Frame of Mind " a stark example of howStar Trekcan – and should – let in horror to ask round a younger audienceto the enfranchisement .