‘Devil’s Due” is the second rewritten script from the aborted Star Trek: Phase II series from the ’70’s to be adapted for TNG. You can tell, because “The Devil and Daniel Webster” vibe is reminiscent of TOS’ theme of aliens possessing a hankering for earth history. The script transfers to new characters much better than the previous adapted episode, "The Child."The story takes a distinctive anti-religion feel . Hey, we have not had an episode like that since "Who Watches the Watchers?” in the early third season.
The Enterprise is called to a planet to rescue a science team held hostage by a panicked mob who believe ancient prophecies of their eventual enslavement by the Devil are coming true. As you know, in any fit of religious fervor, scientists have to become victims. In between book burnings, of course.
There is an ancient myth that a Satan-like figure appeared to these people in the past and offered them a thousand years of peace and prosperity at the end of which they would become his slaves. The people, deciding to screw their descendants, said okey doke. At the end of the thousand years, there were supposed to be all sorts of apocalyptic happenings. Lo and behold, now there are.
Suddenly, a woman named Ardra shows up to claim the people as slaves. Picard assumes she is a con artist because because he does not believe in the Devil. He challenges her to test their contract in court with his immortal soul, which he does not believe he has, on the line.
They agree on data to serve as impartial judge and contest the contract. Picard argues that she had nothing to do with the planet’s thousand year prosperity. It was all the population’s doing. Ardra never so much as picked up a single piece of trash over the last millennium.
Eventually, la forge discovers Ardra’s ship and how she has been making earthquakes and various other religious iconic illusions to scare the people. Picard uses the Enterprise‘s technology to copy them. Why he never theorized to do that in the first place is beyond me. That is, after all, all it took to convince everyone she is not Old Scratch.
Religion in general and Christianity in specific are presented as ignorant superstition. The only reason the people of this planet straightened up and flew right was because they thought they had a supernatural blessing. In reality, the capacity for perfection was always within themselves. They should not give credit to any higher power, because look what happened when they did--they resorted to ignorant doom saying without any proof of its validity.
What we have there is classic humanist rejection of Christianity. There is a denial that a natural, sinful nature will impede utopia. There is the idea crediting religion for any good thing that happens is to deny the greatness of humanity itself. Finally, Christian belief brings about ignorance, superstition, and an anti-science attitude. But logic, reason, and technology alone save theday.
I see the point they are trying to make here. I cannot deny Christianity has caused its share of tragedies. But this episode is a blankt condemnation of the typical straw man view of a non-believer’s stereotype of what Christianity actually is. I found it heavy-handed.
Yes, I am aware the Ardra represents the Devil, not God. That is part of the point. God is being demonized. The story appears on the surface to be a ‘make a deal with the Devil’ plot, but a closer analysis says otherwise.
Not that “Devil’s Due” is a bad episode. It is not. There are some humorous moments where Ardra plays around with Picard by sending him down to the planet in his pajamas and data subtly relishing his power as judge. The special effects are some of the best of the series. When Ardra takes on the appearance of various underworld deities, it is genuinely scary. If you are not emotionally invested in Christian theology, this may well be one of your upper ier episodes. For me, it is entertaining, but not great. It drags me into apologetics mode too quickly for me to enjoy it much.
Rating; *** (out of 5)
1 comments:
I think this is a nice review of a great TNG episode, especially since you seem to be a little offended by the sceptical view on religion that is shown in this plot.
For me this atheistic touch is what makes it even more enjoyable, so i would have given it 4 out of 5 Stars.
I'm not a very religious person but im curious about how people with more sense to it feel about the hole Star Trek universe, where religion is mostly prested as an ancient way of thinking, that humanity had to overcome in order to reach a peaceful future.
Post a Comment