Key Takeaways
- Star Trek
delved into gods vs. aliens with Apollo, disguised as Greek god. - TOS
episode “Who Mourns for Adonais?” views Apollo as an alien, but accepts that he was understood as a god by the Ancient Greeks. - Star Trek: Lower Decks
introduces demigod Ensign Olly.
As a long-time Star Trek enthusiast who’s had the pleasure of witnessing the franchise’s evolution over the years, I find it truly fascinating how the concept of “god-aliens” has been woven into the fabric of the Star Trek universe. From Captain Kirk’s encounter with Apollo to Ensign Olly’s debut in Lower Decks, this theme has not only provided captivating storylines but also sparked thought-provoking discussions about human nature, perception, and the cosmic tapestry.
Ever since its debut, “Star Trek” has delved into intricate themes and sparked thought-provoking questions among viewers, encouraging them to view the world from new perspectives. While Gene Roddenberry, the show’s creator, was not particularly religious, he and the creative team behind “The Original Series (TOS)” recognized the potential of raising spiritual queries, such as questioning the nature of gods or a higher power.
In the second season of TOS, they delved deeply into this subject in the episode titled “Who Mourns for Adonais?” This particular episode gained both fame and notoriety due to a striking scene where a massive, green, levitating hand, believed to be Apollo’s, attempted to squeeze the Enterprise. Interestingly, the disembodied hand that caused all the commotion was none other than the Greek god Apollo, deity of light and purity.
The Time Kirk Met a God
With a colossal, verdant fist clenched tightly around it, the Starship Enterprise found itself in an ironclad grasp, reminiscent of impending doom. In this moment, a grandiose image of a massive head adorned with laurel wreaths unfolded, and its resonating voice reverberated throughout the ship. Addressing the crew as his “cherished offspring,” this majestic head extended an invitation to descend upon his planet, their supposed “homeland.
Captain Kirk led his team – including Lieutenant Scotty, Dr. McCoy, Ensign Chekov, and Lieutenant Palamas – to the surface of Pollux IV, a planet known by that name. Upon their arrival, they encountered an extraordinarily handsome man adorned with a gold laurel wreath, draped in golden clothing, and wearing sandals made of gold. His appearance and attire bore resemblance to the ancient Greeks, as did the architectural structures on the planet. He identified himself as Apollo.
Indeed, the crew members in the landing party didn’t genuinely think he was the Greek deity Apollo. In reality, Dr. McCoy’s tricorder readings revealed that he was predominantly human, with an additional organ in his chest that left McCoy puzzled. However, their skepticism enraged him, causing him to morph into a colossal form and bellow:
Welcome to Olympus, Captain Kirk!
Apollo insisted on being revered and honored, much like the ancient Greeks did for him. He spoke knowledgeably about that era, and his character seemed to match the descriptions of Apollo found in Greek mythology. However, when the crew declined to pay homage to him, he retaliated by hurling lightning bolts at them – a power associated with Apollo as the son of Zeus.
Was Apollo Really a God?
Despite finding Apollo’s apparent powers mysterious and unexplainable, the landing party members didn’t consider him to be a Greek god from ancient times. Instead, Kirk proposed an intriguing question that has been a thought-provoking topic within the Star Trek universe: Could beings whom humans have historically considered “gods” actually be extraterrestrial beings?
If one were to believe Apollo’s tale about him and the other Greek deities being ancient extraterrestrial visitors on Earth, it makes sense that the people back then would have perceived them as divine beings. After all, their powers surpassed anything the Greeks knew, and they didn’t comprehend life beyond our planet. What other explanation could there be for these mysterious beings, if not to consider them gods?
As a gamer immersed in mythology, I’ve come to realize that while Apollo wasn’t a deity in the traditional sense, he was undeniably the figure revered by ancient Greeks as the god of light and purity – none other than Apollo himself. Upon further exploration, it was uncovered that Apollo could harness energy from any power source within him, transforming this raw energy into the electrifying “lightning bolts” he’d unleash through his fingertips.
The series Star Trek frequently explored the idea of extraterrestrials being revered as deities, with one instance being in Star Trek V: The Final Frontier, where the TOS crew encountered an alien claiming to be the Judeo-Christian conception of God. In the episode “Who Watches the Watchers” from The Next Generation, Captain Picard found a primitive civilization that mistook Starfleet personnel for gods after discovering one of our observation outposts on their planet.
Indeed, the most profound and intricate portrayal of extraterrestrial beings resembling gods occurred in the series ‘Deep Space Nine’, specifically with the entities known as “The Prophets” or “wormhole aliens”. In the debut episode of ‘DS9’, Commander Benjamin Sisko found that the Bajoran deities, The Prophets, were actually immaterial extraterrestrial life forms residing within a stable wormhole in outer space beyond Bajor’s orbit.
Spoilers for Star Trek: Lower Decks season 5, episode 6 ahead.
Star Trek: Lower Decks’ Demigod
In the recently aired “Of Gods and Angles” episode of Star Trek: Lower Decks, we’re introduced to a fresh character, Ensign Olly. What immediately catches people’s attention about her is the laurel crown she wears, which bears a striking resemblance to that worn by Apollo – a being who had an encounter with Captain Kirk more than a century ago. It turns out that she is actually related to Apollo, as Zeus, her grandfather, is among their kin. Much like other members of her family, Ensign Olly possesses the ability to harness electricity from any nearby source and control its flow towards a specific target.
It appears Ensign Olly isn’t as adept at managing her electrical abilities compared to Apollo. She often draws energy from the ship and causes power surges that end up damaging whatever she’s working on, which isn’t particularly useful for an engineer. Consequently, Olly has been removed from several ships before even reaching the Cerritos.
Previously struggling herself, Lieutenant Mariner assumes the role of Olly’s guide, aiding her in learning to employ her abilities for beneficial purposes. The fact that Mariner, always the defiant one, serves as a mentor is another testament to how much the crew of the Lower Decks has grown since the series started.
In the upcoming episodes of Lower Decks, it’s uncertain if Ensign Olly will appear, but her role in this episode establishes the first character with divine origins within Starfleet. However, Captain Freeman clarifies that Starfleet does not support or use the term ‘demigod’.
As a die-hard fan of the Star Trek universe, I’ve had the privilege to explore galaxies far beyond our own through the lenses of The Original Series, The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, and even the latest addition, Lower Decks. Each series offers a unique perspective on the final frontier, with characters that feel like old friends and stories that keep me coming back for more.
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2024-11-26 05:06