7 things nobody wants to admit about Star Trek

2. Phenomenal technological powers…… when it works

In the technologically advanced universe of Star Trek, the sudden failure of critical systems is always a convenient plot mechanism that shows that even the mightiest Starfleet crew is vulnerable to issues.

This provides the elements of suspense and drama, creating problems that normally need complex solutions in situations where Starfleet technology would otherwise quickly resolve the main conflict. By having transporters, shields, or warp drives temporarily disabled, scenarios are created that force the characters to rely on their ingenuity, resourcefulness, and sometimes even diplomacy, instead of an immediate technological solution.

While these conveniently timed malfunctions serve as plot aids, they also raise questions about the reliability of technology that’s supposed to be light-years ahead of anything we have today. While sending out crew to far reaches of space, one would expect Starfleet to have more reliable technology available, or at least backup plans that don’t involve a last-minute brainstorming session on the bridge.

It’s almost as if these amazing spaceships were designed to fail at the worst possible times. Whether it’s a crucial battle or an urgent diplomatic mission, it really does seem like the ship’s most important systems are likely to be “down for maintenance”, and operational at any other given time. Get it together, Starfleet.