¬The evolution of Star Trek captains“Space, the final frontier. These are the voyages of the starship Enterprise. His five-year mission: to explore strange new worlds, to seek new life and new civilizations, to boldly go where no man has gone before." So begins Star Trek: The Original Series, the first of five live-action television series and eleven films to this day chronicling the adventures of various Starfleet captains, their ships, crews, and countless alien species throughout the universe. It has been called "the most influential science fiction television series of all time" (Gross). What is so fascinating in the Star Trek franchise is not just the influence it has had on society, but the influence society has had on it and what we can learn about ourselves by studying the shows. Although each series was set in the future, all reflected the environment in which they were created. Of the various captains who have flown Starfleet ships over the past 44 years, what do each say about the culture that created them? Captain James Tiberius Kirk “All your people must learn before be able to reach the stars." James T. Kirk Star Trek: The Original Series premiered in 1966 in a country that was facing some very heavy problems. War, race relations, and gender equality were at the forefront of the national consciousness. What could a science fiction show set 300 years in the future say about these issues? Many, apparently. Instead of different races, there were different species working together and the show's characters helped create relationships between them. There was even a woman (a black woman, no less) on the bridge of a starship, holding an important position… middle of paper… making morally questionable command decisions as the series went on” ( Aune). Over the course of 40 years, the Star Trek universe has managed to give us a glimpse into the future while helping us look more closely at ourselves. These five captains: Kirk, Picard, Sisko, Janeway and Archer represent the best and worst of us all. They face challenges and responsibilities we can't imagine, succeed where others have failed, and go where no one has gone before. Works Cited Aune, Sean P. "Who is the best Star Trek captain?" SeanPAune.com. 8 May 2009. Web. 03 July 2011. Gross, ed. "Star Trek: Captains of the Final Frontier - Special Documentary." ComicBookMovie.com. Ugo Film & TV, 28 October 2010. Web. 03 July 2011."Star Trek: Enterprise - Memory Alpha, the Star Trek Wiki." Star Trek Wiki - Memory Alpha. Wikia entertainment. Network. 03 July 2011.