Why a Star Trek episode was ‘banned’ for a prediction over Ireland
'I wanted to get into that; discuss the fact that one man's freedom fighter is another man's terrorist.'
A Star Trek episode released in 1990 has only ever been screened in Ireland once over concerns about a single line.
The original season of the sci-fi series first hit screens in 1966 and ran for three years.
It was then followed by Star Trek: The Next Generation, which aired from 1987 until 1994. Today also marks a huge days for fans of the franchise – with April 5 being First Contact Day that celebrates Star Trek.
However nearly 35 years after it aired, one episode from the franchise’s second series is still ‘banned’.
Titled The High Ground, the 12th episode of the third season sees a crew member of the Federation Starfleet starship USS Enterprise-D taken hostage by terrorists who hope Federation involvement will help them win concessions for their cause.
In one scene android character Data, played by actor Brent Spiner, spoke about the ‘Irish unification of 2024’ as an example of violence successfully achieving a political aim.
An edited version of The High Ground was shown in 1992 on Sky in the UK (Picture: IMDB) What episode of Star Trek was banned?Originally shown in the US in 1990, there was so much concern over the exchange that the episode was not broadcast on the BBC or Irish public broadcaster RTÉ.
At the time, US TV shows often debuted internationally several years after their original broadcast.
Two years later, satellite broadcaster Sky reportedly aired an edited version, cutting the crucial scene.
The episode was then shown by the BBC on September 29 2007, however BBC Archives has said it believes that is the only time it’s ever been aired.
Why was it banned?The decision not to air the episode came at a time when deadly conflict continued to rage in Northern Ireland, with the Provisional IRA – a paramilitary group with the aim of ending British rule in Northern Ireland – one of its main protagonists.
Now, in 2024, Sinn Féin, which emerged as the political wing of the IRA, is the largest party in the devolved Stormont assembly.
Reflecting on the episode, writer Melinda M Snodgrass told the BBC she had no clue at the time how the episode would still be so divisive decades later.
In it, android Data mentioned ‘a united Ireland’ (Picture: IMDB)‘We became aware of it later… and there isn’t much you can do about it,’ she said.
‘Writing for television is like laying track for a train that’s about 300 feet behind you. You really don’t have time to stop.’
But she added: ‘Science fiction is incredibly important because it allows people to discuss difficult topics – but at arm’s length.’
The episode, which was based on the theme of terrorism, saw the Starship Enterprise’s chief medical officer Dr Beverly Crusher is abducted by the separatist Ansata group, who use murder and violence to pursue their aim of independence.
In it, Data commented: ‘I’ve been reviewing the history of armed rebellion, and it appears that terrorism is an effective way to promote political change.’
Captain Jean-Luc Picard, played by Patrick Stewart responded: ‘Yes it can be, but I have never subscribed to the theory that political power flows from the barrel of a gun.’
The episode was based on a theme of terrorism (Picture: IMDB)However, the android then added: ‘Yet there are numerous examples of when it was successful. The independence of the Mexican state from Spain, the Irish unification of 2024, and the Kenzie rebellion.’
The exchange then saw Data ask whether it would be ‘accurate to say that terrorism is acceptable when all options for peaceful settlement have been foreclosed?’.
‘Data, these are questions that mankind has been struggling with throughout history. Your confusion is only human,’ the Captain shared.
Snodgrass said her script’s parallels to what was unfolding in Northern Ireland at the time was deliberate.
‘I was a history major before I went to law school and I wanted to get into that; discuss the fact that one man’s freedom fighter is another man’s terrorist,’ she said.
‘I mean, these are complicated issues. And when do people feel like their back is so much against the wall that they have no choice but to turn to violence? And is that actually ever justified?’
A Republicans holds an Irish Flag as he stands next to a line of police in 2015 (Picture: Paul Faith/AFP/Getty Images)She added that what they wanted to say at the time was: ‘If we’re talking and not shooting, we’re in a better place.’
The episode was initially due to air in the UK in 1992, two years before the IRA ceasefire and six before the Good Friday Agreement.
From 1988 until 1994, a ban was enforced on broadcasting the voices of members of certain groups from Northern Ireland on TV and radio.
The BBC’s press office said it had spoken to ‘a number of people’ about why a ban may have been implemented but was unable to get this information ‘as it dates quite far back’.
Can you watch the episode now?Star Trek fans can tune into The High Ground today, with the 12th episode of season 3 being available to stream on Netflix, Paramount Plus and Amazon Prime.
Have any other Star Trek episodes been banned in the UK?Over the years, other Star Trek episodes have been banned in the UK- Miri, Plato’s Stepchildren, The Empath and Whom Gods Destroy.
At the time, in the 1970s, the show was considered a children’s programme, and the episodes were considered too much for minors as they deal with ‘subjects of madness, torture, sadism and disease’.
Fans petitioned the BBC to air the episodes but didn’t have much luck, being told by the national broadcaster the decision was ‘in the best interest of viewers in this country’.
All four episodes remained unaired in the UK until the early 1990s.
Star Trek is streaming on Netflix.
This article was first published on March 3, 2024.
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