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Star Trek episode was banned in the UK due to controversial 2024 prediction

Home> Entertainment> TV

Updated 12:32 30 Oct 2024 GMTPublished 12:24 30 Oct 2024 GMT

Star Trek episode was banned in the UK due to controversial 2024 prediction

A political comment forced the full-version of the episode to be banned from airing in the UK and Ireland for more than 15 years

Joshua Nair

Joshua Nair

The full version of a Star Trek episode has widely been banned in the UK since its release because of a political prediction it made over 30 years ago.

Originally airing in 1990, the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode has been shown in the USA, but left TV executives in the UK and Ireland nervously twitching.

To fans of the show, it will come as no surprise that the line comes from the no-nonsense, logical, sentient male android Data.

Shockingly, the prediction he made was about the year we're currently in, 2024, but it was deemed to controversial to air - have a look:

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The sci-fi series is usually known for its creative, adventurous stories as opposed to touching on serious political issues, but one episode from the classic series crossed the line in this respect.

Though it was edited and aired in the nineties, the full, unedited version was only aired on the BBC once - in 2007.

The exchange was between Data (Brent Spiner) and Jean Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) when speaking about the history of war, with the former stating: "I've been reviewing the history of armed rebellion, and it appears that terrorism is an effective way to promote political change."

Picard then replied: "Yes it can be, but I have never subscribed to the theory that political power flows from the barrel of a gun."

Data hits back, saying: "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," he said, given that the series was set in the 24th century.

The episode aired once on BBC due to the controversial comment (BBC)
The episode aired once on BBC due to the controversial comment (BBC)

The conversation came as the Star Ship Enterprise's chief medical officer fell into the hands of the violent Ansata that searched for liberation by bloodshed.

Picard says that he is 'aware' of his claims, to which Data asks: "Would it then 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," Picard highlighted.

The storyline mirrored a lot of what was going on in Northern Ireland at the time, amidst The Troubles, where Unionists and loyalists, who believed the country should stay as part of the UK, fought against Irish nationalists and Republicans, who wanted the region to become part of a united Ireland.

When the episode aired, the IRA (Irish Republican Army) ceasefire of 1994 and the landmark 1998 Good Friday Agreement, which still stands today, were years away.

Data often used logic and gave an 'outside perspective' on humanity (George Rose/Getty Images)
Data often used logic and gave an 'outside perspective' on humanity (George Rose/Getty Images)

Times have changed though, as in 2023, the political wing of the IRA, Sinn Féin, are now the largest party in the devolved Stormont Assembly.

The party's Northern Ireland leader, Michelle O'Neill, even said that a referendum on Irish unity could happen within the next decade, though times now are much less dangerous than the time of the episode.

Many believed that the episode would cause more problem in the region, with claims of the 'Irish unification of 2024' not sitting well with TV higher-ups.

Featured Image Credit: CBS Photo Archive/Getty Images / George Rose/Getty Images

Topics: TV, BBC, Politics

Joshua Nair
Joshua Nair

Joshua Nair is a journalist at LADbible. Born in Malaysia and raised in Dubai, he has always been interested in writing about a range of subjects, from sports to trending pop culture news. After graduating from Oxford Brookes University with a BA in Media, Journalism and Publishing, he got a job freelance writing for SPORTbible while working in marketing before landing a full-time role at LADbible. Unfortunately, he's unhealthily obsessed with Manchester United, which takes its toll on his mental and physical health. Daily.

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@joshnair10

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