Why Representation Doesn't Matter

Star Trek: Picard had an annoying scene tacked onto the end of it where Seven of Nine stroked hands with another woman in a suggestive way. There was no build up to this, the characters had hardly interacted in the show, there was no point to it other than virtue signaling, I assume in hopes they would protect themselves from getting canceled by shouting diversity as loudly as they could.

Naturally, the media fawned over it:

The following on “why it’s important” didn’t actually get to any reasoning behind why it’s important at all, but rather fawns upon this like it was a fan fiction piece that made the writer’s jaw drop with soy-filled glee.

It comes across as poorly written and bad fan fiction by someone who didn’t bother to watch Voyager’s finale where Seven in the future was very clearly married to a man, one of whom they’d established a relationship with in the show for a couple of seasons.

It comes across as pandering and patronizing, and poor pandering at that as there was no story connection, no motivation that made sense, a quick moment to throw any long-time viewer out of a show.

What matters in a story, by contrast to this, is consistency in character. Characters have to act a way which makes sense given what’s been established, or to provide some point to what the character’s doing. A senseless piece of degenerate hand-holding doesn’t actually add to a story or immersion, but rather detracts from it.

The patronizing element of this is insulting to the audience, as the writers truly believe the audience just wants a couple of slash fic scenes rather than actual content or story that makes sense.

It’s why corporate media is failing so badly. They did this in Star Wars too to show how “stunning and brave” they were, but they know they’re trying to force an audience who doesn’t want this crap to accept it by trying to manipulate imagery slowly.

It’s not longer about exploring strange new worlds, but it’s about exploring someone’s genitals.

And that’s how this franchise dwindles to a tragic end and loses all importance and relevancy.