Synopsis: The crew of the Enterprise tries to both prevent alien intrusions on Earth in the nineteenth century and to rescue Lt. Commander Data.
There is a remark that Guinan makes in the prior episode, the first part of this two-part story, she says to herself: “full circle” (Menosky et al., 1992). What she is referring to here is the idea that Captain Jean-Luc Picard, in order to meet her in the future, must first save her life in the past. But “full circle” can also refer to a depth psychological term, enantiodromia. Counselor Deanna Troi actually uses this term in an episode from Season Five, “Hero Worship,” in which she tells Picard that it means going to the opposite of. And although in depth psychology the phrase is normally defined as running counter to, the meaning is essentially the same.
In depth psychology the running counter to refers to the idea that the human psyche contains opposite energies and drives, and that throughout our lives to become more whole we need to become comfortable with the idea that these opposing drives and energies are constantly in flux, as are our inner and outer response to them. Carl (C.G.) Jung called this process the union of opposites. It goes on throughout our lives and is most easily illustrated by an episode from Star Trek: The Original Series,“The Enemy Within.” Like Captain James T. Kirk, we all need to accept those parts of ourselves that are uncomfortable to acknowledge, but that we need to make our psyche stronger.
But in this two-part episode Picard isn’t focused on his inner realities, he just has to make it to the nineteenth century and back to the twenty-fourth. Sometimes that seems easier.
Reference:
Menosky, J. (Writer), Piller, M. (Writer), & Landau, L. (Director). (1992, June 13). Time’s Arrow (Season 5, Episode 26) [TV series episode]. In R. Berman, M. Piller, & G. Roddenberry (Executive Producers), Star trek: The next generation. Paramount Television.
Original post created 25 October 2021
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