Synopsis: Ensign Marriot tries to save Ensign Boimler from a woman she feels is dangerous to him while Ensigns Rutherford and Tendi become enamored of the technology aboard a more advanced starship.
This episode can be seen an illustration of Carl (C. G.) Jung called projection.
In “Cupid’s Errant Arrow” the crew of the U.S.S. Cerritos works with the crew of the U.S.S. Vancouver to demolish a moon with a decaying orbit, endangering the planet it circles. When they arrive on the Vancouver, Ensign Brad Boimler introduces Ensign Beckett Mariner to his new girlfriend, Lt. Barbara Brinson. Mariner is immediately suspicious of Brinson, believing that she is too perfect. She tries to prove to Boimler that there is something wrong with Brinson, but to no avail. Brinson, on the other hand, is suspicious of Mariner, thinking that there is something wrong with her as well. The two fight and then bond and then discover that the reason that Brinson is attracted to Boimler is because of a parasite that has attacked him and made him irresistible to women. Once the parasite is removed, Brinson breaks up with Boimler. Meanwhile, Ensigns Samanthan Rutherford and D’Vana Tendi are offered a transfer to the Vancouver by Lt. Commander Ron Docent, who himself wants to transfer back to a smaller vessel.
In this episode, the animosity that erupts between Mariner and Brinson, which once confronted turns into friendship, can be seen as analogous to what can happen through the process of projection. Jung described projection as when the conscious ego projects bits of its own unconscious material onto another. If these bits of material are positive, then friendship or even romance can result. If on the other hand the bits of material are negative, or from one’s shadow, then animosity will first develop. However, if the ego becomes conscious that it is projecting bits of its own psyche onto another, and removes them, then the other can be seen for who they truly are. Here this is seen when Mariner and Brinson realize that the reason they are trying to protect Boimler is because they are so much alike. This was the point when they were able to see each other for who they were and developed a friendship.
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