Netflix’sBlack Mirrorhas a greatStar Trekparody, but there’s a 26-year-old sci-fi spoof that still has it beat. In theBlack Mirrorseason 4 episode “USS Callister”, game developer Robert Daly (Jesse Plemons) uses an illegal device to program sentient copies of co-workers into Infinity, a game based on the fictionalStar Trek-style showSpace Fleet.Daly’s sadism as the USS Callister captain is countered by newcomer Nanette Cole (Cristin Milioti), who returns inBlack Mirrorseason 7, episode 6, “USS Callister Into Infinity”, to fend off worsening threats, both inside the MMORPG and out of it.
There’s no doubt thatBlack Mirror’sSpace Fleetis supposed to beStar Trek,and the same is true for the fictional sci-fi showGalaxy Questin the 1999 movieof the same name. Tim Allen’s washed-up leading actor, Jason Nesmith, treats the show that made him famous as a joke, until he meets the Thermians: actual aliens who believe theGalaxy Questshow really happened. The Thermians recreated the show’s technology because they need help from the NSEA Protector’s crew, soGalaxy Quest’s cast have to embody their roles again—and Jason learns why the show matters.
Galaxy Quest Parodies Star Trek So Well, Even Black Mirror Can’t Match It
Galaxy Quest Understands Star Trek’s Thorough History
Galaxy Questis aStar Trekparodythat has so far been unmatched, even byBlack Mirror’s pair of USS Callister episodes. Both effortlessly recreate theStar Trekaesthetic with their starship bridge sets and colorful uniforms; and mimicTrektechnology perfectly, with transporters, communicators, and sliding starship doors that gofwoosh.ButGalaxy Questis a more thorough parody ofStar TrekthanBlack Mirror’s USS Callister episodes,with details about its fictional show’s behind-the-scenes history. Numerous references to its fandom’s deep lore, in-jokes, and trivia are peppered throughoutGalaxy Quest,making it feel lived-in and real.
More thanBlack Mirror,Galaxy Questunderstands the characters—and actors—thatStar Trekreturns to, time and again. Tim Allen’s Nesmith is a clear stand-in for William Shatner, Tommy Webber (Daryl Mitchell) plays Wesley Crusher (Wil Wheaton) parody Lieutenant Laredo, and Guy Fleegman (Sam Rockwell) is a nameless redshirt. Like actresses in the Rick Berman era, Gwen DeMarco (Sigourney Weaver)calls out the casual sexism inStar Trek. And Alexander Dane (Alan Rickman) is a Shakespearean actor who wears a latex prosthetic to play Dr. Lazarus, who representsStar Trek’s alien outsider, with his catchphrase—“By Grabthar’s hammer, you shall be avenged”.
Galaxy Quest’s Star Trek Parody Feels More Like A Tribute Than A Lampoon
Galaxy Quest Loves Star Trek Fans
Galaxy Quest’s Thermians andBlack Mirror’s Robert Daly both recreate their beloved show with technology, but there’s a key difference that makesGalaxy Questa tribute toStar Trekinstead of a lampoon of it. LikeStar Trek: Lower Decks,Galaxy QuestembracesTrekin all its forms, whether it’s genuinely sublime or deeply weird. More importantly,Galaxy Questcelebrates a joyful range ofStar Trekfandom, from fans crushing on actors and casual daily con-goers, to young cosplayers with deeply specific knowledge and Quellek (Patrick Breen), a Thermian who lives and dies by Lazarus' honor code.
Both shows-within-shows have a mysterious plot device that represents their point of view:Black Mirror’s Heart of Infinity is a dystopic nightmare for one character, whereasGalaxy Quest’s Omega-13 is a machine that grants second chances.
It’s not thatBlack Mirroris mockingStar Trek, but its message is a departure fromGalaxy Quest’s earnest celebration of fandom as a good thing. By zeroing in on Robert Daly as a certain kind of fan whose love is measured in memorabilia and screen accuracy,Black Mirrorcalls out toxicStar Trekfans. Daly has as much deep knowledge as the Thermians, but the Thermians have acceptedStar Trek’s morals, and Robert has clearly missed the point of the show. As a result,Daly’s fandom is hollow and desperately lonely,instead of a blueprint for a better future.
26 Years Later, Galaxy Quest Is More Relevant Than Ever
How Will New Star Trek Fans Celebrate Their Fandom?
26 years later,Galaxy Questis more relevant than ever, thanks to the resurgence ofnewStar Trekshowson Paramount+.At the end of theGalaxy Questmovie, the actors have a newfound love for the world they helped create.They’ve seen theGalaxy QuestTV show through the eyes of fans, and signed on for a 2000s-era revival. Now,Star Trek: Strange New Worldsexists because fans demanded it afterStar Trek: Discoveryseason 2. LegacyStar Trekcharacters have returned in new shows, like theStar Trek: The Next Generationcast reunion inStar Trek: Picard.
Even inStar Trekitself, a common theme is how one holds onto Federation values in a world that doesn’t share them:Star Trek: Deep Space Nine’s Dominion War,Star Trek: Voyagerin the Delta Quadrant, andStar Trek: Discoveryin the 32nd century.
Galaxy Questis more than aStar Trekparody, because it shows what happens when people genuinely embraceStar Trek’s philosophy.Galaxy Quest’s fictional actors learn to live the values they embodied on TV, like their fans do, and they change for the better because of it.Black Mirror’s Robert Daly tries to makeSpace Fleet’s idealistic world as real as technologically possible, but without the Federation ideals that makeStar Trekwork, Daly turns cruel, and the simulation falls apart. Until another parody shows us how to get toStar Trek’s future from here,Galaxy Questwill remain unmatched.
Galaxy Quest
Cast
An homage to classic science fiction and its fandom, Galaxy Quest follows a group of actors from a fictional cult classic sci-fi series who are unwittingly embroiled in a real space conflict when aliens who believe the series is real abduct them and ask for their help defeating a tyrant threatening their people. Starring Tim Allen, Sigourney Weaver, Alan Rickman, Tony Shalhoub, Daryl Mitchell, and Sam Rockwell, the film features many references and parodies of classic sci-fi films and shows, mainly Star Trek.
Black Mirror
Black Mirror is a dystopian anthology series that explores the unsettling and profound impact of modern technology on society. Premiering in 2011, it examines various scenarios where technological advancements intersect with human nature, creating thought-provoking narratives about contemporary and future issues.
