It’s been said before in a multitude of ways, but it does bear repeating: The Hero’s Journey has fucked us up as a culture.

That probably sounds harsh to some, but there’s an important core of truth in the sentiment. In a century that is currently being defined by our absorption in superhero narratives, the pop culture consuming public has been inundated with stories about larger than life figures who commit feats of great heroism. Usually those feats require untold physical strength, unique moral fiber, adamantium will. We only have room for people who commit acts that are writ large, on a mountain face or across the multitude of screens we use every day, and we aren’t stopping to consider how that might shape our beliefs about what in life is worthwhile, or how we can best offer our help to others.

Which is why Captain Pike’s arc in Strange New Worlds is honestly a thing of beauty.

[Spoilers for season one of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds and season two of Star Trek: Discovery.]

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