Primitive Culture: A Star Trek History and Culture Podcast - 96: A Very Human Ending

96: A Very Human Ending

10/31/20 • 112 min

Primitive Culture: A Star Trek History and Culture Podcast

For Starfleet officers, saving lives is perhaps the most important part of the job, even more so than exploring the galaxy and making contact with new civilizations. So when a character such as Quinn, the Q in the Star Trek: Voyager episode “Death Wish,” chooses to end their own life, it invariably comes as a shock—just as, in our own lives, the death of a loved one by suicide can be a particularly disturbing loss.

In this episode of Primitive Culture, host Duncan Barrett is joined by Clara Cook for a look at Star Trek’s depictions of suicide and parasuicidal behavior. We consider how the presentation of such desperate acts—and the impact on those left behind—has shifted in the half-century between The Original Series and Star Trek: Picard. We also dig into the tricky business of the “psychological autopsy,” trying to establish exactly why a person would choose to bring their own life to and end. Can 13—or 47—reasons why ever truly help us make sense of suicide? And what can those of us left behind learn about ourselves from those who’ve made such an irrevocable decision?

Host Duncan Barrett Guest Clara Cook Production Duncan Barrett (Editor and Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Tony Black (Associate Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer)

Previous Episode

95: What’s in a Name, Part IV

Episode titles from “The Search” to *Star Trek: First Contact*. As we continue our voyage through Star Trek’s episode titles, host Duncan Barrett is joined in this episode of Primitive Culture by Lee Hutchison for a look at some more episode titles from Deep Space Nine and Voyager. What exactly is the way of a warrior? How hard is it to fit through the eye of a needle? And where’s the right place to go looking for par’Mach, after all?

Host Duncan Barrett Guest Lee Hutchison Production Duncan Barrett (Editor and Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Tony Black (Associate Producer) Clara Cook (Associate Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer)

Next Episode

97: Back from the Brink (Reissue)

Dan Davidson on how “Captive Pursuit” saved his life.

For many fans, Star Trek has been a force for good in their lives—but few can say with certainty that they wouldn’t be here now if it weren’t for their favorite show.

In this episode of Primitive Culture, a supplement to the previous episode’s look at suicide in Star Trek, host Duncan Barrett shares an interview he conducted last year with Dan Davidson. Twenty years ago, Dan was on the point of ending his own life when the Deep Space Nine episode “Captive Pursuit” caused him to change his mind. He now shares his inspiring story of coming back from rock bottom in the hopes of helping other fans who find themselves in a similarly desperate situation.

Need support? In the UK, the Samaritans are on 116 123. In the US, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline can be reach at 1-800-273-8255.

Host Duncan Barrett

Guest Dan Davidson Production Duncan Barrett (Editor and Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Tony Black (Associate Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer)