Star Trek has inspired many real-life technological advancements, but we're still waiting for one of its best ones to arrive: replicators. The devices are sci-fi-magical in that they can create any food and drink from throughout the galaxy in seconds. It's amazing, but there's always been a long-running joke about how the replicator-crafted food compares to more organic meals, and I never fully understood it until a writer for the franchise broke it down.
As we wait for the arrival of upcoming Trek shows on the 2025 TV schedule, Star Trek: Prodigy writer Aaron J. Waltke took to X to wax on about replicators, and he mentioned the recurring joke. While I never knew the exact reason why naturally produced food was considered so superior, his explanation broke it down in a way I can now understand better. As he put it:
There’s an ongoing joke in Star Trek where replicator food is considered inferior to hand-prepared meals. Replicator rations are perfectly balanced, produce exactly what asked for down to the molecule. Nothing more, nothing less. But it is soulless.
I theorized in the past that any time someone in Starfleet complimented the quality of non-replicated food in Star Trek, it was because there was something about replicated food that tasted off in comparison. Here, Aaron Waltke presented the idea that the food is actually perfect, but a little too perfect.
Following the exact ingredients so precisely with every single creation can make uniformly faultless food, but it doesn't allow for the ideosyncracies of human tweaks and errors. Otherwise, there might be no reason to cook hamburgers at home, given the level of quality control aimed for by most fast food restaurants.
I appreciate the explanation, as it aligns with the diverse palettes we each have as humans. Just because a replicator can make a perfect bowl of spaghetti doesn't mean that everyone will universally agree it's the best bowl they've ever had. Some people like their spaghetti with garlic, and others prefer it sweeter with sugar incorporated, and so on.
Replicators became a problem in Star Trek: The Next Generation as writers realized that many issues on a Starfleet ship could be fixed with a replicator. A magic box that can construct anything out of matter is a wondrous device that we'd all want in our homes, but for a writer trying to create drama, it can create a headache.
Now that I fully understand why replicator food is so worthy of jokes in Star Trek, I'm ready to get back to watching new shows on Paramount+. Unfortunately, we still don't have a firm date on when to expect Season 3 of Strange New Worlds, though we do know it will come out before the end of 2025.
As for the other live-action series, Starfleet Academy, current speculation is that it will arrive in 2026. And of course, we're still waiting to hear if we'll see if the animated series Prodigy will return for Season 3 and if we'll be watching it with a Netflix subscription. I'm crossing my fingers for as much Trek as possible in the coming years. Not just because I finally understand the replicator gag either!
Right now, we can continue to watch and support Star Trek by streaming it on Paramount+. CinemaBlend will continue to be on the lookout for updates on new shows in the meantime, and when we might expect those movies to appear as well.
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