At the 19th Annual Calgary Comics & Entertainment Expo, held at the BMO Centre, Star Trek: The Next Generation stars Gates McFadden and Brent Spiner delighted fans with a candid and humorous panel discussion. The actors, who played Dr. Beverly Crusher and Data respectively, touched on a range of topics from their iconic roles to real-life space travel.
Space Travel and Perspective
The conversation naturally turned to the Artemis II space mission, a 10-day journey around the moon that launched on April 1. William Shatner, the original Captain Kirk, had commented on the mission in media appearances. When asked about their own willingness to travel to space, Spiner expressed reluctance, stating, "I don't want to fly, I'm not really keen on flying. I would not do what Bill Shatner did. It's incredibly brave to go up into space. I have no interest in that whatsoever." McFadden, however, offered a different perspective: "I think all of us — especially President Trump — should go up and look at how unimportant we really are and that we're part of a community at the top of the world. I think it's a good perspective. I think that would be a gift."
Reflections on Star Trek's Legacy
The panel, moderated by Maggie Lovitt, explored the idealized future envisioned by Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry. Spiner humorously noted, "Your questions are profound and deeply thought and I, personally, am completely shallow. So it makes it difficult." Despite the lighthearted tone, McFadden shared meaningful insights about her character, Dr. Beverly Crusher, as a role model for women in medicine and a single parent. She recalled hearing from fans who grew up in single-parent households and found inspiration in Crusher's strength.
Behind the Scenes of The Next Generation
Spiner admitted he had not watched many episodes of the show and struggled to remember specific plots due to the grueling production schedule. "I was just trying to remember my lines," he said. "Honestly, just trying to deliver the character and remember everything I had to say and try to do it as believably as possible. But I didn't reflect on it that much. We didn't have time to reflect. It was like a moving train, it really was. We were doing 14- to 16-hour days for 10 months. It was relentless."
Fandom and Connection
Both actors acknowledged the profound impact of Star Trek fandom. McFadden emphasized how fans continue to share personal stories about how her character influenced their lives. The half-hour talk was filled with self-deprecating humor and irreverence, showcasing the actors' genuine appreciation for the franchise and its dedicated fan base.
