Mad Science in Star Trek: Khan, Bashir and the Eugenics Wars

Mad Science in Star Trek: Khan, Bashir and the Eugenics Wars

Author: James Payne April 23, 2026 Duration: 59:37

This week on Journey Through Sci-Fi, we head into the Star Trek universe to explore one of its most enduring mad science taboos: genetic engineering. From Space Seed and the rise of Khan to Enterprise's Augments arc and Deep Space Nine's shocking Bashir reveal, we trace how Star Trek keeps returning to the dangers of trying to "improve" humanity.

Along the way, we get into the Eugenics Wars, creator-creation relationships, scientific hubris, and why a utopian future still casts a long shadow over forbidden science.

Plus: Brent Spiner being superbly awful, Bashir's identity crisis, and why this theme runs through Star Trek for more than 200 years of in-universe history.

Episodes discussed:
Star Trek: The Original Series "Space Seed" (S1E22)
Star Trek: Enterprise "Borderland" (S4E04), "Cold Station 12" (S4E05), "The Augments" (S4E06)
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine "Doctor Bashir, I Presume?" (S5E16)

Also referenced:
Star Trek "What Are Little Girls Made Of?"
Star Trek: The Next Generation "The Schizoid Man"
Star Trek: Voyager "Tuvix"


Ever wondered how a silent film from a century ago connects to the spectacle you saw at the multiplex last weekend? That’s the kind of thread Journey Through Sci-Fi: A Science Fiction Film Podcast follows, tracing the entire arc of the genre from its flickering beginnings to its CGI-drenched present. Hosts Matt and James act as your guides, not just reviewing movies but unpacking the ideas that fueled them. They’re interested in how a particular film’s design changed movie-making, or how a story from the 1950s reflected the anxieties of its time, creating a conversation across decades. You’ll hear detailed discussions that place each film within a larger historical tapestry, making connections you might have missed. This isn't a random list of reviews; it's a curated, chronological expedition. By focusing on one film per episode, the podcast allows for a deep dive into the context, the production challenges, and the lasting cultural footprint of each title. Whether it's the pioneering special effects of a classic or the philosophical questions posed by a modern epic, Matt and James explore how science fiction cinema holds a mirror to our own world. Tune in for a thoughtful analysis that appreciates both the artistic ambition and the pure entertainment value of the genre, discovering how every spaceship, robot, and alien visitor tells us something about ourselves.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Journey Through Sci-Fi: A Science Fiction Film Podcast
Podcast Episodes
Barbarella (1968) & Krull (1983): Sci-Fi Meets Fantasy [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:24:19
This week, we're diving into the world of Space Fantasy, where science fiction meets the fantastical. What better Space Operas to explore than Barbarella (1968) and Krull (1983)? We'll talk about the swinging 60s and Eur…
Lost in Space (1965) & The Black Hole (1979): Stranded Explorers [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:16:28
This week, we're tackling the theme of shipwrecks in space as we continue our journey through the history of Space Opera on screen. We'll be diving into Irwin Allen's classic 60s series Lost in Space (1965-68), exploring…
Flash Gordon (1936) & Buck Rogers (1939): Before Star Wars [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:14:22
his week, we're continuing our journey through the fantastical world of Space Opera by looking at two of the most iconic figures from the 1930s: Flash Gordon (1936) and Buck Rogers (1939). These characters set the standa…
A Trip to Mars (1918): The First Space Opera? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:05:02
It's time to delve into another subgenre of science fiction—Space Opera! In this new series of Journey Through Sci-Fi, we're exploring the fantastical and epic tales that define the genre. To kick things off, we're takin…
Avatar: The Way of Water (2022) - Spoiler-Free Review [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:23
We're back on your podcast feed to discuss the biggest sci-fi blockbuster of the year, James Cameron's long awaited Avatar: The Way of Water. The perfect film to pre-empt our upcoming series on Space Opera. We discuss th…
Dystopia Series Recap & "Dystopian Awards" [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:19:12
Welcome to the conclusion of our dystopia series, where we recap everything we've explored with the Journey Through Sci-Fi awards show! We'll be dishing out awards to some of our favorite films and TV shows from the seri…
Akira (1988) & Metropolis (2001): Anime's Dark Futures [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:38:12
This week, it's an Anime Special as we dive back into the world of Japanese animation and its use of sci-fi tropes to craft unforgettable dystopian visions. We'll be exploring the groundbreaking Akira (1988) by Katsuhiro…