Star Trek: The Motion Picture Theme of Love

If you think that you have a strange relationship with your ex, then just wait until you check out Decker and Ilia from Star Trek: The Motion Picture.

After many years apart, this former couple coincidentally reunites aboard the starship Enterprise as the crew battles V'Ger, a powerful alien entity. Sounds simple, but things take a turn for the bizarre when Ilia merges with V'Ger and gets placed in a shiny new mechanical body.

You might think that Decker gives up after this, but his love for Ilia won't stop for anything. What's more, it might even end up creating a brand new form of life. How's that for commitment?

Questions about Love

  1. Is V'Ger capable of love? Explain your answer.
  2. Is Decker successful in reviving Ilia within V'Ger? How do you know this?
  3. What do you think caused Ilia and Decker's relationship to end?
  4. What is the nature of the friendship between Kirk, Spock, and Bones? Why do they make a good team?

Chew on This

Take a peek at these thesis statements. Agree or disagree?

V'Ger is fundamentally incapable of love, because love is an illogical emotion.

V'Ger may have once been incapable of love, but gains the ability after consuming Ilia.