A crucial plot point in a major new Netflix series predicts the possible break up of the UK and potential reunification of Ireland, believed last imagined by a high level drama in an episode of Star Trek.
The Diplomat features Keri Russell as US Ambassador to London Kate Wyler embroiled in a series of political crises with global implications, and also involved in complicated personal entanglements.
But the eight part tale, a United States production streaming since April, also follows the political pressures facing the UK Prime Minister, which viewers may suspect draws on the personality of the real life Boris Johnson, an exaggerated version, arguably.
Without spoiling, Rory Kinnear as Prime Minister Nicol Trowbridge has to grapple with the possibility of Scotland poised for independence and the north following the country out of the union. The plot name checks Brexit and other issues facing the union.
Stephen Baker, lecturer in film and television studies at Ulster University, said it was hugely interesting the writers of a major drama have crafted such a plot line.
"I am not aware of any other, except that episode of Star Trek," said Mr Baker, remembering the 1990 episode of Next Generation that featured a character noting a United Ireland happened in the year 2024.
"A lot of television drama is, arguably, of no consequence whatsoever but what is important about the trivial is that someone has now imagined this," said the television lecturer. "I think before Brexit it would have been difficult to imagine but it is now imaginable."
He noted that even with genres such as science fiction or horror, there has to something credible at the core of the story or "people will go that is just stupid".
Mr Baker added: "Brexit has played a huge part but culturally this underscores what has been coming for decades."
Culture and arts are sometimes way ahead in predicting what will happen in the future, he argued, citing the example of Scottish drama and comedy becoming much assertive during the Margaret Thatcher years and into the nineties. Devolution, the rise of the SNP and independence within touching distance followed.
The plot line around the north leaving the UK in The Diplomat is a much more interesting and credible one centered firmly on recent events.
Star Trek's foray into the Irish unity debate was a throwaway line in an episode. Ronald D. Moore said it was "our one terrorist show".
In the scene, Data, played by Brent Spiner, discusses terrorism with Captain Picard, played by Patrick Stewart. The discussion centres on when terrorism achieved its aim, with Data makes a reference to a United Ireland that happens in 2024
The BBC pulled the episode on the first run and it did not appear in full on the channel until 2007.
