Frakes: Early TNG Seasons Were ?Not Real Fun?

[TrekToday]

Jonathan Frakes admitted this week that it took a few years before he really got to enjoy his role as Commander Riker on Star Trek: The Next Generation. “I looked very, very stiff in those early seasons because I was so intent on living up to the vision that [Gene Roddenberry] had, and it was [...]

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[Mojochi]

As I understand it, Stewart was rather serious about the whole thing too, before everyone got him to loosen up a bit. I'm sure there was a lot of pressure to live up to, with the 20 year old film & tv franchise on the line

[sonak]

that, and the reality that beginnings are usually a scary time for a new and risky project. By seasons 3 or 4, it was known the show was a huge success, which helps a great deal with the "having fun" part.

[Gul Bones]

You can tell as the seasons went on that they all started to loosen up a little bit. Infact I hardly watch the first two seasons. It seems like an almost different show come season 3

[sonak]

well in a way it was, as there was a major writing change between those seasons.

[CaptJimboJones]

It pains me to say it, but TNG improved dramatically after Rick Berman took over.

[Holdfast]

Gul Bones wrote:

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You can tell as the seasons went on that they all started to loosen up a little bit. Infact I hardly watch the first two seasons. It seems like an almost different show come season 3

They are very different shows, but I'm actually really fond of those first two seasons. Not that what comes after isn't very enjoyable, but there's a real quirkiness in some of those early eps.

[Alrik]

^

I'm with you. I know Seasons 1 & 2 get bashed a lot, but I always enjoy rewatching them. There are some really good stories within those two seasons.

[CaptainJack]

To me the first two seasons of TNG had a very TOS feel in both the writing and set design. I often think of TNG seasons 1 & 2 as TOS phase 2... I like the fact that in the first two seasons the stories were more self contained and didnt involve Cardasians, Klingons, and Romulans as much as later seasons. The later seasons got more into the whole Federation and how they dealt with other Empires. Where as the first 2 seamed to deal with the crew and some mysterious alien life forms...

[C.E. Evans]

CaptJimboJones wrote:

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It pains me to say it, but TNG improved dramatically after Rick Berman took over.

Not really, because Berman took over about midway during the first season, with Roddenberry stepping back into a supervisory role. Berman would run things by Roddenberry, who would give either a yea or nay, but Berman was running things that far back in the show.

It was Michael Piller (along with Ira Steven Behr and Ronald D. Moore) who started to inject more action into TNG during the third season.

[RandyS]

Holdfast wrote:

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They are very different shows, but I'm actually really fond of those first two seasons. Not that what comes after isn't very enjoyable, but there's a real quirkiness in some of those early eps.

Agreed. I too have a soft spot for seasons 1 and 2 (Pulaski notwithstanding), particularly the music in those episodes. MUCH better than what came later.

[J. Allen]

I love the first two seasons. The show definitely hit it's stride in Season 3, but Season 2 has some of my favorite episodes of the entire series, including "Measure of a Man" and "The Royale". Also, big Pulaski fan.

[shivkala]

Both Patrick Stewart and Brent Spiner mentioned on separate Nerdist podcasts that Stewart was very serious, as Mojochi said. Apparently, Stewart was embarrassed by the childish nature of his co-workers and even gave them a "pep talk" on their behavior. Spiner mentioned that during the scene on the hill for Tasha's funeral in "Skin of Evil," Stewart finally eased up and has since credited his co-workers for giving him a sense of humor.