If You Could Rewrite "The Original Series" . . .

[Maurice]

I'd hang onto Kirk's Hamlet self-doubt aspect more, which tended to fade as the show went on. A little of it goes a long way but they rather forgot about it to the detriment of his character.

I'd avoid making Spock into the Swiss Army Knife character. Every "advantage" he had should have been offset by a weakness. e.g. He's from a desert planet and yet he's more capable than Bones at handling cold. Wrong.

I'd have Rand in a role other than the yeoman. Roddenberry apparently pictured her as the Miss Kitty to Kirk's Marshall Dillon, but that kind of relationship doesn't work for a subordinate, especially not the Captain's assistant. She could have been the ship's records officer or something like that where she's always around and able to be involved in the stories but not being a valet.

I'd put hard limits on repeating plot contrivances like time travel, duplicated characters, and the goddamned godlike beings. Enough.

I'd instruct the costume and set dressing people to "mix it up" more on those strange new worlds that are something like Earth. e.g. just cause the streets in Landru-land land look like 19th century America the costumes needn't be pulled from the same era. And make the clock NOT 12 hours for Pete's sake.

I'd have spotted the Flat Cats steal the moment Gerrold brought it in an told him not to bring me bald copycats like that.

Mostly, I'd vastly improve the writer's guide to actually help non-SF familiar TV writers in writing the show, and also help SF non-TV writers write for the show. The bible they had didn't do either job well, sorry to say.

 

[Commishsleer]

I love TOS so I think changing it significantly would alter its 'magical' and enduring appeal.
I think that I'd only rewrite it to fix up errors and some subtle things.

I don't mind the big 3 being male although if nuTrek had changed one of the three main leads for a woman Iike they did in nuBSG I think it might have been an improvement.

I think the miniskirts are a bit stupid looking at them today but they were a part of the 60s and a part of what TOS is known for. Of course they were too short and you should never have seen the panties. My mother-in-law said she wore the mini-skirts at work in the 70s and they always managed to retain their dignity. I would lengthen the minidresses slightly and have the pants as option especially on landing parties. I wouldn't have matching man-dresses - ie the skant in TNG - the worst thing ever.

I agree with never ever having any officer male or female grab one another or say I'm frightened while on duty.

I agree that Spock should not fall in love with scantily clad bimbos ever.

I agree that Spock should have not been able to survive better in the snow, or be better than everyone in their specialist jobs (all the time) - advising McCoy on surgery, saving the day in "Paradise Syndrome". Although I love aspects of the Kirk-Spock-McCoy show that started happening mid Season 2 some of the other cast members could have been allowed to shine. For example in "Paradise Syndrome" Spock spent months hiding away trying to decipher the language. He could have assigned the job to Uhura and a team of linguists and still retained the drama, guilt etcc. You wonder why they had any other scientists on board if Spock always had to save the day. I know Spock is the greatest scientist but getting the team together to help him solve problems wouldn't take anything from his character.Chapel could have stopped looking dreamily at Spock and come up with the cure in the Tholian Web or have given McCoy the idea. They didn't have to go as extreme as they did in TNG with meetings every 5 minutes but I wouldn't have minded a good idea from Sulu once in a while.

Kirk should not be allowed to fall in love in 3 hours.

Have women in security.

Have male yeomen (actually I think they did once or twice).

Have women officers instruct junior officers/crewmen in their duties.

More aliens on board.

Have the yeomen/Rand do stuff like organise rosters, landing parties, record first contacts. - not just wander around getting forms signed by the captain.

Have a quarter master.

 

[Nerys Myk]

1. Science! I want to be blinded..by science. Cutting edge science theories brought to "reality".
2. Increased storylines and background for Sulu and Uhura. They were borderline ciphers. Make them the stars of a few episodes.
3. More aliens in the crew. No more "homo sapiens only club". Make us believe that Starfleet and the Federation has members from other worlds.
4. As I said up thread. Females as Captains, Admirals, high ranking crewmembers,scientists, leaders...
5. Keep the topicality. Science Fiction and fiction in general should always comment on current events and not be afraid to do so.
6. Less SuperSpock.

 

[johnnybear]

Leslie was named by Shatner after his (Shatner's) daughter, not Paskey's.

The same as Mr.Lemli (I think that's how you spell it?) was named after all three of Shatner's daughters!
JB

 

[Forbin]

The "planet just like Earth" stories wore thin. I know the stories were meant to be allegorical, and "Nazi World" and "Ganster World" were due to Earthmen's infulence, but "Roman World" and the Yangs/Coms planet were inexplicable, and there was no sane reason at all for Miri's planet to be physically identical to earth. So, I'd find another way for these places and peoples to be similar to our own past, but not an inexplicably perfect duplicate.

And yeah, also the godlike beings testing humanity. Once was enough. Surely there are other stories to tell.

 

[Tenacity]

I'd avoid making Spock into the Swiss Army Knife character. Every "advantage" he had should have been offset by a weakness.

Well he did have weaknesses. Compare the way Kirk was running through enemy fire in Arena verses Spock's stumbling attempt to do the same. Spock made (imo) a series of command mistakes in The Paradise Syndrome, and was less than effective in Galileo Seven. Even taking into account that Spock has a personal philosophy of logic, given the time period he was in Starfleet he should have developed a greater understanding of people who didn't embrace his mindset.

Have a quarter master.

Love for the Enterprise to of had the equivalent of a Chief of the Boat. A older senior NCO, grey hair and a bit "grizzled."

Have the yeomen/Rand do stuff like organise rosters, landing parties, record first contacts. - not just wander around getting forms signed by the captain.

As a yeoman, she was the captain's valet and administrative clerk, what we saw her doing was consistent with her job. It wouldn't have been out of place for her to of been present at every briefing room scene, even if Whitney had no lines.

If we expand her role to that of a British Army "batman," then she would be on most landing party the captain went on, because part of her job would be as the captain's personal bodyguard.

Want to make a statement about the roles of women to a 1960's audience, give the lead male character a female bodyguard.

 

[Push The Button]

The physical removal and reinstallation of the actual brain is what ruins Spock's Brain. Make it his entire body, floating in a tank and connected to the planet's systems with wires, or just the contents of his mind are downloaded and removed but the body (with brain) are left behind in sickbay.

 

[Butters]

It’s fine as it is. A few inconsistencies here and there I might smooth over, but I’m not sure I am a big enough fan of TOS to want to see any of it changed.

 

[johnnybear]

Let us not forget that Vulcans have an intolerance to alcohol as well!
JB

 

[Pauln6]

Well he did have weaknesses. Compare the way Kirk was running through enemy fire in Arena verses Spock's stumbling attempt to do the same. Spock made (imo) a series of command mistakes in The Paradise Syndrome, and was less than effective in Galileo Seven. Even taking into account that Spock has a personal philosophy of logic, given the time period he was in Starfleet he should have developed a greater understanding of people who didn't embrace his mindset.Love for the Enterprise to of had the equivalent of a Chief of the Boat. A older senior NCO, grey hair and a bit "grizzled."As a yeoman, she was the captain's valet and administrative clerk, what we saw her doing was consistent with her job. It wouldn't have been out of place for her to of been present at every briefing room scene, even if Whitney had no lines.

If we expand her role to that of a British Army "batman," then she would be on most landing party the captain went on, because part of her job would be as the captain's personal bodyguard.

Want to make a statement about the roles of women to a 1960's audience, give the lead male character a female bodyguard.

For sure, the show would look better with hindsight if it had made better use of Rand as an important assistant to Kirk on diplomatic missions as well as key episodes involving records and crew evaluations like the Menagerie, or Court Martial.

This is one area where Discovery has performed so strongly. I advocated Rand playing the role Pike and Kirk's bodyguard in NuTrek as a simple way to update the character and rebalance the TOS cast but alas, they thought one woman plus one love interest for Kirk per movie was plenty ;-p.

 

[Laura Cynthia Chambers]

The physical removal and reinstallation of the actual brain is what ruins Spock's Brain. Make it his entire body, floating in a tank and connected to the planet's systems with wires, or just the contents of his mind are downloaded and removed but the body (with brain) are left behind in sickbay.

The latter works better than the former. At least there would be something for McCoy to find and worry over (which gives us an inkling that something has happened beyond mere disappearance), rather than an empty uniform.

If he has an empty downloaded brain, have another (female) Vulcan temporarily onboard during the episode (being transferred to a new duty station by the Enterprise) who can verify via meld that Spock's mind is gone. She could also fight with McCoy over Spock's treatment, and deliver some jibes comparing Humans to the Morgs, in place of Spock.

Although, if they can download his brain, can't they make a copy for themselves just as easily, sparing Spock? That would be weird; Kirk having to talk a computer copy of Spock to death...

 

[JonnyQuest037]

I'd hang onto Kirk's Hamlet self-doubt aspect more, which tended to fade as the show went on. A little of it goes a long way but they rather forgot about it to the detriment of his character.

Great point and very true.

I'd avoid making Spock into the Swiss Army Knife character. Every "advantage" he had should have been offset by a weakness. e.g. He's from a desert planet and yet he's more capable than Bones at handling cold. Wrong.

Another great point. John Byrne calls Spock's added abilities over the years "Super Spock."

I'd have Rand in a role other than the yeoman. Roddenberry apparently pictured her as the Miss Kitty to Kirk's Marshall Dillon, but that kind of relationship doesn't work for a subordinate, especially not the Captain's assistant. She could have been the ship's records officer or something like that where she's always around and able to be involved in the stories but not being a valet.

I'd probably add "Captain's personal bodyguard" to her duties and allow Rand to kick some ass once in a while.

I'd have spotted the Flat Cats steal the moment Gerrold brought it in an told him not to bring me bald copycats like that.

Heinlein was okay with the Tribbles, so I don't see why we shouldn't be.

 

[Maurice]

Heinlein was okay with the Tribbles, so I don't see why we shouldn't be.

Actually, he wasn't. His authorized bio states that he'd just been through a plagiarism lawsuit and he caved on "Tribbles" only because he figured it was a one-time thing and would be forgotten. He considered the ongoing merchandising of them to a betrayal of the gentleman's agreement he made with Coon. (LINK)

 

[Commishsleer]

While I like the idea of the captain of the ship having a bodyguard and Rand would be ideal you'd have to recast Shatner in the role. Shatner wouldn't put up for it for one. Not because it was Rand but just because he needs to look manly.

Another thing is we'd miss out on is Kirk-fu and all his fighting shenanigans.I wouldn't want that to happen.

The only captain who could still be manly and have a bodyguard was Picard and he sort of had 3.

In 'Dark Matter' the guy who had a female bodyguard looked like a bit of a tool - just saying.

Well he did have weaknesses. Compare the way Kirk was running through enemy fire in Arena verses Spock's stumbling attempt to do the same. Spock made (imo) a series of command mistakes in The Paradise Syndrome, and was less than effective in Galileo Seven. Even taking into account that Spock has a personal philosophy of logic, given the time period he was in Starfleet he should have developed a greater understanding of people who didn't embrace his mindset.

{Start of rant] Don't even start me on Galileo 7. Why should Spock change his style to satisfy his human subordinates? When he's on the Enterprise Spock's always maintained a non-emotional persona. So when he's on the planet is he supposed to become emotional so that McCoy and the others 'feel better'? Is he supposed to arrange funerals and something he doesn't really approve of which may endanger the remaining crew to make them all happy? Why can't the crew accept differences in culture? Is Spock supposed to act 'human' because he's on the United Earth ship?
He's the senior officer - rightly or wrongly the decisions fall on his head. Should he have asked Boma or the Yeoman what they should do - it's ridiculous? If Kirk had been in place of Spock there wouldn't have been such disrespectful treatment of the commanding officer.
Its not like Spock was being an a#$%ui like he was in "that Which Survives". He was making the tough decisions like Kirk had to make. If anyone in the current Navy acted like McCoy or Boma to their superior officer they'd be up on charges.
Spock's biggest mistake was letting McCoy get away with his behavior - but Kirk always allows McCoy to do whatever he wants so perhaps Spock thinks he's got to do it too.
[End of rant]

I agree with the comments about Spock's Brain. I suppose we were supposed to all be horrified at the thought of losing your brain (so science fictiony). but we ended laughing at it instead.

 

[Laura Cynthia Chambers]

"Miri" - Klingons have discovered this planet of abandoned human kids and is brainwashing/raising them as potential sleeper agents to infiltrate the Federation - less detectable than anatomical alterations a la Darvin. The disease keeps them from fighting back because the Klingons have the cure and will only give it to the ones they trust most to not betray them.

How's that for a story?

 

[Tenacity]

Why should Spock change his style to satisfy his human subordinates?

Not what I was talking about.

 

[Maurice]

"Miri" - Klingons have discovered this planet of abandoned human kids and is brainwashing/raising them as potential sleeper agents to infiltrate the Federation - less detectable than anatomical alterations a la Darvin. The disease keeps them from fighting back because the Klingons have the cure and will only give it to the ones they trust most to not betray them.

How's that for a story?

"And the Miri Shall Lead"? No thanks.

 

[JonnyQuest037]

Actually, he wasn't. His authorized bio states that he'd just been through a plagiarism lawsuit and he caved on "Tribbles" only because he figured it was a one-time thing and would be forgotten. He considered the ongoing merchandising of them to a betrayal of the gentleman's agreement he made with Coon. (LINK)

Thanks for the clarification. I was obviously only aware of it from Gerrold's side, where he published Heinlein's permission letter in his "The Trouble With Tribbles" script book. I wonder if they ever patched things up or came to a further agreement.

 

[Sir Rhosis]

FWIW, the quote from Heinlein, linked to above, is taken from a letter he wrote to Harlan Ellison, around 1972 or so. I read Patterson's two-volume bio--not bad.

Sir Rhosis

 

[Maurice]

FWIW, the quote from Heinlein, linked to above, is taken from a letter he wrote to Harlan Ellison, around 1972 or so. I read Patterson's two-volume bio--not bad.

Sir Rhosis

Thanks for the clarification on that.

This is why I call a spade a spade and never use the T-word when referring to the purloined Flat Cats.