Worf in "Picard"

[JD]

There were two other TNG regular actors, Wesley, does anyone want him back? And did Sela survive the destruction of Romulus? Maybe she had a daughter who looks just like Tasha too!

I wouldn't be against seeing Wesley again, although that's more due to wanting to see what Wil Wheaton would do with the character now, than wanting to get more of TNG Wesley.
They do seem to be involving the Romulans a lot in this, so I could definitely see Sela showing up.

Oh and we must see Guinan again. Whoopi is a legend.

Definitely.

Robert Picardo has said he has been contacted regarding an appearance in Season 2, I hope more poeple from the other shows get an opportunity to appear - O'Brien has connections to Picard; Quark could be on a planet somewhere trying to strike a deal; Picard and Janeway (Rtd) could compare notes on wether they preferred Captaincy or the Admiralty.

I'm hoping since we're getting TNG and Voyager characters this season, they can find a way to work in at least one DS9 character next season.
Maybe they'll have to swing through the Bajor system and stop off at DS9 for supplies. I wonder if they'd be able to convince Avery Brooks to come back? If not, then maybe Nana Visitor? She has done a lot of conventions and the DS9 documentary so she might be willing to come back.

 

[Danlav05]

Maybe they'll have to swing through the Bajor system and stop off at DS9 for supplies. I wonder if they'd be able to convince Avery Brooks to come back? If not, then maybe Nana Visitor? She has done a lot of conventions and the DS9 documentary so she might be willing to come back.

I'd LOVE to see Kira again!

 

[Timewalker]

FC and ENT established that he went from disillusioned drunk money guy to rhetorical nonsense speaking guy after FC. TOS shows him much later in life, so the only contradiction is his young appearance, but that could have been a gift from the companion.

So she lopped off several inches from his height, as well?

Yes, he even says he was an old man and the companion restored his youth.

He's also kinda crazy. He tells Kirk "I was 87 years old and I wanted to die in space so I took off" His disappearance is touched upon in Enterprise.

What's crazy about wanting to die in space?

And no, the movie actor version could not pass for 40. I was 40... 16 years ago, and the guy in the photo looks older than I do now.

 

[Lord Garth]

I just figured he very much lied about his age (it's obvious he's older than the in-universe, TNG history records indicate) and with it being after a nuclear war, his birth records were probably lost and he made chit up.

I've had a couple of friends through the years who were super intelligent but were lousy drunks.

My mind wondered at work while recording a town meeting. Then I thought back to this...

... and I'm officially adding your explanation to my Unofficial Head Canon. Thanks!

So she lopped off several inches from his height, as well?

He was a growing boy!

Okay. No he wasn't...

 

[Prax]

So she lopped off several inches from his height, as well

It's a different actor. The role was actually written for Tom Hanks who was going to do it, but was too busy. James Cromwell was the 2nd choice, and very popular at the time.

What's crazy about wanting to die in space?

He says "I was tired. I was old. I was gonna die, and I wanted to die in space...that's all" That's a little nuts. He's this famous and important man, and he just takes off without telling anyone, probably causing a massive search effort, becoming "the greatest missing persons mystery of the century." And his family and loved ones would be left thinking maybe something terrible happened to him. This seems pretty in-character for the Cochrane we meet in FC.

So we meet Cochrane in FC. He creates a warp ship, becomes famous and influential. He helps found the "warp five" facility or whatever. He grows very old and tired, then disappears one day, runs away. His ship becomes disabled. The companion takes him to her planet, restores his health, restores his youth, and then he is stuck there sober and all alone in a miserable purgatory for the next century or two. Then we meet him in TOS.

And no, the movie actor version could not pass for 40. I was 40... 16 years ago, and the guy in the photo looks older than I do now.

James Cromwell was 56 when First Contact was made. He was 49 or 50 when he guest starred in "The Hunted." Ironically, Tom Hanks was 40 years old in 1996.

Even First Contact. It was the least awful of the TNG movies, but that's not saying a lot.

FWIW, On RT, MetaCritic, and other aggregate sites, First Contact is generally the highest rated of the first ten Star Trek movies, both by critics, and audiences. It's a solid film, at the very least, on an emotional level.

RT Critic/User

1. TMP 42/42
2. TWOK 87/89
3. TSFS 80/61
4. TVH 85/81
5. TFF 22/24
6. TUC 81/83
7. GEN 47/57
8. FC 93/89
9. INS 54/44
10. NEM 37/49

https://www.rottentomatoes.com/search/?search=star trek

MetaCritic/User

1. TMP 48/6.5
2. TWOK 67/8.3
3. TSFS 56/6.9
4. TVH 71/7.9
5. TFF 43/5.5
6. TUC 65/8.1
7. GEN 55/6.7
8. FC 71/8.1
9. INS 64/6.0
10. NEM 51/6.5

https://www.metacritic.com/search/movie/star trek/results?page=1

 

[Turtletrekker]

I wouldn't be against seeing Wesley again, although that's more due to wanting to see what Wil Wheaton would do with the character now, than wanting to get more of TNG Wesley.
They do seem to be involving the Romulans a lot in this, so I could definitely see Sela showing up.


Definitely.

I'm hoping since we're getting TNG and Voyager characters this season, they can find a way to work in at least one DS9 character next season.
Maybe they'll have to swing through the Bajor system and stop off at DS9 for supplies. I wonder if they'd be able to convince Avery Brooks to come back? If not, then maybe Nana Visitor? She has done a lot of conventions and the DS9 documentary so she might be willing to come back.

I'd LOVE to see Kira again!

The DS9 character I most wanted to see was Captain Nog.

 

[Lord Garth]

The DS9 character I most wanted to see was Captain Nog.

I've got to say this makes it harder to watch

Spoiler

What We Left Behind now.

 

[Timewalker]

It's a different actor. The role was actually written for Tom Hanks who was going to do it, but was too busy. Oliver Cromwell was the 2nd choice, and very popular at the time.
He says "I was tired. I was old. I was gonna die, and I wanted to die in space...that's all" That's a little nuts. He's this famous and important man, and he just takes off without telling anyone, probably causing a massive search effort, becoming "the greatest missing persons mystery of the century." And his family and loved ones would be left thinking maybe something terrible happened to him. This seems pretty in-character for the Cochrane we meet in FC.

So we meet Cochrane in FC. He creates a warp ship, becomes famous and influential. He helps found the "warp five" facility or whatever. He grows very old and tired, then disappears one day, runs away. His ship becomes disabled. The companion takes him to her planet, restores his health, restores his youth, and then he is stuck there sober and all alone in a miserable purgatory for the next century or two. Then we meet him in TOS.

He became a celebrity, and discovered fame wasn't what he wanted (not that the TOS version of Cochrane gives the impression of wanting fame, riches, and women). Some famous people decide to just leave it all behind and live (or die) on their own terms. Cochrane chose to do it in space, and I really don't see why that's something to judge.

James Cromwell was 56 when First Contact was made. He was 49 or 50 when he guest starred in "The Hunted." Ironically, Tom Hanks was 40 years old in 1996.

James or Oliver Cromwell?

FWIW, On RT, MetaCritic, and other aggregate sites, First Contact is generally the highest rated of the first ten Star Trek movies, both by critics, and audiences. It's a solid film, at the very least, on an emotional level.

RT Critic/User

1. TMP 42/42
2. TWOK 87/89
3. TSFS 80/61
4. TVH 85/81
5. TFF 22/24
6. TUC 81/83
7. GEN 47/57
8. FC 93/89
9. INS 54/44
10. NEM 37/49

https://www.rottentomatoes.com/search/?search=star trek

MetaCritic/User

1. TMP 48/6.5
2. TWOK 67/8.3
3. TSFS 56/6.9
4. TVH 71/7.9
5. TFF 43/5.5
6. TUC 65/8.1
7. GEN 55/6.7
8. FC 71/8.1
9. INS 64/6.0
10. NEM 51/6.5

https://www.metacritic.com/search/movie/star trek/results?page=1

I couldn't care less about what ratings any of the Trek movies gets on Rotten Tomatoes or any other site. I judge movies by how well they entertain me, and if there's anything about them that annoys me.

 

[Prax]

James or Oliver Cromwell?

oops

and I really don't see why that's something to judge.

Who's judging? He does the same thing in FC. He hears about the fame and hero worship and wants no part of it.

 

[F. King Daniel]

It's a different actor. The role was actually written for Tom Hanks who was going to do it, but was too busy. James Cromwell was the 2nd choice, and very popular at the time.

Originally, Rick Berman wanted to reimagine Cochrane as female. Once you learn that, them completely rewriting his character wirh zero regard for the source material ("Metamorphosis") becomes more understandable.

Back in the day (and all the way to the end of ENT), people were adamant that Berman had never seen all of TOS.

 

[Timewalker]

I don't get the modern insistence on changing the sex of original characters when making sequels or reboots. What's the point? If you want to make such significant changes, why not just write something original and be done with it? This is one reason I never got into nuBSG. If they had actually done this with Cochrane, this would likely have been the first time I really did walk out of a theatre in disgust (I nearly did that with STV).

 

[Tuskin38]

This is one reason I never got into nuBSG.

All of the characters in that show were basically original characters. They had nothing in common except for names and sometimes roles. That's what a reboot is.

 

[Prax]

Originally, Rick Berman wanted to reimagine Cochrane as female. Once you learn that, them completely rewriting his character wirh zero regard for the source material ("Metamorphosis") becomes more understandable.

Back in the day (and all the way to the end of ENT), people were adamant that Berman had never seen all of TOS.

Is there a place I can read more about this? I looked on the different wikis under the movie, character, bts, etc.

 

[F. King Daniel]

Is there a place I can read more about this? I looked on the different wikis under the movie, character, bts, etc.

It's one of those things I've known for so long I can't remember where I originally read it. It may have been the Making of First Contact book, or an issue of the old Star Trek magazine.

Perhaps someone with a better memory can shed some light?

 

[Longinus]

What's the source for Cochrane's year of birth?

 

[Lord Garth]

What's the source for Cochrane's year of birth?

"Metamorphosis" (TOS)

They say that Zephram Cochrane disappeared 150 years ago at the age of 87. If "Metamorphosis" is accepted to be 2267, then 237 years ago gives us 2030.

Link to Script for the episode here.

Cochrane: Well, I don't know how it did it, but the Companion rejuvenated me, made me young again, like I am now.

Spock: I prefer to reserve judgment on that part of your story, sir. Meanwhile, would you please explain exactly what this Companion of yours is?

Cochrane: I told you, I don't know what it is. It exists, it lives, and I can communicate with it.

McCoy: That's a pretty far out story.

Kirk: Mister Cochrane, do you have a first name?

Cochrane: Zefram.

Kirk: Zefram Cochrane of Alpha Centuri, the discoverer of the space warp?

Cochrane: That's right, Captain.

McCoy: But that's impossible. Zefram Cochrane died a hundred and fifty years ago.

Spock: The name of Zefram Cochrane is revered throughout the known galaxy. Planets were named after him. Great universities, cities.

Kirk: Isn't your story a little improbable, Mister Cochrane?

Cochrane: No, it's true. I was eighty seven years old when I came here.

Kirk: You say this Companion found you and rejuvenated you? What were you doing in space at the age of eighty seven?

Cochrane: I was tired, Captain. I was going to die, and I wanted to die in space. That's all.

Spock: True, his body was never found.

Cochrane: You're looking at it, Mister Spock.

Spock: If so, you wear your age very well.

 

[Longinus]

"Metamorphosis" (TOS)

They say that Zephram Cochrane disappeared 150 years ago at the age of 87. If "Metamorphosis" is accept to be 2267, then 2267, then 237 years ago gives us 2030.

But surely that '150' is just an approximation? When people talk about distant events, they often do that, and it being a neat round number instead of say, 149 or 153 is an indication that this is exactly what happened.

 

[Lord Garth]

But surely that '150' is just an approximation? When people talk about distant events, they often do that, and it being a neat round number instead of say, 149 or 153 is an indication that this is exactly what happened.

I knew you were going to say that. Yes.

 

[Tuskin38]

Plus when they originally wrote that episode, they didn't time period in mind for TOS IIRC.

They hadn't said the series was set in the 23rd yet.

 

[Longinus]

Plus when they originally wrote that episode, they didn't time period in mind for TOS IIRC.

They hadn't said the series was set in the 23rd yet.

But it still fits with the FC well enough. Try, without googling, to remember how long ago some famous historical figures died. The chances are that whilst you might get the ballpark right, your estimate will be far from exact. So '150 years ago' as an off the cuff remark when you're a doctor, not a historian, is certainly close enough, even though the exact number might have been 164 years ago or something like that.