Rewriting Picard from the start
- Thread starter adamisme
- Start date
Mine would be the opposite to what Sir Pat would have signed up for, and would have suited better 15 years earlier. TNG 2.0 with bits of ds9 and voyager . This is basically my fan fic from before it was announced he was returning:
- Picard takes Kirk’s advice and still Captains the E.
- Worf still XO Crusher still chief medical officer. Rest of the seats filled by Counselor Dax, Tactical officer Tuvok, Science officer 7 of 9 etc
- Riker and Troi still on the Titan, Geordi on the Challenger
- Janeway is still Jean-Luc’s boss
- The Enterprise is dealing with Romulan politics. Sela is big bad
- trip to ds9. Promenade completely rebuilt, eating most of the budget
so more of the same, lots of familiar faces, not very original lol!
- Picard takes Kirk’s advice and still Captains the E.
- Worf still XO Crusher still chief medical officer. Rest of the seats filled by Counselor Dax, Tactical officer Tuvok, Science officer 7 of 9 etc
- Riker and Troi still on the Titan, Geordi on the Challenger
- Janeway is still Jean-Luc’s boss
- The Enterprise is dealing with Romulan politics. Sela is big bad
- trip to ds9. Promenade completely rebuilt, eating most of the budget
so more of the same, lots of familiar faces, not very original lol!
I would have gone for a similar story for season 1. The set-up was a traditional one. Old good guy retires embittered, someone appeals to them for help, OGG refuses then something happens to make him change his mind. OGG rounds up a group of people to help including old sidekick who's sunk into substance abuse and self-pity, guy with problems with RL and a mysterious person who seems to want to help but who may have another agenda. Scrap Data and the thing-from-the-dungeon-dimension. The Romulans could easily be a rogue luddite section opposing synths (like opposing AI - they have genuine worries about how this will go). Scrap Picard's synth body. Don't have people return to SF at the end.
Season 2. At the end of season 1 we have our crew already to set out on their next adventure. Let this be a problem in the edge space that Seven has been policing with the Fenris Rangers. Perhaps gangs are fighting over planets and resources and innocent settlers are getting caught in the middle. Perhaps Beverley and Guinan are operating a medical relief centre and they are the people who ask for help. Let the problem NOT be something universe- or galaxy-threatening. Don't shed our new characters.
Season 3 then becomes a similar "someone asks for help" situation... The Picard crew are still operating but this time, they need the help of the old Enterprise crew... Scrap Jack. At the end, Picard says "Right. I'm too old for this. I'm off back to the vineyard to live out my remaining years with Laris". Happy ending for him. Old Enterprise crew equally disperse to their happy endings handing over to the new kids on the block.
And there's your sequel series: Raffi, Seven et al policing the badlands...
Oh, and don't bring people back just to kill them!
Season 2. At the end of season 1 we have our crew already to set out on their next adventure. Let this be a problem in the edge space that Seven has been policing with the Fenris Rangers. Perhaps gangs are fighting over planets and resources and innocent settlers are getting caught in the middle. Perhaps Beverley and Guinan are operating a medical relief centre and they are the people who ask for help. Let the problem NOT be something universe- or galaxy-threatening. Don't shed our new characters.
Season 3 then becomes a similar "someone asks for help" situation... The Picard crew are still operating but this time, they need the help of the old Enterprise crew... Scrap Jack. At the end, Picard says "Right. I'm too old for this. I'm off back to the vineyard to live out my remaining years with Laris". Happy ending for him. Old Enterprise crew equally disperse to their happy endings handing over to the new kids on the block.
And there's your sequel series: Raffi, Seven et al policing the badlands...
Oh, and don't bring people back just to kill them!
Hmm. I realize now that I don't care enough about the entire TNG era to have a solid take on this. Not much in the way of 'head canon' or fanfic ideas, either.
I guess I can summarize a couple of points:
1. No borg or time travel.
2. No return of Data or any Soongs. (Sorry, Brent Spiner)
3. I would ignore anything JJ-Trek related. No mention of the Romulan nova (Or it just didn't happen.)
4. No Picard / Crusher love child.
Things I did like or was at least okay with:
1. Q. (Can't even believe I said that- normally I hated all Q episodes)
2. Showing life, culture, and the state of life on Earth at the turn of the 25th Century.
3. Getting the band back together. (TNG crew)
4. Laris.
Other than that, I got nuthin'. I'd much rather get 20 episodes of SNW or an Enterprise redo than anything else set in the TNG era.
I guess I can summarize a couple of points:
1. No borg or time travel.
2. No return of Data or any Soongs. (Sorry, Brent Spiner)
3. I would ignore anything JJ-Trek related. No mention of the Romulan nova (Or it just didn't happen.)
4. No Picard / Crusher love child.
Things I did like or was at least okay with:
1. Q. (Can't even believe I said that- normally I hated all Q episodes)
2. Showing life, culture, and the state of life on Earth at the turn of the 25th Century.
3. Getting the band back together. (TNG crew)
4. Laris.
Other than that, I got nuthin'. I'd much rather get 20 episodes of SNW or an Enterprise redo than anything else set in the TNG era.
Honestly, I would want longer episodes because the plot was all mixed together and for 3 - 4 episodes there was hardly any plot movement and all talkies. Also, why even bring the Borg / ex-Borg in and not do anything with them or parallel them with the synths? They were just nothing burger in the end.
I'm tired of seeing this kind of sentiment in comments about recent Trek. They were three average at best movies, but they happened. You can't say you want canon and then cut out whatever you want.
I thought the nova happening and Picard leading the rescue was a good place to start. I would've preferred to see that as a first season. The Romulans don't trust us, there are forces working against us. Perhaps it turns into an Undiscovered Country situation where people from both sides are actively working against Picard. This would also give Picard what he does best: speeches!
Drop the millionth Soong played by Brent Spiner and the ex-Borg (as much as Jonathan Del Arco was a pleasure). Rios & Raffi could still be brought in as part of Picard's rescue force. Elnor can be written in as a Romulan who wants to help.
The Q return was good, but it seemed to keep him in the background. I'd still have a season with him, but no time travel, alternate realities etc. Like "Q Who," he could introduce Picard to a new threat that could run the length of season two.
I would keep the Dominion storyline for season three, but cut out the Borg storyline. I really liked Ed Speelers as Jack, but how does he factor into the season without the Borg background. I also don't know how you keep Shaw in this timeline as Picard isn't retired, but that is another must for me.
[/Dread Pirate Roberts]
Indeed. In fact, in my opinion Picard Season 1 had an interesting set up in following up on the "unthinkable happening" with the Romulus' destruction there is significant fallout to explore. I would have focused on it rather than the Borg and synths in any great measure.
With Season 3, there wasn't anything I'd have changed, I only would've added to what was already there. When it comes to Season 1... there's only one thing that doesn't sit well with me. No, I'm not talking about what happened to Icheb! I don't like that either, but you're not supposed to like it! So, no, I'm thinking of something else.
Here it is:
Data's "death". If he continues to exist as "software" and wants to end his existence and wants Picard to help him do that, I read it as Assisted Suicide. His (after)life wasn't in danger. He could've existed forever in that state. Or, if he wanted out, he could've been transferred into a new body, as we later saw with the "other" Data. So, yeah, I can't get behind what they did with Data at the end of Season 1.
That's literally pretty much it.
When I rated the episodes of this season before, it averaged out to almost a 9 out of 10. As I re-watch it, three years later, it's actually gone up in my opinion. So far, in my re-watch, I rate it in the mid-9s. Yes, you read that right. If not for Season 2, I would like Picard better than Discovery. Though, if I were to average all the seasons out, I probably actually do like PIC better as a whole, if I break it down.
Here it is:
Data's "death". If he continues to exist as "software" and wants to end his existence and wants Picard to help him do that, I read it as Assisted Suicide. His (after)life wasn't in danger. He could've existed forever in that state. Or, if he wanted out, he could've been transferred into a new body, as we later saw with the "other" Data. So, yeah, I can't get behind what they did with Data at the end of Season 1.
That's literally pretty much it.
When I rated the episodes of this season before, it averaged out to almost a 9 out of 10. As I re-watch it, three years later, it's actually gone up in my opinion. So far, in my re-watch, I rate it in the mid-9s. Yes, you read that right. If not for Season 2, I would like Picard better than Discovery. Though, if I were to average all the seasons out, I probably actually do like PIC better as a whole, if I break it down.
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Okay, one more thing I'd change. Killing off the black boyfriend at the beginning of the first episode. Not a good look. Good thing it premiered in January and not in the wake of George Floyd, later on that year. Otherwise... But it does help to make the Zhat'Vash look evil. So, there's that...
For those who want to know, I was there on the picket lines, a few times that year, saying Black Lives Matter.
For those who want to know, I was there on the picket lines, a few times that year, saying Black Lives Matter.
Season 1 was just fine as it is for me. Season 2 would be Picard on the La Sirena working with the rag tag crew to discover more about the threat that we saw at the end of season 1. It could use elements from season 2, with a seperate section of Borg (most likely all former Unimatrix Zero drones) running from the threat we saw at the end of season 2. It would turn out that the threats from season 1 and season 2 are basically the same, with season 3 still bringing the old crew together. No threat from the Borg or Dominion. I really enjoyed season 3, don't get me wrong, but I never understood why both seasons 1 and 2 introdued a huge threat to galactic safety and went nowhere with it afterwards.
So yeah, I'm not one of those fans that thinks they can write or produce or direct better than those that actually make movies and show. Face it guys, we really can't. And skimming what I wrote down feels fanficcy and yukky. But yeah, that's kinda what I would have done.
Oh, right.... No Data being brought back again. I loved it in Season 3, and I really cried. But resurrecting dead characters is a trope I don't need. Worf would have the captain of the E-E, Riker still retired but accepting a temporary command would be good. Nothing Legacy related, just a starship, like in season 1 of Picard. The rest of the crew... I thought it made sense Geordi was now a commodore or admiral. In charge of th museum maybe, or just the head of some engineering division in Starfleet. Beverly on the run.... Maybe. But definitely no longer in Starfleet. Civilian doctor, working with relief forces or something sounds like her.
Seven of Nine.... I enjoyed her inclusion in Picard. But it sounds odd to me that Starfleet would reject her. That's not Starleet. She would be a commander, but someone who joined Starfleet when she got back from the DQ. No special treatment. She went through the Acadamy, maybe a bit quicker because of her knowledge and skillsets. Maybe rose through the ranks a bit faster, because again, highyl competend officeer but does indeed but heads with her superiors often.
And as much as the fan in me got a huge kick out of her in the centerseat of the E-G.... It felt a bit fanwanky. Not every legacy character needs to be in command of a high profile position as their first command. I mean, Picard wasn't. He commanded the Stargazer out of sheer necessity because the captain and xo passed away. He took command during a troubling situation and was later promoted accordingly. Earned his stripes during several years, and was later given a high profile command. I would much rather see that happen at the end of a different season 3 for Seven.
So yeah, I'm not one of those fans that thinks they can write or produce or direct better than those that actually make movies and show. Face it guys, we really can't. And skimming what I wrote down feels fanficcy and yukky. But yeah, that's kinda what I would have done.
Oh, right.... No Data being brought back again. I loved it in Season 3, and I really cried. But resurrecting dead characters is a trope I don't need. Worf would have the captain of the E-E, Riker still retired but accepting a temporary command would be good. Nothing Legacy related, just a starship, like in season 1 of Picard. The rest of the crew... I thought it made sense Geordi was now a commodore or admiral. In charge of th museum maybe, or just the head of some engineering division in Starfleet. Beverly on the run.... Maybe. But definitely no longer in Starfleet. Civilian doctor, working with relief forces or something sounds like her.
Seven of Nine.... I enjoyed her inclusion in Picard. But it sounds odd to me that Starfleet would reject her. That's not Starleet. She would be a commander, but someone who joined Starfleet when she got back from the DQ. No special treatment. She went through the Acadamy, maybe a bit quicker because of her knowledge and skillsets. Maybe rose through the ranks a bit faster, because again, highyl competend officeer but does indeed but heads with her superiors often.
And as much as the fan in me got a huge kick out of her in the centerseat of the E-G.... It felt a bit fanwanky. Not every legacy character needs to be in command of a high profile position as their first command. I mean, Picard wasn't. He commanded the Stargazer out of sheer necessity because the captain and xo passed away. He took command during a troubling situation and was later promoted accordingly. Earned his stripes during several years, and was later given a high profile command. I would much rather see that happen at the end of a different season 3 for Seven.
I'm largely ok with Season 1, even though I do like some of the ideas expressed above (particularly a season focusing on the Romulan evacuation or a xenoarcheology treasure hunt). What I would have changed is lose that Picard has Irumodic Syndrome (that could have just been Q tomfoolery) and then becoming a synth, because ultimately that went nowhere. Presumably if Chabon had remained in charge that would have been something important for Season 2, but once Matalas took over it was essentially dropped.
I would've added two more seasons to Picard. Not after Season 3. Anything after that is Legacy, as far as I'm concerned. I would've added a season between PIC S1 & S2 and a season between PIC S2 & S3, to show how characters got from where they were at the end of one pre-existing to season to where they were at the start of the next.
For a season between S1 and S2: How does Rios go from being Captain of La Sirena to Captain of the Stargazer? Let's get a chance to see Seven and Raffi together. Let's see Jurati cleared. Let's see Elnor get accepted into the Academy and have to deal what he'd have to face being a Romulan in Starfleet. He's going to face some prejudice. What the Hell happened to Zhaban? He seemed perfectly healthy in S1 and then he just dies? That requires a little bit of an explanation besides, "He died!" Then the obvious one, any exploration of what it's like for Picard to be syntho-organic and how he's perceived.
For a season between S2 and S3: Why does Seven leave the Fenris Rangers to join Starfleet? She's been with the Fenris Rangers for 15 years by this point, give or take. She may have wanted to join Starfleet after VOY, but that was a long time ago. Why would she want to join them now? Plus how and why do Seven and Raffi break up? Maybe some background into why exactly Shaw chose Seven to be his First Officer. Or, if he didn't choose her, why did Starfleet assign her there? If Seven's going to be the Captain in Legacy, they should've gone into all this. Although, if Legacy actually does happen, I'm hoping it'll be a second chance to go into all of it this time.
For an epilogue before the final season rolled credits: At least a scene with Data and Soji. If you're going to have the father/son aspect with Picard & Jack, and the mother/son aspect with Beverly & Back, have the father/daughter aspect with Data & Soji. And show if Laris stays with Picard or not. And, whether or not Laris & Picard stay together, show what Laris thinks of Crusher. I don't know what all of this would've done to the runtime of the final episode, but it's the final episode, so go for it!
In a dream world of mine: All five seasons, as I have it, would've come out one after another from 2019 to 2023. So, yeah, like I said, there's a ton I would've added. As much as I like Picard, I feel like we got the quick-and-dirty version of something that could've been more fleshed out if they had more seasons to work with to cover the same amount of ground.
For a season between S1 and S2: How does Rios go from being Captain of La Sirena to Captain of the Stargazer? Let's get a chance to see Seven and Raffi together. Let's see Jurati cleared. Let's see Elnor get accepted into the Academy and have to deal what he'd have to face being a Romulan in Starfleet. He's going to face some prejudice. What the Hell happened to Zhaban? He seemed perfectly healthy in S1 and then he just dies? That requires a little bit of an explanation besides, "He died!" Then the obvious one, any exploration of what it's like for Picard to be syntho-organic and how he's perceived.
For a season between S2 and S3: Why does Seven leave the Fenris Rangers to join Starfleet? She's been with the Fenris Rangers for 15 years by this point, give or take. She may have wanted to join Starfleet after VOY, but that was a long time ago. Why would she want to join them now? Plus how and why do Seven and Raffi break up? Maybe some background into why exactly Shaw chose Seven to be his First Officer. Or, if he didn't choose her, why did Starfleet assign her there? If Seven's going to be the Captain in Legacy, they should've gone into all this. Although, if Legacy actually does happen, I'm hoping it'll be a second chance to go into all of it this time.
For an epilogue before the final season rolled credits: At least a scene with Data and Soji. If you're going to have the father/son aspect with Picard & Jack, and the mother/son aspect with Beverly & Back, have the father/daughter aspect with Data & Soji. And show if Laris stays with Picard or not. And, whether or not Laris & Picard stay together, show what Laris thinks of Crusher. I don't know what all of this would've done to the runtime of the final episode, but it's the final episode, so go for it!
In a dream world of mine: All five seasons, as I have it, would've come out one after another from 2019 to 2023. So, yeah, like I said, there's a ton I would've added. As much as I like Picard, I feel like we got the quick-and-dirty version of something that could've been more fleshed out if they had more seasons to work with to cover the same amount of ground.
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My head canon is that the not-Xenomorph acid blood that fell on his hand had some kind of secondary poison. That explains why Zhaban and Laris never tried to follow up with Picard as season 1's events escalated. This allows season 2 to occur exactly 18 months later in October 2400, providing the max space for season 3 to then be in April 2401.
Yes, there is that wine label... But Rios says 2400.
I consider the first season to be the single worst season of live action Star Trek set in the 24th century.
So, if I were CBS / Paramount, after the rough cut of the first two episodes came in, I would have shut down production, brought in a dream team from the Berman era (Ira Steven Behr, Manny Coto, Rene Echeveria...) and told them there's $75 million left in the budget. Unfuck this mess.
So, if I were CBS / Paramount, after the rough cut of the first two episodes came in, I would have shut down production, brought in a dream team from the Berman era (Ira Steven Behr, Manny Coto, Rene Echeveria...) and told them there's $75 million left in the budget. Unfuck this mess.
This is an idea I had for Picard but I think could have been used for other series, but I'd imagined Picard as like the Star Trek version of "24", in the sense of having Picard himself as the head of something like his own CTU with a bunch of newcomers as his assistants/foils and then bringing in the TNG or other 24th century cast in as guest roles. Kind of a multi-thread series where you could cut to Beverly and Wesley in one part of the galaxy investigating one thing, have Geordi on some starship doing another. I would absolutely tie it into the Romulan supernova and explain what happened, have it be some kind of accident that happened in the past but that people want to duplicate it in the future. I'm not saying this is better than what aired or anything, just that this is an idea I had once upon a time. I love the idea of Beverly and Wesley on a mission together.
That can't be true, because it's not Star Trek: Voyager Season Seven.
"Remembrance" is quite possibly the greatest series premiere of any Star Trek series. (It faces heavy competition from "Emissary.") And "Maps and Legends" has all of its strengths. Their depictions of long-term grief are genuinely moving in a way one rarely sees outside of Realism/Naturalism.
Even if one thinks "Remembrance" and "Maps and Legends" are bad, about the best way to make something worse is to combine two incompatible creative visions with one another. I find Zack Snyder's films nearly unwatchable, but his cut of Justice League was better than the Frankenstein's monster that was the theatrical cut combining Snyder's vision with Whedon's. I promise you, even if you don't like Chabon's work, you would almost certainly have hated an attempt to stitch it together with another showrunner's vision.
But of course, your scenario is not how television production works, at all.
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