Re: Some thoughts on Losing the Peace (spoilers for the book obviously
*inhale.* Okay, I have a long-pent up rant about the TNG-R characters.
I think that one problem with the TNG Relaunch cast was that the writers were trying to hard to write characters as if they were writing for Deep Space Nine. The TNG crew was essentially one big happy family; they would have disagreements on some issues but they would get over them. That didn't provide 'conflict' in the way that the cast of DS9 had -- Cardassians vs. Bajorans, Everybody vs. the Federation, and what not. For me this eliminated T'Lana as a character although I thought her initial premise of a person who counsels emotion from a logical view was golden. (I was disappointed she never found redemption.)
I think also that Zek didn't belong in the TNG tone/style. He was just too much of a soldier. With Worf as Picard's second in command and Zek as the security officer the feel shifted really far towards military Sci-fi. It actually turned me off in the way that the cast of the Star-Gates turned me off...just too military-ish. (I Think the book I'm referring to is "Resistance.")
T'ryss and Cloudhurry fit into the TNG atmosphere perfectly. Cloudhurry doesn't have the most complicated back story compared to, say, Garek, but she has a very defined and warm character. I think she actually sort of fills the void that Troi left behind when she transferred to the Titan as the one deeply in touch with their emotions. Plus, she doesn't have the vaguely defined Empath powers that provide us with obvious dialogue.
T'ryss Chen is also positive spirited in the way the average non-Worf TNG character is. Her over enthusiasm is a character flaw that could prevent her from reaching her full potential in our world but is tolerated by the more enlightened humans of the future; she often reminds me of Barclay in that way.
I'm on the fence with Madakota and Elifki. They both fit the TNG style and tone but they're not exactly stand out characters for me. That being said, Geordi, O'brien, and Crusher have pretty low key characters, too. Elifki is fun as a foil for T'ryss, but a little on the quiet side. Madakota's most unique and memorable characterization for me is the time she brought her asymmetrical breast up when she was making a point about how things in nature aren't perfect. The thing with her long distance family is interesting, but not super dynamic. I won't miss her too much.
On the whole, though, I think the TNG-R cast is getting better and better as time moves on.
