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Build an 8th Season of TNG

Tom

Vice Admiral
Admiral
Going off from the other thread asking if there were plans for a season 8, I ask, If there was, what could/should of been in it? How would you build season 8? would you have any arcs? bring anyone back? go in a unique direction?

Season 8 could have also led directly pehaps into a TNG movie or should it have helped build up Voyager.
so many possibilties...

While season 7 was losing creativity as many claim, what if new writers came in, where could the 8th season have gone.
 
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How does one "loose" creativity as opposed to losing it, exactly?

Anyway, for one, maybe have an "It was all a dream" episode about Journey's End for Wes. Or otherwise fix the derailment from that ep somehow.
 
Although I doubt it would've happened, in a purely fanboyish kind of way, I would've liked to have seen further integration with the TNG and DS9 corners of the galaxy. Not that there should've been constant crossovers or anything, but I think there could've been some bleed over of certain themes or mentions back and forth. The Dominion paranoia that was prevalent in the third season of DS9 could be explored in other parts of the Federation in ways that DS9 didn't do (aside from that trip to Earth).
 
There were a series of really great threads back in the day building episodes for season 8 and onwards for TNG. To my regret I never saved them, but there were some really kick-ass episode themes and ideas.
 
This comes up pretty regularly (I KNOW I've posted this before!) but here's what I would've done/would forsee:

Firstly, it's a pretty dead cert that Spiner and Stewart would not be regulars anymore (read interviews at the time). That's OK - what a great way to inject a fresh dynamic to the show.

Secondly - sorry - if there'd been an 8th (or more?) season, there would be no Voyager. So, I'd snag some of the good elements of Voyager for season 8!

I'd have a season-long arc of the Enterprise being thrown into the Delta Quadrant. Utilise some of the best ideas from Voyager - I loved the Vidians (sp?) - for episodes.

If Picard and Data aren't around, promote Riker to captain. I'd be tempted to bring in maybe Tuvok. I can't think of any other Voyager characters I like, though Torres and Worf on the same ship could be interesting.

End of season 8 - bring the ship back, and let the ninth season roll on!

Two drawbacks to a season 8:

1) Season 7 looked very tired and produced some rotten episodes. Now, part of this was undoubtedly due to marking time until "Generations" (which, if there'd been a season 8, wouldn't be an issue) but I also think part of it was an inherent laziness to the format approach.

2) Worf wouldn't transfer to DS9!!! Well, I suppose he COULD be in season 9 (94-95) and then get back to AQ just in time for season 4 of DS9...
 
I'd just leave the show format as-is (no fanwanky stuff that sounds like it's come from dodgy fan fiction, no crossovers, no major character changes, just a bit more development) and crank out another 26 mostly-standalone episodes, with a different writing team to season 7. Worf would leave for DS9 on schedule, and I guess somebody new could replace him, and they could flesh the character out as quickly as possible like they did with Ezri. Generations wouldn't exist, and instead an epic 2-parter finale would end in the destruction of the Enterprise.
 
I think a good eighth season could have had these points:

- More exploration of the Worf/Troi relationship

- Alexander takes up the first rite of ascension and starts to respect and admire Klingon culture

- An episode where we learn more about Romulan culture. Worf and Picard go to a security conference held by Starfleet Command, and their shuttle meets an anomaly and crash lands on a planet. A Romulan ship crash lands also, and Picard and Worf, as well as the Romulans, must live on the planet together for weeks until the Enterprise discovers them. It's a chance to explore Worf's feelings for the Romulans (well it seems all Klingons hate Romulans, but Worf obviously did especially so) and learn more about Romulans as a people.

- Geordi has a relationship with a junior officer, and dates her for the remainder of the season

- We see Riker's dad again, and he needs Will's help in completing a mission. Will and Kyle strengthen their new found bond by working together on the mission.

- Data installs his emotion chip permanently, and falls in love with a crew member. The crew member is not interested in a relationship, and Data has to learn (with help from the other senior staff) how to manage his newly found emotions

- Picard is targeted by Section 31, and asked by them to participate in a mission on their behalf. Since Picard is a very moral person, with a high degree of integrity, Section 31 target him to be an informant for them (similar to Bashir in DS9). The mission is to infiltrate the Tzekenthi government, and be assigned on the Tzenkethi homeworld within the Federation Embassy there. Section 31 believe that the Tzenkethi are preparing for anoher war with the Federation, and want Picard to forestall it from occurring.. He refuses, but is told by Section 31 that they will ask him again to complete a mission on their behalf. Similar to what Sloan told Bashir, it is persons of the sensibilities of Picard that Section 31 is designed to protect.
 
I'd bring Sela back and have the crew finally learn where she came from. The fact that that storyline was never expanded on has always bugged me.

Maybe have her command an invasion against the Federation core worlds (Earth, Vulcan, Andoria, and Tellar) in a three-part episode. That would allow for some visits to Andoria and Tellar, two worlds that desperately need on screen attention! We had already seen Picard and company save Vulcan in Season Seven. They would go on to save Earth in the movies. Why not have them do something similar for the other founding worlds?

On the whole I'd probably then do 23 more mostly stand-alone episodes. Although I tend to dislike stand-alones and love story arcs, TNG was able to pull it off.
 
I tend to go with the idea that an eighth season of TNG would cancel out Generations (not necessarily a bad thing, IMO) and the Enterprise-D would still be flying past 2371. That being said...

-Picard becomes an admiral. He doesn't leave the series entirely, but will return to make guest appearances (mostly over subspace) in a few episodes.

-Riker becomes captain of the Enterprise-D and Data becomes first officer.

-A new sexy female second officer takes over Data's old job as chief operations officer and becomes an unlikely new love interest for LaForge in the sense that she pursues him.

-Worf and Troi continue their relationship. This eventually causes awkwardness and some tension between Riker and Worf, but this is resolved half-way through the season.

-After seven and a half years being the Federation's show dog, the Enterprise-D is finally assigned to a lengthy deep-space exploration mission of the Beta Quadrant that will take it far beyond Federation territory where she will encounter several new civilizations that are major players in the region (the Klingons and the Romulans will also make their presence in the area felt periodically).

-New alien female science officer joins the Enterprise for its new mission. Her abrasive personality causes her to immediately clash with both Riker and Crusher, although all three will learn that they work well together in a Kirk-Spock-McCoy kind of way.
 
I think a good eighth season could have had these points:
A final season eight would have been a perfect time to take some chances, some risks. There would have been nothing to lose, I mean what could TPTB do? Take it off the air?

And if they did keep the ratings up then Generations still would have been made, just one year later.
Alexander takes up the first rite of ascension and starts to respect and admire Klingon culture
I can't remember how long it was between the last time we saw Alexander and the end of the seventh season (two years?) but the begining of the season eight is the perfect time to recast the role. I wasn't completely happy with the young actor who portrayed Alexander in DS9. Someone who was physically closer to Worf would be better (more beefcake like). See if we can get away with casting someone in their early-mid teens, even if Alexander is only seven years old.

Geordi has a relationship with a junior officer, and dates her for the remainder of the season
Yes please.

Picard is targeted by Section 31, and asked by them to participate in a mission on their behalf.
Using a combination of treats, blackmail and persuasion, section 31 gets Picard to assist them. It's only at the end of the episode that we find out that Picard was setting them up. Section 31 is permanently broken, it's leaders rounded up, all it files made public knowledge and it's political allies disgraced.

Sloan: "I have powerful friends."

Picard: "Not any more."
 
TNG season eight episode guide.

All Good Things, Pt. II
Daliance
Sacrifice
The Passengers
Fountain of Youth
The Gate
The Code
Insurgent
The Soldier
The Last Door, Pt. I
The Last Door, Pt. II
Fight or Flee
Fountain of Youth
Low
Last Stand
Ad Infinitum
Times Like These
Slings and Arrows
The Commander
Deck Eight
The Breakout
In Her Honor
No Way Back
End Over End
Cerberus
The Rising Tide, Pt. I
 
TNG season eight episode guide.

All Good Things, Pt. II
Daliance
Sacrifice
The Passengers
Fountain of Youth
The Gate
The Code
Insurgent
The Soldier
The Last Door, Pt. I
The Last Door, Pt. II
Fight or Flee
Fountain of Youth
Low
Last Stand
Ad Infinitum
Times Like These
Slings and Arrows
The Commander
Deck Eight
The Breakout
In Her Honor
No Way Back
End Over End
Cerberus
The Rising Tide, Pt. I

Care to elaborate? I mean anyone could post episode names...
 
I would have liked to have seen Shelby as First Officer. Data just didn't have enough command presence.
 
TNG season eight episode guide.

All Good Things, Pt. II
Daliance
Sacrifice
The Passengers
Fountain of Youth
The Gate
The Code
Insurgent
The Soldier
The Last Door, Pt. I
The Last Door, Pt. II
Fight or Flee
Fountain of Youth
Low
Last Stand
Ad Infinitum
Times Like These
Slings and Arrows
The Commander
Deck Eight
The Breakout
In Her Honor
No Way Back
End Over End
Cerberus
The Rising Tide, Pt. I

I'm intrigued that there appear to be two episodes called "Fountain of Youth". Perhaps it was a typo, but I choose to believe that it's a deliberate ploy to make fan-conversations confusing. In which case, they ought to both take on the same theme, but from a different perspective. Or perhaps one could be a shortened version of Insurrection, while the second could be the same ep from the point of view of some junior officers (a la Lower decks) who choose to stay on the planet, and come to realise what wankers the Ba'ku are.

What I'd love to see in an S8 would be some episodes that mix around the character interactions a bit more.

So we could have an episode where Picard and Geordi work together on something, or one where it's an away team led by Will and Beverly. Just really have fun with the fact that these people have worked together for a long time and are presumably all good friends.

A season long arc involving Area 31 would also be cool.
 
"Generations" would still take place, in fact, it would be a middle ground before S8 takes place. Therefore we still have the shitty Enterprise E (will deal with that in a little bit...).

Worf and Troi persue their love interest. When seriously injured on a routine mission, Riker has to find a little time to recoperate, physically, and emotionally, Troi helps, and in doing so finds she still has feelings for Will.

Geordi gets a love interest (only because I feel he deserves one after all this time, and one that last more than one episode).

Data, after serious thought about not being able to fully grasp what his friend Commander Riker is going through, or the changes Geordi has been making appearent, decides it is time to use the emotion chip. After seeing how Geordi is falling for the love interest, Data realizes how alone he is, and is saddened when he realizes the only "love" interest he ever had, was killed in the line of duty, Tasha Yar. Things are further changed for Data when Worf is called away to Deep Space Nine for the Klingon encrotchment and build up against the Dominion ("The Way of the Warrior" Part 1/2, D.S.9.).

Picard has been in a quite, dark place for a while now since loosing his family in that fire, and realizing he's it -- the buck stops with him, and he's accomplished really nothing. Sure he stopped the Borg, he reasons with himself, but they will be coming ... again. And again. And again. Until they succeed. As suggested by another user, Picard is one day approached by Section 31 with a mission that would help humanity, and leave Picard's name in the Federation history books. He accepts.

Riker suddely finds himself in command of the Enterprise after Picard disappears. And in that position, instead of giving Data his rightfully earned position as second-in-command, he promotes Troi, hoping to get closer to her, and maybe keep her out of danger's way.

The Klingons drop out of the peace treaty with the Federation ("The Way of the Warrior" Part 1/2, D.S.9.). This is where I change the D.S.9. history to fit TNG S8.

With the paranoia of shape shifters, Dominions inflitrators, and now renewed hostilities with the Klingongs, Worf finds himself not welcomed in the Federation, but they don't kick him out. Eventually, Sisko is forced -- after much fighting -- to ship Worf back off. No one takes him, but Riker welcomes him back with open arms, in spite of the relationship with Troi, knowing it is the right thing to do anyway.

(middle ground for regular episodes. Some time passes)

The Klingons make for a battle to take Tarok Norm, to serve as their invasion point against the Dominion. Federation ship are called in to defend the station, including the Enterprise E. The Enterprise E is seriously damaged and in the midst of evacuation, not enough time is presant and some have to transport onto D.S.9., while others find themselves in the saucer section when the stardrive section goes.

Data is blown apart while trying to cover Geordi's love interest; emergency bulkhead sheilds don't come online as they should and debris sprays in (Data of course solves this, protecting her). Sabotage.

The war is costly, the Enterprise E is destroyed, parts of D.S.9. lie in pieces with only shields holding it together, and Riker is left with a broken first officer, a out-of-place security officer, a M.I.A. Picard, and no ship. Season break for some reruns.




After a month hiatus in new episodes we open on a Federation settlement next to a outerspace fleetyard reconstructing ships damaged in the battle.

There on the planet Worf and Alexander grow closer, and Alexander, troubling Worf, is just not interested in the Klingon culture and is leaning more & more to the Federation, but Worf believes Alexander should at least know his people, and that he should be wary about joining a group that just battled his kind and lost friends and family; racial hatred can still exist, even in the 24th century.

Geordi and his love interest are very strong now.
Using part from a disassembled Lore, Data comes back online. Physically he is all there, but the emotion chip has left him torn to shreads inside and unlike humans who grow up learning emotions and how to understand, deal, and use them, Data has no pretense or graspings, and essentially goes bonkers, with only Geordi being able to keep him in check.


In orbit, there is still no news on Picard, much to the dismay or Captain Riker, who has rekinded his relationship with Troi. Troi, knowing Riker is now not going anywhere and he's essentially "settled" into his postition -- the best she can hope for -- has decided the relationship is worth persuing and expanding now. In orbit they see a Galaxy class starship being reassembled. The ship, heavily damaged in battle, was captained by a friend on Jaan-Luc, who died in Klingon battle. Using his connections, Riker gets the ship renamed "Enterprise" and put back into commision, as the Soverign class ships are found to be defectitive (since "butt ugly" isn't a technical term that can be used in the show).


Things are looking good for Riker and his crew, except Data, who is still coping. The crew even notice him acting funny and talking to himself aloud. Unknown to them, and Data, there are chips, and "traces" of Lore in his old parts, as a back up plan should things have gone awry last time we saw Lore, and he's slowly creeping into Data and creating a dual personallity.

The new Enterprise E, our loving Galaxy class vessel, launches with new-found hope and dreams, into a galaxy in the verge of war with the dominion.

END SEASON 8.



"Insurrection" would still happen, but it would be different. Data takes leave sometime off screen, winding up on that planet. Turns out he instigated the battle where he was damaged. While investigating, Riker finds Picard on secret mission on the planet. He describes to Riker, feeling he can be trusted and that he owes Will something, he is on a dual mission to investigate the affects of the planet, and tracing back the supply line of Katrecel White that Son'a have. But he's overstayed because of the violations of the Prime Directive and wrong doings he has found here -- all caused by the Federation.

The movie is written better and has better dramatics. It ends with Picard giving Section 31 the finger and rejoining the Enterprise. But he did trace back the KT supply line, giving D.S.9. intel that will aide the war. He rejoins the crew and stays on, but not in an authoratative position, beliving it's Riker's time and he can't just take that away from him.
Data is attacked by the crew and taken offline, much in the same way Lore was, leaving us with eerie similarities. Geordi found out what was going on. We end on Data's face and a certain coldness.



"Nemesis" still takes place, but it is a completely different film, except for the involvement of the Romulans.

Much like "The Undiscovered Country", it is time to lay the pipeline for peace with the Romulans, but there is one disentor, Sela, who gathers a fleet and fellow Talshier officers to overthrow the Romulan government and kill the underground peace bringer known as "Spock".

Picard receives a protected message from Spock, since Picard is the only person Spock knows, who is still in power and can help him, and trusts, to hear his plea and that a violent political overthrow is happening within the government and that he fears terrible change is coming and that while in the lull, the Dominion may attack, bringing the Romulan Star Empire to a crumble -- a place true evil can be born in.

Much to the bemusement of Gowron, he finds yet another call for help from Picard -- especially considering the way things occured just half a year ago and that hostilities have not yet died down. With a grin on his face, Gowron agrees to help sneak Picard across the border again. Meanwhile Geordi is trying to reassemble the device collected from the Peguses, as an emergency tool should the Enterprise need to cross over into Klingon territory and retreive their captain.

Turns out Gowron has grown very, very quickly tiresome of the new war and realizes what a huge mistake it has been. He is on Picard's side and they join forces to find Spock. Gowron feels the Romulans should be able to find peace like his people did, and maybe shut them up for a while if anything.

Seal knows the Enterprise isn't near the Neutral Zone border for no reason and brings a group of Warbirds over to square off. Data, who has been back on duty, purged of all remaining elements of Lore -- finally saying good-bye to his brother for good -- is shocked emotionally when he sees Sela.


I don't have all the "Nemesis" plot, so this is where I stop.
 
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^Meanwhile, Beverly spends the entire season playing Tetris and doing crossword puzzles. (Either that or she's trying to cure the Klingon encrotchment) ;)

Just yanking your chain. Some interesting ideas there.
 
I definitely think Data's emotional journey should have been explored, more fully, throughout another season, instead of in snippet gags throughout a mediocre movie

I'd definitely be supportive of allowing Worf & Troi's relationship to take its natural course, throughout the season, as well. It would probably not last, incidentally, but I think they'd be mature enough to walk away on good terms

"Every Man's Worth" Barclay saves the ship. Not Super-Barclay, or Barclay plays a part in the team, overcoming his limitations. No. Barclay outright saves the ship & all aboard her, single-handedly. If he could do it with holodeck technology, it would be that much sweeter. lol

"The Primal Directive" Wesley finds out about the breached time line that birthed Sela, & despite objections from the traveler, seeks to correct it, but in the end doesn't

"Eyes Wide Open" Geordi's visor is responsible for endangering the ship & crew again, & he decides it's too much of a risk, & opts to have it replaced with optical implants of some kind

"A Million Minds" An accident causes Troi to become a supertelepath, beyond even Tam Elbrun's level, & it drives her mad. Of course Crusher fixes it or whatever

"The Tables Are Turned" The Enterprise is infected with an illness which robs the crew of their emotions... Except Data, who has since gotten them with his chip

"Never Mind Your P's & Q's" Picard is offered admiralty, & when he considers taking it, Q intervenes, to herald him as an utter disappointment

"Bigger Than Self" A second Maqui story, with Ro, & she maybe gets killed

"The Road Less Traveled" Thomas Riker returns as a captain of a Starfleet vessel

"The Nurturer" Data's mother finds out she's an android, & has difficulty excepting it

"A Doctor's Duty" Beverly gets offered command of a medical ship, & maybe takes it

"The Backbone Of A Ship" Sort of a spinoff of "Lower Decks" but with non-coms
 
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For my plan we need to reshape the end of season seven somewhat...

720. Firstborn
As Aired​
721. Emergence
Instead of the turgid mess that was aired, this episode sees Dr. Zimmerman come aboard the Enterprise to do field trails of his new EMH. Geordi and Data help to develop the EMH but begin to suspect that it is no mere holo-program.​
722. The Maquis, Part I
723. The Maquis, Part II
Very similar to the DS9 two-parter with Lt. Cmdr Hudson being effectively Chakotay without the native American mysticism element.​
724. Journey's End
As Aired​
725. Peemptive Strike
As Aired. Except that at the end of the episode Picard is ordered to pursue Ro by Admiral Nechayev.​
726. The Caretaker, Part I
The Enterprise enters the Badlands in pursuit of the ship carrying Ro... pretty much the same plot as the Voyager version.

The big thing is who gets killed off?

For my initial thoughts are at least:
  • Dr. Crusher - replaced by Robert Picardo's EMH.
  • Troi - Not directly replaced, but Ro becomes full time helmsman.
  • Picard or Riker (I'm afraid one of them has to go) - to be replaced by the Lt. Cmdr. Hudson/Chakotay character.

801. The Caretaker, Part II

From here on in we've got a reinvigorated Next Generation series that could last another five years.
 
For my plan we need to reshape the end of season seven somewhat...

720. Firstborn
As Aired​
721. Emergence
Instead of the turgid mess that was aired, this episode sees Dr. Zimmerman come aboard the Enterprise to do field trails of his new EMH. Geordi and Data help to develop the EMH but begin to suspect that it is no mere holo-program.​
722. The Maquis, Part I
723. The Maquis, Part II
Very similar to the DS9 two-parter with Lt. Cmdr Hudson being effectively Chakotay without the native American mysticism element.​
724. Journey's End
As Aired​
725. Peemptive Strike
As Aired. Except that at the end of the episode Picard is ordered to pursue Ro by Admiral Nechayev.​
726. The Caretaker, Part I
The Enterprise enters the Badlands in pursuit of the ship carrying Ro... pretty much the same plot as the Voyager version.

The big thing is who gets killed off?

For my initial thoughts are at least:
  • Dr. Crusher - replaced by Robert Picardo's EMH.
  • Troi - Not directly replaced, but Ro becomes full time helmsman.
  • Picard or Riker (I'm afraid one of them has to go) - to be replaced by the Lt. Cmdr. Hudson/Chakotay character.
801. The Caretaker, Part II

From here on in we've got a reinvigorated Next Generation series that could last another five years.


You know... that actually sounds pretty good. In thinking about it UPN wanted Voyager to essentially be TNG so this basically accomplishes that task. If there were someway to gracefully shoehorn a few more new characters into the original cast (or to replace them) this would be my favorite idea ever for a continuation of the 7th season/re-envisioning of Voyager.




-Withers-​
 
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