I came across this on the Internet: http://www.jmsnews.com/Forums/showthread.php?t=267
Someone's idea of a TNG reimagining
- Thread starter Joe Washington
- Start date
Interesting concept but the thing I loved best about TNG was the character development. The fact that the reset button was hit for nearly each episode allowed the characters to "stay true" to themselves. If the show became more about grandiose storylines I'm afraid the acting and character development would have suffered. I think we see this in the TNG movies where Picard--for example--is made into more of an action hero. One thing that always bothered me about Voyager was the use of cheesy one liners during life and death situations. That made the show feel more like a Stallone movie at times for me. If there was a way to ensure that the character development would remain and we would still get great eps like Tapestry and Inner Light I would for sure be interested but as it is I'm happy with how TNG was done. Besides, when you have a serious story arc progressing and you deviate even slightly for an episode or so away from that story viewers tend to get upset. Nice idea though and definitely an interesting read. There will be many who wish the show had followed that formula.
I'm not sure you really know what character development is supposed to be.
Quoted for truth.
No need to get defensive, just throwing out an opinion. Besides, I think you may be confusing story development with character development.
Actually, they seem to have a pretty good grasp of the idea, from what I think is meant. Resetting a story and resetting a character are two totally different things.
Picard season 1 and Picard season 7 are VERY different.
I mean, look at "All Good Things". That's a reset, right there. But you can't say there was no character development, no character arc, no growth and learning for anybody. You CAN have a reset and character develpment at the same time. It all depends on what you're resetting. In most cases, it's just the plot.
With this as a direction, TNG could easily have achieved the kind of ratings that B5 did. 
Its funny, everyone wants to go to arc series like Lost or Heroes...but in fact series from the recent past wound up with higher ratings than these series...mainly because standalone episodes are easier to follow...I dont think Lost, Heroes, B5, Invasion, Surface, BSG or any other number of arc shows have gotten ratings as consistently high as STNG. Lost and Heroes early on perhaps.
The plot from the JMS board is way too convoluted..maybe a few elements could be worked into some mini-arcs, but overall not too thrilled with it.
RAMA
The plot from the JMS board is way too convoluted..maybe a few elements could be worked into some mini-arcs, but overall not too thrilled with it.
RAMA
Thanks for your great info. It is really very much helpful to us. Thanks.
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JMS's idea has the same flaw that all modern Trek has had: it's all about space battles.
His story arc idea is all about invasions, takeovers, battles, etc.
DS9 served this purpose and it served it well - we don't need two DS9s. Don't get me wrong, I loved it, but it should be the exception, not the rule. Star Trek was once about exploring and learning what was 'out there', and no less importantly, what was within our collective selves.
As for story arcs versus standalone episodes, my favorite shows have employed a hybrid of the two - overarching storylines that lasted a season or so, in which every other episode or so contributed to the arc, and the other episodes could stand alone on their own. DS9, Dexter, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Miami Vice, etc etc.
His story arc idea is all about invasions, takeovers, battles, etc.
DS9 served this purpose and it served it well - we don't need two DS9s. Don't get me wrong, I loved it, but it should be the exception, not the rule. Star Trek was once about exploring and learning what was 'out there', and no less importantly, what was within our collective selves.
As for story arcs versus standalone episodes, my favorite shows have employed a hybrid of the two - overarching storylines that lasted a season or so, in which every other episode or so contributed to the arc, and the other episodes could stand alone on their own. DS9, Dexter, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Miami Vice, etc etc.
Now that's a zinger!With this as a direction, TNG could easily have achieved the kind of ratings that B5 did.
Two series I stopped watching due their increasingly convoluted nature and reliance on cliffhangers and plot devices over genuine character development.
DS9 had the right mix of stand alone episodes with running stories and characters.
TNG did it too, although to a lesser extent. It's a better show than Heroes and Lost.
I don't have much to say about character development and space battles today, but Tomalak, you have an awesome avatar.
I read the whole thing. So basically he wanted to turn TNG into nuBSG?
Some ideas are good, some aren't that good. TNG might have benefit from a light underlying arc, like SG-1 (although there were some light mini arcs in the series, such as Worf's dishonor, The Captain's need for a family, etc etc).
A heavy arc like this would have killed the series as we know it today and would have turned it into something completely different. Perhaps more like B5? I have no idea. B5 was good, but a different good. TNG is like comfort TV. B5 is not.
Some ideas are good, some aren't that good. TNG might have benefit from a light underlying arc, like SG-1 (although there were some light mini arcs in the series, such as Worf's dishonor, The Captain's need for a family, etc etc).
A heavy arc like this would have killed the series as we know it today and would have turned it into something completely different. Perhaps more like B5? I have no idea. B5 was good, but a different good. TNG is like comfort TV. B5 is not.
I just want to point out to you guys that the person who written this post on an TNG reimagining wasn't JMS. This isn't his design for remaking Star Trek.
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