End of Season 1 What If...

[Bry_Sinclair]

At the end of Season 1, Denise Crosby leaves because she isn't happy with her lack of character development, Gates McFadden due to issues with the producers, and Marina Sirtis is let go because no one had a clue what to do with Troi.

How might Season 2 have looked with the loss of all three female characters?

What characters would you create? What would happen with the empty second chair beside Picard? How might this affect the series as a whole?

Thoughts, ideas, comments?

 

[JirinPanthosa]

First, someone like Pulaski but with more opportunity for chemistry with the cast.

Make Worf security chief but separate out tactical role and give it to a woman, maybe somebody who doesn't have a classically feminine body type and is more muscular. (I know, TV heresy, a woman who knows how to fight actually looking like she can fight).

And a science officer genius type.

 

[marlboro]

Not very imaginative, but Ro, Guinan, and Pulaski were all worthy replacements, imo.

Ro was more interesting than Yar and was played by a better actress.

Guinan: Same as above. Troi was absolutely pointless for most of the show. She would have been fine as an occasional guest character though.

Pulaski: I actually prefer Crusher, but Muldaur was probably the better actress. Both characters would have been helped tremendously by better scripts.

 

[Agony_Boothb]

Female helm officer, Female Science officer and a new female doctor maybe Selar just to mix things up a bit in regards to species.

 

[Bry_Sinclair]

A few stray thoughts that occurred to me were:

• Introduce a new Second Officer, who serves as their diplomatic/first contact/political officer (similar to what Troi did at times but lose all the counselling stuff) to take the vacant third chair. I'd love to see an alien in the role, definitely not a telepath, who'd be in a red uniform and be taken a little more seriously than Troi was. She would advise Picard and Riker on matters, lead on some negotiations and away missions, as well as assume command of the ship as and when required--this would mean a demotion for Data, but he's an interesting enough character that he can get by with being outranked by a newbie.
• Appoint Worf as Chief Security Officer.
• Promote La Forge to full Lieutenant, but keep him at the Conn.
• Introduce a new Chief Engineering Officer (a Lieutenant). She will take over from the revolving door of Chief Engineer's we saw in S1. Some worry about her assignment, given her youth, but she is as sharp as they come and shown herself to be imaginative and inventive in problem-solving. I am thinking this could be Sonya Gomez (tweaked slightly so she isn't a rookie Ensign, but with a little more experience and impressed the right people to get this much sought after post).
• Wesley stays onboard for further field training as an Acting-Ensign, though now based at the Science station or helping out in the engine room.
• Introduce Lieutenant Selar as the new Chief Medical Officer. Logical and calm under pressure, she applies her considerable intellect and skill to keeping the crew fit and healthy. As much a researcher as she is a surgeon she takes an active interest in studying new discoveries first hand. She also offers Data another perspective on his quest to understand humanity, given that he has the emotionless manner most Vulcans aspire too, as well as understanding just how powerful they can be.
• Guinan would also join the ship as the Ten Forward Manager and unofficial counsellor, though would remain a sporadic recurring character (unless Whoopie Goldberg wanted to commit more time to the show).

 

[Nakita Akita]

Better scripts.
As above the heresy of having a woman who is not young and there to show off her body, one or the other or both.
Troi in her role, but possibly older which would of course mean that she would be wearing the same uniform that everyone else had to wear.

As above Yar, same, wearing the same uniform as others. I couldn't imagine someone in a physical security job wearing bare legs and a short sleeved mini skirt.

I thought Pulaski was great for the reasons above, also she was a better actor.

Back in the day when the show was new.
Yar was pretty much the entire reason I never watched the show. The sheer ridiculousness of having her play a security officer to me was laughable.
I started watching the show a little in return-runs in the early 90's. I just overlooked the stupidly of Yar.

I think less objectification of women would be nice. In the beginning of the show's run, I mistakenly thought that, in the future they will have actual looking people to play the roles.
Silly me.

 

[Elephant999]

I didn’t have any strong feelings either way for Yar, maybe if Series 1 hadn’t been so bad in parts, Denise Crosby may have stayed?
Gates McFadden was IMHO a truly wooden, one dimensional actor so I would have been glad to see the back of her simpering whining voice.
Troi did get better as the show went on but could have been replaced easily and it was so obvious she was there to provide some eye candy with that bloody cleavage on show all the time. Without her on the bridge would make zero difference.

I would have liked to see Pulaski stay, loved the character and the actor. I would have brought in a female Chief Engineer who was also either a Vulcan or Klingon.

I would have liked to seen Ro as a regular character too.