Have Episodes Been Split Up / Merged?

[CaptainXaviOfEarth]

My theory: at some point last spring they scrapped the original 7th and 8th episodes before filming, and put together "Nepenthe" to be set in-between the original 5th and 6th episodes, with scenes from the original 6th episode moved into it. During post-production, Episode 2 was split into two episodes. So whilst that still works out to be 10 episodes, S1 of Picard is 8 originally planned episodes plus 1 last minute addition plus 1 created in post-production.

 

[SoM]

Chabon has said otherwise. Also they announced Riker and Troi were coming back before Frakes even directed those episodes, so he must have just worded what he said weirdly.

That would be curious, if only because if you write an actor into a script before confirming that the actor is both available and willing to reprise their role, you then have a major problem if they say "no". (I doubt they ever intended to recast Riker or Troi.)

 

[fireproof78]

That would be curious, if only because if you write an actor into a script before confirming that the actor is both available and willing to reprise their role, you then have a major problem if they say "no". (I doubt they ever intended to recast Riker or Troi.)

Why? You scrub the part and move lines to others. In some instances I could see that being a major problem but with a duo like Riker and Troi is more easy to work around.

 

[DrCorby]

Why? You scrub the part and move lines to others. In some instances I could see that being a major problem but with a duo like Riker and Troi is more easy to work around.

I disagree. The very point of the episode is the long history Picard has with Riker and Troi, and the nature of their relationships. He needed somewhere to go in a hurry, where he could safely catch his breath while figuring out his next steps. Plus, knowing him so well, they could call him out for how he was interacting with Soji, as well as encourage her to trust Picard more.

Just any other two characters would not have been able to serve those roles in the episode nearly as well. It needed to be specifically Riker and Troi. With Kestra an unexepected bonus.

 

[fireproof78]

I disagree. The very point of the episode is the long history Picard has with Riker and Troi, and the nature of their relationships. He needed somewhere to go in a hurry, where he could safely catch his breath while figuring out his next steps. Plus, knowing him so well, they could call him out for how he was interacting with Soji, as well as encourage her to trust Picard more.

Just any other two characters would not have been able to serve those roles in the episode nearly as well. It needed to be specifically Riker and Troi. With Kestra an unexepected bonus.

Since I didn't say "any two characters " I feel this is arguing against something I am not arguing.

 

[DrCorby]

Since I didn't say "any two characters " I feel this is arguing against something I am not arguing.

Bolding mine:

Why? You scrub the part and move lines to others. In some instances I could see that being a major problem but with a duo like Riker and Troi is more easy to work around.

Sorry if it wasn't what you intended, but using "others" (plural) and "a duo" implied to me more than one character. But also, the individual characters of Riker and Troi brought their own individual strengths and connections to Picard into play as separate characters, as well as a couple. So my argument stands -- Riker's and Troi's roles in this episode could not have been simply filled by just any old random characters. The strength and depth of their relationships with Picard were key.

 

[Lance]

We live in a time where reshoots and adjustments along the way are relatively easy, thanks to the technology being used to film things.

A big name movie seldom makes it to box office without significant reshoots these days.

I recollect Kurtzman himself admitting they went back and 'cleaned up' things story wise after everything was shot, which may suggest reshoots or re-edits, without actually saying it.

I need to find that interview but I recollect it being a red carpet type vox pop maybe for Enterainment Tonight.

 

[fireproof78]

Sorry if it wasn't what you intended, but using "others" (plural) and "a duo" implied to me more than one character. But also, the individual characters of Riker and Troi brought their own individual strengths and connections to Picard into play as separate characters, as well as a couple. So my argument stands -- Riker's and Troi's roles in this episode could not have been simply filled by just any old random characters. The strength and depth of their relationships with Picard were key.

Ok, let me clarify because this is more than a little frustrating for me at the moment and I wasn't as clear as I could have been. One, "others" was meant for less specific character dialog, i.e. greetings. Two, the duo referred to Riker and Troi, not any other characters.

Three, this removed the entire context of my original response that was commenting on another poster remarking about Sirtis possibly not returning (for whatever reason). In that context, I was stating that Troi and Riker shared similar roles as advisers and serving as Picard's conscience in difficult situations. Thus, the advice dialog could have been largely placed on Riker if Troi was not able to appear (again, for whatever reason Sirtis could not).

Nowhere in my argument was I suggesting cutting and pasting characters.

Now, I will leave it at that because I feeling really frustrated at the moment (for many reasons) and don't feel the need to add further less I say something I will regret later on.

 

[DrCorby]

Ok, let me clarify because this is more than a little frustrating for me at the moment and I wasn't as clear as I could have been. One, "others" was meant for less specific character dialog, i.e. greetings. Two, the duo referred to Riker and Troi, not any other characters.

Three, this removed the entire context of my original response that was commenting on another poster remarking about Sirtis possibly not returning (for whatever reason). In that context, I was stating that Troi and Riker shared similar roles as advisers and serving as Picard's conscience in difficult situations. Thus, the advice dialog could have been largely placed on Riker if Troi was not able to appear (again, for whatever reason Sirtis could not).

Nowhere in my argument was I suggesting cutting and pasting characters.

Now, I will leave it at that because I feeling really frustrated at the moment (for many reasons) and don't feel the need to add further less I say something I will regret later on.

Sorry I misunderstood your point. Going back and re-reading the comment you were replying to, I agree with you that if the actor you wanted isn't available, you move the dialogue points you need to make to the actor/character who is available, adjusting as necessary based on the character's background.

Thank you for clarifying. Hope you have a pleasant rest of your evening.

 

[fireproof78]

Sorry I misunderstood your point. Going back and re-reading the comment you were replying to, I agree with you that if the actor you wanted isn't available, you move the dialogue points you need to make to the actor/character who is available, adjusting as necessary based on the character's background.

Thank you for clarifying. Hope you have a pleasant rest of your evening.

Sorry that I was more abrupt about it. I definitely could have been more clear in my initial posting and can now see the misunderstanding. As someone who prides myself on being very precise in my language lack of clarity is a personal pet peeve.

Thank you for understanding.