How To Fix TNG Inconsistencies Within 60 Seconds...

[JesterFace]

All of this talk regarding Data not being promoted and Troi being promoted ignores the fact that this was the story they wanted to tell. It makes little sense from the perspective of real life but we are talking about a fictional TV show here.

Promotions or no promotions, those things have never bothered me.
The thing that raises an eyebrow is that early on Riker seemed like he really wanted to be a captain pretty soon but then refused several opportunities. Well, people change. Enterprise was a comfortable place to be and perhaps he also hoped something might happen with Deanna if he stayed around?

 

[Oddish]

Everything about Riker's career was messed up. Initially, I think he was supposed to be about 34, or the actual age Jonathan Frakes was. Then, they mysteriously retconned five years off, so that he rocketed up from new ensign to commander in only 5-1/2 years... his plan was to do a tour on the flagship to turbo boost his career; he probably intended to take a command in a year or two, and probably get a better command than he otherwise would have. He was on the sort of career path that would have led to admiral's braid by the time he was 45... and then, his burning ambition was abruptly quenched, to the point that he wouldn't leave even when Picard was practically stuffing him out the airlock in BoBW1, or after BoBW2 showed very plainly that he belonged in the Big Chair.

Having that happen after 12 years is dumb enough. But cutting that to 7, it just makes his actions make less sense.

 

[Phoenix219]

Aside from a few episodes, I wish someone could have re-written TNG's Seasons 6 and 7. I'm almost finished with Season 7. And I must say that I was not impressed by those two seasons, along with the first one.

I would rewatch Season 1 endlessly before I tried to slog through 6 and 7 again.

 

[Oddish]

Funny, I don't really go by seasons. Some episodes are good, others are not. S1 had 11001001, for instance, while the overall strong S4 gave us the oft-derided Suddenly Human.

 

[JesterFace]

Funny, I don't really go by seasons. Some episodes are good, others are not.

That's a nice way of approaching TNG, although at least for me certain seasons have different "feels".

Obviously the first two seasons are a product of their own with few gems.
Seasons 3 and 4 have the same feeling going on.
Somehow 5th feels a little bit different than the two before it.
And then the last two feel a little bit different than 5th.
But, looking at it with "episode perspective" is more fun.
What is "episode perspective" you might wonder?
Well, looking every episode as a single piece without comparing to other episodes.

 

[Macintosh]

The biggest issue, for me, is the fact Data never got past Lt. Commander... in 15 years.

This really bugged me as well. After Picard, Data comfortably has the second longest Starfleet career out of all the Enterprise-D senior staff. He graduated from Starfleet Academy in 2345, nineteen years before TNG's first season. Beverly Crusher doesn't graduate from Starfleet Medical until 2350.

 

[JesterFace]

Data not being promoted beyond Lt Cmdr could be explained with people of the future being a bit like us, scared of things that are different. Starfleet greyhairs just didn't trust him?

 

[Oddish]

Data not being promoted beyond Lt Cmdr could be explained with people of the future being a bit like us, scared of things that are different. Starfleet greyhairs just didn't trust him?

I still maintain that it would have been in all three of Enterprise's chief officers best interests if Jellico had stayed on the Enterprise for awhile.
Picard would have gotten some time to get over his brutal ordeal.
Riker would have finally taken his own ship just to be away from Jellico.
And Data would have taken his rightful place as Enterprise's first officer, because when Jellico wants something, it gets done.

 

[Phoenix219]

I still maintain that it would have been in all three of Enterprise's chief officers best interests if Jellico had stayed on the Enterprise for awhile.
Picard would have gotten some time to get over his brutal ordeal.
Riker would have finally taken his own ship just to be away from Jellico.
And Data would have taken his rightful place as Enterprise's first officer, because when Jellico wants something, it gets done.

I think it could have been a great change of pace and really spiced up TNG for a bit. Maybe Stewart could have gone and done another project in between. I really wish TNG had a more serialized approach, with crew members coming and going throughout the years as their storylines demanded.

 

[at Quark's]

I'm wondering though how much the Captain's current evaluation weighs in when Starfleet decides whether or not to 'pull out the big chair' for a CO.

Suppose Jellico really had been a jerk about it, and filed reports such as 'the man doesn't have the required mentality to be a good Starfleet officer, much less an XO or a CO', would Starfleet Command still keep offering him a captaincy?

 

[Dee1891]

I have a few questions about "Chain of Command". Why was it important for Gul Madred to entrap Captain Picard? Why Picard? How did he knew that Starfleet Command would send Picard to destroy the phony metagenic weapon on the Cardassian planet Celtris III? Why did Starfleet Command send Picard and not someone from Starfleet Intelilgence?

 

[Oddish]

Suppose Jellico really had been a jerk about it, and filed reports such as 'the man doesn't have the required mentality to be a good Starfleet officer, much less an XO or a CO', would Starfleet Command still keep offering him a captaincy?

Depends on how much pull Picard has, versus how much pull Jellico does. Of course, realistically speaking, Riker stopped the Borg from assimilating Earth a couple years ago. I don't think Jellico's douchbaggery could counter that. Especially since he's probably known for being highly effective, but difficult to work with.

have a few questions about "Chain of Command". Why was it important for Gul Madred to entrap Captain Picard? Why Picard? How did he knew that Starfleet Command would send Picard to destroy the phony metagenic weapon on the Cardassian planet Celtris III? Why did Starfleet Command send Picard and not someone from Starfleet Intelilgence?

Why didn't Picard just say, "yeah, fine. Five lights. Like I care"?

 

[at Quark's]

Why didn't Picard just say, "yeah, fine. Five lights. Like I care"?

I suppose the scene was supposed to mirror the famous 1984 "four fingers" scene.

When in that book, Wilson finally surrendered to saying 'five fingers' under torture even though O'Brien really held up four fingers, that was merely the signal to start working on the next phase in his 'treatment' (read torture). Because even secretly thinking 'I see four fingers, but I'll say five to avoid torture' wasn't acceptable. The subject had to fully embrace that he saw five fingers even in his innermost thoughts, when only four fingers were held up.

That battle of wills had to be mirrored in the episode, without the time to really show that in the extended way we see in the book.

 

[Macintosh]

When in that book, Wilson finally surrendered to saying 'five fingers' under torture even though O'Brien really held up four fingers, that was merely the signal to start working on the next phase in his 'treatment' (read torture).

Winston, not Wilson.

'How many fingers, Winston?'

'Four! Stop it, stop it! How can you go on? Four! Four!'

'How many fingers, Winston?'

'Five! Five! Five!'

'No, Winston, that is no use. You are lying. You still think there are four. How many fingers, please?'

'Four! five! Four! Anything you like. Only stop it, stop the pain!

Abruptly he was sitting up with O'Brien's arm round his shoulders. He had perhaps lost consciousness for a few seconds. The bonds that had held his body down were loosened. He felt very cold, he was shaking uncontrollably, his teeth were
chattering, the tears were rolling down his cheeks. For a moment he clung to O'Brien like a baby, curiously comforted by the heavy arm round his shoulders. He had the feeling that O'Brien was his protector, that the pain was something that came from outside, from some other source, and that it was O'Brien who would save him from it.

'You are a slow learner, Winston,' said O'Brien gently.

'How can I help it?' he blubbered. 'How can I help seeing what is in front of my eyes? Two and two are four.'

'Sometimes, Winston. Sometimes they are five. Sometimes they are three. Sometimes they are all of them at once. You must try harder. It is not easy to become sane.'

He laid Winston down on the bed. The grip of his limbs tightened again, but the pain had ebbed away and the trembling had stopped, leaving him merely weak and cold. O'Brien motioned with his head to the man in the white coat, who had stood immobile throughout the proceedings. The man in the white coat bent down and looked closely into Winston's eyes, felt his pulse, laid an ear against his chest, tapped here and there, then he nodded to O'Brien.

'Again,' said O'Brien.

The pain flowed into Winston's body. The needle must be at seventy, seventy-five. He had shut his eyes this time. He knew that the fingers were still there, and still four. All that mattered was somehow to stay alive until the spasm was over. He had ceased to notice whether he was crying out or not. The pain lessened again. He opened his eyes. O'Brien had drawn back the lever.

'How many fingers, Winston?'

'Four. I suppose there are four. I would see five if I could. I am trying to see five.'

 

[Macintosh]

Ha, just realised the irony of the torturer being O'Brien instead of the person being tortured...

 

[at Quark's]

Winston, not Wilson.

Oops, my bad, my memory isn't what it used to be ...

 

[Farscape One]

I have a few questions about "Chain of Command". Why was it important for Gul Madred to entrap Captain Picard? Why Picard? How did he knew that Starfleet Command would send Picard to destroy the phony metagenic weapon on the Cardassian planet Celtris III? Why did Starfleet Command send Picard and not someone from Starfleet Intelilgence?

It was explained in the two-parter. Picard was the only officer still in service thst had extensive theta band emissions experience. And the Enterprise was going to be the ship in command of the sector aroubd Minos Corva, where the Cardassians wanted. The Cardassians figured Picard would have deployment knowledge due to that, so the trap was placed.

 

[Dee1891]

It was explained in the two-parter. Picard was the only officer still in service thst had extensive theta band emissions experience. And the Enterprise was going to be the ship in command of the sector aroubd Minos Corva, where the Cardassians wanted. The Cardassians figured Picard would have deployment knowledge due to that, so the trap was placed.

Now I realize why I didn't like this episode that much. It smacked of contrived writing to me. I wish the series had found another way for Picard to be captured by the Cardassians.

 

[Iamnotspock]

Data not being promoted beyond Lt Cmdr could be explained with people of the future being a bit like us, scared of things that are different. Starfleet greyhairs just didn't trust him?

Well, he is extremely dangerous if compromised, as in "Brothers".

 

[Oddish]

But in possession of invaluable skills and knowledge. It's interesting that Data was the only TNG character never promoted or offered promotion. Here's another way that could have been fixed, in "The Offspring"...

PICARD: "It would seem you've actually improved upon yourself, Data."
DATA: "Is that not the goal of every parent, sir?"
HAFTEL: "But as a good father, don't you think it would be better, especially in light of this new aberration, if Lal were close to people trained in diagnostic and evaluative procedures?"
DATA: "I am programmed with the procedures you mention, sir. And in any meaningful evaluation of Lal, you would require a model for a basis of comparison. I am the only model available, Admiral."
HAFTEL: "Indeed. And that's why we'd like you to accompany Lal back to Starfleet Research. Your experience and expertise would be invaluable."
PICARD: "The Admiral is offering to make you project lead. This posting would come with a promotion to full commander. As well as the opportunity to work with some of Starfleet's foremost experts on artificial lifeforms."

Even if it didn't happen, if Lal suffered systems failure before this step could be taken, and Data chooses to remain on the Enterprise, it at least shows that the offer was made, as with Picard and Riker.