If you were the creator of TNG, what would you have done differently?

[Praetor]

Re: If you were the creator of TNG, what would you have done different

Some suggestions for a re-imagination of TNG:

- Make Riker a woman. Think Shelby from "The Best of Both Worlds".

- Make Troi male. Both the XO and the Counselor are still ex-lovers though. Over the course of the 1st season their relationship would be slowly renewed and they would get together again.

I particularly like this idea of switching Riker and Troi's genders (so just switch Frakes and Sirtis - not that big a deal since Sirtis tried out for Yar in the beginning anyway, and Frakes is a good actor so he'd be fine), and, re-emphasizing Troi as the second officer and first contact specialist. Only now, she's a he.

So Cmmdr. Wilhemina 'Wil' Riker and Lt Cmdr. Dean Troi?

- Keep Wesley Crusher. But don't make him so "perfect". Let him screw up like in "First Duty". Let him suffer from the pressure and high expectations, which are caused by his status as a "genius".

Yes, yes. And no running off with the Traveler. He has to face his past mistakes, in Starfleet.

- Make Beverly Crusher more like a Pulaski-like character.

In the older, cantankerous kind of way, or love-hate with Data, or... what? I'm all for spicing Bev up a bit, but I'd like to keep Gates McFadden.

- Have Geordi as Chief Engineer from the beginning.

Absolutely. Blind man flying the ship is a one-line joke.

- Keep Data's original background as a product of an alien, highly-advanced civilization. A recurring story arc could be Data's search for his creators (that's why he joined Starfleet in the first place: to get on a deep space exploration vessel).

Oh, definilely. Soong was something of a copout. And maybe this way we could avoid Lore and B-4.

- Don't kill Tasha Yar.

- But what about Worf? Could he work as a Conn officer, for example? In the actual series he did not become a "complete" character until he was promoted security chief. So Tasha's death was a necessary step in Worf's development towards a fully fleshed-out character. Or maybe we put Tasha at the Conn and make Worf the security chief from the beginning?

Meh. I say let her die. No offense to Denise, but with Troi as a tough chick, we don't really need Yar. Don't omit her entirely though, because then we'll never see her in 'Yesterday's Enteprise.' Maybe we should visit her planet once before she dies though, and then spend a bit of time with Worf dealing with his promotion as a result of his pseudo-mentor's death.

- I would also try to keep more story arcs in the series. For example, the alien parasites from "Conspiracy" were orignally supposed to be send by the Borg. And "The Neutral Zone" was supposed to lead to the first contact with a Borg ship. Maybe the "Conspiracy" parasites could be machines instead of creatures. Then we would have a story arc that spans from "Coming of Age", "Conspiracy", "The Neutral Zone" to the Season 2 premiere (first contact with the Borg).

I don't know... I also like the idea of having the ship in uncharted territory more often and staying away from princesses in eggs which might preclude protracted arcs, unless they are localized to the unknown regions they're in. The 'Conspiracy' bugs could have easily been replaced with Borg nanites. Or bigger nanites... macronites?

 

[cybersoldier]

Re: If you were the creator of TNG, what would you have done different

I would had more arcs or mini-arcs like more build up to the best of both worlds, Redemption would have covered more than two episodes. Some conflict among the crew, perhaps make the crew with more aliens. Would have the enterprise destoryed during the series, either during a borg arc or the klingon civil war. Then later introduce a new enterprise having the senior apart for a few episodes and slowly return to the enterprise via certain situations and reassignments. I would have one or two follow up episodes with certain stories i.e How Laforge is dealing with the situation that occurred in the mind's eye, or perhaps starfleet attempt to court marshell Data after the events in decent, or the aliens from the episode schisms in season 6. Create a separate arc on the aliens that were from the episode conspiracy

 

[Praetor]

Re: If you were the creator of TNG, what would you have done different

Then later introduce a new enterprise having the senior apart for a few episodes and slowly return to the enterprise via certain situations and reassignments.

Wait, you mean have another Enterprise in service at the same time...?

 

[plynch]

Re: If you were the creator of TNG, what would you have done different

De-nice some of the people/relationships. I read somewhere that GR mandated that everyone would get along on the crew. So no Bones-Spock tension, or (after GR's death) Paris being a criminal and Torres crabby all the time. Just everybody being all '90s-nice. Dull. (Though the show overall was still fun.)

 

[KeepOnTrekking]

Re: If you were the creator of TNG, what would you have done different

In hindsight:

No Wesley Crusher, no Alexander, and no families on board.

Picard as the older stay-on-the-ship Captain.
Riker as the younger XO in charge of away teams.

Recreate a Spock-Kirk-McCoy relationship but instead of voicing Kirk's thoughts through Spock's logic and McCoy's emotion we would have:

Data as the android trying to be human, Geordi as chief engineer as his best friend who encourage data to become more human and a Pulaski-type character as CMO who points out the limitations of the emotions that a machine can emulate or feel. There would have been no emotion chip to solve this dilemma. Interaction and disagreements between the three would help proivide some "friction" missing in this sterile 24th-century world.

Worf as the Klingon security chief from the beginning who would be another "trapped between 2 worlds" character like Spock but examining his fight between what he's learned from his human foster parents and striving to emulate the heritage of the Klingon Empire and trying to find a balance between the idealistic Federation and the political corruptness hiding in the shadows of the "honrable" Klingon Council. Again more tension but it would be lying in the Klingons and not the "perefct" humans.

Troi would be more of a first contact officer than counsellor but could do both. More down to earth like Guinan in her wisdom than preaching from the textbooks. She could still have the old flame relationship with Riker but instead of being a Betazoid I'd go a totally different route and make her a Deltan. Forget all the telepathy that made Troi a boring threat to revealing the plot line to early for suspense and let her explore the realms of sexuality and empathy. That would have been the door for Trek writers to tackle those taboo sexual topics in a kore realistic way without climbing onto the soapbox as much as in "The Outcast" or "Blood and Fire." Imagine the awkwardness (and humor) in Riker meeting Troi's Deltan mother for the first time and dealing with those pheromones and trying to remember that this is Deanna's mother.

 

[cybersoldier]

Re: If you were the creator of TNG, what would you have done different

Then later introduce a new enterprise having the senior apart for a few episodes and slowly return to the enterprise via certain situations and reassignments.

Wait, you mean have another Enterprise in service at the same time...?

No I forgot to type I would had the E-D destoryed, perhaps ala Generations, with the borg, or romulans or during the klingon civil war

 

[QuasarVM]

Re: If you were the creator of TNG, what would you have done different

I would've kept the writing staff fresh by changing writers every season (with only an occasional new episode from Pillar, Moore and Torme). I would also commission scripts from real science fiction authors when possible.

In my opinion, seasons 1 - 3 were the best because the writers had fresh legs and had not become complacent as they seemed to have afterward...

When Star Trek became a "writers gravy train", it seems that's when I quit liking it as much...

You could tell the writers were running out of ideas and it all begins with the script...

 

[Red Ranger]

Re: If you were the creator of TNG, what would you have done different

Oh, good idea. I'd like to write that as a fanfic, but I don't think I'd keep it straight in my head!

WillsBabe:

Reminds me of my thread, "Alternate TNG." It would've been interesting if it were Commander Troi as the ambitious first officer who left the male Counselor Riker for the sake of her career! A role reversal for sure, but interesting nonetheless.

One of the knocks on TNG was that two out of the three female regulars were in caregiver roles (Crusher and Troi), while Yar was the only one in the "male" role. I would've switched it up, and make the first officer a woman, a no-nonsense exec -- a cross between Number One in the very first ST pilot and Shelby, and the Counselor would've been a male half-Betazed.

Red Ranger

Isn't the woman boss who's a b1tch just as much of a steriotype as the woman caregiver character?

Well, a tough woman is called a bitch, while a tough man is called a hard-ass! The former isn't respected, the latter is. Go figure!

I just thought of another change: I really hate the name "Crusher." It fits in wrestling, not on a SF show. I would've changed the surname to someething less ridiculous, like Crenshaw or Crandall, or even Fordham.

Red Ranger

 

[Praetor]

Re: If you were the creator of TNG, what would you have done different

You know, when you think about it, all of the TNG surnames are rather unusual. 'Riker' (or 'Ryker' as it was), 'LaForge,' 'Crusher,' and 'Yar.' Picard is the only name I'd ever encountered in real life, and granted in that case it was spelled Pickard and pronounced 'Pick-erd.'

I rather like 'Crandall.'

 

[Gary7]

Re: If you were the creator of TNG, what would you have done different

Lots of interesting ideas. I agree with a few of them and have some variations.

• Riker was too stiff... maybe Jonathan Frakes had limitations as an actor, but then there could've been issues with direction and scripts. Loosen him up... maybe a little more like Shatner (he really did very well overall... only a few episodes were he horribly overacted have stained his reputation).
• Gates McFadden was not a good Dr. Crusher. I'd have really enjoyed seeing Richard Picardo do that role.
• Wesley was a bit of a goof. Yeah, too perfect and smug. Make him more human, more fallible.
• Deanna took a LONG time to come into her role. In the beginning she was too inconsequential as being just the ship's counselor with empathic abilities. Definitely more of a communications officer, dealing with species encountered. Make her a uniformed part of the crew from the beginning.
• The ship... I just never warmed up to it. Too dramatic a difference from the original. I'd have liked to see a sleek version based directly off of the 1701-A.
• TOS did not have many combat scenes. There was actually a very interesting mix of stories... some a little too social and political. But that was the time. TNG didn't need so much social and political commentary. Definitely more deep space exploration and encountering more difficult/complicated species. Voyager was on the right track with that.
• More two part episodes. The end of the season cliff hanger was good, but I'd have liked seeing at least one more two part episode each season. A two part episode allows for good story development. 52 minutes (approximate episode length) is not enough time to do very much.

 

[Gary7]

Re: If you were the creator of TNG, what would you have done different

In my opinion, seasons 1 - 3 were the best because the writers had fresh legs and had not become complacent as they seemed to have afterward...

You're kidding, right?

I couldn't stand the first two seasons. It was like the actors were still searching out their roles and the producers trying to find "the groove".

Season three was the beginning of TNG for me. The absolute best season. Four was good, and so was Five, but yes... the remaining ones began to wane. Too many "junker" episodes. Only a few gems per season.

 

[JJohnson]

Re: If you were the creator of TNG, what would you have done different

Oh, good idea. I'd like to write that as a fanfic, but I don't think I'd keep it straight in my head!

WillsBabe:

Reminds me of my thread, "Alternate TNG." It would've been interesting if it were Commander Troi as the ambitious first officer who left the male Counselor Riker for the sake of her career! A role reversal for sure, but interesting nonetheless.

One of the knocks on TNG was that two out of the three female regulars were in caregiver roles (Crusher and Troi), while Yar was the only one in the "male" role. I would've switched it up, and make the first officer a woman, a no-nonsense exec -- a cross between Number One in the very first ST pilot and Shelby, and the Counselor would've been a male half-Betazed.

Red Ranger

Isn't the woman boss who's a b1tch just as much of a steriotype as the woman caregiver character?

The woman exec doesn't need to be a b-i-itch, but just a no-nonsense, business-first type, who can let her hair down off-duty. Shelby was very ambitious, we got that, but perhaps showing her as Riker's exec for a few episodes while Picard recuperated on earth could've shown that she's not a witch, but a real person.

 

[WillsBabe]

Re: If you were the creator of TNG, what would you have done different

The woman exec doesn't need to be a b-i-itch, but just a no-nonsense, business-first type, who can let her hair down off-duty. Shelby was very ambitious, we got that, but perhaps showing her as Riker's exec for a few episodes while Picard recuperated on earth could've shown that she's not a witch, but a real person.

When I watch BOBW now I dont think that Shelby was a bitch. I think she was driven. I think that she certainly became a more sympathetic character in BOBWII. I think she came across as a bitch to people because she's in oppostition to Riker, and Riker is a familiar character to us. I find it interesting that Jellico's reputation (another character who butted heads with Riker) has mellowed over the years but Shelby's generally doesn't seemed to have.

 

[Praetor]

Re: If you were the creator of TNG, what would you have done different

The woman exec doesn't need to be a b-i-itch, but just a no-nonsense, business-first type, who can let her hair down off-duty. Shelby was very ambitious, we got that, but perhaps showing her as Riker's exec for a few episodes while Picard recuperated on earth could've shown that she's not a witch, but a real person.

When I watch BOBW now I dont think that Shelby was a bitch. I think she was driven. I think that she certainly became a more sympathetic character in BOBWII. I think she came across as a bitch to people because she's in oppostition to Riker, and Riker is a familiar character to us. I find it interesting that Jellico's reputation (another character who butted heads with Riker) has mellowed over the years but Shelby's generally doesn't seemed to have.

I agree, WillsBabe. I think perhaps, other than due to gender perception differences, the reason Jellico's rep has mellowed is because he was the Captain and therefore had a little leeway for being a gigantic jerk. Which he was, and in my mind that's never changed. I found Shelby wholly more sympathetic and likeable even though she and Riker butted heads; she was a rival turned friend. Jellico was the obnoxious new boss.

 

[JJohnson]

Re: If you were the creator of TNG, what would you have done different

I would've liked a few episodes more with Shelby and Riker, with Picard back on Earth recuperating. It could've fleshed her character out a bit more.

 

[WillsBabe]

Re: If you were the creator of TNG, what would you have done different

I agree, WillsBabe. I think perhaps, other than due to gender perception differences, the reason Jellico's rep has mellowed is because he was the Captain and therefore had a little leeway for being a gigantic jerk. Which he was, and in my mind that's never changed. I found Shelby wholly more sympathetic and likeable even though she and Riker butted heads; she was a rival turned friend. Jellico was the obnoxious new boss.

It's nice to read that. Sometimes, all I hear is the love for Jellico!

I would've liked a few episodes more with Shelby and Riker, with Picard back on Earth recuperating. It could've fleshed her character out a bit more.

Me, too. I like Shelby and it would have been nice to see more of her. I think if they'd been making TNG these days she may have hung around for longer, but obviously not back then. Story arcs and house-guest characters were far less common. Plus, they were probably itching to get Patrick Stewart back on screen.

 

[Praetor]

Re: If you were the creator of TNG, what would you have done different

Yeah, I've never got the love for Jellico. I mean he was a pompous hardass (and not the fun Red Forman type.) Picard was strict but not a jerk. Jellico in no way stacks up to Jean-Luc in my mind, but Shelby could have been a good new first officer. No Will Riker, but still good.

 

[Will]

Re: If you were the creator of TNG, what would you have done different

I would keep Captain Picard basically the same. Jean-Luc was a cool dude. Riker was OK as well. What I would change is:

Deanna Troi is not a member of Starfleet. She is a civilian ambassador from the UFP posted to the Enterprise for First Contact situations. She would not be in a uniform, but in sane civilian clothing (none of that weird spandex catsuit stuff). Living in San Francisco, she met and began a relationship with Beverly Howard, a young medical student studying exobiology.

Dr. Beverly Howard and Deanna Troi were together for five years, three of which were spent in Marseilles, France. Dr. Howard became good friends with a Starfleet officer, Lt. Jack Crusher, after a meeting in "Sandrine's." Troi became suspicious of the two spending so much time together, and examined Howard's thoughts. Beverly, betrayed by the suspicion and invasion, left Troi and began dating, and soon married, Jack Crusher. The two had a son, Wesley. Troi, upset and ashamed, went to Vulcan to learn emotional control, and so is more disciplined; also, her empathic talents have been honed to the level of near-telepathy. After Jack's death, Beverly was posted to the USS Enterprise-D. Since Ambassador Troi is also assigned to the Enterprise, there is some tension between the two; also between Troi and Wes Crusher, who represents Troi's mistake and a failed future.

Tasha Yar is the ops officer. Her character is essentially the same.

Data is the chief Science officer. I like the idea of him being the product of an alien civilization, and he is looking for them.

Geordi LaForge is the Chief Engineer from the beginning.

Worf is the tactical officer and head of security.

Wes Crusher, not a super-boy-genius, eventually becomes the helm officer.

 

[Praetor]

Re: If you were the creator of TNG, what would you have done different

Deanna Troi is not a member of Starfleet. She is a civilian ambassador from the UFP posted to the Enterprise for First Contact situations. She would not be in a uniform, but in sane civilian clothing (none of that weird spandex catsuit stuff). Living in San Francisco, she met and began a relationship with Beverly Howard, a young medical student studying exobiology.

Dr. Beverly Howard and Deanna Troi were together for five years, three of which were spent in Marseilles, France. Dr. Howard became good friends with a Starfleet officer, Lt. Jack Crusher, after a meeting in "Sandrine's." Troi became suspicious of the two spending so much time together, and examined Howard's thoughts. Beverly, betrayed by the suspicion and invasion, left Troi and began dating, and soon married, Jack Crusher. The two had a son, Wesley. Troi, upset and ashamed, went to Vulcan to learn emotional control, and so is more disciplined; also, her empathic talents have been honed to the level of near-telepathy. After Jack's death, Beverly was posted to the USS Enterprise-D. Since Ambassador Troi is also assigned to the Enterprise, there is some tension between the two; also between Troi and Wes Crusher, who represents Troi's mistake and a failed future.

This is really clever. I don't think I've seen this type of approach before. Even if the studio wouldn't have gone for the bisexual aspect of it, the rest would still work on its own with subtle modifications.

 

[steevo]

Re: If you were the creator of TNG, what would you have done different

*Cast a stronger actress as Dr. Crusher. Gates McFadden was an empty suitcase in that role.

*Everything else is pretty as it is.

*Maybe make Data older so he could've been in TFF &/or TUC, But then that screws up his “father”'s story & relationship with Data & twin Lore.

*That's it for now dude.

I don't think it was Gates Mcfadden herself who was "empty" in that role. Rather, her character was very under-written. I definitely would have made her much stronger.

I would have also allowed more conflict among the crew.

Also, let them "screw up" at their jobs and even doubt themselves every once in a awhile. This is what I loved about Barclay. He had his flaws and yet he overcame them and developed confidence in himself.