John Meredyth Lucas - underrated?

[Botany Bay]

Just looking at the contributions of JML to TOS

Producer :
Journey to Babel
Private Little War
Gamesters of Triskelion
Obsession
Immunity Syndrome
Piece of the Action
By Any Other Name
Return to Tomorrow
Patterns of Force
Ultimate Computer
Omega Glory

Writer:
Patterns of Force
Changeling
Elaan of Troyius
That Which Survives

Director:
Ultimate Computer
Elanan of Troyius
The Enterprise Incident

It looks like he was involved in some of the very best episodes. I don't think he would have let anyone down if he had been given the job of 3rd season producer. I suppose if you wanted to be critical you could say he lent on the "history" type stories a bit too often late in the 2nd season, but apparently alternate histories were his big interest.

Must have been a pretty talented guy to be able to write, produce and direct - nobody else on TOS did all three did they?

Anyway, what do you think of his episodes?

 

[trevanian]

I've never figured out why he didn't litigate over TMP, there' s an awful lot of CHANGELING in there.

I think Lucas was very good, and why he didn't get asked back for season 3 is a big ? to me. I don't think anybody could have replaced Coon completely, but Lucas was a damned good try. I think he managed the action quotient very nicely without shortsheeting the characters. Lucas/Justman for season 3 could have been a great pairing.

 

[S'kai]

You can get another dose of JML when Star Trek Phase II releases Kitumba next year. His original unused story was expanded and edited into a screenplay for STP2.

 

[Maurice]

You can get another dose of JML when Star Trek Phase II releases Kitumba next year. His original unused story was expanded and edited into a screenplay for STP2.

I wouldn't say edited. I would say "rewritten" given what I have seen and heard about it.

 

[Botany Bay]

You can get another dose of JML when Star Trek Phase II releases Kitumba next year. His original unused story was expanded and edited into a screenplay for STP2.

Hey thanks for the heads up! I am a huge fan of New Voyages, their enthusiasm and attention to detail is incredible. Even though they're (mostly) amatuers having fun - they are making the best Trek since 1991 for my money

 

[Botany Bay]

I've never figured out why he didn't litigate over TMP, there' s an awful lot of CHANGELING in there.

I think Lucas was very good, and why he didn't get asked back for season 3 is a big ? to me. I don't think anybody could have replaced Coon completely, but Lucas was a damned good try. I think he managed the action quotient very nicely without shortsheeting the characters. Lucas/Justman for season 3 could have been a great pairing.

I agree on all points.

Complete speculation here, but I think JML and Roddenberry might have had a bit of a love/hate relationship.

Solow and Justman's Inside Trek hints that Roddenberry wanted JML gone from TOS, and had him fired.

Yet, months later he was back directing Troyius and Enterprise Incident.

And, as you mentioned, their friendship was obviously fine by the late 70's because of Kitumba, and the lack of legal action/public complaints when Roddenberry lifted The Changeling as the template for TMP.