Kurn’s replacement as cha’DIch

[Captrek]

In Sins of the Father, when Kurn is injured and Worf selects a new cha’DIch, he selects Picard.

The obvious choice would be Riker. He’s younger, bigger, stronger, and more of a fighter. He is interested in Klingon culture, has served honorably (and brilliantly) aboard a Klingon ship, and has done Klingon calisthenics with Worf. He’s constantly going out on away teams and putting his ass on the line along with Worf while the captain stays on the ship where it’s safe. When he contemplated transferring to the Aries as her new captain, Worf expressed a desire to transfer with him.

In light of all that, it’s difficult to understand why Worf would not select him to be cha’DIch.

Picard was a more popular character than Riker, and Stewart a better actor than Frakes. Is that why Picard was the cha’DIch, or was the decision based on in-universe considerations?

 

[TheSeeker]

Yeah, for a while there they seemed to be trying to cultivate a closer friendship between Worf and Riker lie the one between Data and Geordi but they never really followed through with it. Too bad. They are two of my favourite characters.

 

[PKS8304]

I think he chose Picard because of his respect for the Captain as his leader and for Picards skills as a diplomat and negotiator.

 

[Ghrakh]

^^ yeah, Picard was better at exposition.

 

[Unicron]

 

[Tiberius]

Yeah, for a while there they seemed to be trying to cultivate a closer friendship between Worf and Riker lie the one between Data and Geordi but they never really followed through with it. Too bad. They are two of my favourite characters.

A Matter of Honor and The Outcast come to mind...

 

[Skywalker]

I think it was a purely real-world decision. Stewart was the star, not Frakes.

 

[Saxman1]

Stewart was starting to complain about Frakes getting to do all the fun stuff, so there you go. Frakes was happy to have a paycheck, so he faded somewhat into the background while Stewart was more prominently featured in most stories from an action standpoint from season 3 onward.

 

[Captrek]

Stewart was starting to complain about Frakes getting to do all the fun stuff, so there you go. Frakes was happy to have a paycheck, so he faded somewhat into the background while Stewart was more prominently featured in most stories from an action standpoint from season 3 onward.

Was the idea that people don’t distinguish between actor and character?

“I’m tired of Riker getting all the best action scenes. Give me the action scenes. I don’t care if it makes sense, I want to show everybody I’m a tough guy who can kick bad guy ass, and I’m the star so you better do what I say. Also, give me a ‘Surely someone younger’ line to show everyone how humble I am.”

 

[Eckauskas]

I think he chose Picard because of his respect for the Captain as his leader and for Picards skills as a diplomat and negotiator.

That was my thinking too.

 

[Uxi]

Riker would and should have been better for all the reasons in the OP. They should have called Stewart's bluff and let him die as Locutus.

 

[Shikarnov]

Riker would and should have been better for all the reasons in the OP. They should have called Stewart's bluff and let him die as Locutus.

I would have loved that show. I really enjoyed the dynamic between Shelby and Riker, and dearly wish it could have continued.

 

[Worf'sParmach]

Hmm... I never thought about it but I think captrek definitely has a good point. And I agree that it was a "real world" solution. Stewart is the star so it goes to him. I think Worf and Riker as buddies would have been good. It would have made that 11th hour Worf-Troi-Riker drama from S7 more interesting.

 

[WillsBabe]

Picard was a more popular character than Riker,

I think you have it right there. I remember thinking at the time that Riker would have been a more obvious choice. I think TNG became The Picard and Data show as it went on. Irritated me a great deal at the time, but c'est la vie. If you are a fan of those characters it must have been great.

I would have loved that show. I really enjoyed the dynamic between Shelby and Riker, and dearly wish it could have continued.

Me, too. I like to think that in some alternative universe the show that it became ran to a good few seasons.

 

[Worf'sParmach]

I think TNG became The Picard and Data show as it went on. Irritated me a great deal at the time, but c'est la vie. If you are a fan of those characters it must have been great.

Agreed. Being a Worf fan, this especially irritated me about the movies.

 

[TerragonSix]

Yeah, even on the most basic level, it makes the most sense that Riker would be the Cha'dich. Riker is younger, more athletic, better trained in combat, and has a close working relationship with Worf.

This was all about Stewart wanting the screen time. Or, at least, that's an assumption on my part.

I also think that it's a little unfair to say that Riker was not as popular as Picard. Lack of consistent character development, lack of screen time, lack of consistency overall, poor writing.

It most certainly didn't help the case for Riker being a leading role. It would've been an interesting twist in the fabric of TNG; Locutus vs. Riker; the teacher vs. the student. If not TNG TV material, it would've made a hell of a movie. (Fine, at the end make Q turn Picard back into a human, as we all are obsessed with happy endings)

There you go, have Generations, First Contact, Nemesis (Picard vs. Riker), Final Mission (Best Of Both Worlds Episode to a movie)

Anyway, who really knows what happened behind the scenes of this episode? Maybe it was pressure from Stewart, maybe it was the writers.

I'll tell you one thing though; I think, that if in SOTF Riker was the Cha'Dich, he would've stayed with Worf (or should've at least) help Worf with preserving the Klingon Empire in Redemption. It would've been good for Riker's character development, Picard would've had his role maintained as a man who has the feeling of his hands tied, and Data would've had his spot to shine.

A good compromise for all; but, it didn't happen that way.

 

[WillsBabe]

I think TNG became The Picard and Data show as it went on. Irritated me a great deal at the time, but c'est la vie. If you are a fan of those characters it must have been great.

Agreed. Being a Worf fan, this especially irritated me about the movies.

Yeah. Massively evident in the movies. By then I was kinda past caring!

 

[BennyRussel]

I think TNG became The Picard and Data show as it went on. Irritated me a great deal at the time, but c'est la vie. If you are a fan of those characters it must have been great.

Agreed. Being a Worf fan, this especially irritated me about the movies.

Yeah. Massively evident in the movies. By then I was kinda past caring!

I believe in the original story for "First Contact" - Riker was supposed to stay on the Enterprise and fight the Borg side-by-side with Worf. Picard was to stay on the surface and debate with Cochrane about why he had to go through with his flight (of course convincing him with the Picard Speech [TM])

I would have loved to see Riker in that role, but alas Patrick Stewart did not like that version.

Riker and Worf were a good combination.

 

[WillsBabe]

Riker and Worf were a good combination.

I agree. I really like the couple of them together. I like their friendship when we see bits and pieces of it.

 

[TheSeeker]

The worst part is that the writers were just cherry picking which situations were ok for Picard to be involved with when it came to Worf.

Worf chose Picard as his cha'DIch yet when it came time for Worf to pull the plug on his own life he went to Riker. I think it's pretty clear they didn't want to have to put Picard in that kind of situation.