Missed opportunity for a really cool friendship

[The Grim Ghost]

I was re-watching some TNG today and it struck me that it was kind of a shame O'Brien and Geordi didn't strike up more of a friendship. It would have given us more Miles which is always good and it would have given Geordi something to do besides solve technobabble problems and moon over women he couldn't get.

I don't even mean something so huge as the Miles/Bashir friendship. Just something to occasionally touch on. Would have helped flesh both of them out a bit more I think.

Anybody agree?

 

[Kosh Who]

Yeah given they were two of the easiest going characters in Trek it would have been good to see them in more scenes

 

[The Wormhole]

Interesting idea. If anything, it could have added another layer to why the Romulans kept making Geordi kill O'Brien on their holodeck to test how effective their brainwashing was in The Mind's Eye.

 

[cgervasi]

It would be kind of like Dr. Bashir and O'Brien, but both engineers, one formally educated and the other picking it up on the job.

 

[2takesfrakes]

I don't see O'Brien & LaForge actively disliking eachother, but I can't easily picture them hanging out, at all. They do not seem to have very much in common. For one thing ... O'Brien can get with smokin' hotties, without resorting to fantasy recreations of them, in the holodeck. And their personalities do not seem to jibe, in my view. Miles is more of a down-to-earth type, whilst Geordi is something of a lightweight. But I definitely do see the both of them sharing mutual respect, on a professional level and interacting socially, when the situation demands it ...

 

[Draculasaurus]

I've always thought it would have been interesting if O'Brien had also belonged to a completely different social group.
It would kind of make the best use of the fact that the main characters only hang out with each other, by at least suggesting other stuff is going on.
Miles would say things like "I can't tonight, Manny Petorsky's band is playing in the starboard rec-room."

 

[Mojochi]

I've always thought it would have been interesting if O'Brien had also belonged to a completely different social group.
It would kind of make the best use of the fact that the main characters only hang out with each other, by at least suggesting other stuff is going on.
Miles would say things like "I can't tonight, Manny Petorsky's band is playing in the starboard rec-room."

So much of this right here! ^ Kind of like "Lower Decks", except not that much lower. My only gripe about Lower Decks is I honestly thought that Nurse Ogawa had been on the ship so long that it would be quite unlikely she'd hang with Lavelle, Jaxa & Taurik, who all seem like they might have been recruited about the same time, maybe even in the same academy class. Ogawa is older that that right? I really never considered her a junior officer, like them, at that time. It's never stated, but she sure did seem like the chief nurse. If I were assuming a social group for her, the non-coms & civilian workers like Keiko & Miles would be right in that wheelhouse

As for Miles & Geordi, I agree with 2takesfrakes. I'm sure they'd very much like one another, both being very friendly, down to earth guys, but as for socializing? I dunno. Geordi seems like he'd be very wrapped up in tech hobbies, whereas Miles, even though he's exceptional at tech stuff too, his hobbies & free time is spent almost completely the opposite of that. They're both good guys, but not very similar people

It might be no coincidence that Geordi's best friend is an android Actually, as for a human best friend. I think Geordi should just stick to running with Barkley & Wesley... You know, the geeks. Miles isn't one of the geeks. He's one of the dudes. lol. Actually, until he got married, I could sort of see him palling around with Riker. Riker actually needed something like that too, to bring him down to Earth a little, & make him seem less pompous, a buddy might've helped there

 

[woodstock]

Transporter chiefs and chiefs of engineering don't mix.

 

[Mojochi]

Transporter chiefs and chiefs of engineering don't mix.

Geordi was friends with the Chief of Operations though lol

None of them hung out with the chief medical officer though. Too many chiefs. Not enough indians

 

[JirinPanthosa]

Geordi/O'Brien friendship would be like a comedy duo with two straight men.

"My friend, I am managing a baseball team."
"That's great. Who's on first?"
"Yes. The man who plays first base is named Who. From your wording it was not clear whether you were asking me who was on first, or whether you were asking me if 'Who' was the name of the first basemen."
"I apologize for the ambiguity of my phrasing."

 

[Gary7]

I think it could have worked. But the way TNG episodes were written, just not enough time for it. The pace of episodes for a traveling ship are different than those bound by a space station (for the most part... where the holosuites are). Ten Forward pales in comparison to the promenade. And another thing, their characters weren't as equally developed. O'Brien was almost a background cast member compared to Geordi, when adding up their screen times.

I think the Bashir and O'Brien friendship was a terrific part of DS9. And the evolution of O'Brien was a nice touch from TNG.

 

[JirinPanthosa]

To elaborate on my previous comment.

Geordi and O'Brien are both normal characters who react to crazy characters in completely normal ways. They are 'straight men', and Geordi and O'Brien would be like 'Abbott and Hardy'. Like if Al from Home Improvement ever met Ron Swanson.

Geordi and O'Brien were probably friends, but none of their conversations as friends were screen-worthy. Dry affirmations about whether recent adjustments to the dilithium crystal formation were successful or not. Mutual agreement that they don't get what the kids are into these days. These are the exciting conversations had by O'Brien and Geordi.

They are their show's sane reactions to the weird.

 

[Jedman67]

 

[Spot261]

And another thing, their characters weren't as equally developed. O'Brien was almost a background cast member compared to Geordi, when adding up their screen times.

I'm not sure here, Geordie gets more screen time sure, but I think we actually know more about O'Brien on a personal level. Certainly he is much more relatable. A lot of that can be credited to DS9 however.

Mutual agreement that they don't get what the kids are into these days

Creating intelligent nanites, twisting reality, writing blogs about the dominion war, crazy stuff

 

[Kor]

They could go kayaking in the holodeck together. With a holographic Leah Brahms.

Kor

 

[JirinPanthosa]

Creating intelligent nanites, twisting reality, writing blogs about the dominion war, crazy stuff

All topics they would be in complete agreement are not to be messed with.

Data/Geordi and Bashir/O'Brien are entertaining because the oversane guy is paired with the weird or more adventurous guy.

I'm sure Geordi and O'Brien had a lot of intense conversations about dilithium crystal alignment and strategies to increase engine efficiency by 0.16 percent. Just, those not interested in those topics would not want to be listening in.

 

[Mojochi]

Then again, if I wanted to a start a gearhead, hot rod garage club, that rebuilt or modded out small starships like Cochrane's Phoenix, Delta Fliers, or Peregrine Fighters. Those two guys would TOTALLY be in the club