Paris as Locarno

[Timewalker]

Paris had a bit of a goofy, boyish quality that Locarno probably didn't (but Locarno may have developed that as the series went on if he'd been on board)

That's why Locarno wouldn't have worked. A good character is a well-rounded, dynamic character. Tom Paris was a more-than-competent pilot, he made a good medic (even before receiving extra training from the Doctor), he had a conscience, he had a strong sense of duty and loyalty, and he knew how to have fun.

I can't imagine Locarno goofing around with Harry in the Captain Proton program. I can't even imagine Locarno and Harry even being friends. I certainly can't imagine Locarno as someone B'Elanna would be friends with, never mind eventually marrying.

 

[Tosk]

That's why Locarno wouldn't have worked. A good character is a well-rounded, dynamic character. Tom Paris was a more-than-competent pilot, he made a good medic (even before receiving extra training from the Doctor), he had a conscience, he had a strong sense of duty and loyalty, and he knew how to have fun.

Nick had one episode, Tom had seven years. How well rounded was Tom by the halfway point of Caretaker?

 

[Bad Thoughts]

That's why Locarno wouldn't have worked. A good character is a well-rounded, dynamic character. Tom Paris was a more-than-competent pilot, he made a good medic (even before receiving extra training from the Doctor), he had a conscience, he had a strong sense of duty and loyalty, and he knew how to have fun.

Nick had one episode, Tom had seven years. How well rounded was Tom by the halfway point of Caretaker?

He gained a catchphrase, "Yes, ma'am. " Is that development?

 

[Timewalker]

Was that before or after we know he likes plain tomato soup and he rescued Harry from being fleeced by Quark?

There's another difference between them. Tom Paris is the 24th century equivalent of "street-smart." That's something I don't get from Locarno.

 

[Bad Thoughts]

^In the end, I don't feel the differences are compelling. Even inn the first hour, we learn more about Paris than we did about Locarno. However, Locarno was designed as something for Wesley to react to and ultimately to reject. We're supposed to learn to love and live with Paris for many seasons. It's the difference between a one-time part and a recurring role, nothing more.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

Locarno openly encouraged everyone else in Nova Squadron to lie and cover up the truth. He never showed any remorse for what happened. Paris falsified reports at first, but eventually admitted what he'd done. Locarno would never have done that.

 

[Skywalker]

Locarno openly encouraged everyone else in Nova Squadron to lie and cover up the truth. He never showed any remorse for what happened. Paris falsified reports at first, but eventually admitted what he'd done. Locarno would never have done that.

Pity we never actually got a chance to see if he would have, I don't know, developed into someone who might have.

 

[exodus]

Same reason every time the name "Droid" is used to advertise a phone, George Lucas has to get paid for it. "Droid" is trademarked under Lucas Entertainment.

Droid may be trademarked, but ANdroid is a different word. Lucas has no say in that one.

Kinda why I put "Droid" in quotes.

 

[wtriker1701]

Jumped onto my mind:

Janeway to 'Locarno': "So you go with the name Tom Paris now, why?"

'Locarno': "Let's just say, it is and'll stay my 'Nom de Voyage', ok? Please don't tell anyone!"

 

[TheSubCommander]

Same reason every time the name "Droid" is used to advertise a phone, George Lucas has to get paid for it. "Droid" is trademarked under Lucas Entertainment.

Droid may be trademarked, but ANdroid is a different word. Lucas has no say in that one.

Kinda why I put "Droid" in quotes.

But Exodus is right: Motorola Droid models are exactly what he is talking about. Motorola must pay Lucas for the use of the word Droid.

 

[CorporalCaptain]

Trademark law has nothing directly to do with the topic of this thread, though, unless we're trying to draw some sort of analogy (which is irrelevant in figuring out who gets paid what, anyway).

WGA screenwriting credit rules are what's actually relevant.

 

[JirinPanthosa]

Paris had a bit of a goofy, boyish quality that Locarno probably didn't (but Locarno may have developed that as the series went on if he'd been on board)

That's why Locarno wouldn't have worked. A good character is a well-rounded, dynamic character. Tom Paris was a more-than-competent pilot, he made a good medic (even before receiving extra training from the Doctor), he had a conscience, he had a strong sense of duty and loyalty, and he knew how to have fun.

I can't imagine Locarno goofing around with Harry in the Captain Proton program. I can't even imagine Locarno and Harry even being friends. I certainly can't imagine Locarno as someone B'Elanna would be friends with, never mind eventually marrying.

Tom didn't have a sense of duty and loyalty in Caretaker, he developed it as the show went on.

And honestly I felt like, while his boyish quality turned into one of his better character traits, it contradicted his established qualities at the beginning. And I think they went a little far in that direction making him a little too obsessed with silly things.

 

[Timewalker]

Paris had a bit of a goofy, boyish quality that Locarno probably didn't (but Locarno may have developed that as the series went on if he'd been on board)

That's why Locarno wouldn't have worked. A good character is a well-rounded, dynamic character. Tom Paris was a more-than-competent pilot, he made a good medic (even before receiving extra training from the Doctor), he had a conscience, he had a strong sense of duty and loyalty, and he knew how to have fun.

I can't imagine Locarno goofing around with Harry in the Captain Proton program. I can't even imagine Locarno and Harry even being friends. I certainly can't imagine Locarno as someone B'Elanna would be friends with, never mind eventually marrying.

Tom didn't have a sense of duty and loyalty in Caretaker, he developed it as the show went on.

And honestly I felt like, while his boyish quality turned into one of his better character traits, it contradicted his established qualities at the beginning. And I think they went a little far in that direction making him a little too obsessed with silly things.

What silly things? My dad was into old cars, goofy TV shows, and pizza. If the holodeck had been invented by now, my dad would have happily made his own garage and other holodeck programs. They would have been based on Louis L'Amour novels, though, instead of old B&W cliffhanger serials.

 

[ALF]

I wonder if in McNeill's personal canon he considers Tom Paris to be Locarno.

At all these conventions and over all these years... someone must have asked him this question once.

 

[hux]

And honestly I felt like, while his boyish quality turned into one of his better character traits, it contradicted his established qualities at the beginning. And I think they went a little far in that direction making him a little too obsessed with silly things.

Exactly....Paris started as the troubled bad boy who shouldn't be trusted etc (he was basically Locarno)...a few episodes in however and we start to see the goofy side (like when you go on a date and pretend to be all mature and sophisticated then three months later you relax and stop all that crap)

So i don't see why it would be a problem for Locarno to have developed in exactly the same way

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

Locarno openly encouraged everyone else in Nova Squadron to lie and cover up the truth. He never showed any remorse for what happened. Paris falsified reports at first, but eventually admitted what he'd done. Locarno would never have done that.

Pity we never actually got a chance to see if he would have, I don't know, developed into someone who might have.

But the problem with Locarno is that his case got to trial, so to speak. We didn't get the chance to see if he'd have come clean on his own, because Starfleet basically made him do it when they convened the hearing.

Paris lied on the initial reports and then (without anyone prompting him to) admitted what he'd done. Locarno never got that far, and I still get the feeling he never would have.

 

[bbjeg]

My "Why didn't they just keep their characters" thread covers a few of the topics covered in this thread (along with other characters that could have continued on) but on the topic of Paris and Locarno, they're two unique characters with similar back stories. Locarno was a much darker character.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

Another theory I just made up: Perhaps the VOY writers just thought the name 'Tom Paris' sounded better than 'Nicholas Locarno'?

 

[F. King Daniel]

I wonder if in McNeill's personal canon he considers Tom Paris to be Locarno.

At all these conventions and over all these years... someone must have asked him this question once.

His response would probably be something like "my personal... cannon?"

 

[Timewalker]

Another theory I just made up: Perhaps the VOY writers just thought the name 'Tom Paris' sounded better than 'Nicholas Locarno'?

Other than the "royalties" reason, that's the most sensible suggestion yet.