RDM; the verdict

[RobertScorpio]

I actually think Ronald D Moore was modern Trek's best writer. I understand that some of our Klingon friends don't like his treatment of the klingons, but I thought most of what he did for them transformed them from grunting morons into a culture with depth...though I understand those who didn't like that part of the story..

Any way...how would you grade RDM's over all tenure with STAR TREK. From TNG, to the movies he did, to DS9 and Voyager...his over all grade is...

Rob
Scorpio

 

[sidious618]

A. Ron was fantastic on Trek and he's even better now.

 

[JNG]

I thought most of what he did for them transformed them from grunting morons into a culture with depth

I remember a lot less grunting and moronic behavior before he got hold of them. Kor was everything Klingons needed to be. Moore needlessly swapped their more interesting characteristics with those of Romulans. Samurai Biker Vikings.

Overall his work is probably a C. For every episode like "The Defector" there's one like "The Bonding."

On BSG, for every thrill from hearing about how the Cylons have a plan, there's confusing behavior that makes it clear they have no idea what they are doing. For every podcast about the secrets of the storyline that convinces fans it's incredibly deep and planned-out, there's one where he admits he proposed random crap like Dirk Benedict appearing and claiming to be God. For every tightly scripted scene with good emotional content, there's an incredibly unlikely coincidence or magical prophecy to keep the storyline moving.

Most writers average out to a C, so this isn't a slam.

 

[Emperor-Tiberius]

He's a truly excellent writer, but he'll never get an A from me, for this reason: He wrote the horrible and downright insulting GENERATIONS. 'Nuff said.

That said, his work is exceptional, especially in DS9.

 

[clint g]

Im putting him down as being over rated. That's not to say he's a bad writer, but I do think he gets more credit than he deserves

 

[shatastrophic]

He's a truly excellent writer, but he'll never get an A from me, for this reason: He wrote the horrible and downright insulting GENERATIONS. 'Nuff said.

That said, his work is exceptional, especially in DS9.

Agreed!!

 

[Jon1701]

He's a truly excellent writer, but he'll never get an A from me, for this reason: He wrote the horrible and downright insulting GENERATIONS. 'Nuff said.

I don't think you can blame him for GENERATIONS.

The studio wanted a very specific movie, with several predefined elements. Certain things had to happen. The studio wanted

Two Crews
Kirk
Klingons
Guinan
A "better than Khan" villian
A Picard Story
A "funny" data story

amongst other things. Not to mention that Shatner, Stewart and Berman (and the studio) had to approve the script. If you listen to the Braga/Moore commentary on that movie they give a very frank and honest assesment of the work they did. They were hampered throughout.

Put it this way - AGT took about a week to write, whereas GENERATIONS took over a year.

 

[Hermiod]

Personally, I think Moore was the best thing to happen to TNG and Deep Space Nine. It's a shame he was never allowed to bring his influence to Voyager.

Purely based on his influence over Star Trek - A.

 

[Kegek]

^
He was. He just quit soon after.

I'd say around B. Like his Klingons better than, it seems, most; and his output on TNG was in general above par and pretty promising for a first time writer.

He's a truly excellent writer, but he'll never get an A from me, for this reason: He wrote the horrible and downright insulting GENERATIONS. 'Nuff said.

I don't think you can blame him for GENERATIONS.

The studio wanted a very specific movie, with several predefined elements. Certain things had to happen. The studio wanted

Two Crews
Kirk
Klingons
Guinan
A "better than Khan" villian
A Picard Story
A "funny" data story

amongst other things.

We didn't get two crews, and the villain was hardly better than Khan. It's true Moore got a checklist, but that can hardly justify the very lazy writing about, for example, the Nexus (you can't get into it by ship because they blow up... but how did Soran get there in the first place? Oh yeah, an exploding ship). What I can say to his credit (or Braga's?) is there are some nice speeches and musings about time. And I don't see a 'make a stupid Data subplot' on that list either.

 

[Jon1701]

^

We didn't get two crews, and the villain was hardly better than Khan.

Oh, I know and er....I know. Its what the studio wanted though.

I just think, given the different ways they were getting pulled I'm surprised they got a script out at all. Have you heard the commentary? They both admit the Nexus was a shit idea.

 

[Hermiod]

^
He was. He just quit soon after.

Not what I meant, he wrote two episodes. That's it. He hardly stamped his authority on the show.

 

[Kegek]

They both admit the Nexus was a shit idea.

And whose fault was that?

 

[Garth Rockett]

No one can bat a thousand, but even when Moore had an episode (or movie) that didn't really work, it wasn't a complete waste of time. There are always nice bits I can find here and there.

Given the number of outright classics he was involved with, I can't give him anything less than an "A".

 

[Harvey]

I'd give him a B. Everybody who's ever written Trek has a fair number of clunkers to his or her name--Ronald D. Moore is no different. That said, he has a lot of classics to his name, and for a first time writer, demonstrated a lot of talent on the Next Generation, which he only further developed on Deep Space Nine.

 

[Jack Bauer]

On BSG, for every thrill from hearing about how the Cylons have a plan, there's confusing behavior that makes it clear they have no idea what they are doing. For every podcast about the secrets of the storyline that convinces fans it's incredibly deep and planned-out, there's one where he admits he proposed random crap like Dirk Benedict appearing and claiming to be God. For every tightly scripted scene with good emotional content, there's an incredibly unlikely coincidence or magical prophecy to keep the storyline moving.

I doubt most if any fans think BSG is all planned out certainly not those who listen to the podcasts where it's obvious Moore makes it up on the fly.

 

[Lowdarzz]

Have to give Moore a "C".

We got some really good episodes of TNG out of him but also so really mediocre ones as well. He also gave the Klingons some good development but at the same time they seem to be more one dimensional is some respect now.

Honestly I believe the best Trek writers were and are Gene L. Coon and Michael Piller.

 

[AdmiralGarak]

I think B is a safe vote. Everybody has bad episodes under their belt. Fortunately, RDM had dozens more successes than clunkers.

Quite a few of my favorite Trek stories are on the list of episodes he wrote or co-wrote.

 

[chancellorjake]

I'll give him a B. He wrote some really amazing episodes of TNG and DS9, but he did have a few awful episodes. However, I reserve the right to change my grade based on his current and upcoming work. If he disappoints me with the final episodes of BSG, then I'll give him a huge D-. He is already approaching C+ territory, at a rapid pace.

 

[Gepard]

I like his work a lot.

But then, I'm a bootlicker.

 

[Michael]

But then, I'm a bootlicker.

Just like me. (Still waiting for the t-shirt though.)

I give him an A. He wasn't perfect. But then again, who is?