"Star Trek Picard Is Not a Sequel to The Next Generation Says Producer"

[StarMan]

It doesn't have to be TNG S8 to qualify as a sequel. I fail to see what is achieved with these nitpick-y distinctions. Are they trying to soften the blow for fans who think it's a direct continuation of TNG, or attract new viewers who might be reluctant because it could be a direct continuation of TNG? Or they're just attempting to be unnecessarily clever about it all. If Patrick Stewart is in a Star Trek TV series playing Jean-Luc Picard, with appearances from several TNG characters, then it is a sequel of a sort to TNG - regardless of word play.

 

[Danlav05]

My first impression from the SDCC trailer was it felt like a trailer for a 5th TNG movie - several plot threads are being revisited i.e. the Borg, Romulans, Data.

Even though some of the magnificent seven are guest stars; som seemingly recurring, Picard is the only regular so I guess this is what makes it qualify as a spin off as opposed to a sequel. Also it's a 10 hour serial not a weekly adventure show.

Apparantly he's changed but still recognisable (hopefully) as our Jean-Luc and they haven't gone out of the way to make him too radically different.

 

[Christopher]

It doesn't have to be TNG S8 to qualify as a sequel.

It's not about whether it "qualifies." Labels do not create or define meaning. They're not the end goal of the process. They're just useful shorthands for talking about things that actually do matter. The producer was simply using "not a sequel" to mean that it was its own entity telling a new story, rather than merely an attempt to revive TNG. The point is not the word, the point is what it conveys, that viewers should expect something new and different rather than a rehash.

The problem is that modern fandom is so singlemindedly fixated on continuity and whether stories fit into the same "universe" as each other that they ignore every other possible level on which fiction can be analyzed and discussed. Writers and producers tend to talk more about how stories relate to each other as stories, in terms of characters and ideas and narrative threads. Two stories can share a nominal reality while being unconnected to each other, e.g. any typical Legends of Tomorrow episode vs. any typical Batwoman episode. The shared reality is just a narrative conceit that's only important in certain contexts. What's usually more important is how characters' arcs and specific plotlines evolve.

 

[BillJ]

The problem is that modern fandom is so singlemindedly fixated on continuity and whether stories fit into the same "universe" as each other that they ignore every other possible level on which fiction can be analyzed and discussed.

Lately, corporations have no one but themselves to blame for this fixation on canon. Taking every opportunity to remind us that everything fits together.

 

[Cyrus]

Chabon certainly got tired of the fun and left...

Chabon didn't exactly leave. He is getting to make a show based on one of his books, and he will stay with Picard until that show starts production. He can't showrun 2 different series.

 

[Vger23]

I'm sure all they meant was that it will not be "The adventures of Starfleet Captain Jean-Luc Picard and the Enterprise-E crew exploring space and getting into weekly adventures like the old days."

Which we all know is true by now.

They are just setting expectations that this will be different, so the True TNG Fans don't go berserk.

Not sure why anyone would get all huffy and interpret it otherwise.

 

[Rhodan]

Of course it isn´t. It is collective sequel to the entire previous 24th century era (including info from NuTrek) that might, in fact, feel more like DS9 again.

 

[Tim Thomason]

It's the spiritual successor to "The Way to Eden".

 

[urbandk]

Is it a sequel? Is it not a sequel? How many angels can dance on the head of a pin?

 

[Delta Vega]

Sequel, spin off
Just words
Why don't we just wait and see what's on offer when it hits the screens ?
Personally, I'm looking forward to seeing Seven again, Picard is secondary
I never found him that interesting in the first place.

 

[Lord Garth]

It's not about whether it "qualifies." Labels do not create or define meaning. They're not the end goal of the process. They're just useful shorthands for talking about things that actually do matter. The producer was simply using "not a sequel" to mean that it was its own entity telling a new story, rather than merely an attempt to revive TNG. The point is not the word, the point is what it conveys, that viewers should expect something new and different rather than a rehash.

Exactly. I'm interested in Picard. Whatever anyone wants to categorize it as. I said how I categorize it and why. "Is the main setting on the Enterprise? Yes or no? No? Then it's a spin-off." But no one should read that as an indication of my level of interest. And especially not negative. Rather the opposite. The fact that Picard's been taken out of the setting we're used to seeing him in is what has me interested.

If someone wants to categorize it as a sequel, that works too, if we're talking about following the story of Picard instead of the Enterprise. That's not a wrong interpretation to have and this isn't the molehill I want to die on.

EDIT: I also agree that the main point they were trying to say is "This isn't TNG Season 8 or TNG Movie 5."

 

[DaveyNY]

Sequel, spin off
Just words
Why don't we just wait and see what's on offer when it hits the screens ?
Personally, I'm looking forward to seeing Seven again, Picard is secondary
I never found him that interesting in the first place.

Isn't every iteration since The Original Series considered a "Spin-off"?

 

[fireproof78]

They are just setting expectations that this will be different, so the True TNG Fans don't go berserk.

I mean, wasn't that going to happen anyway?

 

[Cake]

TOS is the original and all other Star Trek series are either sequels, prequels or even both at the same time. They are also all spin-offs. Spin-offs are just a less specific term as they can be set before, after or in the same time period as an earlier made show.

And none of these terms say anything about a requirement of being really similar to an earlier made show. So all this "Picard is not a sequel" thing is just stupid. Just say that it will have a completely different tone than TNG, a different setting, a lot of new characters, an overarching plotline, etc. and that is enough.

 

[Vger23]

TOS is the original and all other Star Trek series are either sequels, prequels or even both at the same time. They are also all spin-offs. Spin-offs are just a less specific term as they can be set before, after or in the same time period as an earlier made show.

And none of these terms say anything about a requirement of being really similar to an earlier made show. So all this "Picard is not a sequel" thing is just stupid. Just say that it will have a completely different tone than TNG, a different setting, a lot of new characters, an overarching plotline, etc. and that is enough.

Again, I think they were counting on the fans being intelligent in this matter and understanding what they meant by "not a sequel."

I see that they overestimated that considerably, though.

Man, we can find ANYTHING to bitch about, can't we?

 

[Vger23]

It's the spiritual successor to "The Way to Eden".

Yea, brother!!
http://www.ex-astris-scientia.org/observations/justice/05-thewaytoeden.jpg

 

[NeoStar9]

I'm sure all they meant was that it will not be "The adventures of Starfleet Captain Jean-Luc Picard and the Enterprise-E crew exploring space and getting into weekly adventures like the old days."

Which we all know is true by now.

They are just setting expectations that this will be different, so the True TNG Fans don't go berserk.

Not sure why anyone would get all huffy and interpret it otherwise.

This. Sadly we're going to see some people upset. My concern from the start and it still is a concern is that there are still people refusing to accept this after all this time. This was a message they pushed from the start at the actual announcement but there was this strong denial from people about the very words that were spoken. It's almost as if some want to have a reason to complain once the first episode comes out instead of just listening to what they're being told and having their expectations adjusted ahead of time.

 

[Lord Garth]

I might've said this out here before but, if not, you should know that one of my metrics for watching something is "Do all the right people hate it?" If they like it, or they like it too much, that gives me pause. Not the other way around. There are some people where our tastes will never align. So if they don't like it, there's a good chance I will. And vice versa.

One time, some poster said something to the effect of "YouTube will rip this episode a new one!", to which I replied with, exact quote, "Let them do their worst."

 

[Brainsucker]

It is the sequel of "The Next Generation", as the main character still Picard. It will be different if Jeanluc Picard (Patrick Stewart) is only a bridge for a new, another Picard to replace him as the main character.

 

[Delta Vega]

Isn't every iteration since The Original Series considered a "Spin-off"?

If you like, but why categorize at all ?
Can't we just wait till it's aired and watch it before deciding where to pigeonhole it ?
If I've any real thoughts re Picard, it's that they've left it waaaay too long to go back to this character.