While TNG is among my preferred Trek series, I have to admit it produced some rather cringe-worthy moments, especially in the first season. I think the series really took off and found its own identity with the third season ending cliffhanger "The Best of Both Worlds" and with the writers not trying so hard to imitate its predecessor (i.e. Rodenberry preferring a "McCoy-like" doctor).
Here are just some rough ideas:
The Riker-Troi relationship is explored a little bit more. Despite being on a first name basis, they keep their relationship professional. The converstation that Troi recalled in "Violations" does take place at some point, but Riker does not try to force himself on her. Jev just altered the memory that way.
Hints of a Troi-Worf romance ala Chapel and Spock. But Worf chooses to ignore those hints saying at this point in the series, he prefers a Klingon woman.
Tasha has some bigger roles. Also, her death happens under similar circumstances to the those in "Skin of Evil," but is more heroic. The trend seems to have been when the actor wanted out, the character was murdered in cold blood, while Kirk, Data, and Tucker got to have more heroic deaths. And it comes more in the form of a surprise ending like in the first season of 24 when Teri Bauer is killed. A redshirt dies as a demonstration of the entity's abilities.
Worf's role is explained in more detail, as is why LaForge is the helmsman, rather than even a junior engineer.
O'Brien has a bigger role, including how he first met Keiko Ishikawa.
Here are just some rough ideas:
The Riker-Troi relationship is explored a little bit more. Despite being on a first name basis, they keep their relationship professional. The converstation that Troi recalled in "Violations" does take place at some point, but Riker does not try to force himself on her. Jev just altered the memory that way.
Hints of a Troi-Worf romance ala Chapel and Spock. But Worf chooses to ignore those hints saying at this point in the series, he prefers a Klingon woman.
Tasha has some bigger roles. Also, her death happens under similar circumstances to the those in "Skin of Evil," but is more heroic. The trend seems to have been when the actor wanted out, the character was murdered in cold blood, while Kirk, Data, and Tucker got to have more heroic deaths. And it comes more in the form of a surprise ending like in the first season of 24 when Teri Bauer is killed. A redshirt dies as a demonstration of the entity's abilities.
Worf's role is explained in more detail, as is why LaForge is the helmsman, rather than even a junior engineer.
O'Brien has a bigger role, including how he first met Keiko Ishikawa.
