TNG as TOS, just for fun...

[Warped9]

Over in the TNG forum I've been revisiting TNG and offering little reviews. While doing this I was struck by how many TNG episodes could have ben done as TOS particularly during the first three seasons.

So here's a little rundown of the ones I think could have worked.

“Encounter At Farpoint”
The Enterprise crew is put on trial for the crimes of humanity.
"Code Of Honor"
Uhura is abducted and Kirk must defer to an arrogant leader to negotiate her release.
"Angel One"
The Enterprise seeks survivors from a wrecked ship on a world ruled by women.
"The Arsenal Of Freedom"
While answering a distress beacon the Enterprise crew is beset by a world of ancient weapons.
"Symbiosis"
Kirk is caught between two disagreeing factions while trying to adhere to the Prime Directive.
“Conspiracy”
Kirk suspects starship and Starfleet personnel are being taken over by some unknown influence.
“The Child”
Uhura is impregnated by an alien entity.
“Where Silence Has Lease”
The Enterprise is trapped in an unknown void and the crew subjected to tests.
“Loud As A Whisper”
A deaf and mute mediator is assigned to arbitrate bewteen warring factions.
“Up The Long Ladder”
The Enterprise answers distress beacons from long lost colonists.
“The Survivors”
Two people are the lone survivors on a world devestated by an alien attack.
“Who Watches The Watchers”
Kirk seeks to minimize Federation contamination of a primitive culture.
“Booby Trap”
While investigating a derelict ship the Enterprise also becomes trapped.
“The Enemy”
Sulu’s survival depends upon working cooperatively with a Romulan officer.
“The Defector”
A Romulan officer seeks to defect with vital information.
“Tin Man”
The Enterprise races the Romulans to contact a space going lifeform.
"Devil's Due"
A powerful mythic figure returns to enslave a planet in accordance with a contract.
"The Wounded"
A rogue starship Captain threatens to destabilize the Romulan Neutral Zone.


Maybe someone else has others?

 

[Lieut. Arex]

One point, most of the episodes featuring Romulans most likely would have been done with Klingons instead due to the cost of the ears. I think only a ST version of "The Defector" would have actually used Romulans.

 

[Nerys Myk]

"Code Of Honor"
Uhura is abducted and Kirk must defer to an arrogant leader to negotiate her release.

“The Child”
Uhura is impregnated by an alien entity.

Both sound more like "guest actress of the week playing a character we never see again" roles to me.

 

[Warped9]

I think a "Code Of Honor" type of story could have been done, but having Uhura getting impregnated by an alien entity wouldn't have flown in the '60s.

 

[Nerys Myk]

Well they did put the kibosh on that in "Who Mourns for Adonais"

 

[Warped9]

Well they did put the kibosh on that in "Who Mourns for Adonais"

Exactly what I was thinking.

The thing is in TOS the real issue wouldn't be Uhura being abducted, but addressing how Kirk manages to get her back without interfering in the planetary government. It still could have been fun seeing Uhura kick some alien chick's ass.

There are some parallels with "The Cloud Minders" because there the planet also has a substance the Federation needs. In that Kirk actually could have gotten into some hot water for supplying those filter masks or even the knowledge of the Troglodites being affected by the gas. It really would depend how strict Starfleet would decide to be.

 

[KeepOnTrekking]

^ Please correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought Kirk said that Ardana was already a Federation member and that Ardana had an obligation to help a fellow Federation member. So I figured the Prime Directive or any question of interfering a planet's culture was sidestepped since they were on an "equal" basis. The thing that always had me scratching my head was "Why was a segregated society like Ardana allowed into the Federation in the first place?" That zienite must have been really important to the Federation.

 

[T'Girl]

I think a "Code Of Honor" type of story could have been done, but having Uhura getting impregnated by an alien entity wouldn't have flown in the '60s.

Okay so how about Chekov being the one who gets preggers, like Trip in "Unexpected."

 

[Warped9]

^^ No one would have even conceived of that in the '60s.

 

[Warped9]

^ Please correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought Kirk said that Ardana was already a Federation member and that Ardana had an obligation to help a fellow Federation member. So I figured the Prime Directive or any question of interfering a planet's culture was sidestepped since they were on an "equal" basis. The thing that always had me scratching my head was "Why was a segregated society like Ardana allowed into the Federation in the first place?" That zienite must have been really important to the Federation.

But I believe it's stated in the episode that Kirk isn't allowed to interfere in the internal affairs of a Federation member world.

 

[milo bloom]

"Code Of Honor"
Uhura is abducted and Kirk must defer to an arrogant leader to negotiate her release.

“The Child”
Uhura is impregnated by an alien entity.

Both sound more like "guest actress of the week playing a character we never see again" roles to me.

I'd always heard that "The Child" was a Star Trek Phase II script that was originally intended to show Uhura having the child.

 

[Warped9]

"Code Of Honor"
Uhura is abducted and Kirk must defer to an arrogant leader to negotiate her release.

“The Child”
Uhura is impregnated by an alien entity.

Both sound more like "guest actress of the week playing a character we never see again" roles to me.

I'd always heard that "The Child" was a Star Trek Phase II script that was originally intended to show Uhura having the child.

Yes, it was a Phase II script, but it was Illia that was supposed to get pregnant.

 

[Shatnertage]

I think another interesting question is, which TNG episodes absolutely would not have worked as TOS episodes?

Obviously all the holodeck stories are out. I couldn't see something like "Best of Both Worlds" working, either.

 

[Warped9]

Pretty much any stories revolving around families aboard ship wouldn't work on TOS. That said a story like "When The Bough Breaks" could be done if the Enterprise was investigating the abduction of children from a Federation member or colony world.

 

[Nerys Myk]

Not sure how'd they do all those Klingon stories either. Kirk as the Arbiter of Succession???? Cant just make them Vulcans.

 

[Skywalker]

Maybe they could have done "Reunification" with Sarek taking over what was Spock's role in the TNG version. But, again, the costly ears probably would have prevented that.

 

[Tiberius]

“The Child”
Uhura is impregnated by an alien entity.

I think you mean Ilia, not Uhura...

That script was originally done as an episode of Star trek" Phase 2.

I always thought that "Riddles" from Voyager would have been an excellent episode for Spock and McCoy.

 

[Warped9]

“The Child”
Uhura is impregnated by an alien entity.

I think you mean Ilia, not Uhura...

That script was originally done as an episode of Star trek" Phase 2.

I always thought that "Riddles" from Voyager would have been an excellent episode for Spock and McCoy.

You evidently didn't read the whole thread. It was Ilia in the original Phase II script, but Ilia didn't exist yet (as a character) when TOS was in production.

 

[The Laughing Vulcan]

"Code Of Honor"
Uhura is abducted and Kirk must defer to an arrogant leader to negotiate her release.

Ah, this would be the planet of the effete English Imperialists. God save the Queen and all that, don't you know.

 

[WillsBabe]

Timescape - Kirk, Scotty and Uhura (although in actuality it'd more likely be Kirk, Bones and Spock) return to the Enterprise to find it and the crew frozen in time and boarded by Klingons.

Starship Mine - The Enterprise is docked at a space station for its routine baryon sweep. Just as Kirk, the last to leave, is about to depart before the sweep starts, terrorist board the ship. It's Kirk's job to keep one step ahead of the terrorists and re-take his ship. (They'd probably not refer to the invaders as terrorists, and Spock would be with Kirk.)

Ethics - Kirk is critically injured and a visiting surgeon arrives who claims s/he has perfected just the technique to save him. Bones is sceptical of her techniques, and he and Spock must decide between them the best way forward. I'd like to see this because usually on TOS the clash between Spcok and Bones is between logic and emotion. I'd like to see Bones position being one of logic and ethics, and see Spock maybe wresting in private with his fears for Jim.

I can see all of these working as TOS episodes, particularly the first two. I'd love to see Starship Mine TOS style in fact!