What mental ideas did the writers float but not do?

[AntonyF]

Rewatching TNG and this time really listening all the documentaries and commentaries you realise the writers would have done some batshit crazy stuff if not restrained by the producers.

For example:

• Killing off William Riker and replacing him with Thomas.
• Having Wesley commit suicide in First Duty.

I was curious to whatever other examples I've missed, and sort of compiling a list to the "Are you mad?" moments of the TNG writers.

 

[F. King Daniel]

They were gonna do an episode where Sarek went through the Guardian of Forever and became Surak. Because the writer thought it was funny their names were so similar. The episode eventually became "Yesterday's Enterprise" IIRC

 

[somebuddyX]

Young Spock and Old Spock team-up via the Guardian of Forever for Season 2.
Chekov was gonna be a former POW turned Ambassador to the planet that imprisoned him and come aboard the Enterprise to help diplomatic relations with the planet. He was gonna makes friends with Worf and it is revealed he is plotting to use the Enterprise to get his revenge.
Kill Spock offscreen in "Face of the Enemy"

 

[D Man]

I seem to recall they first wanted to blow up the ship and crash the saucer in “Descent” (not sure if that would have been end of S6 or beginning of S7) but it was too expensive so they waited for the movie.

I’ve always liked the idea of offing Will and bringing in Thomas. Would have been pretty wild.

 

[FredH]

The Borg in TBOBW taking both Picard AND Data and frankensteining them together into what would have been a single Locutus.

 

[somebuddyX]

I seem to recall they first wanted to blow up the ship and crash the saucer in “Descent” (not sure if that would have been end of S6 or beginning of S7) but it was too expensive so they waited for the movie.

I’ve always liked the idea of offing Will and bringing in Thomas. Would have been pretty wild.

So apparently they wanted to turn into it like a cruise liner and split the crew up and then during the course of heading home to do that they have to do the ship split and crash the saucer. The only reason I bring that up is I was thinking about that the other day, thinking "Man that's a lot for one episode!" Like the saucer crash feels like enough to cap off some episode, let alone the out of the blue retirement of the ship and splitting everyone up. I guess maybe it could work but it feels weird to me.