The topic of this thread is if Picard will have Irumodic Syndrome in the new show. Feeling the need to call me childish just because you don’t like my answers is quite the pot calling the kettle black.
Spoilers Will Picard have Irumodic Syndrome in new series?
- Thread starter NewHeavensNewEarth
- Start date
The topic of this thread is if Picard will have Irumodic Syndrome in the new show. Feeling the need to call me childish just because you don’t like my answers is quite the pot calling the kettle black.
A large part of Boston Legal was about Denny Crane (Bill Shatner) having Alzheimer's syndrome.
So why not?
It occurred to me that Irumodic syndrome could be used to explain Picard's failing memory in my jokingly made speculative Picard show summary
Then what are you saying? Because, thus far, the argument seems to be "We want to see Picard struggle with Irumodic Syndrome" and that it would be beneficial to the story. Well, that seems to be wanting a Picard with failing mental health. Am I reading something wrong here?
From the top..... 
- In TNG, Picard is shown to have something called Irumodic Syndrome around the time period that PIC takes place in.
- Because it makes people uncomfortable and doesn't fit with our profile of a hero, it's tempting to sweep it under the rug and pretend it never happened, even though in-show it's said to be a genetic defect that can't be cured.
- Rather than sweeping it under the rug, why not have the show address the issue - as simply 1 plot thread among many, though. In AGT, he had only received the diagnosis and was still able to go on adventures galore to save humanity.
- It was a big deal in AGT only because the characters didn't believe Picard when he talked about jumping between time frames. Beyond that, there's no reason to think it would have to be an all-consuming focus of the show.
- Trek has taken on all kinds of social issues as well as medical issues, and there's no reason it has to shy away from this one. The elderly are some of the most ignored in our society, especially when it comes to how we view mental disease.
- Some of the stereotyping that we've seen here demonstrates why it would be worthwhile to explore it. And if not, either way it'll be a great show!
- In TNG, Picard is shown to have something called Irumodic Syndrome around the time period that PIC takes place in.
- Because it makes people uncomfortable and doesn't fit with our profile of a hero, it's tempting to sweep it under the rug and pretend it never happened, even though in-show it's said to be a genetic defect that can't be cured.
- Rather than sweeping it under the rug, why not have the show address the issue - as simply 1 plot thread among many, though. In AGT, he had only received the diagnosis and was still able to go on adventures galore to save humanity.
- It was a big deal in AGT only because the characters didn't believe Picard when he talked about jumping between time frames. Beyond that, there's no reason to think it would have to be an all-consuming focus of the show.
- Trek has taken on all kinds of social issues as well as medical issues, and there's no reason it has to shy away from this one. The elderly are some of the most ignored in our society, especially when it comes to how we view mental disease.
- Some of the stereotyping that we've seen here demonstrates why it would be worthwhile to explore it. And if not, either way it'll be a great show!
I don't see the need to have it in the story. Sorry, I don't. Most people have not made substantial arguments as to why it must be included, neither canonically (in which it was stated he had a possibility due to a deformity, not a guarantee) nor character-wise.
I work with them. I am aware.
How? That's what I want to know? I want to know why there is this intense demand to have Picard going through a dementia-like disease? I am no Picard fan but even I don't want to see this heroic captain crippled by this disease and send him off on his last hurrah like he is ordering his final meal before execution.
If we want to go full heartstrings (and dark. Apparently the concept of a lighter Star Trek has been summarily lost in this discussion) why not give him inoperable brain cancer. And the dog is the only companion he wants his in life because he is so afraid of losing people, especially after losing his brother, Data and his starships.
Sorry, at this point in time, with all the complaints of Discovery being too dark for Star Trek, the addition of an inoperable disease in the optimistic future of Star Trek feels highly contradictory.
I think it's only an intense demand for one person. Maybe two.
I work with individuals with mental and physical disabilities, so I'm not into shying away from those issues or pretending those issues don't exist, so sure, I have passion for the issue. But a lot of my pushback is due to the intense demand from some that Picard must NOT have any disease, even though it's part of TNG. Their argument has been poorly explained, aside from basically saying it wouldn't be nice for him to have one.
As for the comment about the tone of Trek, just an reminder that this will be a show that largely revolves around the total annihilation of Romulus, and a distraught Picard, so this would just be a very small part of those larger plot threads that still don't fit into some people's views of how cheery that Trek should be. But we could still get something great. Not sure if you're even going to watch the show, fp, but thanks for your passion and work.
As for the comment about the tone of Trek, just an reminder that this will be a show that largely revolves around the total annihilation of Romulus, and a distraught Picard, so this would just be a very small part of those larger plot threads that still don't fit into some people's views of how cheery that Trek should be. But we could still get something great. Not sure if you're even going to watch the show, fp, but thanks for your passion and work.
Maybe he's gone into remission due to a new treatment. It's not a 100% cure, and he could begin deteriorating again rapidly if it comes back, but not necessarily. So he has that sword of damocles hanging over his head, but is determined to live to the fullest anyway.
Regarding the dog - he might be a therapy animal trained to help Picard?
Regarding the dog - he might be a therapy animal trained to help Picard?
Here's my pushback-that this disease is inevitable. Dialog in AGT doesn't support that, because Picard is stated to have the potential to do develop "several neurological disorders" not just Irumodic. Regardless, even if he has the disease I don't want it to be a barrier to his interactions or his mission.
I don't think Trek should be cheery. I do think it should be optimistic. Certainly FC and Best of Both Worlds were not cheery. My point is that the expectations that Picard will be lighter tone than Discovery are unfounded, and it frustrates me that Picard is expected to return to more traditional Trek (read Berman era) and move away from Discovery's darker tone. No, don't want Trek to be "cheery." But, I do want optimism and insisting that Picard have an incurable disease reads the opposite to me.
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https://ew.com/tv/2019/07/18/star-trek-picard-storyline/
Not even a mention of Irumodic Syndrome or any other mental illness. Pretty sure the producers of STP are over it.
Not even a mention of Irumodic Syndrome or any other mental illness. Pretty sure the producers of STP are over it.
Honestly, if they address it they should just say they found a cure. There are enough changes in the "real" timeline from AGT for this to happen, and Picard could have updated Starfleet Medical with the knowledge he got from the AGT timeline as far as irumodic syndrome research.
For goodness' sakes, it's the future and it's supposed to be medically advanced. I'm sort of tired of how we keep seeing technical advances but no medical ones--Geordi still isn't getting cloned normal eyes, Pike/Airiam isn't getting a cloned body, etc. We're the furthest into the future we've ever been in Trek with Picard, so make the medical advances reflect the future "utopia" already!
For goodness' sakes, it's the future and it's supposed to be medically advanced. I'm sort of tired of how we keep seeing technical advances but no medical ones--Geordi still isn't getting cloned normal eyes, Pike/Airiam isn't getting a cloned body, etc. We're the furthest into the future we've ever been in Trek with Picard, so make the medical advances reflect the future "utopia" already!
Star Trek actually exploring positive technological advances? What madness is this!!!?
Yeah since it's "the future," no disease or medical afflictions can exist.
That wasn't true in TNG, and it won't be the case in PIC.Upthread, Laura mentioned a fine way to integrate it into the storyline in a subtle but effective manner, and there are plenty of other ways, too. People just wrongly assume any illness plotline would mean Picard must be in a corner in a hospital mumbling to himself, but those hyperbolic scenarios & stereotypes aren't even backed up by the Picard we saw in AGT who was working his vineyard and also saving humanity. Over & over again, they said it could take years for any symptoms to appear - and the writers can pretty much choose whatever those symptoms would be anyway.
I love Trek optimism, and I consider facing such challenges head-on to be a Trek trait of the truest kind.
Not my assumption at all.
You don't say...?Yeah since it's "the future," no disease or medical afflictions can exist.
Then you and I will agree to disagree at this point regarding this specific instance of facing challenges. I do not see (at this point) the story need for the illness or the insistence upon having it. Yes, I agree, facing challenges is part of the optimism of Trek, however we already have Picard facing a depressing challenge. In this specific instance I feel like adding a disease is just being cruel to Picard as a character for the sake of cruelty. It does not feel like it serves the story at all as is just there because it was in AGT.
It's cool. But I appreciate your excellent thoughts on the topic whether you choose to watch the show or not.Not my assumption at all.
You don't say...?
Then you and I will agree to disagree at this point regarding this specific instance of facing challenges. I do not see (at this point) the story need for the illness or the insistence upon having it. Yes, I agree, facing challenges is part of the optimism of Trek, however we already have Picard facing a depressing challenge. In this specific instance I feel like adding a disease is just being cruel to Picard as a character for the sake of cruelty. It does not feel like it serves the story at all as is just there because it was in AGT.
Yes.One thing that I find odd is that syndromes are traditionally named after the first identified case. Does that mean that there was/will be a guy/gal named "irumodic"?
I will give it a shot, mostly for the Romulans.It's cool. But I appreciate your excellent thoughts on the topic whether you choose to watch the show or not.
Maybe he's a Viking...
