# Redo Star Trek: TNG so it makes sense (or at least is less stupid) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 10, 2009, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/redo-star-trek-tng-so-it-makes-sense-or-at-least-is-less-stupid/485235 "2009-02-10T16:24:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 10
**Author:** ![Illuminatiprimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/illuminatiprimus/32/11520_2.png) [@Illuminatiprimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Illuminatiprimus)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2009, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/redo-star-trek-tng-so-it-makes-sense-or-at-least-is-less-stupid/485235/181 "2009-02-15T18:13:13Z")
Quite - even when they’re not western they are (Doctor Bashir). ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2009, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/redo-star-trek-tng-so-it-makes-sense-or-at-least-is-less-stupid/485235/182 "2009-02-15T18:15:25Z")
> [@Love\_Rhombus](#): > > Bring back aliens we’d seen before. I found it odd not that that Worf being the first Klingon was such a big deal, but that he was the only alien on the ship, apparently (except Mr. Mot.) That doesn’t bother me, because it makes sense for a lot of races to self-segregate duty stations based on biology. Klingons are a bad example, because they’re not part of the Federation, and you’d expect Worf to be nearly unique. But take Vulcans & Humans. Vulcans come from a world that’s mostly desert, and I imagine the they prefer their ambient environment noticeably hotter than Terran; it wouldn’t surprise me if the artificial gravity settiings on their ships are higher than Earth normal, too. Spock may have been willing to put up with a perpetually chilly, oddly light environment during work hours, but I bet it was uncomfortable, and I’ll bet more that the vast, vast majority of humans wouldn’t do the reverse. If the Intrepid’s gravity is set at 1.5 Gs and the average temp at 98 degrees F, most humans are not going to want to serve on it. And certainly Andorians, who like things much colder than humans, aren’t going to serve on the same ships and bases as Vulans if they can avoid it. ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2009, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/redo-star-trek-tng-so-it-makes-sense-or-at-least-is-less-stupid/485235/183 "2009-02-15T20:39:08Z")
> [@Bosstone](#): > > It probably just wasn’t clear that they did operate in shifts because few scripts were written about mundane day-to-day stuff. When there’s conflict happening, or Something Serious going down, they want all officers present. Actually, there was at least one episode that shows the concept of “shifts” in action on the bridge. I think it’s the episode about a day in the life of Data (“Data’s Day”(?)). ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2009, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/redo-star-trek-tng-so-it-makes-sense-or-at-least-is-less-stupid/485235/184 "2009-02-15T20:43:41Z")
> [@Quercus\_alba](#): > > Harry Mudd, Jr.! Gawd, Jon Lovitz as a Harry Mudd Jr. would be so damn perfect! Yet another thing to long for but never have fullfilled before I die. Who would be the perfect cast for Mrs Mudd Jr. I wonder. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2009, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/redo-star-trek-tng-so-it-makes-sense-or-at-least-is-less-stupid/485235/185 "2009-02-15T21:45:32Z")
> [@Quercus\_alba](#): > > Harry Mudd, Jr.! Riker: Captain, this guy is over the top! Picard: Yes Number One. He makes our acting look almost natural by comparison! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2009, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/redo-star-trek-tng-so-it-makes-sense-or-at-least-is-less-stupid/485235/186 "2009-02-15T23:13:40Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > \<…\>If the Intrepid’s gravity is set at 1.5 Gs and the average temp at 98 degrees F, most humans are not going to want to serve on it. When Spock was suffering from premature aging in **The Deadly Years** , he turned the heat in his quarters up to IIRC, 130° F. I suspect Vulcans and Cardassians are the two most thermophile humanoid species in the Trek galaxy. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2009, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/redo-star-trek-tng-so-it-makes-sense-or-at-least-is-less-stupid/485235/187 "2009-02-16T18:25:50Z")
> [@Lumpy](#): > > When Spock was suffering from premature aging in **The Deadly Years** , he turned the heat in his quarters up to IIRC, 130° F. I suspect Vulcans and Cardassians are the two most thermophile humanoid species in the Trek galaxy. And Klingons, but they refuse to admit just how uncomfortable cold makes them. I mean, a four-year-old Klingon girl is gonna be more macho than most Earth men. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2009, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/redo-star-trek-tng-so-it-makes-sense-or-at-least-is-less-stupid/485235/188 "2009-02-16T22:42:56Z")
[These](http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=20121538). Star Trek needs more of these. ---
**Author:** ![Knorf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2009, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/redo-star-trek-tng-so-it-makes-sense-or-at-least-is-less-stupid/485235/189 "2009-02-16T22:47:46Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > [These](http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=20121538). Star Trek needs more of these. How about just what’s inside of that? You know, without the irrelevant outer material. ---
**Author:** ![Illuminatiprimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/illuminatiprimus/32/11520_2.png) [@Illuminatiprimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Illuminatiprimus)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2009, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/redo-star-trek-tng-so-it-makes-sense-or-at-least-is-less-stupid/485235/190 "2009-02-16T23:10:24Z")
Can someone spare a thought for the gals/gay men who watch this show? It’s not like the Trek franchise doesn’t have enough tits in it already, all we get is Riker (beached whale anyone?) and Bashir (who is so like Gaius Baltar it’s unreal). ---
**Author:** ![Isamu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/7c8e57/32.png) [@Isamu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isamu)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2009, 6:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/redo-star-trek-tng-so-it-makes-sense-or-at-least-is-less-stupid/485235/191 "2009-02-17T06:28:31Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > I recall Data relieving Worf at least once, and Riker relieving Data at least twice. You sure that wasn’t a slash/fic plot? 😛 ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2009, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/redo-star-trek-tng-so-it-makes-sense-or-at-least-is-less-stupid/485235/192 "2009-02-17T16:41:51Z")
> [@Illuminatiprimus](#): > > Can someone spare a thought for the gals/gay men who watch this show? It’s not like the Trek franchise doesn’t have enough tits in it already, all we get is Riker (beached whale anyone?) and Bashir (who is so like Gaius Baltar it’s unreal). Yeah, but the way Riker lurches when he walks should give any proper woman the vapors 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![choie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/choie/32/7829_2.png) [@choie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/choie)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2009, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/redo-star-trek-tng-so-it-makes-sense-or-at-least-is-less-stupid/485235/193 "2009-02-17T19:23:28Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally Posted by Illuminatiprimus > Can someone spare a thought for the gals/gay men who watch this show? It’s not like the Trek franchise doesn’t have enough tits in it already, all we get is Riker (beached whale anyone?) and Bashir (who is so like Gaius Baltar it’s unreal). Riker is a beached whale? How’s Geordi’s VISOR woring out for you? > [@billfish678](#): > > Yeah, but the way Riker lurches when he walks should give any proper woman the vapors Amen! Genie Francis is a lucky woman. Seriously, most straight women fans I know (can’t speak for gay men) are _quite_ satisfied with the yummy quotient of Picard, Riker, Geordi, Worf, Bashir, Sisko, Chakotay, Paris, Harry, Archer, Kirk, Spock, Scotty, Chekov, and for those who like a touch of the quirky, Data, Odo, Dukat and Garak. Read fanfic if you doubt anyone finds the above characters sexy. ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2009, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/redo-star-trek-tng-so-it-makes-sense-or-at-least-is-less-stupid/485235/194 "2009-02-17T19:25:29Z")
> [@choie](#): > > Read fanfic if you doubt anyone finds the above characters sexy. Published novels too, for that matter. Through the fault of one of those (or maybe it was an episode with Vash) and no desire of my own, I have the adjective “virile” inextricably linked with Picard. ETA: And it isn’t helped by pictures like [this](http://roflrazzi.com/2009/01/08/celebrity-pictures-stewart-girlfriend/). ---
**Author:** ![ricksummon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ricksummon/32/3333_2.png) [@ricksummon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ricksummon)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2009, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/redo-star-trek-tng-so-it-makes-sense-or-at-least-is-less-stupid/485235/195 "2009-02-17T19:46:32Z")
> [@](#): > > Where was the King Wen (or Chinese name equivalent), captained by Chang Wu? Of course, _Star Trek_ wasn’t the only series to do this. _Firefly_ was set in a system where everyone spoke Chinese — yet there were never any actual _chung gwok yan_ to be found. ---
**Author:** ![choie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/choie/32/7829_2.png) [@choie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/choie)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2009, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/redo-star-trek-tng-so-it-makes-sense-or-at-least-is-less-stupid/485235/196 "2009-02-17T19:52:34Z")
> [@Bosstone](#): > > Published novels too, for that matter. Through the fault of one of those (or maybe it was an episode with Vash) and no desire of my own, I have the adjective “virile” inextricably linked with Picard. > > ETA: And it isn’t helped by pictures like [this](http://roflrazzi.com/2009/01/08/celebrity-pictures-stewart-girlfriend/). Mercy! That’s … a nice picture. And a funny one. And your mentioning of Vash reminds me that I inexplicably forgot _Q_ in my list of yummy Trek gents. ---
**Author:** ![mlees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@mlees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mlees)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2009, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/redo-star-trek-tng-so-it-makes-sense-or-at-least-is-less-stupid/485235/197 "2009-02-17T19:52:36Z")
> [@Chimera](#): > > And worse yet, pretty much every Human was from a Western society (aka, the US or Britain). We only got vague, passing references of ships with non-western names. Where was the _King Wen_ (or Chinese name equivalent), captained by Chang Wu? Or the Indian Culture named mainline ships? Or anyone else??? The Akagi participated in the blockade along the Klingon/Romulan border. ---
**Author:** ![BlinkingDuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/eada6e/32.png) [@BlinkingDuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlinkingDuck)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2009, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/redo-star-trek-tng-so-it-makes-sense-or-at-least-is-less-stupid/485235/198 "2009-02-17T20:18:02Z")
> [@Irishman](#): > > Next Gen was still prefaced as episodic television. The premise of episodic television is that large dramatic changes in cast, story, etc are rare. The reason for this is it allows a common ground for various different writers to work from. They had many writers working independently crafting stories that had to somehow come together into a semi-coherent flow from week to week. Story-arc shows weren’t common at the time - they didn’t take off until Babylon 5 showed they would work. DS-9 pulled in some of the story arc formatting. But Next Gen predated that. So having major characters die off periodically would have been problematic from a show logistics standpoint. > > Note that in Next Gen, Miles O’Brien wasn’t really a character, he was a set dressing. They had to have someone operate the transporter, so they had the same actor play the role of “transporter operator” because apparently the computer couldn’t take voice orders and do all the manipulation required automatically. They finally fleshed out Miles when they took him to DS-9, and Colm Meaney really delivered. > > That was the fault of TOS. Getting rid of the transporters for Next Gen would be like trying to explain our culture suddenly stopping all use of internal combustion engines, and only relying on electric scooters and bicycles (or horse-drawn buggies) for transport. You can’t get rid of some extremely useful and well-integrated technology without a significant justification, like it was discovered that long term transporter use makes people unstable and they turn into Reavers. > > Like she did in The Practice? 😉 That wasn’t the Practice! That was L.A. Law! {kids these days} ---
**Author:** ![BlinkingDuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/eada6e/32.png) [@BlinkingDuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlinkingDuck)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2009, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/redo-star-trek-tng-so-it-makes-sense-or-at-least-is-less-stupid/485235/199 "2009-02-17T20:19:03Z")
nm…mistake already pointed out later. ---
**Author:** ![Terrifel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c68b51/32.png) [@Terrifel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terrifel)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2009, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/redo-star-trek-tng-so-it-makes-sense-or-at-least-is-less-stupid/485235/200 "2009-02-17T23:32:35Z")
> [@Chimera](#): > > And worse yet, pretty much every Human was from a Western society (aka, the US or Britain). We only got vague, passing references of ships with non-western names. Where was the _King Wen_ (or Chinese name equivalent), captained by Chang Wu? Or the Indian Culture named mainline ships? Or anyone else??? The Enterprise-D’s sister ship was the Yamato, I remember that much. [Personally I never saw the resemblance](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/0/04/SpaceBattleshipYamato.jpg). If I recall aright, the ship blew up for some reason, possibly for the glory of the Emperor. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/redo-star-trek-tng-so-it-makes-sense-or-at-least-is-less-stupid/485235.md?page=9) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/redo-star-trek-tng-so-it-makes-sense-or-at-least-is-less-stupid/485235.md?page=11)