# 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:** 7
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2009, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/redo-star-trek-tng-so-it-makes-sense-or-at-least-is-less-stupid/485235/121 "2009-02-13T16:21:38Z")
> [@Agent\_Foxtrot](#): > > [ol] > [li]…I would’ve loved it if half the episodes ended with a battle-crippled Enterprise…[/li][li]Force Picard to deal with the black market at times…[/li][li]…Deal with the issues and theories surrounding the birth and death of the Universe…[/li][li]…I’ll play your little games if you let us use your power…[/li][li]I agree that Data should’ve had moments where solutions the meatbags couldn’t see were so obviously laid before him…[/li][li]…Without her meds, she constantly hears every single thought of every single person on the ship, and it drives her insane…[/li][li]I agree that crew members should have conflicts and at least two absolutely can’t stand each other…[/li][li]Make Wesley a green Ensign who constantly makes brash mistakes but receives softer punishments because his father died under Picard’s command. The rest of the crew is always a bit pissed about this.[/li][/ol] A careful textual analysis of your suggestions leads me to believe that you should be watching _Battlestar Galactica_. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Agent\_Foxtrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc29f/32.png) [@Agent\_Foxtrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Agent_Foxtrot)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2009, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/redo-star-trek-tng-so-it-makes-sense-or-at-least-is-less-stupid/485235/122 "2009-02-13T16:29:51Z")
> [@KneadToKnow](#): > > A careful textual analysis of your suggestions leads me to believe that you should be watching _Battlestar Galactica_. 😃 Oh my God. Maybe I should! ---
**Author:** ![Icerigger](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/icerigger/32/432_2.png) [@Icerigger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icerigger)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2009, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/redo-star-trek-tng-so-it-makes-sense-or-at-least-is-less-stupid/485235/123 "2009-02-13T16:43:14Z")
I often wondered how much the actors on ST were paid. Top stars on hit shows could make a million per episode. TNG was popular during it’s run but I am sure they did not earn as much as top rated network stars. Patrick Stewart I am sure is set for life, Marina Sirtis not so much. When Michael Dorn went to DS9 after seven years on TNG he probably was paid pretty good, I wonder if he made more than Avery Brooks or more than the DS9 co-stars. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2009, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/redo-star-trek-tng-so-it-makes-sense-or-at-least-is-less-stupid/485235/124 "2009-02-13T16:47:21Z")
> [@Icerigger](#): > > When Michael Dorn went to DS9 after seven years on TNG he probably was paid pretty good, I wonder if he made more than Avery Brooks or more than the DS9 co-stars. I very much doubt it. It was a very good deal that worked well for both sides, and that rarely means a big pay day. Avery Brooks had them by the balls, though. He was the Emissary. The entire mythology of the show was built around _him_ personally. ---
**Author:** ![mlees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@mlees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mlees)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2009, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/redo-star-trek-tng-so-it-makes-sense-or-at-least-is-less-stupid/485235/125 "2009-02-13T16:54:22Z")
> [@](#): > > Speaking of Q, I can’t agree with the other posters who said get rid of him. I thought he was a fascinating character and race. They could’ve done a lot more with him. In the interest of exploration, which was the main mission of the Enterprise, there are points in the series that Picard could’ve and should’ve swallowed his damn pride and said, “Q, we want to know what the Gamma quadrant looks like. Take us there and I’ll make you an honorary officer on my ship. I’ll play your little games if you let us use your power.” Q could have been a more facinating character, but there were several episodes that made him appear to be a buffoon. IMO. unless, of course, he _wanted_ us to think he was a buffoon… hmmm… ---
**Author:** ![mlees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@mlees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mlees)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2009, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/redo-star-trek-tng-so-it-makes-sense-or-at-least-is-less-stupid/485235/126 "2009-02-13T17:04:23Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Face it, the reason Denise Crosby was fired was because she couldn’t act her way out of a paper bag and her character was boring and superfluous. No need for her when you have Worf. On top of that she’s not in the least bit pleasing to the eye. She was an obvious casting mistake that the producers corrected as soon as they could. > > As for B-plots…I think the problem is that TNG just did them so **obviously**. Everyone (except for Patrick Stewert) was a little rough around the edges acting-wise on the first season. ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2009, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/redo-star-trek-tng-so-it-makes-sense-or-at-least-is-less-stupid/485235/127 "2009-02-13T17:08:45Z")
> [@mlees](#): > > Q could have been a more facinating character, but there were several episodes that made him appear to be a buffoon. IMO. unless, of course, he _wanted_ us to think he was a buffoon… hmmm… He _was_ a buffoon, more or less. He’s possibly the most immature member of the Q Continuum, and his high-and-mighty judging of humanity in the first episode was nothing more than him dicking around with Picard. He has less empathy for mortal viewpoints and thought than even Data and sees nothing wrong with playing with them for his own amusement. Personally, I think Q is a great character as spoiled brat, and has made for interesting stories (some, admittedly, outside the televised series). Then again, the novel _I, Q_ presents Q in a less buffoonish light, and I think it’s a great book, especially when John de Lancie reads it in the audiobook version. Then there’s the audiobook-only short play _Spock vs Q_ which is an absolute must-listen IMO. The sequel also sets up some interesting introspection into the character. ---
**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 13, 2009, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/redo-star-trek-tng-so-it-makes-sense-or-at-least-is-less-stupid/485235/128 "2009-02-13T17:13:14Z")
I’m not sure how buffoonish Q is. He PRETENDS to be one, but it’s a reasonable interpretation of the last episode that he was genuinely trying to manipulate events so that the Q Continuum did not destroy humanity, and that much of his buffoonery was a put-on. And I’ve always thought he should get props for saving the Federation from the Borg, who were already on their way to the borders. His sending the Enterprise to Borg space as he did was a much-needed kick in the UFP’s complacent ass; I always thought it was intended as such. ETA: For purposes of this post, nothing on Voyager ever happened. Really, aren’t we all happier pretending no such series exists? It is indeed sad that not even Jeri Ryan’s considerable acting chops and amazing bazingos can alleviate the suckitude of that show. ---
**Author:** ![Aji\_de\_Gallina](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aji_de_gallina/32/260_2.png) [@Aji\_de\_Gallina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aji_de_Gallina)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2009, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/redo-star-trek-tng-so-it-makes-sense-or-at-least-is-less-stupid/485235/129 "2009-02-13T18:05:13Z")
I’d have Katherine Pulaski MD as CMO. I know it decreases the boob factor, but she was a real person a not the new-agey kumbaya types of most of the enterprise. Troi was like the Jedi, full of powers they continually forgot how to use. either be empathic or not. Theach Riker to at least be better at pretending to know how to play the trombone. SEATBELTS and CIRCUITBREAKERS!!! A main computer that harder to crack than a 386 with windows 3.1. Gun that don’t miss gigantic and/or static targets. At least fake the science mission..mostly it’s shoot’em or lame diplomacy. > [@billfish678](#): > > Its the abort/retry/fail of the the 25th century Man, I’m getting old, I totally get that joke ☹ ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2009, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/redo-star-trek-tng-so-it-makes-sense-or-at-least-is-less-stupid/485235/130 "2009-02-13T18:10:08Z")
> [@Aji\_de\_Gallina](#): > > Man, I’m getting old, I totally get that joke ☹ And of course you know the desperation abort/retry/fail entails… The crickets chirping regarding that joke werent making me feel any younger either 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2009, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/redo-star-trek-tng-so-it-makes-sense-or-at-least-is-less-stupid/485235/131 "2009-02-13T18:43:39Z")
> [@Agent\_Foxtrot](#): > > No more _Deus ex machina_. While _ST:TNG_ was one of my favorite shows ever, even as a kid, I couldn’t get past the idea that there was a technological solution for _every single problem_ the Enterprise came across. I would’ve loved it if half the episodes ended with a battle-crippled Enterprise, held together by bubblegum and duct tape, limping back to the nearest starbase for repairs (and resulting finger-wagging from Starfleet about Picard’s risk-taking in battle). The crew should be put in more situations where they’re forced to rely on diplomacy, bluffing, or smoke-and-mirrors trickery to get out of a jam, since they simply don’t have the technology otherwise. I agree about the technological fixes, but I think the audience would soon tire of a Captain who got his ship shot up every show. Kirk either solved problems with non-technobabble solutions, in other words strategic and tactical ones. In TOS usually we can say after Kirk comes up with an answer “I should have thought of that!” Reversing the polarity of the third module of the deflector gadget, not so much. ---
**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 13, 2009, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/redo-star-trek-tng-so-it-makes-sense-or-at-least-is-less-stupid/485235/132 "2009-02-13T18:47:47Z")
> [@Aji\_de\_Gallina](#): > > I’d have Katherine Pulaski MD as CMO. I know it decreases the boob factor, but she was a real person a not the new-agey kumbaya types of most of the enterprise. I’m with you on Pulaski. Nothing against Gates McFadden, who was quite a comely lass and who should have been given more to do as Crusher, but Pulaski was just…interesting. I liked watching her change her mind about Data over her tenure, too. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2009, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/redo-star-trek-tng-so-it-makes-sense-or-at-least-is-less-stupid/485235/133 "2009-02-13T19:00:27Z")
> [@mlees](#): > > Everyone (except for Patrick Stewert) was a little rough around the edges acting-wise on the first season. I disagree. His acting was very forced and stage-like. Watching some of those early episodes becomes painful, what with him and Riker trying to out _ACTING!!!_ each other. It’s a miracle we didn’t have a cameo by Jon Lovitz playing his Master Thespian character playing an alien. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2009, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/redo-star-trek-tng-so-it-makes-sense-or-at-least-is-less-stupid/485235/134 "2009-02-13T19:05:22Z")
> [@Chimera](#): > > I disagree. His acting was very forced and stage-like. Watching some of those early episodes becomes painful, what with him and Riker trying to out _ACTING!!!_ each other. It’s a miracle we didn’t have a cameo by Jon Lovitz playing his Master Thespian character playing an alien. I agree. I think the actor who handled himself best during season one was Burton. He was, to my senses, easily perceived as the veteran television actor. ---
**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 13, 2009, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/redo-star-trek-tng-so-it-makes-sense-or-at-least-is-less-stupid/485235/135 "2009-02-13T19:20:45Z")
> [@Aji\_de\_Gallina](#): > > I’d have Katherine Pulaski MD as CMO. I know it decreases the boob factor, but she was a real person a not the new-agey kumbaya types of most of the enterprise. Yuck! Pulaski was awful! I so wanted them to have her fall down a turboshaft, or get eaten by tribbles, or vaporized by some God-Thing. Hated her so much it’s painful to remember. ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2009, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/redo-star-trek-tng-so-it-makes-sense-or-at-least-is-less-stupid/485235/136 "2009-02-13T19:26:25Z")
I totally agree that Colm Meaney should have had more of a screen presence, by the way. As DS9 showed, TNG didn’t need just a little bit of O’Brien, it needed Miles O’Brien. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2009, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/redo-star-trek-tng-so-it-makes-sense-or-at-least-is-less-stupid/485235/137 "2009-02-13T19:34:02Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > The usual fanwank is that Picard studied English under a really, really good British tutor. I’m reminded of a story I heard from my best friend, who is a big anime fan. He was watching an English-language interview with a popular Japanese voice actress. During the interview it was revealed that she had learned English from her French teacher. My friend said it was extremely bizarre listening to a Japanese woman speaking English with a French accent 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Excellent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f19dbf/32.png) [@Mr.Excellent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Excellent)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2009, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/redo-star-trek-tng-so-it-makes-sense-or-at-least-is-less-stupid/485235/138 "2009-02-13T19:45:02Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > ETA: For purposes of this post, nothing on Voyager ever happened. Really, aren’t we all happier pretending no such series exists? It is indeed sad that not even Jeri Ryan’s considerable acting chops and amazing bazingos can alleviate the suckitude of that show. I can’t entirely agree. Voyager certainly always sucked, but Jeri Ryan’s bazingos did indeed reduce the suckitude. I mean, how could they not? ---
**Author:** ![mlees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@mlees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mlees)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2009, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/redo-star-trek-tng-so-it-makes-sense-or-at-least-is-less-stupid/485235/139 "2009-02-13T19:46:45Z")
> [@Chimera](#): > > I disagree. His acting was very forced and stage-like. Watching some of those early episodes becomes painful, what with him and Riker trying to out _ACTING!!!_ each other. It’s a miracle we didn’t have a cameo by Jon Lovitz playing his Master Thespian character playing an alien. heh. And John de Lancie certainly hammed it up, too. What do you think the critical mass point is? Apparently Stewart/Frakes/de Lancie wasn’t enough to turn the cosmos inside out… 😃 I admit that I didn’t recall that “live theatre” may require exagerrated poses and movement, which Stewart may have carried onto the set. ---
**Author:** ![Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/intergalactic_gladiator/32/112_2.png) [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intergalactic_Gladiator)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2009, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/redo-star-trek-tng-so-it-makes-sense-or-at-least-is-less-stupid/485235/140 "2009-02-13T20:00:46Z")
> [@Aji\_de\_Gallina](#): > > Theach Riker to at least be better at pretending to know how to play the trombone. I remember reading somewheres that he really does honest to gosh know how to play the tombone in real life. That’s why they kept giving Riker a trombone to play. No word on whether or not he can play it _well_… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/redo-star-trek-tng-so-it-makes-sense-or-at-least-is-less-stupid/485235.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/redo-star-trek-tng-so-it-makes-sense-or-at-least-is-less-stupid/485235.md?page=8)