Some of the best episodes of Star Trek TNG wouldn't have happened if Gene Roddenberry had his way

Key takeaways

• Fans saved Star Trek from cancellation, leading to an animated series and the first film.
• Paramount wanted Roddenberry off The Next Generation (TNG), but eventually brought him back.
• Despite the initial strict rules, Roddenberry's TNG constraints were eventually broken for better storylines.

when Star Trek: The Original Series (TOS) Canceled in 1969, fans of the show thought they would never see the crew of the Enterprise again. But the fans themselves made sure that didn't happen. The series was so popular in syndication that Paramount developed a second Star Trek Series: Star Trek: The Animated Series (TAS). However TAS Only lasted a season and a half, continued interest Star Trek The second led to the development of live action shows. It eventually turned into a first Star Trek movie, Star Trek: The Motion Picture.

As the 20th anniversary of the show's premiere in 1986 approached, Paramount decided to start anew. Star Trek series. According to Star Trek: The Next Generation – The Continuing MissionParamount wanted to develop a new show without franchise creator Gene Roddenberry. The studio had always struggled to work with Roddenberry, who was highly protective of his creative vision and whose personal attorney was described as a ruthless shark. After much discussion, the studio decided it was impossible to make Star Trek Without Roddenberry. So they brought him on board for the new series, which would become Star Trek: The Next Generation (TNG).

Roddenberry's Law

Fittingly, Roddenberry took creative control of the new show as soon as the ink dried on his contract. To ensure that the new program would execute his vision to the highest standards, Roddenberry brought in many of his loyal writers. TOS To help develop the show.

When for a writer's guide Star Trek: The Next Generation Complete, it contained several pages of rules that were not allowed in the program, a list that was informally dubbed Roddenberry's Rules. Many writers who worked on TNG said that any script that did not follow Roddenberry's rules was immediately rejected, regardless of its quality. This caused a lot of controversy in the writer's room, especially because even Roddenberry's most loyal writers didn't agree with some of his rules for the show.

As it turns out, there were good reasons for the disagreement. If the writers had followed all of Roddenberry's rules to the letter, some of the most beloved episodes TNG will not exist.

Rule #1: No TOS characters or their descendants

One of the things Roddenberry was particularly adamant about was not including the characters The original series. The TNG's The author's guide says:

As much as we love our original cast […] We need our audience's attention focused on our new characters.

Roddenberry believed that the guest appearances would be overshadowed by the original characters of TNG characters, and he was sure it would doom the new series. This belief was not unfounded. Trekkies had already made it clear that they were not happy about the new Star Trek with a different set of characters. They were so upset, that when news of the new show leaked, they actually picketed Paramount Studios. Trek fans are nothing if not dedicated. So, all the familiar faces TOS was banned of TNG Stories – Although Roddenberry broke his own rules of TNG The first episode when Dr. Leonard “Bones” McCoy made a cameo.

ignoring TOS Superstars may have been necessary in the early seasons, when Trekkies were meeting and learning to love new characters. But it didn't matter when the show was founded. Fortunately, the writers realized that and started writing cameos for the most beloved TOS characters. If they weren't, fans wouldn't have gotten the great episodes “Sarek,” “Unification Parts 1 & 2,” and “Remnant.”

Rule #2: No Vulcans

In the same sense as restriction TOS characters, this Roddenberry rule was codified with a very clear statement:

We are determined not to copy ourselves and believe there must be other interesting aliens in a galaxy full of billions of stars and planets.

The feeling is right; There is no debate on that point. Authors of Vulcans, relying on characteristic stories TNG Some amazing new species were bound to be imagined. To date, more than 300 exotic species have been seen or mentioned in the franchise. But it could have done with some Vulcan-centric episodes in the mix as well. And apparently, the principle of “don't copy yourself” only applies to characters, because of the very early episodes TNG were remixed TOS Episodes.

The TNG The authors followed this rule well, and TNG is Star Trek Show up with a few Vulcans. But they broke the rule for the aforementioned “Sarek” and “Unification Parts 1 & 2” and fans are happy.

Rule #3: No conflicts with Klingons or Romulans

Roddenberry didn't completely ban Klingons and Romulans TNG As he did with the Vulcans, however, the authors insisted on avoiding stories of confederation conflicts with these species. However, this prohibition was partly motivated by a lack of reliance on similar concepts TOSIt was more inspired by Roddenberry's idealistic view of the 24th century. He believed that by then, 100 years after the first crew of the Enterprise, the Federation would not engage in large-scale conflict with entire species, especially familiar ones like the Klingons and Romulans.

However, the authors soon broke this rule, at least for one of these species. Since the Klingons were allied with the Federation in the 24th century and had Klingons on the bridge of the Enterprise-D, the Klingons were not a major antagonist. TNG. But the Romulans could, and they make such good villains. So, the ban on conflict with the Romulans was finally lifted of TNG The first season.

In the third season, the ban on conflicts with the Klingons was also abandoned. Although they remained allies of the Federation, several incredible episodes featured tense encounters with the Klingons, indicating that peace was precarious.

List of episodes that would have been excluded from TNG If this rule was followed then great. Some of the best include “A Matter of Honor,” “Redemption, Parts 1 & 2,” “Birthright, Parts 1 & 2,” “The Mind's Eye,” “The Defector,” and “Face of the Enemy.”

Rule #4: Follow the Prime Directive

Roddenberry was adamant that Starfleet should avoid interfering with the natural evolution of species and cultures on other worlds. This guideline was mentioned, but rarely followed, in TOS. in TNG, However, Roddenberry was adamant that it should be supported. In fact, he was so stubborn that the in-universe rule formerly known as General Order One became the Prime Director.

However, the mind is behind TNG Soon the discovery that the crew of the Enterprise is forced to decide whether or not to obey the Prime Directive made for compelling stories. Should the crew obey the Prime Directive if they were to allow the entire planet to be destroyed? Should they violate it to stop genocide? In the second season, the Prime Directive was a frequent source of dramatic tension TNG episodes, and Captain Picard decided to violate it on a surprisingly consistent basis.

The writers made the right decision by breaking this Roddenberry rule. If they weren't, fans would be missing out on great episodes like “Pain Pulse,” “Who's Watching The Watchers” and “Homeward.”

However, Roddenberry had a solid justification for most of his strict rules about what was not allowed. TNGThe writers eventually proved that many of them could be broken without harming the show's success. And in the end, fans benefited from that decision.

Sources: For a writer's guide Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: The Next Generation — The Continuing Mission