If Gene Roddenberry had had his way, some of Star Trek TNG's best episodes would never have been produced.

Key Takeaways

• Fans saved Star Trek from cancellation and led to The Animated Series and the first film.
• Paramount wanted to keep Roddenberry out of The Next Generation (TNG), but eventually brought him back.
• Despite initially strict rules, Roddenberry's TNG constraints were eventually broken in favor of better storylines.

when Star Trek: The Original Series (TOS) When the show was canceled in 1969, fans of the show thought they would never see the Enterprise crew again. But the fans themselves didn't let that happen. The series was so popular in syndication that Paramount developed a second series. star trek series: Star Trek: The Animated Series (TAS). but Tas Although it lasted only a season and a half, continued interest in it star trek It led to the development of a second live action show. This eventually turned into the first star trek movie, Star Trek: The Motion Picture.

As the 20th anniversary of the show's premiere approached in 1986, Paramount decided to release a new product. star trek series. According to Star Trek: The Next Generation — The Mission ContinuesParamount wanted to develop the new show without franchise creator Gene Roddenberry. The studio has always had a hard time working with Roddenberry, who is fiercely protective of his creative vision and whose personal attorney is best described as a ruthless shark. After much deliberation, the studio concluded that production was impossible. star trek Without Roddenberry. So they brought him into the new series. Star Trek: The Next Generation (TNG).

Roddenberry's Rule

Roddenberry took creative control of the new show as soon as the ink was dry on the contract. To ensure that the new show implemented his vision to his high standards, Roddenberry brought in several of his stalwart writers. TOS To help develop the show.

When reading the Writer's Guide Star Trek: The Next Generation Completed, it included several pages of rules about what was not allowed on the show, a list that was informally called Roddenberry's Rules. Several writers who worked on TNG said that any script that did not follow Roddenberry's rules was immediately rejected, regardless of quality. This caused a lot of conflict in the writers' room. Especially since even Roddenberry's most loyal writers disagreed with some of his rules for the show.

As it turns out, there was a good reason for the difference of opinion. If the writers had followed all of Roddenberry's rules to the letter, TNG It won't exist.

Rule #1: No TOS character or descendant

One thing Roddenberry was particularly particular about was original series. that TNG'S The Writer's Guide says:

As much as we love the original cast […] New characters require focused audience attention.

Roddenberry believed that guest appearances by original characters would be overshadowed. TNG He was sure this would ruin the new series. This belief was not unfounded. Trekkies have already made it clear that they are not satisfied with the new product. star trek With a different character set. They were so offended that they actually picketed Paramount Studios when news of the new show leaked. A Trek fan is nothing if not devoted. Then the faces everyone knows TOS was banned TNG Story — Even though Roddenberry broke his own rules TNG This is the first episode when Dr. Leonard “Bones” McCoy makes a cameo.

evasion TOS The early seasons, as Trekkies meet new characters and learn to love them, may have needed a superstar. But when the show started, it made no sense. Luckily, writers realized that and started writing cameos for the people they love most. TOS message. Otherwise, fans would never have had access to the great episodes of ‘Sarek’, ‘Ministry of Unification 1&2’, and ‘Relic’.

Rule #2: No Vulcans

For the same purpose as prohibiting TOS This Roddenberry rule was codified into a very clear statement:

We are determined not to imitate ourselves and believe that there must be other interesting aliens in our galaxy filled with billions of stars and planets.

That sentiment is accurate. I don't argue with that point. By not relying on stories featuring Vulcans. TNG Amazing new species had to be envisioned. To date, over 300 alien species have been seen or mentioned in the franchise. However, this would have also happened in some Vulcan-centric episodes mixed in. And obviously the credo of “don't copy ourselves” only applied to characters. TNG It was a remix of TOS episode.

that TNG The writers followed this rule pretty well, TNG silver star trek Represented by the fewest Vulcans. However, they broke the rules of the aforementioned ‘Sarek’ and ‘Unification Parts 1&2’ and fans were happy.

Rule #3: No conflict with Klingons or Romulans

Roddenberry did not ban Klingons and Romulans outright. TNG Like the Vulcans, he argued that writers should avoid stories about the Federation and the conflicts between these species. Although this ban was partly motivated by not relying on the concept of TOSIt was further motivated by Roddenberry's idealistic vision of the 24th century. He believed that by then, 100 years after the creation of the first crew of the Enterprise, the Federation would not have engaged in large-scale conflict with entire races, especially those as familiar as the Klingons and Romulans.

But the writers broke this rule pretty early on, at least for one of these species. The Klingons were allied with the Federation in the 24th century, and since there were Klingons on the bridge of the Enterprise-D, the Klingons could not have been the main antagonists of the war. TNG. But the Romulans could, and they make great villains. The ban on conflict with the Romulans was therefore lifted at the end of 2009. TNG First season.

In the third season, the ban on conflict with the Klingons was also lifted. Although they remained allies of the Federation, several surprising episodes featured tense encounters with the Klingons, suggesting that peace was at stake.

List of episodes to be excluded TNG If you follow these rules, you'll be in for a treat. Some of his best works include “A Matter Of Honor”, “Redemption, Parts 1 and 2”, “Birthright, Parts 1 and 2”, “The Mind's Eye”, “The Defector” and “Face Of The Enemy”. there is.

Rule #4: Follow the main guidelines.

Roddenberry was adamant that Starfleet should not interfere with the natural development of species and cultures on other worlds. These guidelines have been mentioned but rarely followed. TOS. in TNG, But Roddenberry insisted it should be supported. In fact, he was so persistent that the in-universe rule formerly known as General Order 1 became his primary guideline.

But the heart behind it TNG They soon discovered that forcing the Enterprise's crew to decide whether or not to follow key directives made for a compelling story. Should the crew follow basic guidelines if the entire planet is allowed to be destroyed? Should we violate this to prevent genocide? By the second season, Supreme Directives had become a frequent source of dramatic tension. TNG The episode and Captain Picard decided to violate this surprisingly often.

The writers made the right decision by breaking this Roddenberry Rule. Otherwise, fans would have missed great episodes like “Pen Pals,” “Who Watch the Watchers,” and “Homeward.”

Although Roddenberry had solid justifications for most of his strict rules about what was not allowed. TNGThe writers eventually proved that most of them could be broken without it being detrimental to the show's success. And in the end, fans benefited from that decision.

Source: Writer's Guide Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: The Next Generation – The Mission Continues