TREK STAR: LEAD TNG almost turned in Kirk 2.0 (not Riker)

By Chris Snellgrove
| Announce 17 seconds ago

In terms of comparison Star Trek: Next Generation to The original seriesMost fans consider the Android data as a stand-up to Mr Spock thanks to his lack of emotions and smart scientific interest. However, one of TNG’s most prominent writers did not want the Android character to stay so situation and similar to Vulcan. That author was Melinda M. Snodgrass, who complained that his script “Ensigns of Command” was so changed that data did not become more like Kirk. As she said, the Android should “have to learn how to wave your D*CK and hope your D*CK is more than other guys.”

Kirk Data

To understand this story about a prominent TNG writer who wants data to channel Captain KirkIt may be necessary to repeat quickly from “Ensigns of Command.” This is the episode where an eerie alien race threatens to eliminate all human beings that have settled on one of their planets, and Captain Picard breaks down all his unexplained lawyer skills to discuss for longer. In the meantime, data is responsible for getting the colonists moving, but their stubbornness and emotional lack of IQ threaten to end this mission in a disaster.

You could generously say that the episode as broadcast has data in channeling Captain Kirk. While mostly a childish Android Sidekick in previous seasons, “Ensigns of Command” has data responsible for the situation and even using its phaser to participate in a little cowboy diplomacy. Mostly, though, the point of this chapter was to give data a greater taste of what it meant to be human, and author Melinda Snodgrass later said “I wanted to stress it and get him to face a situation where Logic is not sufficient, show that you must have charisma for order. “

This is what led to her pretty shocking statement that the Android would have to learn how to wave his metaphorical d*ck around. Why, then, did we not see data learning that a little more like Kirk as Snodgrass intended? Simply put, the episode went through a lot of rewriting thanks to the producers, most likely why Snodgrass, a well -known tour writer by this point, used the nickname “HB Savage” for the chapter’s credits.

Become human

If you are still a little shocked from the idea that Trek writer wants to make the Android data more like the passionate Kirk (right down to rocking, uh, phaser), you might Thinking that Snodgrass doesn’t know what makes this a character tick. However, it is worth remembering that she wrote “Measure a man,” largely considering the best data chapter and one of the best Tng EPS ever written. She knew everyone’s favorite Android quite Well, but she often collided with the Showrunner Michael Piller, which is why she eventually left the show after season 3.

It is interesting to note that data never became a Kirk -like figure even after having its emotion chip … we’ve seen the Android everything from a clown’s clown to prospective revolutionary thanks to that chip, but it didn’t come charismatic command officer in care William Shatner. That’s right, though, as data becomes a remarkable character (ultimately the quirked white boy) in itself who managed to enchant science fiction fans worldwide. And the fact that it’s more like being a pedantic stick in the mud rather than a payer leader is ultimately part of its positive positive charm in the long run.