Vash Made Picard Shine

[2takesfrakes]

Surely, Dr. Crusher held her attractions for Jean Luc, but Vash was younger - and came without the burden of an Instant Family.

As evidenced in the episode "Q'pid," for example, Vash could release Picard's Inner-Fantasies, in a way that no other TNG woman really could. She was there to explore with, to rescue from danger and, of course, to go to bed with.

In short, she made The Good Captain feel ... brand new! And had Vash and Picard been in an Open - yet Committed -Relationship, it would have been just what the doctor ordered (no offense, Bev) ...

 

[T'Girl]

And had Vash and Picard been in an Open - yet Committed -Relationship, it would have been just what the doctor ordered ...

That might have "ruined" it for Picard. Vash was Picard's bad girl.

 

[The Old Mixer]

So long as she didn't make him "glow"...that might be a little unmanly.

 

[2takesfrakes]

If I recall correctly, Jennifer Hetrick (who plays Vash) was going out with Patrick Stewart at the time they were on the show, together. They even got engaged, but - evidently - never got married. I suspect they only did it for the publicity. Or, if not, how often committment seems to bring down even the most fun-filled romance. It's an age old story. If I may be allowed to speculate even further, if she was dissatisfied, Patrick - no doubt - employed the perenial solution ... he threw money at her:

"Jen, I'll tell you a secret - I've got a wad of cash burning a hole in my pocket!"

"Patrick, you've spent way too much on me, already! hehehe ... But I did see a diamond necklace I want ..."

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

I always thought Vash had some kind of complicated backstory. I mean, we never even found out what her last name was. Perhaps 'Vash' is some kind of nickname or something like that...

 

[WillsBabe]

Something's wrong. Whoa Nellie's not been in this thread yet.

 

[Whoa Nellie]

This thread and the pictures in it are the perfect Christmas present. Thank you, 2takesfrakes. Hi, Willsbabe! Everything is fine here – I've become a member of ASC's VSO and I've been very busy helping transfer stories over to the new Trekiverse (alt.startrek.creative) archive.

In my opinion, Vash is one of those underutilized characters with a virtual goldmine of untapped potential.

In short, she made The Good Captain feel ... brand new! And had Vash and Picard been in an Open - yet Committed -Relationship, it would have been just what the doctor ordered (no offense, Bev) ...

I love 2takesfrakes idea about a some sort of Picard's girlfriend/Captain's woman committed relationship where Vash breezes in and out. If she had her own civilian spacecraft the possibilities would be endless. I believe Brannon Braga hints at that kind of a Picard/Vash relationship in his comic "The Hive." It really is an intriguing idea. It's been two years since I've finished and posted the last Whoa Nellie story. If I started yet another P/V timeline of stories my co-author might just kill me. LOL!


Around the fourth season, Michael Piller, the show's associate executive producer, inquired about marrying Picard to Vash to provide some new story dynamics for Picard. The studio executives killed the idea of marrying off the captain. The shipboard marriage idea survived in the fourth season episode "Data's Day" where Miles O'Brien married Keiko Ishikawa. I always wondered how that P/V marriage might have looked if it had come to pass with my P/V fanfic simply being my own speculation. Would they have shown more of Vash's academic side? Would they have put her on dig sites or in lecture halls? (DS9's episode "Qless" refers to the Daystrom Institute wanting her to speak on her travels.) Would they have shown more of Picard's interest in archaeology? Or would Vash have become a reoccurring bit player, the officer's wife/civilian scientist role that Keiko played?

I've always seen the Picard/Vash relationship as an homage to the great romantic film pairings of the 40's. Vash is Bacall to Picard's Bogart. The very compelling 'battle of wills' dynamic to the Picard/Vash relationship is reminiscent of Bogart and Bacall in the classic movie "To Have and Have Not." Vash's brazenness complements Picard's more sedate personality perfectly. She is the ideal foil for Picard's straight man. The characterizations and relationship dynamics between Picard and Vash makes this pairing a pure joy to watch.


Just imagine Vash's reaction to Reunification.


Vash walks into sickbay to see Beverly measuring Jean-Luc's eyes.
"The right eye is point-zero-zero-four higher than the left..."

Picard replies playfully, "It is not..."

"You want a proper fit on your prosthetic? Trust your tailor." Seeing the captain's wife, the doctor smiles. "Hi Vash."

"Hi, Beverly." Vash turns her attention to her husband. "This is obviously classified. However, considering the work your 'tailor' is doing, it doesn't take a PhD, which I do happen to have, to figure out where you're going. And, Mon Capitaine, they're not overly fond of you there."


"Don't worry, chere. I've kept up on all my benefit paperwork."

With hands on her hips she scolds, "not funny, Johnny. The next time you have the nerve to say I'm out of my mind, I will be bringing this little item up."

"So noted."


Warmest Wishes,
Whoa Nellie

 

[2takesfrakes]

... the Picard/Vash relationship is reminiscent of Bogart and Bacall in the classic movie "To Have and Have Not." Vash's brazenness complements Picard's more sedate personality perfectly. She is the ideal foil for Picard's straight man. The characterizations and relationship dynamics between Picard and Vash makes this pairing a pure joy to watch.

... AGREED!!! Very well-said, Woe Nellie and you are not alone in that assessment! The parallels are too close to be mere coincidence - especially in view of Picard's already established fascination with a Sam Spade-type character and that whole 1940's era.

Your post, here, is an outstanding summary of what I know I'm feeling as a Vash/Picard fan - and it must be echoing other's too. Some fans might've preferred his crush on Beverly Crusher - and I have to admit, I wanted to see it go further, myself! Count me in on that. But ... Vash was far more substantial. Her relationship with Picard was, undoubtedly, consumated. I'm confident that his being more "seasoned" in those matters - as well as in other areas - was a big part of the allure and attraction for her.

Vash certainly made it a point to ask O'Brien about Picard, when she visited Deep Space Nine. I have no doubts that some - very important - part of her longed to be with him. But that's the beauty of his being on Enterprise, is it not? As Troi once so eloquently put it, herself, "... on this ship, anything can happen."

 

[Whoa Nellie]

As Troi once so eloquently put it, herself, "... on this ship, anything can happen."

Absolutely!

Your point about Beverly coming with the burden of an instant family is a very good one. An instant family that will never be completely his. He and Jack were very close friends. A part of him will always see Beverly as Jack's widow. Wesley will always be Jack's son.

Vash would be his and his alone.

Also the Beverly Crusher character is more sedate and a Starfleet officer just like Picard. Maybe too much like Picard. Picard and Vash are the optimity of opposites attract. A quote from an early episode of Castle came to my mind. Nathan Fillion's character Castle is explaining why he and Beckett work so well together even though they're as opposite as day and night.

"Yin and Yang is harmony. Yin and Yin . . . is the name of a Panda."

Warmest Wishes,
Whoa Nellie

 

[Trekker4747]

Vash Made Picard Shine

Well, she did use an orbital buffer on his head.

It was a foreplay-thing.

 

[Lance]

Vash Made Picard Shine

Well, she did use an orbital buffer on his head.

 

[Pauln6]

As Troi once so eloquently put it, herself, "... on this ship, anything can happen."

Absolutely!

Your point about Beverly coming with the burden of an instant family is a very good one. An instant family that will never be completely his. He and Jack were very close friends. A part of him will always see Beverly as Jack's widow. Wesley will always be Jack's son.

Vash would be his and his alone.

Also the Beverly Crusher character is more sedate and a Starfleet officer just like Picard. Maybe too much like Picard. Picard and Vash are the optimity of opposites attract. A quote from an early episode of Castle came to my mind. Nathan Fillion's character Castle is explaining why he and Beckett work so well together even though they're as opposite as day and night.

"Yin and Yang is harmony. Yin and Yin . . . is the name of a Panda."

Warmest Wishes,
Whoa Nellie

Lol. I seriously doubt that Vash would have been his alone but she was fabulous. Way tastier than Harry Mudd. I wished we'd seen a bit more of her in TNG and DS9.

His distance from Beverly had nothing to do with the fact that she was an instant family and everything to do with the fact that they were his best friend's family and that they were serving on the same ship I think.

 

[2takesfrakes]

Vash Made Picard Shine

Well, she did use an orbital buffer on his head.

It was a foreplay-thing.

I suspect it much more likely that Vash would've given Picard's head a Thigh Shine, instead ... during foreplay.

 

[2takesfrakes]

"Yin and Yang is harmony. Yin and Yin . . . is the name of a Panda."

Whilst I completely agree with your post, it should be noted that when it comes to how Opposites Attract, Snookie suspects otherwise. She notes that's not really the way it works, at all. "Like attracts like" ... she says.

 

[Whoa Nellie]

Vash would be his and his alone.

Lol. I seriously doubt that Vash would have been his alone but she was fabulous.

Agreed. I probably should have added to that 'because none of her others were his best friend.'

Vash Made Picard Shine

Well, she did use an orbital buffer on his head.

It was a foreplay-thing.

I suspect it much more likely that Vash would've given Picard's head a Thigh Shine, instead ... during foreplay.

Much much more likely. And, I'll just leave it at that.

Warmest Wishes,
Whoa Nellie

 

[GalaxyX]

How exactly does an open, yet committed relationship work?

 

[2takesfrakes]

Despite the seeming contradiction(s), all is as it appears to be. Picard and Vash shared a love - a relationship - not unlike what Riker and Troi enjoyed. Yes! It could be stated - not unreasonably, I suspect - that Vash and Picard, too, were ... Imzadi. Naturally, they're both Human and would never use that term, specifically, but it appears to be applicable, none-the-less. Hope this helps!

 

[Doug Otte]

Surely, Dr. Crusher held her attractions for Jean Luc, but Vash was younger - and came without the burden of an Instant Family.

Excuse me for cutting into this steamy thread...

I just watched Qpid for the first time in years, and agree that Vash was a wonderful character who added spice to Picard's life. I also agree that she was a more interesting match for him than Crusher, although I liked her character, too.

But, where'd you get the idea Vash is younger than Crusher? Is there any onscreen evidence? To me, they looked about the same age.

If I recall correctly, Jennifer Hetrick (who plays Vash) was going out with Patrick Stewart at the time they were on the show, together. They even got engaged, but - evidently - never got married. I suspect they only did it for the publicity.

Where'd you come across this info? I've never heard about it before. Do you really think they'd become engaged for publicity? I don't.

 

[TheSubCommander]

But, where'd you get the idea Vash is younger than Crusher? Is there any onscreen evidence? To me, they looked about the same age.

It was probably the fact that Jennifer Hetrick was born in 1958, while Mcfadden was born in 1949, would be my guess. But yeah, can't go by how someone looks in Trek because, for example, Picard is listed as having been born in 2305. During the time TNG was on the air, Stewart (who was in his late 40s/early 50s at the time) was close to 20 years younger than the character he was portraying.

 

[2takesfrakes]

Excuse me for cutting into this steamy thread...

Do!
... do! I for one am very interested in opinions, here ... especially on subjects that interest me ... The Very Most!

Do you really think they'd become engaged for publicity? I don't.

Understand ... this is from The Almighty, Infallible and Omnipresent Internet, so take it with a grain of salt. But this is the source of information I based that statement on:

http://en.memory-alpha.org/wiki/Jennifer_Hetrick
During the filming of "Qpid", Hetrick was engaged to fellow actor Patrick Stewart.