Would TNG Have Worked Without Picard?

[Riley]

I was around twelve years old when part one of "The Best of Both Worlds" aired. I had been watching TNG from the beginning but missed some episodes of season two, including the introduction of the Borg in "Q Who?"

In those days, the only Trek news came from Starlog or the occasional newspaper article or speculation at the local comic book shop. I either read or imagined that there was a possibility Patrick Stewart might not return. At that age, I liked Riker a lot more, especially the Riker of the first two seasons.

I have long wondered how TNG would have progressed without Stewart. In universe, Riker would have continued on as captain of the Enterprise, Data would have probably become XO, Worf becomes second officer, and there's a new character at Ops to replace Data.

I used to think the series would have suffered in the real world without Stewart. However, the direction the TNG films took and Stewart's demand that Picard avoid being a TNG reunion leads me to think that the show might have actually done better without him in the long run. Riker would still be a main focus as captain, but I think the writers and producers would have strengthened the ensemble nature of the show. I honestly believe this aspect of TNG is what people respond to most and I don't think losing Picard/Stewart would have killed the show.

 

[BillJ]

Trying to replicate TOS would’ve killed the show. It needed to be its own thing with its own things to say.

Besides, TNG was a ratings winner right out of the gate.

 

[Riley]

Trying to replicate TOS would’ve killed the show. It needed to be its own thing with its own things to say.

Besides, TNG was a ratings winner right out of the gate.

How is replacing Picard with Riker an attempt at replicating TOS? Riker was similar to Kirk, especially in the first season, but he became his own character fairly quickly. Picard's influence was one of the reasons why.

 

[Alexander Corrino]

It would have been somewhat similar to TOS because you'd have had the same handsome young human captain/overly logical first officer dynamic again, only this time with Riker and Data instead of Kirk and Spock. People were comparing TNG to TOS already (especially the captains, and this is STILL a thing now, I don't see many Janeway vs. Sisko comparisons, all I ever see is Kirk vs. Picard), this would only have made it worse.

 

[Nerys Myk]

Actors, especially in long format/TV tend to put themselves into their characters. If Frakes had become the lead Riker's captain would probably be a version of himself. Probably in a different way that First Officer Riker was.

 

[somebuddyX]

ColeMercury did a fun time line where there were constant cast changes and TNG went for 15 years (more of a TNG/Voyager hybrid than a complete invented timeline though).
The show might have worked with Picard leaving but I wonder if it might have taken a hit in ratings in Season 4 because the show can't live up to audience expectations and people are put off by the changes. Maybe it's not as popular but it endures. Frakes as main lead could have been interesting, I just feel like you miss something losing Picard's introspection through Stewart's acting. Even if you gave them the same lines, like Frakes getting lines about the Crystalline Entity's right to exist in "Silicon Avatar," I feel like Riker would be more blunt than Picard's calm determination. Riker and Data as new Kirk/Spock could be fun. Riker calling Data "Number One."

 

[Laura Cynthia Chambers]

I suppose they could have flipped it - made Data the captain and Riker still the first officer, with the understanding that Data is only captain for appearance's sake as far as Starfleet is concerned, with a competent non-android to back him up, which is the only way they'd allow it. Despite Starfleet seeing it this way, however, nobody except the odd insubordinate/private opinion of a crewmember would see Data as not being the real captain.

 

[BillJ]

How is replacing Picard with Riker an attempt at replicating TOS? Riker was similar to Kirk, especially in the first season, but he became his own character fairly quickly. Picard's influence was one of the reasons why.

I believe I got your post confused with another. Apologies.

 

[Riley]

I believe I got your post confused with another. Apologies.

No worries!

I suppose they could have flipped it - made Data the captain and Riker still the first officer, with the understanding that Data is only captain for appearance's sake as far as Starfleet is concerned, with a competent non-android to back him up, which is the only way they'd allow it. Despite Starfleet seeing it this way, however, nobody except the odd insubordinate/private opinion of a crewmember would see Data as not being the real captain.

That's a very intriguing premise...ol' Bruce Maddox would have had to make another appearance for sure!

 

[Riley]

ColeMercury did a fun time line where there were constant cast changes and TNG went for 15 years (more of a TNG/Voyager hybrid than a complete invented timeline though).
The show might have worked with Picard leaving but I wonder if it might have taken a hit in ratings in Season 4 because the show can't live up to audience expectations and people are put off by the changes. Maybe it's not as popular but it endures. Frakes as main lead could have been interesting, I just feel like you miss something losing Picard's introspection through Stewart's acting. Even if you gave them the same lines, like Frakes getting lines about the Crystalline Entity's right to exist in "Silicon Avatar," I feel like Riker would be more blunt than Picard's calm determination. Riker and Data as new Kirk/Spock could be fun. Riker calling Data "Number One."

I agree that Stewart's acting/Picard's characterization would be a loss, but I think the writers and Frakes could make up for it by making Riker a bit more introspective himself. He was, after all, questioning his career choices in BoBW before the Borg attacked. Riker's bluntness might be softened by Data's rational input as XO. I also think the series would have focused much more on the supporting characters, as the death of Picard would inevitably bring them all closer.

 

[Laura Cynthia Chambers]

They could even have another cost saving clip show, where everyone remembers their favorite things about Picard. Or bring him back every now and then as a hologram.

 

[Richard S. Ta]

There isn’t a line of succession, so there’s nothing to say Riker would have ended up in the centre seat, or that Data would have made XO.

Instead they could have cast an entirely new captain so that they could shake up the dynamic generally. The show could have survived without Stewart, as long as they found an actor who would be a contrast (so not British, not bald, not stand-offish etc.). He would have been a bit young at the time, but someone like Clancy Brown could have been interesting.

 

[Oddish]

Trying to replicate TOS would’ve killed the show. It needed to be its own thing with its own things to say.

It almost did kill the show. S1 is regarded by most commentators as the weakest.

I think that if Stewart had bowed out at the end of S3, leaving Riker on charge... by then, I think the show had enough goodwill to survive. As long as one, Jean Luc got a proper heroic exit, and two, they chose the right replacement. I personally found Shelby seriously irritating, but I think I'm in the minority there.

As to how it would have managed with Riker running the show from the start? I don't know. It was foundering through most of its first season, so even being slightly weaker might have pushed it over the edge.