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

Key things

• The fans saved Star Trek from cancellation, leading to the Animated Series and the first movie.
• Paramount wanted Roddenberry out of The Next Generation (TNG), but eventually brought him back.
• Despite the initial strict rules, Roddenberry's TNG restrictions were eventually broken for a better plot.

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

As the 20th anniversary of the show's premiere approached in 1986, Paramount decided to launch an all-new Star Trek series. According to Star Trek: The Next Generation — The Mission ContinuesParamount wanted to develop a new show without Gene Roddenberry, the creator of the franchise, at the helm. The studio was always keen to work with Roddenberry, who was very protective of his creative vision and whose personal lawyer was best described as a ruthless shark. After much consideration, the studio decided it was impossible to make Star Trek without Roddenberry. So they brought him on board for the new series that happens Star Trek: The Next Generation (TNG).

Roddenberry Rules

True to form, Roddenberry took creative control of the new show once the ink was dry on his contract. To ensure that the new show would realize his vision to his high standards, Roddenberry brought in several of his loyal writers from TOS help develop the show.

When the Writer's Guide for Star Trek: The Next Generation was complete, containing several pages of rules about what was not allowed on the show, a list that was informally called the Roddenberry Rules. Several writers who worked on TNG stated that any script that did not follow Roddenberry's rules was immediately rejected, regardless of its quality. This led to a lot of conflict in the writer's room, especially since even Roddenberry's most loyal writers disagreed with some of his rules for the show.

As it turns out, there were good reasons for the disagreements. If the writers had followed all of Roddenberry's rules to the letter, some of the series' most popular episodes LPG would not exist.

Rule number 1: No TOS Characters or their descendants

One of the things Roddenberry was particularly adamant about was not including characters The original series. The LPG'with The Writer's Guide states:

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 of the original characters would be overshadowed LPG characters and was sure it would spell doom for the new series. This belief was not unfounded. Trekkies have already made it clear that they are not happy about the new Star Trek with a different set of characters. They were so unhappy that when news of the new show leaked, they actually demonstrated at Paramount Studios. Trek fans are nothing if not dedicated. So all the familiar faces from TOS they were forbidden LPG stories—even if Roddenberry broke his own rule LPG the very first episode where dr. Leonard “Bones” McCoy made a cameo.

Avoidance TOS superstars may have been necessary in the early seasons when Trekkies were meeting and learning to love new characters. But it didn't make sense when the show was founded. Fortunately, the authors realized this and began to write portraits for the most beloved ones TOS characters. If they didn't, fans would never have gotten the great episodes “Sarek”, “Unification Parts 1 & 2” and “Relics”.

Rule no. 2: No Vulcans

In the same vein as the ban TOS characters, this Roddenberry rule was codified in one very clear statement:

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

The sentiment is correct; without debating that point. By not relying on stories with Vulcans authored by LPG they were forced to imagine amazing new species. To date, over 300 alien species have been seen or mentioned in the franchise. But that would also happen with some Vulcan-centric episodes in the mix. And apparently the “don't copy yourself” policy only applied to the characters because a few early episodes LPG were remixes TOS episodes.

The LPG writers followed this rule quite well and LPG is Star Trek the show with the fewest Vulcans. But they broke the rule for the aforementioned “Sarek” and “Unification Parts 1 & 2” and fans are glad they did.

Rule no. 3: No conflict with Klingons or Romulans

Roddenberry did not outright ban Klingons and Romulans LPG as he did with the Vulcans, but insisted that the writers avoid stories about the Federation's conflicts with the species. Although this ban was partly motivated by the fact that it did not rely on the same concepts as TOSit was more motivated by Roddenberry's idealistic vision of the 24th century. He believed that by then, 100 years after the first crew of the Enterprise, the Federation would not be involved in a full-scale conflict with the entire species, especially those as familiar as the Klingons and Romulans.

However, the writers broke this rule very early on, at least in one of these species. Since the Klingons were allied with the Federation in the 24th century and there was a Klingon on the bridge of the Enterprise-D, the Klingons could not be the main antagonists. LPG. But the Romulans could and do make such good villains. So the ban on conflict with the Romulans was lifted at the end of the year LPG the first season.

The ban on conflict with the Klingons was also abandoned in the third season. Although they remained Federation allies, several incredible episodes featured tense encounters with the Klingons, suggesting that peace was precarious.

List of episodes that would be excluded LPG if this rule was followed, it is huge. Highlights 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 no. 4: Follow the basic guideline

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 TOS. IN LPG, though Roddenberry insisted it should be supported. He was so insistent that the in-universe rule formerly known as General Order One became the Prime Directive.

However, mind behind LPG he soon discovered that forcing the Enterprise crew to decide whether to obey the Prime Directive made for compelling stories. Should the crew follow the Prime Directive if it meant having the entire planet destroyed? Should they break it to prevent genocide? In the second season, the Prime Directive was a frequent source of dramatic tension LPG episodes, and Captain Picard chooses to violate it surprisingly often.

The writers made the right decision by breaking this Roddenberry rule. If they didn't, fans would be missing out on excellent episodes like “Pen Pals,” “Who Watches the Watchers,” and “Homeward.”

Although Roddenberry had a solid rationale for most of his strict rules about what not to do LPGthe writers eventually proved that most of them could be broken without harming the show's success. And in the end, the fans benefited from that decision.

Resources: Writer's Guide to Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: The Next Generation — The Continuing Mission