11 Times Star Trek The Next Generation DID Have Conflict
Gene allegedly demanded a crew of goody-goody gumdrops, but TNG’s early years say otherwise.
In the 30 years since Star Trek: The Next Generation ended, many of its writers and producers have claimed they had to work under a firm “No Conflict Rule” handed down by the Great Bird of the Galaxy himself, Gene Roddenberry.
It is touted as part of Roddenberry’s vision of a perfect humanity that doesn’t quarrel among themselves. This translated into no disagreements between the main cast and an edict that all drama had to come from outside the ship.
However, the 1987 Next Generation Writer’s Guide openly demanded interpersonal disagreement between the crew based on "human faults and weaknesses". What was specifically barred was "melodrama". TNG wasn’t supposed to devolve into a soap opera of love triangles, gossip, and childish grudges.
How that morphed into “no disagreement at all” is a mystery, but the rule seemed to get more rigid and binding as Roddenberry’s influence on the franchise waned, not less. Picard became fatherly, Riker lost all his ambition, Troi turned into a sad chocolate monster, Data became lovable, and everyone fell into a pit of aw-shucks affability.
If we take a close look at TNG’s first two seasons and especially its pilot, Encounter at Farpoint, we can find a lot of interpersonal clashes Roddenberry baked right into the DNA of show. It’s time to finally put the “No Conflict” myth to rest.
11. Riker Wanted Picard's Job
How did we all forget this one? Demoting the captain down to bureaucrat while the first officer has all the fun on away missions was such a major shake up of the Star Trek formula that it left many fans in a rage induced stupor.
Riker was constantly described in promotional materials and interviews as believing the Enterprise was his ship. He just let Picard steer it from time to time. This was a constant source of annoyance for Picard who was, until recently, the swashbuckler of his previous ship, the USS Stargazer.
Picard often had to force himself into the center of things, much to Riker’s dismay, like in Code of Honor where Troi made a sly case for Picard beaming down to Ligon II to bargain for Yar’s release. Often Riker had to be outright incapacitated, as he was in Arsenal of Freedom and Skin of Evil, before Picard could join the away team.
Riker was also very personable, while Picard was mostly an aloof jerk who literally muttered “merde” to himself when things didn’t go his way.