Star Trek Fans Explain Why The Next Generation Cast Should Never Return

12.01.2024 - 22:21 / gamerant.com / Patrick Stewart / Jerry Mackenzie

Star Trek: The Next Generation has sparked debates among fans regarding the return of its cast members, like Patrick Stewart's Picard, with some arguing the characters should never return in future iterations despite recent reprisals.

During its seven-season run, the Star Trek series introduced beloved characters like Captain Jean-Luc Picard, Commander William Riker, Data, Worf, Dr. Beverly Crusher, Geordi La Forge, and the mysteriously omnipotent Q. Star Trek: The Next Generation's original airing from 1987-1994 gave fans a heartfelt farewell in the Hugo Award-winning series finale, «All Good Things...» The show also bid adieu in the 2002 film Star Trek: Nemesis. In recent years, Stewart reprised his iconic role as Picard in the spinoff show Star Trek: Picard on Paramount Plus, exploring the retired Admiral's adventures long after his days on the USS Enterprise-D.

These goodbyes carried substantial emotional resonance with fans, bringing closure after multiple seasons of adventures. As such, some fans argue that bringing backStar Trek: TNG characters dilutes the impact of these previous farewells. A recent discussion thread on Reddit, started by u/anagoge, showcased perspectives against seeing the return of Picard, Riker, and other characters. Fans advocating against revisiting the characters believe the show's legacy is already secured in Star Trek history. After over 175 episodes and four films spanning 14 years,The Next Generation made its mark through rich worldbuilding and storytelling that resonated deeply with millions of viewers. For many, bringing back those characters risks tampering with the nostalgia of that celebrated chapter.

However, not all fans wholly reject the idea of revisiting past characters. Stewart's return as Picard earned acclaim from both critics and audiences for offering a compelling continuation of his journey. His reprisal demonstrated how stewarding these iconic roles into new chapters can succeed by honoring franchise history while forging ahead.

Spinoff shows like Star Trek: Strange New Worlds have also illustrated the possibility of embracing original casts and settings while exploring new narrative terrain. Ultimately, fan perspectives on this issue exemplify audiences' passion for a franchise spanning over 50 years. Wherever the franchise travels next, it remains to be seen how it will navigate the delicate balance between honoring its rich history and charting a course toward unexplored territories.

Star Trek: The Next Generation is available on Paramount Plus.

Star Trek is a space exploration franchise created by Gene Roddenberry. The series has spanned shows like The Original Series, The Next Generation, and Voyager. More recently, developer Scopely came out with