Star Trek’s 5-Part Masterpiece With 93% RT Finally Broke a Historic Gene Roddenberry Rule

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The show skillfully used disagreements—both between the main characters and the senior crew of the USS Cerritos—to create both dramatic and funny moments. Interestingly, this approach goes against the original vision of Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry, who didn’t want his 23rd-century Starfleet officers constantly clashing. Although comedic conflict is common throughout many episodes, Season 4’s “Something Borrowed, Something Green” suggests that Star Trek: The Next Generation might have benefited from exploring character dynamics outside the boundaries Roddenberry initially set.

During the second run of Star Trek shows, a common debate among writers revolved around how much conflict to include between characters. This discussion started because some, like The Next Generation‘s Season 2 head writer Maurice Hurley, believed the original series lacked dramatic tension due to the crew’s generally harmonious relationships. Writers such as Brannon Braga and Ronald D. Moore, as detailed in Mark A. Altman and Edward Gross’s The Fifty-Year Mission: The Next 25 Years, argued against increasing conflict. However, the positive fan response to the more contentious interactions in Picard Season 3, which reunited the main cast of TNG, hinted that audiences did want to see characters clash. Interestingly, the animated series Lower Decks playfully criticized The Next Generation‘s frequent use of the holodeck, but also demonstrated how writers could have created conflict while still staying true to the optimistic vision of creator Gene Roddenberry. This approach would not only have added drama but also shown how these seemingly flawless Starfleet officers maintained their strong moral compass.

Lower Decks’ Holodeck Conflict Showed That a Star Trek Divided In Twain Cannot Stand

Okay, so this episode of Lower Decks really split its focus. We got to see Tendi back on Orion for her sister’s wedding, which was sweet. But back on the Cerritos, it was all about Boimler and Rutherford trying to navigate being roommates. Honestly, before heading to Orion with Tendi and T’Lyn, they both commented on how close Boimler and Rutherford were getting – it was a little awkward, and they definitely noticed!

Boimler and Rutherford had a falling out over a surprisingly silly argument: watering a Bonsai tree. Their fight was cut short only because they had a scheduled session on the holodeck, where they both showed up dressed as Mark Twain.

Boimler and Rutherford went all-in on a bit from the season six opener, “Time’s Arrow, Part II,” dressing in white suits and black bowties and mimicking the voice of actor Jerry Hardin. Embracing the holodeck’s playful possibilities, they continued their argument while staying in character as Mark Twain. And, true to the spirit of Lower Decks, this unusual approach actually helped them resolve their issues.

This causes a typical Lower Decks problem: Boimler and Rutherford try using a negotiation tactic to resolve an argument between Captain Freeman and someone else. The tactic fails, but Coqqor unexpectedly fixes a different issue—a problem with a bonsai tree. It turns out bonsai are a rare treat for his species, and by eating it, he also resolves his conflict with Starfleet.

What’s interesting about this episode is that it shows how The Next Generation could have explored personal disagreements and challenges by focusing on the crew’s downtime, like their experiences in the holodeck. This would have allowed the characters to remain the ideal Starfleet officers envisioned by Roddenberry, while also feeling more relatable and human.

Why It’s Good TNG Characters Didn’t Have Conflict With Each Other

You know, I’ve been thinking about the ‘Roddenberry Box’ idea – the one where you avoid typical, small-scale drama – and it’s actually not as flawed as some folks, like Hurley, made it out to be. It forced writers to think bigger. Instead of focusing on things like office politics or romantic rivalries, they had to look outward, to explore broader, more interesting conflicts. It’s a surprisingly effective way to build a story, really.

One reason fans connected with these characters, particularly compared to the cast of The Original Series, was the strong sense of connection between them on screen. Because episodes didn’t always air in the order they were made, the relationships between the crew of the USS Enterprise NCC 1701-D felt natural and allowed friendships to develop and change over time, even without a strict narrative sequence.

This innovative approach transformed the show into something like a collection of standalone stories. Rather than sticking to a single, overarching space adventure, each episode could transport the crew to different settings – from the Wild West to a detective agency inspired by Sherlock Holmes, or even a romantic encounter for Captain Janeway with an Irish bartender.

Because the crew often acted as different characters in simulations, their personal disagreements could have surfaced through those stories. They would still maintain their professional Starfleet demeanor, but the drama could be expressed subtly, through the actions and interactions within the simulations. Essentially, they could work out their conflicts by arguing or competing as their characters in those holo-programs.

The silly argument between Boimler and Rutherford fit the comedic tone of Lower Decks. While humor exists in all Star Trek shows – often thanks to the holodeck – this particular comedic element felt a bit overlooked in the series.

The show’s writers could have explored the conflicts between crew members through imaginative scenarios like a classic detective story within the holodeck. Rather than constantly putting the characters in physically dangerous holodeck simulations with failing safeguards, the drama could have stemmed from their emotional struggles and relationships.

How Star Trek: TNG Could Have Used the Holodeck to Escape Roddenberry’s Box

The show created a surprising and somewhat awkward romantic connection between Deanna Troi and Worf. For many viewers, Troi and Riker had always seemed destined to end up together.

Even though Riker and Troi shared a deep, telepathic connection as ‘Imzadi,’ he wasn’t truly bothered by her relationship with Worf, and he shouldn’t have been. Riker was a very affectionate person, much like Captain Kirk, but he wasn’t controlling or jealous. It does make you wonder, though – what if Riker happened to join Worf and Troi on a holodeck adventure?

A Star Trek story featuring a simulated scenario where Worf and Riker competed for Deanna Troi’s affection could have explored the existing tension between them in a compelling way. It would have created dramatic, emotional moments without needing a dangerous or life-threatening situation within the holodeck program.

The show cleverly hinted at underlying tension between characters, but addressed it quickly with a shared laugh, preserving the harmonious dynamic the series was known for. The Next Generation thrived on its positive relationships, and too much conflict could have damaged what fans loved about it.

The show aimed for high-minded drama, so personal disagreements shouldn’t have been trivial. However, the writers could have used the holodeck—as they did with Boimler and Rutherford’s minor conflict—to explore deeper issues for other characters. The holodeck roleplaying could even reveal conflicts the characters didn’t know they had, allowing them to grapple with negative emotions—the very things Gene Roddenberry envisioned his characters overcoming.

Star Trek: Lower Decks debuts new episodes Thursdays on Paramount+.

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2026-04-27 05:12