That was one of the first major difference in operations that I noticed when I started TNG; the captain almost never goes on away missions. In TOS, the captain almost always led the away party.
Yep. The main characters on Star Trek TOS are Captain Kirk, Commander Spock and Dr. McCoy. Scotty, Sulu, Uhura, Chekov, Rand, Chapel, Kyle etc. are supporting characters.
TNG, once they got their shit together, was a true ensemble cast, the various characters took turns starring in individual episodes.
I watched (some of) TOS recently. And it basically erased one of my complaints about Discovery being “The Michael Burnhan Show.” Because boy TOS is literally “The James Kirk Show.” Like, Spock is there, McCoy is mostly there, but everyone else felt really really like, quintary, not even Secondary, just way way down the line.
I feel like everyone remembers Trek as “ensemble cast” from the movies and TNG on.
Well back in the day it’d be every important officer plus the captain. So that’s progress I suppose.
That was one of the first major difference in operations that I noticed when I started TNG; the captain almost never goes on away missions. In TOS, the captain almost always led the away party.
There was dialogue about this when Riker first came aboard the D.
And Picard even mentions it to Pressman (I think)
Which PStew really didn’t like.
“I want to kick some ass!”
Considering there were only three members of the main cast, TOS had to use their stars.
Yep. The main characters on Star Trek TOS are Captain Kirk, Commander Spock and Dr. McCoy. Scotty, Sulu, Uhura, Chekov, Rand, Chapel, Kyle etc. are supporting characters.
TNG, once they got their shit together, was a true ensemble cast, the various characters took turns starring in individual episodes.
I don’t agree. TOS was just as much of an ensemble. Most promotional cast photos are group shots like this
Sure, the big three got the most screen time and stories, but the rest had big parts as well.
Yeah. As supporting characters.
Scotty was the main character of more episodes of TNG than TOS.
Oh, a young Alfred Bester.
Dude wasn’t even there until halfway through.
His first episode was the season 2 opener. So, more like thirdway.
Season three don’t count!
I watched (some of) TOS recently. And it basically erased one of my complaints about Discovery being “The Michael Burnhan Show.” Because boy TOS is literally “The James Kirk Show.” Like, Spock is there, McCoy is mostly there, but everyone else felt really really like, quintary, not even Secondary, just way way down the line.
I feel like everyone remembers Trek as “ensemble cast” from the movies and TNG on.
You have to compare TOS to other shows of the time.
Most Westerns of that era had the star showing up in a new town every week with no supporting characters. Same with detective shows.
tng had so much red shirts at thier disposal, the captains dont need to go on away missions.