3 things that changed from the original Star Trek: Next Generation bible

A show bible is something that is supposed to set up the rules for a series. Every show for the most part has had one. It sets the rules that the individual show writers must follow while working on the series, as well as dictation for directors who are looking at telling the stories. Gene Roddenberry made sure his bible was clear and concise and included three rules that could absolutely not be broken in his revival series, Star Trek: The Next Generation.

Spoiler alert. All three were broken more than once.

These three roles, according to Screenrant, were;

1. No Original Series actors.
2. No stories about Klingons, Vulcans, or Romulans.
3. Never make technology the enemy.

Thank goodness that the crew broke every single one of those roles.

Part of the problem surrounding a franchise as long-lasting and beloved as Star Trek has been the notion of what Roddenberry intended. A lot of people speak for the man but this fact that his own rules were broken, in part by his own hand, shows that he was a man who could have his opinion changed.

Like all of us.

We got Spock and Bones in separate episodes of the Next Generation and Spock’s inclusion allowed for the rebooted Kelvin universe. It also allowed William Shatner one last opportunity to reprise his role as James T. Kirk in the first Next Generation-era film, Generations. While some fans may scoff at his use in that film, my tiny seven-year-old brain adored it. It was the first time I ever saw Kirk and I’m not the only one who can say that.

With no stories of past aliens, then there’d be no Worf and we all love Worf. There’d also be no chance of a Deep Space Nine series, considering how important Romulans and Klingons were to that franchise.

Lastly, no bad-tech? So that meant no Borg. Easily the most frightening, imposing, and interesting villains that have been created in the last 30 years. Not even just in Star Trek but in science fiction in general.

Sometimes it’s good to keep an open mind and adapt to new ideas as they present themselves. If nothing else, Roddenberry was a man who believed in growth and change. Keep that in mind.