Is it just me, or is there not many shots like this in the show where we see Data, Picard, and Riker standing next to each other like this?
Posted by TheENSDoctor@reddit | TNG | View on Reddit | 56 comments
I was watching TNG reruns and I stumbled on this shot from “Clues” (S4E14). When it came up, it had me thinking about how we don’t get many shots like this in the show with the ‘big three’
Electronic_Lemon7940@reddit
CO, XO, 2O all together, it's a security risk
TheENSDoctor@reddit (OP)
when you’re on the enterprise, security can be rather lacklustre lol (especially when you bring one barrel)
chronofluxtoaster@reddit
I was watching a retrospective/review of TNG HD releases and they were discussing how so many film elements (boom mikes, matte black overlays to block reflections/lens flares, unclosed doors, etc.) were visible when they changed the aspect ratio. I also remember a documentary on how they would have to block the shots from the various angles. I assume these were zoom-ins for dramatic effect, and how the scene would shot/reverse shot to something else.
It still amazes me how the Season 3-onward uniforms made it finally look militaristic, instead of everyone in earthtones and pantsuits. The naval-style of the uniforms is to me what made Star Trek II so much better as a "sub battle in space" experience.
strangway@reddit
They’re the Holy Trinity of TNG. Just as Kirk, Spock, and McCoy are of TNG.
Eranevore@reddit
The Nriginal Geries?
havron@reddit
Those Gold Guyentists
strangway@reddit
Aw crap, fixed it
GodIsAPizza@reddit
Not such a quintessential trio as in TOS. You can sort of remove one and swap them out for one of the other big hitters and it won't make much difference. Picard is often on the sidelines. Riker often is mainly a vehicle for exposition. Not that they aren't iconic tng, just that the trio is not so significant or as important, in tng.
BaphometBubble@reddit
So this is it...The bottom of the barrel...
no-more-nazis@reddit
Yeah, why no news about the upcoming new season?
Gizmorum@reddit
TOS style?
Djehutimose@reddit
You can also see how, though the changes were subtle, the later-season uniforms are so much better than the earlier version.
CosmicBonobo@reddit
Especially as, with the best will in the world, they're not exactly tremendously physically fit.
The spandex wasn't very flattering on older cast members like Patrick Stewart. And you have to admire Diana Muldaur for pushing to give Pulaski something more dignified to wear.
Darkling183@reddit
The spandex uniforms had stirrups in the feet to keep them taut over the actors' bodies, and were usually made one size too small to make them figure-hugging. You can appreciate why Diana Muldaur might not have wanted to wear one of those.
Darkling183@reddit
It's probably because Data is almost always sitting at Ops when they're on the bridge, and Picard almost never goes on away missions (and if he does, Riker stays behind).
ezekiel_grey@reddit
They just know not to stand in fireball formation!
ericsonofbruce@reddit
Theres a shot with the 3 of them in frame in like every episode, theyre like half the main cast... wtf are you on about?
rootbeer277@reddit
TrueSonOfChaos@reddit
Ok, but Data is frequently manning the helm and doesn't have a human impulse to pace/wander.
Yayzeus@reddit
I think Data would notice that humans tend to "wander" and write a subroutine to imitate wandering.
He tgen goes missing for three days, and when he's found he's in possession of a tribble and a traffic cone.
Bakingguy@reddit
How many tribbles?
TrueSonOfChaos@reddit
He might, but it wouldn't be active while he's on duty.
Yayzeus@reddit
Of course it would! If he sees other humans doing it he'll program it that way and think nothing of it. This is the same android that built his own child and installed an emotion chip that he'd never fully tested on himself.
TrueSonOfChaos@reddit
He doesn't tell jokes on duty or attempt any of his other "exploring human behavior" antics. Creating Lal was done in his spare time he just justified being secret about it with human rights. And the emotion chips designed by Soong so they are "innately Data" as opposed to self-modifications.
Necessary_Ad2114@reddit
Although they are the three with the best written episodes, TNG is far more of an ensemble show. It’s reductive to equate these three with the only three well developed TOS characters.
CosmicBonobo@reddit
Yeah, there was a bit of self-mythologising amongst the original cast, that they were just as vital to series as the three stars. Really, it's the Kirk, Spock and Bones show, with Scotty a distant fourth.
penguins-are-me@reddit
I always thought it would make a good book cover.
nebelmorineko@reddit
It's hard to get the three of them in same shot as:
They are different heights. Look at the weird camera angle in that shot you posted, it's down and shooting up. If you look at the one cosmic bonobo posted- you'll also notice something unusual. See the size of Data's head in comparison to Picard? TVs used to be smaller so they had to get more creative about height differences to get all three heads in, at a size where viewers can still see facial expressions.
Speaking of height differences, Data is usually in a chair when on the bridge. So again, you'll notice some very creative blocking to get all three of them in same shot, showing all their faces. So, they could show some shots like that to establish what was happening, but even with that blocking, they will probably want to do some closer shots of one or two of them when they are talking, again so the audience can see their expressions.
Mark_Proton@reddit
Do not forget the 4:3 aspect ratio, which forces them to stand closer to each other than normally expected in real life. If I had to wager, the bridge's design also probably limited the available lighting options with the TV production schedule, so shots like that probably were in part necessary for time budgeting reasons, lest the gaffer team would have had to manipulate the lights more often than necessary.
KorEl555@reddit
Surprised to see that Riker is the only one of the main cast that is 6 foot or taller.
ChrjoGehsal@reddit
Michael Dorn is 6'3".
Outrageous-Pause6317@reddit
rnotyalc@reddit
I would assume this was a product of the 4:3 ratio for old tvs. In the newer shows they are shooting it for a widescreen so they don't use as many of the tight angles they came up with for TNG etc.
Someone mentioned once that the reason the Enterprise E and the ships in the newer stuff are longer is because the aspect ratio is different. Square screen, stocky Enterprise D. Wide screen, long Enterpise E.
Just my guess
LurkingWriter25@reddit
Mr-Doubtfire@reddit
Which episode is this?
LurkingWriter25@reddit
It's a mystery.... let's see if anyone can figure it out
Profplujm@reddit
Where silence has no lease?
explodingtuna@reddit
I think silence did have a lease in that episode.
Mongobearmanfish@reddit
It’s that one episode where Riker puts his foot on something and leans on his knee
idreamedmusic@reddit
Love that one. My favorite episode.
moses_the_gyppo@reddit
'Where silence has lease' season 2 episode 2
Rahm_Kota_156@reddit
Earlier season, old uniforms
Unit_79@reddit
Old uniforms, Riker has a beard. Season 2.
katharsister@reddit
That is definitely season 2 Riker hair, still kind of swooped to the side.
Mongobearmanfish@reddit
It’s that one episode where Riker puts his foot on something and leans on his knee
Mass-Effect-6932@reddit
The Enterprise’s chains of command
ZoNeS_v2@reddit
I'm all for this hunt for pictures of the trio 😂
alanskimp@reddit
is this the one where data has a phone inside him?
ForceGhost47@reddit
That’s The Dark Knight
LurkingWriter25@reddit
Is that a.... phone?
ForceGhost47@reddit
BOOM
FragrantExcitement@reddit
You wanna know how i got these scars? I saw the phone bill, and passed out.
IR0NWARRIOR@reddit
They do that like every episode lol
CosmicBonobo@reddit
LurkingWriter25@reddit
ridemypwny84@reddit
They work on different chairs init. Nah I domt think theres much call all three like that on the bridge for sure...risky sending all 3 on away mission, riker usually horizontal with alien female...