Every enterprise had this – Except Captain Picard’s Starship after Star Trek: The Next Generation season 1

While Star Trek: The Next Generation struggled to find its footing in the initial seasons, it emerged as a fan-favorite and is now considered iconic, even beating The Original Series to some extent.

Captain Jean-Luc Picard's (Patrick Stewart) crew and their adventures throughout the show's seven seasons were a hit among audiences.

However, TNG excluded a crucial element from Captain Picard's starship that was an important part of almost all other enterprises—a dedicated helmsman/pilot.

From Commander William Riker to Dr. Beverly Crusher, all characters eventually grew into their iconic roles as Captain Picard's crew, except for a dedicated helmsman.

While LeVar Burton's Lt. Geordi La Forge started as the Enterprise's pilot in Star Trek: The Next Generation, he became the Chief Engineer after Season 1, leaving the pilot's position empty.

More on Star Trek: The Next Generation's pilots in our story.

Star Trek: The Next Generation did not give a dedicated helmsman to Captain Picard’s Starship after Season 1

While Helmsman is an important position and every enterprise has had one dedicated pilot across the universe, Star Trek: The Next Generation broke the pattern and did not give a helmsman to Captain Picard's starship after Season 1.

After Lt. Geordi La Forge's move to the position of Chief Engineer in TNG season 2, Captain Picard's starship lacked a dedicated helmsman throughout its run. While many pilots came and went and served as helmsmen for Picard's vessel, nobody could leave their everlasting mark on the show.

After La Forge's departure, Ensign Wesley Crusher served as the pilot in Star Trek: The Next Generation, but he also helped in other departments, which hindered him from becoming a dedicated helmsman.

Wesley Crusher also departed from TNG during season 4, and Captain Picard's starship was back to be helmed by many rotating pilots, who changed frequently until Season 5.

Nearing the end of Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 5, Ensign Ro Laren was introduced as Picard's starship's new helmsman. While he was more involved than his predecessors, he still could not become a main character.

While Captain Picard and his crew became a fan-favorite Star Trek cast even without a dedicated helmsman, it is interesting to understand how TNG could have made this creative decision in the first place.

Captain Picard's Galaxy-class USS Enterprise-D likely needed very little manual steering. This could be why even ensigns could fill in for the position of helmsman, something that never happened in Captains James T. Kirk and Christopher Pike's vessels.

Mr. Sulu remains the most iconic helmsman in the Star Trek universe

Talking about the Star Trek universe and not mentioning George Takei's Mr. Hikara Sulu would be a shame. The Prime Universe Mr. Sulu piloted Captain Kirk's Starship Enterprise throughout its five-year mission in the Star Trek movies and TOS.

TNG's decision not to include a dedicated helmsman might have stemmed from Mr. Sulu's popularity in TOS. TNG never had a dedicated pilot to avoid comparisons with the iconic Mr. Sulu.

Since Captain Kirk's Enterprise would have required a much more skilled and experienced pilot to navigate the vessel in turbulent situations, Mr. Sulu remains one of the most iconic helmsmen in the universe and, in a way, started the trend of dedicated pilots.

Every other Star Trek show has followed TOS' footsteps and has included a dedicated helmsman, except Captain Picard's Starship in Star Trek: The Next Generation.

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Also Read: I believe Star Trek: The Next Generation series finale is the best conclusion

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