Star Trek: The Next Generationbroke one of its own rules when Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) quotedCaptain James T. Kirk (William Shatner)inStar Trek: The Original Series. TNGpurposely distanced itself from itsStar Trekpredecessor to establish its own distinct identity. While not shying away from Captain Picard’s USS Enterprise-D continuing the legacy of Captain Kirk’s Starship Enterprise, there was a dictum in place not to directly referenceStar Trek: The Original Seriesor its characters.
AsStar Trek: The Next Generationforged its reputation as one of the greatest and most popular sci-fi series ever made, the ‘noStar Trek: The Original Seriesrule’ was gradually relaxed. Years after DeForest Kelley cameoed asAdmiral Leonard McCoy inStar Trek: The Next Generation’s series premiere, Mark Lenard appeared as Ambassador Sarek, followed by Leonard Nimoy as Ambassador Spock, and James Doohan as Captain Montgomery “Scotty” Scott. However, duringStar Trek: The Next Generationseason 4,Captain Kirk’s words literally came out of Captain Picard’s mouth.
Captain Picard Quoting Captain Kirk In Star Trek: The Next Generation Broke A Big Rule
Ronald D. Moore Put Kirk’s Words In Picard’s Mouth
InStar Trek: The Next Generationseason 4, episode 11, “Data’s Day,” Captain Picard officiates the wedding ofChief Miles O’Brien(Colm Meaney) and Keiko Ishikawa (Rosalind Chao). Picard begins the ceremony with the words,“Since the days of the first wooden sailing ships, all Captains have enjoyed the happy privilege of joining together two people in the bonds of matrimony.“It was almost an exact quote of Captain Kirk officiating a wedding inStar Trek: The Original Seriesseason 1, episode 14, “Balance of Terror”:
Since the days of the first wooden vessels, all ship masters have had one happy privilege, that of uniting two people in the bonds of matrimony.
Ronald D. Moore, who co-wroteStar Trek: The Next Generation’s “Data’s Day"with Harold Apter, dipped into his lifelongStar Trek: The Original Seriesfandom to give Captain Picard the same words as Captain Kirk. In a WonderCon 2025 panel about Ronald D. Moore’s storied career, Ron explained thatStar Trekexecutive producer Rick Berman was angered by the blatantTOSreferenceand told him to change Picard’s dialogue. Instead, Ron left the quote as is, and it aired as Moore wrote it without any more complaints on the matter.
Captain Pike Also Quoted Captain Kirk (Sort Of) In Star Trek: Strange New Worlds
Captain Kirk’s marriage speech about"the days of the first wooden vessels"came back around once again inStar Trek: Strange New Worlds' season 1 finale, “A Quality of Mercy.“Strange New Worldsposited an alternate future where Captain Christopher Pike (Anson Mount) was never disfigured by delta rays and remained Captain of the Enterprise.The alt-reality deposited Pike inStar Trek: The Original Series' “Balance of Terror” in Captain Kirk’s placeas officiator of a wedding aboard the Starship Enterprise.
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However, Pike didn’t directly quote Kirk as he was confused by his sudden time displacement. The bride, Lt. Angela Martine (Megha Sandhu), repeated the words Pike had apparently forgotten,“that since the age of wooden ships, all shipmasters have had a happy privilege of…“back to her Captain. Of course,Star Trek: Strange New Worldshas no rule against referencingStar Trek: The Original SeriesthatStar Trek: The Next Generationonce enforced.
Star Trek: The Next Generation
Cast
Star Trek: The Next Generation follows Captain Jean-Luc Picard and his crew aboard the USS Enterprise NCC-1701D as they embark on interstellar explorations, seeking out new worlds and civilizations.
Star Trek: The Original Series
Star Trek follows the U.S.S. Enterprise on its five-year mission to explore the galaxy, led by Captain James T. Kirk and First Officer Mr. Spock. The crew confronts a variety of challenges, including Klingons, Romulans, and genetic supermen, as they search for new life and civilizations.
