One Big Complaint Patrick Stewart Had While Filming Star Trek: The Next Generation

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As a long-time Trekkie who’s spent countless hours navigating the vast cosmos of Starfleet, I must confess my admiration for Captain Jean-Luc Picard has never wavered. However, even he had his quirks, and one such idiosyncrasy was his disdain for the fish tank in his Ready Room. It seems odd, given that Starfleet is all about upholding the dignity of all lifeforms, yet they had a captive lionfish swimming around.

Star Trek: The Next Generation had its share of surprising moments while on air, and some less obvious instances have been noticed over time. In fact, Patrick Stewart once shared a particular grievance concerning Captain Picard’s Ready Room and the pet fish tank he kept – yes, you read that correctly.

Re-watch classic Star Trek: The Next Generation episodes on Paramount+, and you’ll notice many scenes featuring Captain Picard’s fish tank and his pet lionfish, Livingston. One of TNG’s well-known guest stars, Ronny Cox, discussed with TrekMovie.com about his character Jellico, who lent a helping hand to Patrick Stewart’s character in the episode “Chain Of Command” in real life.

Patrick Stewart disliked the fish kept in the ready room greatly. He expressed his thoughts as, “We’re making a series emphasizing the respect for all cosmic creatures, yet we have captured fish in the ready room?” However, the producers enjoyed filming with the fish swimming around. As a solution, they moved the fish for Patrick Stewart! [laughs]

It turns out that Jellico wasn’t as terrible as initially thought. However, it’s important to note that after Captain Jean-Luc Picard took back command of the Enterprise, the lionfish did make a reappearance. At least for that moment, the lionfish had a brief respite. Nevertheless, Captain Patrick Stewart’s original reasons for wanting the fish removed still seemed valid, and it seems his arguments mostly went unheeded.

It’s no wonder Patrick Stewart disliked fish tanks, given reasons that may extend beyond Starfleet’s principles. Known for his strong advocacy for pitbulls, even insisting on having one as his character’s “Number One” in the Picard series, and supporting dog-related organizations, it’s clear why he would object to Captain Picard owning an aquarium, given his commitment to preventing any form of animal cruelty.

It’s worth noting that it seems peculiar for Picard to have a pet fish, given that the Enterprise was home to the Cetacean Operations division. While fans of shows like “Lower Decks” and “Prodigy” Season 2 might already find this odd, other viewers may not recall that Starfleet members were often accompanied by bottlenose dolphins and whales. These marine creatures weren’t kept in tanks for display purposes; they served alongside their human counterparts in a much larger space.

Although Jellico may have acted for questionable motives, it’s fair to give him some credit to balance out the negative sentiment towards him. I’ve never held a grudge against him, and I’ve always found the internet memes about him amusing throughout the years. However, I must admit that I was not a fan of how he persistently questioned Captain Janeway in Prodigy, particularly given her “personal connection” to Chakotay which seemed to influence her judgment during his rescue mission. As for Livingston, while his temporary release from the spherical prison might be commendable, I’m not sure it can fully make up for those actions.

Streaming “Star Trek: The Next Generation” can be found on Paramount+, a choice that never disappoints, especially with the multitude of shows slated for 2024 TV lineup. Why not put on “Chain Of Command”, in tribute to Jellico today, and enjoy one of the finest episodes from TNG ever produced.

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2024-09-19 21:39