Why was Picard FRENCH?

cleanbluesky · 14 Nov 2006 at 13:31

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patrick_Stewart

I just never understood why he was French in TNG... He was an fine English actor with a sterling English accent and demeanor and they made him French....

Anyone got any ideas?

Spunj99 · 14 Nov 2006 at 13:33

He had to have something wrong with him, otherwise he'd be too one dimensional.

chimaera · 14 Nov 2006 at 13:38

Was he really meant to be french or just have a french name? i've got a friend who has a french surname yet is as british as you can be, i'm assuming its in the ancestry somewhere.

Its a very elegant name though, wouldn't be the same if he was called bob smith.

D4VE · 14 Nov 2006 at 13:38

The character would have been devised before an actor was cast in the role, but yeah it is an odd one.

MarcLister · 14 Nov 2006 at 13:40

Dunno good question though. Weren't most of the pre-Picard humanoids American? As if everyone in space from Earth is American :rolleyes:

Perhaps they did that just to make his character slightly different and get the odd mention for a certain French swearie in every so often.

james.miller · 14 Nov 2006 at 13:40

possible because his french-rural connections would be more interesting than born-in-cockney-london 'John Paul picard'? i dunno lol.

cleanbluesky · 14 Nov 2006 at 13:42

james.miller said:
possible because his french-rural connections would be more interesting than born-in-cockney-london 'John Paul picard'? i dunno lol.

You must have been watching a different Star Trek to me, I didn't realise Patrick Stewart used to deliver Shakespeare in a cockney accent...

*insert obligatory comment about Mary Poppins, followed by a grumble on Dick VanDyke's accent*

MarcLister · 14 Nov 2006 at 13:44

cleanbluesky said:
*insert obligatory comment about Mary Poppins, followed by a grumble on Dick VanDyke's accent*

LEGEND!! Wasn't Mary Poppins re-released on DVD a few years ago with DVD (Dick Van Dyke thank you

) accepting he did a crap Cockney accent and how that made him almost infamous over 'ere?

iCraig · 14 Nov 2006 at 13:47

Well the character of Jean Luc was probably conceived long before Patrick Stewart was offered the role.

Why was the android yellow, and not black skinned?

Why was La Forge blind without his visor?

Why was Wesley nerdy and annoying?

Just character traits.

PsiFox · 14 Nov 2006 at 13:48

james.miller said:
possible because his french-rural connections would be more interesting than born-in-cockney-london 'John Paul picard'? i dunno lol.

Should that be Jon Paul pick axe handle?

james.miller · 14 Nov 2006 at 13:48

cleanbluesky said:
You must have been watching a different Star Trek to me, I didn't realise Patrick Stewart used to deliver Shakespeare in a cockney accent...

what on earth are you talking about

PsiFox said:
Should that be Jon Paul pick axe handle?

i couldnt think of a suitable 'english' surname, but thats pretty much spot on

Freefaller · 14 Nov 2006 at 13:48

His father was French I guess? :dunno:

SiD the Turtle · 14 Nov 2006 at 13:50

Hmm a Star Trek question I can't answer! Shocking.

At a guess apart from the role was created before it was cast, I'd say that they wanted his background to be far removed from high-tech space travel (to create the history of family conflict)- so they came up with a French vineyard. Once they got Shakespearean Stewart, they would have been a bit stumped. I can't think of a 'hook' that the UK has like you could label Vineyards as French.

Augmented · 14 Nov 2006 at 13:51

Because, in the future, the natural course of evolution disposes of the French and as such the land which France once sat in becomes part of Britain's dominant world empire. British stationed in France adopt French names as a way to mock the Gallic underclass while they dwindle in numbers.

That's why.

cleanbluesky · 14 Nov 2006 at 13:52

Augmented said:
Because, in the future, the natural course of evolution disposes of the French and as such the land which France once sat in becomes part of Britain's dominant world empire. British stationed in France adopt French names as a way to mock the Gallic underclass while they dwindle in numbers.

That's why.

one of the funniest things I've read all day

cleanbluesky · 14 Nov 2006 at 13:54

Freefaller said:
His father was French I guess? :dunno:

Hold on, I just noticed we have a representative amongst us... speak for your countryman and explain yourself!

scorza · 14 Nov 2006 at 13:55

MarcLister said:
Dunno good question though. Weren't most of the pre-Picard humanoids American?

On Saturday's episode of the original star trek, there was an Irish character called "Finnegan" (there was also an Irish pipe band off screen playing some cheeky pipe music whenever he appeared). And being a lovable Oirish rogue he had to have a fist fight with Kirk. Ahh - 'twas just like being back in the emerald isle to be sure.

D4VE · 14 Nov 2006 at 14:18

Augmented said:
Because, in the future, the natural course of evolution disposes of the French and as such the land which France once sat in becomes part of Britain's dominant world empire. British stationed in France adopt French names as a way to mock the Gallic underclass while they dwindle in numbers.

That's why.

Aye the British empire is in a bit of a trough right now, but rest assured, one day it will be back, bigger than ever before!!!