@Tenser- btw I forgot, Data and Spock are similar but there is a big difference. Spock has emotions. His social interactions were much different than data. Data is curious like a child and almost completely oblivious of subtle things we take for granted. He is constantly inserting his foot into his mouth. Spock was smooth and calculating.
Just thought I'd tell you that.
@Winnebagel- When I said Riker fills the role I meant his similarities to Kirk. Mainly the whole ladies man thing but also how he is usually the one to correct data about humanity, Picard does too but usually because he's frustrated with him. Now that I think of it that's like McCoy and Spock
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Either way I understand your point. Kirk and them were more casual with each other, as you'd expect old friends to be. But, they also didn't act like the crew of a flagship.
I liked TNG because everything was more realistic. Would they really send a smarmy man-whore to be earths representative to the galaxy? Kirk is cool and all but you gotta admit his character is over the top. The TNG crew trys to fit our known reality I think. Everything seems more professional from TNG on. I think that's why I prefer it.
To me comparing these two shows is like comparing the 60s Batman with The Dark Knight movies. It's just not possible since they're so different. Same story but different ways of telling it I guess. Only problem with that is Star Trek treats all the shows as part of the storyline. 60s Batman is not canonical, thankfully.
