This right here. I liked how TNG did it. Series premier bring an oldster in to launch, maybe have a special episode or two with another.
If we really wanted Colm back, have it in the premier of Starfleet Academy where the new cadets are going through a hall of distinguished professors and have an elderly O’Brien do a cameo with a sample of one of his lectures. Nice to connect the show to lore and nostalgia but short enough to let the new cast stand on their own.
That said, I agree with Colm. Let O’Brien stay as he is. He had a perfect send-off.
Yes to both points! I’m eternally grateful to my high school AP English teachers for teaching me how to write and communicate.
My somewhat unpopular opinion is that we’d be better off as a society if everyone in college took “real” STEM and liberal arts classes. The STEM folks can understand the why and societal implications of what they study (as well as just communication), and the liberal arts types can learn a bit about how the world actually works in a concrete way.
Unfortunately, I’ve been continually struck by how incurious people are. I get that everyone has their interests, but that shouldn’t be to the exclusion of all other study. So, I don’t think this will happen. :/