Counselor Deanna Troi’s (Marina Sirtis) bestStar Trek: The Next Generationepisode saw her become a Romulan. Courtesy of herBetazoid mother Lwaxana Troi(Majel Barrett-Roddenberry, Deanna Troi could sense the emotions of those around her. This unique ability served her well in her position asStarfleet ship’s counseloraboard the USS Enterprise-D under the command of Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart). Troi could also sense when others were hiding something, making her an important advisor to Captain Picard and an invaluable asset to the Enterprise-D’s crew.
Star Trek: The Next Generation,however, did not always make the best use of Counselor Troi’s abilities, often reducing her to pointing out the obvious or relegating her to the sidelines. There were many times whenDeanna Troi deserved betteras a character, and she did not truly get the chance to shine untilTNG’sfinal seasons.It was not untilTNGseason 6 thatTroi finally got to wear a regular Starfleet uniformrather than her usual civilian bodysuits.Troi’s strongest episode came inTNGseason 6, episode 14, “Face of the Enemy,“when she was kidnapped and turned into a Romulan for an undercover mission.
Troi Becoming Romulan Was Deanna’s Best Star Trek: TNG Episode
Troi’s Best Episode Was TNG Season 6, Episode 14 - “Face of the Enemy”
Star Trek: The Next Generation’s “Face of the Enemy” begins with Deanna Troi waking up aboard the Romulan Warbird Khazara and discovering that she has been altered to look like a Romulan. Subcommander N’Vek (Scott MacDonald) then informs her thatshe needs to pose as Major Rakal of the Tal Shiarto help the Federation. The Romulan Vice Proconsul M’Ret and his aides wish to defect from the Romulan Empire to the Federation, and Troi ultimately helps them achieve this goal. Throughout the ordeal, Troi keeps a cool head and expertly navigates the complicated situation in which she has found herself.
Counselor Troi’s 10 Best Star Trek: TNG Episode, Ranked
Marina Sirtis’s empathic Counselor Deanna Troi had some great moments throughout Star Trek: The Next Generation’s seven seasons.
As Counselor Troi is thrust into this mission without her knowledge or consent, “Face of the Enemy” initially robs Troi of much of her agency. However, she quickly assesses her situation and takes control,making excellent use of her empathic abilities and knowledge of Federation politics.When the Enterprise encounters the Khazara, Captain Picard and his crew recognize Troi, but follow her lead in maintaining the ruse. They trust that Troi knows what she is doing and ultimately beam her back to the Enterprise just in time.
Why Star Trek: TNG Took So Long To Find Counselor Troi’s Potential
TNG Focused On Other Characters Before Troi
The initial concept for Counselor Deanna Troi as a character was inspired by Lt. Ilia (Persis Khambatta), a character created forStar Trek: Phase IIwho went on to appear inStar Trek: The Motion Picture. Troi was originally meant to be cerebral and almost Spock-like, but she ultimately took on more of a caregiver role.Troi and her empathic abilitieschanged significantly afterStar Trek: The Next Generation’spremiere, andit often felt like the show did not know what to do with her.With her revealing bodysuits and obvious attractiveness, Troi lost some of the qualities that had originally been envisioned for the character, something that disappointed actress Marina Sirtis.
When given the chance, Troi proved how smart and capable she was.
Beginning with theStar Trek: The Next Generationseason 6 two-parter, “Chain of Command,” Troi began wearing a Starfleet uniform and taking on more command roles. Later in,TNGseason 7,Deanna also took the Bridge Officer’s Test and was promoted to the rank of commander, allowing her to occasionally take command of the bridge. When given the chance, Troi proved how smart and capable she was, but early seasons ofTNGdevoted more time to other crew members of the USS Enterprise-D. Still, Deanna Troi remains an integral part of theStar Trekfamily andStar Trek: The Next Generationwould not have been the same without her.
