Summary
Star Trek: The Next Generationintroduced several strong and intelligent female characters, most of whom didn’t stick around as long as they should have. Led by Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart),TNG’sensemble cast featured Dr. Beverly Crusher (Gates McFadden) and Counselor Deanna Troi (Marina Sirtis) as main characters, although theydid not always receive the strongest storylines. Throughout its seven seasons,TNGintroduced many interesting female characterswho only appeared for one or two episodes, despite having the potential for more stories.
AlthoughStar Trek’sdepiction of women improved dramatically inStar Trek: The Next Generationwhen compared withStar Trek: The Original Series,TNGwas still a product of its time. Many fascinating female characters were introduced throughout the series, butthey rarely stuck around long enough to become fully developed characters.Thankfully, modernTrekshows likeStar Trek: Picard, Star Trek: Lower Decks,andStar Trek: Prodigyhave brought back some of these characters who were underutilized in their initial appearances.
20 Awesome Women In Star Trek
Throughout its nearly 60-year history, the Star Trek franchise has introduced an incredible cast of women and iconic female characters.
10Commander Elizabeth Shelby (Elizabeth Dennehy)
Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 3, Episode 26 & Season 4, Episode 1 - “The Best Of Both Worlds”
In the iconicStar Trek: The Next Generationtwo-parter, “The Best of Both Worlds,” Commander Elizabeth Shelby was sent to the USS Enterprise-D to investigate potential Borg attacks. When Shelby learned that Commander William Riker (Jonathan Frakes) had been offered his own command,she set her sights on becoming the next First Officer of the Enterprise-D.
After Captain Picard was kidnapped and assimilated by the Borg, Shelby proved to be an incredibly skilled officer, as she led an away team to the Borg cube. Picard’s capture left Riker in charge of the Enterprise, and Shelby stepped up as his temporary First Officer. In the battle against the Borg,Riker and Shelby made a good team,ultimately rescuing Picard and destroying the Borg cube.
By the time ofStar Trek: Picardseason 3, Shelby had achieved the rank of Fleet Admiral and she led the celebrations at Frontier Day. When the Borg triggered assimilation in all of Starfleet’s youngest officers, Shelby was shot and presumably killed by her assimilated crew members.
9K’Ehleyr (Suzie Plakson)
Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 2, Episode 20 (“The Emissary”) & Season 4, Episode 7 (“Reunion”)
Suzie Plakson’s K’Ehleyr made her debut inStar Trek: The Next Generation’s"The Emissary," where she traveled to the Enterprise to intercept an old Klingon sleeper ship. From her very first scene, Plakson embued K’Ehleyr with so much personality that she was instantly memorable. Upon arriving on the Enterprise,K’Ehleyr reconnected with her former flame, Lt. Worf (Michael Dorn),but she refused to marry him when he asked.
After completing her mission in “The Emissary,” K’Ehleyr did not make another appearance untilTNGseason 4’s “Reunion.” When came aboard the Enterprise this time, she had heryoung son, Alexander (Jon Steuer), in tow, and surprised Worf by revealing that he was the father. Tragically,the Klingon Duras (Patrick Massett) killed K’Ehleyrwhen he discovered that she had found evidence linking him to Worf’s discommendation.
Every Star Trek Character Played By Suzie Plakson
What do a Vulcan, a Klingon, a Q, and an Andorian have in common? Actress Suzie Plakson has played them all in her Star Trek guest appearances.
8Dr. Leah Brahms (Susan Gibney)
Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 3, Episode 6 (“Booby Trap”) & Season 4, Episode 16 (“Galaxy’s Child”)
Dr. Leah Brahms may be most remembered as the subject of Lt. CommanderGeordi La Forge’s (LeVar Burton) awkward holodeck romance, but she was a compelling character on her own. A brilliant scientist who helped design the Enterprise’s engines,Brahms could easily have played a larger role inStar Trek: The Next Generation.Brahms was an expert in warp field theory, and the Enterprise crew could have contacted her more often.
Leah Brahmsvisited the USS Enterprise-D inStar Trek: The Next Generation’s “Galaxy’s Child,“which led to an awkward conversation with Geordi when she discovered his holodeck program. Brahms felt understandably violated by La Forge’s program, and his reaction didn’t exactly do him any favors. Still, the two put aside their differences and worked together in the end, eventually becoming good friends.
7Ensign Sito Jaxa (Shannon Fill)
Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 5, Episode 19 (“The First Duty”) & Season 7, Episode 15 (“Lower Decks”)
Sito Jaxa made her first appearance as a cadet at Starfleet Academy, alongside Wesley Crusher (Wil Wheaton). As a member of the Nova Squadron,Sito was involved in a flight exercise accidentthat caused the death of one of her fellow cadets. After Sito and her squadron attempted to cover up the real reason for the accident, she remained at Starfleet Academy and continued to pursue a career on a starship.
By the time ofTNG’s"Lower Decks,” Sitohad landed a position on the Enterprise-D, working in the security department with Lt. Worf. Seven months after being assigned to the Enterprise,Picard asked Sito to participate in an undercover missionto help a Cardassian defector return to Cardassian space. Tragically, Sito was killed during this mission and her death had a profound effect on her fellow lower deckers.
Sito Jaxa briefly returned in a flashback inStar Trek: Lower Decksseason 4, episode 10, “Old Friends, New Planets.” While at the Academy, Sito had been a friend and mentor to Beckett Mariner (Tawny Newsome).
6Ensign Robin Lefler (Ashley Judd)
Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 5, Episode 2 (“Darmok”) & Season 5, Episode 6 (“The Game”)
Only appearing in two episodes ofStar Trek: The Next Generation,Ashley Judd’s Ensign Robin Leflerhad the potential to be a compelling guest character. In her first appearance, she was seen working alongside Geordi La Forge in engineering andshe later formed a connection with Wesley Crusher.When Wesley visited the Enterprise while on vacation from Starfleet Academy, he and Robin helped save the crew from a dangerously addictive game.
Aside from Wesley Crusher,TNGrarely explored Starfleet from the perspective of young people (with “Lower Decks” as a notable exception).With Wesley’s departure from the show, Robin Lefler could have taken over his role,but she unfortunately never appeared again after “The Game.” ModernTrekshows likeStar Trek: Lower Decksand the upcomingStar Trek: Starfleet Academyhave begun exploring the lives of Starfleet cadets and ensigns in more depth.
5Nurse Alyssa Ogawa (Patti Yasutake)
16 Episodes Of Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek Generations, Star Trek: First Contact
Beginning inStar Trek: The Next Generationseason 4, Nurse Alyssa Ogawa joined the medical team of Dr. Beverly Crusher. As one of the head nurses on the Enterprise-D,Ogawa assisted with important surgeries and helped care for the crewduring medical emergencies. She became close personal friends with Dr. Crusher and the two regularly discussed their romantic relationships and lives outside of their careers.
InTNGseason 6, episode 22, “Suspicions,“Ogawa even risked her own career to help Dr. Crusherinvestigate some suspicious deaths. Ogawa appeared in sixteen episodes ofTNG,and her presence helped make the Enterprise feel more lived in. She proved herself to be a skilled nurse, and Dr. Crusher even recommended her for promotion inTNGseason 7, episode 15, “Lower Decks.”
5 Ways Patti Yasutake’s Nurse Ogawa Was So Important To Star Trek: TNG
In the wake of Patti Yasutake’s tragic death, here are 5 reasons Nurse Alyssa Ogawa became one of Star Trek: TNG’s best recurring characters.
4Amanda Rogers (Olivia d’Abo)
Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 6, Episode 6 (“True Q”)
Amanda Rogers first visited the Enterprise as part of a Starfleet Academy internship, reporting to Dr. Beverly Crusher as her mentor. Soon after her arrival, however, Amanda displayed strange powers reminiscent of John de Lancie’s Q. Q arrived to investigate,informing Amanda that she was from the Q Continuum.Her birth parents had left the Contiuum and lived as humans, but were killed when Amanda was a baby.
Although Amanda initially wanted to stay on the Enterprise and refrain from using her powers, she later accepted her true nature and left with Q. DespiteQ’s laterStar Trekappearances,Amanda never appeared again and her story remained unfinished on screen.In her single appearance, Amanda seemed like a genuinely good person and it would have been fascinating to see more of her story, considering she’s the only Q who was raised as a human.
3Vash (Jennifer Hetrick)
Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 3, Episode 19 (“Captain’s Holiday”) & Season 4, Episode 20 (“Qpid”)
Captain Picard was entirely devoted to his Starfleet career, so he rarely found time for romance, but he made an exception for Vash. An archeologist with shady morals,Vash met Jean-Luc Picard while he was vacationing on Risa,and she quickly pulled him into one of her schemes. Intelligent and bold, Vash had visited Risa in search of a legendary artifact that would make her a huge profit.
After their dalliance on Risa,Vash and Picardparted on amicable terms, realizing their lifestyles were incompatible. Vash later reunited with Jean-Luc when the Enterprise hosted the Federation Archaeology Council symposium. While Vash was visiting the Enterprise,Q appeared and tried to help Jean-Luc in his love lifeby staging an elaborate Robin Hood-inspired fantasy.
AfterTNG’s"Qpid,” Vash left to travel with Q and the pair paid a visit to space station Deep Space Nine inStar Trek: Deep Space Nineseason 1, episode 7, “Q-Less.”
2Keiko O’Brien (Rosalind Chao)
Eight Episodes Of Star Trek: The Next Generation
Keiko O’Brien first appeared inStar Trek: The Next Generationseason 4, episode 11, “Data’s Day,” when she marriedChief Miles O’Brien (Colm Meaney).Keiko worked as a botanist on the Enterprise-Dand was introduced to Miles by their mutual friend, Lt. Commander Data (Brent Spiner). InTNGseason 5, episode 5, “Disaster,” Keiko gave birth to her and Miles’s first child, Molly (Angela and Angelica Tedeski), with Worf acting as a reluctant midwife.
The following year, inTNGseason 6, episode 7, “Rascals,“Keiko was one of the Enterprise officers transformed into a child,which led to some awkward moments with Miles and Molly. Although Keiko did not get much development as a character onTNG, she helped fill out the Enterprise crew and reminded viewers that the ship had families aboard. When Chief O’Brien transferred to Deep Space Nine, Keiko and Molly, of course, went with him.
Star Trek: DS9 Made 1 TNG Character More Important (And It Wasn’t Chief O’Brien)
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine’s serialized storytelling improved many former TNG characters, including someone close to Chief O’Brien’s heart.
1Ensign Ro Laren (Michelle Forbes)
Star Trek: The Next Generationintroduced Ensign Ro Larenin season 5, and she went on to appear in eight total episodes of the series. Although she received more development as a character than many of the women on this list,TNGstill did not use her as much as they could have. Still,Ro had a fascinating backstory.After surviving the Cardassian occupation of Bajor, Ro joined Starfleet but had a rather tumultuous relationship with the organization.
After a disastrous away mission in which Ro disobeyed direct orders, she was court-martialed and imprisoned.She was later reinstated as a Starfleet Ensignand joined the crew of the Enterprise-D. Although many Enterprise crew members were initially weary of Ro, she later came to feel like a part of the crew. Picard took Ro under his wing, which left him all the more disappointed when she left Starfleet to join the rebel group known as the Maquis.
Ro Laren was originally meant to be the First Officer onStar Trek: Deep Space Nine,but Michelle Forbes turned down the offer. The role later became Major Kira Nerys (Nana Visitor).
Picard did not get the chance to discuss Ro’s betrayal until many years later inStar Trek: Picardseason 3, by which time she had rejoined Starfleet yet again.Ro was apparently killed while investigating the Changeling infiltration of Starfleet,although she did manage to pass the information she had gathered to Picard. Throughout her nineStar Trekappearances, Ro became one ofStar Trek: The Next Generation’smost interesting secondary characters.
