Captain Picard’s Star Trek TNG Love Interest Vash, Explained

Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) had a few love interests throughout Star Trek: The Next Generation, but Jennifer Hetrick's Vash was one of the most memorable. Unlike Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner), Picard did not regularly go on away missions, and he certainly did not regularly romance alien women.

Picard spent much of his free time aboard the USS Enterprise-D, reading his favorite books and sipping Earl Grey tea. For the most part, Jean-Luc kept his friends at arm's length, and he allowed very few people into his heart. Captain Picard's most captivating love story in Star Trek: The Next Generation was not quite a true romance, but involved a will they/won't they dynamic with Dr. Beverly Crusher (Gates McFadden).

One of Jean-Luc's most significant romances (aside from Beverly) begins in TNG season 3, episode 19, "Captain's Holiday," while Picard is enjoying a much-needed vacation on the "pleasure planet" Risa. Soon after arriving on Risa, Picard encounters Vash, who greets him with a kiss despite the fact that the two have never met. Picard then gets caught up in an archeological adventure with Vash, and the two begin a brief but memorable romance.

Who Was Vash In Star Trek: TNG?

Although Vash had once been a legitimate member of the Federation Archaeology Council, she was most interested in making a profit from selling the ancient artifacts she found (or stole). Because of her illicit activities and questionable ethics, Vash was banned from several planets and had her membership in the Daystrom Institute Archaeological Council suspended twice.

After Vash and Picard reconnected in TNG season 4, episode 20, "Qpid," Vash left with Q (John de Lancie) to explore more of the universe. Vash later appeared in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, where she found a kindred spirit in the Ferengi bartender, Quark (Armin Shimerman).

Jennifer Hetrick has appeared in many television episodes over the years, including Beverly Hills 90210, Sliders, Alias, Criminal Minds, NCIS, Cold Case, and Prison Break. She portrayed Arnie Becker's ex-wife Corinne Hammond on L.A. Law, as well as Walter Skinner's wife, Sharon Skinner, in one episode of The X-Files. Hetrick appeared in the films No Regrets and A Poor Kid's Guide to Success, and had an uncredited role in 500 Days of Summer. Her most recent role was as Mrs. Berlinger in an episode of the CBS medical drama Code Black.

Patrick Stewart & Vash Actress Jennifer Hetrick Dated In Real Life

In his autobiography, Making It So: A Memoir, Patrick Stewart opened up about some of his past relationships, including one with Jennifer Hetrick. The two had an affair during the filming of Star Trek: The Next Generation, which resulted in the breakdown of Stewart's marriage with his first wife, Sheila Falconer. Stewart does not go into much detail about his romance with Hetrick, but he does open up about his struggle of going through his first divorce.

Patrick Stewart and Jennifer Hetrick dated throughout parts of Star Trek: The Next Generation's run and were reportedly engaged during the filming of "Qpid," although they never married. Stewart was then married to Wendy Neuss from 2000 to 2003, before marrying his current wife Sunny Ozell in 2013. Hetrick later married as well, although she has kept her relationship very private.

Star Trek: Lower Decks Had Their Own Vash

​​​​​​​Star Trek: Lower Decks season 3, episode 5, "Reflections," introduced a character very similar to Star Trek: The Next Generation's Vash. Like Vash, Petra Aberdeen (Georgia King) was an archeologist who played by her own rules. Although Petra had previously been serving aboard the USS Victory, she left Starfleet to become an independent archeologist.

​​​​​​​While running a recruitment booth for the Independent Archaeologists Guild, Petra met Ensigns Brad Boimler (Jack Quaid) and Beckett Mariner (Tawny Newsome), who were manning a Starfleet booth. Petra's true reason for being at the recruitment fair was to steal the Grand Nagus' staff from the nearby Museum of Antiquities and return it to the Ferengi.

After Mariner was transferred to Starbase 80 as punishment for something she didn't do, she joined Petra aboard her ship, the Free Spirit. When Mariner learned about the dangerous malfunction of the AI within the Texas-class automated starships, she convinced Petra to come to the aid of the USS Cerritos.

The Free Spirit then rallied all of the California-class starships to form an armada against the rogue Texas-class ships. Mariner then returned to Starfleet and her position on the Cerritos. Petra Aberdeen was a fascinating character who will hopefully return, and she would likely not have existed if not for Star Trek: The Next Generation's Vash.