Counselor Troi Was Never Better Than When Star Trek: TNG Turned Her Into A Romulan

Counselor Deanna Troi's (Marina Sirtis) best Star Trek: The Next Generation episode saw her become a Romulan. Courtesy of her Betazoid 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 as Starfleet ship's counselor aboard 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 when Deanna Troi deserved better as a character, and she did not truly get the chance to shine until TNG's final seasons. It was not until TNG season 6 that Troi finally got to wear a regular Starfleet uniform rather than her usual civilian bodysuits. Troi's strongest episode came in TNG season 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 that she needs to pose as Major Rakal of the Tal Shiar to 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.

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 for Star Trek: Phase II who went on to appear in Star 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 abilities changed significantly after Star Trek: The Next Generation's premiere, and it 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.

Beginning with the Star Trek: The Next Generation season 6 two-parter, "Chain of Command," Troi began wearing a Starfleet uniform and taking on more command roles. Later in, TNG season 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 of TNG devoted more time to other crew members of the USS Enterprise-D. Still, Deanna Troi remains an integral part of the Star Trek family and Star Trek: The Next Generation would not have been the same without her.