Counsellor Deanna Troi
From LoveToKnow Sci-Fi
Counsellor Deanna Troi is the 'sex symbol' on Star Trek: the Next Generation.
Why a Counsellor?
In Star Trek: the Original Series, crew size on Captain Kirk's Enterprise was a spartan 428. A generation later, in Star Trek: The Next Generation, the crew and supporting staff of Captain Picard's Enterprise-D, a much larger ship, was over a thousand, so perhaps it is not surprising that such a large population needed a fulltime counsellor.
What was surprising to original viewers of the show was that originally, Counsellor Deanna Troi functioned at bridge command staff, ludicrous from a contemporary point of view.
Counsellor Deanna Troi
First introduced as 'ship's counsellor', clearly in a healthcare role, Deanna Troi is a native of Betazed, although her father was human. Betazoids are natural empaths; Deanna had inherited some empathic ability from her mother, Luxwanna Troi, but was considered deficient in this skill by full-blooded Betazoids. It is perhaps therefore not surprising that she took her skills to Star Fleet, where only half a measure was more than most personnel possessed, and where her empathy well-suited her to a mental health role.
We are given to understand that at some point prior to their being stationed together aboard the Enterprise, Troi and second-in-command William Riker had enjoyed a romantic relationship, which ended with some lingering hard feelings.
Over the course of the series, whatever rancor they may have felt slowly gives way to respect and new-found admiration and the pair eventually married.
Effective Troi
In early episodes, Deanna Troi's utility was mainly in studying the alien vessel in view on the main screen with a far off look and intoning "I sense a great fear... and sadness..." or similar hokum. But as the series progressed, they found Troi's vein of gold - she was most effective as a character when being 'all girls together' with her buddies, Tasha Yar from security and Dr. Beverly Crusher, or when used as a perplexed participant in humorous settings.
Who can forget Lt. Reginald Barclay's Walter-Mitty-esque role-playing on the holodeck, or Troi's outrage when she found herself typecast in his fantasy life as the Goddess of Empathy?
Fan Reaction
Fans universally disliked the concept that a shrink would sit in a command position on a starship, and Troi's command role was first downplayed and then justified as she made rank as Star Fleet Commander. They also resented the transparent attempt to offer her as the series' female 'sex object', wearing non-standard, revealing outfits while on duty. Over time, the glam was toned down and she was used more effectively as a better-realized, more well-rounded character. That said, teen boys found nothing at all to object to in her more sexed-up incarnation.
Deanna Troi was played by Marina Sirtis, who effected a slight Greek accent for the role, and large contact lenses. Betazoids have larger-than-human irises, which gives them a very intent, even seductive look.
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