Deanna Troi

The plot summary in this article or section is too long compared to the rest of the article. Please edit the article to focus on discussing the work rather than merely reiterating the plot.

Please help improve this article or section by expanding it. Further information might be found on the or at requests for expansion. (December 2007)

Deanna Troi
Counselor Deanna Troi
Species:	Half Betazoid (through mother) Half human (through father)
Gender:	Female
Home planet:	Betazed
Affiliation:	Starfleet
Posting:	USS Enterprise-D Counselor USS Enterprise-E Counselor USS Titan Counselor
Position:	Counselor
Rank:	Lieutenant commander, Commander
Portrayed by:	Marina Sirtis

Deanna Troi is a main character in the science-fiction TV series Star Trek: The Next Generation (ST-TNG) and related, subsequent TV series and films. The character was portrayed by actress Marina Sirtis. The series portrayed hypothetical life, events, space exploration and spacecraft as it might exist in the 24th century with Troi's character depicted as a half-Betazoid, half-Human officer in a space organization known as Starfleet.

Character background

In the series, Deanna Troi served as ship's counselor aboard the Starfleet spacecraft USS Enterprise (designated NCC-1701-D & NCC-1701-E and referred to as starships in the series). She served under the command of Captain Jean-Luc Picard (portrayed by actor Patrick Stewart). Fictional character Deanna Troi is born on March 29, 2336, near Lake El-Nar,^[1] Betazed. Parents are a Betazoid mother and Ambassador, Lwaxana Troi (portrayed by actress Majel Barrett, real life widow of television director/producer/writer and Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry) and a human father, deceased Starfleet officer Lt. Ian Andrew Troi. In the character background, an older sister, Kestra, drowned during Deanna's infancy (note: Dark Page (Star Trek: The Next Generation). Although Deanna Troi has little exposure to planet Earth culture, she attended Starfleet Academy from 2355 to 2359, as well as the University on Betazed, and earned an advanced degree in psychology. In depicting a possible phenomenon of galactic travel, the series creates several fictional alien races including a Betazoid race that have telepathic abilities. Due to a half-human heritage, Deanna Troi has partial telepathic abilities and is an extra-sensory empath with Clairsentience (extra-sensory perception wherein a person acquires psychic knowledge primarily by means of feeling). This ability aids in her work as ship's counselor as well as in interaction with other species and alien races. Socially, she is quiet and reserved, in sharp contrast to her own mother whose behavior is often embarrassing, outspoken and jaunty. In relationships, although Troi was 'genetically bonded' in childhood to a future arranged marriage with a human boy - Haven (Star Trek: The Next Generation), no wedding occurs. Early in the series, Troi finds herself working with an early love, the newly assigned Executive Officer to the USS Enterprise Commander William T. Riker (a character portrayed by actor Jonathan Frakes). Despite the evident prior-series involvement, initially the relationship does not return to its apparent earlier romantic intensity, but evolves into a deep, warm and trusting friendship that continues throughout the ST-TNG series. In later episodes, Troi has romantic involvements with several others, including a brief relationship with Klingon Starfleet officer Lt. Worf (portrayed by actor Michael Dorn). The storyline for 2365 has Deanna Troi becoming impregnated by an alien lifeform seeking understanding of humanity by taking the form of her first (& only) child in The Child (Star Trek: The Next Generation). She bears a son whom she names 'Ian Andrew'(after her father). The being learns about humanity, ages rapidly and dies shortly thereafter. The closing TV episode, (All Good Things... (Star Trek: The Next Generation)) transcends the 'reality' of the time period with an 'alternate future' created by an continuing alien character known as "Q" (portrayed by actor John de Lancie). In this 'alternate future', Deanna Troi suffers a tragic death in 2375. However, Captain Picard prevails and the 'alternate future' is thus avoided. Finally, in 2379, (2002 film: "Star Trek Nemesis"), Deanna Troi and William Riker are shown to marry. Riker is promoted to Captain and both transfer to the USS Titan where Riker assumes command. Deanna Troi continues as an experienced counselor.^[2]

Development and casting

During brainstorming sessions while Star Trek: The Next Generation was being conceived, it was suggested that Deanna Troi would have three breasts. One of the creators of the show objected: "...how are you going to line them up? Vertically, horizontally, or what?". That idea was discarded, leaving Troi with two breasts^[3]. Marina Sirtis at first read for the role of Tasha Yar in 1986.

Guest appearances

Besides being a regular in The Next Generation and its films, the Deanna Troi character later appears in three episodes of Star Trek: Voyager toward the end of its run (usually together with the Reginald Barclay character on Earth), and also in the final episode of Star Trek: Enterprise.

Scholarly and fan reception

Nitpicker Phil Farrand often complained about the way Troi was costumed and filmed. "Why does Troi get to wear the skin-tight bunny suit? ... Why would Troi want to wear the bunny suit? ... How would you react to a psychologist dressed like this?"^[4]

References

External links

• Deanna Troi article at Memory Alpha, a Star Trek wiki