Deanna Troi
Encyclopedia
Commander Deanna Troi is a main character in the science-fiction
television series Star Trek: The Next Generation
and related TV series and films
, portrayed by actress Marina Sirtis
. Troi is half-human, half-Betazoid
and has the psionic
ability to sense emotions
. She serves as the ship's counselor on USS Enterprise-D
. Throughout most of the series, she holds the rank of lieutenant commander
. In the seventh season, however, Troi takes the bridge officer's examination and is promoted to the rank of commander
, but continues as counselor. As of Star Trek: Nemesis
she is credited as "Deanna Troi-Riker" because of her marriage to William Riker
.
), and a human father, deceased Starfleet officer Lt. Ian Andrew Troi (portrayed by Amick Byram
). In the character background, an older sister, Kestra, drowned during Deanna's infancy (note: "Dark Page"). 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
.
Deanna Troi serves as the ship's Freudian counselor
aboard the Starfleet starship USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D)
, and later in the films, on board the Enterprise-E
under the command of Captain Jean-Luc Picard
(Patrick Stewart
). In Star Trek: Nemesis
, Troi leaves the Enterprise with husband William Riker who has just been promoted to captain of the USS Titan.
In depicting a possible phenomenon of galactic travel, the series creates several alien races including the Betazoid race that has telepathic abilities. Due to a half-human heritage, Deanna Troi has partial telepathic abilities and is an extra-sensory
empath
with clairsentience. As viewed in Star Trek: Nemesis
, Troi has the ability to connect to another psychic and follow that empathic bond to its source. In this instance, her ability enables Enterprise-E to target and hit the Reman vessel Scimitar, despite the fact that it was cloaked. She is telepathic with her mother and other telepathic Betazoids. There are several species who are resistant to the telepathy/empathy of Deanna and other Betazoids, such as the Ferengi
, the Breen and the Ulians.
Early in the series, Troi finds herself working with a former lover, the newly assigned First Officer
to USS Enterprise, Commander William Riker
(portrayed by actor Jonathan Frakes
). In later episodes, Troi has romantic involvements with several others, including a brief relationship with Klingon
Starfleet officer Lieutenant Worf
(portrayed by actor Michael Dorn
).
She is called various names, usually depending upon the circumstances. Captain Picard calls her "Counselor", but when he is concerned about her, or in emergencies, he calls her Deanna. Doctor Crusher (one of her most noted female friends) usually calls her "Troi". Data
very rarely calls her by first name, usually calling her "Counselor Troi". Depending on the situation, Commander Riker will call her "Deanna" or the more personal "Imzadi
" which means "beloved" in the Betazoid language.
On many episodes, Deanna Troi falls victim to aliens. She is usually targeted by aliens that can take control of her mind then talk through her body. In a key episode of Season 4, entitled "Clues", Enterprise’s crew lose a day's memory. As events unfold, Deanna is taken over by an entity in order to communicate with the crew. She temporarily gains "super-human" strength and effortlessly tosses Worf across the bridge breaking his wrist. In the season 5 episode "Violations", Enterprise encounters an alien species who are telepathic and specialize in being able to bring back lost memories. One of the aliens mentally assaults Deanna and also tries to physically assault her in her quarters. She is saved by Worf and one of his security teams. In the film Star Trek Nemesis, she is mentally violated by Shinzon's viceroy who is also telepathic. The first time is in her quarters with her new husband and long time friend Commander Riker and the second time is seen on Star Trek Nemesis bonus deleted scenes where she is mentally violated again in the turbolift.
Troi is also an avid connoisseur of chocolate, a fact that is significant in multiple episodes, including one in which she describes for another member of the crew how to properly enjoy eating it. In the episode in which Dr. Crusher is trapped in a warp bubble and is losing crew members ("Remember Me"), she briefly describes Troi to Captain Picard to jog his memory and mentions that she "loves chocolate". Troi's love of sweets was exceeded in an episode in which she was the host of a normally ascetic alien species who constantly indulged.
in 1986. She had, in total, five readings all with Gene Roddenberry and other executives. It has been noted that Roddenberry took a liking to her almost immediately. Denise Crosby
, who eventually won the role of Tasha, auditioned for the role of Deanna Troi. It was said that Marina Sirtis had a more "exotic" feel about her.
She was just about to return home, in debt and jobless, when she received "the phone call" alerting her that she had the role of Deanna Troi. She stated that if it had been an hour later she would have missed that call and been on her way to England. Sirtis' U.S. visa was expiring that day, and if she had stayed any longer, she could have run into legal trouble.
For Sirtis, Star Trek was her first big break. Prior to "Deanna Troi", her acting career was going nowhere: "What they told us about The Next Generation when we first started was that we were guaranteed twenty-six episodes. So that was the longest job I've ever had." She knew little about the Star Trek franchise and at first just thought of it as a good means to pay her bills.
Initially, Sirtis/Troi was planned as the eye-candy of the show. Gene Roddenberry intended her to have four breasts, before his wife told him this was a poor idea. Prior to filming, Sirtis was told to "lose five pounds" (5 lb (2.3 kg; 0.357142857142857 st)), but thought herself that she had to drop even more, and was often wearing plunging necklines and form-fitting dresses. After six years, the producers decided to drop the "sexy and brainless" Troi and make her a stronger character:
between Troi on one hand and Worf
and William Riker
on the other hand, she thought that Troi and Worf together was a very sexy combination and found Michael to be a very sexy kisser.
, author of The Nitpicker's Guides, criticized 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?" At least one scholarly paper has explored Troi's many "extravagant hairstyles [and] low-cut costumes that emphasize her body...Every season brings another cut and shape to her hair and another neckline, hemline, color, and fabric to her clothes–a remarkable contrast to the occasional change in collar
for the rest of the crew."
toward the end of its run (together with Reginald Barclay
), and also in the final episode of Star Trek: Enterprise
with William Riker. The final episode of Enterprise was also Troi and Riker's final appearance.
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
television series Star Trek: The Next Generation
Star Trek: The Next Generation
Star Trek: The Next Generation is an American science fiction television series created by Gene Roddenberry as part of the Star Trek franchise. Roddenberry, Rick Berman, and Michael Piller served as executive producers at different times throughout the production...
and related TV series and films
Star Trek
Star Trek is an American science fiction entertainment franchise created by Gene Roddenberry. The core of Star Trek is its six television series: The Original Series, The Animated Series, The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager, and Enterprise...
, portrayed by actress Marina Sirtis
Marina Sirtis
Marina Sirtis is a British-American actress of Greek descent. She played the role of the human/Betazoid Commander Deanna Troi, ship's counselor, on the television and film series Star Trek: The Next Generation.-Life:...
. Troi is half-human, half-Betazoid
Betazoid
In the fictional Star Trek universe, Betazoids are a sentient humanoid species from the planet Betazed, a member of the United Federation of Planets.-Overview:...
and has the psionic
Psionics
Psionics refers to the practice, study, or psychic ability of using the mind to induce paranormal phenomena. Examples of this include telepathy, telekinesis, and other workings of the outside world through the psyche.-History and terminology:...
ability to sense emotions
Empathy
Empathy is the capacity to recognize and, to some extent, share feelings that are being experienced by another sapient or semi-sapient being. Someone may need to have a certain amount of empathy before they are able to feel compassion. The English word was coined in 1909 by E.B...
. She serves as the ship's counselor on USS Enterprise-D
USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D)
The USS Enterprise is a 24th century starship in the Star Trek fictional universe and the principal setting of the Star Trek: The Next Generation television series...
. Throughout most of the series, she holds the rank of lieutenant commander
Lieutenant commander (United States)
Lieutenant commander is a mid-ranking officer rank in the United States Navy, the United States Coast Guard, the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Corps, with the pay grade of O-4 and NATO rank code OF-3...
. In the seventh season, however, Troi takes the bridge officer's examination and is promoted to the rank of commander
Commander (United States)
In the United States, commander is a military rank that is also sometimes used as a military title, depending on the branch of service. It is also used as a rank or title in some organizations outside of the military, particularly in police and law enforcement.-Naval rank:In the United States...
, but continues as counselor. As of Star Trek: Nemesis
Star Trek: Nemesis
Star Trek Nemesis is a 2002 science fiction film directed by Stuart Baird, written by John Logan , and with music composed by Jerry Goldsmith. It is the tenth feature film in the Star Trek franchise, and the fourth and final film to star the cast from the television series Star Trek: The Next...
she is credited as "Deanna Troi-Riker" because of her marriage to William Riker
William Riker
William Thomas Riker, played by Jonathan Frakes, is a fictional character in the Star Trek universe primarily appearing as a main character in Star Trek: The Next Generation...
.
Depiction
Deanna Troi was born on March 29, 2336, near Lake El-Nar, Betazed. Deanna's parents are Betazoid mother and Ambassador, Lwaxana Troi (portrayed by Majel BarrettMajel Barrett
Majel Barrett-Roddenberry was an American actress and producer. She is perhaps best known for her role as Nurse Christine Chapel in the original Star Trek series, Lwaxana Troi on Star Trek: The Next Generation, and for being the voice of most onboard computer interfaces throughout the series...
), and a human father, deceased Starfleet officer Lt. Ian Andrew Troi (portrayed by Amick Byram
Amick Byram
Amick Byram is an American tenor, a recording artist and two-time Grammy nomineeHe is a native of McLennan County, Texas....
). In the character background, an older sister, Kestra, drowned during Deanna's infancy (note: "Dark Page"). Although Deanna Troi has little exposure to planet
Planet
A planet is a celestial body orbiting a star or stellar remnant that is massive enough to be rounded by its own gravity, is not massive enough to cause thermonuclear fusion, and has cleared its neighbouring region of planetesimals.The term planet is ancient, with ties to history, science,...
Earth
Earth
Earth is the third planet from the Sun, and the densest and fifth-largest of the eight planets in the Solar System. It is also the largest of the Solar System's four terrestrial planets...
culture, she attended Starfleet Academy
Starfleet Academy
In the fictional universe of Star Trek, Starfleet Academy is where the future's recruits to Starfleet will be trained. It was created in the year 2161, when the United Federation of Planets was founded...
from 2355 to 2359, as well as the University on Betazed, and earned an advanced degree in psychology
Psychology
Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior. Its immediate goal is to understand individuals and groups by both establishing general principles and researching specific cases. For many, the ultimate goal of psychology is to benefit society...
.
Deanna Troi serves as the ship's Freudian counselor
Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy is a general term referring to any form of therapeutic interaction or treatment contracted between a trained professional and a client or patient; family, couple or group...
aboard the Starfleet starship USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D)
USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D)
The USS Enterprise is a 24th century starship in the Star Trek fictional universe and the principal setting of the Star Trek: The Next Generation television series...
, and later in the films, on board the Enterprise-E
USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-E)
The USS Enterprise is a Sovereign-class starship in the Star Trek franchise. It serves as the primary setting of the films Star Trek: First Contact, Star Trek: Insurrection, and Star Trek Nemesis...
under the command of Captain Jean-Luc Picard
Jean-Luc Picard
Captain Jean-Luc Picard is a Star Trek character portrayed by Patrick Stewart. He appears in the television series Star Trek: The Next Generation and the feature films Star Trek Generations, Star Trek: First Contact, Star Trek: Insurrection, and Star Trek Nemesis...
(Patrick Stewart
Patrick Stewart
Sir Patrick Hewes Stewart, OBE is an English film, television and stage actor, who has had a distinguished career in theatre and television for around half a century...
). In Star Trek: Nemesis
Star Trek: Nemesis
Star Trek Nemesis is a 2002 science fiction film directed by Stuart Baird, written by John Logan , and with music composed by Jerry Goldsmith. It is the tenth feature film in the Star Trek franchise, and the fourth and final film to star the cast from the television series Star Trek: The Next...
, Troi leaves the Enterprise with husband William Riker who has just been promoted to captain of the USS Titan.
In depicting a possible phenomenon of galactic travel, the series creates several alien races including the Betazoid race that has telepathic abilities. Due to a half-human heritage, Deanna Troi has partial telepathic abilities and is an extra-sensory
Extra-sensory perception
Extrasensory perception involves reception of information not gained through the recognized physical senses but sensed with the mind. The term was coined by Frederic Myers, and adopted by Duke University psychologist J. B. Rhine to denote psychic abilities such as telepathy, clairaudience, and...
empath
Empathy
Empathy is the capacity to recognize and, to some extent, share feelings that are being experienced by another sapient or semi-sapient being. Someone may need to have a certain amount of empathy before they are able to feel compassion. The English word was coined in 1909 by E.B...
with clairsentience. As viewed in Star Trek: Nemesis
Star Trek: Nemesis
Star Trek Nemesis is a 2002 science fiction film directed by Stuart Baird, written by John Logan , and with music composed by Jerry Goldsmith. It is the tenth feature film in the Star Trek franchise, and the fourth and final film to star the cast from the television series Star Trek: The Next...
, Troi has the ability to connect to another psychic and follow that empathic bond to its source. In this instance, her ability enables Enterprise-E to target and hit the Reman vessel Scimitar, despite the fact that it was cloaked. She is telepathic with her mother and other telepathic Betazoids. There are several species who are resistant to the telepathy/empathy of Deanna and other Betazoids, such as the Ferengi
Ferengi
The Ferengi are a fictitious extraterrestrial race from the Star Trek universe. They first appeared in "The Last Outpost", the fifth episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation in 1987, during which they made first contact with the United Federation of Planets in 2364 on the planet Delphi Ardu,...
, the Breen and the Ulians.
Early in the series, Troi finds herself working with a former lover, the newly assigned First Officer
Executive officer
An executive officer is generally a person responsible for running an organization, although the exact nature of the role varies depending on the organization.-Administrative law:...
to USS Enterprise, Commander William Riker
William Riker
William Thomas Riker, played by Jonathan Frakes, is a fictional character in the Star Trek universe primarily appearing as a main character in Star Trek: The Next Generation...
(portrayed by actor Jonathan Frakes
Jonathan Frakes
Jonathan Scott Frakes is an American actor, author and director best known for his role as Commander William T. Riker in the Star Trek franchise, as well as for his tenure as host of Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction ....
). In later episodes, Troi has romantic involvements with several others, including a brief relationship with Klingon
Klingon
Klingons are a fictional warrior race in the Star Trek universe.Klingons are recurring villains in the 1960s television show Star Trek: The Original Series, and have appeared in all five spin-off series and eight feature films...
Starfleet officer Lieutenant Worf
Worf
Worf, played by Michael Dorn, is a main character in Star Trek: The Next Generation and in seasons four to seven of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. He also appears in the films based on The Next Generation. Worf is the first Klingon main character to appear in Star Trek, and has appeared in more Star...
(portrayed by actor Michael Dorn
Michael Dorn
Michael Dorn is an American actor, and voice artist who is best known for his role as the Klingon Worf from the Star Trek franchise.-Early life and career:...
).
She is called various names, usually depending upon the circumstances. Captain Picard calls her "Counselor", but when he is concerned about her, or in emergencies, he calls her Deanna. Doctor Crusher (one of her most noted female friends) usually calls her "Troi". Data
Data (Star Trek)
Lieutenant Commander Data is a character in the fictional Star Trek universe portrayed by actor Brent Spiner. He appears in the television series Star Trek: The Next Generation and the feature films Star Trek Generations, Star Trek: First Contact, Star Trek: Insurrection, and Star Trek...
very rarely calls her by first name, usually calling her "Counselor Troi". Depending on the situation, Commander Riker will call her "Deanna" or the more personal "Imzadi
Imzadi
Imzadi is a non-canon Star Trek novel by Peter David, primarily exploring William Riker's assignment to Betazed and his early relationship with Deanna Troi....
" which means "beloved" in the Betazoid language.
On many episodes, Deanna Troi falls victim to aliens. She is usually targeted by aliens that can take control of her mind then talk through her body. In a key episode of Season 4, entitled "Clues", Enterprise’s crew lose a day's memory. As events unfold, Deanna is taken over by an entity in order to communicate with the crew. She temporarily gains "super-human" strength and effortlessly tosses Worf across the bridge breaking his wrist. In the season 5 episode "Violations", Enterprise encounters an alien species who are telepathic and specialize in being able to bring back lost memories. One of the aliens mentally assaults Deanna and also tries to physically assault her in her quarters. She is saved by Worf and one of his security teams. In the film Star Trek Nemesis, she is mentally violated by Shinzon's viceroy who is also telepathic. The first time is in her quarters with her new husband and long time friend Commander Riker and the second time is seen on Star Trek Nemesis bonus deleted scenes where she is mentally violated again in the turbolift.
Troi is also an avid connoisseur of chocolate, a fact that is significant in multiple episodes, including one in which she describes for another member of the crew how to properly enjoy eating it. In the episode in which Dr. Crusher is trapped in a warp bubble and is losing crew members ("Remember Me"), she briefly describes Troi to Captain Picard to jog his memory and mentions that she "loves chocolate". Troi's love of sweets was exceeded in an episode in which she was the host of a normally ascetic alien species who constantly indulged.
Development and casting
Marina Sirtis at first read for the role that would become Tasha YarTasha Yar
Lieutenant Natasha "Tasha" Yar, played by Denise Crosby, is a character in Star Trek: The Next Generation. In the fictional series, the character served as chief of security aboard the USS Enterprise-D for the first season....
in 1986. She had, in total, five readings all with Gene Roddenberry and other executives. It has been noted that Roddenberry took a liking to her almost immediately. Denise Crosby
Denise Crosby
Denise Michelle Crosby is an American actress best known for portraying Security Chief Tasha Yar on Star Trek: The Next Generation...
, who eventually won the role of Tasha, auditioned for the role of Deanna Troi. It was said that Marina Sirtis had a more "exotic" feel about her.
She was just about to return home, in debt and jobless, when she received "the phone call" alerting her that she had the role of Deanna Troi. She stated that if it had been an hour later she would have missed that call and been on her way to England. Sirtis' U.S. visa was expiring that day, and if she had stayed any longer, she could have run into legal trouble.
For Sirtis, Star Trek was her first big break. Prior to "Deanna Troi", her acting career was going nowhere: "What they told us about The Next Generation when we first started was that we were guaranteed twenty-six episodes. So that was the longest job I've ever had." She knew little about the Star Trek franchise and at first just thought of it as a good means to pay her bills.
Initially, Sirtis/Troi was planned as the eye-candy of the show. Gene Roddenberry intended her to have four breasts, before his wife told him this was a poor idea. Prior to filming, Sirtis was told to "lose five pounds" (5 lb (2.3 kg; 0.357142857142857 st)), but thought herself that she had to drop even more, and was often wearing plunging necklines and form-fitting dresses. After six years, the producers decided to drop the "sexy and brainless" Troi and make her a stronger character:
"I was thrilled when I got my regulation Starfleet uniform... it covered up my cleavage and I got all my brains back, because when you have cleavage you can't have brains in Hollywood... I was allowed to do things that I hadn't been allowed to do for five or six years. I went on away teams, I was in charge of staff, I had my pips back, I had phasers, I had all the equipment again, and it was fabulous. I was absolutely thrilled."Commenting on the love triangle
Love triangle
A love triangle is usually a romantic relationship involving three people. While it can refer to two people independently romantically linked with a third, it usually implies that each of the three people has some kind of relationship to the other two...
between Troi on one hand and Worf
Worf
Worf, played by Michael Dorn, is a main character in Star Trek: The Next Generation and in seasons four to seven of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. He also appears in the films based on The Next Generation. Worf is the first Klingon main character to appear in Star Trek, and has appeared in more Star...
and William Riker
William Riker
William Thomas Riker, played by Jonathan Frakes, is a fictional character in the Star Trek universe primarily appearing as a main character in Star Trek: The Next Generation...
on the other hand, she thought that Troi and Worf together was a very sexy combination and found Michael to be a very sexy kisser.
Scholarly and fan reception
Phil FarrandPhil Farrand
Phil Farrand is an American computer programmer and consultant, webmaster and author. He is known for his Nitpicker's Guides, in which he nitpicks plot holes and continuity errors in the various Star Trek television programs and movies, and for the creation of Nitcentral, a website devoted to the...
, author of The Nitpicker's Guides, criticized 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?" At least one scholarly paper has explored Troi's many "extravagant hairstyles [and] low-cut costumes that emphasize her body...Every season brings another cut and shape to her hair and another neckline, hemline, color, and fabric to her clothes–a remarkable contrast to the occasional change in collar
Starfleet uniforms
In the fictional Star Trek universe enlisted personnel and officers in the United Earth Starfleet and, later, the United Federation of Planets' Starfleet wear a variety of uniforms.-Star Trek: The Original Series:...
for the rest of the crew."
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: VoyagerStar Trek: Voyager
Star Trek: Voyager is a science fiction television series set in the Star Trek universe. Set in the 24th century from the year 2371 through 2378, the series follows the adventures of the Starfleet vessel USS Voyager, which becomes stranded in the Delta Quadrant 70,000 light-years from Earth while...
toward the end of its run (together with Reginald Barclay
Reginald Barclay
Lieutenant Reginald Endicott "Broccoli" Barclay III, played by Dwight Schultz, is a recurring character in the television series Star Trek: The Next Generation...
), and also in the final episode of Star Trek: Enterprise
Star Trek: Enterprise
Star Trek: Enterprise is a science fiction television series. It follows the adventures of humanity's first warp 5 starship, the Enterprise, ten years before the United Federation of Planets shown in previous Star Trek series was formed.Enterprise premiered on September 26, 2001...
with William Riker. The final episode of Enterprise was also Troi and Riker's final appearance.