Discuss Star Trek: The Next Generation
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The introduction of Troi's mom.
The story itself was actually kind of sweet if not precisely what one would expect watching Star Trek. (I was reminded of a guy I knew who had some artistic skills and used them to paint numerous pictures of a certain young lady. There was no psychic connection between them. He just had a crush on her, which was, sadly, unrequited.)
Is Troi's mom supposed to be used comedically? She came across as, really, an abrasive character. She was worth a few laughs, but they were uncomfortable chuckles rather than out-loud hearty guffaws.
This episode gets kudos for its lack of Wesly participation. Not much else to be said.
Reply by Moonglum9
on February 20, 2018 at 8:57 AM
I can't really think of an episode featuring Troi's mom that I thought was good. She was mostly for comedic purposes, but I do remember they had a serious episode or two with her - just not very memorable episodes to me.
Reply by sukhisoo
on February 20, 2018 at 9:04 AM
In this one, she was largely intended to be comedic. There was a hint at a serious side to her near the end. It wasn't a great episode, but hardly a disaster.
Reply by revengine
on February 21, 2018 at 12:09 PM
I agree with the general consensus that Lwaxana Troi is used mainly for comedic purposes. Probably as a juxtaposition against Picard's somewhat stodgy seriousness. Not saying the character Picard himself is stodgy, but the show doesn't mind making fun of his lack of desire to have fun once in a while, which is okay.
Reply by wonder2wonder
on January 11, 2020 at 10:40 PM
In that episode you get to know a bit more about Troi's family and the (marriage) customs of the Betazoids.
If Lwaxana Troi is comical, does that mean the same for the behaviour and customs of the Betazoids in general? Or is Lwaxana an exception even among her own people? Or is she just acting like the typical 'overbearing' mother?
Reply by Knixon
on January 11, 2020 at 11:41 PM
We don't see any other Betazoid women - or men either, really (the one in Night Terrors is basically catatonic the whole time) - but it seems very unlikely that they're all like her. Plus she calmed down some for DS9.
Reply by Nexus71
on January 14, 2020 at 9:04 PM
Well she was married at first in DS9
Reply by wonder2wonder
on January 14, 2020 at 10:58 PM
Marriage has a calming influence on women?
Reply by Knixon
on January 15, 2020 at 5:49 AM
On some, at least.
Reply by Nexus71
on January 15, 2020 at 7:24 AM
Yeah and she also was pregnant maybe that calmed her down too.
Reply by wonder2wonder
on January 15, 2020 at 7:48 AM
Yes, pregnancy has a calming effect.
Reply by Nexus71
on January 15, 2020 at 7:49 AM
Well with Humans it has the opposite effect.