XPost: rec.arts.tv, alt.startrek, alt.tv.star-trek
XPost: rec.arts.startrek.misc

Artisan Mortgage loan <artisanmortgage73@gmail.com> writes:

In article <vjp8qo$145jc$12@dont-email.me>, weberm@polaris.net wrote:

Counselor Deanna Troi, the Enterprise's designated empath who can sense >>emotions of those around her... except when she can't. Troi's empathic sense >>could have been an interesting plot device if it was used properly: however, >>it rarely is and is mainly used for her to state the obvious and be vague... >>One might suspect she fudged her resume a bit.

And, of course, this is all in good fun to point out some of the flaws of a >>TV show I love. I like Troi, and this video isn't intended to be an attack on >>Troi actress Marina Sirtis. I just wish Troi was written to her full >>potential.

https://youtu.be/rdSZecS021E?si=YULOAzBGULjTyKoa

Troi's empathic abilities handicapped the writers from day one. It's an example of a cool
idea for the first episode that in practice doesn't work. They have to nerf her powers in
certain situations because she might eliminate the need for an episode right away. So
instead there is some interference or she can't get a good reading for some reason or
another. This led to situations like in "Survivors" when they had to write her out of the
episode so she couldn't expose the truth before the dramatic ending. At least they wrote
that in as part of the story instead of her randomly not being able to read otherwise
readable species just because. If someone can read people's intentions, then it ruins the
suspense. She would've been better as a thoughtful, intelligent, councilor/therapist for the
crew. She also seems to have good exolinguistic skills that should've been explored more.
Maybe a better option would be to give her the ability to speak telepathically with other
Betazoids but lose the "empathic sense" with other species. She became a plot device instead
of becoming a fleshed out character.

Fascinating and humorous thread!

They really could have exploited her abilities. The whole half-betazed
schtick was reminiscent of spock's half-vulcan character
point. Like Nimoy, it gave Sirtis something, with which, to sink her teeth.

Be that as it may, empathic abilities are mystical - belonging to the
fantasy genre. I think they more-or-less abandoned it because mystical
concepts don't mesh well with science fiction. It is a super power that
can remove mystery as a plot device. As others have said, I think
Paramount largely discarded it in season one of TNG, reserving it for
moments of levity.

D

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