tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3747512095461506020.post3582429690153381096..comments2023-12-16T09:48:53.787-05:00Comments on Macaroni Waffles: The Third Seat on the Bridgejon TKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04738915806502002447noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3747512095461506020.post-13564729656258216622021-04-01T11:02:09.417-04:002021-04-01T11:02:09.417-04:00Exactly. When you watch the pilot, diplomacy is cl...Exactly. When you watch the pilot, diplomacy is clearly the intent. But by season's end, they had given her a psychology degree and made her therapist for 20th Century lady, and the first missteps were made. But it wasn't until the Piller era that she becomes a therapist with regular office hours.jon TKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04738915806502002447noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3747512095461506020.post-73486088923798735852020-08-05T13:05:11.518-04:002020-08-05T13:05:11.518-04:00I was always under the impression her title as cou...I was always under the impression her title as counselor was supposed to convey her role as a diplomat, guiding Picard through historical, legal, and ethical issues of interstellar relations... sort of an attaché for the federation council... a pseudo-ambassador. Being a head shrink is way dumb and the producers had such myopic vision when writing Troi through that lens. D.Brouillardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09662156604575223842noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3747512095461506020.post-35044879727744350162016-01-24T17:50:39.785-05:002016-01-24T17:50:39.785-05:00Troi's role as ship's counselor is multifa...Troi's role as ship's counselor is multifaceted. She was Picard's chief advisor in diplomacy and negotiation. She counseled Picard in order to maintain his own well-being. She counseled other members of the crew as a therapist. She alerted the captain to issues related to morale. She assisted Riker with crew evaluations. So her role was both external and internal. <br /><br />I honestly believe this was apparent throughout the series and movies. In the earlier years (perhaps under Gene Roddenberry's influence) there was an emphasis, perhaps exclusively, on her role as Picard's aid. But my educated guess is writers began to run into limits with how to use her. What could she bring in a world with an android and a ship's computer that gives out perfect information upon request. That's when you give her other duties like therapy with crew members and guests. But even in the last seasons Troi still advised the captain, with internal and external relations.<br /><br />My biggest problem with Troi is the same as Marina Sirtis had with her, and that which Gates McFadden had with Beverly Crusher: both of the main female characters were trapped in stereotypically gendered roles as helpers and nurturers. No need for a phaser or fighting skills. Not even in the normal chain of command. Writer Ron Moore did more than most give Deanna a chance to command and a regular duty uniform.<br /><br />Only later with DS9 did we get to see women who transcended traditional gender roles with Dax and Kira. Even with Voyager's female captain, in season four we got the extraordinary catsuit of Seven of Nine. At least she was a formidable and strong willed scientist and Janeway's protege/surrogate daughter.<br /><br />I think Troi was an interesting idea for her time, but often underused. For example if the crew had been more realistic, aka, human she could have spent far more time counseling people through all the ongoing peril and danger they experienced.Eric Styleshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14955244927350455049noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3747512095461506020.post-5372354513085688362014-08-15T06:08:38.834-04:002014-08-15T06:08:38.834-04:00She is the ship's shrink, She is also responsi...She is the ship's shrink, She is also responsible for morale and crew "mental condition". Ships counselor would consult with the captain on these matters as well. When your counselor is not empathic (or telepathic) they are still responsible for crew well being. <br /><br />(my take on it - not supported by canon.)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3747512095461506020.post-84876046820788997962014-05-04T06:20:12.486-04:002014-05-04T06:20:12.486-04:00Agreed.Agreed.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01413297152764494483noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3747512095461506020.post-46676574665532870572010-05-04T17:08:45.508-04:002010-05-04T17:08:45.508-04:00yup. i always thought troi as a shrink was stupid....yup. i always thought troi as a shrink was stupid. having her as an advisor makes more sense and makes me like her more.Rachelnoreply@blogger.com