In the eleventh episode of the first season of The Next Generation, LWAXANA TROI. Intrigued? Then it’s time for Mark to watch Star Trek.Â
Hey, so let me start by saying this: Majel Barrett-Roddenberry should have been given the space to be this good back in The Original Series. LOOK HOW GREAT OF AN ACTRESS SHE IS. Oh god, I just wish Nurse Chapel had gotten so much more of a story in her original role, but I’m just so pleased with “Haven” and the introduction of Lwaxana Troi. I now realize how much this episode feels like a giant love letter to “Journey to Babel” in The Original Series. Truthfully, they have a lot in common, given that the parents of a main cast member are introduced, everything is hilarious and awkward, and there’s a ~mysterious~ subplot.
But the similarities are only superficial, and this episode builds off the freedom that The Next Generation has to explore stories and themes that The Original Series really couldn’t do. Namely, I don’t know where a character like Lwaxana Troi could fit in that show. She’s brutal, sexual, and absolutely in charge of every single scene she’s in. Given Kirk’s role in that show, I think she would not have been allowed to walk so freely about the story; you would not have had the painfully awkward interactions as we saw between Picard and Lwaxana. And Lwaxana and Riker. And Lwaxana and LITERALLY EVERY SINGLE CHARACTER WHO INTERACTED WITH HER.
What’s so compelling to me, though, is how this episode felt so thrilling when virtually nothing happened in comparison to some of the more action-filled plots. Honestly, Lwaxana shows up, makes everyone uncomfortable, and then Deanna’s impending marriage is ended by space love. Or something. Sure, there’s conflict here – 99% of it due to Lwaxana’s very existence – but it’s not nearly as intense as anything else we’ve seen on the show. So why did these forty-five minutes fly by so quickly? How is it that “Haven” can feel so massive and entertaining without the sort of action that might normally exist on The Next Generation?
This episode is a fine example of how characterization alone can bear the brunt of a story. Lwaxana’s appearance, first of all, acts as worldbuilding all by itself. Her arrival brings with her a dose of Betazoid culture. We learn of how the Betazids honor honesty; we learn about their marriage customs; we learn of the importance of tradition to them. These are all important factors to help us understand why Lwaxana is the way she is, but the same can be said for Deanna, too. This all informs our understanding of her. We know that she values being a Betazoid, enough that she’s willing to honor her father’s marriage arrangement even though she could have refused it. She’s ready to give up her job on the Enterprise and cut ties with Riker in the process! That’s a huge deal, and I think the writers do a fantastic job showing us why she’d be willing to do something like this. It doesn’t feel forced or absurd. On top of that, Deanna truly gets close to committing herself to Wyatt, so much so that during the scene in the Holodeck, I actually thought the show would go through with the marriage. That’s not an easy thing to pull off in half an hour, you know?
At the same time, it seemed pretty obvious to me that Wyatt’s mysterious childhood fantasy would provide Deanna’s escape from this marriage. I mentioned in the video for “Haven” that it was highly unlikely in an episodic show like The Next Generation that Deanna would be out of the cast this soon. So, there was the clue: How would Wyatt come to meet this woman? How would it become morally acceptable for him to leave an arranged marriage – one that both he and Deanna had already consented to – to pursue her? I don’t even know if we were supposed to be surprised that Ariana was onboard the Tarellian ship, though I WAS ACTUALLY A BIT SHOCKED. Is anyone surprised? I should have guessed that was the solution, especially since that subplot was rapidly approaching a very uncomfortable place. In this case, I was perfectly fine with the show shelving the moral dilemma that Picard faced concerning his military duty to protect Haven and the Tarellians. That would have been a fascinating story, but y’all. Y’all.
LWAXANA TROI. Look, she dominates this. I appreciate that The Next Generation is willing to do comedic episodes like this so early in its run. I appreciate that a character like Lwaxana can play such a huge part in the narrative AND THE OPTION TO COME BACK IS LEFT OPEN. PLEASE LET HER NEVER STOP GUESTING ON THE SHOW. But at the heart of “Haven” is a collision of cultures. Whose is right? Ultimately, that’s not the question that should be asked because there’s no right or wrong in this situation. By the end of this episode, the Millers and Lwaxana come to a compromise about the marriage of Wyatt and Deanna before Wyatt decides to abandon it all, and that is the most important theme to me. Lwaxana is arrogant and dismissive, especially when it comes to her view of humans like Wyatt’s parents. While she’s endlessly entertaining, I never felt like the writers were saying that her behavior was acceptable. Deanna’s outburst was a great way for the show to demonstrate how hurtful Lwaxana could be. Her honesty wasn’t always good because it was often laced with cruelty; there’s a value in learning not to say anything at all, which is something Lwaxana hadn’t ever considered. How could she? She knew everyone’s thoughts and never once thought about how much power that gave her over others; that’s why it’s always been so easy for her to be honest. She still has an advantage over those around her.
There’s a bittersweet aspect to the conclusion of “Haven,” though I’d largely say that this had a happy ending. Deanna gets to stay with the Enterprise; Wyatt gets to fulfill his destiny; the Millers get to see their son choose a moral path that’ll help the Tarellians recover from the plague that decimated their people; and Lwaxana gets to see how her daughter has grown over the years. Those things matter to the greater picture of “Haven,” but I’m always going to be thrilled to have met a character so charismatic and thrilling as Lwaxana Troi. I only hope this isn’t the last time I’ll see her.
The video for “Haven” can be downloaded here for $0.99.
Mark Links Stuff
– The Mark Does Stuff Tour 2015 is now live and includes dates across the U.S., Canada, Europe, the U.K., and Ireland. Check the full list of events on my Tour Dates / Appearances page.
– My Master Schedule is updated for the near and distant future for most projects, so please check it often. My next Double Features for Mark Watches will be the remainder of The Legend of Korra, series 8 of Doctor Who, and Kings. On Mark Reads, Diane Duane’s Young Wizards series will replace the Emelan books.
- Mark Does Stuff is on Facebook! I’ve got a community page up that I’m running. Guaranteed shenanigans!
– If you would like to support this website and keep Mark Does Stuff running, I’ve put up a detailed post explaining how you can!
– Please check out the MarkDoesStuff.com. All Mark Watches videos for past shows/season are now archived there!
