A certain character only appeared in two episodes ofStar Trek: The Next Generation, but I wish she had stuck around longer. Following Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) and his crew aboard the USS Enterprise-D,TNGtold mostly standalone stories that wrapped up in one episode. This meant that characters often popped up for only one or two episodes, never to be seen again. While this makes the Enterprise-D crew feel big and ever-changing, it also robs viewers of some characters it would have been nice to get to know.
Ashley Judd’s Ensign Robin Leflerappears in two episodes ofStar Trek: The Next Generationseason 5 — episode 2, “Darmok,” and episode 6, “The Game.” The young Starfleet officer appears to be smart and confident, as she aids Lt. Commander Geordi La Forge (LeVar Burton) in “Darmok.” In “The Game,” Lefler develops a sweet romance withEnsign Wesley Crusher (Wil Wheaton), who is on vacation from Starfleet Academy. Bright-eyed and clever,Ensign Lefler made a strong addition toTNG’scast,but she never appeared onscreen again.
It Would Have Been Nice To See A Young Ensign Like Lefler Play A Larger Role
Ensign Lefler only appears briefly in “Darmok,” but then plays a more substantial role in “The Game,” helping Wesley save the Enterprise crew. Unfortunately, “The Game” is not a particularly strong episode ofStar Trek,andI wish Robin Lefler had gotten the chance to star in a better episode.Still, she’s one of the better parts of the story, coming across as likable and charming, as she invents a playful set of “laws” she later shares with Wesley. Ashley Judd delivers a solid performance, making Lefler one ofTNG’smore memorable guest stars.
In her conversations with Wesley in “The Game,” Robin reveals things about her childhood, saying she spent much of it traveling to various starbases with her parents. In only a few scenes,we learn more about Robin than many ofTNG’s guest characters,and it’s nice to see Wesley connect with someone his own age. Perhaps ifWil Wheaton had stuck around as Wesley, Lefler would have become a more prominent character. Robin had all the makings of a compelling new character, and I’m disappointed thatTNGsquandered that potential.
Robin Lefler’s Story Continued In Other Star Trek Media
Lefler Has A Long & Complex Story In Trek Tie-In Novels & Comics
It wasn’t entirelyTNG’s fault that Ensign Lefler never returned, as there were reportedly plans to bring her back. According to theStar Trek: The Next Generation Companion,the show’s producers had hoped for Lefler to appear in “The First Duty,“but things didn’t pan out. Lefler also made an appearance in the first draft of season 6’s “True Q,” but she was cut from this episode as well. There was even speculation that she could pop up inStar Trek: Nemesis,but this was largely based on unfounded rumors.
Lefler’s journey beyond Star Trek’s onscreen adventures proves the character’s potential.
However, Robin Lefler made such an impression that she has appeared in numerousStar Trektie-in novels, comics, and video games. Lefler plays a prominent role in Peter David’sNew Frontierseries, which follows the crew of the USS Excalibur as it offers aid to the recently collapsed Thallonian Empire. This series consists of over twenty novels and numerous comics featuring characters fromStar Trek: The Next Generationand theTNG - Starfleet Academybooks. Lefler’s journey beyondStar Trek’sonscreen adventures proves the character’s potential, making me wish all the more that she had stuck around onStar Trek: The Next Generation.
