Why Certainly one of Star Trek: The Subsequent Era’s Worst Episodes Is Nonetheless Price Watching

Much more alien to Star Trek is the episode’s sexuality. I’ve written elsewhere about Trek’s sophisticated relationship to emotion, and whereas “Sub Rosa” finally follows the usual mannequin relating to emotions (Beverly’s emotions for Ronin nearly destroy her, forcing Picard, Information, and Geordi to logically remedy the issue and rescue her), it does introduce one thing much more uncommon on Star Trek: eroticism. 

Certain, ol’ Captain Kirk favored his romantic escapades, and Risa does exist within the Star Trek universe, however hardly ever will we see sexuality really portrayed within the sequence, particularly from a feminine perspective. To make certain, the present was completely satisfied to stay feminine actors in skintight outfits and there’s no denying the attract of Picard’s Risa beachwear. However most Trek portrayals of intimacy had all of the complexity of a Dabo woman uniform. 

With “Sub Rosa,” we get one thing completely different: a deal with a girl’s want, and even pleasure. At a number of factors all through the episode, Ronin visits Beverly and sends her into the throes of ecstasy. Gates McFadden lets her knees go weak and falls again upon furnishings. She flops her crimson hair over her eyes and her arms seek for one thing to know. Does it look foolish? Effectively, sure, in fact, as a result of intercourse at all times appears to be like foolish to non-participants. However additionally it is fully genuine, an outline of the vulnerability concerned in any sexual expertise. 

Extra importantly, McFadden’s efficiency places Beverly’s want first. At no level within the episode does Frakes give in to the male gaze, nor will we see the pleasure from Ronin’s perspective. Sure, the male-presenting Ronin initiates the encounters, and we ultimately study that it’s for its personal ends, to the purpose that you might argue that the alien sexually assaults the physician – it’s murky territory, even when we acknowledge that the episode’s story got here from the minds of two ladies. However in the course of the encounters, the digicam reveals us solely what Beverly feels and what she desires.

On the finish of the episode, when all has been revealed, Crusher admits to having complicated emotions in regards to the finish of the affair. “No matter else [Ronin] may need accomplished, he made her very completely satisfied,” Beverly says of her grandmother, placing ahead the sentiments and company of her grandmother and herself, not Ronin’s plans. 

The Ongoing Mission 

At this level, one might fairly ask, “Why ought to Trek do Gothic Romance? It’s a present about house explorers. It doesn’t have to cope with this type of stuff.”