Lately I've been on a Star Trek binge watching mood (TOS & TNG to be exact) but mainly, TNG, since I grew up with it.
Either way, it's been super fun re-watching the series because there are themes/episodes that went over my head when I was younger, now I'm far more perceptive. (maybe I was just an oblivious kid to begin with 😜)
Whatever it might have been, ever since I've had the chance to re-watch TNG episodes, I came to the conclusion that Counselor Deanna Troi was not very good at her job, unlike Guinan, despite NOT being officially the ship's counselor, Picard regarded her advice and opinions far more than Troi's expertise.
Despite the fact that Whoopi Goldberg was a guest starring appearance, and it was a versatile role, where if she needed to be a filler character, she could be. She gave far excellent advice to the rest of the crew.
Not only Picard went to her for but Worf, Crusher, Geordi, Data and even Riker seemed to look for her when they needed to make difficult decisions.
Why not Troi? After all she was an empath (her being half Betazoid and all) but she was more used as intermediate with dignitaries, and other "official" Starfleet situations.
I'm not saying that Troi wasn't a good counselor, but her hands at time where tide due to Starfleet regulations, unlike Guinan, who could be more frank and direct with questions and answers. Despite making some of the other crew members uncomfortable, they knew that her intentions were in the right place.
Troi's counseling was more about their "feelings" and at times, it seemed that evaluating your feelings and coming to your own conclusions is all well and good, but other times, they needed a good talking to, which I get it would be absolutely unethical for Troi to do, but not Guinan.
Picard opened up a lot more to Guinan when it came to personal issues. The crew of the Enterprise grew accustomed to having a Captain who kept his personal life, very very private. So much so, that when either personal acquaintances, information regarding their captain would come out, they would be shocked. But, Guinan seemed to have a closer rapport with him. To the point where she became his confidant in many personal decisions that he made.
With Counselor Troi, not so much.... there were times where he would discuss, but I think they're counted compared to when he talked to Guinan, one of them was in Generations where he discussed the death of Robert, Rene and his wife. And even Troi seemed surprised by the emotions that Picard displayed at that moment. I have a feeling that Guinan, wouldn't have been surprised at all.
In all honesty, Guinan is an unsung heroine and it still baffles me on why they decided to make Troi the ship's counselor and not her.
But, I also think that the reason why she was so good (not just because she was an El-Aurian) but because unlike Troi, she wasn't bound to Starfleet and it's regulations. She was an outsider looking in, and this gave her a different perspective on so many situations. She was able to get to really know the crew, without being bound by professionalism. This is not to say that she wasn't ethical, but she wasn't bound my rules and regulations like the rest of them were.
Honestly, I think this would have changed dramatically, if she had been officially ship's counselor.
So, what basically I'm trying to say, is she's really an unsung hero and without her character, the dynamic between the crew would have turned out different.
Either way, it's been super fun re-watching the series because there are themes/episodes that went over my head when I was younger, now I'm far more perceptive. (maybe I was just an oblivious kid to begin with 😜)
Whatever it might have been, ever since I've had the chance to re-watch TNG episodes, I came to the conclusion that Counselor Deanna Troi was not very good at her job, unlike Guinan, despite NOT being officially the ship's counselor, Picard regarded her advice and opinions far more than Troi's expertise.
Despite the fact that Whoopi Goldberg was a guest starring appearance, and it was a versatile role, where if she needed to be a filler character, she could be. She gave far excellent advice to the rest of the crew.
Not only Picard went to her for but Worf, Crusher, Geordi, Data and even Riker seemed to look for her when they needed to make difficult decisions.
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Why not Troi? After all she was an empath (her being half Betazoid and all) but she was more used as intermediate with dignitaries, and other "official" Starfleet situations.
I'm not saying that Troi wasn't a good counselor, but her hands at time where tide due to Starfleet regulations, unlike Guinan, who could be more frank and direct with questions and answers. Despite making some of the other crew members uncomfortable, they knew that her intentions were in the right place.
Troi's counseling was more about their "feelings" and at times, it seemed that evaluating your feelings and coming to your own conclusions is all well and good, but other times, they needed a good talking to, which I get it would be absolutely unethical for Troi to do, but not Guinan.
Picard opened up a lot more to Guinan when it came to personal issues. The crew of the Enterprise grew accustomed to having a Captain who kept his personal life, very very private. So much so, that when either personal acquaintances, information regarding their captain would come out, they would be shocked. But, Guinan seemed to have a closer rapport with him. To the point where she became his confidant in many personal decisions that he made.
With Counselor Troi, not so much.... there were times where he would discuss, but I think they're counted compared to when he talked to Guinan, one of them was in Generations where he discussed the death of Robert, Rene and his wife. And even Troi seemed surprised by the emotions that Picard displayed at that moment. I have a feeling that Guinan, wouldn't have been surprised at all.
In all honesty, Guinan is an unsung heroine and it still baffles me on why they decided to make Troi the ship's counselor and not her.
But, I also think that the reason why she was so good (not just because she was an El-Aurian) but because unlike Troi, she wasn't bound to Starfleet and it's regulations. She was an outsider looking in, and this gave her a different perspective on so many situations. She was able to get to really know the crew, without being bound by professionalism. This is not to say that she wasn't ethical, but she wasn't bound my rules and regulations like the rest of them were.
Honestly, I think this would have changed dramatically, if she had been officially ship's counselor.
So, what basically I'm trying to say, is she's really an unsung hero and without her character, the dynamic between the crew would have turned out different.
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This post is used with Copyright Act of 1976, 17, U.S.C., § 107. All commentaries made in this post (that are not copyrighted) are my own. This blog is intended for entertainment purposes.
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