Marina Sirtis wasn’t a fan of the romance between Counselor Deanna Troi and Lt. Worf in Star Trek: The Next Generation season 7.
Summary
- Marina Sirtis is glad that Counselor Troi married Riker instead of Worf in Star Trek: Nemesis.
- Sirtis did not like the relationship between Troi and Worf and pretended it never happened.
- Star Trek: Picard season 3 playfully references Worf and Troi’s past romance while focusing on Troi and Riker’s love story.
Marina Sirtis is glad Counselor Deanna Troi married Commander William Riker (Jonathan Frakes) in Star Trek: Nemesis rather than Michael Dorn’s Lt. Commander Worf. The series premiere of Star Trek: The Next Generation established that Troi and Riker had previously dated, and it became obvious throughout TNG that the two had lingering feelings for one another. Despite this, they remained just friends for most of the show’s run and often dated other people. In TNG season 7, Troi began an unexpected and somewhat controversial romance with the Klingon Worf.
Although Troi and Worf’s relationship provided some sweet moments between the Counselor and the Klingon, Marina Sirtis was never particularly fond of the match. The relationship was dropped at the end of Star Trek: The Next Generation and it went unmentioned when Troi married Riker in Star Trek: Nemesis. In the Star Trek oral history, The Fifty-Year Mission: The Next 25 Years by Mark A. Altman and Edward Gross, Sirtis candidly reflects on her character’s relationship with Worf, making her feelings clear. Read her words below:
“I’m glad [Star Trek: Nemesis] began with the wedding of Troi and Riker, thanking God that it wasn’t Troi and Worf. I would have killed myself. I never liked that relationship. We pretend that it never happened. Michael Dorn was subtexting his ass off, but a lot of it ended up on the cutting room floor.”
Star Trek TNG: Why The Worf and Troi Romance Didn’t Work
Worf and Troi had a brief romance at the end of Star Trek: TNG. Here’s why the beauty and the beast relationship was unpopular, even with the actors.
Worf & Troi’s Romance Became A Joke In Star Trek: Picard Season 3
“Is this a rescue mission or a continuation of the torture?”
Star Trek: Picard season 3 brought the original TNG cast members back together for one last adventure on the rebuilt USS Enterprise-D. Picard season 1 had already checked in with Riker and Troi, revealing that they had had two children, Thaddeus and Kestra (Lulu Wilson). Tragically, Thad passed away from illness, which caused understandable strain in Deanna and Will’s marriage. Picard season 3 saw the two rekindle their love for one another and firmly established Riker and Troi as one of Star Trek’s greatest couples.
Riker and Troi retired from Starfleet and loved to the planet Nepenthe, as seen in Star Trek: Picard season 1.
In Star Trek: Picard season 3, episode 8 “Surrender,” Worf helps rescue Riker and Troi from the Changeling Vadic (Amanda Plummer), and his first words are for Deanna. Worf can’t help but shower Troi with praise that seems downright romantic coming from the stoic Klingon warrior. A slightly annoyed Riker jumps in to remind everyone that this is meant to be a rescue mission, and they shouldn’t linger on Vadic’s ship. This little moment was a wonderful way to jokingly shout out Worf and Troi’s past romance, while also showing how much the two care for one another as friends. Star Trek: Picard season 3 wisely chose to focus on Troi and Riker’s Star Trek love story, but couldn’t resist poking fun at her questionable TNG romance with Worf.
