During Star Trek: The Next Generation‘s run, Deanna Troi went through a number of outfits and only donned an official Federation uniform for a small part of it. The remainder of the time, she wore civilian garb, which often meant she revealed a great deal of cleavage. Marina Sirtis ultimately rose above it to find a compelling character, but TNG still left her with a bewildering wardrobe problem. The reasons largely came down to behind the scenes decisions and a large helping of sexism. But in-canon, the reasons for Troi’s lack of uniform are far more empowering.
Sirtis has proven quite good-natured about her outfits on the show, though she also described the relief she felt when finally putting on the standard Federation blue. However, how TNG explained that transition sheds quiet insight into the way Jean-Luc Picard ran his ship. Behind the scenes, it’s a testament to how the Tori became more than eye candy and transitioned over the course of the show.
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Deanna Troi’s Orgins Were Sexist
Gene Roddenberry’s problematic attitude towards women has been well documented and caused a number of problems during TNG Season 1. This included his concepts for Troi, which collaborator Dorthea “DC” Fontana spoke about in the book Gene Roddenberry: The Myth and the Man Behind Star Trek. Troi was originally supposed to be a libido-driven sex fiend with four breasts, a concept Fontana managed to deter him from. But the cleavage remained, and Troi entered Star Trek based largely on her sex appeal.
Even as the character developed in more substantive directions, it wasn’t reflected in her attire. After her brief appearance in the infamous “skants” (the skirt-uniforms patterned off of the women’s uniforms in TOS) in the very first episode, she appeared in a series of jumpsuits, flowing dresses and even a spandex aerobics outfit before finally gaining a Starfleet uniform in Season 6, Episode 10, “Chain of Command: Part 1.” She wore the uniform for the remainder of the series and the four movies that followed, though she did change back into civilian wear during less formal occasions.
The Costume Change Makred Deanna Troi’s Evolution
Troi holds the rank of lieutenant commander when she first joins the Enterprise-D; the pips can clearly be seen on her collar in Season 1, Episode 1, “Encounter at Farpoint.” However, she doesn’t wear them on her civilian clothes after that, which infers she prefers a more informal relationship with her fellow officers. This aligns with her position on the ship. As a counselor, she needs those around her to feel at ease. That dynamic changes very late in the series — Season 7, Episode 16, “Thine Own Self” — when she passes the test for promotion and playfully notes she now outranks Data at the end of the episode. However, even then, she often approaches others as a peer first and a superior officer second.
That ultimately says a great deal about how Picard runs the Enterprise-D, and more importantly why Deanna is on the bridge in the first place. TNG always endured a little snickering about the “counselor” position, and critical fans speculated what role a therapist could possibly have on the bridge. However, despite her title, Troi actually fulfills a significant diplomatic and protocol role: advising Picard on how to address potential enemies and allies and generally serving as his consigliere alongside Riker. While a counselor might not normally belong on the bridge, Deanna Troi does.
Picard clearly values her insight and acumen, and might very well relax military protocol in her case if it helps her do her job. Captain Jericho’s insistence that she dress “appropriately” in “Chain of Command” reinforces this notion, as do her efforts to take on more command responsibilities by seeking promotion. Roddenberry may have envisioned her as eye candy, but the character defied and ultimately transcended the costume choices which she was originally saddled with.
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