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One Bad Mother? In Defense of Star Trek’s Lwaxana Troi

Matt Baume | June 3, 2026



When Lwaxana Troi first appeared on Star Trek, played by Majel Barrett, fans called her unwatchable, despicable, the worst character on the show, called for her to be killed off. But they don’t know what they’re talking about. Not only does is Lwaxana one of Star Trek’s best characters, she’s especially meaningful to some fans in a way that others simply can’t see. So what makes Lwaxana so special, and why do so many viewers miss what’s right in front of them?

Thanks to Trevor at Media Processing for editing help on this video! @mediaprocessingchannel

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Written by Matt Baume

Comments

This post currently has 40 comments.

  1. @bookie5667

    June 3, 2026 at 11:37 am

    I don't understand why people dislike Majel. Her TNG episodes are some of my favourites. The episodes that make me switch off ASAP are the ones where Brent Spiner plays multiple roles. Inspite of what Brent's castmates say, IMO he's a terrible actor. However, an emotionless android is about all he's good at in TNG

  5. @mrfluffyhedgehog

    June 3, 2026 at 11:37 am

    Lwaxana Troi is one of the best written characters in TV period.
    She starts out as a self absorbed annoying loud woman who seems to have no filter at all.
    She ends up with Odo in a Turbolift, displaying an debth of charater and empathy that makes you cry.
    Especially since she is so loud and onedimensional at first glance, showing her true character and meaningful comments when it counts is so impactful.

  14. @DrawnByLaserLove

    June 3, 2026 at 11:37 am

    I love Lwaxana Troi, she's basically a cartoon character, so funny and charming. Very exaggerated but not to the point of absurdity. I can understand why a lot of people dislike her, but it always made me happy whenever I saw her in an episode.

  15. @SunyattaAmen

    June 3, 2026 at 11:37 am

    I don’t know how you showed up in my algorithm but as another childhood super Star Trek fan, unhappy to be here. And I love your teacup ☕️ 😉 🖖

  16. @stevenclubb7718

    June 3, 2026 at 11:37 am

    I just saw a video calling her an awful person and he started with her reading people's minds without their consent and immediately sharing the information… which you have to admit is a pretty strong case.

    Clearly she's meant to be comic relief and some Rodenberry nepotism so you shouldn't take her being an awful person seriously, but you definitely understand why everyone dreads her presence because she truly is an awful person that you'd have to suppress murderous thoughts around IRL.

  19. @TheMsLourdes

    June 3, 2026 at 11:37 am

    Oh no I disagree with the intiial premise. Lwaxana is a gift, a joy, and a spirit animal to all women everywhere ! Ammmmmazing. Now you may continue with your defense for the masses that don't see her radiance.

  22. @defiy2921

    June 3, 2026 at 11:37 am

    Loved that woman, gorgeous. She's been on Star Trek sense Spock .
    Star Trek is known for its lovely ladies ,and this actress always delivered

  24. @Blakserenity

    June 3, 2026 at 11:37 am

    The new betazoids in Starfleet Academy act so stupid! They made them seem unintelligent and have to communicate using a translator even though this takes place hundreds of years afterwards. It makes no sense.

  25. @DannyJane.

    June 3, 2026 at 11:37 am

    I love Lwaxanna. Her existence is entirely due to Majel's brilliance as an actor. Majel makes her to be always unabashedly her glorious overdressed self. She doesn't change or shift because someone is uncomfortable around her, though she may tone down if she sees she's harming that person. But that huge personality, too much even for Lwaxanna herself, is capable of boundless, unconditional love! She doesn't agree with her daughter's life choices, and as much as she may complain about it she also makes no effort force Deanna into anything else. Once she understands what's going on around her she can be counted upon for support or help. One of my own favorites is her episode with Alexander and Worf. She see a desperately unhappy boy and she opens him up to the marvelous world around him. Even his relationship with his father becomes somewhat smoother because of her influence. She must have been difficult to live with, but when people take the time to get to know her, they come to love her as much as she loves them!

  29. @HikariTheGardevoir

    June 3, 2026 at 11:37 am

    I agree that Lwaxana at first made me a bit uncomfortable because her behaviour towards Picard at first was pretty close to harassment, but aside from that I absolutely loved her. I did think her episode with Alexander was so sweet and the progression of her relationship with Odo is one of my favourites. "I can swim 🤷‍♀" will never not be an absolute banger reply

  33. @Jiminy-do-999

    June 3, 2026 at 11:37 am

    Yay I'm so glad you mentioned Lucille Ball's involvement going to bat and producing Star Trek back in the 1960s! The show could easily have been lost to history without her.

  36. @laikapupkino1767

    June 3, 2026 at 11:37 am

    While I found the Lwaxana Troi episodes entertaining enough, her lack of respect for anyone's boundaries, her pushiness + dismissing of anything her daughter said or wanted weren't cute at all. I think people who have dealt with someone like her in real life are especially triggered by this character. But she really didn't know any better and I didn't hate her, just saw her as a sad and lonely beneath all the forced joie de vivre, and also effectively comical in the ways the writers intended her to be. To me she was at her best with Odo in Deep Space Nine, actually letting down her own guard, being real and admitting her own fears and insecurities. The scene in the stalled turbolift was quite moving. DS9 hit all the right notes for more than any other Trek series.

  38. @mokster5

    June 3, 2026 at 11:37 am

    It's funny hearing about criticism for any other character because i was too blinded by hatred for Riker to remember much else. And now I don't even really remember why I hated him so much.

Comments are closed.

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