Happy chappy

[greatbear]

No earth shattering happy episodes today, just some minor successes at work, a dinner of soup and sandwiches tonight and an unintentional nap. But it's happiness in it's own form.

New of the loss of Majel Barrett Roddenberry did temper any of today's happiness though. Her presence through the Star Trek universe was solid, fun and important. More than just Gene Roddenberry's wife, I think her voice as the Enterprise computers through the years defined her role in the series and in real life. Her role as the doting, meddlesome and flirty Lwaxana Troi was more than just comic relief, it had some powerful moments as well. My best memory was in the TNG "Half a Life", where Lwaxana falls in love with a scientist (played by David Ogden Stiers) working to revive their planet's dying sun. The twist here is that the scientist is soon approaching an age where those on his planet practice a form of ritual suicide they term the "Resolution". As with many Trek episodes, stories of the human condition take place, this time about aging, taking care of the infirm, and right-to-life issues taking center stage. Majel's acting abilities shine here as the fate of an entire planet stands uncertain. She will be missed. Yet, somehow fitting, she managed to complete her role once again as the voice of the Enterprise computer, and as such, the heart of the ship, in the upcoming movie. Mrs. Roddenberry died of leukemia.

Thank you, Majel, for all those moments, both happy and sad.

Comments

[furr-a-bruin.livejournal.com]

And let's not forget Majel's powerful performance as Lady Morella in Babylon 5's episode "Point of No Return." For anyone not familiar with it, I refer you to the notes on the episode.

Majel thought the ongoing sniping between Trek and B5 fans was destructive and pointless, and went the distance to make her feelings known. Some people have remarked on the fact JMS was willing to cast her - and Walter Koenig as Bester; to me, he simply saw through the typecasting to their talent, and let them play characters unlike the ones they were known for - and both rose magnificently to the occasion.

I saw Majel at a couple of conventions - she always struck me as a warm person who really enjoyed meeting the fans. Some people do conventions but you can tell they don't really enjoy it - they do it because they feel obligated. I'll grant you that perhaps she was treated with more reserve and respect than most and thus found it easier to manage dealing with fans, but still.

As for a favorite Trek moment - I have to go with DS9's "The Forsaken" where Lwaxana and Odo are stuck in a turbolift together as Odo nears the time where he must regenerate... Lwaxana wins his trust and takes care of him while he's in his liquid state.

"No one's ever seen me like this."
"Why? It looks fine."
"It looks ordinary. I've never cared to be ordinary. So you see, Odo, even we non-shapeshifters have to change who we are once in a while."
"You are not at all what I expected."
"No one's ever paid me a greater compliment."
- Lwaxana and Odo, when she shows him her wig as he begins to melt

[greatbearmd.livejournal.com]

I so loved that episode. I liked Odo's character a lot, and that showed his vulnerable and trusting side. One of my other fave DS9 eps is Shadowplay. The entire concept of the show, plus Odo's constant nagging companion in the little girl that he quietly becomes attached to and shape-shifts for her at the end.

[anziulewicz.livejournal.com]

I just read this in the morning paper a few minutes ago. Very sad news! I'm just glad she will have a posthumous presence in the new Star Trek film. Whether she was the computer voice, Nurse Chapel or Lwaxana Troi, she was an indispensible part of the Star Trek universe.

[greatbearmd.livejournal.com]

We're really starting to lose the ones we grew up with.