Pixie Ships: Deanna Troi and Worf

[pixiedane]

I poke fun at the "final season brings a random romance” trope that afflicts the TNG era Treks – Ezri and Bashir is the least surprising (though that is why I send it a side-eye), Chakotay and Seven, the least plausible (unless we believe, as I do, that they hook up because they are both in love with Janeway), and in between is Deanna and Worf.

They are an odd couple, and the entire build up of their romance is fraught with the bizarre: holodeck malfunctions, needy relatives, parallel universes, devolution, psychic possession. They get literally zero romantic screen time unaffected in the prime universe, which sends the message that there is an undeniable attraction but it is just not meant to be. And that is ultimately how it all pans out: they both get married to other people.

It bothers me (a lot), that “All Good Things” emphasizes the love triangle with Riker. And because of that, when we catch back up with them and they’re not together, we’re sort of left to conclude Riker was an insurmountable obstacle. Which, ew. And again, makes it seem Worf and Deanna never really had a chance. Mainly because the writers weren’t committed: none of those random final season romances lasts, and none of them landed well enough for me to mourn them.

But: “Parallels” in particular really sells the relationship, both in terms of the action and chemistry of the actors, and as a way for the romance to be brought over from the alternate timeline to the prime one we’re watching. Although they are good friends by that point, Worf had not considered the possibility of more, but when presented with it, he realizes his feelings could drift that way. And it ends with him taking the first step. That’s a clever, charmingly ‘Star Trek’ way to do it.

tldr; I love that there is a universe where they are happily married with children, I’m okay with them being really close friends with a history in prime.

Title: Echo
Artist: Jason Walker
Fandom: Star Trek: The Next Generation
Pairing: Worf/Deanna Troi
Summary: Worf and Deanna only ever end up together in various alternate timelines, but they fall in love in all of them

"Echo (Worf and Deanna)" (Watch on YouTube)