Mother’s Day is coming up this weekend, a time to celebrate moms everywhere and recognize all they do for their families. The Star Trek universe has had its share of memorable mothers, so we at Redshirts Always Die would like to acknowledge a few standout moms, from the original series and beyond.
Amanda Grayson
Spock’s mother, Amanda, is probably one of the most well-known mothers in the Trek universe. Not only is she devoted to her Vulcan husband, Sarek, but she also birthed and raised Spock in a society where openly showing emotion was deeply discouraged. As Spock came of age and opted to join Starfleet instead of following in his father’s footsteps, the rift it caused was undoubtedly difficult for her. When the family reunites in “Journey to Babel” (S02E15), Amanda spends nearly the entire voyage trying to reconcile Spock and Sarek, even though her display of emotion over the situation caused both men some embarrassment.
When Amanda and Sarek adopted Michael Burnham, Amanda gave her a great deal of emotional support that she could never show Spock, as Sarek wanted to raise their son in the traditional Vulcan way. One wonders, however, if Amanda’s human influence on Spock urged him to explore other options than the Vulcan Science Academy.
Lwaxana Troi
Who can forget the many exploits of Lwaxana Troi, Federation diplomat and mother to Deanna Troi, the Enterprise-D’s counselor? Her flamboyant nature, her unapologetic pride in her position, and her amorous ways make her one of the most believable mothers in the Star Trek franchise because, despite her obvious flaws, she loved her “Little One” and would do anything for her.
While Lwaxana’s boldness sometimes provides a bit of comedy relief during her visits, we also see moments of vulnerability that make her relatable to mothers of grown children who are trying to find their place in the world after their children leave the nest. She becomes concerned about Deanna’s future (probably a bit too much so), but her heart is in the right place as she reminds us that no matter how mature our kids get, mothers will always want to protect them.
The Horta mother
Maybe this silicon-based creature that resembled a sentient shag carpet from the 1970s doesn’t spring to mind when the subject of devoted mothers comes up, but the Horta mother is one of the most devoted parents in the entire Star Trek universe. She kills to defend her eggs and protects her birthing chamber not only out of instinct but love for her unborn children “The Devil in the Dark,” (S01E25) She risks her own life in a desperate attempt to communicate with the humans who see her as a monster who stalks them during their mining operations on Janus IV. She is the ultimate example of a mother who would do anything to protect her children and the future of her race.
Amanda, Lwaxana, and the Horta are only a few examples of all the Star Trek mothers and their influence on the heroes of the future. Happy Mother’s Day from all of us at Redshirts Always Die!