It’s always fun when former Star Trek actors share insight into famous episodes. And, at this year's Trek Talks, Tawny Newsome talked to Gates McFadden, who played Dr. Beverly Crusher, about the controversial "Sub Rosa" episode from The Next Generation.
As it turns out, McFadden actually embraces the episode today, as she explained via TrekMovie.com: “When I saw the ‘Sub Rosa’ script, I was like, ‘You are kidding me.’ Patrick [Stewart] hated it. He was like, ‘This is absurd’ and all. And when you read it, there are so many completely absurd things in it."
McFadden continued by saying:
"And it’s more like a little a Gothic, I don’t know horror or something, but yeah, now I embrace it because I think it is hilarious. I mean, I just, I’ve learned to love the green-eyed orgasm that Crusher has, you know? I mean, that doesn’t happen every day, a green-eyed orgasm…”
The 14th episode of TNG’s final season, “Sub Rosa,” features Crusher on a planet resembling Ireland to mourn her grandmother. She’s soon seduced by a “ghost” who’s really an alien creature using a special candle to survive.
The episode often ranks among the worst in the entire series and has been a source of mockery within the Trek fandom. McFadden has been among the first to slam it in the past, but it looks like she’s changed her mind. Newsome made a good point in that McFadden committed to her performance, no matter how crazy the story was.
It’s nice to see McFadden has chosen to embrace how awful “Sub Rosa” was and reflect on making Trek history in any way.
Do you agree with McFadden? Share your thoughts and comments about "Sub Rosa" on the Redshirts Always Die Facebook and X pages. And all seven seasons of Star Trek: The Next Generation are streaming on Paramount+.
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