The suspicious Star Trek character modeled on a gentleman from the Renaissance
From Chris Snellgrove
| Published
Star Trek is a franchise set in the distant future, but many of its best moments were inspired by the distant past. For example, Captain Picard’s Enterprise in The next generation is a ship where people relax by playing classical music or experiencing literary adventures (from Shakespeare to Sherlock) on the holodeck.
Things were very different Deep Space Ninebut this Star Trek spinoff still took inspiration from the past. For example, in the episode “The Forsaken,” author Jim Trombetta consciously based Odo on the archetypal idea of
Even if you’ve watched this Star Trek episode countless times, you probably haven’t noticed any references to the Renaissance, since nothing about that time period is specifically mentioned. Instead, Trombetta drew on the contemporary notion of a gentleman to flesh out Odo’s unique plight.
As a result, the shapeshifter is stuck in a broken turbolift with a very in love Lwaxana Troi. Odo feels ashamed at the thought that she will be the first person to turn him back into his liquid form.
Like Troi herself, we can hear what it all is Star Trek Fans reading this are wondering: What the hell does Odo being stuck in an elevator with a crazy Betazed have to do with the Renaissance? According to Jim Trombetta (who wrote the story but not the screenplay), Odo’s fate reflects that of the “gentlemen” of the Renaissance, who had to be “tough warriors with a hard figure, like armor.” The metaphor here is very direct, as Odo’s solid form collapses in the turbolift and he is in danger of melting, which he desperately wants to hide from Lwaxana Troi.
Star Trek writers tend to be history buffs, and as Trombetta helpfully points out, during the Renaissance there was “a fear” that gentlemen would “go soft.” Men at the time feared they would transform from fierce warriors into someone “helpless” and “baby-like.” Odo had to return to his liquid state every day and stubbornly tried to hide his pain. After a friendly gesture from Troi by removing her wig and showing the police officer a vulnerable side of herself that no one had ever seen before, he turned into a puddle of liquid in the hem of her dress.
While some of the Star Trek metaphors seem a bit tortured, Trombetta believes the Renaissance gentleman perspective in “The Forsaken” “seems very alive.” As he put it: “Odo is a police officer and a very tough guy, but he has to go through this process and let someone else help him.” Odo learned a valuable lesson that, frankly, many fans watching at home , would like to learn: that, ironically, it takes a lot of strength to be vulnerable in front of others, even these (maybe particularly those) that are important to you.
It’s fun to see Lwaxana Troi in all her glory, but for some it was difficult to see her scenes with Odo as much more than just an equally mediocre comedy. Now that we know that even its silliest moments were inspired by the Renaissance, we can’t help but view the episode with new respect. Plus, we’re always here for real talk any Sorry to watch again Deep Space Ninewhich remains the best series in Gene Roddenberry’s long-running series.
