Majel Barrett Roddenberry passed away yesterday after battling leukemia. She had a long, happy life I suppose, but I was still surprised when I heard that she had died. Several people died yesterday when Majel Barrett Roddenberry died. Nurse Christine Chapel died, Lwaxana Troi (Daughter of the Fifth House, Holder of the Sacred Chalice of Rixx, Heir to the Holy Rings of Betazed) died, and, most devastatingly to me personally, the voice of the Star Trek computer died. I am more bummed out about this than I care to admit. Thankfully, she was able to reprise her role, and just a few weeks ago completed her voice-work for the new Star Trek movie. But the Star Trek franchise will never be the same with her passing.
My favorite franchise is the Star Trek: The Next Generation, and this is where I had most of my exposure to Mrs. Roddenberry in her role of Lwaxana Troi. I’m not going to lie and say I loved every episode that she was in. ‘Dark Page’ was a real downer, although well-acted. ‘Half a Life’ was also a real downer, where Lwaxana falls in love with Winchester from M*A*S*H who plays an alien doomed to ritual euthanasia. ‘Haven’ and ‘Manhunt’ were some of her better episodes (her chemistry with Patrick Stewart was excellent, and his portrayal as a mortified Captain Picard avoiding her romantic advances was always enjoyable). Her worst episode by far was the dreadful, ATROCIOUS, ‘Cost of Living’ where she hangs out with the annoying Alexander Rojhenko for half of the episode, taking mud baths in the holodeck. Absolute dreck, but this wasn’t her fault, and she did the best with what she could.
You will be missed, Majel Barrett Roddenberry. Thanks for the many hours of entertainment you helped to provide. “Scotty, one to beam up to Heaven.”
