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Summary
In the history of science fiction television, there are few franchises that are as beloved and that have left as big a footprint asStar Trek. The original series, complete with James T. Kirk and Mr. Spock started theStar Trekfandom but where that show left of,Star Trek: The Next Generationpicked things up and ran with it. And while there were some people who didn’t think there could be a show more beloved than the original,TNGmanaged to take its predecessor’s popularity andelevate it to another level.
One of the most endearing things aboutStar Trek: The Next Generationwas not just that the main cast were people that fans could root for and feel like they had deep connections with, but so were the guest stars who wouldmake appearances on the shownow and then. Oftentimes, the guest stars would play recurring roles. Sometimes they were there to be expendable. Adifferent kind of redshirtwho were famously always destined to die on an adventure. Other times they were villains that plagued the crew from one season to the next. And sometimes they were they to add a romantic interest for one of the series’ main stars. It’s the latter where Robin Lefler enters the picture.
Robin Lefler and Wesley Crusher Together Forever?
Robin Lefler is an interesting entryinStar Trek: The Next Generationbecause sheappears in just two episodes, but she’s left a rather lasting impression. Lefler was played by a young Ashley Judd and was put on the show as both a love interest and friend for a Wesley Crusher who never really hung out with people his own age.
As the geniusson of Dr. Beverly Crusher, he tagged along with his mother when she joined the Enterprise and from the very beginning had an uneasy relationship with Captain Jean Luc Picard and the rest of the command crew. Despite being as young as he was, he showed a strong ability to pilot the Enterprise and solve many problems from engineering, and it was in that department that he first encountered Robin.
Robin Leflerappeared in just two episodesofStar Trek: The Next Generation. Her debut was in a small role Season 5, Episode 2, “Darmok.” This was the episode where the Enterprise runs across a new species of alien so totally unknown to the Federation that they cannot use their universal translators in order to communicate, so the crew are forced to figure out how to speak the species’ language while also saving Captain Picard from a kidnapping/bonding exercise with his counterpart among the aliens. Robin Lefler made appearances but didn’t have a particularly large part in the show, at least onscreen.
Robin Lefler made appearances but didn’t have a particularly large part in the show, at least onscreen.
It was in Season 5, Episode 6, “The Game,” where Wesley and Robin really bonded and where Ashley Judd got themost screen time for her character. A new kind of game was brought on board by Commander Riker and it turns out it’s quite addictive, eventually enslaving most of the crew.Wesley and Robin both bond, and strike up what was clearly a romantic relationship while solving how to beat and get rid of the game and make sure that the crew of the Enterprise can be freed.
After the pair completed their mission, it certainly seemed as though she might end up being a mainstay on the show as they were definitely headed towards being a couple. But it appears that Judd had other things she wanted to do in her career and moved onto other things than the Enterprise. Interestingly enough, despite appearing in a pair of episodes, there ended up being quite a bit of lore around her, thanks in no small part to her personal set of rules she shares with Wesley during “The Game.”
The Rules Of Robin Lefler
While the entirety of Robin Lefler’s rules were never shared, viewers did get a few from the ones she imparted to Wesley while they were striking up their romantic flame. The rules were a way for the writers of Star Trek: The Next Generation to flesh out the character of Robin Lefler despite not having the time or ability to really give her a deep backstory. Those rules, which numbered 102 personal adages included:
Viewers likely noticed that quite a few of her rules seemed to indicate she was a rather lonely person. And in fact, one of the first things she tells Wesley is that her first friend was a tricorder.
Lefler, despite her short stay onStar Trek: TNGwas such a popular personality she either made appearances or was mentioned in several novels where more of her laws were spelled out.
It’s up for debate how many of Robin’s rules were entered into the official Star Trek canon.
She was also supposed to appear in more episodes and was reportedly even supposed to appear in more. There was even one - eventually scrapped -Star Trekstoryline where Robin Lefler turns up as thewife of Wesley Crusheryears later. Unfortunately, that never became canon.
