Star Trek: TNG gave us some of the most unforgettable characters in the history of television. But even such great shows have moments that age poorly, and one of TNG’s biggest missteps still doesn’t sit right with me. While much has been said about Captain Picard’s traumatic transformation into Locutus, there’s another storyline that quietly did far more damage to Geordi.
The writers should have handled the plot with care, but instead, they turned it into something that made him look like a total creep. And sadly, he didn’t deserve what he got.
The one Star Trek betrayal that still infuriates me isn’t about Picard
Look, I’ve always had a soft spot for Star Trek: The Next Generation as it gave us some of the most memorable characters in sci-fi. But there’s one thing that boils my blood every time I think about it – and no, it’s not Picard being turned into Locutus by the Borg. While that was emotional and terrifying on so many levels, at least it wasn’t his choice.
Geordi La Forge, on the other hand? Well! The writers as well as the showrunners did him dirty – and I’m still mad about it. They decided to assign him a character flaw that’s aged far worse than anything Picard endured. Now, let’s be clear, Geordi is brilliant and definitely the kind of guy you root for.
So, why did the show decide to saddle him with the absolute worst kind of romantic subplot? They turned this kind and capable engineer into…. well, kind of a creep. That’s right – in the whole Leah Brahms storyline, he falls for a holographic version of a real woman (someone he’s never met).
He programs this version to be flirty and even has her making him dinner – it’s definitely awkward, but when the real Dr. Brahms shows up, it gets worse. She’s understandably shocked to see a version of herself being treated like Geordi’s personal dream girlfriend. And instead of letting her anger be justified, the show bends over backward to make her seem like the one overreacting.
Meanwhile, he was painted as just a lonely guy who meant well. What makes this sting even more is how the show handles Picard’s trauma. He didn’t choose to be turned into Locutus and was forced to watch the Borg use his body and face to slaughter thousands at Wolf 359. People died because of him – at least that’s how it feels to him, and he carried that guilt for the rest of his life.
Even everyone around him eventually understands that it wasn’t his fault. But with Geordi? The show excused his behavior and forever tarnished a character who deserved better.
Patrick Stewart almost said no to Star Trek’s most iconic twist
Before The Best of Both Worlds became one of the most iconic moments in the Star Trek universe, Patrick Stewart wasn’t on board with it – literally. That’s right – when he first heard the idea of turning Captain Picard into a Borg, his answer was a firm “no” as per The Hollywood Reporter.
At the time, he felt that the story would be very risky. It involved taking the calm and composed leader of the Enterprise and turning him into one of the Federation’s most feared enemies. The Borg weren’t just villains – they were unstoppable, emotionless, and downright terrifying. And making Picard their mouthpiece? That was a bold move.
So, because of all these elements, Mr. Stewart wasn’t convinced by the idea. He said:
I remember questioning whether that storyline was a good one to follow. I wasn’t sure that it was.
But after a lot of time and talks, he agreed for Picard to become Locutus – the chilling face of the Borg’s attempt to conquer humanity. It’s hard to imagine now, especially since that moment shaped his character for decades. But originally? He didn’t want to do it.
You can watch all the seasons of Star Trek: TNG in the USA on Paramount+ or rent it on Apple TV.
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