Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry. Guest starring in six of Star Trek: The Next Generation's seven seasons, Lwaxana's visits generally promised a lighthearted romp, though often with a strong undercurrent of melancholy.
Lwaxana Troi's visits to the Enterprise often hit many of the same thematic notes, such as her one-sided flirtation with Captain Jean-Luc Picard, her desire to find her daughter a husband, and her own struggles with getting older. Always accompanied by her silent attendant, Mr. Homn, Lwaxana treated the Enterprise more like her own personal hotel than the Federation flagship. While Counselor Deanna Troi deeply loved her mother, Lwaxana tended to deeply frustrate the good counselor. No other guest star had the ability to upend life on the Enterprise quite like Lwaxana Troi.
Why Lwaxana Troi Was So Important To TNG
With the possible exception of John de Lancie's impish entity Q, no other guest star left as integral and consistent a mark on Star Trek: The Next Generation as Lwaxana Troi. Beyond the character's inherent charms, Majel Barrett-Roddenberry was essentially the first lady of Star Trek. She originated the part of Number One in J.J. Abrams' 2009 Kelvin universe reboot film.
Aside from the goodwill engendered by Majel Barrett-Roddenberry's very presence, Lwaxana Troi was a unique character over Star Trek: The Next Generation's run. Her flamboyant nature often obscured a deeply introspective, sometimes sad woman. Episodes like "Half A Life" and "Cost Of Living" ruminated on mortality, with the latter a fairly obvious meta-commentary on the then-recent death of the actress' husband, franchise creator Gene Roddenberry. Perhaps Barrett-Roddenberry's best performance in the role came in the episode "Dark Page," where it's revealed that Lwaxana had another daughter, Kestra, who tragically drowned when she was just a little girl. It's a powerhouse performance, revealing Barrett-Roddenberry had an acting range not seen before.
What Happened To Lwaxana Troi After TNG
While she's primarily associated with Star Trek: The Next Generation, Lwaxana Troi also had a presence on the later spinoff series Bajoran first officer Major Kira Nerys, Lwaxana would have been happy to settle down with Odo.
Not much is known about Lwaxana Troi's life after her visits to Deep Space Nine. It seems likely she was happily waiting on Betazed for the wedding of Deanna Troi and William Riker during the events of Star Trek: Nemesis. While she's not explicitly mentioned in Star Trek: Picard, Riker and Troi honored her by naming their daughter Kestra Troi-Riker. Majel Barrett-Roddenberry ed away in 2008, and it seems nearly impossible that another actor could take over the role. But Lwaxana Troi will always be celebrated as an important part of the legacy of Star Trek: The Next Generation.