Ashley Judd's Ensign Robin Lefler appears in two episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation season 5 — episode 2, "Darmok," and episode 6, "The Game." The young Starfleet officer appears to be smart and confident, as she aids Lt. Commander Geordi La Forge (LeVar Burton) in "Darmok." In "The Game," Lefler develops a sweet romance with Ensign Wesley Crusher (Wil Wheaton), who is on vacation from Starfleet Academy. Bright-eyed and clever, Ensign Lefler made a strong addition to TNG's cast, but she never appeared onscreen again.
Star Trek: The Next Generation's Robin Lefler Had So Much Potential (More Than 2 Episodes)
It Would Have Been Nice To See A Young Ensign Like Lefler Play A Larger Role
Ensign Lefler only appears briefly in "Darmok," but then plays a more substantial role in "The Game," helping Wesley save the Enterprise crew. Unfortunately, "The Game" is not a particularly strong episode of Star Trek, and I wish Robin Lefler had gotten the chance to star in a better episode. Still, she's one of the better parts of the story, coming across as likable and charming, as she invents a playful set of "laws" she later shares with Wesley. Ashley Judd delivers a solid performance, making Lefler one of TNG's more memorable guest stars.
In her conversations with Wesley in "The Game," Robin reveals things about her childhood, saying she spent much of it traveling to various starbases with her parents. In only a few scenes, we learn more about Robin than many of TNG's guest characters, and it's nice to see Wesley connect with someone his own age. Perhaps if Wil Wheaton had stuck around as Wesley, Lefler would have become a more prominent character. Robin had all the makings of a compelling new character, and I'm disappointed that TNG squandered that potential.
Robin Lefler's Story Continued In Other Star Trek Media
Lefler Has A Long & Complex Story In Trek Tie-In Novels & Comics
It wasn't entirely TNG's fault that Ensign Lefler never returned, as there were reportedly plans to bring her back. According to the Star Trek: The Next Generation Companion, the show's producers had hoped for Lefler to appear in "The First Duty," but things didn't pan out. Lefler also made an appearance in the first draft of season 6's "True Q," but she was cut from this episode as well. There was even speculation that she could pop up in Star Trek: Nemesis, but this was largely based on unfounded rumors.
However, Robin Lefler made such an impression that she has appeared in numerous Star Trek tie-in novels, comics, and video games. Lefler plays a prominent role in Peter David's New Frontier series, which follows the crew of the USS Excalibur as it offers aid to the recently collapsed Thallonian Empire. This series consists of over twenty novels and numerous comics featuring characters from Star Trek: The Next Generation and the TNG - Starfleet Academy books. Lefler's journey beyond Star Trek's onscreen adventures proves the character's potential, making me wish all the more that she had stuck around on Star Trek: The Next Generation.
