Counselor Troi impresses us all as a dear friend to Dr. Beverly Crusher. Their deep, lasting friendship not only encompasses a special personal relationship between the two, but also extends into their professional dealings as officers aboard the USS Enterprise 1701-D. Under the command of Captain Jean-Luc Picard, these two Starfleet professionals excel at keeping their fellow crewmembers healthy and in both body and mind.
Yeah, well… Maybe.
Let’s explore the possibility - however slight or far fetched as it may sound - that Deanna Troi is actually jealous of Beverly Crusher. Jelly as the hip kids say. Thin premise? Perhaps. It’s probably not a debilitating, raging envy, but just enough to become a fascinating thought exercise for passing our Star Trek: The Next Generation analytical time together. Let’s examine some intensely interesting facts about the two.
Starfleet Hierarchy Healthcare
Although it’s never expressly showcased in TNG, Counselor Troi as Enterprise therapist is essentially subordinate to Dr. Crusher. As Chief Medical Officer, Beverly Crusher is the head of the Starship’s Medical Department. She’s the only one - other than Captain Picard himself - who can relieve any crewmember of duty. This directive must include Troi.
Face it, Deanna - Beverly can take you out in a nanosecond.
Nice framework there, eh? Yep. Technically, Crusher is Troi’s boss. How often have you been good, even authentic friends with your boss? That imbalance of power can lead to some serious animosity. Sure, it happens, but it’s just another piece of our telly jelly puzzle.
The Captain’s Ear
Now you’d think Troi being on the Starship bridge all the time would have more of Picard’s attention. Mostly overall, you’d be absolutely right, but they didn’t have a history like Dr. Crusher and Jack Crusher, the husband Beverly lost in the line of duty, had with Jean-Luc Picard. We know intense romantic vibes always emanated between Crusher and her Captain and ultimately the two would marry - as we’re told in the future events of TNG’s epic finale, All Good Things.
This may not make Troi any more jealous perse, however, Crusher certainly scores big in the influence department. She’s basically got the bald n sexy Jean-Luc, much the way Troi’s mother, Lwaxana, would love to have him.
Troi’s Power Loss
Perhaps the most damning evidence of just how Troi feels about Dr. Crusher is detailed in the wonderful Next Generation episode, The Loss. Here, Troi loses her empathic powers and all hell breaks loose for the Betazoid. Well, maybe that’s a slight exaggeration, however, things get pretty bad between the two as this exchange more than amply illustrates.
CRUSHER: How are you feeling?
TROI: Beverly, I can't do my job. I'm absolutely lost. You have to do something.
CRUSHER: I cross-referenced your scan results with baseline files in computer. Nothing helpful’s turned up. And so far lab work is inconclusive.
TROI: Inconclusive. What’s that mean?
CRUSHER: It means there’s nothing I can do now. I am still trying.
TROI: How do you people live like this?
CRUSHER: We get by pretty well, actually. And so will you, in time.
TROI: You have no idea. No idea what this is like! How can you know what it's like to lose something you never had?
CRUSHER: I don't claim to.
TROI: And yet you're telling me I'm supposed to get used to it.
CRUSHER: If our positions were reversed, what would you tell me?
TROI: If our positions were reversed, I wouldn't have been in here treating skinned elbows while you were lying passed out on your office floor. I'd have been there a lot sooner. Perhaps in time to prevent this from ever happening!
(Deanna storms off to her own quarters and marches in, fists clenched. There is a defenceless glass table expecting to get smashed, but instead she sinks to her knees)
Counselor Troi may indeed be good, even best of friends with Dr. Beverly Crusher, however, it’s clear she - in her own words, revealing to us all in a stressful time, has some major issues with her supposedly dear friend. During their fantastic seven year run on Star Trek: The Next Generation, Marina Sirtis and Gates McFadden always played well together interacting with one another in their respective roles, though it clearly appears there could be a lot more under the surface between the two medical professionals that we’re usually privy too.