Creating Star Trek is a huge effort for everyone involved, particularly when the show explores truly imaginative science fiction ideas. Building the show’s world demands a lot technically, but the actors’ performances are equally important. Star Trek has featured many gifted actors, and Sir Patrick Stewart, famous for Star Trek: The Next Generation, is certainly one of the best.
Patrick Stewart’s Captain Jean-Luc Picard is often considered one of the best characters in Star Trek history, and for good reason. Stewart had a strong background in classical acting when he joined the show, so sometimes the science fiction storylines felt a bit absurd. However, he’s a dedicated professional and always gave a solid performance. Now, one of his fellow cast members from The Next Generation is sharing a story about a particularly infamous episode that even tested Stewart’s patience – and they all felt it too.
Star Trek TNG’s “Sub Rosa” Episode Was Too Much For Patrick Stewart
Gates McFadden, who played Dr. Beverly Crusher on Star Trek: The Next Generation, recently spoke with Tawny Newsome (Ensign Beckett Mariner from Star Trek: Lower Decks). They discussed times they’d worked on projects they secretly thought were poor quality. McFadden readily admitted to being in one of the worst-received episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation.
McFadden said her first reaction to the ‘Sub Rosa’ script was disbelief. She explained that Patrick Stewart also strongly disliked it, finding it ridiculous. She noted the script contained many bizarre elements and felt more like a gothic horror story than a typical episode of the show.
The Star Trek episode “Sub Rosa” is often considered one of the show’s weaker installments. The story follows Dr. Beverly Crusher and the crew of the Enterprise as they travel to the Scottish-inspired colony of Caldos to attend the funeral of Crusher’s grandmother, Felisa Howard, and fix the colony’s original weather control system. While the subplot about the weather system feels like a standard Star Trek story, the main plot unexpectedly veers into a romantic melodrama.
Crusher becomes involved with Ronin (Duncan Regehr), a mysterious man who was her grandmother’s lover. He’s eventually revealed to be an energy being who needed to connect with the women in Crusher’s family to maintain a physical body. This storyline, filled with historical romance and Gothic supernatural elements, felt very out of place within the usual Star Trek setting, especially with its elaborate costumes and sets.
Why “Sub Rosa” Was Such A Big Star Trek FAIL
This episode felt noticeably more focused on sex (and not in a good way), with Gates McFadden delivering a particularly funny performance. Honestly, “Sub Rosa” just gets more cringeworthy with each passing year. Giving a prominent female character – a doctor, no less – an entire episode centered around that plotline? It really doesn’t hold up well.
It’s encouraging to know Patrick Stewart spoke out against the situation and supported his colleague. Kate McFadden has not only moved past it, but she now finds the whole thing amusing.
McFadden now finds the whole thing funny. She’s grown to appreciate the famously intense reaction her character, Crusher, has – what fans jokingly call a ‘green-eyed orgasm.’ She says it’s not something you see every day!
If you watched the episode, you’ll agree that McFadden perfectly captured the intensity of Beverly Crusher’s intense connection with Ronin right before her rescue, and her subsequent defeat of the alien parasite. It was classic storytelling disguised as science fiction, and the underlying themes were clear.
You can now watch Star Trek: The Next Generation, including the episode “Sub Rosa,” on Paramount+. Share your thoughts on your favorite—or least favorite—episodes with other fans on the ComicBook Forum!
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2026-04-21 22:40