Did Ro Even Like Those People?

[Mojochi]

In Pre-emptive Strike, Ro returns from special ops training, to what is presented as a warm welcoming home, & while I'm sure such a thing was socially warranted, it never felt genuine to me, from the majority of the crew. Apart from looking up to the captain himself, about the only one she seemed to have any affinity for was Guinan, who of course wasn't around for her return, & was a peripheral presence on the ship as well

She openly disliked Riker, had almost no relation to Crusher or Worf at all, & didn't seem to have much affinity for Troi, apart from bonding momentarily over Will's promiscuity in Conundrum. Even Geordi only had a single experience that warmed her up to him some. She managed to butt heads with almost everybody, including O'Brien.

Is it just me, or does that welcome back party even play like it's meant to be a bit misplaced for her? She doesn't seem like someone coming home to people she cares about. She seems like she's out of place more than ever.

When you break it down, she might have only been on the ship about a year, & much of that time was fraught with prejudice against her, I'd have to imagine. Of her time back in service, which began with Picard reinstating her to his ship, she might have actually spent more time away than she spent on board.

So was she really a valued member of that crew, the way her reception implies? How much could they have actually befriended her, & does that mean that party is just a façade, & no one should be surprised that her loyalty faltered?

 

[at Quark's]

If I recall correctly, Ro was included to "spice up" the crew a bit, create a source of conflict by having someone who wasn't as imbued with Starfleet principles and dared to question the rules.

But they may have focused too much on that part, and neglected to also include scenes of bonding, as you describe above, showing that despite everything, she was accepted on the ENT-D. Which I think I agree, should have been done.

 

[ananta]

I think Ro was somewhat wasted. Her introduction was marvellous, but it was also her high point. Until “Preemptive Strike”, the only decent stuff they did with her character was the Riker/Troi/Ro triangle in “Conundrum” and “The Next Phase”, both of which were great fun. I don’t think we really had enough time to see her bond with any of the characters, including Picard, which is why the supposed bond between them felt forced and unearned in “Preemptive Strike”. Exception is obviously Guinan. I wish there had been a scene with Guinan in “Preemptive Strike”. Whoopi’s presence was sorely missed the last couple of seasons.

 

[Mojochi]

I think Ro was somewhat wasted. Her introduction was marvellous, but it was also her high point. Until “Preemptive Strike”, the only decent stuff they did with her character was the Riker/Troi/Ro triangle in “Conundrum” and “The Next Phase”, both of which were great fun. I don’t think we really had enough time to see her bond with any of the characters, including Picard, which is why the supposed bond between them felt forced and unearned in “Preemptive Strike”. Exception is obviously Guinan. I wish there had been a scene with Guinan in “Preemptive Strike”. Whoopi’s presence was sorely missed the last couple of seasons.

Even when you take stock of Ro & Guinan's relationship, it is all moved by Guinan. In Ensign Ro, she has to force herself on Ro. Then in Rascals she had to again force any kind of good will between them

 

[Thomas Elliot]

I think Ro was somewhat wasted. Her introduction was marvellous, but it was also her high point. Until “Preemptive Strike”, the only decent stuff they did with her character was the Riker/Troi/Ro triangle in “Conundrum” and “The Next Phase”, both of which were great fun. I don’t think we really had enough time to see her bond with any of the characters, including Picard, which is why the supposed bond between them felt forced and unearned in “Preemptive Strike”. Exception is obviously Guinan. I wish there had been a scene with Guinan in “Preemptive Strike”. Whoopi’s presence was sorely missed the last couple of seasons.

It's a shame. But the actress wouldn't commit to the show, right? She had a great farewell. It kind of upset me, but it definitely fit and yielded a great emotional ending, especially considering that Picard had invested so much in her and thought of her as a protege. It would have been nice had we had more episodes with her, more seasons, and THEN "Preemptive Strike." I really wish they had gone somewhere with her and Riker and had it be a love/hate relationship.

 

[Herbert]

It all seemed so convenient. Pretty much everyone other than Guinan hated Ro's guts when she first showed up and then by the end, they seem to be all buddy buddy with her. It would have been a bit more real, a bit more honest if certain crew members had never warmed up to her.

 

[Mojochi]

It all seemed so convenient. Pretty much everyone other than Guinan hated Ro's guts when she first showed up and then by the end, they seem to be all buddy buddy with her. It would have been a bit more real, a bit more honest if certain crew members had never warmed up to her.

Or it just sort of makes it seem like Bev & Deanna etc... are a bunch of phonies, who will act like they're friends with someone just for appearance's sake

 

[Orphalesion]

I don't think Deanna and Beverley hated Ro in her introductory episode. I think outside of the meeting room their only interactions where one scene in 10 Forward where Troi and Beverly asked whether Ro would like to sit and chat with them and she told them to go away.
In truth, I think I only remember Riker being a dick to her, because she dared not to be overjoyed to be on Enterprise.

 

[cgervasi]

It all seemed so convenient. Pretty much everyone other than Guinan hated Ro's guts when she first showed up and then by the end, they seem to be all buddy buddy with her.

I though that was because she helps them find the Bajor leader to lead them to Orta and exposed Admiral Kennelly's conspiracy.

 

[cgervasi]

If I recall correctly, Ro was included to "spice up" the crew a bit, create a source of conflict by having someone who wasn't as imbued with Starfleet principles and dared to question the rules.

They did a great job juxtaposing the class differences. In the meeting they suggest contacting a Bajoran politician. Ro dismisses him as "the token Bajoran who respectiable people invite to dipolmatic soirees." Ro appears frustrated at how out of touch they are with the realities of life of Bajoran refugees. In the very next scene, they beam down, and Picard immediately gives a voiced-over log entry about reading about Bajoran antiquities in the fifth grade. He says it's a cruel historical irony that they were leaders in art, philosophy, and mathematics in the ancient word and now are impoverished. The script intentionally goes back and forth between the harsh experiences "on the ground" and the crew's intellectual understanding of the situation.

Picard walking through the camp and talking about reading about antiquities in elementary school right after the scene where Ro steers them clear of the "token Bajoran that respectable people invite" to events was great.

 

[ALF]

Wow, Ro really did say 'Token Bajoran' that episode, didn't she?
I love her.

If I recall correctly, Ro was included to "spice up" the crew a bit, create a source of conflict by having someone who wasn't as imbued with Starfleet principles and dared to question the rules.

But they may have focused too much on that part, and neglected to also include scenes of bonding, as you describe above, showing that despite everything, she was accepted on the ENT-D. Which I think I agree, should have been done.

Agreed that a few expanded Ro stories should have been there, precious few Ro TNG episodes I'm afraid. Eight in total. My feeling was that she'd gone on missions and bonded with the bridge crew and those details were up to us as the audience to fill in as she returns from her special assignment.

Maybe the episode that best explores her friendship with the crew is The Next Phase? Certainly Riker's friendship with Ro was examined as he tended to her wake. You can't argue she bonded with Geordi there, too.

 

[Jayson1]

I think she respected Picard. Had a crush on Riker. A friend in Guinan and also eventually Geordi after their little adventure together. Didn't much respect Troi and didn't have strong opinions about Data,Worf or Crusher.


Jason

 

[Mojochi]

I don't think Deanna and Beverley hated Ro in her introductory episode. I think outside of the meeting room their only interactions where one scene in 10 Forward where Troi and Beverly asked whether Ro would like to sit and chat with them and she told them to go away.
In truth, I think I only remember Riker being a dick to her, because she dared not to be overjoyed to be on Enterprise.

I'd agree. I don't think Bev & Deanna hated Ro either. Geordi was adverse to her in the beginning, & Picard was also none too fond from the start IIRC, but I don't think Bev & Deanna liked Ro, & TBH Ro did as much as she could to make it that way, by shunning them in that very scene, & I never saw anything that undid that, so it's hard to think they suddenly & inexplicably became close buddies, any more than they'd have suddenly been friends with Scotty at the end of his episode, where he'd hardly had anything to do with some of them.

It just makes some of them seem so faaaaake lol

 

[Orphalesion]

I'd agree. I don't think Bev & Deanna hated Ro either. Geordi was adverse to her in the beginning, & Picard was also none too fond from the start IIRC, but I don't think Bev & Deanna liked Ro, & TBH Ro did as much as she could to make it that way, by shunning them in that very scene, & I never saw anything that undid that, so it's hard to think they suddenly & inexplicably became close buddies, any more than they'd have suddenly been friends with Scotty at the end of his episode, where he'd hardly had anything to do with some of them.

It just makes some of them seem so faaaaake lol

I saw it more as everybody trying for second, more positive start with Ro. Like "yeah we don't know each other that well, but here have a party because we'd like you to feel welcome here and hope for a closer friendship in the future"
Dunno, that's how I saw it.

 

[Lance]

In retrospect, they should've given her her own Galaxy Class ship to command -- and then had her go completely power mad. I'm certain Forbes would have been up to the task of acting that.

 

[JirinPanthosa]

I think Riker and Ro developed a respect for each other by the end. Like the joke about what Riker was going to say about Ro at the funeral.

Also we don't know what friendships she might have formed with the other ensigns.

I wish they found a way to put both Ro and Kira on DS9. Ro is pretty much the only unreligious Bajoran we ever meet and having that conflict with Kira, especially from someone who wasn't fighting for Bajor during the occupation, would have been interesting.

 

[Angry Fanboy]

Ro was a fantastic character, the strongest 'semi regular' of the TNG cast - well acted, interesting backstory, able to shake things up.

As has been said it's such a pity Forbes wasn't promoted to a regular role for whatever reason (whether this was her decision, the producers' decision or some combination of both) because TNG could have benefited from a bit of shaking up.

The welcome home party in Preemptive Strike did feel a bit forced, probably to enhance the sense of 'betrayal' that was to come when she joined the Maquis.

Either way it's a crying shame she wasn't seen again.

 

[TimeIsAPredator]

I think Riker and Ro developed a respect for each other by the end

Did they not develop a little more than just respect 1 one episode ?

 

[Mojochi]

I think Riker and Ro developed a respect for each other by the end. Like the joke about what Riker was going to say about Ro at the funeral.

I'd say it wasn't so much a mutual respect as it was a mutual understanding of their own biases, after having been stripped of them by amnesia, letting them see what was beneath...

Also we don't know what friendships she might have formed with the other ensigns.

Well there weren't too many of them clamoring to shove the phonies out of the way to see here at the homecoming dance

 

[JirinPanthosa]

Ro also gained humility in Disaster after she campaigned to abandon half the crew.