Reassessing Suzie Plakson

[Doug Otte]

I hadn't watched Season 2 for a while (other than The Measure of a Man, which is on high rotation for me). Recently, I've been revisiting a few episodes, and the other night I watched The Emissary.

During its original run, my future wife and I loved watching TNG, and K'ehleyr was a favorite character. We even named a parakeet after her. Rewatching the episode was nostalgic. Watching TNG evolve week-by-week and creating a deep mythos was a fun time in our young lives.

However, in retrospect I see how wooden Plakson was as an actor. I thought maybe it was how she approached that role, but then I watched her as Dr. Selar in The Shizoid Man, and she was stiff there too. I know she was playing a Vulcan there. But in both roles, she was physically and vocally awkward. I don't know if I saw her in any other roles. I'm going to revisit Reunion soon. Was she always like that?

I don't want to belittle Plakson's contribution to Trek. She's obviously a brilliant person. I met her and shook her hand at a convention. She was statuesque and gorgeous. Her costumes in The Emissary were incredible, and suited her physique perfectly, especially the red outfit with the short jacket.

 

[Ar-Pharazon]

You could watch her as a Q on VOY for another comparison, but I feel like that role was pretty close to the others.

And the red outfit is burned into my memory as well.

I thought the character of Lauren from DS9 was fairly similar and could easily have been played by Suzie.

 

[Oddish]

I liked her just fine, both as Kheylar and Suzie Q. And if she seemed wooden as a Vulcan, that's probably to be expected. Most of the time, anyway.

 

[Xhiandra]

I liked her as both K'ehleyr and the female Q. I don't find her wooden.
She does bring a certain posh aspect to her characters, maybe that's what you perceived as wooden? "Posh" and "playful" would be the two adjective I'd ascribe to her in those two roles.

As Selar, that wasn't her best... then again, it's a relatively minor Vulcan character, so not much to work with.

 

[Orphalesion]

Yeah I can actually see what you mean by her being somewhat awkward and wooden as both Selar and Kehlyr, and I agree. But she wasn't exactly bad, especially by Star Trek standards and I wouldn't have minded her as a recurring or even main character (in a case where, for example Selar would have become the main doctor in season 3).

it might also be worth noting that Kehlyr was a character who was, to an extend, meant to be awkward in her own skin, so could it be that aspect that makes the performance seem a bit awkward?

 

[Mojochi]

All that Klingon stuff is a little cheesy to me, but I actually didn't mind her as Selar, & would've liked to have seen her more. In comparison to the other actors at that time? They were all a bit off in those 1st two seasons, especially the women characters. Crosby quit. McFadden was fired & brought back. Muldaur was let go, & I doubt anyone felt Sirtis' status was stable either. They didn't write the women well. They probably didn't direct them well, & I can imagine they didn't even treat them all that well. I can recall a LOT of guest actors from those 1st two seasons that were much weaker.

Something tells me the reason Plakson was brought back as K'ehleyr was because she actually made a decent impression when she was there as Selar. She also showed up on VOY (The Q & The Grey) & ENT (Cease Fire) So someone must've thought she was good to have around. I kind of like her, & frankly, her acting was common for the time & medium.

 

[Therin of Andor]

However, in retrospect I see how wooden Plakson was as an actor. I thought maybe it was how she approached that role, but then I watched her as Dr. Selar in The Shizoid Man, and she was stiff there too.

Maybe you need to see her as Meg Tynan in "Love & War".

Something tells me the reason Plakson was brought back as K'ehleyr was because she actually made a decent impression when she was there as Selar.

Straight from writer and former TNG Executive Story Editor, Tracy Tormé, who was responsible for introducing Dr Selar: Tracy told us at a Trek convention (in New Zealand) that he had designed a three-part running gag for Season Two. We were going to see Worf visiting Dr Selar in sick bay for some light humor scenes over several episodes. It seems Klingon males get injured during courtship of a new mate (which was mentioned later in the season re poetry and throwing of heavy furniture). Eventually we realise that Worf's mystery lover was... Dr Selar herself. The producers decided that they did not care for a Klingon/Vulcan pairing but they loved the potential of Suzie Plakson, including her impressive height and her ease with appliance acting, so she was reconceived as K'Ehleyr.

She also showed up on VOY (The Q & The Grey) & ENT (Cease Fire) So someone must've thought she was good to have around.

She showed ease with appliance acting, meaning little time was wasted, so she was invited back to play ENT's Andorian, Tarah.

 

[Forbin]

Oh, I don't think she was wooden at all! Subtle and sexy, I'd say. I met her at a Creation Con in NJ and chatted for a while, and she's a warm and delightful person. She seemed to appreciate me wanting to talk more about Love and War than Trek.

 

[E-DUB]

Good hint, Forbin. If you ever meet a Star Trek actor, talk to them about other stuff they did.

 

[suarezguy]

I thought she did well in both roles. The writing of K'Ehleyr in "The Emissary" was a little too direct but she still improved it and mostly made it work.

 

[urbandefault]

She's done a lot of other stuff.

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[Jadeb]

Good hint, Forbin. If you ever meet a Star Trek actor, talk to them about other stuff they did.

I've gotten into old Westerns, and I really wish I could have talked to Dee Kelley about his work in those. I've read he preferred playing a cowboy to a space doctor.

 

[Mojochi]

Good hint, Forbin. If you ever meet a Star Trek actor, talk to them about other stuff they did.

Lol especially at a sci-fi con. They've assuredly already been talking about the Trek stuff ad nauseum.

 

[Crewman6]

Wow. You had a choice to write this post or not write this post. The world is much worse off for your efforts.

 

[Doug Otte]

She's done a lot of other stuff.

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She was terrific in these scenes, which I've never seen. Better writing, directing, etc.? Thanks for posting.

 

[Doug Otte]

Maybe you need to see her as Meg Tynan in "Love & War".

I'll look for it. Thanks.

 

[Oddish]

Wow. You had a choice to write this post or not write this post. The world is much worse off for your efforts.

I seriously doubt anyone who enjoyed Susie Plakston's performances magically began hating them because of OP's insights. And we do have something resembling freedom of speech here.

 

[Quinton]

Wow. You had a choice to write this post or not write this post. The world is much worse off for your efforts.

Crewman Six, report to your quarters at once.

 

[Herbert]

However, in retrospect I see how wooden Plakson was as an actor. I thought maybe it was how she approached that role, but then I watched her as Dr. Selar in The Shizoid Man, and she was stiff there too. I know she was playing a Vulcan there. But in both roles, she was physically and vocally awkward. I don't know if I saw her in any other roles. I'm going to revisit Reunion soon. Was she always like that?

If there is one word I would not use to describe Plakson as K'ehleyr, it's "wooden." You're entitled to your opinion but I think you're way off base here

 

[Herbert]

Wow. You had a choice to write this post or not write this post. The world is much worse off for your efforts.

And you had a choice to write this post, or not write it. As much as I may disagree with the OP's premise, I'd take his post over yours any day.