Picard's Praise for Star Trek: TNG's Ill-fated Bajoran Preceding Ro Laren's Betrayal

Article Overview

Captain Picard saw potential in both Bajoran officers and wanted them to succeed, despite their troubled pasts.

Ro Laren's betrayal deeply disappointed Picard, and even after 30 years, he still carries the pain of it when she resurfaces. It is likely that Sito Jaxa's untimely death played a significant role in Ro's choice to align herself with the Maquis, especially considering her previous experiences of losing fellow Starfleet officers and harboring a deep resentment towards the Cardassians.

Captain Jean-Luc Picard, portrayed by Patrick Stewart, commended the brave Bajoran Ensign Sito Jaxa, played by Shannon Fill, following her tragic demise on Star Trek: The Next Generation. This devastating loss made the betrayal of another Bajoran ensign, Ro Laren, portrayed by Michelle Forbes, even more poignant. The Bajorans were introduced in the fifth season episode of TNG titled "Ensign Ro," as a group who had endured years of oppression due to the Cardassian occupation of their planet, Bajor. Ensign Ro Laren was the first Bajoran character to appear in Star Trek and quickly earned popularity among fans.

Prior to being assigned to the USS Enterprise-D, Ensign Ro had faced a court-martial and demotion to ensign as a consequence of disobeying a direct order. Although initially hesitant about having Ro aboard the Enterprise due to her troubled past, Captain Picard recognized her potential and eventually became a mentor to her. Apart from her involvement in the significant Nova Squadron incident depicted in the 19th episode of TNG's fifth season titled "The First Duty," Ensign Sito Jaxa excelled during her time at Starfleet Academy and was subsequently assigned to the Enterprise-D after graduation. Captain Picard saw an opportunity for Ensign Jaxa to redeem herself and therefore assigned her to partake in a covert mission that ultimately ended in tragedy, several months after she joined the Enterprise crew.

How Picard Was Affected By The Enterprise-D’s Bajorans Sito & Ro

Captain Picard took a special interest in both Bajoran Enterprise officers.

Captain Picard, having made mistakes in his own past, may have seen elements of his younger self reflected in Ro and Sito. Recognizing their potential, he was determined to see both Bajoran women succeed. Unfortunately, Sito, along with Wesley Crusher (Wil Wheaton), a fellow member of Nova Squadron, experienced a setback at Starfleet Academy. Their ill-fated attempt at a dangerous flight maneuver resulted in the tragic death of one of their comrades, leading to the duo being held back a year. Shortly after their arrival on the Enterprise, Captain Picard approached Sito with a perilous undercover assignment. Tragically, she met her demise at the hands of Cardassians during the mission. Informing the crew of her death, Picard paid tribute, describing her as an exceptional Starfleet officer and a young woman of remarkable courage and strength of character.

Ro Laren's role as an ensign set her apart from other Starfleet officers in more ways than one.

Early on in her Starfleet career, Ro Laren committed a significant error that not only hindered her advancement but also damaged the trust her fellow officers had in her. During her tenure on the Enterprise-D, she held Captain Picard in high regard, considering him a mentor. In turn, he developed a certain fondness for Ro and believed that Starfleet was beneficial for her. However, everything changed when Ro found herself on a mission to infiltrate the rebel group known as the Maquis in the seventh season of TNG, specifically in the twenty-fourth episode titled "Preemptive Strike." As she became more immersed in the Maquis cause, Ro gradually sympathized with their perspective and eventually made the decision to abandon Starfleet and join their ranks. This act of betrayal deeply disappointed and hurt Picard, leaving a lasting impact on him even after three decades had passed, as seen in her return in the third season of Star Trek: Picard.

Did Sito’s Death Influence Ro Laren’s Decision To Betray Starfleet For The Maquis?

What happened to Ensign Sito could have affected Ro's choice later in TNG season 7.

Although Ro Laren never openly discussed Sito Jaxa, it is reasonable to assume that her death had an impact on Ro given the timing of events. Ro joined the Maquis shortly after Sito's demise in Star Trek: The Next Generation season 7, during an ill-fated mission that resulted in Ro's court-martial and the loss of eight of her fellow officers. Witnessing Starfleet officers sacrificing their lives for duty was not unfamiliar to Ro, and this likely influenced her decision to defect. When questioned by Commander William Riker (Jonathan Frakes), Ro expresses that she had longed for a sense of belonging and her only regret is disappointing Captain Picard.

Having endured the Cardassian occupation of Bajor, Ro harbored deep resentment towards the Cardassians. Given that the Maquis fought against the Cardassians, Ro felt conflicted about handing them over to Starfleet. Sito's death, as another Bajoran victim of the Cardassians, may have compounded Ro's sentiment, making it even more challenging for her to oppose the Maquis in Star Trek: The Next Generation.

Editor's P/S

As a Gen Z fan, I find the relationship between Captain Picard and the Bajoran officers, Sito Jaxa and Ro Laren, to be intriguing and complex. Picard's praise for Sito Jaxa, despite her tragic fate, highlights his belief in her potential and his willingness to give her a second chance. This is in contrast to his initial hesitation towards Ro Laren, who had a troubled past and had disobeyed a direct order. However, Picard eventually recognizes Ro's potential and becomes a mentor to her, showing that he is willing to look beyond her mistakes and see the good in her.

The betrayal of Ro Laren is a significant moment in Star Trek: The Next Generation, and it is clear that Picard is deeply hurt and disappointed by her actions. This betrayal is likely made more poignant by the fact that Ro is a Bajoran, a group that has endured years of oppression and hardship. Picard's pain and disappointment are understandable, as he had invested time and effort into mentoring Ro and believed that she had the potential to be a great Starfleet officer. The fact that Ro's betrayal comes after the tragic death of Sito Jaxa, another Bajoran officer, may also contribute to Picard's emotional response.