The Best Star Trek Episode No One Knows How It Got Past the Censors
By Chris Snellgrove | Published
While Star Trek: The Next Generation has a few really bad episodes, including “The Honor Code” (a throwback to racism) and “Shades of Gray” (an insanely lazy clip show). However, there is no episode as infamous as “Sub Rosa” where Dr. Crusher has surprisingly exposed ghost sex on screen, causing fans to ask the obvious question: how in Q’s name did they get all this filth past the censors? As it turns out, almost everyone involved in the production of this episode has been asking the same question decades!
For example, The Next Generation effects director David Stipe (as quoted in Star Trek: The Next Generation Companion) was very concerned about getting the ghost results right because Dr. How much would Crusher feel (ahem) feel the wind moving through him. He understood better than most the challenge of making “purposeful, edge-of-your-seat ephemerals to look like you’re petting and hugging Beverly—without looking ridiculous or dirty.” The effects guru was partially successful, however: although the visual effects look good (especially on the remastered Blu-rays), the doctor’s encounter with the ghost in “Sub Rosa” looks good. aggressive.
You have a Spirit
A veteran Star Trek: The Next Generation writer and producer Rene Echevarria actually enjoyed how flawed the broadcast episode was. After praising Gates McFadden for his passionate performance and praising the episode’s great story and high production values, he said (as quoted in Captain’s Log: The Complete Unauthorized Journey) that “having an orgasm at 6 o’clock on family television was fun.” He said “that alone” made the episode “worth doing” and ended his thoughts by noting how amazing it was that the episode passed the censors: “We made a killing.”
“Sub Rosa” columnist Brannon Braga seems to agree; behind lines of writing like “She’s moving around in bed having invisible sex,” she thought to herself (as quoted in Captain’s logs) that, “‘Hey guys, we’re asking for trouble. Will they be able to get rid of this?”
Intense Sex Scenes
Obviously, i Star Trek: The Next Generation producers ended up releasing the episode, much to the surprise of executive producer Rick Berman. According to Braga, Berman looked at the script for the ghostly sex scene and said, “I can’t believe we’re doing this. As for Braga, he was proud of Gates McFadden’s performance but was still shocked by the sad details that came on screen: as he put it, “Picard catches Beverly masturbating, for crying out loud!
Interestingly, one of the only Star Trek creators he didn’t concern about “Sub Rosa” was its director, Riker actor Jonathan Frakes. In Captain’s logshe is quoted as saying that he “drew a fine line” in directing the dangerous episode because it “wasn’t a Star Trek episode” and instead felt “it’s too similar Tales from the Crypt.” He also enjoyed working closely with McFadden and felt that he “looked like a movie star” in this incredibly dangerous adventure.
As you can see, almost everyone involved in the production of “Sub Rosa” (minus Frakes) was concerned about its dirty content and later. surprised of what they were allowed to put on the screen. In some ways, the episode was ahead of its time; while it remains one of the lowest quality The Next Generation episodes, modern fans have embraced its humor and the way it incorporates Dr. Crusher who was the sexiest member of the Enterprise crew (move over, Riker). Although she’s never waved a proton pack, Beverly’s experience with the attraction finally helped her learn something the Ghostbusters had figured out long ago: shooting makes her feel good!
