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Over the years, “Star Trek” hasn’t shied away from sex. There’ve been scenes of characters, barely clad, rubbing blue gel in the decontamination chamber, including in “Star Trek: Enterprise.” There’s one bath scene in “Star Trek: The Next Generation” “Insurrection” where Deana Troi shaves Commander William Riker in a tub full of bubbles. In fact, “Star Trek” has had a nude scene – T’Pol disrobes on “Star Trek: Enterprise.”
Here are a few steamy ideas written out and scenes removed from various “Star Trek” television shows and movies:
Rand & Kirk an Item?
According to Grace Lee Whitney‘s memoir, “The Longest Trek: My Tour of the Galaxy,” her character Yeoman Janice Rand from “The Original Series” was supposed to be a core member of the original cast. She said Gene Roddenberry, the series creator, received studio pressure to prevent Captain Kirk (William Shatner) from getting too involved with Rand.
Whitney told StarTrek.com in 2011, “There was a scene that Shatner and I did – and I remember when it happened – that scared the producers, because they said, ‘Uh-oh, they’re getting too close. This is getting too hot. We have to remove her because he’s going to look like he’s cheating when he falls in love with other women on other planets.’ So, if she’s waiting for him on the ship and he’s out there cheating, Yeoman Rand would be the sympathetic part on the ship, and he’d look like a cad. So, they said, ‘Why don’t we just remove the yeoman.’ Of course, this went on behind the scenes.”
Sulu Drools Over Ilia
In “Star Trek: The Motion Picture,” a beautiful Deltan joins the crew — Ilia. The Deltans affect every human male they meet. Ilia, played by Persis Khambatta, is fresh to the bridge when Sulu, played by George Takei, seems unnerved by her. In fact, he can’t show her basic navigational controls, a task he normally excels at, making a few mistakes. He even stares at her.
Khan’s Shower in ‘Into Darkness’
“Star Trek Into Darkness,” part of what Trek fans refer to as the Kelvin timeline, has been controversial. Dr. Carol Marcus (Alice Eve) appears in the movie in her underwear. People have argued over whether it was gratuitous or exploitative, but Eve defended the 2013 scene in a 2021 interview with Inverse.
“It was something I voluntarily worked with a trainer to be fit for, was very much prepared for, and very much enjoyed – filming, executing, promoting. The feeling I shouldn’t have done it, or that it was exploitation, was confusing to me,” she told the outlet. “I’m proud of that scene, and all the work I did.”
Director J.J. Abrams talked with Conan O’Brien in 2013 about this infamous scene and argued he’d set it up to parallel James Kirk – Chris Pine – who also appeared in his underwear in the movie.
Abrams said on “Conan,” “To me it was a balance. There was a scene earlier where [Chris Pine] is not dressed either, so I felt like it was a tradeoff. But some people felt like it was exploiting [Eve]. And while she is lovely, I can also see their point of view.”
While the two underwear scenes made it to the final cut, one didn’t, Abrams told O’Brien: Khan Noonien Singh (Benedict Cumberbatch) taking a shower. Abrams told O’Brien, “It was a shower of evil.”
Picard Kissing in ‘Insurrection’
“Star Trek: The Next Generation” had a life after the television show ended, with various movies, including “Insurrection,” directed by Jonathan Frakes, who also played Commander Riker. The movie has many themes, including the passage of time and moving on – Riker and Deana Troi get married, for example.
In the movie, Anij (Donna Murphy) is Ba’ku, a people known for giving up technology. They become embroiled in a conflict between the Federation and the Son’a. During the movie, when the audience realizes the Son’a are helping the Dominion, Anij becomes Captain Jean-Luc Picard’s love interest.
Anij and Picard kiss. The scene was intended to show that Picard feels the Ba’ku’s ability to slow time. But the scene was deleted because it didn’t work.
Archer Asks Trip for Advice About Sex
Captain Jonathan Archer (Scott Bakula) was never known as a Captain Kirk-style womanizer. There wasn’t an alien at every port for him; his relationships are rare. His lack of female companionship becomes apparent in “A Night in Sickbay,” from the second season of “Star Trek: Enterprise.”
In the episode, Archer begins to realize he’s attracted to his first officer, Subcommander T’Pol (Jolene Blalock). Additionally, his nerves are frayed – worried about his faithful companion (Porthos, his dog) who’s near death and concerned he won’t get the needed equipment to keep Enterprise running.
In this deleted scene, he contacts his friend Commander Trip Tucker (Connor Trinneer). Archer asks, “How long has it been since you’ve been intimate with a woman?”
Trip is confused and shocked, stammering for a response. Archer quickly understands this isn’t an appropriate question to ask and the conversation shifts.
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