Star Trek: 10 Times You Asked 'WHAT Were They Thinking?!'

10. The Perfect Mate

Star Trek has several examples of problematic storylines being excused by the characters concerned ‘being ok with it’. Enter The Perfect Mate, an episode dealing with human trafficking and forced marriage, swept lightly away by Kamala ‘being cool with it’.

Famke Jannsen is brilliant in this episode as Kamala, the prize that’s prematurely awakened by some greedy Ferengi. She is literally engineered to be perfect for whomever she is gifted to. So, first, we have the idea of any free will being scrapped - she was designed for this, she didn’t choose this.

Yet, the episode then goes to lengths to have her categorically state she is happy with her life and that it gives her meaning. It was a poor attempt to show her having fun, despite knowing her eventual fate. Having half of the male main cast develop feelings for her didn’t do much to help and Picard ‘giving her away’ leaves a sour taste in the mouth by the episode’s close. 

There may have been a message buried deep in this outing, but by execution and by tone, it is lost. The Perfect Mate makes for imperfect viewing.