Star Trek: 10 Terrible Scenes That Ruined Episodes

10. Shizon Assaults Deanna - Star Trek: Nemesis

The oft-discussed and much-reviled assault scene in Star Trek: Nemesis was the final product, though there exists another assault that was left on the cutting room floor. This took place in a turbolift, with seconds of it making it to the trailer for the final Next Generation film.

Using sexual assault in film requires careful consideration. What does depicting rape do for the scene? What then does it do for the overall project? Exploiting people for shock value is almost as old as cinema itself, with libraries of content discussing the topic. For a true deep dive, one should research the 'video nasties' phenomenon. Here, Deanna Troi is reduced to an 'assault target', simply so the audience can see that Shinzon is a true villain.

Not only is this a lazy approach to proving villainy, it is also barely above fridging when it comes to using female characters' pain to inspire male characters. Marina Sirtis had been with Star Trek since 1987, had been through more turmoil than many, had finally got a chance to stretch her comedy chops in the movies - and was reduced to 'victim' here. 

Using Troi to pinpoint the Scimitar did not wash away the foul taste of the earlier exploitation from our mouths.