Star Trek: The Next Generation Bechdel-Wallace Test Results

We’re finished running the Bechdel Test on every single live action episode of Star Trek! I feel like Troi, having just been presented with the biggest chocolate sundae of all time. I feel like Worf facing down a row of Klingons with pain sticks. I feel like Wesley the first time he’s allowed on the bridge. I feel like…well, this:

I am immensely grateful to skadoo3 for her help running the Bechdel Test on TNG (skadoo3 also helped with testing Enterprise).

Let’s recap the conditions, shall we?

To unequivocally pass, an episode must have: Two named women characters Who talk to each other About something other than a man

As with the Deep Space Nine and Voyager results:

• The first percentage indicates the result if you require that the two female characters clearly address each other, even in group scenes.
• The second percentage (in brackets) indicates the adjusted pass rate if you include any episode where two women characters have back-to-back lines about something other than a man. This turned out to be much less important in Voyager as even in group scenes, female characters were often clearly addressing Janeway or vice versa.
• An asterisk in the episode list shows which episodes pass under the second test but not the first.

Results

Total: 44.9% Pass (51.1%)

---

Season 1: 40% Pass (40%)

Episode	Pass?	Notes
Encounter at Farpoint	Pass	Troi and Yar exchange some lines about what Deanna senses at Farpoint.
The Naked Now	Pass	Troi and Yar talk about clothes.
Code of Honor	Fail	All the conversations between women are about Lutan.
The Last Outpost	Pass	Troi responds to Yar about a tactical suggestion.
Where No One Has Gone Before	Fail
Lonely Among Us	Pass	Troi talks to Crusher about Crusher’s wellbeing/Troi and Crusher speak during a hypnosis session.
Justice	Pass	Yar and Rivan talk about the planet’s justice system.
The Battle	Fail	Troi and Crusher speak, but about Picard.
Hide and Q	Fail
Haven	Pass	Various greetings, chatting and bickering between Troi and Lwaxana, Lwaxana and Mrs. Walker, and Troi and Mrs. Walker.
The Big Goodbye	Fail
Datalore	Fail
Angel One	Pass	Troi and Beata negotiate about the lost ship.
11001001	Fail	Yar and Crusher speak in the same scene but not to each other.
Too Short a Season	Fail	Crusher, Troi and Anne talk, but only about Jameson.
When the Bough Breaks	Pass	Crusher and Rashella talk about the infertility on the planet.
Home Soil	Fail	Several women speak in one scene but not to each other.
Coming of Age	Fail
Heart of Glory	Fail
The Arsenal of Freedom	Fail
Symbiosis	Fail	Crusher and Langor speak in the same scene but not to each other
Skin of Evil	Fail	Holo-yar speaks to Crusher and Troi but they can’t reply.
We’ll Always Have Paris	Pass	Crusher and Jenice talk briefly about her health.
Conspiracy	Fail
The Neutral Zone	Pass	Crusher talks to Clare about her medical condition (Clare also talks to Troi but mostly about her male relatives).

---

Season 2: 41% Pass (41%)

Episode	Pass?	Notes
The Child	Pass	Pulaski talks to Troi about being in labour.
Where Silence Has Lease	Pass	Barely – Troi and Pulaski have very quick back to back lines.
Elementary, Dear Data	Fail
The Outrageous Okona	Fail
Loud as a Whisper	Fail	Troi and Pulaski have back to back lines but they are talking to Picard about a man.
The Schizoid Man	Pass	Barely – Troi and Kareen talk about a distress call. During all other interactions between named female characters they are talking about a male scientist.
Unnatural Selection	Pass	Pulaski and Kingley talk about the genetically-engineered children on Darwin Station.
A Matter of Honor	Fail
The Measure of a Man	Fail
The Dauphin	Pass	Anya and Pulaski discuss the risk of infection
Contagion	Fail
The Royale	Fail
Time Squared	Fail
The Icarus Factor	Pass	Borderline – Troi and Pulaski talk about Klingon culture and the relationship between fathers and sons but they’re ultimately talking about Worf, and Kyle and Will Riker.
Pen Pals	Pass	Troi and Sargenka speak briefly about going to Sickbay
Q Who	Fail
Samaritan Snare	Fail
Up the Long Ladder	Fail
Manhunt	Pass	Deanna and Lwaxana speak briefly/Pulaski and Deanna talk about Lwaxana.
The Emissary	Pass	K’Ehleyr and Troi talk about what it’s like being half-human.
Peak Performance	Fail	.
Shades of Grey	Fail	Troi and Pulaski talk, but only about Will’s illness.

---

Season 3: 34.6% Pass (46.1%)

Episode	Pass?	Notes
Evolution	Pass	Barely – Guinan and Crusher talk about motherhood, but they are mostly talking about their sons.
The Ensigns of Command	Fail
The Survivors	Pass	Rishon and Crusher speak directly to each other in a group scene about an attack/Troi and Crusher speak about Troi’s condition.
Who Watches the Watchers	Pass	Troi asks Nuria if she and Riker can stay.
The Bonding	Fail*	Troi and alien-Marla speak, but really just about Jeremy.
Booby Trap	Fail
The Enemy	Fail
The Price	Pass	Troi briefly chats with Bhavani at the reception about the wormhole discovery.
The Vengeance Factor	Fail*	Marouk and Yuta speak for two lines in a group scene about Yuta’s plan, which is sort of about two men.
The Defector	Fail
The Hunted	Fail	Troi and Crusher speak in the same scene but not directly to each other and at least partly about a man (Rasmussen, professional context).
The High Ground	Fail
Deja Q	Fail
A Matter of Perspective	Fail	.
Yesterday’s Enterprise	Pass	Crusher speaks to Garrett about her injuries/Guinan gives Yar advice.
The Offspring	Pass	Lal talks to Troi about fear/Guinan talks to Lal about using contractions, listening and bartending.
Sins of the Father	Fail
Allegiance	Fail
Captain’s Holiday	Fail	Vash and Ajur have back-to-back lines but both talking to Picard.
Tin Man	Fail*	Crusher and Troi speak in the same scene, but not clearly to each other, and about a man, but in a professional context.
Hollow Pursuits	Fail	Troi tells holo-Troi to “Muzzle it” but holo-Troi doesn’t reply
The Most Toys	Fail	Troi is seen chatting with an unnamed woman officer.
Sarek	Pass	Crusher and Troi talk about the ship.
Menage a Troi	Pass	Lwaxana and Deanna talk about Deanna’s happiness, and then mostly about men.
Transfigurations	Pass	Crusher has multiple conversations with Nurse Temple/Crusher replies to a comment Troi makes in a group scene.
The Best of Both Worlds Part I	Fail	Shelby and Troi play poker but do not address each other/Crusher and Shelby serve on an away team but again do not address each other.

---

Season 4: 46.2% Pass (53.8%)

Episode	Pass?	Notes
The Best of Both Worlds, Part II	Fail	Shelby again has scenes in which Troi and Crusher appear, but none of the women interact.
Family	Pass	Barely. Troi and Crusher talk, mostly about Wesley and Jack, but they do briefly talk about Venezuela/Guinan and Helena Rozhenko talk about Worf’s childhood, so mostly about a man.
Brothers	Fail	Troi and Crusher appear in a scene together but only look at each other.
Suddenly Human	Fail*	Crusher and Troi have back to back lines but not clearly to each other.
Remember Me	Pass	Crusher and Troi speak once about Crusher’s mental health.
Legacy	Pass	Crusher and Ishara talk about medical procedures.
Reunion	Pass	Troi and K’Ehleyr exchange two lines in a group conversation about the balance of power in the Klingon Empire.
The Loss	Pass	Troi and Crusher talk about Troi’s loss of abilities.
Data’s Day	Fail	Crusher is seen speaking to Juarez, but we don’t get to hear her dialogue as it’s under Data’s voice-over.
The Wounded	Fail
Future Imperfect	Fail	Crusher and Troi speak in a group scene, but both clearly to Riker.
Final Mission	Pass	Troi updates Crusher on the search for the missing shuttle.
Devil’s Due	Fail	Troi and Crusher appear in the same scene but don’t speak to each other.
Clues	Pass	Crusher and Ogawa talk about Crusher’s experiments.
First Contact	Pass	Crusher asks Tava if she’s a doctor/Troi and Mirasta talk in a group with Picard, but to each other at one point.
Galaxy’s Child	Pass	Leah Brahms asks Pavlik if there are files with the original Enterprise schematics.
Night Terrors	Pass	Troi and Crusher speak about the crisis on the ship and their roles in solving it.
Identity Crisis	Pass	Crusher talks to Susanna about her blood chemistry and reproduction.
The Nth Degree	Fail
Qpid	Fail	Crusher and Vash talk and so do Troi and Vash, but only about Picard
The Drumhead	Fail	Admiral Satie questions Crusher twice, but about J’Dan.
Half a Life	Fail	Borderline – Deanna and Lwaxana talk, pretty much entirely about Timicin.
The Host	Pass	Troi and Crusher talk about astringent/Ogawa and Crusher talk during surgery/Kareel and Crusher talk about love.
The Mind’s Eye	Fail
In Theory	Fail	Jenna and Keiko talk, but only about Miles and Data.
Redemption I	Fail*	Lursa and B’etor speak in the same scenes but only sort of to each other. They are also addressed by a female guest star who is not named in this episode.

---

Season 5: 61.5% Pass (65.3%)

Episode	Pass?	Notes
Redemption II	Pass	Lursa, B’etor and Sela discuss battles and troop deployment/Troi and Crusher also speak in the same scene but don’t directly address each other.
Darmok	Pass	Troi and Crusher exchange two lines about what Dathon’s people are saying.
Ensign Ro	Pass	Guinan and Ro have two scenes together and talk about Ro’s history.
Silicon Avatar	Pass	Dr. Marr and Crusher address each other directly for two lines in a group discussion about an attack. Marr responds to Troi about their mission.
Disaster	Pass	Ro and Troi talk about ship procedures.
The Game	Pass	Crusher asks Troi about the game.
Unification I	Fail
Unification II	Fail
A Matter of Time	Fail	Troi and Crusher talk briefly, but about a man.
New Ground	Fail
Hero Worship	Fail	Crusher addresses Troi about a male child but in the context of Troi’s work.
Violations	Pass	Keiko and Crusher talk briefly about memory in a group conversation/Keiko wishes Inad goodnight/Inad asks Troi a question in a group scene
The Masterpiece Society	Pass	Troi asks Hannah to go for a walk with her.
Conundrum	Pass	Crusher talks to Kristin about her injury.
Power Play	Pass	Crusher and Troi talk about Troi’s medical condition/Ro replies to Crusher in a group conversation.
Ethics	Pass	Crusher and Russell discuss medical issues, procedures and ethics/Crusher, Russell and Ogawa discuss medical procedures.
The Outcast	Pass	Soren and Crusher talk about sex roles. Counted because Soren identifies as a woman, whereas her interactions with other J’nai are not counted because they don’t identify as women.
Cause and Effect	Pass	Troi and Crusher speak to each other in a group meeting about voices in Troi’s head/Ogawa and Crusher discuss a patient/Ogawa calls Crusher.
The First Duty	Pass	Admiral Brand and Cadet Hajar discuss procedures/Brand has a short exchange with Sito about procedure.
Cost of Living	Pass	Troi and her mother greet each other and talk about Lwaxana’s wedding and finances, in addition to conversations about men (Lwaxana’s fiancé, Worf and Alexander).
The Perfect Mate	Fail
Imaginary Friend	Pass	Guinan talks to Clara about grownups/Guinan talks to Troi about Clara/Troi talks to Clara about Isabella/Isabella and Clarka talk about grownups and friendship.
I, Borg	Fail
The Next Phase	Fail
The Inner Light	Fail	Crusher and Ogawa talk about treating Picard.
Time’s Arrow I	Fail*	Troi and Crusher have back to back lines in a group scene.

---

Season 6: 38.5% Pass (54%)

Episode	Pass?	Notes
Time’s Arrow II	Fail*	Crusher and Troi have lines next to each other in a group scene.
Realm of Fear	Pass	Crusher and Ogawa talk during an autopsy.
Man of the People	Pass	Crusher and Ogawa technobabble.
Relics	Fail
Schisms	Fail
True Q	Pass	Crusher talks to Amanda about tricorders, a medical experiment and Amanda’s parents/Troi asks Amanda how she’s feeling.
Rascals	Pass	Lots of conversations between little Ro and Little Guinan.
A Fistful of Datas	Fail
The Quality of Life	Pass	Crusher and Troi each talk to Farallon about her robots.
Chain of Command I	Pass	Troi asks Crusher a quick question about her healt/Troi asks Nechayev if they’ll really go to war.
Chain of Command II	Fail
Ship in a Bottle	Fail	Crusher and Troi briefly talk, but about Moriarty.
Aquiel	Pass	Crusher tells Aquiel they thought she was dead, and she replies.
Face of the Enemy	Pass	Many conversations between Troi and Torath.
Tapestry	Fail
Birthright I	Fail
Birthright II	Pass	Gi’ral summons Ba’el and scolds her.
Starship Mine	Fail	Crusher explains a plan/strategy to Troi but Troi doesn’t reply to her.
Lessons	Fail*	Daren responds to Crusher’s question in a group conversation where it’s not clear if they’re addressing each other
The Chase	Fail
Frame of Mind	Fail
Suspicions	Pass	Guinan talks to Crusher about her sore elbow/Ogawa and Crusher talk about work/other conversations are about men.
Rightful Heir	Fail
Second Chances	Fail	Crusher and Troi talk, but only about Tom Riker.
Timescape	Fail*	Troi and Crusher have lines next to each other, but not really to each other.
Descent I	Fail*	Crusher and Troi talk in a group conversation where it’s not clear if they’re addressing each other.

---

Season 7: 52% Pass (60%)

Episode	Pass?	Notes
Descent II	Pass	Crusher talks to Taitt on the bridge.
Liaisons	Fail
Interface	Fail
Gambit I	Fail	Tallera has a line to another woman but she is unnamed and does not reply.
Gambit II	Fail*	Tallera and Vekor have lines next to each other in a group scene
Phantasms	Pass	Crusher talks to Troi about the rash on her shoulder.
Dark Page	Pass	Troi and Hedril talk about heaven/Lwaxana and Deanna talk about a lot of things, mostly Kestra/Crusher and Troi talk about what Maques showed Troi.
Attached	Fail
Force of Nature	Fail
Inheritance	Pass	Crusher and Troi exchange two quick lines about whether Juliana should know the truth.
Parallels	Fail
The Pegasus	Fail
Homeward	Fail*	Crusher and Troi have lines next to each other in a group scene with Worf and Nikolai.
Sub Rosa	Pass	Crusher tells Troi about her mother and grandmother
Lower Decks	Pass	Crusher and Ogawa talk about Ogawa’s promotion.
Thine Own Self	Pass	Crusher and Troi talk about the Bridge Officers Test/Talur and Gia also talk but mostly about Garvin.
Masks	Fail	Crusher and Troi talk, but primarily about Worf and Will.
Eye of the Beholder	Pass	Crusher asks Troi about her visions/Troi also talks with Calloway and Nara but only about Kwan.
Genesis	Pass	Ogawa and Crusher talk about Ogawa’s and Spot’s pregnancy.
Journey’s End	Fail
Firstborn	Pass	Troi asks Lursa and B’etor who would want to frame them/Lursa and B’etor exchange lines in Klingon.
Bloodlines	Fail	Rhodes hails Crusher about a medical emergency but Crusher doesn’t reply directly to her.
Emergence	Pass	Crusher talks to Troi about her visions and injuries.
Preemptive Strike	Pass	Crusher and Troi congratulate Ro on her promotion/Kalita and Ro have several scenes on their mission.
All Good Things	Pass	Ensign Chilton and Beverly Picard talk about what to tell McKinley Station, as well as orders during battle.