Star Trek’s Second Most Famous Vulcan Is Always Heard And Never Seen
Everybody knows that the most famous Vulcan in Star Trek history is Mr. Spock, thanks in large part to the perfect performance from Leonard Nimoy. The Next Generation didn’t have a Vulcan in the main cast, but many fans of that show consider Dr. Selar as their favorite member of that logic-loving race. What is incredible about her popularity is that Selar only appeared onscreen in one episode, but her character was kept alive thanks to numerous name drops and even a starring role in a hit series of Star Trek books.
The Schizoid Man
Considering that she only appeared in a single episode, you might need a refresher on who Selar is. She is a doctor who works alongside Beverly Crusher in sickbay, and she is played by fan-favorite Trek actor Suzie Plakson.
The TNG episode “The Schizoid Man” was the first appearance of this Vulcan (she examined the cranky cyberneticist Dr. Graves while he was still alive) and Plakson’s first appearance in the franchise, but it most certainly wouldn’t be her last.
She Almost Dated Worf
After “The Schizoid Man,” Selar never appeared onscreen again. That wasn’t the original plan for her character, though. Writer Tracy Tormé wanted this Vulcan to have a relationship with Worf, but had to ditch those plans when the writing staff developed K’Ehleyr, the half-Klingon, half-human ambassador who would go on to become the mother of Worf’s child.
K’Ehleyr
In a fun twist, Selar actor Suzie Plakson ended up playing K’Ehleyr in three episodes before her character was killed, leaving Worf to become the worst single father in the galaxy. It is perhaps because of the actor taking on this new role that we never saw her Vulcan doctor onscreen again.
Weirdly enough, though, the show constantly name-dropped her character into the final season, and she was very nearly referenced in the series finale.
Selar Name-Dropped
One example of Dr. Selar being referenced is in the episode “Tapestry,” where we hear that she is treating those wounded by the same Lenarian assault that nearly killed Captain Picard. In “Suspicions,” Dr. Crusher tries to get Guinan to see Selar for a tennis elbow treatment, but Guinan explains she is very picky about her doctors.
Later, Selar helps scan the body of Ned Quint in “Sub Rosa” (the episode where Crusher falls in love with a ghost), and Crusher wanted to consult with her in “Genesis” but ended up getting attacked by a de-evolved (yes, more than usual) Mr. Worf.
Again, these were just name drops and not appearances, but Selar was important enough to even be referenced in alternate realities, including the one in “Yesterday’s Enterprise” and in the warp bubble pocket universe of “Remember Me.”
Speaking of alternate realities, if a line hadn’t been cut, then Selar would have been referenced in the series finale “All Good Things” in the anti-time past created by the mysterious anti-time anomaly.
Selar Off Screen
Dr. Selar also had the honor of being chosen as a main character by prolific Star Trek author Peter David for his New Frontier books. The gimmick of that popular series was that it followed the adventures of a new starship, the USS Excalibur, whose crew was a mix of original characters and returning favorites.
Selar is the chief medical officer, and she works with TNG cameo characters like Commander Shelby and Robin Lefler, each of whom is now a main character.
When comparing Selar and Spock, it’s interesting to note that she has remained so popular despite only appearing in a single episode. Nimoy’s Vulcan appeared throughout The Original Series, in all six of that era’s films, and even appeared in TNG as well as the first two reboot movies.
He’s the character’s most famous Vulcan, but to this writer, the second-most famous will always be Selar, the wonderful Suzie Plakson character that the writers just couldn’t stop obsessing over.
