Lycia Naff appears as Ensign Sonya Gomez in two episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation before his return to the franchise years later in Star Trek: Lower Decks. Introduced in CNG Season 2, Episode 16, “Q Who”, Ensign Gomez served on the USS Enterprise-D in Engineering under the direct command of Lieutenant Geordi La Forge (LeVar Burton). He specializes in antimatter and Geordi applied for her on the Enterprise after reading his senior thesis. “Q Who” not only features the return of John de Lancie’s Q but also the introduction of the Borg, who overshadow the appearance of Ensign Gomez.
Gómez also plays a small role in Star Trek: The Next Generation season 2, episode 17, “The Samaritan Snare”, in his final appearance on the show. Due to its animated format and its location at the end of the 24th century Star Trek timeline, Lower covers has had the opportunity to recover several CNG characters, and Sonya Gomez gets this treatment in Star Trek: Lower Decks season 2, episode 10, “First First Contact.” Although it is unclear why Ensign Gomez transferred from Enterprise-D, she apparently continued to advance elsewhere in Starfleet and eventually became captain of the USS Archimedes.
In a 2012 interview with VultureLycia Naff revealed that her character was intended to be a love interest for Geordi, but this plot was dropped due to feedback from fans and producers.
Lycia Naff’s Star Trek: TNG Ensign Sonya Gomez Explained
Most CNG Fans probably remember Sonya Gomez as the ensign who spills her drink on Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart). In her first scene, Sonya talks to Geordi in engineering before running out the door to get rid of her drink. She collides with Captain Picard, spilling her hot chocolate all over herself and the captain. Since Ensign Gomez is incredibly enthusiastic and prone to rambling, Geordi encourages her to relax and slow her down. Despite her discomfort, Gomez is a smart Starfleet officer who helps reactivate the shields in “Q Who” and helps rescue Geordi in “The Samaritan Snare.”
Lycia Naff’s two-episode season on CNG It actually became one of her best-known roles, but she made appearances in many popular television shows and films during the 1980s and 1990s. Naff made her television debut in Fame as a dancer in 1982, before appearing in episodes of The Jeffersons, St. Elsewhere, The Equalizer, General Hospitaland Baywatch. She also appeared as Dixie in the 1987 film. lethal weapon and as María, the three-breasted prostitute, in the 1990s. Full withdrawal. Her last live-action television role was in an episode of ghost whisperer in 2008, and its appearance in Star Trek: Lower Decks It is her only voice acting credit. Naff has also worked as a journalist for publications such as The Miami Herald and People Magazine.
Lycia Naff returned as Captain Sonya Gomez in Star Trek: Lower Decks
Sonya Gómez makes a surprising return in Star Trek: Lower Decks Season 2 Finale as captain of the USS Archimedes. At some point after her brief assignment on the Enterprise-D, Sonya moved from engineering to command and rose through the ranks. In “First First Contact”, the USS Cerritos assists Captain Gomez with a First Contact mission, and Captain Carol Freeman (Dawnn Lewis) reveals that the two are old friends.
When a young ensign is embarrassed after tripping on the Archimedes Bridge, Captain Gómez responds that she has done it. “Much worse against much more intimidating captains.” referencing the hot chocolate incident with Captain Picard.
When the Archimedes is damaged by a solar flare, the crew members of the Cerritos work together to help the other ship. On the Arquímedes, Gómez puts his engineering knowledge into practice and works tirelessly to find a solution to his ship’s problem. The Cerritos arrive just in time to save the battered Arquímedes, and Captain Freeman takes over the first contact mission from the injured Captain Gómez. From his moment in Star Trek: The Next GenerationCaptain Gomez has learned to remain calm in a crisis and has become a competent and encouraging Starfleet captain.
Star Trek: The Next Generation and Star Trek: Lower Decks are available to stream on Paramount+.