Summary
- Ensign Sonya Gomez, played by Lycia Naff, appeared in two episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation before returning years later in Star Trek: Lower Decks.
- Sonya Gomez is a competent and enthusiastic Starfleet officer who helps reactivate shields and rescue Geordi La Forge in her TNG appearances.
- In Star Trek: Lower Decks, Gomez is now Captain of the USS Archimedes, using her engineering knowledge to overcome challenges and remaining calm in a crisis.
Lycia Naff appears as Ensign Sonya Gomez in two episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation before her return to the franchise years later in Star Trek: Lower Decks. Introduced in TNG season 2, episode 16, "Q Who," Ensign Gomez served on the USS Enterprise-D in Engineering under the direct command of Lt. Geordi La Forge (LeVar Burton). She specializes in antimatter and Geordi requested her for the Enterprise after reading her graduating thesis. "Q Who" not only features the return of John de Lancie's Q but also the introduction of the Borg, both of which overshadow the appearance of Ensign Gomez.
Gomez also plays a small role in Star Trek: The Next Generation season 2, episode 17, "The Samaritan Snare," in her last appearance on the show. Because of its animated format and place in the late 24th century of the Star Trek timeline, Lower Decks has had the opportunity to bring back several TNG characters, and Sonya Gomez gets this treatment in Star Trek: Lower Decks season 2, episode 10, "First First Contact." Although it's unclear why Ensign Gomez transferred off the Enterprise-D, she apparently continued to climb the ranks elsewhere in Starfleet, eventually becoming captain of the USS Archimedes.
In a 2012 interview with Vulture, Lycia Naff revealed that her character was meant 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 Close Most TNG fans likely remember Sonya Gomez as the ensign who spills her drink on Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart). In her first scene, Sonya talks with Geordi in engineering before running out of the door to dispose of her drink. She collides with Captain Picard, spilling her hot chocolate all over herself and the captain. As Ensign Gomez is incredibly enthusiastic and prone to rambling, Geordi encourages her to relax and slow down. Despite her awkwardness, Gomez is an intelligent Starfleet officer who helps reactivate the shields in "Q Who" and helps rescue Geordi in "The Samaritan Snare."
