Geordi La Forge (LeVar Burton) received new bionic eyes in Star Trek: First , which ensured the tragedy that occurred in Star Trek Generations would never repeat itself. Star Trek: The Next Generation's Chief Engineer played a pivotal role in Star Trek Generations, but not necessarily in a positive way through no fault of his own. Geordi was victimized by the Klingon Duras sisters, Lursa (Barbara March) and B'Etor (Gwynyth Walsh), and the villainous Dr. Tolan Soran (Malcolm McDowell), which led to the demise of the USS Enterprise-D.
Star Trek Generations saw Lt. Commander Geordi La Forge kidnapped by Soran and the Klingon sisters. Soran's master plan was to destroy the Veridian star, which would divert the course of the extra-dimensional energy ribbon called the Nexus to Veridian III. There, Soran would be waiting and intended to fulfill his desire to return to the artificial reality of the Nexus. However, the presence of the USS Enterprise was a problem for Soran, but Lursa and B'Etor concocted a diabolical scheme to eliminate the Galaxy Class starship by using its blind Chief Engineer and his VISOR against it.
How First Giving Geordi Eyes Fixes Star Trek Generations' Mistake
In Star Trek: First , Geordi received ocular implants that gave him the abilities his cumbersome VISOR used to have. Most importantly, however, Geordi's new bionic eyes meant that the way Lursa and B'Etor used him in Star Trek Generations would never happen again. The Klingon sisters altered Geordi's VISOR so that they could see through it. When La Forge was returned to the Enterprise, Lursa and B'Etor were able to learn the Enterprise's shield frequency. This rendered the Federation flagship defenseless to the Klingons' torpedoes. Despite an emergency saucer separation, the Stardrive section was destroyed, and the Enterprise's saucer crashed on Veridian III.
Geordi finally getting rid of the VISOR in Star Trek: First benefited the character as well as the actor who plays him. LeVar Burton found wearing the VISOR for 7 years a painful experience. The VISOR ironically cut off Burton's vision, and it lessened his ability to emote, which resulted in audiences being denied seeing LeVar's expressive eyes. It's no surprise that Geordi became a more dynamic character after La Forge gained ocular implants, and this has never been more evident than in Star Trek: Picard season 3.
Geordi Is The Unsung Hero Of Star Trek: Picard Season 3
Commodore Geordi La Forge didn't Star Trek: Picard season 3 until episode 6, "The Bounty," but the Enterprise's former Chief Engineer may just be the true MVP of the final season. Like his fellow TNG legends, LeVar Burton delivered a powerful and emotional performance as Geordi, who is now the father of daughters Sidney (Ashlei Sharpe Chestnut) and Alandra La Forge (Mica Burton). But it's safe to say that iral Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) and his crew could not have saved the galaxy from the return of the Borg Queen (Alice Krige) and the assimilation of Starfleet without Geordi.
Thanks to Commodore La Forge, Picard and his crew had a starship with which to fight the Borg: the USS Enterprise-D that Geordi salvaged from Veridian III and painstakingly restored to its former glory. Geordi even commanded the D against the Borg Cube while Picard lead the away team to rescue his son, Jack Crusher (Ed Speleers). Further, it was thanks to Geordi being able to reach Data (Brent Spiner) - and LeVar Burton's heartwrenching performance - that the USS Titan-A was saved from Lore in Star Trek: Picard season 3. Geordi La Forge became an even better character when he lost his VISOR, and no one will ever be able to repeat using Geordi's eyes to destroy the Enterprise again.
Star Trek: Picard season 3 is available to stream on Paramount+.
