Entertainment
How Star Trek's Most Powerful Woman Turned A Beloved Character Kinky
By Chris Snellgrove
| Published
“Sub Rosa” is one of the raunchiest episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation, one that turned Dr. Beverly Crusher into a kinky crewman who liked to read her grandmother’s erotic journal entries and have passionate sex with a ghost. This was a wild recontextualization of Crusher’s character, and “Sub Rosa” subsequently became one of the lowest-rated episodes in the show’s long history. Fans have often wondered how this kinky sex romp made it to air, and there’s a simple answer: “Sub Rosa” only got the greenlight because forgotten producer Jeri Taylor convinced the other Star Trek bigwigs the episode would appeal to women.
These days, when fans look back on the so-called Golden Age of Star Trek, they usually credit the shows’ quality to a variety of men, including notorious executive producer Rick Berman, showrunner Michael Piller, and superstar writers Brannon Braga and future Battlestar Galactica reboot creator Ronald D. Moore. But Jeri Taylor was vitally important, serving as executive producer for the final two seasons of Star Trek: The Next Generation before co-creating the fan-favorite spinoff, Voyager. Back when she was working on TNG, she went to bat for an episode that nobody else really believed in: “Sub Rosa.”
Dr. Crusher Redefines “Ghosting”
Back then, Trek producers accepted spec scripts from fans (this actually helped Ronald D. Moore land his job on TNG!), which is a large part of why the Golden Age of Trek has so much narrative diversity. “Sub Rosa” was originally pitched by freelancer Jeanna F. Gallo, and she wrote a story that featured both a scientific explanation for ghosts and a kind of Scottish origin story for Dr. Crusher. While Taylor liked the idea right away, the other Next Generation producers weren’t so sure about it.
In Captains’ Logs: The Unauthorized Complete Trek Voyages, Taylor is quoted as saying that “Rick [Berman] and Michael [Piller] were very distrustful of this story” because “they considered it a romance novel in space and felt the possibility for embarrassment was monumental.” As for Taylor, she had faith in this unconventional story, claiming that “I just knew it would work.”
The Unhinged Star Trek Episode Written For Women
In case you’re wondering, there was a method to Taylor’s madness: while acknowledging that “Sub Rosa” was “a different kind of story for Star Trek to tell,” she also pointed out that “we do have women in our audience, and women do traditionally respond to romantic stories.” Therefore, it made sense to create an episode more uniquely tailored to one of the franchise’s lesser-served demographics. Eventually, she got the other producers on board, and they decided to lean into this romantic fantasy story despite (or perhaps because of) the fact it turned prim and proper Dr. Crusher into a kinkster who enjoys wild and uninhibited sex with a ghost.
Unfortunately, Rick Berman and Michael Piller’s premonition about “the possibility for embarrassment” in “Sub Rosa” proved to be true: on IMDB, “Sub Rosa” is rated 4.9 out of 10, one of the lowest-rated episodes of The Next Generation. When it was originally released, producers claimed reception was generally split by gender, with men really hating it and women really loving it. Meanwhile, as quoted in Star Trek: The Next Generation Companion, episode writer Brannon Braga claims this story only upset the “hardcore fans” who “seem to short-circuit” anytime that “you infuse a show with sexual themes.”
Kinky Star Trek Was Just Ahead Of Its Time
While “Sub Rosa” is notorious for its naughty content (which features Dr. Crusher masturbating, banging a ghost, and living out scenes straight from a dirty fanfic), the episode may have simply been ahead of its time. These days, many fans (especially younger ones) have critically reevaluated the episode and really enjoy its campy nature and over-the-top sexual content. Speaking of which, Dr. Crusher’s transformation into a kink icon plays a lot better with modern audiences thanks to the sheer popularity of romantic fantasy, a literary genre in which paranormal paramours are all the rage.
“Sub Rosa” may not be a good episode, but it remains a fun episode, especially if you’re a fan of Gates McFadden. Instead of shrinking away from this delightfully unhinged script, she leaned in, giving the most enthusiastically erotic performance in Star Trek history. Forget Shakespeare, Picard; from now on, we’d rather read 50 Shades of Bev!
Entertainment
Stuff Your Kindle Day just went live — download 100s of free romance books for your Kindle
FREE BOOKS: The latest Stuff Your Kindle Day takes place on Feb. 9-13. The new Free Romance Book Blast offers romance books in a variety of subgenres for your e-reader.
Have you got big plans for Valentine’s Day? Cancel them, because a new Stuff Your Kindle Day just dropped.
The Stuff Your Kindle Day schedule has been predictably hectic in 2026. We had a number of free giveaways in January, but February is on another level. We count nine events this month. Not all of them are huge, but between the niche events and massive drops, bookworms are going to be kept busy.
The latest giveaway is hosted by the Indie Author Collective. Be My Valentine is a romance book blast, offering (you guessed it) free romance books from a variety of subgenres. Everything that you download for free is yours to keep forever, so don’t hold back. So what if you’ve already got a huge stack of books waiting to be read. Add to your virtual pile without guilt.
Looking to make the most of the latest Stuff Your Kindle Day? We’ve lined up everything you need to know about this popular event.
When is Stuff Your Kindle Day?
Be My Valentine takes place on Feb. 9-13. Recent Stuff Your Kindle Days have only lasted 24 hours, meaning participants have needed to act fast. That’s stressful, so this five-day event is a welcome change. You can take stock of your options, pick your favorites, and download without getting worked up. It’s much more civilized.
Which ebooks are free?
Be My Valentine is all about romance titles. There’s a helpful hub page put together by the Indie Author Collective with filters for major tropes, spice levels, content levels, and representation. Here you can peruse the 100s of options or filter to find something that perfectly lines up with your preferences.
It’s important to note that anyone can participate in Stuff Your Kindle Day. Kindle and Kobo readers can download these romance books for free.
Mashable Deals
Is Stuff Your Kindle Day the same as Amazon Kindle Unlimited?
Everything you download on Stuff Your Kindle Day is yours to keep, and there’s no limit on the number of books you can download. Stuff Your Kindle Day downloads don’t count towards the 20 books that Amazon Kindle Unlimited subscribers can borrow at the same time.
The best Stuff Your Kindle Day deal
Why we like it
These popular e-readers help you take your entire library on the go. With weeks of battery life and an anti-glare display, you can read anywhere and anytime with the Kindle. Plus, you can get three months of Kindle Unlimited for free with your purchase.
Entertainment
How to watch South Africa vs. Canada online for free
TL;DR: Live stream South Africa vs. Canada in the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 for free on ICC.TV. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
The opening round of games at the 2026 T20 World Cup includes some really interesting matchups, including South Africa vs. Canada. Sure, South Africa will be expected to win this game without too much hassle, but anything can happen in T20 cricket.
Group D is probably the toughest in the tournament, with South Africa, Afghanistan, and New Zealand gunning for the two qualification spots. There’s little room for error in this competition, so South Africa will be looking to start strongly here.
Mashable Deals
If you want to watch South Africa vs. Canada in the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.
When is South Africa vs. Canada?
South Africa vs. Canada in the 2026 T20 World Cup starts at 8:30 a.m. ET on Feb. 9. This game takes place at the Narendra Modi Stadium.
Mashable Top Stories
How to watch South Africa vs. Canada for free
South Africa vs. Canada in the 2026 T20 Cricket World Cup is available to live stream for free on ICC.TV.
This free live stream on ICC.TV is only available in select regions (see full list of territories here), but anyone can live stream the T20 Cricket World Cup for free with a VPN. These helpful tools can hide your IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in a location with free access. This simple process bypasses geo-restrictions so you can live stream on ICC.TV from anywhere in the world.
Live stream South Africa vs. Canada in the 2026 T20 Cricket World Cup for free by following these simple steps:
-
Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)
-
Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)
-
Open up the app and connect to a server in a location with access
-
Visit ICC.TV
-
Watch the 2026 T20 Cricket World Cup for free from anywhere in the world
$12.99 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee)
The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to free live streams without committing with your cash. This is obviously not a long-term solution, but it does give you time to watch every game from the 2026 T20 Cricket World Cup (plus the Winter Olympics) before recovering your investment.
What is the best VPN for ICC.TV?
ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on ICC.TV, for a number of reasons:
-
Servers in 105 countries
-
Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more
-
Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure
-
Fast connection speeds
-
Up to 10 simultaneous connections
-
30-day money-back guarantee
A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99 (with money-back guarantee).
Watch the ICC T20 Cricket World Cup 2026 for free with ExpressVPN.
Entertainment
Moon phase today: What the Moon will look like on February 9
Tonight marks the Third Quarter Moon, halfway between full and new. We see exactly half of the Moon lit up, with illumination on the left-hand side. So, there’s around a 50% chance of spotting some features on the Moon’s surface, what can you see?
What is today’s Moon phase?
As of Monday, Feb. 9, the Moon phase is Third Quarter. According to NASA’s Daily Moon Guide, 652% of the Moon will be lit up tonight.
But what can you see? With no visual aids, you should be able to see the Mare Imbrium, Copernicus Crater, and the Aristarchus Plateau. With binoculars, you’ll also be able to see Clavius, and the Archimedes Craters, and the Grimaldi Basin. If you have a telescope, you’ll also be able to see the Apollo 14 landing spot, the Schiller Crater, and the Rima Ariadaeus.
When is the next Full Moon?
The next Full Moon will be on March 3.
What are Moon phases?
NASA says that a complete lunar cycle takes around 29.5 days. This is the time the Moon needs to orbit Earth once. During this cycle, it goes through eight phases. While the same side of the Moon always faces Earth, the visible portion that is illuminated changes as the Moon travels along its orbit. The varying amount of sunlight reflected off the Moon is what causes it to appear fully lit, partially lit, or nearly dark at different stages. The eight phases of the Moon are:
New Moon – The Moon is between Earth and the sun, so the side we see is dark (in other words, it’s invisible to the eye).
Mashable Light Speed
Waxing Crescent – A small sliver of light appears on the right side (Northern Hemisphere).
First Quarter – Half of the Moon is lit on the right side. It looks like a half-Moon.
Waxing Gibbous – More than half is lit up, but it’s not quite full yet.
Full Moon – The whole face of the Moon is illuminated and fully visible.
Waning Gibbous – The Moon starts losing light on the right side. (Northern Hemisphere)
Third Quarter (or Last Quarter) – Another half-Moon, but now the left side is lit.
Waning Crescent – A thin sliver of light remains on the left side before going dark again.
Stuff Your Kindle Day just went live — download 100s of free romance books for your Kindle
How to watch South Africa vs. Canada online for free
