Screen Rant

Star Trek: Lower Decks' Orion character D'Vana Tendi has given redemption for Star Trek's Orion slave girls. 1 / 8

The Orion slave girls have long been an object of the male gaze on Star Trek... 2 / 8

But Ensign D'Vana Tendi is the opposite of their usual sexualized portrayal. 3 / 8

Though still a novice, Ensign Tendi is shown as very intelligent and well-suited for Starfleet. 4 / 8

In contrast, the Orion slave girls of Star Trek's past were mainly objects that characters lusted after... 5 / 8

And are among the most regressive elements of Star Trek. 6 / 8

Furthermore, there's been nothing thus far to suggest that Ensign Tendi has ever been a slave girl. 7 / 8

Overall, Ensign Tendi is a very welcome change to the way Orion women have been portrayed on Star Trek! 8 / 8