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Star trek’s pleasure planet risa explained.

Star Trek's pleasure planet Risa is a tropical paradise with very friendly locals and sensual customs that make it a popular tourist destination.

  • Risa, known as a "pleasure planet," catered to every whim of its 1.3 billion annual visitors, embodying a paradise with a generous spirit.
  • With its Earth-like conditions and sex-positive culture, Risa combined all-inclusive resort joys with a hedonistic reputation among the United Federation of Planets.
  • Star Trek captains and their ships frequently visited Risa for shore leave, as it offered hospitality services, natural attractions, and a celebration of sensuality.

In Star Trek , the planet Risa was a popular tourist destination, commonly referred to as a "pleasure planet." With an overall temperate to tropical climate and at least 2 moons that orbited a binary star system, Risa was known as a paradise that catered to every whim of its 1.3 billion annual visitors. Thanks to the Risian's pursuit of pleasure, not just for themselves but also for their guests, the planet's native populace had a generous spirit that embraced travelers both figuratively and literally, with the motto, "All that is ours is yours."

As a Class M planet with Earth-like conditions , Risa combined the peaceful joys of a planet-wide all-inclusive resort with its people's anything-goes, sex-positive attitude. This gave Risa a decidedly hedonistic reputation among its fellow members in the United Federation of Planets. Its culture was represented by the horga'hn , a vaguely humanoid-shaped statuette with an elongated head and diamond-shaped base. Displaying this fertility symbol indicated one was seeking jamaharon , a state of enlightenment implied to be achieved through Risian sexual rituals, and which its people were well-versed in, as Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) accidentally found out on his first visit there.

Star Trek’s Pleasure Planet Risa Explained

Pleasure comes in many forms on Risa, so it became well-known throughout the Federation for its hospitality services and celebration of sensuality. Points of interest on this Federation member world included exciting nightclubs, peaceful resorts, and many natural attractions. Risa boasted gorgeous beaches, bioluminescent subterranean gardens, steam pools, and mud baths, in addition to named locations like Galartha Cliff, which changed pitch for its climbers; the rain-free Temtibi Lagoon; and Suraya Bay, host to a moon festival called lohlunat . Risa also developed points of interest specifically for Vulcans, as noted by T'Pol (Jolene Blalock) in Star Trek: Enterprise .

Risa's definition of pleasure extended beyond merely sensual delights, with its pursuit serving as inspiration for the development of its primary technologies. Most notably, Risa's history as a cold, rainy jungle subject to frequent earthquakes prompted Risians to create a planet-wide artificial weather grid and seismic regulators, which transformed Risa into a lush, tropical paradise that was pleasant for most humanoid species. The development of industrial replicators allowed Risians to cater to their guests' every material need. The use of weapons was banned on Risa, but a pleasurably addictive Risian headset game could be considered one, if its users weren't careful.

Which Star Trek Captains & Ships Visited Risa

Star Trek captains and their ships visited Risa, usually so their crews could enjoy shore leave on the pleasure planet. In Risa's first appearance Star Trek: The Next Generation season 3, episode 19, "Captain's Holiday", Commander William Riker (Jonathan Frakes) suggested Risa as a destination for Captain Jean-Luc Picard , where he met love interest Vash (Jennifer Hetrick). Lt. Commanders Jadzia Dax (Terry Farrell) and Worf (Michael Dorn), among others, vacationed on Risa in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine season 5, episode 7 "Let He Who Is Without Sin..." It was implied that Captain Benjamin Sisko (Avery Brooks) also visited Risa, albeit at another time.

Risa was also a destination for series set outside the 24th century. The NX-01 Enterprise led by Captain Jonathan Archer (Scott Bakula) became the first human-crewed starship to visit Risa in Star Trek: Enterprise season 1, episode 25, "Two Days, Two Nights". Archer was joined on his visit by Ensigns Hoshi Sato (Linda Park), Travis Mayweather (Anthony Montgomery), Lt. Malcolm Reed (Dominic Keating), and Commander Charles "Trip" Tucker (Connor Trinneer). Star Trek: Discovery didn't visit, but mentioned Risa, and 32nd-century mad scientist Dr. Ruon Tarka (Shawn Doyle), an important character in Discovery season 4, was Risian.

Since its first appearance in Star Trek: The Next Generation , Risa became a planet synonymous with paradise. It was mentioned on nearly every Star Trek series as a tropical getaway, with its reputation for pleasure well-known among most characters. Risa's beautiful environment and particularly friendly culture made it the go-to destination for Starfleet officers and their companions seeking relaxation and respite from their responsibilities ... and maybe a little jamaharon .

  • Nov 30, 2023

Star Trek’s Risa: The Pleasure Planet

Star Trek's Planet Risa

In the Star Trek universe, no other planet has captured the imagination of fans quite like Risa. Sometimes referred to as the “pleasure planet” it is the ultimate vacation spot for the crew of the Starship Enterprise and is associated with ultimate relaxation and pleasure.

With Earth-like conditions, Risa combines the peaceful joys of a planet-wide resort with its people's ‘anything-goes’ sex-positive attitude.

Situated in the Epsilon Alpha system, Risa boasts a stunning tropical climate and picturesque landscapes that make it the ideal escape for any space traveler.

The planet's alluring beaches, complete with crystal-clear waters and golden sands, provide the perfect backdrop for leisure and recreation. Risa's vibrant cities are filled with bustling markets and cultural events, offering a unique blend of relaxation and adventure.

The planet's inhabitants are dedicated to ensuring that visitors experience the utmost in leisure and enjoyment. The Risian culture is represented by the ‘horga'hn’, a humanoid-shaped statuette with an elongated head and diamond-shaped base. Displaying this fertility symbol indicates that one is seeking ‘jamaharon,’ a state of enlightenment implied to be achieved through Risian sexual rituals, for which its people are well known.

Risa's allure extends beyond leisure; it also serves as a nexus for cultural exchange. Its 'horga'hn' symbolizes a shared pursuit, fostering understanding and unity amid the galaxy's diverse inhabitants.

Risa reflects people's love for relaxation and the shared enjoyment of simple pleasures in life. It is a happy place that reminds us to have fun and celebrate our cultural differences.

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Culture and climate [ edit ]

Originally a dismal, rain-soaked, and geologically unstable jungle planet plagued by violent earthquakes, the native Risans transformed their world with a technologically sophisticated weather control network that provided nearly constantly desirable weather, and seismic regulators to eliminate the geological instability and for optimum tourist comfort. (TNG: "The Mind's Eye"; DS9: "Let He Who Is Without Sin...")

Known for its beautiful tropical resorts and abundance of pristine beaches, Risa has been a popular tourist destination since at least the 22nd century.

One popular Risan attraction is Suraya Bay, where the Lohlunat, the Festival of the Moon, is held. Another attraction is a place called Galartha, a cliff face that changes pitch while you climb it. One recommended restaurant is a little boat that sails into the bay every evening just after sunset. Patrons wade out to it, and they serve seafood right off the deck. There are many nightclubs, but the Vulcan Database advises visitors be wary of the occassional crime. Commander Tucker and Lt. Reed, for example, were left tied up in their underwear by two alien thieves using a device which made them appear to be "gorgeous" females. (ENT: "Two Days and Two Nights")

According to the Vulcan database, Risa had over 200 registered Nuvian masseuses. (ENT: "Fallen Hero")

Risa is most noted for the frank and open sexuality of its native population. Identified by a decorative emblem on their foreheads between the eyes, Risians often initiate or respond to the desire for sexual relations through the use of a small statuette called a horga'hn, the Risian symbol of sexuality or fertility. Display of a horga'hn announces that the owner wishes to participate in jamaharon, a Risan sexual rite. (TNG: "Captain's Holiday")

History and visitations [ edit ]

In 2135, T'Pol tracked down the fugitive Vulcan operatives Menos and Jossen to Risa and pursued them into the planet's jungles. She killed Jossen but Menos escaped. (ENT: "The Seventh")

Risa has been a popular destination for Starfleet officers since the crew of Enterprise NX-01 visited Risa for two days, in early 2152, for some shore leave. (ENT: "Two Days and Two Nights")

USS Enterprise-D first officer William Riker was very fond of Risa, and recommended that his captain, Jean-Luc Picard, visit the planet for shore leave in 2366. During his vacation, Picard met Vash, a Human archaeologist who was searching for the Tox Uthat, a device from the future that had been hidden by its creator on the planet in the 22nd century. Picard and Vash were successful in finding the device, but Picard was forced to destroy it to prevent it from falling into the hands of criminals. (TNG: "Captain's Holiday"; DS9: "Q-Less")

star trek pleasure planet

Geordi La Forge was scheduled to attend an artificial intelligence seminar on Risa in late 2367. He was ordered by Captain Picard to arrive a few days early to have some fun and relax. However, several hours before his arrival he was kidnapped by Romulans and replaced by a double who attended the seminar in his place. (TNG: "The Mind's Eye")

Riker visited Risa in 2368, where he met Ktarian operative Etana Jol. (TNG: "The Game")

In 2368, Captain Picard suggested a hypothetical choice whether to holiday on Corsica or on Risa. (TNG: "A Matter of Time")

In 2369, Grand Nagus Zek had decided to go to Risa or Balosnee VI for his first vacation in eighty-five years. (DS9: "The Nagus")

In early 2371, a Boslic captain filed a flightplan from Deep Space 9 to Risa after selling some wreckage to Quark. (DS9: "The Abandoned")

Later the year, Thomas Riker (while posing as Will Riker) claimed that he was on his way from the Enterprise to a vacation on Risa. (DS9: "Defiant")

According to Starfleet Intelligence, it was believed that Federation Ambassador Krajensky was kidnapped by the Dominion while visiting Risa in 2371, so that he could be replaced by a Changeling impersonator. (DS9: "The Adversary")

Hoping to stop her from further helping the Maquis, Benjamin Sisko told Kasidy Yates they should visit Risa. Yates turned him down, but told him she would meet him there if he wanted to travel there alone in a runabout. (DS9: "For the Cause")

Jadzia Dax, Worf, Julian Bashir, Leeta and Quark all visited Risa in 2373. During their visit, the New Essentialist Movement temporarily gained access to the planetary weather control system, with help from a disillusioned Worf. Later, control of the system was restored when Worf refused to continue the demonstration. (DS9: "Let He Who Is Without Sin...")

Instead of opening negotiations with the Verillians, Farrakk visited Risa. (DS9: "Business as Usual")

At some point in 2373, Raimus was on Risa and talked a Starfleet officer who was in command of the weather control system there to become an informant for the Orion Syndicate. (DS9: "Honor Among Thieves")

In 2374, Odo asked Bashir if an upcoming medical conference he was to attend was on Risa. It was actually on another "sunny resort", Casperia Prime. (DS9: "Inquisition")

When told by Jadzia she wanted a suffering-free honeymoon, Worf was worried she wanted to visit Risa again. She had actually chosen Casperia Prime. (DS9: "Change of Heart")

When Grand Nagus Zek disappeared in mid-2375, Quark believed he was probably on Risa. In fact, he had traveled to the mirror universe. Zek himself knew that Quark would say he was on Risa. (DS9: "The Emperor's New Cloak")

Doctor Bashir asked Sarina Douglas if she wanted to go to Risa. Their relationship ended before they could go. (DS9: "Chrysalis")

Grand Nagus Zek and Ishka retired to Risa in 2375. (DS9: "The Dogs of War")

Following the Battle of Cardassia and the prospect of a larger battle with the Dominion, Ezri Dax told Captain Sisko that "all things considered, I'd rather be on Risa". Sisko noted "that makes two of us". (DS9: "What You Leave Behind")

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Wrigley's Pleasure Planet

  • View history

Wrigley's Pleasure Planet (or Rigleigh's Pleasure World ) was a planet . It was a famed recreational destination in Federation space, considered along with Risa as "one of the most popular vacation spots in the Alpha Quadrant." ( TLE novel : The Art of the Impossible ; SCE eBook : The Future Begins , ENT novel : Rosetta , DS9 eBook : Lust's Latinum Lost (and Found) )

  • 1 Background
  • 3 Locations
  • 4.1 Connections
  • 4.2 Appearances
  • 4.3 References
  • 4.4 External links

Background [ ]

The planet had a purple atmosphere with seas and islands . ( TOS comics : " All Those Years Ago... ", " The Survival Equation ", DS9 novel : Lust's Latinum Lost (and Found) )

Rigleigh's Pleasure World had been established prior to the 2150s . ( ENT novel : Rosetta )

Its facilities were described as a hedonistic assault on the senses, with blaring music and nonstop entertainment. ( TNG - Double Helix novel : Double or Nothing , Star Trek: Myriad Universes novel : A Less Perfect Union )

It contained parks and special theme centers that reflected a wide-range of entertainments and diversions. ( FASA RPG module : The Federation , ST reference : Star Trek Maps )

Founding purchaser Horatio Wrigley was rumored to have died there following an extended stay. One could see spotlights from orbit . ( TNG - Double Helix novel : Double or Nothing )

By the 2260s , the Wrigley family had been running the planet for five generations. ( TOS - New Visions comic : " The Survival Equation ")

History [ ]

Commander Gary Mitchell was on shore leave at Wrigley's in 2264 when he received new orders reassigning him to the USS Enterprise . ( TOS comic : " All Those Years Ago... ", TOS novel : The Captain's Oath )

During a mission to M-113 in 2266 , Crewman Scott Darnell mistook Nancy Crater for resembling a girl that he met on Wrigley's Pleasure Planet. However, this was a telepathic illusion that were created by the M-113 creature , and with this illusion the creature was able to entice Darnell so that it could kill him. ( TOS episode & Star Trek 1 novelization : The Man Trap )

In 2268 , Wrigley was its proprietor when the USS Enterprise orbited Wrigley's Pleasure Planet for shore leave . Captain James T. Kirk was shocked to discover the android Andrea serving as a hostess, since when he last saw her in 2266 she had been disintegrated by Roger Korby . When confronted, proprietor Wrigley confessed that he had purchased 16 of the Andrea androids , with more on order, from someone who turned out to be Harry Mudd . ( TOS - New Visions comic : " The Survival Equation ")

In 2373 , Leonard McCoy 's 146th birthday party was held on Wrigley's Pleasure Planet, with Spock in attendance. ( TOS novel : Avenger )

In 2375 , Mackenzie Calhoun and Lodec walked through the streets of Wrigley's Pleasure Planet to rendezvous with Gerrid Thul and Vara Syndra in a private suite. At that time, Calhoun noted that Wrigley's was one of the few places in the galaxy where spotlights could be seen from orbit. Eventually Thul took them to a cloaked Dyson sphere , where Calhoun met up with a disguised Jean-Luc Picard . The Starfleet captains were investigating the source of several deadly epidemics. ( TNG - Double Helix novel : Double or Nothing )

In 2381 , Deneva native Augustus Betances went to Wrigley's following a fight with his wife. While he was there, the Borg attacked and destroyed Deneva, killing his wife and daughter. ( ST novel : A Singular Destiny )

By the late 24th century , Wrigley Pleasure Planet's had somewhat fallen from grace, as worlds like Risa overtook its popularity. However, in the years following the Borg Invasion of 2381 and the loss of Risa, Wrigley's reclaimed its former status as a premiere entertainment venue and vacation spot in the quadrant. ( DS9 eBook : Lust's Latinum Lost (and Found) )

By 2385 , Bynars Zero-Zero and One-One had been banned from gambling on Wrigley's, Risa and even in Orion casinos . ( ST - Star Trek: The Fall novel : The Poisoned Chalice )

In 2385 , Quark and Shmenge traveled to Wrigley's Pleasure Planet to speak to Ardon Broht about Vulcan Love Slave . Holo-Palooza was being held there. ( DS9 eBook : Lust's Latinum Lost (and Found) )

In an alternate timeline , T'Pol compared the casual atmosphere of the Berkeley University campus to a resort on Wrigley's Pleasure Planet. ( Star Trek: Myriad Universes novel : A Less Perfect Union )

Locations [ ]

  • Desire Island

Appendices [ ]

Connections [ ], appearances [ ].

  • TOS comic : " All Those Years Ago... "
  • TOS - New Visions comic : " The Survival Equation "
  • TNG - Double Helix novel : Double or Nothing
  • DS9 eBook : Lust's Latinum Lost (and Found)

References [ ]

  • TOS episode & Star Trek 1 novelization : The Man Trap
  • FASA RPG module : The Federation
  • TOS novel : The Galactic Whirlpool
  • TOS - Rihannsu novel : My Enemy, My Ally
  • TOS novel : The Vulcan Academy Murders
  • TOS novel : The Captain's Daughter
  • TOS novel : The Return
  • TOS novel : Avenger
  • TOS novel : That Which Divides
  • TOS novel : No Time Like the Past
  • TOS novel : The Captain's Oath
  • TNG novel : The Romulan Stratagem
  • DS9 novel : Sacraments of Fire
  • DS9 novel : The Long Mirage
  • DS9 novel : Rules of Accusation
  • DS9 novel : I, The Constable
  • ENT novel : Rosetta
  • NF novel : After the Fall
  • ST - Gateways novel : Doors into Chaos
  • ST - Destiny novel : A Singular Destiny
  • ST - Star Trek: The Fall novel : The Poisoned Chalice
  • Star Trek: Myriad Universes novel : A Less Perfect Union
  • TLE novel : The Sundered
  • TLE novel : The Art of the Impossible
  • SCE eBook : The Future Begins
  • SCE eBook : Caveat Emptor
  • SCE eBook : The Art of the Deal
  • VAN novel : Summon the Thunder
  • VAN novel : Reap the Whirlwind

External links [ ]

  • Wrigley's Pleasure Planet article at Memory Alpha , the wiki for canon Star Trek .
  • 1 The Chase
  • 2 Preserver (race)
  • 3 Ferengi Rules of Acquisition
  • Show Spoilers
  • Night Vision
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star trek pleasure planet

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Pleasure Planet

Edit locked.

One of the many Planets of Hats where the theme of this entire planet is to enjoy yourself. This usually means sandy beaches , women (and possibly men , especially in modern works) in revealing outfits , Sex Tourism and an environment with libertine sexual attitudes and Everybody Has Lots of Sex . There will likely be escorts , courtesans for wealthy clients , Sexbots and extraterrestrial sex partners .

Sex isn't necessarily the main attraction though, there's plenty of works meant for general audiences that feature pleasure planets with more, shall we say, "family friendly" attractions. As well, like any resort area, there are diversions like restaurants, casinos, theatres, fashion shops, and beauty parlors. Some pleasure planets even offer forbidden items and services , for the right price.

Or you could just have a planet-sized Amusement Park , possibly owned by the Disney corporation or a lawyer-friendly substitute .

This can also qualify for a planet that is "paradise", for which it's so good that no one would want to leave. If that is the case, then it may double as a Lotus Eater Planet.

Expect either the Busman to take his Holiday here or a Forced Prize Fight to ensnare our heroes. If this planet gets angry when anyone tries to leave, it may be a Possessive Paradise . Compare and Contrast Paradise Planet , which doesn't necessarily have to have an industry based on relaxation or even a civilization at all.

If you're looking for Treasure Planet , then you probably just hit a few different letters by accident .

  • Kiddy GiRL-AND has an entire planet that serve as a resort where only females are allowed, and the dress code is they all must wear swimsuits.
  • One Naruto Non-Serial Movie had a suspiciously Las Vegas-esque land that was under threat.
  • Whiskey Peak was this in One Piece . They welcome with open arms any and all pirates, partying for an entire day when they land ashore. This is all a facade, for all of the inhabitants are bounty hunters for the crime syndicate Baroque Works.
  • The Hot Springs Planet from Outlaw Star was terraformed specifically to be a giant resort.
  • The DC Universe had the gamblers' world Ventura. The business of the planet is pleasure. It exists to support the massive casinos that are suspended by a web of anti-gravity units above the surface of the planet.
  • In French artist Philippe Druillet's early seventies art book/graphic novel Loane Sloane - Delirius takes place partly on the planet Delirius, "the planet of one hundred thousand pleasures", which is devoted to providing sex and other forms of debauchery to tourists from all over the universe. It is run by a wealthy, fat, Jabba-like slug of a governor who taxes those who would partake in the pleasures of Delirius.
  • Lobo once landed on a similar planet. After a while he got bored so he hacked into the planet communication systems and sent a broadcast, declaring that within a short time he will start killing everyone in sight. He never did but the resulting hysteria created much more amusing violence than he could hope to himself.
  • Red Dwarf Smegazine : One back-up strip depicted a planet named Gelfworld, a planet with a GELF population whose purpose is to give human tourists the vacation of their lifetime. Well, until the GELFs rebelled and made the planet unsuitable for tourists.
  • Sextillion from Saga is the galaxy's equivalent to Amsterdam, having prostitutes of countless bizarre species.
  • Shakara : Euphoriax is a spatial city that sits on the edge of a nebula made of alcohol, which they collect to serve to their customers besides the other pleasures on offer.
  • Star Wars has the Zeltrons, a species devoted to nothing but sex and pleasure. Accordingly their homeworld, Zeltros, is a pleasure planet. In an unusual take on this trope, the Zeltrons developed this way because of their high levels of empathy; they try to encourage pleasure and other positive emotions because it creates a positive feedback loop with other Zeltrons, while someone who is in distress or just not enjoying themselves will create a negative feedback loop.
  • In issue 13 of The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye , the crew of the Lost Light unwinds from recent adventures by taking shore leave on the pleasure planet Hedonia, where everyone gets rowdily drunk (including teetotaler Ultra Magnus ). In an attached short story, several characters discuss how such planets inevitably hide a dark secret of some sort beneath their pleasant exteriors : Lovetopia's signature beverages are actually made from people, Cuddlex is in thrall to a Religion of Evil , etcetera. Hedonia's secret turns out to be that they're the most well-connected arms dealers in the galaxy... so Rodimus takes the opportunity to upgrade the Lost Light with a brand new set of proton missile launchers before they leave.
  • She has another planet/moon called Sybaria where she sneaks off to for affairs with her doctor.
  • A servant girl tells Dale that many men died bringing the Gargle Blaster drink back from the Galaxy Of Pleasure.
  • Contraxia from Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 is implied to be. The only part we see is a robot brothel.
  • The planet Transsexual from The Rocky Horror Picture Show is likely this based on the way its inhabitants will sleep with anyone. The script for the unmade sequel, Revenge of the Old Queen confirms it.
  • Zig-Zagged in All Tomorrows with the planet of the Satyriacs . Their entire culture is built on Everybody Has Lots of Sex and the pursuit of pleasure, but there's no mention of other species visiting them for that purpose (possibly because they're too far away, possibly due to biological incompatibility).
  • " The Mule ": Kalgan, a luxury world which is a "producer of pleasure" and "seller of leisure". This semi-tropical planet has beaches, tamed jungles, and gorgeous cities full of people willing to sell anything at any price. The collapse of the Galactic Empire failed to end its vacation world status. Unusually for this trope, Kalgan manages to become a major political center, with the Mule choosing to start his galactic conquest from there.
  • " Search by the Mule ": Now that we revisit Kalgan, its status as a world of entertainment is expanded upon. Arkady goes to the theatre, the fashion shops, and the beauticians. As a planet of entertainment, Kalgan is known as " the gayest world in the galaxy. " It made itself a galactic centre of entertainment two centuries before Hari Seldon, kept itself rich and fabulous during the fall of the Galactic Empire because there are always elites of any government that wish for luxury, and Kalgan provided them to everyone, until the rise of the Mule. In these decades since, it has struggled with an identity crisis; world of entertainment or capital of a military empire?
  • Ursa Minor Beta is a beach planet where, due to some diurnal anomaly, it is always late Saturday afternoon, right before the beach bars close. When the planet's tourism bureau ran an ad campaign with the slogan "When you are tired of Ursa Minor Beta, you are tired of life," the galactic suicide rate quadrupled overnight. Incidentally, the planet is home to the headquarters of the eponymous Guide .
  • The fabulously beautiful planet of Bethselamin had the opposite problem - its government grew so concerned by the cumulative erosion effects of billions of tourist visitors, that they passed a law whereby any net imbalance between what you eat and what you excrete while visiting that world is surgically removed before you are allowed to leave. Thus, it is vitally important to get a receipt each time you go to the bathroom there. In the TV version we get to see what happens to somebody who forgot: his hand was amputated by power tools and replaced by a prosthetic.
  • Magrathea will build planets specifically tailored for you . Want a planet made out of solid gold? What about one where everything's made of jello? The pebbles on the beaches are all precious jewels? Magrathea can build it .
  • Eroticon VI is of course home to Eccentria Gallumbits, the famous triple-breasted whore whose erogenous zones are said to start four miles from her body.
  • Hyperion deconstructs this trope with Maui-Covenant, a once-beautiful planet that has been much harmed by tourism.
  • Despite being a rather hard sci-fi for a Space Opera series, The Lost Fleet has at least one of these. When the titular fleet happens to pass through that star system, its economy is in about the state you'd expect of a place whose primary industry is tourism after almost a century of all-out war.
  • Venus is portrayed this way in the "Mars and Venus" self-help books. Venus is a Utopia filled with women (and maybe some effeminate men) who spend all their time daydreaming about the Martian princes they just know are coming, as well as cafes, parks, museums, and shops. Meanwhile, Mars is a much more utilitarian place where men (and maybe some masculinized women) live and work (with hats and uniforms to denote social status) ...and find time to build telescopes to gawk at the Venusians and eventually spaceships to visit them.
  • The third Spaceforce (2012) book is set on Fantasia, the galaxy's greatest 'theme world' - an asteroid enclosed in an atmosphere shell and terraformed into a series of themed islands. It's supposed to be wholesome and educational family entertainment, banning alcohol and drugs so it's ironic that it turns out to be the source of the galaxy's latest and most dangerous illegal recreational drug .
  • "Sanctuary" in Starship Troopers is essentially a planet used for soldiers' R&R. It’s also the Federation’s “hidden backup homeworld” in case Earth is lost, with the only navigators who know the coordinates conditioned to suicide before revealing it.
  • Beta Colony has some elements of this, a warm planet (downright lethal outside of the habitats/caves in fact ) where everyone walks around in sarongs and free love is the rule, but they are rather competent and not devoted to pleasure full time. Indeed, it is widely known as home to numerous centers of education, science, and technology. However it is also home to places where almost any sexual experience imaginable involving the consenting can be found. Sending someone to the former and finding out they have been nosing around the latter....
  • And then there was Ryoval's on Jackson's Whole, where every sexual experience involving the unconsenting can be purchased for the right price.
  • The Mars city New Vegas is very heavily implied to be such a place, right down to the name.
  • The characters in Crusade come across a destroyed planet that supplementary material describes as being one for aliens. It was also mentioned that there's a "Disney Planet".
  • The original Battlestar Galactica (1978) featured the casino resort world of Carillon, which turned out to be a way to keep the alien workers of the Green Rocks mines on the same planet supplied with Soylent Green foodstuffs, as well as the tourist liner Rising Star, a ship with casinos and hotel rooms where Viper pilots liked to go on leave.
  • Battlestar Galactica (2003) had the resort ship, Cloud-9 , where Galactica members were sent for R&R. (Before Gina blew it up, anyway). Also, before it got nuked, Scorpia was the resident "tourist resort economy" planet of the Twelve Colonies ( if we can believe the fluff ).
  • The late-1970's Buck Rogers TV series had an episode titled "Vegas in Space". They re-used the sets and props from Carillon on Battlestar Galactica (1978) (the shows were made by the same people).
  • The planet Argolis in " The Leisure Hive ". The only facility on the planet is the eponymous hive; a high-end resort attracting tourists from across the galaxy. In a subversion, that's because the rest of the planet is an irradiated wasteland after an interplanetary war.
  • The planet Midnight , a planet made of beautiful gems and amazing sights, but deadly to anyone who touched its sunlight. Naturally, humanity built a resort there. And naturally for the Doctor, things go horribly wrong...
  • Farscape . In "Scratch N Sniff", the crew of Moya are basically kicked off the ship by Pilot due to their constant bickering, so they take a sojourn on LoMo, called a pleasure planet in-universe. As usual, they manage to get in trouble thanks to the girls getting abducted so their body fluids can be harvested to make a drug. Or so John Crichton claims ; he may be making up the whole story to convince Pilot that everyone didn't just get drunk and start a riot. Pilot decides the latter and throws them off the ship again, this time on a boring industrial planet.
  • Lexx had a couple of pleasure ships in separate episodes - the Seles Pleasure Transport and the Luvliner. Neither of them quite lived up to expectations, and predictably both of them got trashed. Season 3 had the planet Water, which could have been a pleasure planet if it hadn't been constantly at war with its neighbor Fire. Astonishingly enough, during a lull in hostilities Stanley Tweedle actually managed to get laid there, for the only time in the entire series .
  • The Red Dwarf episode "Back to Reality" mentions The Planet of the Nymphomanics. Of course, There (probably) isn't such a planet. It was just part of a long list of things the crew should have done with their video-game lives, all of which were made up.
  • Space: Above and Beyond . The episode "R&R" had the resort spaceship version, with cameos by Coolio and David Duchovny .
  • "Shore Leave". The episode takes place on a planet where aliens went for amusement and the Enterprise crew found danger and weirdness.
  • It is stated repeatedly in "Wolf in the Fold" that Argellius II is such a planet, at least as far as the women are concerned. McCoy describes the culture as completely hedonistic.
  • The franchise firmly plants this trope in the planet Risa. Introduced in TNG and seen at least once in every spin off since (except, for obvious reasons, Star Trek: Voyager ). The German word "Reise", which is pronounced exactly like Risa, means "journey;" in Spanish "risa" means "laughter." How it's portrayed varies considerably; other than the sandy beaches the main attraction is sex tourism, and this gets played as anything from a purely positive Free-Love Future to incredibly seedy depending on the episode. In the Extended Universe , the name of the Risian state is the "Risian Hedony," suggesting that their very system of government is founded around pleasure.
  • Episode " Justice ". The planet Rubicun III is a idealistic paradise with friendly and beautiful inhabitants until the crew discovers its hidden dangers .
  • The Parallax colony on Shiralea VI seen as a holodeck program in " Cost Of Living " is a more child-friendly example where they have jugglers, mud baths and practice "Laughing Hour".
  • Star Trek: Voyager . In "Prime Factors", such a planet hears of Voyager's fate and invites them to stay for some well-deserved relaxation. There's nothing sinister behind the offer, but they turn out to have technology that could get Voyager home a lot quicker. As their hedonistic culture prevents them understanding why the crew is so eager to leave, they refuse to share this technology.
  • GWAR : The titular planet in the song "Metal Metal Land" is a sunless world where there is nothing but sex, drugs, sorcery and heavy metal 24/7. Needless to say, GWAR misses it more than any other planet.
  • At the end of the Captain Kremmen radio series, our hero decides to take a well-earned break from saving the universe and goes to the Pleasure Planet "where flaxen-haired maidens drift through lush meadows serving ripe fruit and singing native melodies, while any one of its three suns shines out of a cloudless sky." President: The Pleasure Planet, huh? I hear they have trees that grow sirloin steaks there. Kremmen: Yes sir, they're very rare. President: That's a shame. I like mine well done.
  • A bit more like "Pleasure Empire," but the Magistracy of Canopus is notorious for its pleasure circuses, including but not limited to a variety of sexual fantasies, available for a price. Amusingly, they are also renowned as the premier medical experts of the setting, if not for having the most progressive human rights policies.
  • The planet Kooken's Pleasure Pit, located in the Lyran Commonwealth, is pretty much devoted to sexual tourism. At least the big cities — because people actually want to live there without being harrassed, anything outside the cities are red zones off-limits to non-residents and tend to be a bit tamer.
  • And before Kooken's, there existed Dustball, a casino and "pleasure" world. The Commonwealth set up Kooken's as a "pleasure planet" mostly to try and break the grip of the Malthus crime syndicate that ran Dustball.
  • Dungeons & Dragons has Shendilavri, the 570th layer of the Abyss and the realm of Malcanthet, Queen of the Succubi. Unlike most of that plane, the layer looks like a pastoral paradise of picturesque vineyards, gardens and marble mansions under an eternal sunset. Mortals lured to Shendilavri enjoy a life of decadence and luxury with their demonic paramours... until the mortals have been utterly corrupted by their vices, at which point the demons murder them and take their souls to the dungeons and torture chambers beneath the pleasure palaces.
  • Eureka: 501 Adventure Plots to Inspire Game Masters . One science fiction plot has a planet that's a tropical paradise vacation spot. Along with the usual activities it also has adult entertainment such as dance clubs, parties, gambling and even prostitution.
  • GURPS Space Atlas (the first book in the GURPS Space Atlas series), covering the Old Frontiers sector. The planet Alhambra is known as a vacation spot without peer throughout the sector. The pleasure domes of New Xanadu provide normal and exotic amusements for the masses, while the exclusive resort of Sybaros entertains the wealthy and powerful.
  • Starfinder : The Ports of Call supplement has Zinn-2, aka "Golarion World", a planet terraformed by New Horizons Luxury Retreats into the literal Theme Park Version of the setting of Pathfinder .
  • The Starship Troopers Role Playing Game had Zegama Beach, the most luxurious and decadent world in the Federation. Known for its endless coastlines of perfect beaches and crystal clear blue waters, it was the most popular vacation destination for wealthy Federation citizens.
  • Fargo III is a holiday world lush with vegetation. The entire economy is based on resorts and hotels, with the planetary population employed by them.
  • Bles was a pleasure world in the former Olol'Bian Empire. It was completely given over to enjoyment and self-expression. Unfortunately the Purity Party took control of the Empire and sandblasted the entire world, turning it into a Desert Planet .
  • Classic Traveller game supplement 76 Patrons mentioned the "Imperial pleasure planets".
  • Classic Traveller adventure Rescue on Galatea by Paranoia Press. The recreation world Garden Prime has a variety of amusements, including gambling, holographic hunting and meditation.
  • GURPS Traveller supplement Planetary Survey 1: Kamsii . The planet Kamsii is a planetary theme park similar to Disneyland.
  • Freelancer has Planet Curaçao, Planet Baden-Baden, and to some degree, Planet Cambridge and the luxury cruisers Hawaii and Shetland.
  • Oolite has a few of these, according to the fluff, as well as an expansion pack that adds orbital casinos.
  • SaGa Frontier has Baccarat.
  • Smash TV has the Pleasure Domes, as does its Spiritual Successor Total Carnage . Notable in the TC version that when you unlock it, the dudes from Smash TV are still there.
  • Conventional empires can designate planets as Resort Worlds, which get a hefty boost to habitability and increase your other colonies' immigration pull. The downside is you can't develop the world normally with conventional districts, it's all hotels and theme parks.
  • Rogue Servitors turn their worlds into these when they build a lot of Organic Sanctuaries for their "Bio-Trophies," creating controlled environments where pampering robots will meet organics' every need and desire... save for self-determination.
  • Carrillon inverts it, being more of a Misery Planet in a Misery Builds Character sort of way. You're supposed to go in and suffer to come out a better person, or at least a person with a better soul (going by what Devils judge is a better soul anyways).
  • Magdalene's House of Small Comfort is a straighter example, in that it lets all those that visit get the staff to impersonate people they knew and/or loved in order to speak with them and get some closure at last, or at least have a pleasant chat of the sort you simply cannot have anymore. A house of comfort in a more literal sense.
  • Worlebury-Juxta-Mare tries to be this, being an attempted replica of The Great British Seaside using the fundamentally strange elements available in the High Wilderness. It sort of works so long as you pretend everything is fine, that the beach really is a beach and the fish really are fish and the donkey rides really use donkeys , among other suspensions of disbelief necessary if you want to enjoy the place and de-stress rather than run away screaming.
  • Langley Hall is a much straighter example (for a given value of planet at least ), located right where one would need it the most: the horrendous, anarchic pit of thinning reality that is Eleutheria . There are enough accommodations for anyone that might drop by, and you're free to stay permanently if you don't ever want to face the freakish stuff outside again. It's a quieter sort of pleasure, what with it being a fancy Victorian mansion far bigger than the laws of distance would allow, but it's pleasurable nonetheless. Just don't leave too early, it has ways of making you return .
  • An entire class of planet in Wing Commander: Privateer . Pleasure planets will buy food, and almost any luxury goods (including legal ones like furs and pets, and illegal ones like drugs or slaves). The only products they produce are movies.
  • References the planet "Queela Quoola," which, in the local tongue, translates to something like "Planet of casual sex and cheap beer...."
  • The worldship ‘’Sapphire Star’’ is half this half cruise ship.
  • Starpocalypse has "Princess Pleasure Planet", which is basically an amusement park covering an entire planet where visitors spend all their time having sex with cartoon characters.
  • The Plant Planet Paradise Rhizome in Buzz Lightyear of Star Command featured in "Stress Test".
  • In the Futurama episode "How Hermes Requisitioned His Groove Back," Hermes suffers a mental breakdown and is sent to what he thinks is a resort world, only to find that it's a forced labor camp. But he's able to offer suggestions and advice that make it so efficient that all the work is done by a single Australian prisoner, and returns to his job reinvigorated all the same.
  • In an episode of Men in Black: The Series , there is a planet that if you so much as rip a tag off a mattress the police will find you and send you to jail for the rest of your life. So why do people visit it? Apparently it has great beaches.
  • The planet in the Star Trek: The Animated Series episode "Once Upon A Planet", the same as the one in the Star Trek: The Original Series episode "Shore Leave".
  • Transformers: Generation 1 had a casino planet called Monacus. Several of the Autobots ended up in gladiator duels.
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star trek pleasure planet

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Risa 1

A photo of the Planet Risa.

Risa , also known as the "pleasure planet", is an M-class planet located in a binary star system, with two moons. It is the homeworld of the Risians and a member of the Federation . Risa is located about ninety light years from Earth. It is the location of STO's Summer Event, the Lohlunat Festival.

Risa 2

A photo of Suraya Bay, a tourist resort on Risa.

Star Trek Online [ ]

Risa is one of the available planets/locations for the game's launch.

See Also [ ]

External links [ ].

  • Risa on Memory Alpha, the Star Trek Wiki.
  • Risa article at Memory Beta , the wiki for licensed Star Trek publications.

Star Trek: 5 Most Interesting Planets In The Franchise

Star Trek is well-known for taking viewers to fascinating sci-fi planets. These five planets stand out as the most interesting.

As one of the longest-running and most successful science fiction franchises of all time, Star Trek has managed to create a fictional universe of such scope that it takes a while to orient in it. The franchise introduced countless alien species, so even though it still centers on humans, the fans have had the opportunity to meet different cultures.

RELATED: The Most Important Planets In The Show Firefly's Universe

Some of the most appreciated episodes are the ones that led the heroes to alien planets, which they would explore in greater detail. The most interesting planets in the Star Trek series have it all - from a detailed backstory to a unique culture that keeps the audience fascinated by it.

Risa is best known as the Pleasure Planet - and the name doesn't lie. Starfleet crews often go there for a vacation to get some rest and a breath of fresh air. Risa offers beautiful nature, beaches, gardens, pools, blue sky, trees, and simply everything the tired Starfleet officers need in order to get rid of the stress they feel. What's more, Risa attracts a lot of different cultures from all over the quadrant, making it an ideal place for studying alien species and coming in contact with them.

Of course, no paradise is without a flaw, as the Starfleet officers also learn. For example, when Captain Archer and his crew visit Risa in the series Star Trek: Enterprise , two of his men are tricked and robbed by local thieves. However, for the most part, Risa's beauty is enough to overlook this small detail.

The planet Vulcan is one of the most prominent ones in the franchise. Not only are Vulcans one of the founding members of the Federation , but the planet is also the birthplace of the iconic Mr. Spock. It's a direct opposite to the likes of Risa, since Vulcan is primarily a desert planet, making it a difficult place to live for non-Vulcans due to the high temperature and gravity. However, there's no denying the planet is visually appealing, and it has a long and interesting history.

RELATED: Sci-Fi Games That Let You Take Over Different Planets

Before the Vulcans became a peaceful species that relied on logic and suppressed emotions, the planet saw a lot of battles and wars. Even these days, some customs of the Vulcans might be considered barbaric by others, for example, sending out their children to the desert to survive on their own as a part of a test. In the Abrams movie universe, the planet was destroyed by the vengeful Romulan Nero, but it continues to thrive in the TV Star Trek universe.

From hot to cold, that's also how to describe the difference between the planet Vulcan and the home of the Andorians. Andoria is an ice planet, and as such, the temperature doesn't cross over zero even in summer. In other words, whenever outsiders want to visit it, they should pack a lot of warm clothes. Visiting Andoria means taking on personal risk, however, as the Andorians aren't the friendliest hosts out there.

They're paranoid, prone to violence, and hold a strong grudge against other species, especially the Vulcans. Perhaps that has something to do with the fact that these two planets aren't that far apart, especially considering the vastness of space. Whatever the downsides are, Andoria simply looks cool (pun intended), and exploring the local mountains, as well as underground caves, are just two of the ways how to stay entertained there.

2 Sigma Iotia II

Andoria isn't the only planet whose visitors are risking their lives. Sigma Iotia II isn't as known, but that doesn't make it any less fascinating. The planet has a specific theme to it - the gangster theme, specifically; it all looks like Chicago during the Prohibition Era in the 1920s. Kirk and Spock learn this the hard way when they visit the planet and have a hard time blending in, especially Spock. Still, it's a better option for a visit than the Nazi planet, which also appeared in Star Trek: The Original Series .

RELATED: Most Mysterious Planets In The Star Wars Galaxy

And how did Sigma Iotia II get to this theme? It happened when the locals got the book Chicago Mobs of the Twenties and decided to stylize their society according to it. That means a lot of stylish suits and old cars, but also rough talk and guns, making Sigma Iotia II one of a kind among the Star Trek planets. It's a bit similar to the theme park in Westworld , but with live people.

1 Beta Omicron Delta III

Another lesser-known name but a fascinating planet, it allows the visitors' dreams to come true. The planet serves as a live amusement park that reads the visitors' thoughts and wishes and manufactures whatever or whomever they wish to see. That's a double-edged sword, as those who aren't careful can find themselves facing their worst nightmare or dangerous creatures. For example, Captain Kirk encountered his school bully there , and Doctor McCoy saw Alice and the talking white rabbit.

The good news is that as long as the visitors control themselves and what they're thinking about, they can experience something unique that would be impossible anywhere else. As such, it's a good place for a shore leave, even though Captain Kirk didn't agree with this assessment at first!

MORE: Star Wars Planets That Prospered Under The Empire

Memory Alpha

Two Days and Two Nights (episode)

  • View history
  • 1.2 Act One
  • 1.3 Act Two
  • 1.4 Act Three
  • 1.5 Act Four
  • 2 Memorable quotes
  • 3.1 Story and script
  • 3.2 Cast and characters
  • 3.3 Production
  • 3.4 Deleted scene
  • 3.5 Continuity
  • 3.6 Reception
  • 3.7 Production history
  • 3.8 Video and DVD releases
  • 4.1 Starring
  • 4.2 Guest stars
  • 4.3 Co-stars
  • 4.4 Uncredited co-stars
  • 4.5 Stand-ins
  • 4.6.1 Unreferenced material
  • 4.7 External links

Summary [ ]

After two aborted attempts, Enterprise NX-01 finally arrives at the pleasure planet of Risa . Since they can only stay for two days, the crew draws lots to see who can take shore leave and who must stay on board to keep the ship running. Captain Archer , Ensigns Hoshi Sato and Travis Mayweather , Commander Trip Tucker , and Lieutenant Malcolm Reed get to be among the lucky few who get to go down. Captain Archer feels bad going down while half the crew has to stay on board, but T'Pol reassures him that he need not worry because everyone drew lots and it was a fair draw. He still feels uneasy, believing the crew should come first, but she insists that he needs a vacation .

Act One [ ]

Shuttles off to paradise

The shuttlepods on their way down to the planet

On their way down to the planet in a shuttlecraft , they discuss their plans. Mayweather plans to spend his shore leave rock climbing at a place called Galartha , where the cliff-face changes pitch while one climbs it; Reed and Tucker plan on broadening their "cultural horizons", as they state somewhat mischievously, making Sato wonder if that is all they think about. Sato herself plans on doing something constructive with her time, such as learning new languages without relying on her universal translator so much. Reed and Tucker poke fun at her, teasing her that she only has two days, which she probably shouldn't be spending by just merely talking to people. Captain Archer does not seem nearly as excited and adventurous about his plans for shore leave, stating that he got a little villa overlooking the ocean and plans on relaxing there with Porthos and reading.

Beach on Risa

Captain Archer's view from his villa on Risa

Keyla and Rhylo

Keyla with her dog Rhylo

Back on the ship, Doctor Phlox , who also received shore leave, plans on spending his time not by going down to the planet but by hibernating , telling T'Pol and Crewman Cutler to wake him up only if there is a medical emergency.

Archer relaxing on Risa

Captain Archer relaxes with a book

Down on the planet, Tucker and Reed, who plan to spend their shore leave seeking female companionship, go to a bar where they meet plenty of what they are looking for. Archer goes to his villa overlooking the ocean to find that T'Pol left him a copy of The Teachings of Surak to read. While he spends some quiet time alone relaxing on his patio, he meets a beautiful alien woman named Keyla who appears somewhat reserved and reluctant. She turns down his invitation to go for dinner but suggests meeting up the next day.

Act Two [ ]

In the meantime, Sato, who has been planning to spend her shore leave learning new languages, strikes up a conversation with an elderly Risan couple, who are surprised that she speaks their language so well and that she bothered to learn it in the first place, since so few people do. After the couple leaves, an alien male approaches Sato. He overheard her conversation with the Risan couple and is fascinated by her ability to learn new languages so rapidly. He tells her the name of his home planet (which is quite long). When Sato asks him to repeat it more slowly, he informs her that to do so would change the meaning of what is said. Intrigued, Sato continues to talk with him, trying to learn his language. He invites her to dinner and she agrees.

Tucker and Reed, meanwhile, have the time of their life surrounded by beautiful women in the nightclub they visited. They meet two particularly attractive and interested women who suggest a stroll down to the subterranean gardens. Reed and Tucker eagerly accept. The women lure them to a secluded place that does not resemble gardens at all, suddenly asking them how much starship captains get paid on their world and about the kind of valuables they have. Tucker and Reed quickly realize that there has obviously been a misunderstanding here, but before they can explain, they find out that the alien women are actually male thieves in disguise, who, disgusted to find that Tucker and Reed are carrying nothing of value, knock them out with their weapons and steal their clothes so they can sell them.

Act Three [ ]

Phlox is woken during hibernation

Phlox must be woken from hibernation to treat Mayweather

Back on the ship, T'Pol receives a message from Mayweather, asking her to send down a shuttle for him to come up; he had a little rock-climbing accident, and is currently being treated in the central hospital . He complains that not only does the rock face change, but that it also has handholds that change – causing him to fall. T'Pol asks him why he didn't let them treat him down there on the planet, but Mayweather explains that he is not too fond of alien hospitals and wanted his own doctor to take a look at him. However, he soon finds out that Phlox is actually not available as he is in hibernation. Mayweather is not too happy about this, especially since he has been experiencing difficulty breathing. To be sure, they take him to sickbay for observation.

Trip and Reed in underwear

Tucker and Reed after they have been stripped down to their underwear by the aliens

Down on the planet, Tucker and Reed finally regain consciousness. Their hands are tied and the aliens have stripped them down to their underwear . They realize that they have been down there all night and that shore leave is almost half over. They scream asking for help, but no one can hear them as the aliens sealed the door when leaving them down there. While Tucker is angry, stating that he doesn't plan on spending his short time on the planet tied down in some basement, Reed notes that the Vulcan database never mentioned anything about crime on Risa. Tucker states that actually it contained some warning about such things, and before they know it, they start arguing with and blaming each other for their situation.

On the ship, Mayweather's health is deteriorating further and he is experiencing more difficulty breathing. It appears as if the pain medication he was given on Risa has caused an allergic reaction. Crewman Cutler recommends they wake up Phlox to treat Mayweather.

Act Four [ ]

However, the doctor isn't fully awake and it takes him a while to both remember what he's supposed to be doing and how to treat Mayweather. Despite his almost delirious state, he finally manages to treat him, confirming that he has had an allergic reaction. He promptly passes out face down on a biobed the moment he has finished treating Mayweather.

Phlox still sleeping

Dr. Phlox cannot wait to get back to sleep

On Risa, Sato continues spending time with her new alien friend, who invites her to a steampool that he has been planning on visiting and she agrees to join him. They get along quite well, and Sato ends up spending the night with him.

Keyla prying

Keyla is not who she seems to be

While Sato is enjoying the time with her new companion, and Tucker and Reed try to find a way out of their embarrassing situation, a somewhat lonely Archer finally receives a visit from Keyla, who is suddenly very talkative and asks him many strange questions. She tells him that she had a family that was killed by the Suliban . Archer feels bad, remembering how he aided a few Suliban prisoners escape once. They open a bottle of Risan wine , but Keyla doesn't appear to be in the best mood. Upon asking her if something was the matter, Keyla begins talking about the Suliban again, asking Archer if he has ever seen any of them and what he knows about them; she insists on knowing where they come from and where they live. Archer apologizes for not being able to tell her more, however, Keyla doesn't stop prying, acting more agitated, yelling at Archer to tell her more about where they live. This is when Archer realizes that something is not right and that there is more going on here than what meets the eye. When she leaves his place to get a sweater for their walk along the beach , Archer transmits a bioscan of Keyla to the ship. It turns out that she is a Tandaran who has undergone plastic surgery to disguise herself. Once Archer discovers her true identity and confronts her, she knocks him out and disappears.

While Reed and Tucker manage to cut through the ropes to free themselves, leaving the cellar and walking back to the bar and to their rooms in their underwear, Sato, who has spent the night with the man she just met, is getting ready, albeit reluctantly, to go back to the ship. She explains that she wished she could spend all day lying in bed with him, but that she has to go. Captain Archer also finally awakens with a headache , realizing that he was out all night after Keyla knocked him unconscious.

On the shuttle flight back to the ship, everyone is rather quiet and not nearly as eager and talkative as they were on their way down two days ago. An embarrassed Tucker and Reed are sitting there in their underwear and robes, trying not to smell or let anyone know what really happened to them down there, while Archer smiles, stating that he in fact got plenty of rest and went out like a light. Sato seems to be the only one with a smirk on her face, even though she also doesn't reveal what really happened, merely stating that she in fact learned several new conjugations. Thinking that Archer had a dull time just reading, Tucker suggests that next time they have shore leave, instead of just sitting around and reading books, he should try and get out, look for a little excitement and meet new people. Archer nods and smiles.

Memorable quotes [ ]

" Captain, you need a vacation. "

" I'll bring you a souvenir. "

" Malcolm and I plan to, uh… broaden our cultural horizons. " " Is that all you two think about? " " Well, how we choose to relax is our own business. "

" Before I left Earth, I learned 38 languages and now all I do is push a button and the computer does all the work. " " Isn't that what it's for? "

" Now she's interesting. " " I don't think 'she' is the right pronoun. "

" I don't care what it tastes like! "

" Most of what I have learned about them has come from rumors and hearsay. But you have seen them face to face. I want you to tell me what you know. Where are their helixes? Where do they live?! "

" I'm gonna check out now. I can't have you interfering. "

" You were willing to follow two aliens into a basement! " "Gorgeous aliens! Remember, they were gorgeous !" " They were male ! " " Not at first!

" Whatever's in that bottle you broke got all over me. It stinks to high heaven. " " It's not like I had a choice. We needed something to cut through those ropes. "

" Have you ever been to an alien hospital? " " Yes. In San Francisco . "

" What about you, Hoshi? Do anything constructive? " " As a matter of fact, I learned several new conjugations. "

Background information [ ]

Story and script [ ].

  • Teleplay writer Chris Black found this episode took a long time to come to fruition. " We had been talking about doing a shore-leave episode literally from the time I showed up, " he admitted. Although the Shore Leave Planet from TOS : " Shore Leave " was briefly considered as the destination, it was rejected because it is depicted as being new to Starfleet in that episode, set in the future of this one. Another idea – Wrigley's pleasure planet , which had been mentioned once in TOS : " The Man Trap " – has a name that was thought to sound too Human and too well-known for the relatively distant region of space which Enterprise was now meant to be in. The writers finally settled on choosing Risa, not only because it had been established earlier in the Star Trek franchise but also due to the increased likelihood that it might be in Vulcan ken. " The Vulcans have been there and T'Pol would know about it, " said Black.
  • Of all the side plots involving activities undertaken by members of Enterprise 's senior crew, that which was possibly most tweaked was the story line featuring Archer. For this, the writers took inspiration from the movie To Catch a Thief , while also wanting to keep the captain slightly more reserved than entering into a passionately romantic entanglement. " We wanted to have Archer involved in a little intrigue, to put him into an almost Cary Grant -like role from a Hitchcock movie – where he meets Grace Kelly in the villa next door and she's very mysterious, " recalled Chris Black. " More of a flirtation than a full-blown romance [here]; we didn't want Archer to be 'involved.' " The concept of the mystery woman was first thought up, before she was made an agent of the Tandarans. ( Star Trek: Communicator  issue 143 , p. 31)

Cast and characters [ ]

  • Mayweather actor Anthony Montgomery was amused by the fact that, due to Mayweather being a thrill-seeker, he suffers an injury on Risa and returns to Enterprise very soon thereafter, spending hardly any time on the planet surface. " That was so funny, " remarked the actor. ( Star Trek: The Magazine  Volume 3, Issue 3 , p. 19)
  • Dey Young previously played Arissa in the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episode " A Simple Investigation ", as well as Hannah Bates in the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode " The Masterpiece Society ".
  • Kellie Waymire makes her last appearance as Cutler in this episode, due in part to her sudden death in November 2003 . She previously appeared as Layna in the Star Trek: Voyager episode " Muse " and Cutler in the Enterprise episodes " Strange New World " and " Dear Doctor ".
  • Joseph Will previously appeared as Kelis in the Star Trek: Voyager episode " Muse ", as a Quarren security officer in the Voyager episode " Workforce, Part II ", and Michael Rostov in the Enterprise episode " Vox Sola ". He later reprised his role as Rostov in the second season episode " The Crossing ".
  • The two dogs in this episode, Prada ( Porthos ) and Tibbis ( Rhylo ), had actually worked together before, as spy partners in the movie Cats & Dogs . This episode was also Prada's last episode. Breezy , who was a stand-in for Prada when a more "spunky" Porthos was needed, took over the role completely from that point on.
  • Dennis Cockrum , whose scene as Freebus was cut from the final episode, previously appeared as the Corvallen freighter captain in the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode " Face Of The Enemy " and as Orek in the Voyager episode " Live Fast and Prosper ". He later returned to play the alien barkeep in the second season episode " The Communicator ".
  • According to a call sheet for Monday 25 March 2002 , the two contest winners Jordan Mann and Henry Geller were chosen to play a Risian and an alien bistro patron as part of the "Risan Bistro Night Group". However, neither contest winner appears in the final version of this episode.
  • Rudolph Martin played the alien Ravis, Sato's love interest.

Production [ ]

Dawn Stern and Michael Dorn

Michael Dorn with actress Dawn Stern

Scott Bakula in front of green screen

Scott Bakula filming a scene in front of green screen

  • Finances restricted the making of this episode. Explained Chris Black, " We got down to the end of the season, and we were really up against it in terms of budget; we would have loved to do more with Risa, and we found out we just couldn't afford to. " ( Star Trek: Communicator  issue 143 , p. 31)
  • This is the only Enterprise episode to be directed by Michael Dorn . He previously directed the Deep Space Nine episodes " In the Cards ", " Inquisition ", and " When It Rains... ". Dorn's direction of this episode makes him the only Star Trek regular to be involved with the majority of Star Trek episodes set on Risa.
  • "Two Days and Two Nights" was filmed between Tuesday 19 March 2002 and Wednesday 27 March 2002 on Paramount Stages 8 , 9 , and 18 . Second unit shots were filmed on Wednesday 3 April 2002 and insert shots on Tuesday 9 April 2002.
  • Paramount Stage 8 housed the sets of the sickbay , the interior of the shuttlepod , the mess hall , Phlox 's quarters , and the interior and exterior sets of Archer's and Keyla's villa and balconies. Stage 9 had the Risan bistro, Sato's villa on Risa, the basement under the nightclub, and the Risan nightclub, while Stage 18 was used for the bridge of Enterprise , launch bay one, the interior of the shuttlepod, and the corridor sets.
  • Though no stunt performer or stunt double was needed in this episode, Stunt Coordinator Vince Deadrick, Jr. worked three days on set to coordinate the falls of Scott Bakula , Dominic Keating , Connor Trinneer , and John Billingsley .
  • The door control in Archer's villa is shaped like a horga'hn . The horga'hn symbol also appeared on storage containers in the basement under the nightclub.

Deleted scene [ ]

  • The Season 1 DVDs contain a deleted scene from this episode. Numbered Scene 1-2, it consists of a one-and-a-half minute exchange between Jonathan Archer, Trip Tucker, T'Pol, and Freebus . In it, we find out how the crew paid for their shore leave, with Freebus taking an unspecified amount of dilithium to cover "all" costs for the vacationing crew members. We also learn that Risa has numerous diversions for Vulcans.

Continuity [ ]

  • This is the last of three stories set mostly on Risa. In addition to this episode, these include TNG : " Captain's Holiday " and DS9 : " Let He Who Is Without Sin... ", both of which involved Michael Dorn portraying his regular character of Worf . However, the planet also briefly appears in TNG : " The Game " and, hereafter, in ENT : " The Seventh ".
  • Phlox stated in a previous episode, " Dear Doctor ", that Denobulans hibernate for six days a year. In this episode, Phlox follows through on this necessity (though, as he puts it, he can "get by" with only two days of hibernation).
  • The Tandaran plotline, begun in " Detained ", is never revisited after this episode.
  • The book The Teachings of Surak was translated by Skon of ShiKahr . Skon is the father of Sarek and grandfather of Spock , as established in Star Trek III: The Search for Spock .
  • This is the first time we see both Enterprise shuttlepods launching simultaneously.
  • Archer is seen with a bag bearing the logo of Friendship 1 , a probe seen in an episode of Star Trek: Voyager .

Reception [ ]

  • Chris Black ended up frustrated by this installment. His dissatisfaction with it largely stemmed from the tight financial situation in which the episode was produced. Another reason was that he felt the script had been hobbled by the need to explain the back story of "Detained" once this episode's mystery woman was made a Tandaran agent. " So I don't want anyone to get the impression that I didn't like 'Two Days and Two Nights', " he clarified. " I did like the show, but you always go back through the process and kind of kick yourself when you think, 'It could've been more!' " ( Star Trek: Communicator  issue 143 , p. 31)
  • Shortly after the making of this installment, Rick Berman described it as "very funny." ( Star Trek: Communicator  issue 139 , p. 11) Years later, Brannon Braga characterized this episode as a boring one, about which he rhetorically asked, " Who cares? " ("To Boldly Go: Launching Enterprise , Part III: First Flight", ENT Season 1 Blu-ray special features)
  • On the first broadcast of this installment, the episode achieved a Nielsen rating of 3.1 and was watched by a total of 5.26 million viewers. [1]
  • This episode won the 2002 Emmy Award in the category Outstanding Hairstyling For A Series. The team included Michael Moore , Gloria Pasqua Casny , Roma Goddard , Laura Connolly , and Cheri Ruff .
  • The "Ultimate Guide" in Star Trek Magazine  issue 164 , p. 79 rated this episode 3 out of 5 arrowhead insignia.
  • The unofficial reference book Beyond the Final Frontier (p. 369) calls this installment "a comedy episode that's not terribly funny, but does genuinely feel like the characters are on holiday." The book's critique of this episode concludes by stating, " The funniest bit, ironically, is Phlox's hibernation. "
  • Several items from this episode were sold off on the It's A Wrap! sale and auction on eBay, including Archer's telescope , [2] his water polo bag, [3] two scripts of this episode, [4] [5] and costumes of Dominic Keating , [6] [7] [8] Linda Park , [9] [10] Carlos Milano , [11] Whitney Hall , [12] Connor Trinneer , [13] [14] Anthony Montgomery, [15] [16] Dey Young, [17] James Ingersoll , [18] Dennis Cockrum, [19] Stephen Wozniak , [20] Kellie Waymire, [21] Geoff Meed , [22] and background actors. [23]
  • The shot of Enterprise flying over Risa was later reused as Earth in the fourth season episode " Demons ".

Production history [ ]

  • 18 March 2002 : Final draft script is submitted
  • 19 March 2002: Production commences
  • 25 March 2002: Risan bistro scenes are filmed
  • 27 March 2002: Final day of principal photography; Risan nightclub scenes are filmed
  • 3 April 2002 : Second unit shots are filmed
  • 9 April 2002: Insert shots are filmed
  • 15 May 2002 : Premiere airdate

Video and DVD releases [ ]

  • UK VHS release (two-episode tapes, Paramount Home Entertainment ): Volume 1.13, 18 November 2002
  • As part of the ENT Season 1 DVD collection
  • As part of the ENT Season 1 Blu-ray collection

Links and references [ ]

Starring [ ].

  • Scott Bakula as Jonathan Archer
  • John Billingsley as Phlox
  • Jolene Blalock as T'Pol
  • Dominic Keating as Malcolm Reed
  • Anthony Montgomery as Travis Mayweather
  • Linda Park as Hoshi Sato
  • Connor Trinneer as Charles "Trip" Tucker III

Guest stars [ ]

  • Dey Young as Keyla
  • Kellie Waymire as Cutler
  • Rudolf Martin as Ravis
  • Joseph Will as Michael Rostov

Co-stars [ ]

  • DonnaMarie Recco as Dee'Ahn Female
  • James Ingersoll as Risan Man
  • Jennifer Williams as Risan Woman
  • Geoff Meed as Dee'Ahn Male
  • Stephen Wozniak as Latia Male

Uncredited co-stars [ ]

  • Toshiya Agata as alien bistro patron
  • Deena Alvarado as Risian waitress
  • Tom Archdeacon as Risian man
  • Jef Ayres as Haynem
  • Stephen Blackehart as Risian man
  • Jennifer Bowman as Risian woman
  • Solomon Burke, Jr. as Billy
  • Rick Burns as Risian man
  • Robert Casey as alien nightclub patron
  • Dennis Cockrum as Freebus ( deleted scene )
  • Diamond Cook as Risian woman
  • Rob Cushman as Risian bartender
  • Dawn Drake as operations division crewman ( deleted scene )
  • Alison Ebbert as alien nightclub patron
  • Patrick Emery as Risian man
  • Evan English as Tanner
  • Sharon Ferrito as Risian woman
  • Susan Foley as Risian woman
  • Stacy Fouche as operations division crewman
  • Heidi Franz as alien bar patron
  • Noriko Fukai as alien bistro patron
  • Hilde Garcia as Rossi
  • Whitney Hall as Risian waitress
  • Glen Hambly as operations division ensign ( deleted scene )
  • Kristin Hjellegferde as alien nightclub patron
  • Dawn Hoes as Risian woman
  • Amina Islam as command division ensign
  • Terita Jackson as Risian woman
  • Kerri Jones as Risian woman
  • John Jurgens as command division crewman
  • Martin Ko as command division ensign
  • Lynne Langdon as Risian woman
  • Sven Lindstrom as crewmember
  • Anna Llurch as alien nightclub patron
  • Traci Lynn as alien bistro patron
  • Rosalyn Macie as Risian woman
  • Carlos Milano as Risian waiter
  • Marlene Mogavero as operations division crewman
  • Peter John Narus as alien bistro patron
  • Paula Neiman as alien bistro patron
  • Stephen Novik as alien nightclub patron
  • Monica Parrett as command division crewman
  • Kevin Porter as Risian man
  • Prada as Porthos
  • Larry Ready as alien bistro patron
  • Cesar Rodriguez as science division lieutenant
  • Tony Ross as Risian man
  • Lisa Roumain as female Kaitlen
  • David Silverstein as alien nightclub patron
  • Virginia Simonson as Risian woman
  • Dawn Stern as Latia Female
  • Tibbis as Rhylo
  • James R. Tweedell as alien bistro patron
  • Thelma Tyrell as operations division crewman
  • David Venafro as alien nightclub patron
  • Antonio Vesa as Risian man

Stand-ins [ ]

  • David Keith Anderson – stand-in for Anthony Montgomery , Dawn Stern , and Stephen Wozniak
  • Gina Chai – stand-in for Linda Park
  • Amy Kate Connolly – stand-in for Kellie Waymire , Dey Young , Jennifer Williams , and DonnaMarie Recco
  • Evan English – stand-in for Dominic Keating and Dennis Cockrum
  • Simone Montanti – stand-in for Jolene Blalock , DonnaMarie Recco , and Geoff Meed
  • Louis Ortiz – stand-in for Joseph Will , John Billingsley , Rudolf Martin , and Scott Bakula
  • J.R. Quinonez – stand-in for Scott Bakula
  • Richard Sarstedt – stand-in for Scott Bakula
  • Mark Watson – stand-in for Connor Trinneer and James Ingersoll

References [ ]

1852 ; 2134 ; 2152 ; accent ; airway ; allergic ; anaphylactic shock ; ankle ; anniversary ; antigenic compound ; Archer Elementary ; bandage ; barking ; basement ; beach ; bearing ; benzethonium chloride ; bioscan ; biosign ; bistro ; blue ; boat ; book ; breakfast ; bridge ; Cabal ; captain ; captain's personal log ; Chef ; club ; CMO ; colonel ; communications officer ; conjugation ; container ; crime ; day ; Detention Complex 26 ; dinner ; distant future ; DNA ; doctor ; dog ; dozen ; dream ; Earth ; English language ; Enterprise NX-01 ; explorer ; eye ; face ; family ; February ; Festival of the Moon ; French language ; Galartha ; garden ; Grat ; Hawaiian shirt ; hearsay ; helix ; helm ; helmsman ; hibernation ; horga'hn ; hospital ; hotel ; Human ; hypospray ; juice ; Kaitlen ; kiss ; kiwi ; Klingonese ; language ; launch bay ; leg ; light year ; lobby ; log entry ; luminescent ; mating ritual ; maximum warp ; medic ; mess hall ; meter ; month ; moon ; navigation ; nightclub ; North American Water Polo Regionals ; ocean ; orbit ; painkiller ; painting ; patient ; physiology ; planet ; plant ; pleasure planet ; puppy ; preemari ; pronoun ; quarters ; Ravis' language ; Regulan bloodworm ; Regulus ; rescue flare ; restaurant ; Risa ( moon ); Risian ; Risan language ; Risan mai-tai ; Risan sea turtle ; Risan wine ; rock climbing ; rock face ; rope ; San Francisco ; school ; science officer ; seafood ; ShiKahr ; shore leave ; shuttlepod ; Shuttlepod 1 ; Shuttlepod 2 ; sickbay ; Skon ; spitting ; star ; starship ; steampool ; strawberry ; Suliban ; sunset ; Surak ; Suraya Bay ; surgeon ; swelling ; Tandaran ; teacher ; Teachings of Surak, The ; telescope ; toast ; toxin ; turbolift ; turtle ; underwear ; universal translator ; Vega Reticuli ; Vega Reticuli couple ; villa ; vintage ; Vulcan ; Vulcan database ; waiter ; waitress ; warp ; water polo ; wedding anniversary ; wine ; yellow

Unreferenced material [ ]

Agasorian Nebula ; dilithium ; Freebus ; hospitality ; souvenir

External links [ ]

  • " Two Days and Two Nights " at Wikipedia
  • " Two Days and Two Nights " at the Internet Movie Database
  • "Two Days and Two Nights" at StarTrek.com
  • " Two Days and Two Nights " at Memory Beta , the wiki for licensed Star Trek works
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Published Jul 27, 2023

Who Had the Best Time on Shore Leave?

We're ranking all of Risa's wayward lovers.

Shore leave banner

StarTrek.com

If you’re on a starship (or space station) in the Alpha Quadrant, and you’re in desperate need a vacation, there’s only one place you should go — Risa . Plenty of Starfleet officers over the centuries have taken leave on the pleasure planet, but not all of them have had as good a time as promised.

Who loved love — and their time on Risa — and who were the poor souls who couldn’t wait to get home? From worst to best, this is the definitive ranking of time on the Pleasure Planet.

12. Sub-Commander T’Pol

T'Pol in 'The Seventh'

Leave it up to the notoriously serious Vulcan to have a worse trip to Risa than anyone else in the Star Trek universe. But T’Pol wasn’t on the planet for pleasure — she went to hunt down fugitives. She partially succeeds, but with devastating results; she shoots and kills one of them, and it leaves her so scarred she undergoes a Vulcan ritual to forget the memory. It’s not until years later, tasked with finding the second runaway, that she begins to remember.

11. TIE — Lt. Reed and Lt. Commander Tucker

Star Trek: Enterprise -

Malcolm Reed and Trip Tucker may have survived being set adrift in a shuttle that was running out of oxygen, but they barely survive Risa.

After trolling the nightclubs for suitable ladies to help them “broaden their cultural horizons,” they meet an attractive pair who seem to fall for their lie about being captains who switch-off duties commanding the Enterprise . But when the women convince them to go see Risa’s famous subterranean gardens, they instead lead the officers to a basement where they tie them up, knock them out, and rob them. It turns out that the femme fatales are actually shapeshifters. Trip and Malcolm survive the ordeal (which gives new meaning to the phrase “what’s ours is yours”), but their biggest fear is being embarrassed to death, so they don’t tell anyone about their adventures.

10. Lt. Commander Worf

worf on risa

The only person on this list to throw a horga'hn at the wall, Worf has a pretty miserable time on Risa. He doesn’t set himself up for success; he not only neglects to pack a bathing suit, he doesn’t bring any civilian clothes at all (“Starfleet uniforms are designed for comfort, even in the most extreme environments!” he tells Jadzia).

Disapproving of just about everything he sees around him, he falls in league with a group of dissenters called the Essentialists, and helps them sabotage Risa’s perfection-producing weather system. A heart-to-heart with his girl and a little skinny dipping make the trip slightly bearable, but overall, Worf is much happier on Deep Space 9 .

9. Ensign Mayweather

Maywether on Risa

Travis Mayweather heads to Risa with one goal only — to climb the cliffs of Galartha. Unfortunately, its constantly changing rockface makes it hard to find a hand-hold, and an injury lands him in the hospital. Presumably the first human that Risian doctors have ever seen, they treat him with a painkiller that causes an allergic reaction, cutting the adventurous Ensign’s trip short. Maybe he’d do better at Yosemite?

8. Lt. Commander Dax

DAX ON RISA

The first vacation with your new lover is always a bit stressful, but it’s even more nerve-wracking when you’re dating a pleasure-adverse Klingon. Jadzia Dax spends most of her time on Risa trying to get Worf to loosen up, but she’s not one to let a guy ruin her good time. She still gets to go swimming, show off her spots, and even indulge in a clay-molding session with Curzon’s beautiful ex-lover that’s reminiscent of Demi Moore and Patrick Sawyze in Ghost .

Quark on Risa

We don’t get to see much of Quark ’s trip to the pleasure planet, but maybe it’s because he was busy trying to sell horga’hns to tourists. He is on hand to lend some witty commentary about Dax’s problems with Worf, and he seems to do okay with the ladies, too. The only thing that truly ruins Quark’s Risa trip is the glebbening — one of 178 Ferengi words for “rain.”

6. Dr. Bashir

bashir

It’s hard to find anyone who feels bad Leeta left Julian Bashir for Rom , and maybe that’s because of their trip to Risa together. Observing an ancient Bajoran tradition, they enjoy both each other’s company as well as the company of several other willing Risians before participating in a separation ceremony that Quark finds disgusting for its civility.

5. Captain Archer

Archer enjoying a book and Porthos' company on the patio of his Risean villa by moonlight in 'Two Days and Two Nights'

Yes, he ends up getting smacked in the head by his love interest, who turns out to be some kind of medically-modified spy. But other than that, Captain Archer has a truly lovely trip to Risa — quality time with Porthos , a room with a view, and a glimpse through a telescope at the Terran sun from farther away than any other human has ever been.

Throw in a trip to one of the best seafood restaurants in the galaxy and some flirty moments with a dog-loving neighbor (hey, she could have killed him instead of just knocking him out — she seems nice!) and you have a vacation worth writing in your personal log about.

4. Captain Picard

Picard on Risa

Jean-Luc Picard doesn’t start off his Risan holiday enjoying himself — he gets yelled at by a Ferengi, he’s visited by aliens from the future, and ladies won’t stop treating him like a piece of meat when he’s just trying to read a book in his short shorts. Though, it’s not long before he gets into the spirit of the pleasure planet.

For a man like Picard, this means having a romantic cave sex with a renegade on a sparkly blanket during an adventure to solve an archaeological mystery. As Riker says, “I knew he’d have a great time!”

3. Curzon Dax

Curzon on Risa

We only hear a snippet about Curzon Dax ’s time on Risa, but it’s enough to earn him a prominent place on this list — “death by jamaharon .” For a man who lived so well, and will live on through future hosts, it seems fitting.

2. Commander Riker

Etana places a game on Riker's head while their in bed in 'The Game'

One of Risa 's most well-known fans — Commander Riker — has been to his personal paradise enough times that Counselor Troi is sick of hearing about it. We don’t get to see many of Riker’s trips there, but if the one we do see is any indication, his usual visits to Risa include playing sexy hide-and-go seek with feisty ladies (like the one who gives him the infamous “game” the entire crew gets addicted to). He also appears to be wearing some kind of futuristic wrap dress. Anything goes on Risa!

1. Ensign Sato

Sato on Risa

Romantic dinners, unexpected sexy times, and a whole lotta linguistics — there’s no better vacation if you’re Communications Officer Hoshi Sato . Unlike Malcolm and Trip, Hoshi goes into her two-day, two-night shore leave with low expectations, simply hoping to relax and learn Risian. But instead, she gets a romance fit for a Julia Roberts movie, proving that maybe it’s when you expect the least that you have the most fun on the pleasure planet.

This article was originally published on August 16, 2019.

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Jennifer Boudinot (she/her) is a freelance writer whose work has appeared on Collider, The Belladonna Comedy, and Points in Case. She's also the co-author of the books Dangerous Cocktails and Viva Mezcal. She lives in Brooklyn, New York, and is a Kira with a hint of Dax. Find her on Twitter @jenboudinot.

Graphic illustration featuring Rayner and the actor who portrays him, Callum Keith Rennie

star trek pleasure planet

Star Wars' Answer To Star Trek's Betazoids: Zeltrons Explained

F or all the ways "Star Wars" and "Star Trek" differ, they're surprisingly similar when it comes to the birds and the bees. Many of the heroes in both franchises prioritize their causes over the pursuit of sexual pleasure, be it peacekeeping and scientific exploration as a Starfleet officer or diplomacy and fighting against the forces of fascism as a member of either the Rebel Alliance or the Republic (if not both in some cases). By the same token, members of the Old Jedi Order were forbidden from developing emotional attachments, although the man behind "Star Wars" itself, George Lucas, has said that Jedi Knights weren't required to be "celibate."  

It's a good thing, too; Luke Skywalker definitely got around in the non-canon "Star Wars" Expanded Universe (aka Legends), and Mark Hamill has confirmed that so far as he's concerned, the son of Skywalker absolutely put his ... lightsaber to work.

There are, of course, exceptions to every rule. In "Star Trek," for example, you have Betazed, a planet populated by telepathic human-esque individuals, known as the Betazoids, who are a bit like Dionysus ( or Jack Black, whichever deity you subscribe to ) in their devotion to hedonism. But as often as the Betazoids' ribaldry has been played for gentle laughs since their introduction in "The Next Generation," where the half-human Deanna Troi (Marina Sirtis) was revealed to have gained her unusual aptitude for empathy from her full-blooded Betazoid mother Lwaxana Troi (Majel Barrett), more recent "Star Trek" series like "Lower Decks" have depicted them as being more than just frisky carousers.

Funnily enough, "Star Wars" has an answer to the Betazoids. No, not Prince Xizor, the cunning head of the Black Sun crime organization who very nearly seduced Leia Organa using his potent pheromones in the Legends novel "Shadows of the Empire." (Let me tell you; when the EU got horny, it got horny .) I'm actually referring to the Zeltrons.

Read more: The Best Star Wars Books Ever Written

I've Got A Not-So-Bad Feeling About This

Speaking of Xizor, the humanoid Zeltrons are seemingly capable of producing pheromones much like the classic '90s "Star Wars" villain's race, the reptilian Falleen. The difference is that where Xizor used this ability to try and get into other individuals' pants without them knowing what he was doing (which is in no way intended to stereotype the Falleen in general; Xizor's misconduct was his and his alone), the Zeltrons typically exude chemicals that have a calming effect. 

As with the Betazoids, you see, Zeltrons are essentially empaths who are highly attuned to the emotions of those in close vicinity, so much so that they can experience heightened versions of those very feelings. Naturally, this can be a problem under certain circumstances, which is why the Zeltrons in the current "Star Wars" canon are taught at a young age to always be mindful of their emotions.

The EU/Legends iteration of Zeltrons had even more in common with the Betazoids, right down to their culture's very sexual art, polyamorous lifestyles, and reputation for living life like they're on permanent vacation on Fire Island (complete with their fondness for being scantily-clad and dressing in highly evocative colors). It's not exactly shocking that their sexcapades have been toned down dramatically, if not abandoned outright, during what little we've gotten of them in the Disney-era "Star Wars" canon so far, which is too bad, given that the Zeltrons were portrayed in a relatively sex-positive light for their time. The Zeltron thief Dani (seen above) even had a fling with Luke before breaking up with him of her own accord (as opposed to getting killed, like so many of his other love interests).

But who knows: just as "Star Trek" has given the Betazoids their due respect of late, perhaps "Star Wars" will one day follow and boldly go where the franchise hasn't been willing to go before (canonically).

Read the original article on SlashFilm

Luke and Dani battling henchman in Star Wars comics

IMAGES

  1. Pleasure planet

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  2. Pleasure Planet by Ryan Heshka. : r/RetroFuturism

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  3. The Planet Risa and Gene Roddenberry’s Unrealized Queer Vision

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  4. Francine Pyne as Nancy III

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  5. Wrigley's Pleasure Planet

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  6. H&I

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VIDEO

  1. Pleasure Point Album Announcement

  2. Star Trek Relaxing Background Ambience: RISA The Pleasure Planet

  3. Planet Pleasure

  4. Captain Picard weighs pleasure against protocol

  5. ParticlePlay #1644

  6. Wolf in the Fold

COMMENTS

  1. Risa

    This place is called Risa, and believe me, Captain, it is a paradise. Warm tropical breezes, exotic foods, nothing to do but sit around all day…William T. Riker Designated as a "pleasure planet", Risa was an inhabited Federation planet located in a binary system, in orbit of the star Epsilon Ceti B, and was about ninety light years from the Sol system. The planet was orbited by at least two ...

  2. Star Trek's Pleasure Planet Risa Explained

    Published Oct 4, 2023. Star Trek's pleasure planet Risa is a tropical paradise with very friendly locals and sensual customs that make it a popular tourist destination. Summary. Risa, known as a "pleasure planet," catered to every whim of its 1.3 billion annual visitors, embodying a paradise with a generous spirit.

  3. Pleasure planet

    A planet might be known as a pleasure planet if it was known for providing entertainment or pleasure to visiting tourists. Risa was a pleasure planet that existed from at least the mid-22nd century right through to at least the late-32nd century ((ENT: "Two Days and Two Nights"; VOY: "Non Sequitur"; DS9: "Let He Who Is Without Sin..."; DIS: "The Examples") Wrigley's pleasure planet was an ...

  4. Shore Leave (Star Trek: The Original Series)

    Star Trek: The Original Series. ) " Shore Leave " is the fifteenth episode of the first season of the American science fiction television series Star Trek. Written by Theodore Sturgeon and directed by Robert Sparr, it first aired on December 29, 1966. In the episode, the crew of the Enterprise visits a bizarre planet where the fantasies of the ...

  5. A Trip to the Pleasure Planet

    StarTrek.com. Danny Mallory Ortberg and Colette Arrand, two friends of varying transsexual types, sit down for a chat about the pleasure planet Risa, and to ask just how many times a man can get "tricked" by aliens disguised as beautiful women before the whole planet qualifies as a force-femme fantasy. Danny Mallory Ortberg: Colette!

  6. Star Trek's Risa: The Pleasure Planet

    In the Star Trek universe, no other planet has captured the imagination of fans quite like Risa. Sometimes referred to as the "pleasure planet" it is the ultimate vacation spot for the crew of the Starship Enterprise and is associated with ultimate relaxation and pleasure. With Earth-like conditions, Risa combines the peaceful joys of a ...

  7. 'Two Days and Two Nights' and What Happens on Risa...

    Vacations in real life, and in Star Trek (in particular those that take place on Risa), always seem to go awry. Let's not forget Picard's ill-fated trip in Star Trek: The Next Generation's "Captain's Holiday."Like the crew of Archer's Enterprise, Picard was looking for a nice, relaxing break.Little does he know, he gets embroiled with Vash, the Ferengi, and the quest for the Tox Uthat.

  8. Wrigley's pleasure planet

    Wrigley's pleasure planet was considered as a location for shore leave in the Star Trek: Enterprise episode "Two Days and Two Nights", though it was decided that it sounded too Human and too well-known for what was supposed to be a relatively distant region, so it was replaced in the story with Risa. (Star Trek: Communicator issue 143, p. 31)

  9. Below Deck with Lower Decks: The Pleasure Planet

    Risa runs an elaborate weather control system that keeps the planet's subtropical rainy weather at bay, and provides 24/7 (or, well, whatever the Risan equivalent is) sunny skies, cool and clear romantic nights, low humidity, and breezy beaches. StarTrek.com. But, of course, Risa is perhaps best known for the Horga'hn, a Risan fertility totem.

  10. Star Trek's Pleasure Planet Risa Explained

    Star Trek captains and their ships frequently visited Risa for shore leave, as it offered hospitality services, natural attractions, and a celebration of sensuality. In Star Trek, the planet Risa was a popular tourist destination, commonly referred to as a "pleasure planet." With an overall temperate to tropical climate and at least 2 moons ...

  11. Risa

    Risa, also known as the "pleasure planet", is an M-class planet located in a binary star system, with two moons.It is the homeworld of the Risians and a member of the Federation. Risa is located about ninety light years from Earth. Culture and climate []. Originally a dismal, rain-soaked, and geologically unstable jungle planet plagued by violent earthquakes, the native Risans transformed ...

  12. Wrigley's Pleasure Planet

    Wrigley's Pleasure Planet (or Rigleigh's Pleasure World) was a planet. It was a famed recreational destination in Federation space, considered along with Risa as "one of the most popular vacation spots in the Alpha Quadrant." (TLE novel: The Art of the Impossible; SCE eBook: The Future Begins, ENT novel: Rosetta, DS9 eBook: Lust's Latinum Lost (and Found)) The planet had a purple atmosphere ...

  13. Pleasure Planet

    Star Trek. Star Trek: The Original Series "Shore Leave". The episode takes place on a planet where aliens went for amusement and the Enterprise crew found danger and weirdness. "The Man Trap" had a throwaway reference to "Wrigley's Pleasure Planet" by Crewman Darnell. The planet itself has quite on lot of speculation on Trek's Fetish Fuel Page.

  14. Jamaharon

    A horga'hn on display at Risa (2366). The jamaharon was a rite originating on the pleasure planet Risa.. One's desire to participate in jamaharon was indicated by the display of a horga'hn, a small statue which was the Risian symbol for sexuality.(TNG: "Captain's Holiday") When Leeta asked Julian Bashir what jamaharon was, he told her "I'll show you later." (DS9: "Let He Who Is Without Sin...

  15. Review: Escape from Pleasure Planet

    Taking heavy inspiration from Star Trek's Risa - and countless other sci-fi properties that have used the trope of a perfect planet that isn't what it seems - Escape from Pleasure Planet begins as Tycho descends upon a ruthless (yet beautiful) villain who's crashed upon the resort planet of Arcadia. Armed only with his wits, a bi ...

  16. The Planet Risa and Gene Roddenberry's Unrealized Queer Vision

    Risa was the brainchild of Ira Steven Behr, who wrote "Captain's Holiday.". According to William Shatner Presents: Chaos on the Bridge, a 2014 documentary, Gene Roddenberry approved Behr's concept for a pleasure planet; but he wanted to make one change to it. He wanted some Risian locals to be openly gay/queer because, in the future ...

  17. Risa

    Risa, also known as the "pleasure planet", is an M-class planet located in a binary star system, with two moons. It is the homeworld of the Risians and a member of the Federation. Risa is located about ninety light years from Earth. It is the location of STO's Summer Event, the Lohlunat Festival. Risa is one of the available planets/locations for the game's launch. Planets Risa on Memory Alpha ...

  18. What Is a Horga'hn on 'Star Trek'?

    For a Star Trek fan, there's nothing more idyllic than the fictional "pleasure planet" of Risa. That planet is a popular place for shore leave for Starfleet officers. It is also the home of ...

  19. Star Trek: Most Interesting Planets

    5 Risa. Risa is best known as the Pleasure Planet - and the name doesn't lie. Starfleet crews often go there for a vacation to get some rest and a breath of fresh air. Risa offers beautiful nature ...

  20. the pleasure planet of star trek Crossword Clue

    the pleasure planet of star trek Crossword Clue. The Crossword Solver found 30 answers to "the pleasure planet of star trek", 7 letters crossword clue. The Crossword Solver finds answers to classic crosswords and cryptic crossword puzzles. Enter the length or pattern for better results. Click the answer to find similar crossword clues .

  21. Two Days and Two Nights (episode)

    Dorn's direction of this episode makes him the only Star Trek regular to be involved with the majority of Star Trek episodes set on Risa. "Two Days and Two Nights" was filmed between Tuesday 19 March 2002 and Wednesday 27 March 2002 on Paramount Stages 8, 9, and 18. Second unit shots were filmed on Wednesday 3 April 2002 and insert shots on ...

  22. MAC x Star Trek Pleasure Planet & Set to Stun Lipglasses Reviews

    MAC Pleasure Planet Lipglass MAC Pleasure Planet Lipglass ($17.00 for 0.16 fl. oz.) is described as a "muted gold shimmer." It's a medium, yellowed gold. ... The Star Trek collection will be available online on August 25th and in-stores September 1st (North America). There are two more shades-Khaaannnn! (berry with red reflect) and Warp Speed ...

  23. Who Had the Best Time on Shore Leave?

    From worst to best, this is the definitive ranking of time on the Pleasure Planet. 12. Sub-Commander T'Pol. StarTrek.com. Leave it up to the notoriously serious Vulcan to have a worse trip to Risa than anyone else in the Star Trek universe. But T'Pol wasn't on the planet for pleasure — she went to hunt down fugitives.

  24. Star Wars' Answer To Star Trek's Betazoids: Zeltrons Explained

    Funnily enough, "Star Wars" has an answer to the Betazoids. No, not. Prince Xizor, the cunning head of the Black Sun crime organization. who very nearly seduced Leia Organa using his potent ...