Mica Burton Copied A Signature Geordi La Forge Move For Star Trek: Picard
In season 3 of "Star Trek: Picard," the original crew from "Star Trek: The Next Generation" have returned to help their old friend Jean-Luc (Patrick Stewart) in one last great adventure. Enterprise engineer and Starfleet museum operator Geordi La Forge (LeVar Burton) has ended up back in the thick of things against his will after Picard came to him for help along with one of his daughters, Sidney (Ashlei Sharpe Chestnut). Sidney steers the helm of the U.S.S. Titan and is quite a bit different from her dear dad, but the other La Forge daughter is a chip off the old block. Alandra not only works with her dad at the museum, she's also an engineer. What's more, she's played by LeVar Burton's real-life daughter, Mica Burton.
Mica managed to get the gig without involving her dad at all, and seeing the two of them onscreen together is truly lovely. There's real love and a genuine father-daughter relationship behind the fictional one, and that's pretty darn cool. In a recent interview with Collider, she explained that there are some traits she picked up from watching her dad that ended up becoming a part of her character as well.
It's all in the hands
When asked about the similarities between Alandra and her dad compared to her sister Sidney, Mica explained that at least one similarity was intentional on her part:
"A mannerism I picked up from my dad on set that he didn't notice until he saw the first picture of us in uniform together, is that I hold my hands exactly how he holds his hands in front of him and behind him. And I think that is kind of who Alandra is. She so much looks up to her father that she so much wants to be like him, but also envies Sidney for having the courage to be somewhat different. But I think that both sisters have their own little mini versions of Geordi in themselves."
What's interesting is that Geordi tends to stand in similar positions to the military stance for "at rest," with his feet shoulder-width apart and his hands folded either in front of him or behind him at waist level. It makes sense that he would default to that stance, because once you learn it, it becomes your default. (There's a reason it's "at rest," because it's a pretty comfortable way to stand!) Starfleet is kind of an intergalactic military, after all. It's easy to spot the similarities in the way that Mica and Geordi both stand, but there's plenty more in common between all three Starfleet La Forges.
Stellar sisters
One thing Geordi clearly instilled in his daughters is a willingness to stand up for what they believe is right, even when it's not always easy to do so. Sidney went her own way in Starfleet, becoming a pilot instead of following in her father's footsteps and working in engineering, and both daughters demand that he allow them to help with Picard's mission. They're not afraid because they've heard all of the tales of their father's heroism, and both are looking to do some heroic things themselves.
While it's probably pretty hard for Geordi to see his daughters put themselves in the line of fire the same way he once used to (and still does, if Picard comes knocking), he has to be proud of what incredible young women he's helped to raise. One thing that's nice for Mica and LeVar is that he never has to pretend to be proud of her, because it's all real.
New episodes of "Star Trek: Picard" premiere Thursdays on Paramount+.