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Ensign
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Sam Lavelle

anxious insecure superstitious ambitious
Ensign Sam Lavelle serves as a junior officer aboard the USS Enterprise-D, specializing in technical operations. Ambitious and technically proficient, he chases promotions with anxious intensity, often turning to superstitious habits amid career uncertainties. His friendship with Ensign Sito Jaxa frays under shared professional rivalries, exposing deep insecurities. Lavelle embodies the pressures facing Starfleet's lower decks, where competence battles doubt in the pursuit of advancement.
31 appearances
Starfleet Operations
Also known as: LAVELLE

Sam Lavelle's Journey

A timeline through the narrative

31 moments
S7E15 · Lower Decks
Promotion rivalry fractures junior officers

Tired but fair-minded, balancing the need for administrative efficiency with a genuine desire to promote the right candidates.

Commander Riker sits with Troi, reviewing PADDs and debating promotions for Lavelle and Sito. He initially favors Lavelle's technical experience but ultimately considers Sito's leadership potential. His fatigue with crew …

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S7E15 · Lower Decks
Sito’s hesitation exposes cracks in Alpha shift

Focused but simmering with competitive tension; his pride in his own performance is undercut by the team’s collective failure.

Ensign Lavelle mans the Conn with the focused intensity of a helmsman under fire. His fingers dance over the LCARS panels as he executes Riker’s command to 'Hard to starboard!' …

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S7E15 · Lower Decks
Riker’s Ops Assignment and Lavelle’s Disappointment

Disappointed and resentful, masking his emotions with forced humor and deflection. His embarrassment over Riker’s correction lingers, while his frustration with Sito’s promotion simmers beneath a facade of camaraderie.

Ensign Lavelle stands at the helm/navigation console, his hands adjusting the controls to resume the ship’s previous course after Riker’s curt order. His face flushes with embarrassment when Riker corrects …

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S7E15 · Lower Decks
Riker’s Judgment and Lavelle’s Resentment

Resentful and insecure, masking his hurt with sarcasm and forced humor. His emotional state is a volatile mix of embarrassment (from Riker’s correction) and jealousy (of Sito’s promotion), though he channels it into quiet bitterness rather than confrontation.

Lavelle sits at the helm, his hands gripping the controls as Riker delivers his critique of Sito. His face flickers with disappointment when Riker assigns Sito to Ops instead of …

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S7E15 · Lower Decks
Picard Alters Course and Riker Reassigns Ops

A mix of stung pride (from Riker’s dismissal and Sito’s promotion) and reluctant camaraderie (as he engages in banter with Sito, temporarily easing the tension). His surface calm masks simmering frustration, particularly when he voices his resentment about the promotion. There’s also a flicker of vulnerability when he admits to Sito that he feels Riker is 'out to get him,' revealing his deep-seated insecurity about his standing in the crew.

Ensign Sam Lavelle stands at the helm controls, his hands hovering over the panels as he resumes the ship’s previous course after Riker’s curt dismissal. His face flushes with embarrassment …

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S7E15 · Lower Decks
Lavelle’s Failed Bonding Attempt with Riker

Feigned confidence masking deep insecurity, transitioning to mortified embarrassment as his plan collapses.

Lavelle, clutching a nearly full drink, approaches Riker at the bar with feigned confidence, attempting to bond over a fabricated connection to Canadian heritage. His posture is rigid, his smile …

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S7E15 · Lower Decks
Worf’s endorsement fuels Lavelle’s envy

A volatile mix of envy, humiliation, and desperation, Lavelle’s surface confidence crumbles under Riker’s polite but dismissive response, leaving him emotionally raw and determined to prove himself—regardless of the cost.

Lavelle eavesdrops on Sito and Worf’s conversation, misinterpreting Worf’s endorsement as favoritism, which fuels his envy. His subsequent attempt to bond with Riker over shared Canadian roots—only to learn Riker …

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S7E15 · Lower Decks
Enterprise detects Cardassian escape pod

Confused and slightly anxious, with a underlying current of professional curiosity tinged with frustration at his lack of context.

Lavelle stands at the Conn station, his fingers hovering over the controls as he listens intently to the exchange between Picard, Riker, and Worf. His eyes widen slightly at the …

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S7E15 · Lower Decks
Picard confronts Cardassian rescue mission risks

Confused and slightly anxious, masking his uncertainty with professional composure

Ensign Sam Lavelle stands at the Conn station, his posture rigid with attentive confusion. His eyes dart between Picard, Riker, and Worf as the discussion unfolds, his expression betraying a …

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S7E15 · Lower Decks
Lavelle’s Rebuffed Training Request

A volatile mix of frustration and humiliation, masked by a thin veneer of professionalism. His desperation for recognition is palpable, but so is his fear of being seen as overly eager or incompetent.

Ensign Sam Lavelle approaches Commander Riker during the alpha shift change, his body language betraying a mix of nervousness and determination. He frames his request to stay for an additional …

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S7E15 · Lower Decks
Lavelle’s Rebuffed Training Request

A volatile mix of frustration and humiliation, masked by a thin layer of professionalism. His ambition is wounded, and the dismissal feels like a personal slight, fueling a quiet resentment that will later manifest in his interactions with Sito and his pursuit of promotion.

Ensign Sam Lavelle approaches Commander Riker with a mix of hesitation and determination, his posture slightly rigid as he interrupts the shift change to voice his request. His dialogue is …

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S7E15 · Lower Decks
Picard interrupts Sito’s duty with urgency

Startled curiosity tinged with professional envy and a hint of anxiety about being left out of the loop.

Ensign Lavelle exits the turbolift alongside an unnamed officer, his body language immediately stiffening as he locks eyes with Sito Jaxa—who is now walking beside Captain Picard in a manner …

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S7E15 · Lower Decks
Junior Officers Probe Mission Secrets

Anxious and ambitious, Lavelle is on edge, driven by a need to uncover information that could give him a leg up in his career or the poker game. His frustration with Ogawa's evasiveness is palpable, but he masks it with a veneer of casual curiosity.

Lavelle leads the speculation about the escape pod, pressing Ogawa for details and engaging in the poker game with a mix of ambition and anxiety. His probing questions reveal his …

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S7E15 · Lower Decks
Lavelle Bolsters Sito’s Confidence

Passionate and defensive, masking deep professional insecurity and resentment

Lavelle reacts viscerally to Sito’s self-doubt, slamming his hand on the table as he erupts in her defense. His voice is passionate, almost angry, as he insists, ‘You’re a damn …

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S7E15 · Lower Decks
Sito’s self-doubt exposed in poker game

Passionately defensive of Sito, but simmering with his own resentment and fear of failure—his outburst is as much about his own struggles as it is about supporting her.

Lavelle leans forward aggressively over the table, his usual competitive edge sharpened by Sito’s vulnerability. His reaction to her self-doubt is visceral—almost angry—as he slams his hand down (metaphorically, if …

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S7E15 · Lower Decks
Riker’s Blind Spot Exposed

Absent but implied to be anxious and determined to prove his worth, possibly feeling the pressure of Riker’s expectations.

Sam Lavelle is not physically present but is the focal point of Riker’s skepticism. His absence is felt as Riker and Troi dissect his motives, framing him as overly eager …

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S7E15 · Lower Decks
Lavelle’s insecurity surfaces in poker game

Anxious and exposed, oscillating between relief at the confession and dread of its implications.

Lavelle sits at the poker table, gripping his cards with tense fingers as Ben calls out his bluff. His posture stiffens when Ogawa and Sito challenge his self-defeating narrative about …

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S7E15 · Lower Decks
Taurik withdraws from the game

Anxious and introspective, oscillating between fragile hope (from Ogawa/Sito’s words) and self-loathing (his admission of manufacturing excuses for failure).

Lavelle sits hunched over his cards, his fingers nervously tapping the table as he absorbs Ogawa and Sito’s reassurances. His voice wavers slightly as he admits his self-sabotaging thought process—framing …

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S7E15 · Lower Decks
Troi exposes Riker’s self-doubt through poker

Not directly observable, but inferred as anxious and insecure—his struggles are what Riker is forced to confront.

Lavelle is not physically present in the scene but is the indirect subject of Riker’s self-reflection, triggered by Troi’s remark. His absence is palpable—his insecurity and Riker’s treatment of him …

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S7E15 · Lower Decks
Riker outplays Geordi in poker

Not directly observable (off-screen), but implied to be anxious and seeking validation.

Lavelle is mentioned indirectly as the subject of Riker’s reflection, triggered by Troi’s observation. His absence from the scene is telling—his struggles with ambition and self-doubt are projected onto Riker’s …

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S7E15 · Lower Decks
Lavelle’s Bluff Exposed and Ambition Revealed

Defensive and slightly sheepish, masking deep anxiety about his career trajectory and fear of not measuring up.

Lavelle’s poker bluff is ruthlessly called by Ben, exposing his overconfidence and the insecurity beneath it. He reacts defensively, then declines Ben’s invitation to continue playing blackjack, insisting he needs …

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S7E15 · Lower Decks
Taurik’s self-doubt and Geordi’s mentorship

Sheepish and exposed after the bluff, then resolutely focused on his promotion goals, masking deeper insecurity.

Lavelle, exposed by Ben’s call on his bluff, sits sheepishly as the poker game’s tension spills into professional anxieties. His reassurance to Taurik about Geordi (‘It depends on what kind …

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S7E15 · Lower Decks
Worf tests Sito’s trust in authority

Disengaged but subtly competitive (aware of Sito’s advancement opportunity)

Sam Lavelle is one of the non-descript (N.D.) officers leaving the gym after the martial arts class, his participation limited to the broader context of the scene. He does not …

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S7E15 · Lower Decks
Lavelle reveals Sito’s Cardassian mission

Frustrated and guilt-ridden, with a surface layer of anxious revelation. His tone suggests he’s grappling with the moral weight of Sito’s mission and his own complicity in the system that sent her.

Lavelle stands in the center of the group, his body language tense and his voice laced with frustration. He reveals the shuttle’s destination—Cardassian space—with a mix of resignation and barely …

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S7E15 · Lower Decks
Riker confirms Bajoran life-sign search

Stunned and emotionally raw, masking his fear behind a thin veil of professionalism—his usual ambition and anxiety momentarily eclipsed by the realization that Sito’s life hangs in the balance.

Ensign Lavelle conducts long-range sensor scans under Riker’s direction, his fingers hovering over the Conn console as he processes the revelation that the missing escape pod contains Bajoran life-signs—specifically Sito …

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S7E15 · Lower Decks
Picard risks treaty violation for probe

Shocked into vulnerability, his usual ambition replaced by a gnawing fear for Sito’s life—feeling both helpless and hyper-focused on the scans.

Lavelle stands at the Conn station, his fingers hovering over the controls as he processes Riker’s confirmation that they’re searching for Bajoran life-signs. His body tenses visibly—shoulders stiffening, breath catching—as …

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S7E15 · Lower Decks
Picard confirms Sito Jaxa’s death in log

Paralyzed by dread, his ambition momentarily eclipsed by the crushing weight of Sito’s confirmed death and the unspoken question of whether he could have done more to prevent it.

Lavelle turns sharply toward Data upon hearing the debris report, his face draining of color as dread etches into his features. He looks down at his console, fingers hovering over …

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S7E15 · Lower Decks
Data reveals Bajoran escape pod debris

Dreadful and anxious, with a creeping sense of guilt—his rivalry with Sito now feels trivial in the face of her possible death.

Lavelle turns to Data with a face full of dread, his body tensing as the implication of the debris hits him. He looks down at his console, fingers hovering over …

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S7E15 · Lower Decks
Picard announces Sito’s death

A tumult of guilt, relief, and lingering sorrow, oscillating between self-recrimination and the desire to honor Sito’s memory through his own actions.

Lavelle enters Ten Forward visibly troubled, his new collar pip clutched in his hand. He sits with Ogawa and Taurik, his body language tense and his voice lacking enthusiasm as …

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S7E15 · Lower Decks
Lavelle’s Promotion Haunted by Sito’s Sacrifice

Deeply conflicted, oscillating between pride in his achievement and shame over its timing. His grief for Sito is compounded by the fear that his success is built on her sacrifice, creating a moral dilemma that overshadows his joy.

Lavelle enters Ten Forward visibly troubled, his new rank pip clutched in his hand. He sits with his friends but struggles to celebrate his promotion, voicing his guilt that Sito—who …

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S7E15 · Lower Decks
Worf joins Sito’s memorial gathering

Guilt-ridden and conflicted, oscillating between pride in his achievement and shame over the circumstances of his promotion.

Lavelle enters Ten Forward visibly troubled, his new collar pip—a symbol of his promotion to Ops—clutched in his hand. He sits with Ogawa and Taurik, confessing his conflicted feelings about …

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Affiliation

Starfleet
Federation Starship Command, Classified Intelligence, and Hierarchical Operations