Star Trek: The Next Generation
"Sarek"
Air date: 5/14/1990
Teleplay by Peter S. Beagle
Story by Marc Cushman & Jake Jacobs
Directed by Les Landau
Review by Jamahl Epsicokhan
Famed Vulcan Ambassador Sarek (Mark Lenard) comes aboard the Enterprise to conduct delicate negotiations with the Legarans, an alien species that Sarek has single-handedly been able to open relations with on behalf of the Federation. Sarek intends to seal the talks as the crowning achievement in his storied career. While en route to meet the Legarans, however, odd occurrences of flaring tempers begins to affect members of the crew, with escalating urgency. Meanwhile, it becomes evident that Sarek himself may be having problems controlling his emotions; Picard sees a tear in the Vulcan's eye during a concert in Ten-Forward.
The flaring tempers begin ominously but harmlessly, as Wesley and Geordi get into a shouting match over who's more hopeless when it comes to women (ah, a perfectly appropriate nerd fight!), and slowly escalates: Crusher slaps her son in the face for no good reason, and ultimately an entire bar brawl breaks out in Ten-Forward — a visual that proves as amusing as it does odd. What's going on here? Crusher believes that it's a case of a rare Vulcan mental illness that results in a loss of emotional control. The side effects are unintentionally inflicted upon others, caused by Sarek's telepathic abilities randomly projecting emotions, and thus havoc, on members of the crew. Picard runs into resistance with Sarek's staff and wife Perrin (Joanna Miles) when he recommends that they delay the negotiations. A delay would derail the talks completely, and Sarek will not hear of it.
In addition to being a rare, direct, fan-welcome bridging of TNG and TOS, "Sarek" is an obvious example of the "actor's episode." Some Trek outings highlight action or visual effects as their main selling points; this one highlights performances. It's a good, solid story that's elevated by two critical acting scenes. One is where Picard confronts Sarek, and Sarek attempts to prove his competence while his emotional control is not being held together by his aide Sakkath (Rocco Sisto). Sarek's gradual deterioration as depicted by Mark Lenard in this scene is an explosive (and heartbreaking) sight to behold. The other big scene comes when Picard offers to accept a mind meld that temporarily allows Sarek to regain control of his emotions long enough to finish the negotiations. In the meantime, Picard's mind must host Sarek's savagely intense and unfiltered Vulcan emotions. Patrick Stewart is completely uninhibited in showing a rambling, anguished explosion of Sarek's inner voices, fury, and soul. It's a remarkably brave performance that makes us believe in this intriguing premise.
Thematically, the story provides a subtle allegory on the elderly and the mentally ill, regarding the issues of humiliation they must endure when the circumstances of their health force them to abandon important parts of their lives and identity. There is no cure for Sarek's condition; like Alzheimer's, it will slowly continue to steal him away, separating the mental faculties from the man.
Previous episode: The Most Toys
Next episode: Menage à Troi
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63 comments on this post
Tue, Jul 3, 2012, 4:54am (UTC -5)
Wed, Aug 29, 2012, 10:11pm (UTC -5)
Thu, Aug 22, 2013, 7:37am (UTC -5)
Sun, Sep 8, 2013, 4:52am (UTC -5)
The poor sod who crossed him wouldn't live to tell the tale.
Tue, Dec 17, 2013, 9:07am (UTC -5)
Mon, Feb 10, 2014, 9:08pm (UTC -5)
And on a similar note, I thought the Picard-as-Sarek scene was too over the top as well. I guess they were trying to convey that Vulcan emotions are that much more powerful than human ones, but it still didn't convince me. Picard alternating between shouting and crying while verbalizing Sarek's internal monologue was also rather silly to me. For one, if he is really experiencing that much emotion, would he just remain seated the entire time (or did Bev strap him down?)? And two, if he was really so overcome with emotions, how could he enunciate clearly like that? Ever see people give speeches at a funeral or other emotional event? Notice how they have trouble talking when they start to cry?
For that matter, I think the scene also could have been plotted better. Wouldn't it still make sense, within the confines of the story, if Sarek transferred over only his emotions, but not necessarily the thoughts that went with it? Mindmelds aren't exactly perfectly fleshed out in Trek lore, so why not? Then we could see Picard not being able to control his emotions, but they would be HIS emotions and not Sarek's. Wouldn't it be better to have an unbridled, brutal look at the main character of the show rather than a one-time guest star? Especially since Sarek's thoughts and emotions were pretty pedestrian, all things considered?
Still, a very good episode on the whole. I particularly liked that Picard asked Beverly to stay with him; it's a nice reinforcement of their friendship.
Mon, Feb 10, 2014, 9:44pm (UTC -5)
Sat, May 9, 2015, 12:26pm (UTC -5)
Sat, Jun 13, 2015, 9:19pm (UTC -5)
Two things I'll mention that make this episode so good. First, the scene where Picard confronts Sarek about his problem. It's amazing that that confrontation takes up an entire act of the episode (from commercial break to commercial break) and yet it just flies by. It really is a testament to some wonderful actors (not just Stewart and Lenard, but the others in the scene as well). It's nothing but a bunch of people (and eventually just two) standing in a room talking and yet it's riveting. Second, the scene where Picard deals with Sarek's emotions. Stewart indeed knocks it out of the park, acting-wise, but that isn't what stands out most for me. I especially liked the end of the scene where Crusher takes Picard into her arms and comforts him. It's a really well-handled and kind-of subtle demonstration of their relationship. Nothing really needs to be said, she just bends down and embraces him in his time of need. These are two people who genuinely care for each other. It's a shame they never properly pursued this relationship because all the elements are clearly there for it to be wonderful.
9/10
Sun, Sep 6, 2015, 10:07am (UTC -5)
What elevates it above the norm are two bravura acting performances from Mark Lenard and Patrick Stewart. The latter steals the show in the stunning scene where he struggles with Sarek's repressed and raging emotions - the simple "It's quite... difficult" as he regains himself for a moment may be the best delivered line in the series so far. 3.5 stars.
Mon, Oct 12, 2015, 10:55pm (UTC -5)
The allegory of old age and ilness was really well done, a theme that's so universal that it makes this episode timeless. Also, the acting. I almost felt the "Irrelevant" scene was a bit over the top, as SkepticalMI said, but any doubts of this episode's quality were erased by the end of it.
I loved the mindmeld scene for all the reasons stated above and for something more: this is pure TNG optimism right here. Sarek's problem is everyone else's problems too. While they can't cure him, they can at least help him bear this burden. And you see Beverly Crusher helping Picard as well.
Btw, this is once again* a great way to bridge TNG with TOS, something the previous seasons couldn't do well at all. One of the greatest strenghts of S3.
* The other time (imo) was with the first Romulan episodes of the season. They made me care for that alien race, and at the same time, I acknowledged their importance in the overall universe of Star Trek.
Wed, Mar 16, 2016, 11:39am (UTC -5)
Here's another question I never thought of until now: Might Perrin be Sybok's mother?
Wed, Mar 16, 2016, 2:38pm (UTC -5)
Fri, Sep 9, 2016, 10:15am (UTC -5)
I remember an interview in which P. Stewart evaded a question about which role he liked better, Picard or Prof. Xavier. Episodes like this (and there are so many) make it very hard to believe he really doesn't know the answer - Picard is clearly THE role he was born to play, and he invested so much more of himself in this role, so much more emotional depth, charisma, and brilliant acting than any other role I've seen him in (I haven't seen his theatre work). One could argue that he revitalized Star Trek almost by himself. I can only assume he didn't answer because he didn't want to alienate his x-men fans.
Fri, May 12, 2017, 8:19pm (UTC -5)
Sat, May 13, 2017, 1:37am (UTC -5)
Ah, but the positive side is, this gave Voyager not too many opportunities to display the strongminded controlling father alongside the ineffectual placating mother, the Great Man father alongaide his devoted, self-abnegating wife; the show-stealing father alongaide the generic smiling mother, the well-characterized brother alongaide the generic smiling sister-in-law.
Not that there's like, a pattern there or anything.
(What other female relatives showed up on ST?, Well, there's Ziyal. She was interesting when first introduced - actually I thought she was going to develop in exciting ways and create great new storylines. But she was quickly downgraded to a generic Sweet Young Thing who existed to give Dukat and Garak an object to argue over. So who else? Geordi's dead mother. Tasha's hot sister.)
Now, Mrs Sarek. Who is Mrs Sarek? She is a person. She is a person who fell in love, moved to an alien land with her unemotional Romeo - where she was required to give up all normal and natural human self-expression, all laughter and fun and tears and authenticity that she had been accustomed to to. She has a husband so coolly unfeeling that while she is striving to protect his dignity, he is meanwhile making dry disapproving comments to near-strangers about his wife's unseemly human over emotionality. She has an adopted society so rigid and coercive, it demands she use excruciating self-control and constant decorous deportment at all times.
Yet the episode tells us that she is content inside these strict limits, on this planet where she is never allowed to cry or laugh or play or tell a friend how she feels or be her own true and relaxed self.. And why is she content? Because she has the lurrrrve of a great man. Sure, he is barely willing to actually show her any lurrrrve, but she sets the bar low enough that the little glimmers of lurrrrve he flicks at her are enough to fill her heart. Sure, she has sacrificed her own soul and her own self and receives almost nothing. But it's lurrrrve! And he is a great man. Wifehood trumps all the negatives.
(It's too bad: I probably would have loved the episode had they simply given Sarek a normal Vulcan wife , and spared us the character of an all-but-burqa-clad Mrs. S.)
Sat, May 13, 2017, 9:47am (UTC -5)
Which makes it even better - when the old devoted human female croaks he just goes and gets a newer model to replace her. You'd think bridging the cultural gulf and finding companionship with an alien woman would be something special, maybe even once in a lifetime. But for Sarek I guess it's no bigger a deal than checking the "human" box on his Vulcan Tinder App.
Sat, May 13, 2017, 10:11am (UTC -5)
Sat, May 13, 2017, 10:20am (UTC -5)
Sat, May 13, 2017, 3:12pm (UTC -5)
But where is he finding these human women willing to devote their lives to him? I think Raveena illustrated pretty well how unlikely it is a woman would seek out such a lifestyle. So we're left with the assumption that Sarek caught lightning in a bottle twice.
I suppose it's not wrong from a plot standpoint. But for me it just feels like they needed Sarek to have a wife and a human one, couldn't make the math work with the original wife, so they manufactured a new identical one as a plot contrivance. It makes Mrs. Sarek seem, shall we say, disposable.
Sat, May 13, 2017, 3:24pm (UTC -5)
"But where is he finding these human women willing to devote their lives to him?"
Simple, Sarek's a prestigious Federation official and some women are attracted to that sort of prestige. As for the human side of the equation, wasn't Sarek a Vulcan ambassador to Earth granting him ample opportunity to meet human women?
What's more, this episode really only shows a slice of Prinna's role as Sarek's wife during a time in which Sarek desperately needs special care. For all we know during Sarek's healthy life, Prinna influenced Federation trade deals and policy along with Sarek, it's just not relevant to this episode.
Sat, May 13, 2017, 3:55pm (UTC -5)
Sat, May 13, 2017, 8:31pm (UTC -5)
"But where is he finding these human women willing to devote their lives to him?"
It sounds strangely like you're saying that no human woman could or would ever find a Vulcan desirable. Is that really what you're trying to say? Because I bet you there are many human women who would enjoy the company of an intelligent and sophisticated Vulcan. How many of them could endure long-term in such a relationship is another matter, and has more to do with what typical values are in the 24th century compared to now and how people are raised. If a large enough proportion of humans value logic over emotion then they might even find Vulcans to be role models. We don't see that in Trek because the shows try to show us different cultures, rather than people from one culture taking on the ways of another. But in reality I'm sure there would be many 'Vulcanist' humans, and also ones who like the Klingon traditions as Curzon did.
Tue, Jul 4, 2017, 4:17pm (UTC -5)
Also a chance for Picard to show his great Shakespearean acting when he takes on Sarek's emotions. I don't know why he didn't walk around the room, stomp his feet etc. but it was good to see Crusher there doing what a doctor and dear friend would.
Bigger picture - it does shine a light on the struggles of the elderly to not lose their respect and their desire for finishing their life's work -- that much is accurately portrayed here. Those closest to Sarek are doing their best to keep him together and let him have his dignity.
The scene with Picard confronting Sarek is the highlight of this episode -- not so much when Sarek explodes as if he's having a seizure -- but for how Picard logically confronts the aging Vulcan and his initial reactions.
Too bad we didn't actually get to see the Legarans given they went to such great extents to set up a slime pool for them on the Enterprise!
I'd rate "Sarek" just highly enough to get to 3.5 stars - poignant performances that aren't often seen in Trek.
Wed, Sep 13, 2017, 6:52pm (UTC -5)
The first say 3/4 of episode kinda aimless. The bickering among the crew was not that interesting. And really not much else really going on. So basically it took to Sarek really coming front and center with 15 minutes left in hour that the episode picked up in my opinion with Picard finally confronting Sarek about his condition. The scene featuring Picard suffering through the emotional turmoil did a good job really conveying to the audience exactly how torturous Bendii syndrome was and really in that moment I could feel like in Sarek's shoes. And if you're going to bring on a TOS character going with A Vulcan who it has been previously established as being long lived was the way to go and to explore aging in Vulcans was right way to go with this story too. Something like Bendii would be a disease you'd expect to see in older Vulcans--breaking down their ability to repress their emotions
Actually one of the weaker season three episodes. Season three very very consistently good and solid. Still think season four better with more four star and three-and-a-half star episodes from me than season three which was comprised of a whole bunch of thre star episodes which is still good and what you'd want out of most week episodes
Wed, Nov 29, 2017, 4:16pm (UTC -5)
Patrick Stewart's emoting scene recalls Leonard Nimoy's emotional breakdown in TOS episode The Naked Time -I think it is almost identical.
Mark Lenard lends TNG some class and gravitas and I loved Geordi and Wesley's fight about who was the most useless Lothario.
Great that Wesley reminded us of Geordi's creepy holo love affair.
Fri, Dec 8, 2017, 11:20am (UTC -5)
Riker: "Is it my imagination or have tempers become a little frayed on this ship lately?'
Worf: "I hadn't noticed."
as they walk into an all out brawl. Priceless.
3 1/2 stars.
Mon, Feb 19, 2018, 12:47pm (UTC -5)
Fri, Apr 27, 2018, 6:12pm (UTC -5)
Thu, May 17, 2018, 10:08pm (UTC -5)
The Picard/Sarek confrontation was marvelous, as was Picard facing the onslaught of Sarek's overwhelming emotions. However, my favorite scene was the concert and the single tear. Magnificent.
And it was so nice to finally have Vulcans back on the show in meaningful way.
Sat, Jun 2, 2018, 8:22am (UTC -5)
One reason might be that a lot of viewers derived great satisfaction from seeing Wesley finally get smacked.
Sat, Jun 2, 2018, 8:24am (UTC -5)
"Simple, Sarek's a prestigious Federation official and some women are attracted to that sort of prestige."
"Power is the ultimate aphrodisiac." --Henry Kissinger
Sat, Jun 9, 2018, 8:19pm (UTC -5)
You're a simple narrow-minded piece of work. You must be lonely because I suspect NOBODY would tolerate 2 minutes of your inane drivel. Go crawl back under your rock......perhaps there's a roach waiting to marry you......oh wait....that would be too hard on the poor roach!
Sat, Jun 16, 2018, 9:10am (UTC -5)
Thu, Jul 26, 2018, 2:02am (UTC -5)
Thu, Aug 9, 2018, 4:57am (UTC -5)
Mon, Aug 13, 2018, 10:42am (UTC -5)
So Wes is dating an Ensign, eh? It's interesting that no one on the ship seems to have a problem with this. Wesley was 17 during the third season, while his "lucky" lady was at least 22, given her rank. I suppose his status as Boy Genius and Perpetual Ship Saver makes such a scandalous pairing OK. "Yes, he's still in high and school wears nothing but gray pajamas, but he saved my life!"
Sat, Mar 30, 2019, 10:28pm (UTC -5)
The episode improved once we saw more of Sarek and of course Picard`s mind melding experience.
actually, not to be facetious but that beautiful green planet really stood out for me as well.
8/10
Fri, Nov 1, 2019, 1:08am (UTC -5)
Great performances from Stewart and Lenard - a classic. In lesser hands might have been overwrought, hokey even. But I found the story of the brilliant, legendary, (but aging and ill) ambassador, genuinely moving.
I have always liked the character of Sarek and his portrayal by the talented Mark L, and he turns in a virtuoso performance, here. Perrin is also well portrayed. They all are.
We've been looking all Season at life, what it means to be alive, the need for relationships and for purpose. With Sarek, we take a look from a different angle. He isn't Data, struggling to feel, he's a Vulcan trying not to feel. He isn't inexperienced Lal, learning control, he's a learned man losing control. He isn't dead Tasha preventing a meaningless death, he's lived a life full of purpose and meaning, and he wants to die with dignity.
But for everyone we've seen during this outstanding season, ultimately the message is the same: We need each other and we need to belong and we need purpose.
The mind meld takes the idea of needing support, needing connection and intimacy from others, and dramatically pushes it to its limits. But we also see more everyday examples, from Perrin, from the rest of Sarek's entourage, and from Beverly, as she comforts a very needy Jean Luc.
Thu, Nov 28, 2019, 6:49pm (UTC -5)
"I liked this one, but not too sure why Picard wasn't just sedated while he had to host Sarek's emotions. Was it integral that he stay conscious in such turmoil?"
I feel Picard would *want* to: to have the unique opportunity to experience this man he admired, in full force.
To quote him earlier in the episode: "I suppose they were foolish and vain, my expectations of this voyage. Sharing his thoughts, memories, his unique understanding of the history he's made." Turns out he gets to do this anyway, and a lot more directly than anticipated.
Tue, Feb 18, 2020, 8:22am (UTC -5)
Sat, Feb 22, 2020, 7:46am (UTC -5)
A couple of niggles - Riker turns up at 10 Forward where there's a large scale brawl breaking out - surely his first instinct would be to bellow at them to stop? Like when Pike turns up at a bar fight in one of the movies. He'd take charge, instantly. Instead he just wanders through it, until he gets chinned himself.
Also, when Riker and Picard fight (verbally) on the bridge it's notable that Picard apologises, but Riker doesn't.
Finally, the mind meld thing - can't help thinking that Picard's emotional state might have been appropriate during the mind meld, but not for an hour afterwards. They sort of conveniently rewrote the manual for that one.
Nonetheless, inevitable niggles aside - a really good one.
Tue, Apr 21, 2020, 7:38pm (UTC -5)
Fri, May 22, 2020, 6:12am (UTC -5)
Perhaps it's that Klingon's aggressive emotions are a lot closer to the surface all the time than the case with Earth humans, and he'd be much more used to consciously holding himself back, whereas the others would do that unconsciously, and that was where the telepathic disinhibition was focussed.
And Troi didn't seem affected either.
But I'd have thought that we'd have seen something more like the Naked Time/Naked Now setup, with a range of different enotions being released. After all with it wasn't particularly aggressive emotions that Vulcan's held rigidly back.
Still that would have been a different scenario, and this one worked well. Good to see Patrick Stewart given his head. And the bar fight was wonderful, including that pugnacious lady - I wonder if they used her again, they should have.
Sat, Oct 24, 2020, 1:55pm (UTC -5)
Something I’ve noticed about TNG opinions is that the location of one’s “PC” meter sometimes factors into judgment of an episode. Trek has always been about social commentary, so we expect it. But one person’s overreach that informs judgment of a episode to be a failure, to another person might be brilliant or exciting drama.
My opinion of this episode falls into that category. It was nice to see a beloved character, nice to see Alzheimer’s issues highlighted, but aside from these, there wasn’t much depth to it.
What would I have changed? Perhaps take the focus off the dramatic “discovery” of Sarek’s condition, and instead, simply make it clear he arrived in that state. This way, much more time could have actually been spent IN the negotiations. For my part, I was really looking forward to seeing these aliens that required a foul smelling soup for a habitat!
But my overall point is that we’re all going to judge episodes that highlight issues we find important as positive. Criteria for quality should instead be placed on plotting and writing. Again, not bad, but not great here.
Sun, Mar 21, 2021, 6:48pm (UTC -5)
As much as I can remember this was the best instance of bridging the gap from TOS to TNG since Admiral McCoy in the pilot. Savak is fantastic and does a great job of showing his deterioration. I didn't know Vulcans were telepathic - has that always been the case?
Unlike others, it seems, I could have done without the scene where Picard is overwhelmed by Savak's emotions. Nothing wrong with Stewart's acting or anything else it just wasn't the sort of thing I really wanted to see from Vulcan/Human interactions.
Not a lot here that is bad, I enjoyed the whole episode from end to end.
Tue, Mar 23, 2021, 7:01pm (UTC -5)
The last time Trek showed us a mother slapping her son out of the blue was back in TOS, during the episode during which we were first introduced to Sarek (then in the prime of Vulcan life) , Journey to Babel. I remember Amanda's unexpected slap of Spock making me sit up straight on the couch.
I think it's more than a coincidence that the event replays in this episode that introduces us to the old man Sarek has become.
I wonder, could the writers have been hinting that Sarek may have been leaking some emotional vibes during Journey to Babel, too, perhaps because of his medical problems? I certainly don't think we were supposed to believe that Amanda routinely smacked around an adult Spock.
Tue, Mar 23, 2021, 7:16pm (UTC -5)
I like your idea, but it could be the inverse: maybe Dr. Crusher slaps Wesley *because* Amanda slapped Spock. Maybe Sarek is projecting his memories telepathically as well.
Tue, Mar 23, 2021, 7:27pm (UTC -5)
Tue, Mar 23, 2021, 11:08pm (UTC -5)
One should also consider why Amanda slapped Spock -- she's frustrated with Vulcan logic and that Spock is choosing duty over saving his father's life. She can't understand that and reacts in an understandable way. I don't think Fontana would attribute the slap to an unreasonable mental lapse for Amanda due to Sarek involuntarily projecting some vibes. The slap comes organically.
Whereas in "Sarek" Dr. Crusher just slaps Wesley for no reason -- it's all because of Sarek's mental instability, though the memory leakage hypothesis in this particular instance has some merit.
Thu, Mar 25, 2021, 12:21am (UTC -5)
I do think that once you do have the information from both episodes, it could be argued that if a Vulcan would lose telepathic control of his emotions due to neurological decay, he might also lose it momentarily when "incapacitated" by a heart condition, especially at moments when he is slipping in and out of consciousness.(Good thing Vulcans aren't telekinetic. If they were, a Vulcan ICU would have equipment flying all over the place like the scene in Plato's Stepchildren when Parmen's delirium is translated into physical chaos.)
I actually think the writers may not have thought it all the way through, because I suspect if they had, they would have been so proud of the idea that they would not have been able to resist throwing in at least one line somewhere that would explicitly point out to the viewer that Sarek's memory of Amanda's conflict with Spock was overflowing to the crew of the Enterprise-D, and was picked up by the two people whose relationship was most similar. If they did, it was a masterful touch, and I'm sorry they overestimated my (and apparently most other viewers') perceptiveness, given that it took me over three decades to appreciate it. Even if it was just a little homage to the TOS episode, I am a little sorry how long it took me.
But as with most things, once seen, it cannot be unseen. You'll never convince me now that it was just a coincidence. I think they did it on purpose.
Sun, Mar 28, 2021, 2:36am (UTC -5)
Stewart was in no small way key to the success of TNG.
I liked the writing and acting of both the Wesley/Geordi and Picard/Riket fights.
I didn't realize Levar Burton was doing Reading Rainbow before TNG even started. Wesley's wisecrack to Geordi about reading a book was actually an actor joke.
Thu, Jul 15, 2021, 11:59pm (UTC -5)
"I'm sure there would be many 'Vulcanist' humans, and also ones who like the Klingon traditions as Curzon did."
You know this is an excellent point, and I don't think it needs be confined to the fictitious world of Star Trek. Indeed, I think that, in TNG's heyday, the writers understood that the best way to make characters of other races relatable was to make them something to aspire to be, rather than the "Weird Alien Culture of the Week" or "Bad Guys With Plastic Goop Masks."
I would speculate that even now (TNG is after all still wildly popular, and rightly so), there are many people who think the Human Race could stand to be as Logical as Vulcans, or as devoted to Family and Honor and Courage as Klingons. They espouse elements of our culture which we can hold as virtues, rather than being there simply to advance the plot.
Message to all fiction writers: If your story element does nothing but advance the plot, REWRITE IT (LOOKING AT YOU DISCOVERY).
Fri, Aug 13, 2021, 2:49am (UTC -5)
Scattered random thoughts:
1. Data - talking about different violinists - says “I have been programmed…” Surely his neural net capabilities would lead him to say “I have learned…”?
2. Does a mind meld actually result in BECOMING the other mind? Perhaps I’ve forgotten my TOS, but I didn’t think so.
3. Another useless Troi contribution; and Gates McFadden really can’t act!
4. A great moment on the Bridge, when Data and Sakkath have their discussion: digital logic meets Vulcan logic, fascinating when you consider that Data was conceived as a “Spock substitute”.
5. The Ligarans as a kind of “Niles Crane’s Maris” or “Captain Mainwaring’s Elizabeth” - I.e. people much talked about but never seen. Though obviously crucial to the episode.
6. Sarek’s taking another human being as his wife, just as he did with Spock’s mother. I wonder if they have any children?
I think 3 stars is fair - Jammer’s been just a tad generous? Maybe?
Fri, Aug 20, 2021, 8:32pm (UTC -5)
Tue, Nov 2, 2021, 8:18pm (UTC -5)
As for "memory leakage," (Trish, Mar. 2021) --it's an interesting idea about mothers slapping sons in parallel Sarek episodes, and I think that it may have been in the mind of the writers, but Sarek never saw Amanda slap Spock in TOS' Journey to Babel. So we are forced to conclude that slapping would not have been part of Sarek's direct memory leaking into Beverly.
Clearly though, there are few events more serious than a mother slapping an adult child. Little else in life telegraphs greater distress than that particular act. This, along with the Geordi/Wesley blow-up and Stewart's powerful radiation of Sarek's inner torment, makes this episode very effective.
Mon, Jan 31, 2022, 7:49pm (UTC -5)
"What makes you guys think that Sarek taking a Human wife in Amanda was some random coincidence? He told Spock it seemed like the *logical* thing to do, which means it wasn't a fluke."
To me, "At the time, it seemed the logical thing to do" kind of suggested that maybe Sarek and Amanda "had to" get married, because she was pregnant. (I'm not saying she was; I'm speculating.) Though you’d think in the twenty-third century they’d have more reliable means of contraception.
Thu, Mar 24, 2022, 10:04pm (UTC -5)
Sat, Apr 23, 2022, 3:53am (UTC -5)
Some random thoughts:
Why didn't Sarek do the mind-meld mumbo-jumbo with his Vulcan valet rather than with Picard?
Five full minutes of Picard contorting himself while emotionalizing and schizophreniazing I could've done without. I thought the poor guy was gon' bust an artery or something. But I guess he's a thespian and he was in his element doing that nonsense so...have at it. I just FFd through that part.
The violin pieces were exquisite, and I'm not a classical music aficionado by any means.
Riker getting whacked in the kisser was the single greatest moment of the season, maybe the entire show!!!
Sat, Dec 10, 2022, 5:48pm (UTC -5)
Mon, Feb 6, 2023, 12:25am (UTC -5)
Because Sarek needed Picard’s emotional stability and diplomatic skills to augment his own. The mind meld works in both directions.
Sun, May 21, 2023, 12:12am (UTC -5)
Sat, Jun 3, 2023, 12:31am (UTC -5)
PICARD: Well, we'll respect Mister Mendrossen's request and allow Ambassador Sarek his privacy. I suppose they were foolish and vain, my expectations of this voyage. Sharing his thoughts, memories, his unique understanding of the history he's made.
Pretty sneaky writing.
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