PATRON TAKES - Star Trek TNG - Season 3 Episode 7
Comment on this post your ‘takes’ on this episode and we will read a few in our discussion!
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- A brief review (2-3 sentences) of why you like/dislike the episode
- A question for us about the episode
- A prediction of how you think we will react to a certain aspect of the episode
- A fun fact about the episode
We are watching this episode Monday, so we won’t be reading the comments on this until then. If you have questions shoot us a message!
Comments (45)
Good episode. Some good questions on values and ethics is raised. This is about in the middle of the pack for me as far as Season 3 episodes go.
This is a good Geordi ep. One of those few episodes where we see through Geordi’s eyes ,, ( this leads to a great conversation about perception) Worf is not human! But most important is Wesleys move as MVP Even Geordi instantly knows who to give the props to. The romulans are more interesting than before.
The Romulan commander is played by Andreas Katsulas, who you saw as G’Kar in Babylon 5, and the one armed man in The Fugitive.
Notice that last season Picard had some odd questions about Pulaski especially her "consuming dedication to her work and could such dedication interfere with her judgement?" He is really asking about Beverly having seen the trait in someone else, that she just won't let some things go, but he doesn't have the guts to ask Troi about Beverly. Its easier to just diss the same observation about Pulaski instead. This will show up time and again as both a strength and a problem for the Doctor.
Good comment...but the last paragraph maybe just a touch spolie?
Great episode. This is probably the Romulan episode you guys have been waiting for. Also, I absolutely love Andreas Katsulas's portrayal of Commander Tomalak. Finally a Romulan with personality!
Tomalak was always fun. Probably the best "Who, me?" style presentation until a certain other character of a certain other species enters the picture.
While the episode highlights Worf's decision, I'd like to know what you guys think of Picard's decision to leave the fate of the ship and possibly the entire Federation up to him. Was respecting Worf's convictions worth risking a war? Or could Picard just not believe deep down that Worf would really let him die?
If Bochra looks or sounds familiar, he's the pimp from Crocodile Dundee!
This show gave good advice for sniffing out BS. The Romulan refused to talk, except to volunteer one piece of information, which the crew immediately deduced as a lie. That has always stuck with me. When someone is refusing to answer, be skeptical when they do offer up something.
Now the season/series is coming together. A & B (sometimes C) plots are being intertwined to great effect. TWO Geordi eps in a row!
Every bit of character building they've done allows this episode to take shape and shine. And you get Romulans! I suspect this will be in the Season 3 Top 10 (that's how good the season is) of your favorite episodes.
I really enjoy the Worf/Picard scene for showing the depth and mutual respect of the characters. Worf refuses, but will do it if ordered, but Picard refuses to cross that line, despite what it might do to peace. "LIEUTENANT...... that will be all."
A really solid A story with Geordi and the Romulan, but I also love the B plot with Worf. Worf basically lets a Romulan die choosing his needs over the needs of the many. Bev is totally playing up the Hippocratic oath angle and Picard actually back's Worf's autonomy. Keep in mind that Dr. Jack Kevorkian was performing euthanasia on patients at the time in the US creating a national debate about saving terminally ill patients.
Good Geordi episode to make up for the last one. I like when characters traits aren't always a positive, and it makes sense that worfs backstory and heritage come into play in a bad way every once in a while (at least, more than just everyone giving him the side-eye when he suggests blowing something up every episode)
About the only bad episode of the season. I just found this one boring. The Worf part was interesting but the rest of it was just...I don't know. I called it a great episode in my ranking, but that's still in the middle of my grading scale.
I like the B story with Worf’s conflict and interactions with the crew. However, the biotechnobabble leads us to believe that Romulan blood is compatible with Klingon blood, while Vulcan blood is completely useless in this situation. Dr. Crusher is better than this.
Yeah, that never made sense because, aren't Vulcans and Romulans basically the same species?
I love the fact the Worf doesn't give the transfusion. It's the believable choice for his character and its a source of much needed tension among everyone involved. Ironic that the only one who is happy with his choice is the Romulan himself!
I respect that the show respects Worf as a Klingon, and not as just a human with prosthetics. He doesn't have to have the same moral compass that we do. He operates under it 95% of the time, but still holds dear that 5% that keeps him who he is.
I respect the writing decisions with Worf. He's not human, so we shouldn't expect him to always share human ideals. It is a brave choice to have him refuse to help, but it makes sense based on his personal experiences and gives him room for further growth.
And they used that to have a wonderful scene between Worf and Picard. Worf won't do it for personal reasons, but will do it for the 'greater good' if ordered, meanwhile Picard asks him but refuses to order him to do it because he knows what it would do to Worf.
A Geordi story, a Worf story, and the best use of Romulans so far. What's not to like?
It's a solid version of a very standard TV show formula episode. LeVar Burton is possibly the most immediately relatable cast member (and the others wouldn't be far behind). I wonder if Michael Dorn was conflicted about Worf's decision. Did he feel the writers were staying true to his character, while he may have personally regretted the lack of a clear moral act in a show that had a sizeable younger audience?
Dorn indeed did not like Worf's decision and voiced it. Thankfully, Michael Piller ignored his objection.
Fun fact : Michael Dorn originally wasn’t happy with Worfs character arc in this episode and petitioned Michael Pillar to get the ending changed.
Dorn is human, but Worf is not. Sometimes it's for the best when actors don't have the final say on what their character says or does.
Andreas Katsulas! If you know, you know.
Josh, literally an episode ago: "Probably won't get another Geordi episode for awhile." The show: "Hah! Dumbass." Still not a huge deep dive on his character backgound, except, like Anakin, he has a disdain for sand. Oh, and the Romulans are actually, fully here. You'll pop for that.
That comment from Josh got an immediate chuckle from me too
I have a feeling this is the Romulan episode you guys have been waiting for. Only took them 3 seasons to finally figure out how to use them. And Worf’s arc here is incredible: it really sets him apart from the rest of the crew and reminds us that he’s not a “perfect human”.
Or human at all, really.
Another Geordi episode and it’s a proper Romulan focused one. The only thing I don’t like is that the Romulan died offscreen before Worf declined Picard’s request. It kind of lets Worf ethically off the hook because his choice ultimately didn’t matter. A coward’s writing choice!
I don't think so because if he had accepted to donate when Dr crusher initially asked the romulan likely would not have died making his death a consequence of worf's choice
I just finished watching this episode again for the first time in nearly ten years so I don't make the mistake I did with "The Bonding." I think you'll enjoy the episode. You get a lot of Geordi and a lot of Worf, with a smattering of Picard, Riker, and Beverly thrown in (across the table from Worf, as it were.) The A story isn't super original, but it's not bad, and the B story is thought-provoking. There's a lot to unpack from that B story. Also, Andreas Katsulas as Commander Tomalak (spelling checked) is always solid. Wonderful voice, wonderful performance as always. We were fortunate to have him on Babylon 5, and he shines here too.
I'm curious which episode you mistook The Bonding for. Let us know when we get to it.
Another Geordi focused episode. But more importantly a real Romulan episode! Here's hoping you find it worth the wait!
In the '90s there was a book called "The Star Trek TNG Nitpicker's Guide", in which the author went episode by episode and listed all the little continuity mistakes and plot holes he could find. This was the only episode of the entire series where he couldn't find anything. But I did. At the very end, Picard says the Enterprise will escort the Romulan ship back to the Neutral Zone, but the final shot of the episode shows the two ships flying off in opposite directions instead.
The author did a follow up a few years later and plenty of readers found mistakes in the episode. In the word of the author the episode was “chainsawed apart” they found that many 😂
One of my personal all time favorite next gen episodes. And the next one is not far away. Here you can really see the differences between season 1, 2 compared to 3. The best romulan episode so far and even small things like Gordi using his phaser to melt stuff to craft something to climb that wall. I am still not sure how they did that set though. Seems that they've got a lot of money at that point.
I love this episode, after barely giving Geordi stuff to do we get back to back Geordi eps. But it’s the Worf B story I am very fond of. The show doesn’t take the easy way out and makes a very bold decision.
This episode really calls back to the cold war. Any bad move by one individual could spell a bloody war. I really like how they handled the topic and it shows Picard at his best keeping control of the situation.
Great appearance of the legendary Andreas Katsulas as Commander Tomalak. Babylon 5 regulars will have already picked up on his distinctive voice, and here he chews the scenery as a Romulan. Honestly, a good to great episode that deals with saber rattling, acts of provocation, diplomacy and seeing the 'enemy' as another person rather than dehumanising them.
If you mean viewers in 1989 would recognize Andreas, likely not since B5 did start until several years later.
Back to back Geordi episodes, though they couldn’t be more different. Really strong B story as well with Worf. I didn’t expect him to do what he did to be honest. The show was brave in that aspect.