Product Details

• Actors: LeVar Burton, Gates McFadden
• Directors: LeVar Burton, Gates McFadden, Gabrielle Beaumont, Robert Becker, Cliff Bole
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, HiFi Sound, NTSC
• Language: English, French
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Paramount
• VHS Release Date: August 27, 1996
• Run Time: 46 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6304111088
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #206,155 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

The Children of Tama are a mysterious, rarely encountered race whose language is indecipherable even by the Universal Translator. This is because Tamarians speak in metaphor, which is strange and poetic, but, without a frame of reference, also gibberish. After yet another failed attempt at communication, the Tamarians take drastic measures: they kidnap Picard and beam him to the surface of a hostile planet along with their own captain. What follows is an interesting, well-acted story of the struggle to understand.

Don't be put off by the premise. "Darmok" is one of the best episodes of TNG. It's action-packed and holds its own next to "The Best of Both Worlds, Part I," "Time's Arrow," and "Descent." Thanks to Joe Menosky's brilliant teleplay and Paul Winfield's solid acting, this uphill battle in futility shows what probably would happen when two truly alien races attempt to communicate. There is genuine desperation in Dathon's (Winfield) eyes when he attempts to explain "Darmok and Jalad at Tenagra" for what seems like the millionth time. Watching Picard struggle to understand is downright painful, as is the inevitable confrontation that follows. The viewer comes to care what happens to the Tamarians. We want to know this alien race; but at the same time, we also know we'll probably never comprehend them.

In series television, it's almost unheard of for a show to depart from canon. TNG takes a huge chance with "Darmok" and the end result is worth watching again and again. --Kayla Riggney

From the Back Cover

The Enterprise responds to a signal from the Tamarians, an alien race whose language is incomprehensible to humans. After attempts at communication with the aliens prove futile, Picard (Patrick Stewart) is suddenly transported to a deserted planet with the Tamarian Captain, Dathon (Paul Winfield).

While the crew fights to retrieve him, Picard struggles to communicate with Dathon, and a mysterious beast begins to hunt them both. Just as Picard begins to comprehend that the Tamarians communicate by metaphor, Dathon is mortally wounded. At the last second Picard is transported out of harm's way, but now the Tamarians are ready to go to war unless Picard can explain what happened!

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Temba, his arms wide, March 17, 2001

By 

Kelly (Champaign, IL, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Star Trek - The Next Generation, Episode 102: Darmok [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Simply put, "Darmok" is a brilliant episode that exemplifies everything that ST:TNG has to offer. I show it to skeptics as proof that Star Trek can feature excellent acting, strong concepts, and moving scenes. I have never decided on a favorite TNG episode, but Darmok is one of the several that are tied for first. It also has a deep significance to me, because I firmly believe in the power of stories to communicate deep truths. In "Darmok," we are shown a culture which uses *only* stories to communicate, which is a fascinating exploration of the possibilities of narrative. As for moving scenes and stellar (ha, ha) acting, I especially point out the scene in which Dathon tells Picard the story of Darmok and Jelad (sp?), and Picard tells Dathon the story of Gilgamesh and Enkidu. But the whole episode, from the opening to the end credits, is well-acted and powerful. And, of course, it must be noted that this episode reveals a very telling difference between Kirk and Picard. When Kirk was beamed down to the planet with an alien captain who apparently wanted to fight him, Kirk took the sucker out. Picard, in a virtually identical situation, refused to fight, figured out a way to communicate, and became the first to make meaningful contact with the Tamarians. But I digress. To recap, this is definitely one of the top five episodes, and I know many who'd firmly place it in slot #1. It belongs in the home of any TNG fan, and anyone who is interested in good acting, good human drama, or the power of story.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best TNG episodes, July 27, 2000

By 

"irnmdn67" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Star Trek - The Next Generation, Episode 102: Darmok [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Next to "Best of Both Worlds" or "Yesterday's Enterprise," "Darmok" is one of the most intelligent and vibrant episodes of the entire Next Generation catalog. Picard's attempts, and eventual success, to communicate with the Tamarian captain, wonderfully portrayed by Paul Winfield, is splendid. Obviously, most Star Trek stories, whether they be the original series or TNG, offer socio-political commentary on our own society, this episode is no different. It basically teaches that communication with peoples or entities that are different than us can be accomplished if one is willing to try. "Darmok" is Patrick Stewart's finest hour in TNG.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Will give your brain a good workout!, November 23, 2000

By 

L. Feld "lowkell" (Arlington, VA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Star Trek - The Next Generation, Episode 102: Darmok [VHS] (VHS Tape)

As with all the best Star Trek episodes over the years (and I've seen just about all of them), "Darmok" combines fine acting, a top-notch story, great character interaction, and something to say. In this case, the acting of Patrick Steward (as Picard, of course) and Paul Winfield (as the Tamarian Captain Dathon) is superb, as is their interaction. The story is excellent too, as the two captains battle both a deadly enemy AND their inability to communicate. Finally, "Darmok" has a lot to say, particularly about the difficulties and frustrations, but ultimately the great benefits, of attempting to communicate across cultural divides.

Here we have one species that communicates by using metaphors and images. Thus, a great military disaster might be communicated in our culture as "Pearl Harbor." Or, a farcical Presidential election might be stated as "Bush and Gore in 2000." While comprehensible to someone who is familiar with American history, to someone from a different culture or world, this would make no sense whatsoever even if the individual words "Pearl" and "Harbor" were translated perfectly.

Thus, "Mirab, with sails unfurled," has clear meaning to Dathon and his people, but not to Picard, even though the universal translator is working fine. Ultimately, of course, Picard "gets it," because Picard is GOD! :) (Although even Picard "gets it" too late to save Dathon). But how about the rest of us here on Earth who cannot understand other cultures, because the frame of reference is so alien?

Anyway, by the end of "Darmok," maybe you too will be able to exclaim "Sucat, his eyes uncovered!" and actually know what it means!! Great way to impress the neighbors -- or make them think you're really smart, but strange. :) Enjoy!