Customer Reviews

Star Trek - The Next Generation, Episode 102: Darmok [VHS]

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

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.

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.

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!

As a language teacher, I found this episode of Star Trek to be very satisfying. Captain Picard is captured by the alien force, and put into a very frustrating situation -- no one can understand this civilization's language. They speak what appears to be English, but the meaning of their words has up to this moment been impossible to decode. When Captain Picard speaks to his alien counterpart, the latter, too, finds our hero's words undecipherable. Tension builds, conflict seems inevitable.

As the episode unfolds, the ship's computer reveals cultural information which -- slowly -- leads to the Captain's success at breaking the 'code'. In my humble opinion, the episode's final scene was _very_ satisfying. I would show it to any language student who wonders about what it was like to be in a class on the first day of school. And what it's like to begin to understand the 'code' of a new language.

Have you ever read The Canterbury Tales? Allusions to classical literature abound. These references were a sort of shorthand or jargon of the time, a way of saying much by saying little. To refer to Zephirus, for instance, is to mention the warm, sweet breezes of Spring and to conjure up that time of year, with all of its freshness and new life.

Episode 102 presents a culture in which this sort of idiom is carried to the extreme. The words are getting through, but the meaning is not. The struggle of the two captains, the alien and Picard, to bridge the gap is brilliant and fascinating.

This is my favorite Star Trek episode of all time, of all generations.

Magnificent.

It has been several years since I first saw this episode, and out of all ST:TNGs, this is the one that if I had to show a person who has never seen ST:TNG before, would be my first choice!

The depth of the story reaches well beyond the 50 minute episode. Picard is taken unwillingly to the planet Eladril by the Tamarians, to spend time alone with their own captian. Since the Tamarians language cannot be quite understood, Picard assumes the worst and senses that the capture is for hostile reasons. When the story unfolds, there is far more than what he expected, which may have turned out to be a great lesson in philosphy and understanding.

Plot: The Enterprise encounters a Tamarian battlecruiser in an effort (from both sides) to communicate. Suddenly, without warning, the Tamarian captain and Picard are transported to the planet for what appears to be a contest between captains to the death. As the Enterprise crew desperately tries to find a way to beam Capt. Picard back (the Tamarian ship has placed a scattering field that blocks transporter beams), Picard and Dathon (the Tamarian captain) continue to try and communicate to each other. When it becomes apparent that there's a deadly creature on the planet which Picard and Dathon must defeat or be killed, the Enterprise is forced to attack the Tamarian battlecruiser. What's going to happen next?

Great episode for several reasons: This episode was far more different compared to dealing with other species (Fighting the Borg, getting caught in the middle of a diplomatic crisis with some species, having to decide whether to obey the Prime Directive or save a under-technologicalized species, etc.) and it refreshing that both the sides were curious and non-aggresive in intent. Also, the way they try and communicate is very well done.

6 out of 5 stars...except they won't allow for 6 stars.

In the fifth season, in a huge matter of coinecdence and luck. The two best shows of the fifth season came before and after two part conclusions and cliffhangers. That would be The Inner Light, which aired before Time's Arrow part one. And Darmok, which aired after Redemption part 2. It also should be noted that Patrick Stewart's best season five performances are in these two episodes. Darmok is a piece of brilliant television writing. Its a story of what if you can't rely on the universal translator? What if you had to rely on someones trust to lead you to your goal. Both of the captains don't understand each other. But when an enemy attacks them, Picard finally understand that the aliens language is based off metophors of famous events in the alien's culture. In another beautiful scene when Picard tells the alien the myth of Glighmesh. All around the show is brilliant. Both Patrick Stewart and the late Paul Winfield are amazing. This episode and the second to last episode The Inner Light are the seasons two best. And the series overall.

One of the best acted of the "Next Generation" episodes, "Darmok" is truly the essence of Star Trek: a tale of breaking down barriers and effectively communicating the similarities and differences which make us all essential to the well-being of the universe.

"Darmok" captures what is the heart and soul of Star Trek: discovering new races and learning to coexist with them. In this episode, that is no easy feat for Picard, who is trapped on a planet with an alien captain who talks different from everyone else. The two cannot understand each other, but as a monster hunts them down, it becomes apparent that the two must learn how to communicate. This is a phenominal episode, downplaying the action and instead building on the characters of the alien captain and Picard. It's not just good Star Trek, it's great science-fiction. While the monster effects are very subpar (they always are for Star Trek), the being itself is of little importance to the story. What is important is how Picard and the other captain learn how to communicate. Truly a wonderful episode.