Customer Reviews

Star Trek - The Next Generation, Episode 46: The Emissary [VHS]

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

 

 

That was Kehlyr's response to Worf's coldness after their holodeck rondevous. That one-liner is typical of the chemistry & dynamics of the episode. While the sci-fi side of the plot may have been a little thin, the personal side & character developement was hot. As a long time trekkie, this is one of my all time favorite episodes from all the series. And guys, the romantic twist makes it a great one to watch with your sweetie. :^)

In this episode a Federation ambassador is being sent to the Enterprise inside of a probe case for speed. A Klingon sleeper-ship from the 23rd century is about to awaken it's crew who will still believe the Federation and the Klingons are at war.

While the premise for this episode is weak, Suzie Plakson plays K'Ehleyr very well. She is the perfect foil to Worf and it is easy to see why they fell for each other. However the idea that the Klingons would have a ship full of sleeping Klingons ready to fight the Federation at some future point seemed a stretch to me.

The Enterprise is diverted to intercept a small vehicle that contains a Klingon emissary (K'Ehleyr). She is half-human and half-Klingon and is a former lover of Worf's. The Enterprise is being sent to intercept a Klingon warship that was in cryogenic sleep for over a century. When the crew was placed in stasis, the Federation and the Klingon Empire were at war, so their standing orders are to fire on any Federation outpost. The emissary and Worf both tell Captain Picard that he must destroy the Klingon ship, as they will never surrender. Picard does not accept this, asking his command crew to find an alternative other than destroying the ship.
Meanwhile, Worf and K'Ehleyr renew their relationship, albeit after some initial hostility based on problems with their parting. However, Worf wants to make their union permanent, something that K'Ehleyr rejects. Worf is of course upset at this, but it has a positive result, in that it causes him to come up with an alternative that will spare both ships. By donning the full regalia of a Klingon commander Worf assumes command of the Enterprise and orders the Klingon captain to surrender or be destroyed. After some hesitation, the Klingon captain surrenders and further violence is avoided.
This is one of the better episodes in the series, although quite frankly, the reappearance of old lovers is a plot line that is growing stale. The Federation and the Klingon empire cover thousands of cubic light years, millions of creatures are no doubt in their respective fleets and yet everyone is always encountering old lovers. I am restricted to only one tiny segment of one planet, some old flames live within twenty miles of where I do and yet I encounter them by accident once every ten years. For those with similar interests, it rises to about once every five years. With so much diversity in the universe and the enormous amount of territory to explore, the stories would be better if the old flame-returning theme was dropped in favor of something a bit more original.

I really do love the character of worf's girlfriend, she added an interesting twist to the episode. I believe that the show would've been a bit slow in the plot without her. Love her outfits and the way she bounces back at worf. its worth seeing!