3.23 Sarek

Rating: 3

The Enterprise picks up and transports the venerable Vulcan Sarek (the father of Spock) for his last hurrah – an important negotiation session with the Ligarians. But the ageing Sarek is suffering from a rare ailment called Bendii syndrome – causing powerful outbursts of emotion that begin to affect the crew.

Comments

Although this episode is well-acted and very dramatic, and it’s great to see Mark Lenard back as Sarek, I still don’t like it. I don’t like when the heroes of TOS are portrayed weakly, when Kirk is killed, McCoy is wrinkley and semi-senile, and Scotty is a little slow. I would rather remember them as they were.

When Sarek says, "A mind meld can be a terrible intimacy", for some reason I thought he was going to say, "A mind meld is a terrible thing to waste."

Nits

In her speech to Picard, Perrin first pronounces Sarek’s disease as ‘Ban-die’, then later in the same speech, pronounces it ‘Ban-dease’.

Sakkath can no longer use his telepathic powers to keep Sarek’s mind together, but what about getting a battery of powerful Vulcan telepaths around Sarek, all keeping his mind together? (sort of like Riva’s chorus).

I was not aware that people could mind meld without maintaining physical contact.

Memorable Moments

•    During the brawl in Ten-Forward, a woman absolutely wallops a guy right in the head.

•    Picard’s acting during the ‘mind meld suffering’ scene is amazingly intense, and Beverly looks so beautiful in this scene – she is radiating love and concern.

Quotable Quotes

Perrin: My husband has taken an interest in your career. He finds it…satisfactory.
Picard: My word! High praise from a Vulcan.

Wesley: Since when did you become an expert on women?
Geordi: Compared to you, every man on this ship is an expert on women.
Wesley: At least I don’t have to find my women on the holodeck!
(Wesley and Geordi, under the influence of Sarek)

"And then I just slapped him really hard. I slapped Wesley."
- Dr Crusher, uncannily describing the fantasy of more than half of all Star Trek fans J

Riker: Is it my imagination, or have tempers on this ship become a little frayed lately?
Worf: I hadn’t noticed.
(They then walk to the doors of Ten-Forward, which open to reveal a brawl-in-progress).

"I am betrayed by desires…I want to feel…I want to feel…everything."
- Picard during the Sarek mind meld

Sarek: We shall always retain the best part of the other inside us.
Picard: I believe I have the better part of that bargain, Ambassador.