4.21 The Drumhead

Rating: 2.5

A Klingon exobiologist on a scientific exchange program is found guilty of smuggling sensitive information for sale to the Romulans. The Federation’s top investigator, Admiral Satie, (Jean Simmons) is sent to investigate, along with her Betazoid bloodhound partner, Sabin. Her routine investigation quickly accelerates into a witchhunt, a drumhead, a mock trial where the defendants are guilty until proven innocent. When Picard objects, she places him on the stand and attacks.

Comments

It’s nice to see the venerable actress Jean Simmons in this episode. She starred in many films, including Elmer Gantry and Spartacus. In her physical prime, about 30 years before this episode was filmed, she was one of the most beautiful women in the world.

This had the potential to be a good episode, but the drama seems contrived. One minute, Satie says Picard only allowed her on board if they would work as a team. The next minute, she is totally running things and answering directly to Starfleet. And Worf is dumbed down to go on the attack and ignore basic individual rights. Perhaps this is okay, as Worf has shown his Romulan prejudice before.

Nits

At the beginning of the episode, Troi’s observation after sitting in on the interview with the suspected traitor is, "He’s very closed…but he’s hiding something." This abides by the rule of empaths in drama. They can’t be very good at what they do, or the episode would be over too quickly. J

As mentioned, the change in Satie seems fake and rushed to fit into the time limitations of a one hour (actually about 42 minutes) television show.

Memorable Moments

•    Picard defeating Satie at the hearing by quoting her father

Quotable Quotes

"Admiral, what you’re doing here is unethical. It’s immoral. I’ll fight it."
- Picard to Satie

"But she or someone like her will always be with us, waiting for the right climate in which to flourish, spreading fear in the name of righteousness."
- Picard to Worf