5.02 Darmok

Rating: 5

In the El-Adrel system, the Enterprise attempts to establish diplomatic relations with an enigmatic race known as the Children of Tama. Seven previous Federation attempts at communication have failed, notably due to the Tamarians metaphor-exclusive language. When Picard also fails, the Tamarian captain maroons Picard and himself on a nearby planet inhabited by a deadly foe, in the hopes that a common enemy may aid in communication and bonding.

Comments

A clever, exciting, well-paced, fantastic episode from beginning to end. Not only is most of the crew involved in non-contrived and non-trivial roles, but Riker gets to do some commanding of the ship with Picard on the planet, and Picard is able to flex his intellect.

This episode was written by Joe Menosky, as are many of my favorite episodes (like tinker, tenor, doctor, spy from VOY).

Paul Winfield gives a memorable performance as Captain Dathon. He returns as Captain Terrell in Star Trek 2: The Wrath of Khan.

Nits

One major nit: how can a society speak only in metaphor, even amongst itself?  Metaphor is the representation of other information, and the other information must still exist and be communicated. How would new discoveries be explained? It’s possible that all verbal communication could be in metaphor, but there would have to be another form (diagram, art?), and if so, why wasn’t this used by the Tamarians in attempting to communicate with the Enterprise? However, it is worth noting that while it is virtually impossible to imagine any human race being able to communicate solely through metaphor, it is not completely impossible that an alien race, possessing completely different abilities, could do this.

Memorable Moments

•    Picard’s little motivational speech about how communication is simply a matter of patience. We cut to the Tamarian captain speaking in metaphor, while various Enterprise crew members share totally perplexed looks.

•    The Tamarian captain arguing with his first officer about how to deal with the lack of communication

•    Picard’s ultra-stylish leather-shouldered ‘away’ jacket

•    Just before Data reports that the Tamarian ship is powering weapons to fire on the shuttlecraft, Troi rises from her chair, apparently sensing it is going to happen. We see her in the background, getting up, and realize that this means she sensed the Tamarians actions before they occurred, but she has no line, so it’s easy to miss. Very subtle.

•    Picard screaming, "No! No!" in agony as he is caught in the transporter beam, watching the attack on Captain Dathon

•    Picard’s ‘surprise’ communication with the Tamarian first officer stops the aggression and is a very emotional moment

•    The final scene: Picard has just explained to Riker that he is reading the Homerian Odyssey (in Greek, no less) so that he may better understand the major metaphors of Earth culture. After Riker leaves, Picard takes Dathon’s knife, stands by the window, and repeats the ceremonial gestures that Dathon made by the campfire before going to sleep. We watch this from outside the window as the stars reflect in the glass: one of the most beautiful Trek moments ever

Quotable Quotes

Picard: Impressions, Number One.
Riker: It appears they’re trying their best.
Picard. As are we, for what it’s worth.

Data: I have encountered 1,754 non-human species during my tenure at Starfleet--
Troi: --And we still can’t even say hello to these people.

"Darmok and Jilad at Tanagra!"
- Captain Dathon

Captain Dathon: (offers knife after hearing an ominous growling sound and a rock avalanche) Timbre; his arms wide.
Picard: (taking knife) I’ll go along with that.

"I understand your sacrifice, Captain. Unfortunately, if our friend out there has its way, no one will ever know what you tried to do."
- Picard

"Tamok! The river Tamok in winter!"
- Picard, having finally learned enough of the Tamarian language to tell their first officer to shut up

Riker: New friends, Captain?
Picard: Can’t say, Number One. But at least they aren’t new enemies.

"The Tamarian was willing to risk all of us just for the hope of communication…connection. Now the door is open between our peoples. That commitment meant more to him than his own life."
- Picard to Riker