5.07 Unification (Part 1)

Rating: 3

The Federation’s most important ambassador, Spock, seemingly defects to Romulus, and the Enterprise is assigned to first inform Spock’s father Sarek of the suspicions, and then to track down Spock himself.

Comments

Poor Sarek (Mark Lenard). When he returned to the Trek world in the season 3 episode Sarek, suffering acutely from Bendii syndrome (the Vulcan equivalent of Alzheimer’s), I complained that I didn’t like my Trek heroes being portrayed as old and weak, preferring to remember them in their prime. Little did I suspect that Sarek would return here, even more senile than before.

Unfortunately (or perhaps fortunately, seeing as how his portrayals were getting less and less flattering), this episode marks the death of Sarek.

Nits

When Crusher asks Data if his ears are removable, he answers no, stating that they are fully integrated components. Yet in the episode DataLore, Lore’s unattached head does not have ears, but it does seem to have slots where ears would be attached. Data and Lore’s creator, Dr Soong, states that Lore and Data are identical except for a bit of programming. And it seems unusual that an android’s ears would not originally be separate parts that could be removed or replaced.

The Klingon captain who is assigned to transport Picard and Data to Romulus says, "If we are caught, we could all be killed!" He seems really upset by this, in a very non-Klingon way. He should be relishing the challenge. But maybe he is unhappy with sneaking around and would be happier attacking Romulus.

Memorable Moments

•    The appearance of Spock

Quotable Quotes

Picard: I require a cloaked vessel.
Klingon Junior Adjunct: How much will it benefit the Klingon Empire? I’m sure Gowron will ask.
Picard: The only benefit will be our gratitude.
Klingon Junior Adjunct: That is what you want me to tell him?
Picard: And please add that if he is unable to provide me with a ship, I’m sure there are others in the Klingon Empire who would be willing to help me. And then…they would have our gratitude.