5.08 Unification (Part 2)

Rating: 3

Spock reveals that he has been in contact for many years with the Romulan council member Partek. Partek and his contact on the Romulan high council firmly believe in re-unification between the Vulcans and Romulans. When Picard expresses some disbelief, Spock admits that the Romulans may have ulterior motives, but even if this is so, it would be better to reveal these motives now. The Enterprise is led on a wild goose chase while investigating who has been stealing Vulcan warships. Picard, Spock and Data are captured by Sela, who reveals that Partek gave them away. Sela is sending three Vulcan warships to the Vulcan homeworld, ostensibly as a peace mission, but in reality to attack. She asks Spock to broadcast a rehearsed peace speech. When he refuses, she reveals her backup plan: a holographic Spock will read the speech. Left alone, Data accesses the Romulan computer to create his own holographic images: Riker and two security guards. The guards are momentarily fooled. Data and the others are able to overpower Sela and the guards, and Spock broadcasts a warning of the Romulan attack force. Faced with defeat, a Romulan warbird destroys the Vulcan ships, killing their own troops. Spock stays behind on Romulus to work with the underground and further the unification.

Comments

Some of the dialogue seems a bit rushed in this episode, especially in the Picard/Spock scenes. There seems to be an attempt to quicken the pace and make it more exciting, but most of the lines were meant to be thought about, not blurted out.

Nits

Why is Spock so emotional and angry when he first confronts Picard? It seems out of character. Is Spock also beginning to get Bandii disease? This really isn’t a nit, as Spock more or less explains later that he balances logic with intuition.

When Riker is charming the keyboard player, she asks him to drop a few coins, and he says he doesn’t carry money. It’s well-established that the Federation does not use money anymore. But the question begs: what do they do when they need to purchase items from people who are not in the Federation?

Apparently, the Romulans do not get access to Earth movies of the 20^th century. In particular, if Sela had ever seen a James Bond film, she might have known that the villain should never reveal all of their diabolical plot to his/her prisoners before leaving them alone in a room.

Did Data reprogram the holographic Spock to broadcast the warning about the attack fleet, or was the real Spock able to make the transmission? Although not a nit, this wasn’t clear.

Memorable Moments

•    Spock and Data discussing the merits and drawbacks of being, and aspiring to be, human.

•    Worf singing Klingon opera

•    Riker going medieval on the fat Ferengi.

•    Spock and Picard mind-melding, so that Picard can share what he possesses of Sarek (the unusual expression of emotion by Spock says it all)

Quotable Quotes

Picard: Is it so important that you win one last argument with him?
Spock: No, it is not. But it is true that I will miss the arguments. They were, finally, all that we had.
(Spock on Sarek)

"Not bad."
- Spock complimenting Data on his Vulcan Nerve Pinch technique