6.17 Birthright (Part 2)

Rating: 4

Captured and forced to stay within the prison, Worf learns that the Romulan jailer Tokath sacrificed his career to keep these Kligons from being slaughtered by the Romulan government. He even took a Klingon wife. Unimpressed, Worf still attempts to escape; when this fails, he begins to influence the younger Klingons with his tales of Kahless and his demonstrations of Mak’tah (a Klingon form of Tai Chi). As the young Klingons learn more and more about their culture, Worf’s influence causes too much trouble for Tokath, and he sentences Worf to death.

Comments

Part two is written by Rene Echevaria, whereas part one was written by Brannon Braga.

This second part is more interesting. There are numerous gray areas in the tale of captured Klingons, disgraced by their mere capture, deciding to spare their families honor by remaining hidden and feigning death. Into their midst comes Worf, bringer of true Klingon culture. The younger ones thirst for this. Some people have expressed the opinion that Worf was in the wrong. He happened upon a colony where Romulans and Klingons were living in peace and he disrupted it. My opinion is this is not a colony. This is more of a prison or a cult – it is still run by Romulans, and the only reason the young Klingons are there is because they have been lied to.

The love interest between Vayel and Worf is one of the better examples of a relationship written in an adult manner, which is somewhat rare on Star Trek.

There’s something extremely weird about this two-part episode – the thread of Data dreaming is not carried over – or even mentioned – in the second part!

Nits

When I reviewed the VOY episode initiations, I commented that the Kaizon’s practice of allowing the victorious apprentice warrior to kill his young competitor would surely cause half of their potential warriors to be eliminated. Here, I have a similar comment about the Kligon’s practice of condemning anyone who is captured. Surely it is of more value to the Klingons to accept these people back. Captured warriors, properly clothed and fed, present a logistical and financial problem for those who capture them, so these prisoners are not useless.

Memorable Moments

•    There are many, but Worf’s scenes with Tokath are the best.

Quotable Quotes

"You are not allowed to leave the compound? Then I suppose I will not be seeing you at the pond again."
- Vayel, the young Klingon woman, to Worf, sad that he will not be perving at her anymore

"Tonight, as we came home, we sang a song of victory – a song known only to me as a lullaby. But it is a warrior’s song! Bak da tu moh. Fire streaks the heavens! Sho ja tu mo! Battle has begun!"
- Toq

"And what about Toq? I saw what happened to him when he caught the scent of his prey on the wind. For the first time in his life, he felt powerful and that is what he has been denied living here! And that is what you have tried to take away from him! Now you may be content to sit here in the jungle and wither to old age, but Toq and the others have tasted what it is to feel truly alive, and they will not give that up now!"
- Worf to Tokath