In the twenty-first episode of the fourth season of The Next Generation, THIS IS SO MESSED UP AND I LOVE IT. Intrigued? Then it’s time for Mark to watch Star Trek.
Trigger Warning: For discussion of racism, terrorism, torture, nationalism.
My god, what an incredible episode of The Next Generation. It takes us to an immensely uncomfortable place, and it’s done in a way that forces one to think of the ways in which we’re complicit in drumhead trials in our own world. And that’s not just applicable to military tribunals, either. I think that hunts like these happen everywhere: gossip mags, Tumblr communities, activist networks, our own homes. The horror that unfolds here tears a hole in the Federation’s facade, too, showing that even a futuristic society can be subject to the same problems that we’re dealing with.
I’ll touch on the larger meanings of “The Drumhead†in the second half of this review, so let’s focus on what actually happens within this episode. It’s amazing to me to think back on the escalation that occurs here because for the first half of this episode, this was not a terribly thrilling story. Which is okay! That’s necessary in order to bring us to a point where we have to stop and wonder how the hell this episode became what it was. And really, that moment is absolutely the interrogation of Picard, a sign that Satie’s hunt for a conspiracy has gone so far that it’s downright offensive.
But why is that? Why is the Romulan threat serious enough for consideration, and yet, the events of this episode still come off as upsetting? I think the pacing of the plot in Jeri Taylor’s script is why this episode works so brilliantly. At the opening, we expect to experience a story about a saboteur onboard the Enterprise. We know that J’Dan is guilty of sending secrets to the Romulans, and it’s entirely believable that he had help in doing so. That’s precisely how Taylor nabs us: we love the Enterprise. We know that the Romulans are their mortal enemy. We want the best for these people. So as Satie and her companions arrive onboard and attempt to find the traitor, we trust them. Both Satie and Sabin do their best to make sure they are trusted. I AM SO PLEASED THAT I REALIZED SOMETHING WAS WRONG, THOUGH. I thought it was strange that Satie and Sabin, in succession, sought out Picard and Worf to reassure them how valuable they were, how much they were trusted.
They then proceed to prove the exact opposite of that.
It’s fascinating (in an entirely disturbing way) how quickly Picard and Worf go from being assets to enemies. Obviously, that’s the point. Satie becomes so convinced of her moral righteousness and certainty that she begins to view everyone as part of some sort of conspiracy. Now, there’s plenty to be said of her own personal paranoia, and ultimately, that’s what unravels this entire nightmare. But I think “The Drumhead†is a million times more disturbing when you see how Satie and company pull others in. It’s not until she holds that first public hearing and utterly steamrolls poor Simon Tarses that the tide turns against the kid. That was intentional on her part, too. She and Sabin waited until that public hearing to smear Tarses with the truth of his heritage. Why? Because the insinuation that Tarses has anything to do with the Romulans is so much more damning than any real evidence. It’s a scandal. It’s rife for gossip. And the news will spread, the ship will condemn Tarses for hiding his heritage, and she’ll gain more power than she had before. It’s McCarthyism. It’s everything we heard post-9/11 to justify immoral wars against brown and black people far, far away from our own country. It’s a damning and pervasive system that aims to demonize and criminalize people because of their skin color or how much money they don’t have.
Even Worf gets wrapped up in this nightmare. It’s telling to me that he believes Tarses was guilty solely based on one lie. He claims that anyone would be proud of their bloodline if they were innocent, but he misses a huge part of why Tarses lied. Picard has to point out to him that everyone already created an atmosphere that was unsafe to him. Would Tarses have been in a better situation if he’d told the truth about his paternal grandfather? I imagine not. I imagine that Satie would have singled him out about his heritage anyway.
And thus, we have the unethical problem at the heart of “The Drumhead.†Satie’s confirmation bias controls her, and her unwavering commitment to the “state†of Starfleet and the Federation prevents her from examining her own behavior. In her mind, guilt is entirely by association. In her mind, she’s never made a mistake, she’s never had the wrong kind of friend, and her past is exemplary. How could it not be when her father was a pillar of logic and justice? She creates a warped perception of the world where she’s an administer of justice, while the world is full of villains to take down and destroy. There are no innocent people, no innocent mistakes, no innocent associations.
It’s horrifying to watch. But I think it’s important to note that as soon as Satie confronts Picard about his experience with the Borg, Picard reverses her own techniques upon her. I mean, look: it is so unbelievably fucked up for a person to use Picard’s torment against him like that. So Picard brilliantly hits Satie with a personal blow, giving her a taste of her own medicine. Suddenly, it’s not okay to use one’s past against them! Suddenly, it’s the most immoral thing imaginable! I WONDER WHY THAT IS.
Satie’s disgrace is loud, ugly, and vicious, until it’s quiet and ashamed. She disappears from this show without a word of apology, and to be honest, that’s precisely within her characterization. She’s too prideful to admit that she’s been wrong on a systemic level. How many other innocent people have been bullied by her into confessions? How many lives has she ruined in pursuit of safety and honor? The damning message behind “The Drumhead†relates to this unethical act. In the most tragic form of irony, Satie and her associates put state safety above human life. In doing so, they violated the very core principles of that organization, the ones that were supposed to make it the best of its kind in the galaxy. She did more harm than good, and I wonder if she’ll ever be able to admit that.
The video for “The Drumhead†can be downloaded here for $0.99.
Mark Links Stuff
– I am now on Patreon!!! MANY SURPRISES ARE IN STORE FOR YOU IF YOU SUPPORT ME.
– The Mark Does Stuff Tour 2015 is now live and includes dates across the U.S. this summer and fall Check the full list of events on my Tour Dates / Appearances page.
– My Master Schedule is updated for the near and distant future for most projects, so please check it often. My next Double Features for Mark Watches will be the remainder of The Legend of Korra, series 8 of Doctor Who, and Kings. On Mark Reads, Diane Duane’s Young Wizards series will replace the Emelan books.
- Mark Does Stuff is on Facebook! I’ve got a community page up that I’m running. Guaranteed shenanigans!
