In the twenty-sixth and final episode of the fourth season of The Next Generation<\/i>, I don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t know how any of you expect me to talk about anything other than that thing. Intrigued? Then it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s time for Mark to watch Star Trek<\/i>.<\/p>\n
How? How<\/i>?<\/p>\n
Conflict of Interest<\/b><\/p>\n
Until that thing<\/i>, this was a fantastic story about the Prime Directive, loyalty, and the complicated allegiances that various characters had with the Klingon empire. I was honestly ready to write a review about how this season\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s big last minute twist was Worf, but no. No<\/i>. This episode clearly had different plans in mind.<\/p>\n
But I do want to discuss the layered and frustrating story at the heart of \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Redemption, Part I.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d In hindsight, I can see how this was all designed so that Worf never<\/i> had an easy choice before him. He truly was trapped between these two worlds, as if a civil war was breaking out within him as it was in the Klingon empire. It was tempting for him to return home and seek out redemption of his family name, but at what cost? Worf assumed that Gowron would readily grant him the opportunity, given what Worf did for the Klingon empire.<\/p>\n
Yet as I said, this was never going to be easy. Gowron\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s position isn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t powerful enough, so there\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s no need for him to help out Worf. Gowron\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s lack of stature when compared to the House of Duras \u00e2\u20ac\u201c who fucked everything up REPEATEDLY in the past \u00e2\u20ac\u201c meant that his ascendence would be quickly challenged. And it was! BY A SECRET SON! Most of this episode is political intrigue as far as I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m concerned, which is not a criticism. Worf has to navigate the complicated political climate to try and secure his own honor while<\/i> aiming to make sure that the House of Duras does not gain control of the Council.<\/p>\n
Is it complicated enough? Then let\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s add in Worf\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s own conflict of interest with the Federation. At one point, he\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s scolded by Picard for accessing files on the Enterprise <\/i>to help clear his father\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s name. It never even occurred<\/i> to Worf that the act would be in violation of any sort of interference clause, but it technically is. Worf is using official Federation records to intervene in a conflict on another world. I love that this is all contrasted with Picard\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s own experience with a conflict of interest, too. It helps show us that both these characters are struggling to determine where the line in the sand is. Is<\/i> there even one? Picard\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s the Arbiter of Succession, so he has a vested interest (somewhat) in what occurs in the Klingon empire. How does he detach himself enough to still respect the ceremony and<\/i> his official duties?<\/p>\n
Well, we soon learn what both men are capable of. I don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t question Worf\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s decision to help his Klingon brethren over his job with Starfleet because Worf\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s been slowly moving towards that anyway<\/i>. He\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s always been stuck between both of these worlds, but he willingly chose to come home last season to clear his father\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s name. After the experiences he\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s had this season, it made perfect sense to me that he\u00e2\u20ac\u2122d want to fully give himself over to his Klingon side. He\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s ready. It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s time<\/i>. What shocked me, though, was Picard. When it got right down to it, he chose to protect the Federation\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s neutrality by LITERALLY LEAVING WORF BEHIND IN THE MIDDLE OF A PERILOUS BATTLE. It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s such a surprising moment because this entire episode demonstrated to us how close<\/i> Worf and Picard are. Wouldn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t he want to save his friend? But Picard can<\/i>\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t<\/i> view these events in that manner. He has to consider what this act would mean in a greater political sense. If he offered military support to Gowron, then everyone would interpret this as some grand political gesture. The Federation would be involved in a Klingon civil war.<\/p>\n
So he left them all behind.<\/p>\n
It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s not surprising, then, that Worf eventually chooses to do the same. It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s no easy feat for him. Leaving the Enterprise<\/i> and Starfleet is clearly upsetting to him. But he feels like he has<\/i> to in order to protect both the empire and<\/i> the Federation. If he stays with the Federation, he may not be able to do what he thinks is right. I respect that! I respect what a huge decision that is for him to make, and I think \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Redemption, Part I\u00e2\u20ac\u009d does a fantastic job of showing us why<\/i> he\u00e2\u20ac\u2122d do something so shocking. Well, initially<\/i> shocking, that is. And look, I was prepared for that to be the big moment at the end of this season. Admittedly, it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s huge. It FELT huge, you know? Now, I have no idea if this means that Michael Dorn is leaving the show; I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m still unspoiled. It seems like the show is giving him a way out, and that\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s kind of upsetting because I REALLY LIKE WORF.<\/p>\n
That\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s what I was prepared to write. I was not prepared for the shadowy Romulan to be revealed as TASHA YAR. WHICH IS FUCKING IMPOSSIBLE<\/i>. I DON\u00e2\u20ac\u2122T GET IT. I DON\u00e2\u20ac\u2122T GET IT!!!! Is she a clone? Did the Romulans steal part of Yar\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s DNA??? Did Tasha have a child a long time ago and she just never told anyone? HOW WOULD THAT EVEN BE POSSIBLE?<\/p>\n
This is even more shocking than last season\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s finale. HOW????<\/p>\n
The video for \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Redemption, Part I\u00e2\u20ac\u009d can be downloaded here for $0.99<\/a>.<\/p>\n Mark Links Stuff<\/b><\/p>\n – I am now on Patreon<\/a><\/b>!!! MANY SURPRISES ARE IN STORE FOR YOU IF YOU SUPPORT ME<\/a>. In the twenty-sixth and final episode of the fourth season of The Next Generation, I don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t know how any of you expect me to talk about anything other than that thing. Intrigued? Then it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s time for Mark to watch Star … Continue reading
\n– 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.<\/a>
\n– My Master Schedule<\/a> is updated for the near and distant future for most projects, so please check it often.\u00c2\u00a0My next Double Features for Mark Watches will be the remainder of\u00c2\u00a0The Legend of Korra<\/i>, series 8 of\u00c2\u00a0Doctor Who<\/i>, and Kings<\/i>. On Mark Reads, Diane Duane’s Young Wizards<\/i> series will replace the Emelan books.
\n<\/b>-\u00c2\u00a0Mark Does Stuff is on Facebook!<\/a>\u00c2\u00a0I’ve got a community page up that I’m running. Guaranteed shenanigans!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"