TNG Rewatch: 5x07 - Unification (Part 1)

[Trekker4747]

This Episode is Dedicated to Gene Roddenberry

The Enterprise is called to investigate the apparent defection of one of a Federation ambassador to Romulous, this ambassador turns out to be Spock. The defection, naturally, poses a great risk to the Federation while also being out of character for Spock though all indications show he left willingly, even planned it.

Picard is able to get a few lucid moments out of Spock's father, Sarek (suffering from the advanced stages of Vulcan Alzheimer's), and learns that Spock may have gone to Romulous to meet with a senator he had met at the Khitomer Conferences (see: Star Trek 6.)

Enlisting the help of the Klingons and their cloaking ships Picard and Data make their way to Romulous in hopes to find this senator, Padek, and get to Spock. Enroute Picard learns of the death of Sarek. While on Romulous waiting for Padek's office to open a disguised Picard and Data are captured by Romulan officers. Luckily it turns out they're working for Padek who is apparently something of a defector in the Romulan senate and is working with Spock.

Meanwhile, Riker and the Enterprise are investigating the discovery of the remains of a Vulcan deflector from a wrecked ship. The deflector belongs to a decommissioned Vulcan ship that is supposed to be in a Federation salvage yard but is no longer there. It seems that as the salvage yard was beaming parts around a "pirate" ship stood in for the supposed destination and stole the salvage. The Enterprise attempts to confront the pirate ship but accidentally destroys it instead.

There's not a lot to say about this episode as it largely plays set-up for the events in the next episode and the key selling point of the episode (Leonard Nimoy returning to Trek on TV as Spock) doesn't really pay off until Part-2. These two episodes do play as a nice semi-sequel to "The Undiscovered Country" which was due in theaters at the time of this episode's original airing.

Naturally, this is one of Mark Lenard's final appearances as Sarek after playing him in TOS and in the TOS Movies, TUC being his last appearance chronologically for us but this episode is his last chronologically in Trek Canon.

There's some cute/funny moments with Picard on the Klingon ship, particularly with him and Data sharing a berth and the interaction with Riker/Troi and the head of the salvage yard are good moments.

But for this episode, really the good (and bad) stuff doesn't really come around until Part 2.

You know, it's odd that when they Pause the security/spy video on the computers it blurs slightly as if it were an analog signal, you'd think it'd be beyond the digital and they have to "enhance" a blurry spy-video frame to make it clearer in order to make out faces. You'd think the computer would have de-blurred the video already. Eh, I guess we just don't understand 24th century computers.

The pirate ship's crew or computers must not have been to observant to not notice a pristine Galaxy-class starship sitting in the junk-yard. While "off" it'd still look to be in good condition, not to mention would still emit life-signs and some sort of low-power levels.

Again, I've not a lot to say about this episode as it mostly seems to play set-up for Part 2.

 

[tomalak301]

The best scene in this episode was Picard and Sarek together one last time. Considering what happened in "Sarek", this was a great follow up and a very emotional scene. It was this theme of Picard passing on Sarek's memories to Spock that I really liked most in these two episodes. I also liked the stuff on the Klingon Ship, but this was such a great follow up to "Sarek" and setting up for part 2.

 

[jimbotron]

I enjoy episodes where the crew gets split up, which allows more characters to shine. Moments where Picard is off gallivanting while Riker is in command, I wish there were more times like that on the show.

For fun, watch Office Space and then this episode. Stephen Root - such range.

It' was also quite odd seeing Erick Avari as a Klingon. He usually plays scientists/historians/intellectuals. Though I guess if you need a Klingon bureaucrat, that might be a good fit.

 

[The Old Mixer]

The part with the alien bar always struck me as "People are going to be tuning in who don't normally watch the show...let's Star Wars it up a bit."

 

[MikeS]

You know, it's odd that when they Pause the security/spy video on the computers it blurs slightly as if it were an analog signal, you'd think it'd be beyond the digital and they have to "enhance" a blurry spy-video frame to make it clearer in order to make out faces. You'd think the computer would have de-blurred the video already. Eh, I guess we just don't understand 24th century computers.

Those 24th century computers are sure dramatic aren't they! Blur - blur - "gasp" - it's Spock!

I agree with SJSharksfan39 - that scene with Picard and Sarek really shone. Both actors doing great work.

I also like the "cute" pieces on the Klingon ship. And Picard's diplomatic overtures to Gowron (nice bit of continuity there).

I think the second part ruins this episode.

 

[Zippo and Flask]

For fun, watch Office Space and then this episode. Stephen Root - such range.

Didn't recognize him!

 

[Mojochi]

For fun, watch Office Space and then this episode. Stephen Root - such range.

Didn't recognize him!

Then go watch him in "O Brother Where Art Thou, playing a blind hillbilly running a radio station. The man is an epic character actor for our age

As for this episode. I like it a great deal, though it did seemed rather shoddily put together. I think one of my favorite moments is the quintessential Trek moment of Data & Spock sharing thoughts on Humanity, & how in the most fundamental way, they have both taken opposing positions on how it is to be a part of their life

Spock: "There are Vulcans who aspire all their lives to achieve what you've been given by design"

Data: "In effect, you have abandoned what I have sought all my life"

That's a moment for all time among scenes in Star Trek. If that episode achieved nothing else, it gave us that, but then there's Spock's amazing journey unfolding & also the final moments of Sarek to boot, which I have to admit, bugs me a bit in hindsight

By all evidence, Spock had grown much wiser than rigid logic over the time between TUC & TNG. Surely he would have to have seen the need for a proper reconciliation with his father, & it's clear that Sarek not only wanted such, but in his ailment actually pined for it. I also can't imagine that the scene we saw was the only time he ever pined away, mumbling Spock's name in that bedroom, mere feet away from a woman who loves him

How could she do nothing? This episode does more to damage Perrin's character, which was already marred by the fact that she'd already participated in a plot to keep him from recognizing his illness sooner, which nearly resulted in a mission failure. Perrin has been a monumental obstacle in Sarek's life & well being, imho

 

[jimbotron]

I love that Data/Spock scene. Short and sweet, yet pretty meaningful.

"No regrets" - I liked that exchange too.