Fourth Season - Episode 100

REDEMPTION

Stardate: 44995.3 - 44998.3
Rating: 15 Humour: + Action: ++ Tension: ++ Romance: --

Alternate Titles: German: "DER KAMPF UM DAS KLINGONISHE REICH TEIL 1"

Written By: Moore, Ronald D.
Director: Bole, Cliff
Music: McCarthy, Dennis
Executive: Berman, Rick
Piller, Michael
Roddenberry, Gene
Supervisor: Taylor, Jeri
Producer: Livingston, David
Co-Producer: Lauritson, Peter

Cast

Captain Jean-Luc Picard: Patrick Stewart
Cmd. William T. Riker: Jonathan Frakes
Lt.Cmd. Geordi LaForge: LeVar Burton
Lt. Worf: Michael Dorn
Doctor Beverly Crusher: Cheryl Gates McFadden
Counselor Deanna Troi: Marina Sirtis
Lt.Cmd. Data: Brent Spiner
Guinan: Whoopi Goldberg
Gowron: Robert O'Reilly
Kurn: Tony Todd
Lursa: Barbara March
B'Etor: Gwynyth Walsh
K'Tal: Ben Slack
Movar: Nicholas Kepros
Toral: J.D. Cullum
Klingon 1st Officer: Tom Ormeny
Helmsman: Clifton Jones
Commander Sela: Denise Crosby

Plot

Continuing the events portrayed in REUNION, the Enterprise makes its way to the Klingon homeworld to see Gowron installed as the new emperor. Picard, as the chosen arbiter of succession must continue to fulfill his duty to see that Gowron becomes the emperor and that ties with the Federa- tion continue. Meanwhile, Worf speaks to Gowron requesting that Worf's family honor be restored since it was Duras' family who betrayed the Kitomer outpost to the Klingons. Gowron refuses because of the influence that Duras' family still has with the council. Picard beams down to the planet to perform his final act as arbiter. How- ever, before he can properly install Gowron as the new emperor, Duras' sisters Lursa and B'Etor produce Toral, a bastard child of Gowron, who claims the right to succession. The ceremony is halted until Picard may decide if the child has a legitimate claim. Worf, seeing the growing problems within the Klingon empire and the pos- sibility of a civil war if Gowron becomes emperor, talks with his brother Kurn who is allied against Gowron. Worf convinces Kurn to lend his support to Gowron's forces so that the support may be used as a bargaining edge to regain the family honor. Picard decides that Toral is not eligible to become emperor and bestows that title on Gowron. This causes the council to split with some following Gowron and some following Toral who is not only backed by the council and those loyal to the family of Duras but by Romulans led by a mysterious com- mander. The Klingon empire is now at war. Worf, his family honor restored, resigns his commission as a Starfleet Officer to aide Gowron and learn what it means to be a Klingon. Meanwhile, the Romulans and the family of Duras make plans that will drag the Federation into the war and to lure Picard to his death.

Goofs

  • In part one of this story, Worf said that he would be serving on the Bortas. Yet, in the second episode, he is serving on the Hectar, with no explanation about the transfer.
  • Also, Picard says to Guinan that Yar died a year prior to Guinan joining the crew. However, "Skin of Evil" was the fourth to last story of the season, and Guinan is first seen in the second season premiere "The Child", suggesting only 3-4 months between the two stories.
  • Picard refers to the battle on Narendra III as taking place 24 years ago to Sela, and 23 years ago to Guinan. But, of course, Guinan senses time differently...

Quotes

Revised: ddmmċċċċ