Wednesday, September 28, 2011

TNG Ep. 46: The Emissary

Summary:
The Enterprise receives an emergency mission to intercept a Klingon crew awaking from hibernation. With the help of half-Klingon K'Ehleyr as ambassador, the Enterprise attempts to convince the Klingons that the war with the Federation is over. In the end it is Worf, not the ambassador, that has the bright idea to bend the truth just a wee bit and make it look like Klingons hold high positions in Federation ships like the Enterprise. Another Federation ship then arrives to take over the Klingon's re-education. During the episode, we also learn that Worf and the ambassador have a previous history together, which quickly develops into a confusing love relationship. When the ambassador leaves, Worf is upset to see her go, and also upset that she won't agree to marry him right then and there.

Human and Klingon half breed? Yes, please. Or, maybe what I liked the most about Ambassador K'Ehleyr was that she is hot. She's intelligent and she smirks. It's almost like her character was created specifically to be a believable love interest for Worf. Much more believable than Data and Tasha, although that's probably Denise Crosby's fault.

The plot didn't hurt, either. It's the kind of thing that feels uniquely scifi because it makes you believe that it requires far-future technology, which in this case is working cryogenics. Actually, you could have a similar plot with spectacular magic in the stead of spectacular technology, but that's the writer in me starting to ramble, and you probably don't want to hear about Rip Van Winkle. Or, if you do, you'd rather hear it from the pen of Washington Irving.

Where was I? Right. Klingons. It is of course positively believable that Klingons that have had the misfortune of being frozen in time would be more difficult to handle than the every day sort. They barely admit that they're human's allies now, so I wouldn't relish trying to convince an ancient generation of that fact. Especially if I wasn't Klingon myself, which if you hadn't noticed, every one on the Enterprise suffers from that ailment, except Worf of course. Unfortunately Worf suffers from being Worf, so the Federation doesn't want to trust him (curse him?) with the task. Instead they send what must be the only Klingon or part Klingon negotiator they have, and even she thinks the mission is impossible. Why? Because they're Klingons! Klingons are always impossible!

Especially if you're trying to convince them to get married. Oh, wait. That's humans. Oh well. I suppose it would have changed the show a bit too much to throw in a new main character by having the Ambassador stay on the ship just because she and Worf spent a night together. Yet, it would have been disappointing if nothing had happened between them, especially with the background presented to us of their former history, their almost-relationship of yore. This way we get proof that Worf can get along with someone, and that he is capable of a romantic relationship. (He's the one who wants to get married, remember?) This is a relief when compared to other hints we've gotten previously, which basically amount to "no way is this man hitching up with a 'normal' Klingon." We like our main characters to at least have that capacity. Heck, even Picard has a past history with a hot old woman.

In the end, the good aspects of this episode can be summed up as: No Klingon death yell and pan out. Seriously, I don't think I can ever let that one go.

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