Tin Man

TrekToday · September 5 2008, 10:19 PM

Plot Summary: The Hood approaches at high warp with secret orders for the Enterprise crew and a mission specialist, Tam Elbrun, a Betazoid who deals with first contacts. Riker is not happy to have to work with the man responsible for a disaster that resulted in a Starfleet captain's death. Elbrun explains that their current mission is to contact a creature called Tin Man - an organic being the size of a spaceship - which is in orbit around a star about to supernova. The star is in a region of space claimed by the Romulans, and Romulan ships are en route as well. An unhappy telepath since childhood, Elbrun confesses to Troi that he is already in contact with Tin Man. When the Romulans approach the creature with hostile intent, Elbrun sends Tin Man a warning that results in the destruction of the warbird and damage to the Enterprise. But Tin Man reveals to Elbrun that it intends to die in the solar explosion, having lost its crew and all of its own kind. To save Tin Man, Picard reluctantly agrees to let Elbrun beam over with Data to establish direct contact. When a second warbird attacks Tin Man, it breaks orbit and flings both the Romulans and the Enterprise far into space just before the star goes supernova. Upon his return, Data explains that he believes Elbrun and Tin Man have established a symbiotic relationship that has healed them both.

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Broccoli · September 6 2008, 02:11 AM

Gotta say...never cared much for this episode. Dunno why.

Brutal Strudel · September 6 2008, 02:30 AM

I always viewed it as a better-than-average episode but, when the average has to factor in so many duds (TNG had a few great episodes but only a very few), that's not saying all that much.

Hoser · September 6 2008, 02:56 AM

I liked this one. I remember really enjoying the part when Riker gets ripped into.
And 'Tin Man' was a great idea that should have been explored more.

JonathonWally · September 6 2008, 02:58 AM

Hoser wrote:

I liked this one. I remember really enjoying the part when Riker gets ripped into.
And 'Tin Man' was a great idea that should have been explored more.

If only we could find the man who wrote it and ask him if he had any more ideas or a further story somewhere........

NCC-1701 · September 6 2008, 03:20 AM

Yeah, if only we could talk to him ... How cool it would be to have him as a member of this board.

I really like this episode. When I was a child I loved the concept and the design of Gomtuu. It was only later that I could also appreciate the characterization of Tam and Jay Chattaway's wonderful score.

DorkBoy [TM] · September 6 2008, 03:35 AM

I always loved this episode. Yet another awesome season 3 ep.

USS Intrepid · September 6 2008, 01:16 PM

Absolutely loved this episode. It's one of my all-time favourite Trek episodes.

DWF · September 6 2008, 03:42 PM

I love Tin Man too it's alot of fun, the music was great especially the straffing run of the Watbird on the Enterprise and I thought the visual effects were fantastic for the most part. And I really liked Data's speech at the end.

apostle83 · September 6 2008, 06:38 PM

Did a member here write this episode?

Brutal Strudel · September 6 2008, 07:52 PM

apostle83 wrote:

Did a member here write this episode?

Dennis Bailey is Starship Polaris. He also had a hand in the episode "First Contact" (not the movie).

Red Ranger · September 7 2008, 12:45 AM

I do like this ep. It was one of the more interesting "organic starship" concepts I've seen. Of course, I think Farscape did it a little better, but Tin Man/Gomtuu could've been the basis for a ST show, I think. Tam Elbrun could be a lot like the character of Pilot in Farscape if they used him again -- but they'd probably recast him, as Harry Groener wouldn't agree to do a regular series, I'm sure. -- RR

DWF · September 7 2008, 04:06 AM

but they'd probably recast him, as Harry Groener wouldn't agree to do a regular series, I'm sure.

He was a regular on Dear John at the time then went on to Buffy not long after that to play the Mayor in the third season. I also liked seeing him on The West Wing but he's a pretty busy actor.

Data Holmes · September 7 2008, 07:01 AM

Great episode, Interesting story. Amazing score. All around I'd say it's definitely one of TNG's A raters.

Yassim · September 7 2008, 07:43 PM

I want to like it, but when I remember it, the first thing I hear in my mind is,

"Because I'm not a nice man!"

Which sort of detracted from the whole thing.
It is a nicely Trekkian tale, though. Stronger together, embracing that which is different...