Commodore Mendez: DSC-era Romulan spy?

[Groppler Zorn]

Actually, he played a Talosian illusion, a projection of the Keeper's mind. We never saw the actual Mendez. We know he existed from his communiqué at the end, but we have no idea what he really looked like...not at all.

-MMoM

Even when they’re on the starbase at the start? I figured that was the real Mendez - only the one from the shuttle onwards was the illusion maybe?

 

[The Mighty Monkey of Mim]

Maybe, but then, at what point could the illusion have been substituted for the reality, if Kirk and "Mendez" were together the whole time from the starbase to the shuttle? The answer is of course at any point. We can never be sure, much as we cannot with respect to virtually anything presented to us in this story, from beginning to end. Just how deep does the rabbit hole go? No way of knowing. Was Spock indeed lying about receiving a message from the starbase, or did he rather receive an illusory one? Was Pike even ever injured at all, or was this all the Talosians' second—and this time quite successful—attempt to entice him into their menagerie with an elaborate ruse? If their powers are as potent and far-reaching as is alleged, then they are certainly capable of it. And it would make a fair bit more sense as a motivation for their purported machinations here than it all being simply out of the goodness of their shriveled hearts! Ultimately, as @Timo pointed out in a previous discussion: "Whatever the Talosians did, they won. By definition. If we thought otherwise, that's only because the Talosians wanted us to."



-MMoM

 

[Tuskin38]

Everything in Star Trek since that episode has been a Talosian illusion, except whatever took place before it.

 

[Noname Given]

Crazy fan theory time!

Yes Malachi Throne played Mendez and also Pardek. Bear with.

Pardek had been a senator for around 90 years by the time of “Unification”. For him to become a senator he may have been at least middle aged by human standards.

So he would have looked around the same age as... commodore Mendez.

The same Mendez who was involved in Spock’s mutiny - at least before the Talosians imagined him.

Fast forward to the TNG days - and the Romulan senator who is trying to sabotage Spock’s plans? Pardek. Who bears a startling resemblance to Mendez.

Rewind to the DSC days - we could see a younger Mendez. His mission? To discredit Sarek and his family. He could be involved with the Vulcan separatists - ever since the ENT days the Romulans have wanted to exploit such a group so they could conquer Vulcan.

Maybe Mendez/Pardek is the reason we never see Michael again - perhaps one day Pardek is ordered to dispose of Michael? Maybe she discovers the plot against the house of Sarek and Pardek has to kill her to maintain his cover?

Btw, if you’re thinking “what is it with you, you need an explanation for the Klingons, now you want an explanation for two characters played by the same actor”, you’re right.

Wait til you hear the explanation for Mark Lenard playing the Klingon commander in TMP.

Don't forget he originally was a voice for the lead Talosian in TOS - "The Cage" (His part was re-dubbed when they had him play Commodore Mendez in TOS - "The Menagerie")...

So, he's not just a double agent - he's a TRIPLE agent (and probably a Talosian projecting mental images of himself as a Human, Romulan and who knows what else!)

 

[Groppler Zorn]

Don't forget he originally was a voice for the lead Talosian in TOS - "The Cage" (His part was re-dubbed when they had him play Commodore Mendez in TOS - "The Menagerie")...

So, he's not just a double agent - he's a TRIPLE agent (and probably a Talosian projecting mental images of himself as a Human, Romulan and who knows what else!)

Maybe all of TOS was in his head?

 

[Mirror Tuvix]

So he would have looked around the same age as... commodore Mendez.

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

Accept third party cookies

 

[Groppler Zorn]

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

Accept third party cookies

Star Trek Discovery: the acid trip years...

No wait - the LDS years

 

[BillJ]

Maybe, but then, at what point could the illusion have been substituted for the reality, if Kirk and "Mendez" were together the whole time from the starbase to the shuttle? The answer is of course at any point. We can never be sure, much as we cannot with respect to virtually anything presented to us in this story, from beginning to end. Just how deep does the rabbit hole go? No way of knowing. Was Spock indeed lying about receiving a message from the starbase, or did he rather receive an illusory one? Was Pike even ever injured at all, or was this all the Talosians' second—and this time quite successful—attempt to entice him into their menagerie with an elaborate ruse? If their powers are as potent and far-reaching as is alleged, then they are certainly capable of it. And it would make a fair bit more sense as a motivation for their purported machinations here than it all being simply out of the goodness of their shriveled hearts! Ultimately, as @Timo pointed out in a previous discussion: "Whatever the Talosians did, they won. By definition. If we thought otherwise, that's only because the Talosians wanted us to."

Just no.

 

[The Mighty Monkey of Mim]

Just no.

You're right, that's totally less believable than the thread's initial premise.

-MMoM

[EDITED TO ADD: No offense intended, @Groppler Zorn!]

 

[Nerys Myk]

Actually, he played a Talosian illusion, a projection of the Keeper's mind. We never saw the actual Mendez. We know he existed from his communiqué at the end, but we have no idea what he really looked like...not at all.

-MMoM

In one reality he voiced a Talosian.