The Defector

[Who_Trek]

I love this episode! I watached it last night, the first time in a long time. I loved the weight on Picard's shoulders, the Romulan admiral, and the Klingons popping up in the end when when things where about to go to hell.

"I expected more from you, Picard!"
"Then you shall have it. Mr. Worf...."

I remember thinking when I first saw it, that's the way the alliance should work: Friends helping one another. I suspec that the Klingons were having a hard time keeping their fingers off the fire button, however.

IMO: One of the undertanded gems of the third season.

 

[Magisterfrodo]

It's actually my single favorite episode of the entire series.

 

[T J]

Agreed!!!

 

[Grandpa]

Outstanding episode. One of my favorites as well.

 

[Kegek]

I'm going to be boring and obvious and declare this as one of TNG's best, on multiple levels. Moving on...

 

[Mojochi]

Season 3 arguably has the largest amount of TNG's best episodes, than any other season, & this episode stands alongside "Sarek" "The Offspring" & "Yesterday's Enterprise" as a hallmark of that season

Another underrated favorite of mine, from season 3, is also a Romulan episode "The Enemy"

 

[Unicron]

Yeah, it's really good that the show survived long enough for it to pick up and produce some great eps. "The Defector" is one reason I've always been disappointed with how the Romulans are often underused, because it portrays them so well.

 

[SchwEnt]

The Defector *is* great. Even from first airing I knew.
And that ending, with the letter to his family...wow.

After Picard's comments about it, I still cannot believe that the idea was lost when he finally DID get to go to Romulus in "Unification".

 

[RAMA]

Probably the second best Romulan episode ever, right behind Balance of Terror!

 

[Anwar]

What about "Face of the Enemy", or "The Enemy"? Those were good.

 

[Who_Trek]

I didn't like the "The Enemy" because just before I saw it, I read a story that had the EXACT same idea as the show. The TV show seemed ... rather flat and unoriginal to me after that. I always thought at the end of "The Enemy", they should have revealed the one Romulan to have been the son of ... Tomalock? and that's why he was desperate to enter Federation space.

For that matter, providing that the dead Romulan was Tomalock's son, that would have put an extra emphasis on his hatred for Picard and Co. in "The Defector".

 

[Unicron]

That would have been kind of cool.

 

[DWF]

The Defector is a great ep. it really showed the Romulans in the same like Balance Of Terror had, James Sloyan did a great job as Jarok and the ending was incredible.

 

[Anwar]

Who_Trek said:
I didn't like the "The Enemy" because just before I saw it, I read a story that had the EXACT same idea as the show. The TV show seemed ... rather flat and unoriginal to me after that. I always thought at the end of "The Enemy", they should have revealed the one Romulan to have been the son of ... Tomalock? and that's why he was desperate to enter Federation space.

For that matter, providing that the dead Romulan was Tomalock's son, that would have put an extra emphasis on his hatred for Picard and Co. in "The Defector".

As good as that sounds, wouldn't it just be a retread of Daimon Bok?

 

[Who_Trek]

Ah good point... Didn't think of that Anwar, lol. I saw "The Defector" in tandeom with "The Vengeance Factor", which I also liked. It takes a lot of balls to burn a woman you have the hots for into superheated vapor, and I liked Riker's subtle shake of his head, the tension of the moment, and the pain in his eyes as he jacks the power upon on his phaser. It wasn't a great episode like "The Defector", but a great ending. Both shows were rather dark, which I like.

 

[DizzyMan]

I can't remember The Defector, really. My memory says it has a similar feeling or theme to that great DS9 episode "Duet" (made 3 years later). Would I be right (or close)?

Either way, I'm looking forward to seeing Defector next time.

 

[Unicron]

It's not really that similar to "Duet." But it basically has a high ranking Romulan entering Federation space to gain protection from the Enterprise, because he believes his government is preparing a secret military buildup that could lead to war with the Feds and perhaps the Klingons as well. I won't say too much because I don't want to spoil anything, but it is easily one of TNG's best.

 

[Vulcanian]

Yep, it's one of my favorites too.

The Next Generation continues to show great Romulan episodes :thumbsup:

 

[DanCPA]

I love this ep...

I would have loved to see this episode made with current CGI, we could have had a real battle scene with the Enterprise and the Klingons attacking the Romulans!

 

[CaptainJon]

Tighs Eye said:
I would have loved to see this episode made with current CGI, we could have had a real battle scene with the Enterprise and the Klingons attacking the Romulans!

I think not having a battle was something that added to the episode though. Tomalok thought he had Picard and the Enterprise, only to discover that Picard and the Enterprise had him. It would have been a hopeless battle for both sides, so Tomalok decided to retreat to fight another day.

This was an excellent episode that was incredibly well-written by Mr. Ronald D. Moore (in his second outing) and incredibly acted and directed.