I often say how TNG’s seventh season is about a couple things, one of them being sort-of tying up storylines and loose ends since it’s the end of the series and there’s stuff they won’t get to cover in the film franchise. Another aspect is it’s also about dealing with the characters and some aspect of the family or family history. Deanna deals with her mother and a lost sibling she never knew about, Worf and his adopted step-brother, Crusher with her grandmother. Well, here we’re sort of in a block of those episodes as last week we dealt with Wesley Crusher for the last time (since it wasn't likely he’d return in the movies and it turns out that’s largely the case) and this week we get to deal with Worf again, this time with his son, Alexander, whom we’d also not likely see or hear from again so let’s wrap him up! (Of course no one knew at the time Worf and Alexander would show up again on DS9.)
We open with Worf making a grand speech about when a young Klingon becomes a warrior and he’s totally talking to an empty room in order to practice a big speech, isn't he? Oh. Look, he stumbled on his thoughts during a segue, he’s totally talking to an empty room and we’re going to get a reverse of him looking into a mirror, aren't we?
Well, that doesn’' quite happen as his practice is interrupted with Alexander running into the room, laughing, carrying a small, pink, soccerball. Another child laughs and tosses his pig testicle at Alexander, though the kid has remarkably bad aim as the ball strikes Worf -standing nowhere near Alexander- and the ball bursts splattering Worf with water. The kid sees his life flash before his eyes as he just dampened a Klingon, apologizes, and bolts. Worf chastises Alexander for the misbehavior and for failing to come back to the quarters after school. Alexander offers a lame excuse, and is told by Worf to sit down.
Worf begins his speech and stumbles some on the words; it’s an odd thing that happens on Trek a lot but the word Worf uses for adulthood in reference to Alexander, and himself, is “man” which is sort-of inaccurate since “man” refers to an adult human and while it *may* apply to Alexander 25% of the way, Alexander isn't being raised to be a human. I know, semantics.
Alexander is confused by Worf’s statements and is worried he’ll have to be hit with pain-sticks, but Worf assures him that’s not until later in life; right now Alexander just needs some basic training to hone some skills. As Worf prepares to start Alexander on this journey, Alexander says he doesn't want to become a warrior and his mother had always said he didn't need to follow in Klingon ways. Worf says Alexander needs to do this by the time he’s 13 (which by my count means he has, like, 10 more years to decide.) or he’ll never be able to do it if he decides he wants it later in life.
Worf says it’s up to Alexander and he begins a conditional before Alexander takes his out, saying he doesn't want to be a warrior and he leaves for his room. Worf sadly blows out one of the ceremonial candles and looks upset Alexander won’t take on the family deli as he grows up.
We come back from the opening credits in the middle of that classic TNG trope: The Staff Meeting! We miss the oh-so critical details of them not being able to meet with another ship for a few days and Picard continues while everyone checks their watches wondering if they’ll make their 10:45 AM coffee break.
The discussion deals with what to do with their empty time between the rendezvous with the other ship and we get exciting notations like trips for archaeological ruins studies and making sure areas of the ship can access the ship’s sensors for the study and, hey, Worf can work on the ship’s targeting systems! (Didn't he already do this just a couple episodes ago?!)
Worf is visibly distracted, really wondering if that bear-claw is still sitting in the box of donuts or if a subordinate has nicked it already. Dammit, he should have licked it and then put a note on it! Riker and Picard notice Worf’s distraction and he’s snapped back into reality as he’s called to, seemingly still not entirely aware of the conversation he was in.
As the meeting is dismissed Worf is held-back by Picard who speaks to Worf about his distraction, Worf takes it as a bit of criticism from his commanding officer but in a nice bit of friendship and humanity, Picard’s concerns aren't ones as Worf’s captain but as a friend as he doesn't bark that Worf gets his head in the game but wonders what’s wrong, Worf explains the problems with Alexander.
Picard seems to understand and offers the suggestion that Worf and Alexander take part in a Klingon Festival that’s occurring on a nearby outpost. Worf considers it, but it’ll take them 3-days to get there by shuttle; Picard smiles and says the Enterprise can get there in a fraction of the time. Worf isn't willing to let Picard disrupt the ship’s business for his needs, but Picard allays his fears by saying the trip will give Stellar Cartography a chance to study a nebula during the trip and the ship can still make its pending rendezvous. Worf thanks Picard for the special trip. Actually a nice moment here between Picard and Worf who've always had a good relationship especially concerning Worf’s Klingon heritage which Picard probably understands and respects more than anyone else on the ship. It’s a nice contrast to a couple of other times in the series when Picard catches someone without their head in the game and while he’s initially understanding he ends the conversation with telling them to do better next time. Must have got Picard in a good mood. Dammit, he got the bear-claw!
On the planet during the ceremony we see some Klingons…. Playing one of those Japanese coin-pusher games(?!), another sings lyrics to a Klingon opera while fighting another, acting like two fanboys at a play-fighting with bat’leths as they wall through the crowd. Alexander, Worf and some other Starfleet officers walk around and take in the sights. Worf calls to a vendor walking through the crowd and buys a little cloth bag of what are probably honey-roasted pecans and shares it with Alexander as they watch the performance. Another Klingon in battle gear watches Alexander and Worf intensely.
For what it’s worth, the area looks like a minor redress of the Native American village from the previous episode. Geordi walks up and asks some questions about the performance, Worf answers and offers Geordi the bag of carnival food. Geordi, from his reaction, doesn't like honey-roasted pecans. Savage.
During the “battle” between the two singers one of them is “defeated” in the play-acting and the victor asks for another challenger. No one takes on the role. so Worf steps out and takes the challenge, though all of the singing dialogue is in Klingon the activity is well done and the singing in gibberish is done well enough to have some grasp of what is going on.
Worf is soon “defeated” as well and calls out for someone to take his place, seeming to plead for Alexander to do it. Alexander steps up and takes the bat’leth and begins to present himself to the aggressor, who smirks at the young boy wondering, aloud, what this is. Alexander forgoes with the play-acting and “punch-pulling” with the bat’leth and makes metal-on-metal contact. The cos-player rolls with it and quickly gets his ass handed to him and a minor cut which he reacts to. Either Alexander is a better “warrior” than we give him credit for or Klingon Ren-Fest Actors/Cos-Players aren't known for their battle-readiness.
Alexander steps aside and holds the bat’leth up in triumph as another singing challenger steps up to battle the prone guy, this one Alexander says is “Khaless” (Klingon Jesus), I’m not sure if it’s supposed to be the Khaless clone from a previous episode or Alexander’s getting it from the narrative of the battle they’re partaking in. Alexander seems to be getting into the festival.
The battle-armored Klingon watches anxiously.
Later that night, Worf wanders around the “square” as Alexander runs up asking for money (Ummm, Alexander?) because some guy somewhere is offering to show Alexander and some other kids he met something he has in a box. Errmmmm, RUN ALEXANDER!!! Actually it’s supposed to be the head of something Worf says died centuries ago and refuses to give Alexander the money. Which considering Worf, being in Starfleet and from Earth so is raised in a money-less economy he has no real reason to not give Alexander the money. I get teaching the kid not to reward those trying to trick him but at the same time seems like a 0-loss encounter. Worf says it’s time for them to return to the ship and to go to bed and they can come back the following day if Alexander wants.
As they begin to leave the square they’re attacked by a trio of Klingons “muggers”, Worf orders Alexander to take cover as he begins to fight them off. He’s not entirely overwhelmed but they seem to get something of an upper-hand but are then fired at and chased off by the looming observer from earlier in the day.
One of the Klingons drops a d’ktah dagger which the stranger picks up, Worf demands to know who he is, saying he’s seen him before. The Klingon thrusts out a Black Panther fist and Worf notices a ring on his finger which seems to mean something to Worf. The Klingon says he was sent by Worf’s brother.
Back on the ship, Worf explains the Klingon is essentially a loyal follower to his family, so much so he’s like a member of it. So he’s sort-of like when your father has you call his best-friend “an uncle.” They’re not really your uncle but so close to your father they might as well be.
They talk about the motivations and who might be behind the attack on Worf, the Klingon isn’t forth-coming with answers, citing distrust on the Enterprise; Worf vouches for the crew saying they can be fully trusted. They move on to motivations of the attackers which is apparent attack on The House of Mogh, Worf's family line, and the dropped dagger is from the House of Duras (whom Worf and his brother fought against during the Klingon “civil war” trying to help Gowron rise to power.)
They decide to begin their investigation with the Duras Sisters, who were last heard from trying to sell some-sort-of contraband on Deep Space Nine (Call out! Take a drink!) The Klingon dismisses this as having taken place months ago but Riker slyly says they can begin their investigation there and he knows who to contact.
Worf and the Klingon talk in Worf’s quarters about his rudeness towards Riker, the Klingon assures he meant no disrespect and by Klingon standards he was civil, or has Worf lived with humans so long he’s forgotten how Klingons behave. Worf seems to take some of this to heart especially after the Klingon goes into questioning Worf’s ability to raise Alexander properly as a Klingon and to one-day lead the House of Mogh since he’s the only male heir in the next generation of the Mogh family line. The Klingon claims Kern has shown some concerns about Worf’s ability to raise Alexander properly while living with humans.
They talk some about Alexander’s not yet taking the Rite of Ascension and the Klingon offers to help in getting Alexander to take the rite. The Klingon goes in to talk with Alexander and tells of him of Qo’nos, and Alexander’s biological cousins. Alexander is unsure of visiting the homeworld and questions its safety; Alexander worries about his future and his inability to help or protect Worf during the earlier ambush. The Klingon speaks with Alexander and gives him grand promises to help Alexander train to be able to defend himself, and his father, should he want to.
Records cannot tell them where the Duras Sisters went after leaving Deep Space Nine so Riker plays his wild card and has Worf contact DS9 and his “contact” there. The contact ends up being Quark (cameo/crossover. Drink!)
When this episode first-aired I remember thinking and wondering about how much DS9 must have been struggling in order to get these cameos and crossovers. On the one hand they do work nicely for the universe/world sharing but at the same time they just feel forced.
Oddly, Quark is doing this communication while being watched by a DS9 Starfleet security officer…. Is Quark not allowed to use the phones by himself? What did you do Quark, WHAT DID YOU DO?!
Quark is concerned that Riker is calling to collect on a gambling debt he’s owed (Quark apparently has more chips on the Dabo table than he does the cash to cover them; which seems…. Stupid. And how on Earth did Riker play long enough/well enough to break the bank?! Is Quark’s really ran that poorly? You’d think Quark would have called the game off long before then or something) he assures the “vouchers” he was given are just as good as latnium. Riker counters that the latnium can be spent anywhere but the vouchers are only good in Quark’s bar. (How much booze, replicated food and holodeck time does several million in latnium buy?) Quark doesn't counter that Riker’s civilization doesn't use money so what’s he getting at.
Quark wonders what the call is about and Riker says he’s looking for his “friends” the Duras Sisters. Quark recognizes them, Lursa and Betor; and says “they’re big talk, small tits.”
Which is just sort of rude and uncalled for. They’re obviously very proud of them and put them on display and I’m shocked that such strong language was used for a syndicated TV show meant for broadcast network TV during Primetime..
…. Oh, wait, Quark said small TIPS. My mistake.
Qurak is unwilling to give-up on whether or not he knows where they went when they left the station but him and Riker together are playing a “game” with one another that ends with Riker sacrificing his winnings for the information. It’s actually a very nice scene with Frakes and Shimerman both playing it well on trying to be coy and covert at the same time. The sisters were interested in some mining equipment in order to get at some ore on a Pakled planet (callback, DRINK!)
Riker thanks Quark for the information and says he’ll send the vouchers Quarks way; Quark tells Riker to not bother, he’s already electronically voided them during their conversation.
Riker gets the ship on its way on the trail of the Duras Sisters and seems to earn the respect of their Klingon visitor.
Last edited:
