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Sarek (TNG episode)
Encyclopedia
"Sarek" is the title of the 23rd episode from the third season of Star Trek: The Next Generation
.
's father, the Vulcan ambassador Sarek
, has arrived on board the Enterprise with his second human wife, Perrin. His mission is to lay the foundation for trade relations between the Federation and the Legarans, after which time he will retire due to his old age. Though Picard and his crew attempt to provide for Sarek and have arranged for a chamber music concert for him, the ambassador expresses apprehension and annoyance. Picard personally invites Perrin to the concert. Picard is surprised to find Sarek attending the concert with Perrin, and even more so when he starts crying in the middle of the performance, an emotional trait Vulcans normally suppress.
Across the ship, the crew starts to act uncharacteristically hostile to each other, including a large brawl in Ten Forward. The onset of the events are tied to Sarek's arrival. Troi and Dr. Crusher believe Sarek may be suffering from Bendii syndrome, a degenerative neurological disease that only affects aged Vulcans, that causes them to lose control of their emotions and emit "broadcast empathy" that destabilizes emotions of others around them. Picard attempts to approach Sarek about this, but Sarek's aides deny there are any problems. Picard asks Data with Sakkath, Sarek's second aid, who has mutual respect with Data; Data confirms that Sakkath has been attempting to channel his emotional strength into Sarek, but has been overwhelmed by the pressures of the conference. Picard directly confronts Sarek on the matter, who attempts to remain defiant of his problem. When Sarek breaks down emotionally in front of Picard, Picard realizes they may need to cancel the conference.
As Picard attempts to negotiate with the Legarans, Perrin arrives and suggests an option: for Sarek to mind-meld with another as to temporarily transfer his emotions onto someone else; this would leave Sarek within his sense to successfully complete the conference, but Perrin warns of the possible dangers to the receiver's mind from the strong emotions. Picard willingly agrees to be the host. Sarek performs the mind-meld with Picard, and is able to retain full control of his emotions for the duration of the conference. However, Picard, monitored closely by Dr. Crusher, suffers through the numerous emotions that Sarek has pent up for years, including his regrets of not being able to show his love of his wives Amanda or Perrin or his son Spock. With the conference successfully completed, Sarek prepares to take his leave. Picard lets Perrin know of Sarek's love for her, but Perrin is well aware of his love. Sarek thanks Picard for his kindness, and that they will retain the best parts of each other in the future.
Star Trek: The Next Generation
Star Trek: The Next Generation is an American science fiction television series created by Gene Roddenberry as part of the Star Trek franchise. Roddenberry, Rick Berman, and Michael Piller served as executive producers at different times throughout the production...
.
Plot
SpockSpock
Spock is a fictional character in the Star Trek media franchise. First portrayed by Leonard Nimoy in the original Star Trek series, Spock also appears in the animated Star Trek series, two episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation, seven of the Star Trek feature films, and numerous Star Trek...
's father, the Vulcan ambassador Sarek
Sarek
Sarek is a fictional character in the Star Trek media franchise. He is a Vulcan astrophysicist, the Vulcan ambassador to the United Federation of Planets, and father of Spock...
, has arrived on board the Enterprise with his second human wife, Perrin. His mission is to lay the foundation for trade relations between the Federation and the Legarans, after which time he will retire due to his old age. Though Picard and his crew attempt to provide for Sarek and have arranged for a chamber music concert for him, the ambassador expresses apprehension and annoyance. Picard personally invites Perrin to the concert. Picard is surprised to find Sarek attending the concert with Perrin, and even more so when he starts crying in the middle of the performance, an emotional trait Vulcans normally suppress.
Across the ship, the crew starts to act uncharacteristically hostile to each other, including a large brawl in Ten Forward. The onset of the events are tied to Sarek's arrival. Troi and Dr. Crusher believe Sarek may be suffering from Bendii syndrome, a degenerative neurological disease that only affects aged Vulcans, that causes them to lose control of their emotions and emit "broadcast empathy" that destabilizes emotions of others around them. Picard attempts to approach Sarek about this, but Sarek's aides deny there are any problems. Picard asks Data with Sakkath, Sarek's second aid, who has mutual respect with Data; Data confirms that Sakkath has been attempting to channel his emotional strength into Sarek, but has been overwhelmed by the pressures of the conference. Picard directly confronts Sarek on the matter, who attempts to remain defiant of his problem. When Sarek breaks down emotionally in front of Picard, Picard realizes they may need to cancel the conference.
As Picard attempts to negotiate with the Legarans, Perrin arrives and suggests an option: for Sarek to mind-meld with another as to temporarily transfer his emotions onto someone else; this would leave Sarek within his sense to successfully complete the conference, but Perrin warns of the possible dangers to the receiver's mind from the strong emotions. Picard willingly agrees to be the host. Sarek performs the mind-meld with Picard, and is able to retain full control of his emotions for the duration of the conference. However, Picard, monitored closely by Dr. Crusher, suffers through the numerous emotions that Sarek has pent up for years, including his regrets of not being able to show his love of his wives Amanda or Perrin or his son Spock. With the conference successfully completed, Sarek prepares to take his leave. Picard lets Perrin know of Sarek's love for her, but Perrin is well aware of his love. Sarek thanks Picard for his kindness, and that they will retain the best parts of each other in the future.
External links
- Writing Sarek book by Peter S. Beagle, from Conlan Press