A massive change in episode format for the show as we spend 99% of the time just with Worf down on the planet (the Data dreaming narrative is gone entirely). There are perfunctory moments on the Enterprise, but they didn't need to be there and feel more like the producers worrying that the other actors would be miffed if they weren't in it.
This is a great exploration of Worf as a character within the confines of a very contrived and atypical Star Trek story. Worf is lucky that the Klingon youths he encounters are so easy to manipulate - to me they just come across as gullible, but it can be explained by their complete isolation from the rest of life in the galaxy. More problematic for me is how quickly he's able to change their minds, especially with Toq who goes very quickly from mocking everything Worf's saying to suddenly dressing up in Klingon armour and being ready to die for him. Somehow, it still kind of works. The actor brings huge enthusiasm to the role, and outside of the cringe worthy singing scene he's really great.
Falling in love with Ba'el is far less excusable. Never mind the fact that she appears to only be a teenager, Worf is apparently smitten with her after a couple of conversations. I could believe it on her part, she's a very impressionable young girl who's never met anyone new in her life, but it comes across as silly from his side.
Looking at the bigger picture, though, there's a fantastic look at the Klingon culture here as well as the inherent racism between them and Romulans. I feel like there's a big thread left hanging in that Worf's father wasn't there, and surely Worf would want to have a chat with Shrek about his misinformation. Great ending in which it's pretty clear that Picard doesn't believe Worf at all, but respects him enough to trust him.
Review by LeftHandedGuitaristBlockedParent2017-07-22T09:58:47Z
A massive change in episode format for the show as we spend 99% of the time just with Worf down on the planet (the Data dreaming narrative is gone entirely). There are perfunctory moments on the Enterprise, but they didn't need to be there and feel more like the producers worrying that the other actors would be miffed if they weren't in it.
This is a great exploration of Worf as a character within the confines of a very contrived and atypical Star Trek story. Worf is lucky that the Klingon youths he encounters are so easy to manipulate - to me they just come across as gullible, but it can be explained by their complete isolation from the rest of life in the galaxy. More problematic for me is how quickly he's able to change their minds, especially with Toq who goes very quickly from mocking everything Worf's saying to suddenly dressing up in Klingon armour and being ready to die for him. Somehow, it still kind of works. The actor brings huge enthusiasm to the role, and outside of the cringe worthy singing scene he's really great.
Falling in love with Ba'el is far less excusable. Never mind the fact that she appears to only be a teenager, Worf is apparently smitten with her after a couple of conversations. I could believe it on her part, she's a very impressionable young girl who's never met anyone new in her life, but it comes across as silly from his side.
Looking at the bigger picture, though, there's a fantastic look at the Klingon culture here as well as the inherent racism between them and Romulans. I feel like there's a big thread left hanging in that Worf's father wasn't there, and surely Worf would want to have a chat with Shrek about his misinformation. Great ending in which it's pretty clear that Picard doesn't believe Worf at all, but respects him enough to trust him.