For several weeks, I did a look back at Star Trek: The Next Generation.
Then I focused on Star Trek, the Original Series.
The theme for today's post:
"When characters from Star Trek, the Original Series appeared on Star Trek: The Next Generation".
Which seems a bit clunky. Let's try instead:
"Crossover Fun: TOS on TNG"
I will admit, I am grossly overpromising when I use the word "fun".
The only way to begin is at the beginning so let's begin there.
The TNG pilot "Encounter at Farpoint" features a scene where Data has to escort a very old, cantankerous medical officer turned Admiral to the shutle bay because the Admiral doesn't like transporters.
The Admiral is unnamed in the script but since he's played by DeForrest Kelley, you know it, I know it, it's Dr. "Bones" McCoy.
MCCOY: Have you got some reason you want my atoms scattered all over space, boy?
DATA: No sir. But at your age, sir, I thought you shouldn't have to put up with the time and trouble of a shuttlecraft.
MCCOY: Hold it right there, boy.
DATA: Sir?
MCCOY: What about my age?
DATA: Sorry, sir. If that subject troubles you
MCCOY: Troubles me? What's so damned troubling about not having died? How old do you think I am?
DATA: One hundred thirty seven years, Admiral, according to Starfleet records.
MCCOY: Explain how you remember that so exactly.
DATA: I remember every fact I am exposed to, sir.
MCCOY: I don't see any points on your ears, boy, but you sound like a Vulcan.
DATA: No, sir. I'm an android.
MCCOY: Almost as bad.
DATA: I thought it was generally accepted, sir, that Vulcans are an advanced and most honourable race.
MCCOY: They are, they are. And damned annoying at times.
DATA: Yes, sir.
MCCOY: Well, this is a new ship, but she's got the right name. Now you remember that, you hear.
DATA: I will, sir.
MCCOY: You treat her like a lady, and she'll always bring you home.
The scene is totally extraneous and shoehorned into the story with all the subtlety of a forklift but...
But it's a beautiful scene that gives this crew of interlopers that dare calls itself "Star Trek" some credibility.
The next TOS character to appear on TNG was Spock....
Excuse me, Spock's dad. In the 3rd season episode "Sarek", the venerated ambassador from Vulcan has arrived on the Enterprise to mediate a peace treaty between two warring alien races who will only deal with Sarek.
Why only Sarek? Because the plot requires it.
Mark Lenard had appeared as Sarek on TOS in the episode "Journey to Babel" and had reprised the role for the Star Trek movies.
By the 24th century era of TNG, Sarek is pushing 200 years old but that's OK, Vulcans live a long time. But even they have their limits.
Sarek has a condition called Bendi Syndrome, a Vulcan version of Alzheimer's, which causes a loss of emotional control. And given the Vulcans have telepathic abilities, that loss of control is bleeding out and affecting the crew.
Tempers flare, people bitch out each other, a brawl breaks out on 10 Forward and Beverly slaps Wesley.
I repeat: Beverly. SLAPS. Wesley.
CRUSHER: And then I just slapped him. Really hard. I slapped Wesley.
TROI: Do you know why you did it?
CRUSHER: I felt a rising demand from Star Trek fandom. I've never hit my son in his life.
Sarek's health is declining and taking the ship down with him. But there is that pesky peace treaty negotiation that the plot demands only Sarek can conduct.
The solution: a mind meld between Sarek and Capt. Picard.
Sarek will regain a modicum of control from Picard while the captain takes on 200+ years of repressed emotion.
Sarek enters the bridge.
SAREK: Number One, please inform the Legaran delegation that Sarek of Vulcan is on his way to welcome them.
RIKER: Yes, Ambassador.
RIKER: I take it the mind-meld was a success?
SAREK: Yes. All went as planned.
RIKER: Is Captain Picard all right?
SAREK: Don't worry, Number One.
RIKER: And the Ambassador?
SAREK: I am myself again. It has been a long time.
A comment about Mark Lenard who does such a great job here folding Patrick Stewart into his performance. Sarek may be himself again but he's calling Riker "Number One" showing Picard is rattling around in there.
Not to be outdone in the acting department, Patrick Stewart is calling up all his Shakespearean know how as Picard is pounded by waves of two centuries worth of repressed emotions. Dr. Beverly Crusher is there to monitor Picard's health during the Mind Meld as well as to brush away his tears and hold him.
PICARD: No! It is wrong. It is wrong! A lifetime of discipline washed away, and in its place bedlam. Bedlam! I am so old. There is nothing left but dry bones and dead friends. Tired, oh so tired.
No! This weakness disgusts me! I hate it! Where is my logic? I am betrayed by desires. I want to feel. I want to feel everything. But I am a Vulcan. I must feel nothing. Give me back my control.
Perrin. Amanda. I wanted to give you so much more. I wanted to show you such tenderness. But that is not our way.
Spock, Amanda, did you know? Perrin, can you know how much I love you? I do love you!
The peace conference is successful as Sarek take his leave from the Enterprise.
SAREK: I will take my leave of you now, Captain. I do not think we shall meet again.
PICARD: I hope you are wrong, Ambassador.
SAREK: We shall always retain the best part of the other inside us.
PICARD: I believe I have the best part of that bargain, Ambassador. Peace and long life.
SAREK: Live long and prosper.
Sarek and Picard will meet again as we move to our next episode with a TOS guest star, the 2 part "Unification" which brings us Spock.
For real this time.
The Federation is concerned that Ambassador Spock seems to have hightailed it to the Romulan Empire and has been spotted on Romulus.
To get some insight to what Spock might be up to, Picard goes to Vulcan to visit Sarek. But the Bendi Syndrome has gotten worse and Sarek is eratic and unfocused. But in a brief moment of lucidity, he imparts some information.
SAREK: I recall Spock coming to me with optimism about a continuing dialogue with the Romulans. I told him it was illogical to maintain such an expectation. Spock was always so impressionable. This Romulan, Pardek, had no support at home. Of course, in the end I was proven correct. I gave Spock the benefit of experience, of logic. He never listened. Never listened.
Later in the episode, we will learn that Sarek has died.
This episode is almost as bad as a classic Doctor Who story for all the padding to make sure this hour long story can fit into two installments.
But that padding does produce some fun moments.
Riker flirting with a 4 armed piano player in an alien bar.
Worf sings Klingon opera.
Disguised as Romulans, Picard and Data take a cloaked Klingon ship to Romulus to suss out what is what.
And if you're in this for Spock, he does show up in the literal last second of part 1.
In part 2, we get more time with Leonard Nimoy as Spock. Who is not happy that the Federation sent someone to get him.
PICARD: And I will not return without a full explanation. Ambassador, with great respect for all that you've achieved on behalf of the Federation, this sort of cowboy diplomacy will not easily be tolerated any more.
SPOCK: Cowboy diplomacy?
Spock is looking into a growing movement on Romulus that is tired of the endless wars and seeking to reunite with their ancestral home, Vulcan.
PICARD: Why would you not bring something so important to the attention of your own people or the Federation?
SPOCK: A personal decision, Captain. Perhaps you are aware of the small role I played in the overture to peace with the Klingons.
PICARD: History is aware of the role you played, Ambassador.
SPOCK: Not entirely. It was I who committed Captain Kirk to that peace mission, and I who had to bear the responsibility for the consequences to him and his crew. Quite simply, I am unwilling to risk anyone's life but my own on this occasion. So I ask you respect my wishes and leave.
PICARD: Ambassador, your logic escapes me. If I didn't know better, I would say that your judgment is influenced by your emotions.
SPOCK: You speak as my father would if he were here, Picard.
PICARD: I speak as a Starfleet officer, and I cannot ignore the risks to you.
SPOCK: I was involved with cowboy diplomacy, as you describe it, long before you were born.
PICARD: Nevertheless, sir, I'm not prepared to leave until your affairs are completed.
SPOCK: In your own way, you are as stubborn as another Captain of the Enterprise I once knew.
PICARD: Then I'm in good company, sir.
For more about those "consquences to Kirk and his crew, see Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country.
"Unification" was designed as a tie in to that film as well as a celebration of Star Trek's 25th anniversary.
It seems there is a new Proconsul naned Neral who is in charge now and is a bit of a progressive and open to new ways of thinking, such as building a bridge to the Vulcans.
If you don't trust 'im, trust your gut. He's up to shit.
While Spock is hopeful for the reunification movement, he's wary of Neral.
While doing some technobabble to hack the Romulan information net, Spock and Data have a very enlightening conversation.
SPOCK: He intrigues me, this Picard.
DATA: In what manner, sir?
SPOCK: Remarkably analytical and dispassionate, for a human. I understand why my father chose to mind-meld with him. There's almost a Vulcan quality to the man.
DATA: Interesting. I have not considered that. And Captain Picard has been a role model in my quest to be more human.
SPOCK: More human?
DATA: Yes, Ambassador.
SPOCK: Fascinating. You have an efficient intellect, superior physical skills and no emotional impediments. There are Vulcans who aspire all their lives to achieve what you've been given by design.
DATA: You are half human.
SPOCK: Yes.
DATA: Yet you have chosen a Vulcan way of life.
SPOCK: I have.
DATA: In effect, you have abandoned what I have sought all my life.
SPOCK: I believe I have isolated the twenty ninth cipher access code. I shall attempt to access the Proconsul's files.
DATA: Ambassador Spock, may I ask a personal question?
SPOCK: Please.
DATA: As you examine your life, do you find you have missed your humanity?
SPOCK: I have no regrets.
DATA: No regrets. That is a human expression.
SPOCK: Yes. Fascinating.
It turns out the Romulans do want to have a new relationship with Vulcan... as conquerors. Neral is working with Sela* on a whole deal to invade Vulcan.
*Sela is played by Denise Crosby who was Tasha Yar on the first season of TNG. Tasha died in season 1 but came back for an episode in season 3 and then went back in time due to some space/time wibbly wobbly and had a child with a Romulan and...it's just a whole thing. Just accept it for now.
Anyway, Spock, Picard and Data foil the whole plan.
Spock does a Vulcan nerve pinch? Yay!
Spock is impressed.
The Romulan plot exposed and halted, it's time to leave. But...
SPOCK: Captain, I will not be coming with you.
PICARD: Ambassador
SPOCK: The reason for my coming here has never been more clear. The union of Vulcan and the Romulan people will not be achieved by politics or by diplomacy, but it will be achieved. The answer has been here before us all along. An inexorable evolution toward a Vulcan philosophy has already begun. Like the first Vulcans, these people are struggling to a new enlightenment. It may take decades, even centuries for them to reach it, but they will reach it. And I must help.
PICARD: I have learned it is useless to argue with you once your mind is set.
SPOCK: Not at all, Captain. I have found our arguments quite useful. Almost as useful as those I had with my father.
PICARD: Would it surprise you to learn that he found them equally valuable?
SPOCK: Ironically, you may know Sarek better than his own son does. My father and I never chose to meld.
PICARD: I offer you the chance to touch what he shared with me.
(and we close on Spock initiating a mind-meld with Picard)
"Unification" is a bit talky and plodding as it lurches forward to fill a 2 episode commitment with a plot riddled with more holes than a slice of Swiss cheese but it is filled with some clever character moments and Spock is used effectively. Leonard Nimoy is as always excellent in this role.
OK, this post has gone on too long and I've yet to hit the next TNG episode with a TOS character.
"Relics" gives us the return of Capt. James Montgomery Scott, you know 'im, you love 'im, the best damn engineer in Starfleet, Scotty!
I hate to give this episode short shrift because James Doohan is wonderful as a man who is still remarkably clever but also sadly out of his time, struggling for relevance.
I would love to explore such scenes like the one with Data in Ten Forward finding Scotty something to drink...
DATA: It is... green.
But I'm going to focus on one, where Scotty and Picard sit on the holodeck created bridge of the TOS Enterprise.
COMPUTER: Please enter programme.
SCOTT: The android at the bar said you could show me my old ship. Let me see it.
COMPUTER: Insufficient data. Please specify parameters.
SCOTT: The Enterprise. Show me the Bridge of the Enterprise, you chattering piece of...
COMPUTER: There have been five Federation ships with that name. Please specify by registry number.
SCOTT: NCC One Seven Oh One. No bloody A, B, C, or D.
COMPUTER: Programme complete. Enter when ready.
The bridge set was recreated using some green screen trickery and some practical effects where a fan had built his own replica of the original Enterprise bridge set.
It's a squeeable fanboy moment to see Picard on the bridge of the TOS Enterprise as the captain shares a drink with Scotty.
PICARD: This is your Enterprise?
SCOTT: She was the first ship I ever served on as Chief Engineer. You know, I served aboard eleven ships. Freighters, cruisers, starships, but this is the only one I think of. The only one I miss.
PICARD: The first ship I ever served aboard as Captain was called the Stargazer. It was an overworked, underpowered vessel, always on the verge of flying apart at the seams. In every measurable sense, my Enterprise is far superior. But there are times when I would give almost anything to command the Stargazer again.
SCOTT: It's like the first time you fall in love. You don't ever love a woman quite like that again. Well, to the Enterprise and the Stargazer. Old girlfriends we'll never meet again.
There's some great moments with Scotty and Geordi LaForge as two gearheads who don't quite mesh until....
In the interest of time, I'm not going into details but I would posit that of all the TNG episodes with TOS characters, I think "Relics" is my favorite.
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Next time on Star Trekking:
How close did Star Trek wind up crossing over with Doctor Who.
And coming up in a couple of weeks, the return of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.
Live long and prosper, y'all.
Thanks again to Chrissie's Transcripts Site for the script exerpts.
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